Todays daily sample is brought to us from Edie Ramer.
Edie Ramer is an award-winning indie author whose short stories have been published in national magazine. She’s gotten a lot of great reviews for CATTITUDE, which is about a cat who switches bodies with a woman and keeps her cat attitude—even as someone tries to kill her and she falls in love with her former owner. It’s on sale at most online places for only 99 cents.
Enjoy the excerpt!
Belle jerked her head away from Max’s chest. Wasn’t it bad enough she was inside this human body? With these clumsy arms that didn’t propel her forward when she wanted to leap and run? With this ugly furless skin? And now Max wanted to take her to the hospital. How could he do something so horrible?
Three years of sitting on Tory’s lap, being petted while they watched Tory’s favorite TV show, The Love Chronicles, had taught Belle what happened in hospitals. People would poke and prod her and stick her with needles. Plus, she might fall in love, lose her memory, be murdered by someone disguised as a doctor, and maybe have a baby. A human baby.
No! She was not going to let that happen.
Belle’s arms dropped from around his back. Her palms slammed into his chest and he lurched backward. The blanket slid off her shoulders and pooled around her ankles. She leaped, twisting to face the ditch and thicket of trees. The heaviness of her new body made her land with a stagger. Then she followed her feline instincts and sprang forward.
“What the hell—” Max shouted.
Belle lurched. Her human legs didn’t want to obey her. She tried to force them to move faster, but it was like wading through snow. Crouching to avoid low tree branches, she darted into the trees at a fraction of her normal speed.
This was her environment. As fast as Max was, he wouldn’t catch her unless she let him, even with his clumsy limbs.
“Get back here,” he called. “I’m trying to help you.”
“She looks pretty damn healthy to me.” The amusement in Ted’s voice carried to Belle. “If she wants to go, let her.”
“I’m not leaving until I find her,” Max said.
Crashing noises came from the trees near the road. Max. She put her hand over her mouth, to stop a cry from coming out. She’d never thought she’d run from him. Never thought he’d be the one that made her heart thump in fear.
Her human feet made noises too. She glanced down at them. They were covered with soft-soled tie shoes like the ones Max and Ted wore. Maybe if she walked on the balls of her feet, she wouldn’t crunch with every step. She’d be quiet . . . like a cat.
For two steps she tried, but walking this way was slower than stalking an ant. The crashing noises moved to her left. Close, too close. Belle spied a tree with low branches, grabbed the closest branch and pulled herself up. Her arms ached, as if they didn’t want to do this. She set her mouth and commanded them to obey.
This human body was so clumsy. No stretch, no agility, no energy.
Belle hated it. Where was her cat body? She wanted it back.
Max smashed through the woods, leaves crunching beneath his shoes, branches cracking. Belle changed her opinion that dogs were the clumsiest creatures. Her muscles straining, she pulled up to another branch, then another.
None of the branches had leaves. If he looked up . . .
Biting back gasping breaths, Belle hung on. Max walked below her, looking at the ground, as if for tracks. Stopping, he glanced around.
“Where are you?” he shouted.
Belle clasped the branch, its bark rough on her soft human hands. She couldn’t go to the hospital. She had to stay here, find her cat body and claim it back.
Don’t look up. Don’t look up. Don’t look—
She stopped her silent commands. The last time she wanted something so fervently was when Caroline flung her into the path of the car. Her frantic plea had worked, but look what happened. If it worked this time, she might change into a bird.
Belle shuddered. Being a bird would be worse than being a human. Cats ate birds.
Max raised his head—a movement that made Belle swallow a whimper—and he called out, “If you come right now, I’ll help you. I won’t let anyone hurt you. You have my word on it.” He cocked his head, listening and waiting.
Belle clung to the branch, afraid to breathe. Her hands were growing colder by the second. She wanted to drop into his arms and let him take care of her. But she was a cat, not a puny human who let Max do everything for her like his mother, sister and sometimes Ted. Sure, she let Max feed and water her, but look what she did in return. He didn’t see any mice in his house, did he?
She didn’t need Max to fix this. She’d fix it herself.
