one。
She wasn't looking at me。 She seemed to be looking at everything but me。 And I felt like an
idiot； standing there in my geeky button…down shirt
with pinched cheeks and nothing to say。 And I got so nervous about having nothing to say
that my heart started going wacko on me； hammering like
it does right before a race or a game or something。
On top of that； she looked more like that stupid picture in the paper than the picture did； if
that makes any sense。 Not because she was all
dressed up — she wasn't。 She was wearing some normal…looking dress and normal…looking
shoes； and her hair was the way it always is except
maybe a little more brushed out。 It was the way she was looking at everything but me； with
her shoulders back and her chin out and her eyes
flashing。
We probably only stood there for five seconds； but it felt like a year。 Finally I said； “Hi； Juli。”
Her eyes flashed at me； and that's when it sank in— she was mad。 She whispered； “I heard
you and Garrett making fun of my uncle in the library；
and I don't want to speak to you！ You understand me？ Not now； not ever！”
My mind was racing。 Where had she been？ I hadn't seen her anywhere near me in the library！
And had she heard it？ Or had she heard it from
somebody else。
I tried to tell her it wasn't me； that it was Garrett； all Garrett。 But she shut me down and made
tracks for