第21部分(第4/7 頁)

hey　look　wonderful！　Absolutely　wonderful！”　My　mother　was　acting　so　hyper　I　couldn't

believe　it。　She　took　Juli's　pie；　then　whooshed　a　path　to　the

kitchen　with　Mrs。　Baker。

Lyta　appeared　from　around　the　corner；　which　made　Matt　and　Mike　grin　and　say；　“Hey；

Lyn。　Lookin'　good。”

Black　skirt；　black　nails；　black　eyes　—　for　a　nocturnal　rodent；　yeah；　I　suppose　she　was　looking

good。

They　disappeared　down　to　Lyta's　room；　and　when　I　turned　around；　my　granddad　was

taking　Mr。　Baker　into　the　front　room；　which　left　me　in　the

entry　hall　with　Juli。　Alone。

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　eve