shook　her　head　and　said；　“She's　through；”　and　she　was。　Bryce　went　to　Shelly　and

Miranda　for　one　hundred　twenty…two　dollars　and　fifty

cents。

It　was　a　little　strange；　meeting　up　with　Jon　and　walking　over　to　the　multi…purpose　room　for

lunch。　But　he　was　just　so　nice；　and　I　think　grateful　that　I'd

bid；　that　by　the　time　we　got　situated　at　our　table；　I　wasn't　feeling　so　awkward　or　silly。　It　was

just　lunch。

Things　would　have　been　easier　if　they　hadn't　seated　me　in　direct　view　of　Bryce　and　his　little

harem；　but　I　did　my　best　to　ignore　them。　Jon　told　me

all　about　this　radio…controlled　airplane　that　he　and　his　dad　were　building　from　scratch；　and

how　he'd　been　working　on　it　for　nearly　three　months；　and

that　over　the　weekend　they　were　finally　going　to　get　to　try　it　out。　He　told　me　a　funny　story

about　soldering　the　wires　wrong　and　practically　starting　a

fire　in　their　basement；　and　I　asked　him　about　how　a　radio…controlled　airplane　works　because　I

didn't　really　understand　it。

So　I'd　relaxed　a　lot　and　was　actually　having　a　good　time　eating　lunch　with　Jon。　And　I　was　so

relieved　that　I　hadn't　bid　on　Bryce。　What　a　fool　I　would

have　made　of　myself！　Watching　Shelly　and　Miranda　fawning　all　over　him　didn't　bother　me

nearly　as　much　as　I　thought　it　would。　Really；　they　looked

ridiculous。

Jon　asked　about　my　family；　so　I　was　telling　him　about　my　brothers　and　their　band　when　a

huge　motion　broke　out　over　at　Bryce's　table。

Suddenly　Shelly　and　Miranda　were　rolling　on　the　floor　like　an　enormous　furball；　smearing

each　other　with　food。

Out　of　nowhere　Bryce　appeared　at　our　table。　He　grabbed　my　hand；　pulled　me　a　few　feet

away；　and　whi