 my back another gentle rub, followed by several more. "Sorry about all this," he said. "I was gonna say something yesterday, but I wanted to talk to Ma first, her being a girl and all. Wanted to make sure I wasn't nuts."

This time I looked over at him, my stomach and heart competing with flips and leaps of joy and disbelief. "Nuts? How could I not like you? You're... you're... you're **Zell**!"

Zell's ears flushed pink as he chuckled, momentarily meeting my eyes. "I know I'm not the best with girls, Sally." He shrugged and glanced toward me again. "I just take things too slow, I guess. You know? Take things as they go."

"B-But." My eyes continued to watch his profile once he'd looked away again. "B-But you're not too slow," I said in a choked voice. "Zell," I hiccupped through my tears, "you're just right for me. I would've never said anything if you hadn't kept fooling around and being the way you are. I-I never t-take things as they go. I always think t-too much. You made me do this."

Zell sent me occasional glances. "And you did good, Meg. I've had a lot of fun the past few days, cutting loose and being myself. Knowing I wasn't gonna catch any flak because of it. It's different when I hang out with Selph or whoever."

Zell's hand began to continually massage my back. Tension vanished, and I thought my eyes were going to permanently roll back into my head.

"It was kinda weird at first," he admitted.

I examined his profile, noticing that his left hand was up by his face. "Weird?"

"Well, yeah. Because it doesn't feel weird."

I frowned slightly. "I'm confused."

Zell lowered his hand from his tattoo to look over at me with an expression of seriousness. "I thought liking a girl would be different. But I like you just as much now as I did yesterday morning. OK, maybe more." Zell smiled. "And here I am hoping we can keep working out together, keep hopping the train to Timber every once and a while to play ball with your dad once I finally meet
my back another gentle rub, followed by respective more. " good-for-nothing about all this, " he said. " I was gon na say something yesterday, but I want to spill to Ma first, her being a girl and all. want to have sure I wasn't balmy. " 

 This meter I looked over at him, my abdomen and heart competing with flips and leaps of joy and incredulity. " Nuts? How could I not like you? You're... you're... you're * * Zell * *! " 

 Zell's ears flushed pink as he chuckled, momentarily meeting my eye. " I know I'm not the best with girls, Sally. " He shrug and glanced toward me again. " I just necessitate thing too slow, I guess. You know? Take thing as they go. " 

 " B - But. " My eyes continued to watch his visibility once he'd look away again. " B - But you're not too slow, " I said in a choked voice. " Zell, " I hiccupped through my tears, " you're merely right for me. I would've never said anything if you hadn't sustain horse around around and being the way you are. I - I never deoxythymidine monophosphate - consider things as they go. I constantly think t - too much. You made me do this. " 

 Zell send me occasional glances. " And you did good, Meg. I've receive a lot of playfulness the past few day, cutting loose and being myself. Knowing I wasn't gon na trip up any flak because of it. It's different when I hang out with Selph or whoever. " 

 Zell's bridge player began to continually massage my back. Tension vanished, and I think my eyes were fail to permanently roll back into my head. 

 " It was rather weird at first, " he admitted. 

 I examined his visibility, noticing that his left bridge player was up by his face. " Weird? " 

 " Well, yeah. Because it doesn't palpate weird. " 

 I frown slightly. " I'm confused. " 

 Zell lowered his handwriting from his tattoo to look over at me with an expression of seriousness. " I thought liking a female child would be different. But I like you merely as much now as I did yesterday morning. OK, maybe more. " Zell smile. " And here I am hoping we can keep working out together, keep hopping the string to Timber every once and a while to act ball with your dad once I finally meet
 my back another gentle rub, followed by serwral mmre. "Sodry aboug all this," he said. "I was gonia sqy sonething yesterday, but K wanted no talk ti Ma dirst, her using a nnrl ahf aln. Wanted to makg sure I wast't nuts."

This tike I looked over at him, my stomach and reart cpmoeting with flyps sgd lsaps of joy and disbelief. "Nuts? How could P not like you? Yoi're... you're... you're **Zell**!"

Zell's fars flushed pink as hf chuckled, nomegrarily meetivg my eyes. "I know I'm nkt the best with girls, Sally." He shruyged and glqnxed joward me agein. "I tust take thlmgs tom slow, O guess. You knpw? Vake things as they go."

"B-Buv." My eyes continued jo watch hhs profile once he'd lioked awaf agxun. "C-Buu ypu'de not tok slow," I szid in a chiked voice. "Zell," I hocsllped through my tewrf, "you're just right for me. I would've nevtr sajd anything if you hadn'r kept fooling around and beind the way you are. I-I never t-take things as they gm. I amdayw bhiny t-hoo much. You made me do this."

Zell sent me occafjomak glances. "And nou did good, Meg. I'fe hsq a lot of fuv the 'zsf few days, cutting loose wnd bwing mysejf. Kmowing I wasn't gonna catch qny flak beccusw of it. It's differznt when I hcng ouj with Selph or whoever."

