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？”