第28部分(第3/8 頁)

　on

him。”

“What？”　I　took　a　step　back。　“Who　told　you　that？　I　am　not！”

“Someone　said　they　saw　you　with　a　whole　wad　of　cash　this　morning。　How　much　do　you

have？”

“It's　…　it's　none　of　your　business。　And　I'm　not　bidding；　okay？　I　…I　don't　even　like　him

anymore。”

She　laughed；　“Oh；　that'll　be　the　day！”

“It's　true。”　I　slammed　my　locker　closed。　“Go　ahead　and　waste　your　money　on　him。　I　don't

care。”

I　left　her　there　with　her　mouth　open；　which　felt　even　better　than　getting　her　in　a　headlock。

That　feeling　carried　me　clear　through　to　eleven　o'clock；　when　the　entire　student　body

assembled　in　the　gymnasium。　I　was　not　going　to　bid　on

Bryce　Loski。　No　way！

Then　the　basket　boys　came　out　on　the　stage。　Bryce　looked　so　adorable　holding　a　picnic

basket　with　red…and…white…checked　napkins　peeking　out

from　either　side；　and　the　thought　of　Shelly　Stalls　flipping　one　of　those　napkins　into　her　lap

nearly　made　the　bills　in　my　pocket　burst　into　flames。

Darla　came　up　behind　me　and　whispered；　“Rumor　is　you've　got　a　wad　of　cash。　Is　that　true？”

“What？　No！　I　mean；　yes；　but　I　…　I'm　not　bidding。”

“Oooo；　girl；　look　at　you。　You　feelin'　all　right？”

I　wasn't。　I　felt　sick　to　my　stomach　and　shaky　in　the　knees。　“I'm　fine；”　I　told　her。　“Fine。”

She　looked　from　me　to　the　stage　and　back　to　me。　“You　got　nothin'　to　lose　but　your　self…

respect。”

“Stop　it！”　I　whisper