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| Link | Quote | Stars | Tags | Author |
| 2758e1d | I'm fine, Sierra. Really." "No, you're not fine. Brit, I'm your best friend. I'll be here before and after your boyfriends. So spill your guts. I'm all ears." "I loved him." "No shit, Sherlock. Tell me something I don't know." "He used me. He had sex with me to win a bet. And I love him. Sierra, I pathetic." "You had sex and didn't tell me? I mean, I thought it was a rumor. You know, of the untrue kind." I lean my head in my hands in fr.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 3b9bd06 | After school, I hurry out the front doors to catch him. He's on his motorcycle, getting ready to leave. "Alex, wait!" Feeling fidgety, I curl my hair behind my ears. "Hop on," he orders. "What?" "Hop on. If you want to thank me for savin' your ass in Mrs. P.'s class, come home with me. I wasn't kiddin' yesterday. You showed me a glimpse into your life, I'm gonna show you a glimpse of mine. It's only fair, right?" I scan the parking lot. Som.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 44b93f3 | Do you want to know how your chemistry partner is holding up?" I shake my head. "Nope. Don't care." The words almost get stuck in my throat. She sighs in frustration, then walks over to the window ledge and picks up the chemistry book. "Should I take this back with me, or leave it here?" I don't answer. She puts the book back on the ledge and heads for the door. "I wish I'd chosen biology instead of chemistry," I say as she opens the door t.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 0a63e3b | Two weeks later I'm the last one in the locker room to change for gym. The click of heels makes me look up. It's Carmen Sanchez. I don't freak out. Instead, I stand and look right at her. "He was back in Fairfield, you know," she tells me. "I know," I say, remembering the hand warmers in my locker. But he left. Like a whisper, he was there and then disappeared. She looks almost nervous, vulnerable. "You know those giant stuffed-animal prize.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 946bf46 | Alex," Paco says, leaning on the golf club like it's a cane. "Do ya think I was meant to play golf?" Looking Paco straight in the eye, I answer, "No." "I heard you talkin' to Hector. I don't think you were mean to deal, either." "Is that why we're here? You're tryin' to make a point?" "Hear me out," Paco insists. "I've got the keys to the car in my pocket and I'm not goin' nowhere until I finish hittin' all of these bulls, so you might as w.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 70d5900 | Something is happening. I sense a change in the wind...a mutual understanding of each other. I haven't felt this way in forever. I clear my throat, then say, "Your mom probably blows up at you the most because she knows you can take it." "Yeah. You're probably right. Better me than my sister." "It's no excuse, though." I'm being real now, and hope she is, too. "Listen, I don't want to be an asshole to you," I say. So much for the Alex Fuent.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| cc662d4 | Do you want to drive back? I don't know the way." I drive her back in comfortable silence while the sun sets. Our truce brings me closer to my goals: graduating, the bet...and something else I'm not ready to admit. As I pull her kick-ass car into the dark library parking lot, I say, "Thanks for, you know, lettin' me kidnap you. I guess I'll see you around." Taking my keys out of my front pocket, I wonder if I'll ever be able to afford a car.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| fe50cc9 | Come inside and we'll talk," she says, opening my car door. "I'm freezing my butt off here. Oh, why don't the Chicago summers last longer?" Inside, I take off my shoes so I won't wake up her parents. "Don't worry, they left for the health club an hour ago." "Then why was Doug escaping out your window?" Sierra winks. "You know, to keep the relationship exciting. Guys love adventure." | Simone Elkeles | ||
| ad08a51 | As I close my chemistry book, out of the corner of my eye I see Alex run his hand through his hair. "Listen, I didn't mean to be rude to you before." "That's okay. I got too nosy." "You're right." I stand, feeling uncomfortable. He grabs my arm and urges me back down. "No," he says, "I mean you're right about me. I don't place anything permanent here." "Why?" "My dad," Alex says, staring at the picture on the opposite wall. He squeezes his .. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 3fb3e82 | I've got to get home. Where's my cell?" I ask, patting my back pocket. "Alex has it, I think." So sneaking out without talking to him isn't an option. I struggle to keep the Oompa Loompas at bay as I stagger out of the bedroom, searching for Alex. It's not hard to find him, the house is smaller than Sierra's pool house. Alex is lying on an old sofa, wearing jeans. Nothing else. His eyes are open, but they're bloodshot and glazed with sleep... | Simone Elkeles | ||