Buy the book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords
Find out more about Edie and her books at her website.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
#Sample Sunday - Excerpt of "Forever Mine"
The set up for this scene: This is the morning after Sarah's first night out with Angel Moreno. He's already called her first thing in the morn and asked to see her again. She's getting ready and has a conversation with her step cousin Valerie regarding her relationship with her best friend Sydney back home and Angel's possible reaction to knowing her best friend is a guy.
Sarah couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive. Standing under the shower with the warm water running over her body she thought of Angel, as she lathered herself and smiled.
The past year had been all but hell, and the past two months had been worst, with Sydney having to drag her out of her funk every time. But now she felt jubilant. It scared her a little. She was still very aware of the fact that this was Angel. The Angel she’d heard so much about. But he said he was looking forward to getting to know her. He sounded so sincere, and his kisses, God those kisses. Just thinking about them made her quiver all over.
Sydney’s call woke her up just after seven, and they talked until Angel called. He knew she was going out last night for the first time since she’d been out here, and was anxious to see how it went. Sarah told him everything, not wanting to leave anything out, especially about the kissing. Sydney hadn’t been surprised at all that Angel was interested in Sarah and was happy she sounded so excited, but warned her to take it slow.
She got out of the shower and dressed. She went back in the restroom to get her blow dryer and ran into Valerie, still in her sleep clothes, a long t-shirt and basketball shorts. “Where are you going so early?”
Sarah’s cheeks reddened. “Angel is picking me up.” She tried not to smile too big.
Valerie’s jaw dropped and eyes popped wide open. “He is?”
Sarah nodded, smiling sheepishly. She grabbed the blow dryer and started back to her room with Valerie in tow. “Oh my God, you’re so lucky! Was that who called so early this morning?”
Sarah stopped at her bed and looked through her purse. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. The more she made out of this, the harder it would be if she turned out to be Angel’s flavor of the week. A faint haze of pain sunk in, just thinking about it. But she knew it was a definite possibility.
“No, that was Sydney,” she said. “Angel called while I was on the line with him.”
Valerie rolled her eyes. Sarah knew what Valerie thought of Sydney. She’d never actually met him but she didn’t understand their friendship. “There’s no way that guy is not in love with you,” she’d said, many times.
Sarah also knew Valerie resented the fact that she had preferred, literally begged to stay in Flagstaff with him and his family, rather than come and live with Valerie and her Aunt. Even now, she talked more and was closer to him than she’d ever been with Valerie.
Valerie plopped on Sarah’s bed. “Are you gonna tell Angel about Sydney?”
“I already did.” She left out the part about Angel referring to Sydney as a she this morning, and the fact that she hadn’t corrected him.
Valerie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, “Really? What did he say?”
Sarah made a face. “Valerie, we hung out one night; you honestly think he cares?”
“I’m telling you, guys are territorial.”
She shrugged. “Well, territorial or not, I’m not his girlfriend -”
“Yet,” Valerie interrupted. “We’ll see what he thinks of Sydney once you two get serious.”
Sarah felt something tighten in her chest. She thought about how he’d gotten right to the subject of Jesse when they got to the beach. How stone faced he’d turned when she told him she’d gone out with him. But with Sydney it was totally different. He’d have to understand.
“What makes you so sure we’ll be getting serious? You, yourself said he’d never had a girlfriend. Why would he want one now?”
It was almost a rhetorical question. She didn’t really want to hear the answer. Valerie was ruining this for her. It was way too soon to start worrying about what Angel would think about her relationship with Sydney.
She’d given it some thought when she realized Angel had assumed Syd was a girl. But she pushed it to the back of her mind. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it. At the moment, she wasn’t even sure she’d ever have to.
Valerie made herself comfortable against the headboard. “It’s the way he was with you last night, Sarah. I’ve never seen him act like that before. He’s never been one for public displays of affection. But last night it was so obvious he wanted everyone to see you were with him.”
Sarah tried to hide her exhilaration.
“I’m just saying,” Valerie continued. “If you were like me, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just tell him all about Sydney and if he walks, oh well, too bad for him, on to the next. But you’re not like me. You’re sweet, sensitive little Sarah. And I saw the way you looked at him last night too, missy. You’re already falling for him. So, unless you want troubles, you should start weaning Sydney off your everlasting devotion.”
