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3744f81
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I didn't want to like you," I admit, looking back up at him. "I know." "This probably won't work," I tell him. "Probably not." "My home life's not so perfect." "That makes two of us," he says. "I'm willing to find out what this thing is going on between us. Are you?" "If we weren't outside," he says, "I'd show you--" I cut him off by grabbing the thick hair at the base of his neck and pulling that gorgeous head of his down. If we can't exa..
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Simone Elkeles |
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ebc844e
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A loud knock at the door interrupts us. " " "Who's that?" "The bride." "Let me in!" Elena commands. Alex unlocks the door. A vision in white ruffles with dozens of dollar bills safety-pinned to the back of her dress squeezes her way into the bathroom, then shuts the door behind her. "Okay, what's goin' on?" She, too, sniffs a bunch of times. "Was Paco in here?" Alex and I nod. "What the fuck does that guy eat that it comes out his other end..
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Simone Elkeles |
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128a060
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A loud clearing of Enrique's throat tears us apart. Alex looks at me with intense passion. "I have to get back to work," he says, his breathing ragged. "Oh. Well, sure." Suddenly embarrassed at our PDA, I step back. "Can I see you later today?" he asks. "My friend Sierra is coming over for dinner." "The one who looks in her purse a lot?" "Um, yeah." I need to change the subject or I'll be tempted to invite him, too. I can see it all now--my..
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Simone Elkeles |
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08da89c
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I wasn't going to kiss you." "You wern't." "Nope. The next time I kiss you I'm gonna take my time..."
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Simone Elkeles |
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4c368b6
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I seriously don't give a crap how I get the pants; just that I get 'em before my next class. A wet crotch is not the way to show Brittany I'm a stud.
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Simone Elkeles |
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9e2484d
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I start to get up, to leave him my whole bed so he could sleep in peace. "Don't leave me. " he says. "Lie next to me."
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Simone Elkeles |
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04e843e
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They think they can buy a U-shaped shell, stuff it, and call it a taco, but those cafeteria workers wouldn't know taco meat from a piece of shit. That's what this tastes like,
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Simone Elkeles |
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840ac8f
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You," Elena says, pointing directly at me. "Come with me. Alex, I want you and your brothers to sing." Alex shakes his head. "Elena, I don't think--" Elena holds up a hand in front of Alex, silencing even him. "I didn't ask you to think. I asked you to join your brothers in singin' to me and my new husband." Elena opens the door and yanks me through the house, stopping only when we reach the backyard. She lets me go only to grab the microph..
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Simone Elkeles |
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2771f53
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I lean over to Paco and ask, "Seriously, what do think of Alex and me together?" "Seriously, you're pro'bly the best thing that's ever happened to the guy."
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Simone Elkeles |
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9e3ed24
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He lifts my chin up to face him. "Why aren't you afraid of bein' with me?" "Are you kidding? I'm terrified." I focus on the tattoos running up and down his arms. "I can't pretend to live a squeaky-clean life." He holds up my hand so it's palm against palm with his. Is he thinking about the difference in the color of our skin, his rough fingers against the nail polish on the tips of mine? "In some ways we're so opposite," he says. I thread m..
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Simone Elkeles |
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0134ebf
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Come here," I say softly when I park in the auto body's back lot. She leans over the middle console, closing the distance between us. "I had an amazing time," she whispers. "Well, besides when I hid in the bathroom...and you threatened that guy." "Forget about that and kiss me," I say. I weave my hands in her hair. She wraps her arms around my neck as I trace the valley between her lips with my tongue. Parting her lips, I deepen the kiss. I..
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Simone Elkeles |
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830f8e9
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I want you, ," I say, my voice hoarse. She presses against my erection, the pleasure/pain almost unbearable. But when I start to pull her panties down, she stills my hand and pushes it away. "I...I'm not ready for that. Alex, stop." I move off her and sit back in the seat, waiting for my body to cool down. I can't look at her as she adjusts her straps, covering her body again. Shit, I went too fast. I told myself not to get too excited, to..
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Simone Elkeles |
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722a8a3
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I follow her, my black shirt open and flying in the wind behind me like a vampire's cape. Either that or the grim reaper's.