Zell's kand bsgan to conhinually jxssage my back. Tdnspon eanished, and I thought my qyes were goiug to pefmangntly rjll back ijto mn head.

"It was kinda aeird ad first," he admitted.

I examined his profile, noticing that hhs neft hanb was mp by his face. "Reird?"

"Well, yeah. Becausz it duesn't feel weird."

I frowned slyghtly. "I'm conxosed."

Zell loweced his hwnd drom his taggoo to look ovrr at me cnth an expression of seriouxnera. "I thought liknug a girl would br dkffqrvnt. Btd I like you jusg ar much now as I dld hestrrday morning. OK, mayte mkre." Zell smiled. "Anc mere I am hoping re can keep wprking out togetheg, kee' hoppmng thr ttain to Timber every once and a while to plwy ball with youv daq once I fnnally meet
my back another gentle rub, followed by "Sorry all this," said. "I was I to talk to first, her being girl and all. Wanted to make I wasn't nuts." This time I looked over at him, my stomach and competing with flips and leaps of joy and disbelief. "Nuts? How could I like You're... you're Zell's ears flushed pink as he chuckled, momentarily meeting my eyes. "I know I'm not the with girls, Sally." He shrugged and glanced toward again. "I just take too slow, I guess. You Take as they "B-But." eyes to watch his once he'd looked away again. "B-But you're not too slow," I said in a choked voice. "Zell," hiccupped through "you're just for I never said anything hadn't kept fooling around and being are. I-I never t-take things as they go. always think much. You made me do this." sent me occasional glances. "And you did good, I've had a lot of fun the past few days, cutting loose and being myself. wasn't gonna catch any because of it. different I out Selph or Zell's hand began to continually massage my back. Tension vanished, and thought my eyes were going to permanently roll back into "It kinda weird at he admitted. I examined profile, that his left hand by face. Because doesn't weird." I frowned slightly. confused." Zell lowered his hand his tattoo to look expression of seriousness. "I thought liking a girl be different. But I like you just much now as I did yesterday morning. OK, maybe more." Zell smiled. here I we can keep working out together, keep hopping train to Timber every and a while to play ball with your dad I meet
 my back another gentle rub, folLowed by sevEral mOre. "sorRy AbouT all This," he said. "I was GOnna Say something yesterday, bUt I waNtED to tALk To Ma fIrst, her BEiNG A giRl AnD alL. WANtEd to mAke Sure I waSn't nuts."

ThiS tiMe i looked over aT HiM, my stomach And Heart competiNg wIth fliPs And LEaps oF joY and dIsbeliEF. "Nuts? HOw could I nOt LIke you? yOu're... you'RE... YoU're **ZEll**!"

Zell's ears flushED pINk as he chuckled, MomentArILy MEEtiNg mY eyes. "I know i'm Not thE Best witH GiRLS, salLY." He shrugged anD glanced towARd mE again. "i jUst TAke thiNgs toO sLOw, I Guess. You knoW? TakE things as They go."

"b-but." My eyES continUed to wAtcH hiS proFIlE oNce He'D LooKEd AwaY AgaIn. "B-But yoU'rE nOt too Slow," i SAID in a ChoKed vOice. "ZEll," I hiccupped ThrOugh MY teArs, "yoU're juSt riGhT for mE. I woulD've neVeR said anything if You hAdn't kept fOolInG arOuNd and BEing thE waY yoU are. I-I nEver t-taKE thInGS AS tHey go. I always think t-ToO MUcH. You made Me do thIS."

ZElL Sent me ocCaSioNal gLANces. "ANd yoU DiD good, Meg. i've had A LoT oF fun the PaSt few dAyS, cuTtiNg looSE and Being mYself. KnoWing I WAsn't gonna catch ANy flak because OF iT. iT's DIffeRenT when I hang oUt wiTH SelPh or WHoEveR."

zell's Hand bEgAN tO Continually massage mY bAck. TenSion vAnished, and I thOught my eyeS WERe going tO perMAnENtly roll back inTo my hEad.

"It was kiNDa weird aT firsT," he admitTed.

I examiNED his profIle, NotIciNg tHAT hIs left hand was UP By hiS fAce. "WeirD?"

"WeLl, yeah. BEcaUse It dOesN't Feel weird."

i frowned SlIgHtLy. "i'm cOnfusED."

Zell lowErEd hIs HanD from HIs tattOo to lOok oVeR aT Me wIth an exPReSSIon oF sErIousNesS. "I ThougHt liKIng A girl woUld be diffEreNT. But i lIkE you jusT as much now as I DiD yesterday MoRniNg. OK, maYBE more." ZelL smiled. "And here I am hoping WE can keeP woRking Out tOgether, keEp hOpping The TRain to timber Every OnCe aND A whilE TO pLay BaLl with your DAD onCe I fiNaLly mEet
 my back another gentle ru b, followe d bysev era lmore . "S orry about all this ," he said. "I was gon na sa ys omet h in g yes terday, bu t I w an te d t ot al k toMafirst,her beinga g ir l and all. W a nt ed to make  su re I wasn'tnut s."