The butterflies in Sarah’s stomach stirred, threatening to take off in a wild spin. Sarah walked back to her purse, eyeing Valerie. She put her make up on silently. She hardly wore any, so it didn’t take very long. She was about to respond to Valerie’s observation, when her phone rang, making her jump. Valerie smiled eagerly.
“Is it him?
Sarah looked at the caller ID and nodded. Valerie flew off the bed and ran over to Sarah’s side, leaning in to try and hear him. Sarah looked at her and giggled. She flipped the phone open and answered.
Sarah gave him the directions with Valerie glued to her side the whole time. When she hung up Valerie groaned. “God, he even sounds hot. I swear you are so lucky!”
Sarah tried to play it cool, but the swarm in her stomach had spun out of control. She’d barely had enough time to absorb what had happened the night before, and now he was on his way to pick her up again. She smiled at Valerie and hurried to finish herself up.
She filled her aunt in on her plans, and gathered her purse together. He drove a white mustang. She could tell it was an older model but it was still nice. She looked out the window and watched him get out of the car. He wore dark carpenter jeans and a long sleeve gray crewneck shirt that hugged his chest perfectly.
“I’m leaving!” she yelled at no one in particular and walked out to meet him.
Forever Mine just recently recieved a 5 Star "Top Pick" Review from Night Owl Reviews!!
Available on Amazon Kindle US, Amazon Kindle UK and B&N Nook
Sarah couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive. Standing under the shower with the warm water running over her body she thought of Angel, as she lathered herself and smiled.
The past year had been all but hell, and the past two months had been worst, with Sydney having to drag her out of her funk every time. But now she felt jubilant. It scared her a little. She was still very aware of the fact that this was Angel. The Angel she’d heard so much about. But he said he was looking forward to getting to know her. He sounded so sincere, and his kisses, God those kisses. Just thinking about them made her quiver all over.
Sydney’s call woke her up just after seven, and they talked until Angel called. He knew she was going out last night for the first time since she’d been out here, and was anxious to see how it went. Sarah told him everything, not wanting to leave anything out, especially about the kissing. Sydney hadn’t been surprised at all that Angel was interested in Sarah and was happy she sounded so excited, but warned her to take it slow.
She got out of the shower and dressed. She went back in the restroom to get her blow dryer and ran into Valerie, still in her sleep clothes, a long t-shirt and basketball shorts. “Where are you going so early?”
Sarah’s cheeks reddened. “Angel is picking me up.” She tried not to smile too big.
Valerie’s jaw dropped and eyes popped wide open. “He is?”
Sarah nodded, smiling sheepishly. She grabbed the blow dryer and started back to her room with Valerie in tow. “Oh my God, you’re so lucky! Was that who called so early this morning?”
Sarah stopped at her bed and looked through her purse. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. The more she made out of this, the harder it would be if she turned out to be Angel’s flavor of the week. A faint haze of pain sunk in, just thinking about it. But she knew it was a definite possibility.
“No, that was Sydney,” she said. “Angel called while I was on the line with him.”
Valerie rolled her eyes. Sarah knew what Valerie thought of Sydney. She’d never actually met him but she didn’t understand their friendship. “There’s no way that guy is not in love with you,” she’d said, many times.
Sarah also knew Valerie resented the fact that she had preferred, literally begged to stay in Flagstaff with him and his family, rather than come and live with Valerie and her Aunt. Even now, she talked more and was closer to him than she’d ever been with Valerie.
Valerie plopped on Sarah’s bed. “Are you gonna tell Angel about Sydney?”
“I already did.” She left out the part about Angel referring to Sydney as a she this morning, and the fact that she hadn’t corrected him.
Valerie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, “Really? What did he say?”
Sarah made a face. “Valerie, we hung out one night; you honestly think he cares?”
“I’m telling you, guys are territorial.”
She shrugged. “Well, territorial or not, I’m not his girlfriend -”
“Yet,” Valerie interrupted. “We’ll see what he thinks of Sydney once you two get serious.”