| bd9c2ec | Where's my cell phone?" I ask. "And please put a shirt on." He reaches down and grabs my phone off the floor. "Why?" "The reason I need my cell," I say as I take it from him, "is to call a cab and the reason I want you to put a shirt on is, well, because, um..." "You've never seen a guy with his shirt off?" "Ha, ha. Very funny. Believe me, you don't have anything I haven't seen before." "Wanna bet?" he says, then moves his hands to the butt.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| d6c6f75 | You can always strip and go in naked. I'll watch to make sure nobody comes in." She walks up to me, the pole gripped firmly in her fingers. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" "Uh, yeah," I say, stating the obvious. "I have to warn you, though. If you have granny undies on, you'll blow my fantasy." "For your information, they're pink satin. As long as we're sharing personal info, are you a boxers or briefs guy?" "Neither. My boys go free, if y.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| f91a997 | Where's my cell phone?" I ask. "And please put a shirt on." He reaches down and grabs my phone off the floor. "Why?" "The reason I need my cell," I say as I take it from him, "is to call a cab and the reason I want you to put a shirt on is, well, because, um..." "You've never seen a guy with his shirt off?" "Ha, ha. Very funny. Believe me, you don't have anything I haven't seen before." "Wanna bet?" he says, then moves his hands to the butt.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 439dadb | And Brittany... She didn't want me to drive her home from Isa's house because she didn't want to be seen with me. Fuck that shit. Carlos isn't the only one who deserves an earful from me. I flip open my cell and cue Brittany's number. "Hello?" "It's Alex," I tell her, although she has caller ID and knows damn well it's me. "Meet me at the library. Now." "I can't." This is not the Brittany Ellis Show. It's the Alex Fuentes Show now. "Here's .. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 6bffcfb | Knocking on the Ellises' door ten minutes later with the pink horn and streamers in hand, I try to put on the I-am-a-cool-motherfucker pose. When Brittany opens the door wearing a baggy T-shirt and shorts, I'm floored. Her pale blue eyes open wide. "Alex, what are you doing here?" I hold out the horn and streamers. She snatches them from my hand. "I can't believe you came here because of some prank." "We've got some things to discuss. Besid.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 7bc0345 | I swear dust wouldn't have the nerve to land on their floors or counters. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 1744682 | Brittany was right. I don't belong here. It doesn't matter, because even if I don't belong in this place, she's here and I want to be where she is. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 93388bc | Brittany was right. I don't belong here. It doesn't matter, because even if I don't belong in this place, she's here and I want to be where she is. "Well, what did you want to talk about?" she asks. I wish her long, lean legs weren't sticking out from her shorts. They're a distraction. I look away from them, desperate to keep my wits. So what if she has sexy legs? So what if she has eyes as clear as glass marbles? So what if she can take a .. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 6cabe4d | Who am I kidding? I have no reason for being here other than the fact that I want to be near her. Screw the bet. I want to know how to make this girl laugh. I want to know what makes her cry. I want to know what it feels like to have her look at me as if I'm her knight in shining armor. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| b5ff3d0 | What harm in drinking can there be,Since punch and life so well agree? | Alcoholic beverages | ||
| 5bd38da | Need directions or your car fixed." "None of the above," I say. "Trick-or-treatin' on my side of town?" "No." "It's over, Why do you keep droppin' into my life and fuckin' with my head? Besides, aren't you supposed to be at the Halloween dance with some college guy?" "I blew him off. Can we talk?" "Listen, I've got a shitload of work that still needs to get done. What did you come here for? And where's Enrique?" "He, uh, left," I say nerv.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 9e36636 | You know, I heard once that kissin' reduces the fire." "Is that your cheap way of telling me you want to kiss me?" He looks into my eyes, his dark gaze capturing mine. " , I always want to kiss you." "I'm afraid it won't be that easy, Alex. I want answers. Answers first, then kissing." "Is that why you came here naked underneath that jacket?" "Who says I'm naked underneath?" I say, leaning close. Alex sets down his plate. If my mouth is sti.