第29部分(第5/8 頁)

　up　in　the　air。　“He　tried　to　kiss　me！”

My　mother　struggled　not　to　let　it　show；　but　underneath　her　posed　expression　was　a

growing　smile。　She　leaned　in　a　little　and　asked；　“Who

did？”

“Bryce！”

She　hesitated。　“But　you've　always　liked　him…。”

The　doorbell　rang。　And　rang　again。　My　mom　started　to　get　up；　but　I　grabbed　her　arm　and

said；　“Don't　get　that！”　The　bell　rang　again；　and　almost

right　after　that　there　was　a　loud　knocking　at　the　door。　“Mom；　please！　Don't　get　it。　That's

probably　him！”

“But　sweetheart　…”

“I　was　over　him！　pletely　over　him！”

“Since　when？”

“Since　last　Friday。　After　the　dinner。　If　he　had　vanished　from　the　face　of　the　earth　after　our

dinner　at　the　Loskis'；　I　wouldn't　have　cared！”

“Why？　Did　something　happen　at　the　dinner　that　I　don't　know　about？”

I　threw　myself　back　onto　my　pillow　and　said；　“It's　too　plicated；　Mom！　I　…I　just　can't　talk

about　it。”

“My；”　she　said　after　a　moment。　“Don't　you　sound　like　a　teenager。”

“I'm　sorry；”　I　whimpered；　because　I　knew　I　was　hurting　her　feelings。　I　sat　up　and　said；　“Mom；

all　those　years　I　liked　him？　I　never　really　knew　him。　All

I　knew　was　that　he　had　the　most　beautiful　eyes　I'd　ever　seen　and　that　his　smile　melted　my

heart　like　the　sun　melts　butter。　But　now　I　know　that　inside

he's　a　coward　and　a　sneak；　so　I've　got　to　get　over　what　he's　like　on　the　outside！”

My　mother　leaned