The carnis are all kissing & telling today! Here’s one of my favorite kissing scenes from 13 ON HALLOWEEN. Twelve-year-old Roxie wants two things more than anything. She wants to become popular––a peacock, in Roxie Speak. And she wants a guy named Hayden, the coolest guy at school, to notice her. So, she throws her first-ever birthday party on Halloween, her thirteenth birthday, and invites all the peacocks and they all come. When they give her a gift that’s out of this world, her whole life changes and Roxie astral projects to Planet Popular. This is what happens when she gets there. 14 ON HALLOWEEN will release this summer.
I’m sitting in the middle of a parking lot at a school. In the middle of a lane with rows of cars, really nice cars, on either side of me. And right then is the first time I know, I really believe, I might never get home. And I understand what that really means more than I did before. And now I’m not so down with it. But I keep thinking that being the James T. Kirk of Peacocks will be worth it. Hayden’s older brother gives me a hand up. We walk to the school together. He holds the door to the school open and says, “We’re late.”
The next thing I know I’m sitting in class. Hayden’s older brother sits next to me. I so don’t belong here. I’m in freaking high school. A buzzer sounds after physics class and Hayden’s older brother walks up to me.
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Ok,” I say because I don’t know what else to say and when I can’t think of anything to say I usually agree with everyone.
“Wait, where are we going?” I say.
“What are you kidding me?” he says and holds my hand. We walk down the hall together. And then he turns around and he holds my other hand and it happens. It just happens so fast. Not like in the movies at all, where it’s this big freaking deal or it’s during some date at a movie. Hayden’s older brother kisses me. My first kiss.
My first kiss is with a freaking doppelganger. A shadow person. But, he seems so, real. I get over it pretty quick because he tastes like vanilla ice cream and red hots. I have no idea why he tastes like vanilla ice cream and red hots but I want to kiss him again this time so I’ll remember it. The whole second kiss. Only this time the kiss is crazier. Weirder. He opens his mouth and in the middle of the kiss his tongue rolls over mine. I laugh. Because, sometimes, when I don’t know what else to do, I laugh.
“What is it?” he says.
“It tickles,” I say.
“Since when?”
“I don’t know, it just, does.”
“Roxie, you’re a riot. It’s what I love about you.” He laughs.
I’m trapped in the body of a popular girl. A way older popular girl. And I’m doing older, popular girl things. And my knees go all wobbly. I feel my forehead, because I can’t believe this is really happening, even though I know it is, but it could be a fever-induced dream instead just because of how wobbly I feel. I look around to see if there’s any trace of my attic around, like maybe I can still see the portal that sucked me in. But there isn’t anything except couples, like us, talking in whispers and a bunch of jocks running through the hall. They slap high-fives to Hayden’s brother.
“Hayden, dude.”
Hayden. No way. I kissed Hayden? If this guy is Hayden, then it’s years from now. I mean years from eighth grade. And we’re dating.
Want some more Kiss & Tell? Check out my fellow Carnis!
The term ‘peacock’ reminds me of ‘peacocking,’ when you court someone by dressing and acting grandiose. That sounds like popular kids for sure.
So tell me Laura, why did he taste like vanilla and red hots? Ha ha. 🙂
LOL! Hmmmm….I’d tell you but then I’d have to astral project you!
AH…peacocking….Roxie uses lots of animals as verbs [usually] It all started when my friends told me I should write about a character who talks like me. On days when I’m not getting a lot done, I say I hamster [doing lots of things but none of them really matter]. So I created a character who sees herself and her place in the world in terms of the animal kingdom. I4 on Halloween is a lot of fun, but a bit darker….;) Thanks for stopping by!
Great scene. I love it!! Can’t wait to read the book now. It’s on my Kindle all ready to go. Now I just need to find some time 🙂
Melissa, I KNOW! Isn’t it crazy? Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by Laurasmagicday. I’m SUPER excited for your new TRILOGY! Congrats on the new release:) *waves*
LOVED this book–great excerpt, Laura–this part made me smile 🙂
Thanks so much Patti. You made my day! Thanks for stopping by:)
OMG I’ve GOT to read your book… I love the way you write!! It sounds exactly like my kind of book, Laura!
FABULOUS!!
🙂 So sweet. Thanks for the kind words Suzy. Roxie is one of my fave characters:) Thanks for stopping by and reading a little bit of 13 on Halloween!