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Simone Elkeles |
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5580680
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Alex, are you okay?" Brittany asks, looking totally concerned. Should I tell her I was spacing out while thinking about us having sex? Mrs. P. walks up the aisle with a stern look on her face. "This is a library, you two. Keep it down." But then she notices the small line of blood snaking down my arm and staining my sleeve. "Brittany, help him to the nurse. Alex, next time come to school with that thing bandaged." "Don't I get sympathy, Mrs..
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Simone Elkeles |
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9af3f1b
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She's freaking out. If she cries, I won't know what to do. I'm not used to crying chicks. I don't think Carmen cried once during our entire relationship. In fact, I'm not sure Carmen has tear ducts.
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Simone Elkeles |
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a49fbc0
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I reach into the hat and pull out a little white slip of paper. I open it slowly while I bite my lower lip in anticipation. In bold letters I read HAND WARMERS. "Hand warmers?" I question. Alex leans over and reads the paper with a confused look on his face. "What the fuck are hand warmers?" Mrs. Peterson shoots Alex a warning glare. "If you'd like to stay after school, I have another blue detention slip on my desk with your name already on..
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Simone Elkeles |
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0132c2b
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I drive into the high school parking lot with my mind more on my sister than on the road. My wheels screech to a stop when I almost hit a guy and girl on a motorcycle. I thought it was an empty parking space. "Watch it, bitch," Carmen Sanchez, the girl on the back of the motorcycle, says as she flips me the finger. She obviously missed the Road Rage lecture in Driver's Ed. "Sorry," I say loudly so I can be heard over the roar of the motorcy..
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Simone Elkeles |
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ea81592
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I don't have a bathin' suit," I tell them. "Don't worry," Brittany says. "Doug probably has one in the pool house you can wear." In the pool house, Doug looks through a drawer searching for suits. "There's only two here." Doug picks up a skimpy Speedo and holds it out to me. "This okay for you, big guy?" "That wouldn't fit my right testicle."
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Simone Elkeles |
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bbee7a8
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Care to share with me what happened in the parking lot? I'd like to hear your side," Aguirre says. Not happening. I learned long ago that my side doesn't matter. "The thing this mornin'...total misunderstandin'," I tell him. "
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Simone Elkeles |
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264aa85
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Brittany's tongue snakes out to wet her perfect heart-shaped lips, which are now shiny and oh, so inviting. "Don't tease me like that," I groan, my lips inches from hers. Her books hit the carpet. Her eyes follow, but if I lose her attention, I may never get this moment back. My fingers move to her chin, gently urging her to look at me. She looks up at me with those vulnerable eyes. "What if it means something?" she asks. "What if it does?"..
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Simone Elkeles |
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e8dbd8c
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Tell me she doesn't have her hand in his back pocket. That is so lame." "I don't care," I tell her, easing any worries she might have about me being upset. "If they want to date, all the more power to them." She's only doing it because she wants everything you had. It's a competition thing with her. First taking your position on the squad, now putting her claws into Colin. Next thing you know she'll want to change her name to Brittany." "Ve..
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Simone Elkeles |
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4b25d3d
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When I get to Club Mystique at nine, Alex sneaks up behind me outside. I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck. "Whoa, girl," he says, taken aback. "I thought we were keepin' this thing between us a secret. I hate to tell you, but a bunch of north siders from Fairfield are right over there. And they're starin' at us." "I don't care. Not anymore." "Why?" "You only live once." He seems to like my answer, because he takes my hand in his..
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Simone Elkeles |
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1d1e301
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Inside the club, Alex immediately heads for the dance floor with me. I ignore the gawking stares from Fairfield students from my side of town as I pull Alex close to me and we move as one to the beat. We move together as if we've been a couple forever, every movement in sync with each other. For the first time I'm not afraid of what people think of me and Alex together. Next year, in college, it won't matter who came from what side of town...
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Simone Elkeles |
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c6647e0
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You call that a kiss?" "Yep." Okay, so I'm in shock the girl put my hand on her creamy cheek. Damn, you'd think I on drugs by the way my body reacted. She had me totally under her spell a minute ago. Then the pretty witch turned my game around so she was the one with the upper hand. She surprised me, that's for sure. I laugh, deliberately calling attention to us because I know it's exactly what she doesn't want. "Shh," Brittany says, hitt..
