BRYCE

Thinking about that day in junior high when I nearly kissed Juliana Baker in front of almost half the school still makes me shudder. You'd think I'd be able to laugh it off by now-oh those crazy hormones, kids always do things without considering the consequences, you know how it is. You'd think.

Thankfully, the third or fourth day after the incident held better memories. Feeling Juli's small hand under mine on the cold soil surrounding the base of that baby sycamore was a feeling I knew I'd never forget. I remember us quietly sitting and looking at the tree, and I remember my heart racing as her skin remained pressed against mine on that mound of fresh dirt, and I remember the way the breeze laced its way through my hair.

Minutes later, we sat on the swing on her front porch, and we talked in a manner we'd never talked in before. It was then that I realized that Juli had a way of making me feel like we were the only two living things on the planet, and all that mattered were the words we said to each other. I was glad to see she was okay with talking about the old tree so I felt comfortable asking her about it.

"What was it like getting interviewed by the newspaper?" I awkwardly laughed, "Did you feel like a movie star?"

She smirked to herself in a way that could only be described as adorable and stared down at her lap. She sighed, "I... I really thought I could stop them."

My body got cold really quickly. "I'm sorry I didn't go up there with you, Juli."

Her green eyes met my gaze, "It's... It wouldn't have changed anything anyway."

"Maybe... I don't know, maybe it could have? I was scared," I spoke, "Shit, I'm scared of everything." She only shrugged in response, then a quick grin grew on her face.

"I wouldn't say everything." I immediately knew she was referencing the Basket Boys lunch episode and I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks.

"I'm trying not to be so scared, I guess," I mumbled as I scratched the back of my neck, "You seem like you'd be a good teacher at that... fearless." Juli's eyelashes fluttered as she smiled at me and it was at that moment that I realized I wanted to be the reason behind that smile every second of every day.

"You think I'm fearless?"

"I know you are. Everybody does." She bit her bottom lip and gazed out at the street. I followed her gaze and stared at my house and wondered about all the thoughts that would run through her mind every time she looked at it.

We sat on that porch for another hour, talking about names for the new sycamore. I was really pushing for "Tree" but she wasn't quite keen on that one. I don't think we settled on a name and our conversation was abruptly ended by Mom, who stepped out of the house and waved me in.

Before we knew it, the school year was over and Juli and I were spending every summer day together. We liked biking out to the outskirts of town. Arriving at the hidden destinations we'd discovered, lungs out of breath and muscles aching, we'd set our bikes down and explore for hours.

One day, we were standing on an arch bridge, overlooking the greens and blues of what seemed like an endless creek, and Juli was pushing her long, dark tresses out of her face, saying something about how amazing it was that the sun was just a ball in the sky. She chuckled softly and I looked over at her and she leaned towards the edge, arms resting on the wooden barrier, chest rising and falling from the hour bike ride we just had. Before I knew it, our faces were inches away and my stomach had gone completely numb, knowing that in just a few more seconds, I'd be able to say I was the lucky sucker that got to kiss Juliana Baker. I was staring at her. Reeling.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp sting on my ankle and all my attention was diverted to the massive wasp that was sitting right on my shoe. I shouted in anguish and saw Juli bend down in a flash, intrepidly waving the wasp away. Leave it to her to so passively dismiss one of the gnarliest insects I've ever seen. I watched the thick bug fly away and, like the manly man I was, bounced around on my good foot, wincing and repeating 'ow!' over and over again.

Once I was finally hunched over the railing, I felt Juli's hand rubbing my back.

"It's not going to hurt for long, okay, Bryce?... It looks like he only got you once, that's lucky... We're gonna have to take the stinger out, that is if it's even in there, and get ice on it right away, okay?... There was a general store we passed, I'm sure we can get some for you... Bryce?"

"Okay, okay," my words were rushed as I tightened my fists, waiting for the searing, burning pain to end.

"That's weird that he bit you- most bugs only bite when they feel threatened. Did you say anything bad about him?" She laughed at herself. Despite the anguish, I couldn't help but chuckle at her dorky little joke. "It's going to be okay. You're not allergic are you?"

"Only to kiwi," I replied. I was surprised she didn't know that- doesn't she know everything there is in this universe to know?

"Based on my expertise, I don't think you have to worry about any kiwi in that sting," she chuckled again.

"Laughing at my pain, huh?"

"No," Juli laughed a little harder. I tried to slowly put my foot down on the ground, but quickly bent it back up once my ankle filled with hot pain."You should sit down." Before I could react, Juli took my arm and swung it around her shoulders, slowly leading me off the bridge and back to the field we set our bikes down on. Being so close to her helped relieve the ache of the sting, but it also sent butterflies to my stomach, which I wasn't a big fan of.

