some　time　to　get　over　all　those　years　of　having　liked　him。”

Mom　sat　there　for　the　longest　time；　biting　her　cheek。　Then　she　said；　“People　do　change；　you

know。　Maybe　he's　had　some　revelations　lately；　too。

And　frankly；　any　boy　who　tries　to　kiss　a　girl　in　front　of　a　room　full　of　other　kids　does　not　sound

like　a　coward　to　me。”　She　stroked　my　hair　and

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whispered；　“Maybe　there's　more　to　Bryce　Loski　than　you　know。”

Then　she　left　me　alone　with　my　thoughts。

My　mother　knew　I　needed　time　to　think；　but　Bryce　wouldn't　leave　me　alone。　He　kept　calling

on　the　phone　and　knocking　on　the　door。　He　even　snuck

around　the　house　and　tapped　on　my　window！　Every　time　I　turned　around；　there　he　was；

pestering　me。

I　wanted　to　be　able　to　water　the　yard　in　peace。　I　wanted　not　to　have　to　avoid　him　at　school　or

have　Darla　run　block　for　me。　Why　didn't　he

understand　that　I　wasn't　interested　in　what　he　had　to　say？　What　could　he　possibly　have　to

say？

Was　it　so　much　to　ask　just　to　be　left　alone？

Then　this　afternoon　I　was　reading　a　book　in　the　front　room　with　the　curtains　drawn；　hiding

from　him　as　I　had　all　week；　when　I　heard　a　noise　in　the

yard。　I　peeked　outside　and　there　was　Bryce；　walking　across　my　grass。　Stomping　all　over　my

grass！　And　he　was　carrying　a　spade！　What　was　he

planning　to　do　with　that？

I　flew　off　the　couch　and　yanked　open　the　door　and　ran　right　into　my　father。　“Stop　him！”　I　cried。

“Calm　down；　Julianna；”　he　said；　and　eased　me　back　inside。　“I　gave　him　permission。”

“Permission！　Permission　to　do　what？”　I　flew　back　to　the　window。　“He's　digging　a　hole。”

“That's　right。　I　told　him　he　could。”

“But　why？”