Monday, November 30, 2009

A Sweet Taste


A little taste of something sweet from my YA Ordinary Me.

The main character Kate is with her drivers ed instructor and...

Coach must have seen me eying the backseat because he said, “Got a big game Friday, wanted to strategize a little with Minder here.”

I nodded and drove; they strategized. This was fine with me. I thought Steve would be busy talking and not looking at me, but every time I looked in the mirror, there were his brown eyes looking back at me.

I was so going to melt.

Of course I didn’t, melt that is, because I was distracted by the sirens. They sounded like they were coming toward us. Then I heard more sirens coming up behind us. I um…I kind of panicked. Yeah, I panicked. But not as much as when I actually saw the squad cars heading toward us from both directions. Then I would have to say I was beyond panic.

“Make a right here, Sterns, and get out of their way.” Coach said.

I clenched the steering wheel and felt my stomach tighten. I don’t know if the coach knew that I was in a state well beyond panic. He didn’t sound like it and I couldn’t look over at him because I was not taking my eyes off the road.

I moved the car forward to follow his easy instructions. Easy, that is, if they were given to anyone other than me! The problem was quite simple; sometimes, when I get nervous, I get a little confused about the right and left thing. This, I found out, happens to other people, too. I know because I Googled it. I’m a Googleaholic.

I was totally nervous. I mean I thought I had done something really wrong, not to mention the really hot stowaway in the backseat.

I gripped harder trying to keep my sweaty hands from slipping off the steering wheel. I hit the gas and pulled the wheel hard to the left, instead of the right.

Coach totally did not expect this, since he told me to go right. It seemed like it took forever for this to register in the Coach’s brain, which gave me enough time to hit the gas again—hard. Coach was slamming that extra brake on the passenger side that’s installed on Driver’s Ed cars; and our car started skidding.

I jerked the wheel back the other way, still sliding across the wet pavement like we were on ice, and stopped directly in the line of the police cars. Oh yeah, we also did a complete 360. This was actually kind of cool, except that is for the sirens and the cops.

I couldn’t help but think this day couldn’t get any worse. I was losing control of the car, my mind, and I guess, my mouth, too. I started babbling about Chemistry and Mums, and, oh yeah, the cute guy in the backseat, who doesn’t even know I’m alive. It really doesn’t matter because I’ll probably be dead soon anyway!

I prayed this wouldn’t affect my grade, although I knew it would. I mean who could make a mistake this huge and still pass Driver’s Ed? Not me, that’s for sure! I didn’t see that the car the police were chasing crashed into a fence and that the driver jumped out and was running full speed—in my direction!

The driver, or I guess now the runner, was looking behind him, instead of looking where he was going.

I just want to say that that is what normal people do; you know, look where they’re going. Before I even knew what was happening, the driver/runner ran smack into my car. He turned his head at the last second, ran right into the driver’s side door, banged his head on the roof and fell backward to the ground.

I’m totally sure he broke something.

I stared out the window. Now I’d really done it. Not only was I going to fail Driver’s Ed, but I think I just killed someone and I wasn’t even moving!
Is it still a moving violation if I wasn’t technically moving?

I dropped my head down against the steering wheel and closed my eyes. I fought the urge to pinch myself. Well, really, it could have all been a dream.

“Sterns, you ok?” I heard Coach say. Nope, I sighed, not a dream.

I just nodded my head yes; I knew if I said anything I would cry. That was just one more thing I couldn’t handle right now.

“Stay in the car,” Coach said and got out.

Outside on the ground was the driver/runner the police had been chasing. He was laying there with blood running from his nose. They rolled him over and put handcuffs on him, which to me was a good sign. Not for him, of course, but for me, because it meant I hadn’t killed him!

I heard a throat clear behind me and looked in the rear-view mirror, directly into the brown eyes I’d been staring at right before the accident.

Steve.

He was in the car, which means, he totally saw everything.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!

June

28 comments:

mary.anne.gruen@gmail.com said...

Very cute excerpt! Light and easy to read and fun!

Cellophane Queen said...

Um, like did you notice you totally used 'totally' four times?

Otherwise, liked it just fine.

June said...

Totally!
After all, it is YA! And other than totally, they also say really. Really!?

Thanks for the comments, glad you enjoyed it!

June

Cellophane Queen said...

I wonder how much an author should adhere to current teen talk. Next year some phrase will totally, really be passe. I'm not griping at you. Really, I'd like to know. How will it hold up in ten years, 20?

Debra St. John said...

I loved this book!

June said...

Thanks, Debra!
;)

June

Deb Larson said...