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Simone Elkeles |
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92b30f7
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I should be surprised you're calling me. But I'm not," she says. "How was practice?" "Not great. Darlene isn't a great captain, and Ms. Small knows it. You shouldn't quit." "I'm not. I'm just taking a break for a little while. But I didn't call to talk about poms. Listen, I wanted you to know I broke up with Colin today." "And you're telling me because..." That's a good question, one I normally wouldn't have answered. "I wanted to talk with..
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Simone Elkeles |
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ab02ecf
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All I wanted in this world was to be a mom." "You regret it?" I ask. "Being a mom? Never. Seducing your father and making sure he didn't use a condom, yes." "I don't want to hear this." "Well, I'm gonna tell it to you whether you want to hear it or not. Be careful, Alex." "I am." She takes another drag of her cigarette while shaking her head. "No, you don't get it. You might be careful, but girls won't be. Girls are manipulative. I should k..
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Simone Elkeles |
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d70f412
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I kissed Alex," I blurt out. "Alex? !Bendita! Was that before or after the Colin breakup?" I wince. "I didn't plan it." Isabel laughs so hard and loud, I have to take the phone away from my ear. "You sure didn't plan it?" she asks once she can get words out. "It just happened. We were at his house and then we were interrupted when his mom came home and saw us--" "What? His ma saw you guys? In his house? !Bendita!" She goes off in Spanish,..
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Simone Elkeles |
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c1a976a
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That shouldn't have happened," she says, throwing back her shoulders in a stance as stiff as a statue's. "What? The kiss or you likin' it so much?" "I have a boyfriend," she says as she fidgets with the strap on her designer book bag. "You tryin' to convince me, or yourself?" I ask her."
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Simone Elkeles |
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058ddb9
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I take a long drag, thankful for nicotine. I feel calmer immediately. Okay, so my lungs are probably shriveled up, but I have a good idea I'll probably die before my lungs decide to quit on me.
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Simone Elkeles |
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898c9a7
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Alex!" Brittany yells my name from the front of the gallery. I'm still smoking and trying to forget that she brought me here because I'm her dirty little secret. I don't want to be a fucking secret anymore. My pseudo-girlfriend crosses the street. Her designer shoes click on the pavement, reminding me she's a class above. She eyes Mandy and me, the two blue collars, smoking together. "Mandy here was about to show me her tattoos," I tell Bri..
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Simone Elkeles |
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a99af60
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Standing in front of my bathroom mirror while music blares from my speakers, I wipe away the third crooked line I've drawn beneath my eye. My hands are shaking, damn it. Starting senior year of high school and seeing my boyfriend after a summer apart shouldn't be so nerve-racking, but I've gotten off to a disastrous start. First, my curling iron sent up smoke signals and died. Then the button on my favorite shirt popped off. Now, my eyeline..
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Simone Elkeles |
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efd3fed
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What I can't figure out is if you know you're a tease and are fuckin' with me or whether you really are innocent." "I'm not a tease." I cock an eyebrow, then look down at my upper thigh where she's parked her hand. She snatches it away. "Okay, I didn't mean to put my hand there. Well, I mean, not really. It just kinda . . . wh . . . what I mean to say is--" "I like it when you stutter," I say as I pull her down next to me and show her my ow..
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stuttering
brittany-ellis
innocent
touching
tease
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Simone Elkeles |
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baa7df5
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Bein' here with you . . . you've really got under my skin." "You want to break the rule?" He nods slowly. "Yeah." "Why?" "Because I'm tryin' to push you away when all I want to do is hold you. I know you say you don't want a hero, but damn I'd like to be that guy who'll save you from spiders and whatever and whoever else hurts you." His words seep deep into the core of my heart. With our eyes locked, I straddle him on the chair. "I want t..
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Simone Elkeles |
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5cc4fa3
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Brittany's tongue snakes out to wet her perfect heart-shaped lips, which are now shiny and oh, so inviting. "Don't tease me like that," I groan, my lips inches from hers. Her books hit the carpet. Her eyes follow, but if I lose her attention, I may never get this moment back. My fingers move to her chin, gently urging her to look at me. She looks up at me with those vulnerable eyes. "What if it means something?" she asks. "What if it does?"..