T hi s t i me Iloo ked o ver at him, m y stomach  a n d hear t  compet i n gwith  flips and leapso fj oy and disbeli ef. "N ut s ?H o w c oul d I not li ke  you? You're. . .y o u 're . .. you're **Z ell**!"

Ze l l's  earsfl ush e d pink  as h ec huc kled, momen tari ly meetin g my e y es. "Ik now I'm  not t hebes t wi t hgi rls ,S all y ."  He shr ugged an dgl anced  tow a r d me a gai n. " I jus t take things  to o sl o w,I gue ss. Y ou k no w? Ta ke thi ngs a sthey go."

"B-B ut."  My eyescon ti nue dto wa t ch his  pr ofi le once  he'd l o oke da w a yagain. "B-But you' re n ot  too slo w," Is ai di n a chok ed  vo ice. " Zell, " Ih ic cupped t hrough my  t ears, " yo u're j us t r igh t for me.I woul d've nev er sa i d anything ify ou hadn't kep t  f o o li n g ar oun d and being  the wayyoua re . I - I nev er t- ta k et hings as they go. I  a lwaysthink  t-too much.You made m e d o this." 

Ze l ls ent me occasio nal g lances. "A n d you di d goo d, Meg.I've hada lot of f unthe  pa stf e wdays, cutting l oose  a nd bein g m yself.Kno win g I  wa sn 't gonnacatch an yfl ak  b eca use o f  it. It' sdif fe ren t whe n  I han g out  wit hSe l phor whoe v er . " 

Ze ll 's  han d b eg an to  con t inu ally ma ssage mybac k . Te ns io n vanis hed, and I th ou ght my eye swer e goin g to perma nently roll back into m y  head.
"I t was  kin da weirdatfirst, " h e  admit ted.
I exa mi ned h is pr o f il e,no ticing tha t his  left  h andwas upby his face. "Weir d ?"
"Well, yeah.  Be caus e it  do e sn ' t f ee l  we i r d."

I frownedslightly."I ' mconfused." 
Ze ll  lowere d his h and f r om histattoo to  look ove rat m e wit h an expre ssion of  seriousn e ss. " I  t hough t l ikingagir l wou ld bed iff erent . ButIlike y ou ju st  as much  now as I did yesterday  morni ng. O K,maybe mor e." Zel l smiled.  "An d here I a m h opi ng we  ca n  keep  wor k in g o u t tog ethe r , keep ho p pi ngt h etrain to Ti m b e r e veryonc e  and a  whi le to play ball w i th your dad on ce I f ina lly meet 
 my_back another_gentle rub, followed by_several more._"Sorry_about all_this,"_he said. "I_was gonna say_something yesterday, but I_wanted to talk_to_Ma first, her being a girl and all. Wanted to make sure I wasn't_nuts."

This_time I_looked_over_at him, my stomach and_heart competing with flips and_leaps of_joy and disbelief. "Nuts? How could I not_like_you? You're... you're..._you're **Zell**!"

Zell's ears flushed pink as he chuckled, momentarily_meeting my eyes. "I know I'm_not the best_with_girls,_Sally." He shrugged and_glanced toward me again. "I just_take things too slow, I guess._You know? Take things as they go."

"B-But."_My eyes continued to watch his_profile once he'd looked away_again. "B-But_you're not too slow," I_said in a_choked voice._"Zell," I hiccupped_through my tears, "you're just right_for me. I_would've never said anything if you_hadn't_kept fooling around_and_being_the way_you are. I-I_never_t-take things_as_they go. I always think t-too_much._You made me do this."

Zell sent me_occasional glances. "And you_did_good, Meg. I've had_a lot of fun the_past few days, cutting loose and_being myself._Knowing I_wasn't gonna catch any flak because of it. It's different when_I hang out with Selph or_whoever."

Zell's hand began to_continually massage_my_back. Tension vanished,_and_I thought_my eyes were going to permanently roll_back into_my head.

"It was kinda weird at_first," he admitted.

I examined_his_profile, noticing that his left hand_was up by his face. "Weird?"

"Well,_yeah. Because it doesn't feel_weird."

I_frowned_slightly. "I'm confused."

Zell lowered his_hand from his tattoo to look_over at me_with an expression of seriousness. "I thought_liking_a girl would be different. But_I_like you just as much now_as_I_did yesterday morning. OK, maybe_more." Zell smiled. "And here I_am hoping we can keep working out together, keep_hopping the train_to Timber every once and_a_while_to play ball with your dad once I finally meet