Sarah felt something tighten in her chest. She thought about how he’d gotten right to the subject of Jesse when they got to the beach. How stone faced he’d turned when she told him she’d gone out with him. But with Sydney it was totally different. He’d have to understand.
“What makes you so sure we’ll be getting serious? You, yourself said he’d never had a girlfriend. Why would he want one now?”
It was almost a rhetorical question. She didn’t really want to hear the answer. Valerie was ruining this for her. It was way too soon to start worrying about what Angel would think about her relationship with Sydney.
She’d given it some thought when she realized Angel had assumed Syd was a girl. But she pushed it to the back of her mind. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it. At the moment, she wasn’t even sure she’d ever have to.
Valerie made herself comfortable against the headboard. “It’s the way he was with you last night, Sarah. I’ve never seen him act like that before. He’s never been one for public displays of affection. But last night it was so obvious he wanted everyone to see you were with him.”
Sarah tried to hide her exhilaration.
“I’m just saying,” Valerie continued. “If you were like me, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just tell him all about Sydney and if he walks, oh well, too bad for him, on to the next. But you’re not like me. You’re sweet, sensitive little Sarah. And I saw the way you looked at him last night too, missy. You’re already falling for him. So, unless you want troubles, you should start weaning Sydney off your everlasting devotion.”
The butterflies in Sarah’s stomach stirred, threatening to take off in a wild spin. Sarah walked back to her purse, eyeing Valerie. She put her make up on silently. She hardly wore any, so it didn’t take very long. She was about to respond to Valerie’s observation, when her phone rang, making her jump. Valerie smiled eagerly.
“Is it him?
Sarah looked at the caller ID and nodded. Valerie flew off the bed and ran over to Sarah’s side, leaning in to try and hear him. Sarah looked at her and giggled. She flipped the phone open and answered.
Sarah gave him the directions with Valerie glued to her side the whole time. When she hung up Valerie groaned. “God, he even sounds hot. I swear you are so lucky!”
Sarah tried to play it cool, but the swarm in her stomach had spun out of control. She’d barely had enough time to absorb what had happened the night before, and now he was on his way to pick her up again. She smiled at Valerie and hurried to finish herself up.
She filled her aunt in on her plans, and gathered her purse together. He drove a white mustang. She could tell it was an older model but it was still nice. She looked out the window and watched him get out of the car. He wore dark carpenter jeans and a long sleeve gray crewneck shirt that hugged his chest perfectly.
“I’m leaving!” she yelled at no one in particular and walked out to meet him.
Forever Mine just recently recieved a 5 Star "Top Pick" Review from Night Owl Reviews!!
Available on Amazon Kindle US, Amazon Kindle UK and B&N Nook
Sunday, December 19, 2010
#SampleSunday- Excerpt of Forever Mine
Today I'm sharing an excerpt from my debut novel Forever Mine now available on Amazon and B&N The Nook , temporarily priced at $.99 for the holidays. The premise of Forever Mine is about 17 year old Sarah Lynn Fierro who is sent to live with her aunt in California after her single mom is sent to jail. She has no intentions of staying, that is until she meets Angel Moreno and is unexpectedly swept off her feet. This is the scene of their first conversation after having had a few awkward encounters prior. Angel has come to her rescue from a pushy guy who was trying to force a hug from her. I'd appreciate any thoughts/Comments. Happy reading!
Released, Jesse fell to one knee, coughing and gasping for air. Again, Angel turned to face Sarah. He took a few steps her way. She still held her hand to her chest, and her eyes remained on Jesse who, now on his feet, continued to cough. She finally looked at Angel, with those eyes that were beginning to haunt him.
He was determined not to clam up again. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He fought back the urge to pull a strand of hair away from her face. She smiled at him for the first time.
“Yeah, thanks.” she replied. “You didn’t have to do that. He was just being a little pushy. I could’ve handled it.” She stood up straight putting her hand to her waist.
“Yeah, maybe you could’ve. I just don’t have patience for idiots.”
A few people noticed the scuffle and slowed as they walked by, but not enough to call the attention of any teachers.