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Simone Elkeles |
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a6f81f8
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I lead Paco through the house. We pass Shelley in the family room looking at some magazine. "Shelley, this is Paco. He's Alex's friend. Paco, this is my sister, Shelley." At the mention of Alex's name, Shelley gives a happy squeal. "Hey, Shelley," Paco says. Shelley smiles wide. "Shell-bell, I need you to do me a favor." Shelley bobs her head in response as I whisper, "I need you to keep Mom occupied while I talk to Paco." Shelley grins, an..
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shelley-ellis
paco
sister
distract
friend
mom
favor
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Simone Elkeles |
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62ff8e5
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What is this?" "A Smart Car." It looks like an SUV took a dump and out came the Smart Car. I wouldn't be surprised if Westford had said it was one of those toy cars that kids drive around."
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Simone Elkeles |
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3312fd7
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You have games on there?" he asks. "Yeah," I answer for her. "She's become a checkers fanatic. Shelley, show him how it works." While Shelley slowly taps the screen with her knuckles, Alex watches, seemingly fascinated. When the checkers screen comes up, Shelley nudges Alex's hand. "You go first," he says. She shakes her head. "She wants you to go first," I tell him. "Cool." He taps the screen. I watch, getting all mushy inside, as this tou..
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checkers
brittany-ellis
shelley-ellis
smile
win
game
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Simone Elkeles |
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b334148
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Shelley," I say. "You should've let him win. You know, to be polite." Shelley's response is a shake of her head. Applesauce drips on her chin. "That's the way it's going to be, huh?" I say, hoping the scene doesn't gross Alex out. Maybe I'm testing him, to see if he can handle a glimpse of my home life. If so, he's passing. "Wait until Alex leaves. I'll show you who the checkers champion is." My sister smiles that sweet, crooked smile of he..
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brittany-ellis
shelley-ellis
smile
glimpse
win
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Simone Elkeles |
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033df5d
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Promise me it won't mean anything." I lean my head back on the couch. "It won't mean anythin'." Aren't I supposed to be the guy in this scenario, laying down the no-commitment rules? "And no tongue," she adds. " , if I kiss you, I guarantee there's gonna be tongue."
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Simone Elkeles |
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1f2d98f
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Paco is walking out of the bathroom and I rush past him. "You might want to wait before you--" Paco's voice fades as I close the door, locking myself in. Wiping my eyes, I gaze into the mirror. I'm a complete mess. My mascara is dripping and . . . oh, it's no use. I slide down and sit on the cold tile floor. Now I realize what Paco was about to tell me. The place stinks; it really reeks . . . almost to the point where I want to throw up. I ..
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sniff
stinks
paco
elena
nose
bathroom
rotten
shit
eat
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Simone Elkeles |
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2c14f87
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Elena opens the door and yanks me through the house, stopping only when we reach the backyard. She lets me go only to grab the microphone from the lead singer. "Paco!" she announces loudly. "Yeah, I'm talkin' to you," Elena says, pointing to Paco talking to a bunch of girls. "Next time you want to take a dump, do it in someone else's house." Paco's entourage of girls backs up and giggles, leaving him alone."
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paco
elena
embarrass
toilet
smells
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Simone Elkeles |
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5ab4797
|
Not the way it's supposed to go down: bring girl home, kiss girl, mom insults girl, girl leaves crying.
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Simone Elkeles |
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45ec7dd
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When we're outside, I hear Brittany take a deep breath. I swear it sounds as if she's holding herself together by a thin thread. Not the way it's supposed to go down: bring girl home, kiss girl, mom insults girl, girl leaves crying. "Don't sweat it. She's just not used to me bringin' girls in the house." Brittany's expressive blue eyes appear remote and cold. "That shouldn't have happened," she says, throwing back her shoulders in a stance ..
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Simone Elkeles |
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a26c7c9
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How's that sister of yours?" I ask, changing the subject. "She's waiting to beat you again at checkers." "Is that right? Well, tell her I was goin easy on her. I was tryin' to impress you." "By losing?" I shrug. "It worked, didn't it?" I notice her fidgeting with her dress as if she needs to fix it to impress me. Wanting to ease her anxiety, I slide my fingers down her arm before capturing her hand in mine. "You tell Shelley I'll be back fo..
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impress
rematch
checkers
brittany-ellis
shelley-ellis
sister
lose
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Simone Elkeles |