Thirteen Kisses: Part Two

16 posts1, 2
User avatar
Gender None specified
Points 3437
Reviews 181
Here it is: part two. I think it makes decent sense even if you didn't read the first one...I can't figure out how to add a link to the first one, though. Oh well. Enjoy!

Previously: That is what I remember about my first kiss: the nearly scalding temperature of his face, the sticky candy on our lips, and the wind that warned me not to tear my world apart.


When I got home from the outing in the woods, I danced, then burst into explosive song, then broke down sobbing in my room. My only goal in life was to save my first kiss for my wedding day, and I messed it up. Nice going, smart one. You had to go lock lips with your best friend. The initial thrill of my first kiss was fleeting, and in my opinion, couldn’t be worth the consequences. Then again, I had no idea what the consequences were. Maybe that’s why I was so frightened as I sat alone in my room, curled in a ball in the middle of the floor.
After a while, the tears made way for exhaustion as I reasoned with myself. I didn’t really kiss him. He kissed me, and I didn’t initiate, so it’s not that bad. I didn’t sell my affection to him, or anything. With that thought, I was able to relax enough to go to sleep.
September 8, the day after the Twizzler incident: I accidentally fell asleep on the floor in the fetal position, and consequently woke up sore. As I tried to stretch out the stiff muscles, the phone rang upstairs. I let it ring, hoping someone was home. Unfortunately, no one was.
I grumbled to myself as it rang again, forcing me to get off my butt and limp around the house trying to find the darn phone.
“Hello?” I said when I found it.
“Emma? You know you sound like tour guide Barbie.”
“Why thank you. Now, who is this?”
“It’s Megan, darling.”
“Hey,” I said. She started to giggle. So did I. We were dorky like that.
“So…” she continued. “I think you should don your Star Wars pajammies and come over tonight. I’m organizing a Star Wars marathon, to begin at 7 o’clock pm.”
“Great! I’ll bring the pizza.”
“Sweet! Oh, and guess what?”
“Que?” I said, using my best Spanglish.
“Pues…” Megan said, following suit, “Mi familia acaba de comprar un televisión nueva.”
“Dude! No way no way!”
“Indeed.”
“That’s so cool!”
“I know. You still sound like tour guide Barbie.”
“Lay off!”
“Later!”
Then she hung up on me. I love that girl.
I worked on homework all day, finding pleasure in that I had things planned all day to distract me from Luke. After all, approaching him that day was inconceivable for someone of my awkwardness level. At half till seven, I called the pizza place and headed over to Megan’s in my sports utility vehicle to help her set up.
Her new t.v. basically rocked. 72 inches of gray screen welcomed us as we cantered to the basement to set up bean bags.
“We don’t have a couch yet,” she said apologetically. “And I don’t think we have enough bean bags, either.”
I stared at the massive collaboration of Styrofoam-stuffed pleather already set out. “Well, how many people did you invite?”
“Just the usual gang,” she said, scanning the basement for other forms of seating. “Jennie, Becca, Kevin, Derron, Spencer, Kate, Amy, Travis, Max, Ben, Luke…all of our nerdy friends.”
As one can imagine, my spine went cold as the name of the last individual rolled off her tongue. I hadn’t told her anything about the previous day’s events.
“Oh,” was all I managed to say. “I should probably order more pizza.”
After I ordered the extra pizza, the first pizza arrived, and we started getting calls explaining the no-shows excuses. Becca had a date with Derron (who forgot and showed up on Megan’s doorstep, where we proceeded to yell at him until he remembered where he was supposed to be), Max and Spencer had a baseball game, Kate was grounded, Travis was sick, and Jennie didn’t show up. As it were, we had a couple extra pizzas. And Luke still came.