Again she turned to watch Jesse huff away embarrassed, still coughing and rubbing his throat.
“He’ll be fine.”
Sarah shrugged and they started back slowly toward the gym.
Walking so close, side by side, Angel was distracted when their hands touched for just a second. He refocused on his reaction to seeing Jesse push himself on her. It was typical of him to want to help but he had gone a little overboard. He could’ve just pushed him off. Instead, he really wanted to see Jesse hurt.
He stared at her now, eyes narrowing. “Is he a friend of yours?”
Sarah glanced his way but turned away quickly. “That’s not what I would call it.”
Angel tightened his jaw and stared straight ahead. “What does that mean?”
She focused on the cheerleaders, who were now staring at them, especially Dana. Angel was oblivious to them, his eyes fixed on Sarah now.
She finally looked back at him. “We hung out once, a long time ago.”
Hung out? “You dated him?”
“Not exactly.”
She never completely looked him in the eye, and the frustration was getting heavier. Jesse was one of the biggest assholes he knew. He couldn’t imagine her being involved with him in any way.
They reached the gym before he could push further, and she gazed at him. She put her hand on his arm and every hair on his body stood at attention.
“Thanks again for what you did back there.”
Angel couldn’t help stare at her eyes.
“I’ll see you around.” She took her hand off his arm and began to walk away.
What? That’s it? No way was he letting her get away so fast. He grabbed her hand as she turned from him. It was soft and small in his big brawny hand. His heart raced.
She turned to look at him he tried focusing on something other than her eyes, but it was impossible.
“Are you going to the game on Friday?”
She studied him for a moment and then cleared her throat. “I can’t. I’m working.”
A few guys turned the corner and strolled toward them. She tugged her hand but he held it tight. He glanced at the guys and back at her.
“Work, huh? 'Til what time?”
“Not sure yet, I’m babysitting, so it depends on what time their parents get home.”
She tugged her hand again, this time just hard enough that Angel let go, and she started to walk away again.
Angel frowned. “Well, there’s a party after, maybe you can go to that, if they get home early?”
She was at the locker room entrance, when she turned back to look at him.
“Maybe.” She waved and disappeared behind the door.
Angel stood there staring at the locker room door. This was ridiculous. Why was he so bad at this all of a sudden? Then it dawned on him. He’d never actually asked a girl out. The irony made him chuckle. He’d always just hook up with someone at a party, or dance, and then ended up parking with her somewhere. Even with all the girls he’d been with, he’d never been inclined to actually ask any of them out, and now that he was trying to, he sucked at it.
**************
Released, Jesse fell to one knee, coughing and gasping for air. Again, Angel turned to face Sarah. He took a few steps her way. She still held her hand to her chest, and her eyes remained on Jesse who, now on his feet, continued to cough. She finally looked at Angel, with those eyes that were beginning to haunt him.
He was determined not to clam up again. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He fought back the urge to pull a strand of hair away from her face. She smiled at him for the first time.
“Yeah, thanks.” she replied. “You didn’t have to do that. He was just being a little pushy. I could’ve handled it.” She stood up straight putting her hand to her waist.
“Yeah, maybe you could’ve. I just don’t have patience for idiots.”
A few people noticed the scuffle and slowed as they walked by, but not enough to call the attention of any teachers.
Again she turned to watch Jesse huff away embarrassed, still coughing and rubbing his throat.
“He’ll be fine.”
Sarah shrugged and they started back slowly toward the gym.
Walking so close, side by side, Angel was distracted when their hands touched for just a second. He refocused on his reaction to seeing Jesse push himself on her. It was typical of him to want to help but he had gone a little overboard. He could’ve just pushed him off. Instead, he really wanted to see Jesse hurt.
He stared at her now, eyes narrowing. “Is he a friend of yours?”
Sarah glanced his way but turned away quickly. “That’s not what I would call it.”
Angel tightened his jaw and stared straight ahead. “What does that mean?”
She focused on the cheerleaders, who were now staring at them, especially Dana. Angel was oblivious to them, his eyes fixed on Sarah now.
She finally looked back at him. “We hung out once, a long time ago.”
