The Harper Boys

an

l

hen parked. I turned off the

talk about it?"

want a lecture." Tori

ut I'm curious about wh

d. "Bradle

e as my an

decke

urled int

eacon was pi

helping her. She

at me as I

ended things

, I

didn't de

r. It's not like guys a

e. Tori changed a lot. She wasn't that kid I sat next to

strolled into the house

k up Tori?"

t was a wonderful

s. "So, what do you

nd tapped on my brother's doors. They

" I told m

e got in, and Deacon sat in the back, leaning in between th

boys going?"

Wilson

were going. He went back into the house

out. Deacon knew the drill. Nate and I leaned agai

y have the Clap with one

ner, Tim, and Deacon ap

y, you little sh

one-pump chump? I mean, it

they saw us. Yeah, we got bigger while they didn't. Nate and Deacon dropped Conner and Tim as I grabbed Br

touch or go near Tori agai

that ate the canary. The police stepped towards us. Dad and Greg stopped the cops as we

r parents. We walked

ou say?" I

to charge Bradley Wilson with an assault. I fib

truth. Dad gave me a knowing

*

o

bed a bag of frozen peas, put it on my lip, then went to my bedroom. I sho

edroom and sat down next to me. Then I cried. H

n't you

you to lecture

id you

con, but Elia

know Elias

ed home a fe

ll Elias wh

hed.

did he

but he ne

nk back to when Elias called me his kid sister. I doubt

nt the evening in my room, reading a book. Someone tapped on my wind

e, and closed my book. I rolled over, flung open

n, I s

s held two Slurpees. "I

hy

could use som

reen, slipped my feet into a pair of shoes, and left my bedroom. I cam

a picnic table with Slurpees, did that for me. I walked over to the table and

ank

re we

meet a snooty

et fake

igg

imagined. Then again, my mom sai

ou dated

s eyes. "Yeah,

icke

u date Brad

different. Yeah, h

ur standard

othing like getting reminde

not my bes

g down your door to ask you o

ped my lips with my fing

glance

a guy, but he didn't

uy wasn't aware

I made it

Elias arched a

ea

ou sa

d look. This conver

t meeting a guy. He's

oubt

th a toad. We talked a little more. Then I went

e you?" Mo

e, and we talked. Are you

e box down, pushing it away. "

ut my poor cho

O

I don't know why everyone is curious about my la

*

l

o see my mom and brothe

u had gone to the

ge look. "You told me

right. I di

ll is wrong

lotting?" I ent

ow to keep the leec

re not discussing Br

se?" Na

help you. I can't stan

did idea. You can pretend

d work this to my advantage and spend time with

ver go for it,

hy not?"

them?" Deacon asked. "That's like eating

. Wait. Tori ha

r crush refers to you as

at I said in the cabin. Then I realiz

e of our busine

and Deacon off my case. I didn't mean it. I liked Tori. I didn't know what

to spend time wi

n't hurt,

seems like a big deal. When you get older, the gap shortens. Plus, it'