She slowly sat me down, bad leg stretched out, good leg bent up, then inspected the sting. "Does it hurt?"

"Oh, no," I sarcastically answered, "Feels kind of good, actually. Like a little massage." Juli snickered and playfully hit my knee, then went back to studying my ankle.

"Looks like there's no stinger in there," she mumbled, "I'll be right back." Before I could say anything, Juli stood and hopped up on her bike. I laid back, and I couldn't stop thinking about Juli's lips. Her eyes. Her hair. Her smile. I have a feeling that if I was listening carefully enough right before that almost kiss, I would've heard all the bees, wasps, and hornets in the world saying Bryce is about to get something nice in his life! We better step in and make sure that doesn't happen.

About ten minutes later, she came back as abruptly as she left. The small bag of ice she pressed against my ankle directed me to let out a sigh of happiness. I laid back on the grass, feeling the cool relief.

"We owe Sal thirty cents," she said, holding the ice with one hand and reaching into her pocket with the other.

"Sal?"

"The man at the general store. Really trusting. I like that in a person." I couldn't help but laugh. I sat up again to watch her looking down at the bag of ice on my ankle and gently patting the bag on my sting. She glanced over at me to catch me staring. I spinelessly looked away.

"Let me have that sweater?" Juli asked. I unquestionably pulled off my cardigan and handed to her. She bunched up the navy blue fabric and lifted my leg, then rested it back on the sweater. "Good to keep it elevated." Is there something this girl doesn't know?

"You planning to become a doctor or something?" She looked up and her forest green eyes mesmerised me.

"Maybe," she let out a shy chuckle. "Is it feeling better?"

"Much," I sighed, "Thank you." Talk about a late apology.

"Good." Juli had a small smile on her face and I couldn't help but mirror it.

"You're a really caring person, Juli." Her smile grew bigger.

"It's just a little first aid." That's when I realized that the great, invincible Juli couldn't even give herself a little credit. I made a promise to myself to fix that.

As we rode back to our neighbourhood, right ankle pinching with pain, I couldn't stop thinking about how we almost kissed.

JULIANA

I couldn't stop thinking about how we almost kissed. Not at the Basket Boy lunch, which by now I thought of as a fairly nice memory, even though when it happened I felt strange and uncomfortable and like I wanted to curl up under a table. The almost kiss I couldn't stop thinking about was the one on the bridge. I was the closest I'd ever been to Bryce Loski. I could smell the fabric softener on his clothes and the shampoo that I could have sworn was candy-scented.

On that slow bike-ride home, I wondered if I'd ever get that close to him again. If I'd ever get to kiss him.

When we got to our street, stopping right in between our houses in the middle of the street like we always did, Bryce shambled off the bike, his face red and his mouth pulled in a pained smile.

"I'll see you later, Juli. Thank you for the first aid." I smiled at him and watched him walk his bike to his garage, drop it on the pavement, and limp into the house. I had no idea that that was the last time we would bike together.

The next day, I knocked on Bryce's front door to see if he wanted to ride down to the fair I heard was in town, and was greeted by his tired face. His blonde hair was a mess and he was in his plaid pyjamas. It was strange yet nice to see him in such a private state.

"You don't look so hot," I mumbled. He sighed and nodded, closing the gap between the door and the frame, embarrassingly hiding behind the door. The longer I looked at his reddened eyes, the more it seemed like he had just been crying.

He looked down quickly, as if he could read my thoughts. "Yeah, I must've caught- caught a cold or something."

"Is your sting okay?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah, it's not the sting. It's definitely something else."

"I came to see if you wanted to bike down to the fair, but you don't seem like you're in good shape for that." The side of his mouth went up in a smirk.

"Yeah..." Bryce mumbled, "Actually I think I want to-" He stopped talking as if he'd been interrupted. I involuntarily stepped closer and he cleared his throat. "No, yeah, I'm gonna have to pass. Tomorrow, we can go?"

"Okay. Tomorrow," I nodded, unconvinced. "Feel better." He thanked me and smiled, then closed the door.

I spent the next hour biking up to where we went the day before. I was so bothered by what happened with Bryce. Yesterday he tells me I'm caring and almost kisses me, and today he practically pushes me off his front step and won't tell me what's wrong, even though he knows I'm here for him!

I told myself to stop being upset over it. I had to remember that Bryce wasn't the most straightforward of people.

As promised, I went to the general store and found the kind vendor who gave me free ice. Sal. When I walked in, he didn't look the least bit surprised. I put the thirty cents on the plastic counter separating us.