Hung out? “You dated him?”
“Not exactly.”
She never completely looked him in the eye, and the frustration was getting heavier. Jesse was one of the biggest assholes he knew. He couldn’t imagine her being involved with him in any way.
They reached the gym before he could push further, and she gazed at him. She put her hand on his arm and every hair on his body stood at attention.
“Thanks again for what you did back there.”
Angel couldn’t help stare at her eyes.
“I’ll see you around.” She took her hand off his arm and began to walk away.
What? That’s it? No way was he letting her get away so fast. He grabbed her hand as she turned from him. It was soft and small in his big brawny hand. His heart raced.
She turned to look at him he tried focusing on something other than her eyes, but it was impossible.
“Are you going to the game on Friday?”
She studied him for a moment and then cleared her throat. “I can’t. I’m working.”
A few guys turned the corner and strolled toward them. She tugged her hand but he held it tight. He glanced at the guys and back at her.
“Work, huh? 'Til what time?”
“Not sure yet, I’m babysitting, so it depends on what time their parents get home.”
She tugged her hand again, this time just hard enough that Angel let go, and she started to walk away again.
Angel frowned. “Well, there’s a party after, maybe you can go to that, if they get home early?”
She was at the locker room entrance, when she turned back to look at him.
“Maybe.” She waved and disappeared behind the door.
Angel stood there staring at the locker room door. This was ridiculous. Why was he so bad at this all of a sudden? Then it dawned on him. He’d never actually asked a girl out. The irony made him chuckle. He’d always just hook up with someone at a party, or dance, and then ended up parking with her somewhere. Even with all the girls he’d been with, he’d never been inclined to actually ask any of them out, and now that he was trying to, he sucked at it.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Review of Forever Mine!
Coffee Time Romance call's Forever Mine, "Entertaining and well told" "An uncomplicated, yet moving story of first love, I was easily caught up in the lives of Sarah, Angel and their friends."
Please take a moment to read entire review by following link below.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Revised yet again, synopsis of Forever Mine
Tell me why I can sit and write chapter after chapter but ask me to write a blurb and I sit and curse forever! Anyway here it is! Lemme know what ya'll think? Okay third time is the charm! lol
Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her only goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.
Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.
With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark? And how will he react when the truth finally comes out?
Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her only goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.
Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.
With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark? And how will he react when the truth finally comes out?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Forever Mine-Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
“You have a problem, asshole?” Angel demanded his face inches from Jesse’s, his forearm at Jesse’s neck.
Jesse’s face reddened as he struggled to get the words out. “I-I’m was jus’ messin’ with her.”
Angel turned to face Sarah, without loosening his grip on Jesse. She stood there wide eyed a hand over her chest. “Are you okay?”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah.”
Angel turned back to Jesse face which, by now was nice shade of deep crimson. He pushed him one more time against the bleachers, slamming his head against the wood sidings.
“Get some fucking manners,” he snarled.
Released, Jesse fell to one knee, coughing and gasping for air. Again, Angel turned to face Sarah. He took a few steps her way. She still held her hand to her chest, and her eyes remained on Jesse who continued to cough, now on his feet. She finally looked at Angel, with those eyes that were beginning to haunt him.
He was determined to not clam up again. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He fought back the urge to pull a strand of hair away from her face. She smiled at him for the first time.
“Yeah, thanks.” she replied, “You didn’t have to do that. He was just being a little pushy. I could’ve handled it.” She stood up straight putting her hand to her waist.
“Yeah, maybe you could’ve. I just don’t have patience for idiots.”
A few people noticed the scuffle and slowed as they walked by, but not enough to call the attention of any teachers.
Again she turned to watch Jesse huff away embarrassed, still coughing and rubbing his throat.
“He’ll be fine.”
Sarah shrugged and they started back slowly toward the gym.
Walking so close, side by side, Angel was distracted when their hands touched for just a second. He refocused on his reaction to seeing Jesse push himself on her. It was typical of him to want to help, but he had gone a little overboard. He could’ve just pushed him off. Instead, he really wanted to see Jesse hurt.
He stared at her now, eyes narrowing. “Is he a friend of yours?”