The movie repertoire for the night consisted of Star Wars, the Original Trilogy. “A New Hope” went without any incident. Luke was on one side of the room, and I was safe, hiding in the kitchen. Halfway through “The Empire Strikes Back,” Jennie showed up, and there was much rejoicing, followed by further consumption of pizza. Luke came over to talk to me, and I was relieved; we were still cool.
We sat next to each other while we watched “Return of the Jedi,” but there was an unnerving static in the air that made me feel uncomfortable. Curious to see how he reacted, I snuggled closer to Luke. He casually put his arm around me as we watched Leia kill Jabba the Hut while wearing a bikini. We sat like that until the big battle scene between the Ewoks and the clones, and it was strangely comfortable. I hate battle scenes, and adverted my eyes a couple times; the next thing I knew, my head was on in his shoulder as a cute Ewok was killed by a battle droid. I despise that scene, and always clung to him when we watched the movie together. But things were not the same anymore.
I lifted my head after the scene was over, realizing how awkward it was, and found myself inches away from Luke’s face. In Twizzler terms, we were only three inches apart. Crap! Emma, don’t turn to the dark side! It was, again, too late.
Luke’s lips were on mine, and this time, it was a bit more than a friendly peck. I could try to come up with excuses to why he stayed on my face so long, saying that it was the darkness or the movie…but the answer is simple: there was no Twizzler in the way. It was longer, sweeter, and I nearly melted. It felt good. I felt terrible.
After it was over, I looked at all of our friends. They were too engrossed in the movie to notice what we had just done. Luke was staring at me, half of his face it up by the t.v. screen, the other half lost in darkness.
“Are you o.k.?” he asked, and I knew the light side, the friend side was speaking.
“Yea…We’re not together, are we Luke?” I asked, and I waited to see which side would answer. After a while, I started stuttering, “Because I’m really confused, and if we’re together, I need to think it through, and you’re my best friend, but- the, well- and the – friends, and – is it awkward for you?”
“No,” he answered. “You’re a great friend, Emma. I love how you’re always there for me, and I – I like how well we get along, and when you smile, you make my day. If you don’t want to…”
“No, it’s fine,” I whispered. “I like it.”
“We’re not together though.”
“I guess not.”
“Okay.”
On screen, Hans Solo and Princess Leia were making out. Luke held me for the rest of the movie, and I didn’t really mind, as long as no one saw us and made a big deal of it. When the credits rolled, it was well past two in the morning. Everybody stood up, hyped up on Mountain Dew, Doritos, and pizza, but ready to kill the next person to say “may the force be with you.” Don’t get me wrong, Star Wars is great, but after six hours it gets a bit monotonous.
The groggy teens filed out of Megan’s basement while I stayed behind to clean up.
“So…what’s happenin’ between you and Luke?” she asked, once we were alone.
“Nothing, nothing at all!” I bit my lip, knowing I had lied too quickly for it to be believable.
“Mmmhmm,” she hummed, “And of course swapping spit during the movie is nothing because…”
“It wasn’t like that,” I stuttered. “It was more – you know – well, less romantic as much as – it was more friendly, anyway…you know, like friends. A friend kiss.”
“I see. Keep telling yourself that, babe.”
“Yea.”
That was when I left. I slammed the door of my SUV, letting the impact shake the car. Then, I let my forehead hit the top of the steering wheel, and my tears rolled down the leather and into my lap.
I had messed up again.
Last edited by elephantwalrus on Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
My main project until Script Frenzy is an experiment using blog posts between four characters as episodes of a common story. You can read this work as it progresses at http://knowallchronicles.blogspot.com/.




