The Basket Boys (Julianna)
- Juli is back to school after the Loski dinner, and she's still convinced that she is over Bryce. So when it comes time to vote for Basket Boys in class, she doesn't vote for him—instead she votes for five nice guys and calls it a day.
- But later she feels super funky when she sees Bryce's name on the list. And she feels even more possessive when she learns Shelly Stalls wants to bid on him.
- At home after school, Juli is excited to see that her grass is growing… but then hides in her room when Bryce gets home.
- All week Juli convinces herself that she doesn't like Bryce. And that she's not going to bid on him. But on auction day, she starts getting jealous again that Shelly Stalls might get her man.
- Juli decides not to bring any money to school, but then Mrs. Stueby forces her to take the money she owes Juli for her eggs.
- Now Juli has eighteen bucks and is feeling a little tempted. When Shelly accuses Juli of bringing money to bid on Bryce though, Juli tells her that she can have him.
- At the auction Juli is tempted to bid on Bryce again; her friend Darla helps her make the strong decision and let Bryce go, though.
- But then when Jon Trulock is up for auction and no one bids on him, Juli feels super guilty—and responsible, since she voted for him to be a Basket Boy in the first place. So she bids on Jon and wins. Then Shelly and Miranda duke it out with Jenny as they bid on Bryce.
- So Juli eats lunch with Jon, which is actually kind of fun since he is a nice guy. Juli can see Shelly and Miranda eating with Bryce, but she thinks the girls look pretty ridiculous.
- When Shelly and Miranda start fighting, Bryce ends up at Juli's table and pulls her away. He asks her if she likes Jon, and then he tries to kiss her. Juli seriously freaks out—she doesn't know what to do, so she runs back to her seat (which is one way to handle it).
- Juli avoids Bryce for the rest of the school day and races home.
- In her room, Juli explains everything to her mom. She tells her all about the mean things Bryce said about Uncle David, about the auction, the almost-kiss, everything. Juli feels especially bad that she told Chet about Uncle David.
- But Mrs. Baker isn't mad at all. She tells Juli that it's fine for anyone to know about David. Mrs. B also says that she's been spending a lot of time with Mrs. Loski lately because she and Mr. Loski are fighting pretty badly—it's like Mrs. Loski is seeing the real guy she married (a.k.a. a huge jerk) for the first time.
- When they talk about Bryce, Mrs. Loski says that he might have changed. Juli doesn't know what to think though, so she uses her favorite method: she avoids Bryce all week.
- One day, Bryce starts planting something in Juli's front yard—apparently her dad gave him permission. Juli is upset that Bryce is digging up her grass, but soon she's speechless because Bryce has planted… a sycamore tree. Aw…
- So now Juli is more confused than ever. She wants to know what's going on in Bryce's handsome head. And she's got an idea for how to move forward: "Maybe it's time to meet him in the proper light" (14.268). Sound like a pretty good idea to us.