Sarah glanced his way but turned away quickly. “That’s not what I would… call it.”
Angel tightened his jaw and stared straight ahead. “What does that mean?”
She focused on the cheerleaders, who were now staring at them, especially Dana. Angel was oblivious to them, his eyes fixed on Sarah now.
She finally looked back at him. “We hung out once, a long time ago.”
Hung out? “You dated him?”
“Not exactly.”
She never completely looked him in the eye, and the frustration was getting heavier. Jesse was one of the biggest assholes he knew. He couldn’t imagine her being involved with him in any way.
They reached the gym before he could push further, and she gazed at him. She put her hand on his arm and every hair on his body stood at attention.
“Thanks again for what you did back there.”
Angel couldn’t help stare at her eyes.
“I’ll see you around.” She took her hand off his arm and began to walk away.
What? That’s it? No way was he letting her get away so fast. He grabbed her hand as she turned from him. It was soft and small in his big brawny hand. His heart raced.
She turned to look at him and he tried focusing on something other than her eyes but it was impossible.
“Are you going to the game on Friday?”
She studied him for a moment and then cleared her throat. “I can’t. I’m working.”
A few guys turned the corner and strolled toward them. She tugged her hand, but he held it tight. He glanced at the guys and back at her.
“Work, uh? 'Til what time?”
“Not sure yet, I’m babysitting, so it depends on what time their parents get home.”
She tugged her hand again, this time just hard enough that Angel let go, and she started to walk away again.
Angel frowned. “Well, there’s a party after, maybe you can go to that, if they get home early?”
She was at the locker room entrance, when she turned back to look at him.
“Maybe.” She waved and disappeared behind the door.
Angel stood there staring at the locker room door. This was ridiculous. Why was he so bad at this all of a sudden? Then it dawned on him. He’d never actually asked a girl out. The irony made him chuckle. He’d always just hook up with someone at a party, or dance, and then ended up parking with her somewhere. Even with all the girls he’d been with, he’d never been inclined to actually ask any of them out, and now that he was trying to, he sucked at it.
************************************
Sarah sat on her bed staring at the phone. She'd been home for a few hours already, and hadn’t told anyone about today. She couldn’t wait to talk to Sydney. She’d already left two messages for him, and he still hadn’t called her back. Sarah glanced at the clock. She hoped he called before seven. That’s when her mom called on Wednesdays, and they only had a miserable fifteen minutes to talk. Sarah jumped when the phone rang. She grabbed it and flipped it open.
“Hey.”
“Lynni?” Sydney had always called her by her middle name, said she just didn’t look like a Sarah.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“You sound different,” he said.
“No just happy to hear you,” she was almost giddy. “Listen, I’ve been dying to talk to you. You’re never gonna guess what happened today.”
“Really? Let's hear it."
Good ole Sydney, he sounded just as excited as she felt.
She made herself comfortable on the bed. “Okay, remember I told you about Angel,”
“You mean, the Angel?”
She eagerly brought him up-to-date about her afternoon. When she mentioned the party, Sydney asked, “You gonna go?”
“No, I can’t. I’m… working.”
“Are you kidding me, Lynni? This is your chance to have some fun out there, you can’t pass it up.”
“I’ve already committed,” she said. “And, the Salcidos’ pay really well. Besides I wouldn’t know anyone… well except for Valerie.”
“And Angel,” Sydney reminded her.
Sarah smiled. God, she wished he were here. If Syd went with her everything would be so perfect. “You don’t understand. I’ve seen the girls he hangs out with. They’re so sophisticated, and popular and … rich looking.”
She stood up; phone against her ear then walked over and stood in front of the mirror. She put her hand on her waist and smiled big batting her lashes, like the girls she’d seen around Angel and immediately felt stupid. Her breasts had filled in some what, making her feel a little sexier, but she just didn’t feel well put together, like those other girls. She looked at her less than exciting clothes, and winced. No way is Angels interested in this.
“Who cares? Let me tell you something, Lynni. It amazes me that you still think so little of yourself. I can guarantee you this guy would die for a chance with you. So he’s Mr. Popular, Mr. Football player, who gives a shit? Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
“Yes! I’m looking right now. I just wish you could be here to see the kind of girls he normally dates, and then you’d know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t have to see them. I’ve seen you.”
