mop　up　their　mess。

I　sat　there　by　myself　and　didn't　even　care　about　covering　up。　I　just　wanted　to　be　with　her。　To

talk　to　her。　To　hold　her　hand　again。

To　kiss　her。

Before　school　was　out；　I　tried　to　talk　to　her　again；　but　every　time　I　got　close；　she'd　dodge　me。

And　then　when　the　final　bell　rang；　she　disappeared。

I　looked　everywhere　for　her；　but　she　was　just　gone。

Garrett；　however；　wasn't。　He　tracked　me　down　and　said；　“Dude！　Tell　me　it　isn't　true！”

I　didn't　say　a　word。　I　just　headed　for　the　bike　racks；　still　hoping　to　find　Juli。

“Oh；　man　…it　is　true！”

“Leave　me　alone；　Garrett。”

“You　get　hooked　up　with　the　two　finest　chicks　on　campus；　then　bail　on　them　for　Juli？”

“You　don't　understand。”

“You're　right；　dude。　I　pletely　don't　understand。　Did　you　seriously　try　to　kiss　her？　I　couldn't

believe　that　part。　We're　talking　Julianna　Baker？　Your

………　Page　80………

nightmare　neighbor？　The　know…it…all　nuisance？　The　coop　poop　babe？”

I　stopped　cold　and　shoved　him。　Just　laid　into　him　with　both　hands　and　shoved。　“That　was　a

long　time　ago；　man。　Knock　it　off！”

Garrett　put　both　hands　up；　but　moved　in　at　me。　“Dude；　you　have　flipped；　you　know　that？”

“Just　back　off；　would　you？”

He　blocked　my　path。　“I　can't　believe　this！　Two　hours　ago　you　were　the　man。　The　man！　The

whole　school　was　on　their　knees　before　you！　Now　look

at　you。　You're；　like；　a　social　hazard。”　He　snorted　and　said；　“And；　dude；　the　truth　is；　if　you're

gonna　be　like　this；　I　don't　need　the　association。”

I　got　right　in　his　face　and　said；　“Good！　'Cause　you　know　what？　Neither　do　I！”

I　shoved　him　aside　and　ran。

I　wound　up　walking　home。　In　my　pinchy　shoes；　with