"Thanks again," I softly mumbled, and turned to leave, in no mood to talk to anyone.

"Your name is Juli, right?" he grumbled. I turned to see his greying moustache stretch out with the smile that grew on his face.

"Yes."

"Is your friend okay?"

"Yeah, he's okay," I looked down, wishing I was better at hiding my emotions.

"Is everything alright, darling?" I stepped forward, figuring if I was to put these feelings everywhere, what better place than a corner store an hour away from home?

"That friend... he just kind of brushed me off today. Without so much as an explanation. I know something's wrong with him, but he just won't tell me."

Sal sighed and leaned on the counter. "Nothing makes you feel more crummy that being dismissed like that." I nodded and put my hands in my pockets. "Please, have a popsicle on the house."

"Oh, you don't have to do that."

"I insist! Besides, that freezer's rickety anyway. Better for that ice cream to be eaten then to just melt in there."

"Thank you," I went over to the freezer and picked out a fudge popsicle.

"Say, Juli," Sal pronounced, "I'm getting old and my son just left for a cruise with his aunt and uncle, so I don't have any extra help around here. What do you say about working here for the rest of the summer?" I was apprehensive but something I always thought of myself as was an opportunity-seizer.

"Really?"

"Yes, and I already know you're trustworthy, which is all I need in an employee! You won't have to do much. Just stock and maybe man the register here and there. My son will be back by September."

"That sounds great," I chirped. I was worrying about what my parents would say but I'd cross that bridge when I got to it.

"Swell! And here I was thinking I'd have to do interviews and consider candidates and all that mumbo jumbo. Can you start tomorrow? Say 9 am? I've got about ten boxes of soap to put away and my back just won't let me do the job."

"Definitely, sir!" Sal put his thin fingers beneath the overalls with a satisfied grin.

"Please, call me Sal. Does $1.25 an hour work for you?" I nodded happily, surprised at how quickly my day had turned around.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Sal."

The next day, I was at the store, stocking soap and mopping floors, after, of course, spending about an hour trying to convince my parents to let their 14-year-old daughter out into the work force.

Months had passed and I still hadn't spent any time with Bryce. After about five attempts of getting him out of the house, I decided he'd come out when he's good and ready, and for now, I'd be spending time with my family and biking around and working at the store.

It still hurt me, though. That almost kiss on the bridge happened then he just stopped making any effort with me. I wish I could tell him that we could be just friends. As much as I wanted to kiss him, he didn't have to. But I was still left wondering why he tried to kiss me at the Basket Boys lunch

I hated how much time I spent wondering why Bryce was ignoring me.

Before I knew it, it was mid-August. As I stood at the counter, fanning myself from the thick humidity that took over the store, I heard the windchime on the door shake and saw a boy who looked a little older than me walk towards the counter.

His blue eyes studied me. "Who are you?"

"Pardon me?" I snapped. Customer service, Juli. If they're rude, don't be rude back. You don't want to get in trouble for this again. I cleared my throat, "My name is Juli, can I help you?

His floppy brown hair fell in front of his eyes, and he blew it out of his face. "Yeah, where's the owner?"

"Sal's in the back, I can get him for you."

"It's fine." He stormed towards the back of the store. Before I could think about tackling him, I heard him shout, "Dad!" And I realized that that was Evan, Sal's beloved son I always heard about. Didn't seem as great as I thought.

Soon enough, they came out together. Sal had a grin plastered on his face, Evan a scowl.

Sal looked over at his son, "I've talked about you to Juli, but I never got to talk about Juli to you! Meet Sal's General Store newest employee." I tried to fake a smile, for Sal's sake.

"Do you need me here or not, Dad?"

Sal looked at me, kind of embarrassed, "You can help us get ahead of schedule and bring all the boxes from receiving to the front?" Evan quickly nods with a tired expression and bolts away. Sal only gave me a tight grin and followed his son.

Minutes later, Evan came back in and rounded the counter, standing across from me as I organized the cash register.

"Hey, Juli, right?" I looked up to see his blue eyes pointing my way. "I'm sorry for when I came in, I was being..."

"A spaz?"

He chuckled, "My mouth runs faster than my brain sometimes."

"I know the feeling," I reply.

"Anyways, I just wanted to let you know I'm not that awful all the time. Just sometimes." I tried to remember everything Sal told me about his son, but all I could remember was that he was two years my senior, a sophomore in high school, and that he wanted to be a mechanic. His lanky figure towered over me and he rested his elbows on the counter and it was the first time I was feeling butterflies in my stomach that weren't for Bryce. Which I felt happy and sad about at the same time.