ng just looking at it！ But it was in Mrs。 Loski's hands； and I knew there
was no getting it back。 All I could do was try to eat up
the smells while I listened to the two of them discuss grocery stores and the weather forecast。
After that Mom and I went home。 It was very strange。 I hadn't gotten to play with Bryce at all。
All I knew was that his eyes were a dizzying blue； that
he had a sister who was not to be trusted； and that he'd almost kissed me。
I fell asleep that night thinking about the kiss that might have been。 What did a kiss feel like；
anyway？ Somehow I knew it wouldn't be like the one I
got from Mom or Dad at bedtime。 The same species； maybe； but a radically different beast；
to be sure。 Like a wolf and a whippet—only science
would put them on the same tree。
Looking back on the second grade； I like to think it was at least partly scientific curiosity that
made me chase after that kiss； but to be honest； it
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was probably more those blue eyes。 All through the second and third grades I couldn't seem
to stop myself from following him； from sitting by him；
from just wanting to be near him。
By the fourth grade I'd learned to control myself。 The sight of him—the thought of him—still
sent my heart humming； but my legs didn't actually
chase after him anymore。 I just watched and thought and dreamed。
Then in the fifth grade Sh