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| d11df4d | Hold on tight," he says, pulling my hands around his waist. The simple feel of his strong hands resting on top of mine is intensely intimate. I wonder if he's feeling these emotions, too, but dismiss the thought. Alex Fuentes is a hard guy. Experienced. The mere touch of hands isn't going to make his stomach flutter. He deliberately brushes the tips of his fingers over mine before reaching for the handlebars. Oh. My. God. What am I getting .. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 2f8187b | The sound of Alex revving his motorcycle brings my attention back to him. "Don't be afraid of what they think." I take in the sight of him, from his ripped jeans and leather jacket to the red and black bandana he just tied on top of his head. His gang colors. I should be terrified. Then I remember how he was with Shelley yesterday. To hell with it. I shift my book bag around to my back and straddle his motorcycle. "Hold on tight," he says, .. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 4cffbd5 | I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror on the opposite wall. I absently run my fingers through my hair. "You're always doin' that." "Doing what?" "Fixin' your hair or makeup." "So, what's wrong with trying to look good?" "Nothin', unless it becomes an obsession." I put my hands down, wishing I could superglue them to my sides. "I'm not obsessed." He shrugs. "Is it so important that people think you're beautiful?" "I don't care what peop.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 96dc6a2 | You know, I heard once that kissin' reduces the fire." "Is that your cheap way of telling me you want to kiss me?" He looks into my eyes, his dark gaze capturing mine. " , I always want to kiss you." | Simone Elkeles | ||
| ac865d6 | I want the same things out of life you do," I admit. "I just go about them in a different way. You adapt to your environment, I adapt to mine." I put my hand back on hers. "Let me show you I'm different. , would you ever date a guy who couldn't afford to take you to expensive restaurants and buy you gold and diamonds?" "Absolutely." She slips her hand out from under mine. "But I have a boyfriend." "If you didn't, would you give this a ch.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 7ab7b7e | I want the same things out of life you do," I admit. "I just go about them in a different way. You adapt to your environment, I adapt to mine." I put my hand back on hers. "Let me show you I'm different. , would you ever date a guy who couldn't afford to take you to expensive restaurants and buy you gold and diamonds?" "Absolutely." She slips her hand out from under mine. "But I have a boyfriend." "If you didn't, would you give this a ch.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| eab3bb0 | What's drinking? A mere pause from thinking! | Alcoholic beverages | ||
| 5e30ef4 | A man who doesn't drink is not, in my opinion, fully a man. | Alcoholic beverages | ||
| fb9dcd1 | Face it, you're model-gorgeous. Okay, so your eyes are bloodshot and you've got bags from crying all night. But all in all, you've got it goin' on. Look in the mirror, Brit, and say out loud " "No." "Come on. It'll make you feel better. Look right in the mirror and yell !" "Nuh-uh." "Can you at least admit you've got good hair?" I look at Sierra. "You talk to yourself in front of a mirror?" "I do. Wanna see?" She pushes me aside and moves.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| d2f19af | You want my advice?" Sierra asks. I look at her warily. "I don't know. You hated the idea of Alex and me together from the beginning." "That's not true, Brit. I didn't tell you this, but he's actually a nice guy when he loosens up. I had fun the day we all went to Lake Geneva. Doug did, too, and even said Alex was cool to hang with. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but either forget about him, or give him everything you've.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| a805103 | I'm eating breakfast the morning after Brittany's warehouse visit when I glimpse a shaved head peeking through my front door. "Paco, if that's you I'd stay the hell away from me," I call out. slaps me on the back of my head. "That's no way to treat your friends, Alejandro." I go back to eating while she opens the door for that...traitor. "You're not still mad at me, Alex," Paco says, "are you?" "Of course he's not mad at you, Paco. Now sit.