第26部分(第1/7 頁)

do　that　again；　only　this　time　I've　got　a　schedule　all

worked　out　so　that　it's　even　every　where。”　She　giggles　and　says；　“Don't　tell　my　mom；　okay？

She　would　have　a　ka…nip！”

And　this；　my　friend；　is　how　the　Tan　Wars　began。　Miranda　told　Shelly　that　she　didn't　even

notice　her　tan　at　the　beginning　of　the　year　and　that　the

place　to　really　roast　is　on　a　cruise　ship。　Shelly　told　Miranda　that　anyone　with　freckles　can't

really　get　tan　and　since　Miranda　had　freckles　everywhere；

the　cruise　was　a　guaranteed　waste　of　money。　I　choked　down　my　third　of　the　lunch　and

looked　around　the　room；　trying　to　let　it　all　flow　past　me。

Then　I　saw　Juli。　She　was　two　tables　away　from　me；　facing　my　direction。　Only　she　wasn't

looking　at　me。　She　was　looking　at　Jon；　her　eyes　all

sparkly　and　laughing。

My　heart　lurched。　What　was　she　laughing　about？　What　were　they　talking　about？　How　could

she　sit　there　and　look　so…　beautiful？

I　felt　myself　spinning　out　of　control。　It　was　weird。　Like　I　couldn't　even　steer　my　own　body。　I'd

always　thought　Jon　was　pretty　cool；　but　right　then　I

wanted　to　go　over　and　throw　him　across　the　room。

Shelly　grabbed　my　arm　and　said；　“Bryce；　are　you　all　right？　You　look…I　don't　know…

possessed　or　something。”

“What？　Oh。”　I　tried　taking　a　deep　breath。　“What　are　you　staring　at？”　Miranda　asked。　They

both　looked　over　their　shoulders；　then　shrugged　and

went　back　to　picking　at　their　food。

But　I　couldn't　stop　myself　from　looking　again。　And　in　the　back　of　my　mind；　I　could　hear　my

grandfather's　voice　saying；　“The　choices　you　make　now

will　affect　you　for　the　rest　of　your　life。　Do　the　right　thing…。”

Do　the　right　thing…。

D