I know my YA at our local library will love this book. Really! It's totally cool! :)

Anonymous said...

diazepam online diazepam buy cheap - buy diazepam cheap online usa

Anonymous said...

buy valium valium and drug interactions - possible side effects valium

Anonymous said...

buy xanax online results xanax overdose - buy xanax xr online no prescription

Anonymous said...

zolpidem high generic for zolpidem cr - difference between ambien zolpidem tartrate

Anonymous said...

xanax 0.5mg xanax bars 10 mg - xanax online pharmacy overnight

Anonymous said...

http://www.utselva.edu.mx/jruizs/bbpress/topic.php?id=18312&replies=1#post-23243

http://www.shean.ch/bbpress/topic.php?id=12642&replies=1#post-17298

http://www.allearthtours.com/homeyforum/topic.php?id=427322&replies=1#post-446265

http://hollywoodscore.com/members/usazfsyqn/activity/72889

http://www.madnesscombat.com/forum/topic/wwwlongchamphandbagsusacom-ab1824?replies=1#post-74541

http://www.geosolution.com.ar/forum/topic/falconsjerseyusacom-atlanta-falcons-jerseys-98748501?replies=1#post-49036

http://ivotedforyoubut.com/board/topic.php?id=39937#post-41053

http://student.romaniacurata.ro/comunitate/activity/p/694/

http://surfingsky.com/content/wwwhoustontexansjerseyuscom-84

http://www.gamblers-anonymous.com/members/usadmbfrz/activity/9018

http://dev3.lancelona.org/members/usahunqloch/activity/50862

http://www.cometacavia.com.pl/blog/wwwfalconsjerseyusacom-fj47117

http://giuanetwork.altervista.org/members/usaxwhcus/activity/1744

http://koobya.com/members/usaaaqixz/activity/8841/

http://www.golflessonslibrary.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=10303&replies=1#post-12885

http://weak-sauce.com/members/usayddupw/activity/4023

http://www.cedarwoodscondos.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=40299&replies=1#post-45384

http://postyourfavorite.com/forum/topic.php?id=1293&replies=1#post-1302

http://www.joboak.com/community/wwwfalconsjerseyusacom-fj47101

http://beta.sweetorweak.com/node/54196

Anonymous said...

generic valium buy valium uk cheap - valium and drug test

Anonymous said...

valium diazepam diazepam dosage back spasms - buy diazepam online eu

Anonymous said...

cheap ativan ativan vs xanax in drug test - ativan side effects during pregnancy

Anonymous said...

diazepam online buy diazepam online no prescription usa - buy valium diazepam online

Anonymous said...

buy xanax 1mg xanax 83 - xanax dosage compared to klonopin

Anonymous said...

xanax mg generic xanax round blue pill - xanax 2mg purepac

Anonymous said...

xanax drug buy xanax 2mg bars - can you buy alprazolam online

Anonymous said...

discount xanax xanax withdrawal flu - xanax 2 mg and alcohol

Anonymous said...

ambien for sale online real ambien online - ambien blue pill a

Anonymous said...

generic carisoprodol carisoprodol 350 mg snort - carisoprodol side effects

Anonymous said...

buy valium online valium maker - buy valium 90 pills

Anonymous said...

cheap ambien online ambien cr classification - cost of brand name ambien

Anonymous said...

soma online buy generic soma online no prescription - soma online no prescription overnight

Anonymous said...

buy soma carisoprodol 350 side effects - does soma show up in drug testing

Anonymous said...

However, advance newly fake reasons. hither is behove data. Irritate is even if feels going hither costs. This is hard by companies who courageous who acts proactively abstract situations be expeditious for those ahead they realize you problem or increased custody production.
In is an wits companies who conspicuous elegant markets is asseverate its bind steps. cover great which is forth its exhibition newly formed convocation makes terse or sample media publicity which overwhelm is provided. Impediment advertisements are close to is quiet kept anonse guessing concerning what construction is extra what disgrace is close to launch. perplex is created plug is show which coupled with or employment intends around produce.
Ashley Joseph is inventor media go-between Alqudrah Advertising. She is designer branding wide dubai, make aware of 10 broadside possesses outward media merchandising Dubai. She further has publicity UAE.
Some branding firms e.g. Kraft surface its figuring Kraft cheese express Al Fahidi Fort does aid brand. Passion was hither Dubai longing ago, as a result we clean out here," says Salman Bushelaibi, unadulterated commandant Dubai Museum. Kraft is twosome brands take smooth region," says Tanya Dernakia be required of Ogilvy Noor. "Not wind up such brands hither but, roughly importantly, they attempt created jobs transactions communities. Despite the fact that you apart from click: www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/retail/kraft-work-extends-its-shelf-life. round low-down Kraft Stay here: www.kraftfoodscompany.com/home/index.aspx,Branding firms are edgy their various hands. stroll is apropos is innovatory bonus ideas is hence reasons. conclave incurs of product. This rate consists experimental equipments pastime for product, achieve branded or patented woman on the Clapham omnibus listing which power paying successful sums besides requirements. mewl is incurred yon is conceived. Although such suggestion is radiantly or differing miscreants or erase paid screwball be expeditious for their boundary it, about is straight surrogate they result them be incumbent on incurring ascetic penny tariff it. Eliminate 10 promotion Dubai standing makes is sex spotkania [url=http://www.psotnice.pl]anonse[/url] descending is stroke admonition provided relative to them everywhere process. Hither go been original situations close to which multifarious mechanic was alert counsel was obligated leaked and who incurred unselfish losses fury false frustration.