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 890
Reviews 64
Aha, great chapter! I love the Star Wars movies! I feel like a total nerd when I talk about the movies too... :oops:

After all, approaching him that day was inconceivable for someone of my awkwardness level.


Totally love that word. Inconceivable!:smt101

“Que?” I said, using my best Spanglish.
“Pues…” Megan said, following suit, “Mi familia acaba de comprar un televisión nueva.”


I like how you use some spanish. It makes the story more interesting.

Oooh, and my name is in it! Yay! :D

Once again, great job! Can't wait for the next chapter!

Becca




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 1084
Reviews 43
Great chapter!

I really liked this, and I couldn't even find any correction errors. ;) So good job with that!

A couple things I liked was you had some great vocabulary in there. Another thing I liked was 'Twizzler terms'. I thought that was cute. :) Another thing I liked as well writ3rindisguis3 as was how you used Spanish, (though I did have to use a translation site to know what it meant!) I think it is very interesting, also, like what writ3rindisguis3 said. :)

So, that's all I have to say, I like the plot you've got goin' here!

Happy writings! ~Mateeah
"Good" writing is married to "bad" writing: something was created, something was tried.




User avatar
Gender Male
Points 9616
Reviews 263
This chapter was great! So as the first one :)

Anyways, I didn't understand most of the Spanish words but after I went on with the story I thought that the Spanish part of Megan was "My family left the house..." or something like that well, I don't really understand! You should have put some captions for other readers :)

So Emma was her name, right? Was it mentioned in the first chapter? The story was great, anyway. I mean the ENTIRE story! :lol:
“(...) and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” - Gandalf, The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring




User avatar
Gender None specified
Points 3437
Reviews 181
I see how the Spanish can be confusing. The phrases translate to,

"What?" I asked, using my best Spanglish.
"Well..." Megan said, following suit, "My family has just bought a new television."

Sometimes my friends and I talk in Spanish (though our language skills are limited :) ), so I thought it would be dorky to throw a little language in :D .
My main project until Script Frenzy is an experiment using blog posts between four characters as episodes of a common story. You can read this work as it progresses at http://knowallchronicles.blogspot.com/.




User avatar
Gender None specified
Points 1075
Reviews 842
Hey elephantwalrus! :D Sorry it took me so long to get to this. I have been SO busy lately…but anyway, back to your story…

Of course, I loved it! I liked how real you made it, with the awkwardness and everything, it felt normal, believable. And, I’m a sucker of Star Wars. I don’t what it is about it, but I love them! But, I totally understand having to watch them in a row, and then you get sick of them! :lol: lol

Yeah, but I do think you could have included more detail. I really liked the description of the TV (I actually understood the Spanish you used too! :wink: ) and everything, but I think you could have included more.

Otherwise, the kissing scene was adorable. Not too intense, but romantic just the same.

Great job! :D Can’t wait to read more! PM me again and I will try to get to the next part sooner! :wink:
"Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love—and to put his trust in life."
~ Joseph Conrad


"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~ Red Auerbach




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 1390
Reviews 8
Hello :)
Sorry this is so late but things have been mad :shock:

Anyway on with the critique

At half till seven

I don't like this bit, it makes me sad :(
I was there in the story and it was all flowing beautifully, then this bit completely ruined it for me. I don't think it sounds right, and I know that fits in with your character but I don't think it's needed, plus no one, that I've ever heard, says this. I'd just write half seven, but it's your choice.

Luke came over to talk to me, and I was relieved; we were still cool.

I don't like the 'and I was relieved' in there. It sounds too blocky. like, I went to the cinema and it was good. I'd put something else like 'Luke came over to talk to me and to my relief we were still cool.

Curious to see how he reacted, I snuggled closer to [s]Luke[/s] him.

Sounds better that way.

In Twizzler terms, we were only three inches apart.

Wouldn't it be three Twizzlers apart then? Three inches isn't really a Twizzler term as such, it's just a measurement

"Okay."
On screen, Hans Solo and Princess Leia were making out.

Lack of emotion much? Surely she would be feeling something, she's just discussed the possibility of getting together with her best mate, she must be feeling something. Embarrassment, guilt?

The groggy teens filed out of Megan's basement while I stayed behind to clean up.

It sounds like Emma's staying on her own to clean up, I'd add something to tell the reader Emma's staying as well. For example, 'the groggy teens, bar Megan, filed out of the basement...'