Sarah sighed and plopped back down on her bed. “What does it matter anyway? It’s not like I’m gonna be here long. Remember?”
“You’re doing it again.” She could hear the annoyance in Sydney’s voice.
“Doing what?” But she knew exactly what he was talking about.
Before she left Arizona, Sydney’s parents offered to let her stay with them, so she could finish out her senior year there, but her mother refused. She insisted Sarah be with family. Sarah had argued Sydney’s family was more like family to her than Aunt Norma. They only visited Aunt Norma once, or twice a year. And she felt so close to Sydney’s parents. All those late nights and holidays her mother had to work, they’d gladly taken her in as one of their own.
She was so devastated when her mother refused, that she swore she’d never leave her room at Aunt Norma’s, except to go to school. So the first few weeks in California, before school started she sat around feeling sorry for herself. Sydney had made her promise that she’d make the most of it. He hated the idea of her being out here alone, and miserable.
“Remember?” he’d said. “You love the ocean, Lynni. It’s all you talked about when you got back from your visits to your aunt's, now you’ll get to be near it for months.”
Sydney encouraged, demanded, at one point threatened to stop calling and taking her calls if she didn’t try to make the best of it. So she had. She started running everyday at school, instead of coming straight home. She promised to try to get out on the weekend when she’d get a chance. So far, she’d made sure all her weekends were booked babysitting.
“It’s not like he asked me out, Syd, he just asked if I was going to be there.” She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror again and frowned.
“Will you promise me something?” he said.
Sarah hesitated. “What?”
“If he does ask you out, you’ll say yes. Hell, if anybody asks you out, you’ll say yes.”
“Syd, I can’t even talk when he comes near me. I can barely get a sentence out. I’ve made such a stupid couple of first impressions; I seriously doubt he’ll be asking.”
“You’re kidding me right? Man, you must have it bad for this guy, ‘cause you don’t’ even have to try to be likable. I know,” He paused. “Tell him a joke.” She heard him laugh and she knew why. “He’ll love how you can’t get halfway through it without cracking yourself up.”
Sarah started laughing and threw herself on the bed. “Shut up!”
Sydney was still laughing. “Just be yourself, Lynni. No more, no less. I promise you can’t go wrong,”
He was right about one thing, she did laugh a lot. Even though, sometimes she thought she did too much. Lately, the only one that could make her laugh was Sydney. She sucked in a deep breath.
“Okay. If anyone asks I promise I will.” She wasn’t too worried about it. “Oh except for Jesse.”
“Well yeah, of course.”
Sarah had met Jesse the very night she’d first laid eyes on Angel two summers ago. One of Valerie’s friends was going out with Jesse’s friend, so they hung out with them. Sarah agreed to go for a walk on the beach with Jesse that night, away from the crowd, and they sat down to talk. She had never kissed a boy back then, so when he asked if he could kiss her she let him. Before she knew it, they were making out, and when it started getting heavy she got scared and made him stop. He called her a tease, and they walked back to where the rest of the crowd was, silently.
Later, when she was back in Arizona, he called her to apologize and had called her, off and on ever since. Now that she was going to school here, he’d been a constant pest, asking her out, cornering her by her locker, insisting on walking her to class. After today’s incident, she hoped he’d back off.
She’d been talking to Sydney for about an hour when Sarah heard her other line click. She couldn’t tell who it was by the caller ID, but she was getting ready to wrap it up with Sydney anyway. She said goodbye to him, and clicked over to the other line.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Sarah, this is Mrs. Salcido. Listen hon, Mr. Salcido is going to have to work late Friday night, so our plans are shot. We won’t need you to baby sit after all, but maybe next week?”
After she hung up, she sat there contemplating whether or not to call Sydney back. There was no need to call; she knew exactly what he’d say. She lay back on her pillow. What’s the big deal? It’s just a party, she’d been to plenty. She laid her hands that still gripped her cell phone on her pounding chest and stared at the ceiling. She could do this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)