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 6afa600 | I glare at Paco. "What?" "You know How could you have brought Brittany to the warehouse?" "I'm sorry," Paco says as he chows down on our food. "No, you're not." "Okay, you're right. I'm not." I watch in disgust as he uses his fingers to scoop food up and shove it into his mouth. "I don't know why I put up with you," I say. "So what happened with you and Brittany last night?" Paco asks while following me outside. My breakfast is threatenin.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 714dd4a | My thoughts drift to Brittany. I've tried to forget Brittany will be going with someone else to the Halloween dance. I heard she was going with her old boyfriend. I try to push out of my mind the fact that another guy will have his hands on her. Her date will kiss her tonight, I'm sure of it. Who wouldn't want to kiss those sweet, soft, frosted lips? I'm going to work tonight until I have to leave for the deal. Because if I was home alone, .. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| fc202c8 | Brittany has been wary this whole week. She's waiting for me to play a joke on her, to get her back for tossing my keys into the woods. After school, as I'm at my locker picking books to take home, she storms up to me wearing her sexy pom uniform. "Meet me in the wrestling gym," she orders. Now I can do two things: meet her like she told me to or leave the school. I take my books and enter the small gym. Brittany is standing, holding out he.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| e66571b | After school, there's a crowd around my motorcycle. Shit, if anything happened to Julio I swear I'm going to kick someone's ass. I don't have to push through the crowd because a path opens up when I get close. All eyes are on me as I witness the vandalism to my motorcycle. They're expecting me to be in a rage. After all, who would dare attach a pink tricycle horn to the handlebars and tape sparkling streamers from the ends of the handles? N.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| ec80439 | Do you ever think about makin' love to me?" He slides off a sock before I even answer his question. "Yes," she answers. "Do you think about making love with me?" I lie awake most nights, fantasizing about sleeping next to her...loving her. "Right now, , makin' love to you is the only thing on my mind." | Simone Elkeles | ||
| f6a8bea | Oons, sir ! do you say that I am drunk ? I say, sir, that I am as sober as a judge. | Alcoholic beverages | ||
| 7a4efc2 | Do you ever think about makin' love to me?" He slides off a sock before I even answer his question. "Yes," she answers. "Do you think about making love with me?" I lie awake most nights, fantasizing about sleeping next to her...loving her. "Right now, , makin' love to you is the only thing on my mind." I check my watch. I've got to go soon. Drug dealers don't give a shit about your personal life. I can't be late, but I want Brittany so dam.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 8811c18 | I brush a strand of hair from her face, then move beside her. When she wraps her arms around my neck, all I want to do is protect this girl for the rest of my life. I ease her jacket open and lean away. A pink lace bra stares back at me. Nothing else. " ," I whisper. "Is our game over?" she asks nervously. "It's definitely over, 'Cause what we're gonna do next is no game." | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 599c98a | Is our game over?" she asks nervously. "It's definitely over, 'Cause what we're gonna do next is no game." Her manicured fingers are on my chest. Can she feel my heart beating against her palm? "I brought protection," she says. If I'd known...if I had any idea tonight would be "the night"...I would have been prepared. I guess I never wholeheartedly thought this would be a reality with Brittany. She reaches into her coat pocket and a dozen.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 55c9dc5 | I'm a virgin, Alex. What if I do everything wrong?" "There is no here. This isn't a test in Peterson's class. This is you and me. The rest of the world is shut out right now, okay?" "Okay," she says softly. Her eyes are glistening. Is she crying? "I don't deserve you. You know that, , don't you?" "When are you gonna realize you're one of the good guys?" When I don't answer, she pulls my head down to hers. "My body is yours tonight, Alex,.. | Simone Elkeles | ||
| 41dae09 | I'm standing in front of Enrique's Auto Body, doing deep-breathing exercises to keep from being nervous. Enrique's Camry is nowhere in sight, so I know Alex is alone. I'm going to seduce Alex. If what I'm wearing doesn't capture his attention, nothing will. I'm giving this my all...bringing out all the artillery. I rap on the door, then close my eyes tight and pray this goes as planned. I open my long, silver satin jacket and the cool night.. | Simone Elkeles |