Chapter 2-014

My solution to Shelly Stalls was to ignoreher, which worked just dandy until about halfway through the fifth grade when Isaw her holding hands with Bryce. My Bryce. The one who was still embarrassedover holding my hand two days before the second grade. The one who was stilltoo shy to say much more than hello to me. The one who was still walking aroundwith my first kiss. How could Shelly have wormed herhand into his? That pushy little princess had no business hanging on to him like that! Bryce looked over hisshoulder from time to time as they walked along, and he was looking at me. Myfirst thought was that he was telling me he was sorry. Then it dawned on me— he needed my help. Absolutely,that's what it had to be! Shelly Stalls was too delicateto shake off, too swirly to be pushedaway. She'd unravel and start sniffling and oh,how embarrassing that would be for him! No, this wasn't a job a boy could dogracefully. This was a job for a girl.