迪文小说

第23部分（第2页）

Friday　at　school　I　avoided　the　blue…eyed　brat　the　best　I　could；　but　that　night　as　I　got　dressed；

I　found　myself　staring　at　the　painting　my　father　had

given　me　and　became　furious　all　over　again。　Bryce　had　never　been　a　friend　to　me；　ever！　He

hadnt　made　a　stand　for　the　tree；　hed　thrown　away　my

eggs；　and　hed　made　fun　of　me　at　my　uncles　expense…。　Why　was　I　playing　along　like　we

were　jolly　friends　and　neighbors？

When　my　mother　called　that　it　was　time　to　go；　I　went　out　in　the　hall　with　every　intention　of

telling　her　that　I　would　not；　could　not　go　to　the　Loskis　for

dinner；　but　she　looked　so　lovely　and　happy　that　I　couldnt。　I　just　couldnt。　I　took　a　deep　breath；

wrapped　up　a　pie；　and　shuffled　across　the　street

behind　my　brothers　and　parents。

Chet　answered　the　door。　Maybe　I　shouldve　been　mad　at　him；　too；　for　telling　the　Loskis　about

my　uncle；　but　I　wasnt。　I　hadnt　asked　him　not　to　tell；

and　he　certainly　wasnt　the　one　making　fun　of　David。

………　Page　70………

Mrs。　Loski　came　up　behind　Chet；　whisked　us　in；　and　fluttered　about。　And　even　though　she

had　quite　a　bit　of　makeup　on；　I　was　surprised　to　see

the　blueness　of　bags　beneath　her　eyes。　Then　Mrs。　Loski　and　my　mother　went　off　with　the

pies；　my　brothers　vanished　down　the　hall　with　Lyta；　and

my　father　followed　Chet　into　the　living　room。

And　wasnt　that　just　dandy？　That　left　me　alone　in　the　foyer　with　Bryce。

He　said　hi　to　me　and　I　lost　it。　I　spun　on　him；　snapping；　“Dont　you　speak　to　me！　I　overheard

you　and　Garrett　in　the　library；　and　I　dont　want　to　talk　to

you　now　or　ever！”

I　started　to　walk　into　the　living　room；　but　he　stopped　me。　“Juli！　Juli；　wait！”　he　whispered。　“Im

not　the　bad　guy　here！　That　was　Garrett。　That　was　all

Garrett！”

I　glared　at　him。　“I　know　what　I　heard。”

“No！　No　you　dont！　I　…I　was　feeling　bad　about；　you　know；　the　eggs　and　what　Id　said　about

your　yard。　I　didnt　know　anything　about　your　uncle　or

what　kind　of　situation　your　family　was　in；　okay？　I　just　wanted　to　talk　to　someone　about　it。”

Our　eyes　locked　for　a　minute；　and　for　the　first　time　the　blueness　of　his　didnt　freeze　up　my

brain。　“I　heard　you　laugh。　He　made　a　joke　about　me

being　a　retard；　and　you　laughed。”