I slide into my seat in homeroom and nod at Meg D’Angelo, who still has her iPod earbuds in. She nods back, same way she does every morning——we’ve known each other since third grade, and she’s one of those sort-of friends, someone I hang out with at school when Jess and Darcia aren’t around.
Of course, I haven't seen them much at all since Danny died in July, and while Jess has gotten angrily vocal about it over the last few weeks, Darcia just stares at me sadly across the row that separates us in World Lit and sends me cryptic texts about new songs she likes or her little brother’s soccer games.
At least Meg doesn’t look at me like I’ve disappointed her.
I slouch down to get my French notebook out of my backpack while Mr. Rokozny calls roll. Madame Hobart is quizzing us on the imperfect tense today, and I fell asleep watching a rerun of some reality show before I even thought about studying.
I raise my hand silently when Mr. Rokozny calls my name, and it’s only when he pauses after Cleo Darnell’s name to say, “Gabriel DeMarnes?” that I look up.
Twenty-two pairs of eyes are trained on the kid in the very back of the room. Even Rokozny is squinting at him from above the morning’s roll. This far into October, it’s weird to find a new kid in homeroom.
“That’s me,” the boy says, and Audrey Diehl sits up a little straighter, head tilted in appreciation.
He’s tall——I can tell even though he’s hunched over his desk, because his legs go on pretty much forever, kicked out into the faded linoleum of the aisle. His hair is the color of clean sand, and even short it’s sort of messy. He’s all angles, planes, a geometry proof of a boy in a wrinkled yellow button-down and faded jeans, and when I drag my gaze away from the long, slender fingers splayed loose over his thigh, I blink in surprise.
Because even with everyone in the room checking him out, he’s staring right at me.
So, reading this made me check to see if I could pre-order Cold Kiss. And I could, so I did. Yay.
ReplyDeleteNo way! That's awesome, Tamara. Thank you!
ReplyDelete<3 it! I am so looking forward to Cold Kiss coming out , and also Looking Forward for both my kids to be in school full time. Littly girly is being "fazed in" ughh :)
ReplyDeleteI am very much looking forward to meeting you in...october I think it is. You are coming to WA with Kiersten White and a whole bunch of other cool people and I really can't wait to meet you! I will do WHATEVER it takes to get there, even if I do have homework that night and drag my grandfather all the way out to Lake Forest Park!!! <3
ReplyDeletepeachandblue2(at)aol(dot)com
I am looking forward to some change in the weather, under 90 degrees will be awesome!
ReplyDeletebooksake(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am looking forward to shopping with my Mom next week. I love when it is just me and my mom spending the day together.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to picking blackberries and eating all the yummy things my fiance will turn them into.
ReplyDeletejasmineroster@gmail.com
I liked the teaser!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to teaching undergrads film analysis this fall! Okay, I am also nervous, but excitement is winning out right now!
thegreatest_aeariana [at] yahoo [dot] com
Teasers ... They always get me so excited for books. Haha, which I'm guessing is why you posted one.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to meeting up with my friend, and going to see One Day. Yay for Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. I can only hope that the film is as good as the trailers make it out to be. Who knows, though; trailers tend to make many movies look better than they really are.
exceptional.liar@gmail.com
I just wanted to say that I can't wait for your book to be released here in the UK! I know i can't enter the competition *cries* so this is just a post to tell how much i'm looking forward to reading Cold Kiss :)
ReplyDeletetasnim-sheikh(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
I'm super excited for your book to be released and to hopefully get my sling off of my arm in the next couple weeks!!! I read
ReplyDeleteThis and now I'm even more excited than I was before!!
flicka770@aol.com
The thing I am looking forward to most is the weather turning cooler. I love rainy/cloudy weather and it's been really hot here. I love reading outside with a cool breeze and some clouds, makes for a perfect day.
ReplyDeletecubicleblindness at gmail.com
I look forward to my new beginning in college. I have so many plans for my first year. I want to make a splash at my school. Sooo I am actually going to make the first ever Book Club at my school and also a Dream Act Fellowship chapter. I hope to do these things within the next 2 months.
ReplyDeleteSpunkyreader@gmail.com
I'm looking forward to my trip to San Francisco. It's been a really horrid month for me-- moving, money issues, a break-up-- and I am so looking forward to the overwhelming happiness I get whenever I'm with my Bay Area friends. Plus, they're taking me to the Ghiradelli Chocolate Festival, so what more could a girl want!?
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to introduce new books to my 7th & 8th grade students. Still need to get a few things organized in my library before Sept 1st!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to going back to school, it's boarding school and I actually can say I love going back to school every year :) but what has me most excited is my upcoming Roadtrip with a bunch of my girlfriends, we have no idea where were going we just know were heading south! And finally I'm looking forward to my 15 year old "puppy" finally being on the mend after weeks of being sick.
ReplyDeleteEmail: aleon@Madeira.org
I'm looking forward to my first week at the library. Dream job has become a reality! Where else can I get complete, inhibited access to books?!
ReplyDeleteAwesome teaser, cannot wait to read more.
Email: bookchellef[at]gmail[dot]com
I'm excited about COLD KISS coming out! And I also can't wait to get married this winter!!!!
ReplyDeletesamairewynne(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm looking forward to Christmas!!!! =)
ReplyDeletevi3ti3abe at gmail.com
I'm looking forward to fall!
ReplyDeletetammirn2002@gmail.com