Overall
The thing that bugs me the most is the lack of emotion, apart from at the start. I know your character is the sort of sarcastic, dry humored type but you still need to portray her emotions in major parts of the story (see above)
Other than that I loved it. Although I wanted a connection between her Luke and Luke Skywalker :( that's more of a personal thing though not something that's wrong with the story,
Great job,
PM me for anything (plus when the next part comes out please)
Complicated101




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 890
Reviews 18
I liked this story very much! I like how Emma reacts the kiss. She is all happy at first, and then realizes that she didn't want it to happen. That would totally be something I would do! :)
My only problem was the Spanish. I take French. I would have had no idea what was going on if I didn't, because "un televisión nueva" is similar in French, so I was able to guess, but for everybody who doesn't know another langauge it must have confused the heck out of them. If you are going to use another langauage I would write the English in paranthesis.
Other than that I really really liked your story.
I'm a special lover sometimes but you only touch a ghost, I'm a sycophantic courtier wit an elegant repost, Needless to say you're the one I need the most, Cause the only one I come undone for is you.- some lines from Come Undone by Vannessa Carlton




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 890
Reviews 4
I like the way you present your character and go into your thoughts. It's a really good story actually. It's just about the first one that I've read that presents a new point of view on "the first kiss". It's very interesting and original, and I like the girl's voice. The way you describe the kiss in the first part is also very nice - strong verbs and adjectives make people feel like they're really there.
Overall, very nice. I like the ending as well.
If fall from a horse, then from a tall one.




User avatar
Gender Male
Points 9616
Reviews 263
elephantwalrus wrote:I see how the Spanish can be confusing. The phrases translate to,

"What?" I asked, using my best Spanglish.
"Well..." Megan said, following suit, "My family has just bought a new television."

Sometimes my friends and I talk in Spanish (though our language skills are limited :) ), so I thought it would be dorky to throw a little language in :D .


Oh, thanks for answering, though it is really late for me to reply on your answers but still, thanks!

Anyway, I've noticed that you always answer on my reviews, hehe :)
“(...) and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” - Gandalf, The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 890
Reviews 135
A very good story! I am liking it, but you need to double check spelling and punctuation. It's a good start but needs more depth, descriptions, and definitely more checking of the spelling and punctuation. You've got a really good way with using just the perfect words! Explosive is a great word to describe music. You just need to have a little more description here and there. A great piece

Sorry if i sound brutal and horrible.. i'm not very generous when it comes to my editing... sorry!




User avatar
Gender Male
Points 890
Reviews 25
Very well written! You're dialogue is wonderfully realistic. But for those of us who have never taken Spanish it can be a bit confusing, so I would recommend adding captions, or perhaps have Emma translate it in her head. I like the ideas, and the characters are very believable. Perhaps try and add a bit more depth to the plot. I really liked this, keep up the good work! :wink:
Religion is the opium of the masses
- Karl Marx -
Democracy is the worst form of goverment, except for all the others that have been tried.
- Winston Churchill -




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 890
Reviews 31
ok i have read both chapters of your story and i am in L>O>V>E with it !!!!!!!!

There were a few speling errors but other than that i L>O>V>E it i just can't help but relate to your story when you post the next chpater PLEASE and THANKYOU!!!!!
~OdD~OnE~




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 1224
Reviews 22
AMAZING!
I really enjoy reading this, it's really interesting and it keeps me wanting more. I really like how you used the spanish, it made it more interesting, there was just a little mistake in the spanish, but it really doesn't matter, I guess not many people noticed it ;)
Really good job! I really liked it, please keep posting more!, it was awesome, one of the best stories I have read, no mistakes at all :D
"It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, despite everything, that people are truly good at heart" Anne Frank.

Diana!




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 4117
Reviews 71
After I ordered the extra pizza, the first pizza arrived, and we started getting calls explaining the no-shows excuses. Becca had a date with Derron (who forgot and showed up on Megan’s doorstep, where we proceeded to yell at him until he remembered where he was supposed to be), Max and Spencer had a baseball game, Kate was grounded, Travis was sick, and Jennie didn’t show up. As it were, we had a couple extra pizzas. And Luke still came.


I feel like this part wasn't needed after you said there would be excuses. Although it is funny, I suppose if you ever needed to get rid of any words, I would start here haha!

But things were not the same anymore.


Ooh classic Harry Met Sally! Sorry, love it!


I love this by the way! It took me a while to understand why the kiss was a big deal at 18, but now I'm over it, it makes for a really good read! I would buy it if it was out now!



If you steal property, you must report its fair market value...
— John Oliver