Simone Elkeles

Carlos, are we in complete understanding with each other?___eah,_ I say. __s long as it__ not in your house and you don__ know about it, you__e okay with us messin_ around.___ know you__e joking with me. You are joking with me, aren__ you?___aybe.

Sylvia grabs my sleeve. __e__ a looker.___ know. The problem is, he knows it, too.

Luis is right there._ I point to the corner of the yard, where my little brother is the centre of attention doing imitations of barnyard animals. I have yet to inform him that talent isn__ as much of a chick magnet when you get into junior high.

Nikki looks at me, confused. __hat__ wro

Listen, I don__ know what the hell happened between you and Marco. To be honest I don__ really want to know, __ause if I did I__ probably want to kick the shit outta him.___ don__ need you to protect me.___hat if I want to?

What are you boys doing?_ she asks, as if we__e still little kids messing around.__rguin_,_ Carlos says matter-of-factly.

A text pops up on the screen. It__ from Luis. I can__ help but grin when I read his perfectly thought-out me

There__ always time for arguin_ when you__e a Fuentes.

You look like a hot tamale.___hat__ not really a compliment.

I wish I could turn back time, but I can't. I made a stupid decision because I thought I was invincible, and I'll pay for it the rest of my life.

You quit? I thought you said it was too dangerous to quit, Alex. You said people who try to get out die.""I almost did. If it weren't for Gary Frankel, I probably wouldn't have made it. . . .""Gary Frankel?" The nicest, geekiest guy in school? For the first time I scan Alex's face and see a faint, new scar above his eye and nasty ones by his ear and neck. "Oh, God! W-what did they d-do to you?"He takes my hand and places it on his chest. His eyes are intense and dark, like they were the first time I noticed him in the parking lot that first day of school senior year. "It took me a long time to realize I needed to fix everything The choices I made. The gang. Bein' beaten to within an inch of my life and branded like cattle was nothin' compared to losin' you. If I could take back every word I said in the hospital, I would. I thought if I pushed you away, I'd be protectin' you from what happened to Paco and my dad." He looks up and his eyes pierce mine. "I'll never push you away again, Brittany. Ever. I swear."Beaten? Branded? I'm feeling sick to my stomach and tears sting my eyes."Shh." He puts his arms around me, rubbing his hands across my back. "It's all right. I'm okay," he chants over and over again, his voice catching.

Being brave is not as easy as it looks.

Makin' mistakes ain't a crime, you know. What's the use of having a reputation if you can't ruin it every now and then?

I don't know why or when I started falling for you, Alex. But I did. Ever since I almost ran over your motorcycle that first day of school I haven't been able to stop thinking about what it would be like if you and I got together. And that kiss ... God, I swear I never experienced anything like that in my life. It did mean something. If the solar system didn't tilt then, it never will. I know it's crazy because we're so different. And if anything happens between us I don't want people at school to know. Not that you'll agree to have a secret relationship with me, but I at least have to find out if it's possible. I broke up with Colin, who I had a very public relationship with and I'm ready for something private. Private and real. I know I'm babbling like an idiot, but if you don't say something soon or give me a hint of what you're thinking then I'll--""Say it again," he says."That whole drawn-out speech?" I remember something about a solar system, but I'm too light-headed to recite the entire thing all over again.He steps closer. "No. The part about you fallin' for me."My eyes cling to his. "I think about you all the time, Alex. And I really, really want to kiss you again."The sides of his mouth turn up.Unable to face him, I look at the ground. "Don't make fun of me." I can take anything but that right abou

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 was 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.

This girl of my dreams, this girl who is more like me than anyone I've ever met, wants to kiss me.I take over control as soon as she tilts her head. Our lips touch for the briefest moment before I lace my fingers in her hair and keep kissing her soft and gentle. I cup her cheek in my palm, feeling her baby-soft skin against my rough fingers. My body urges me to take advantage of the situation, but my brain (the one inside my head) keeps me in check.A satisfied sigh escapes Brittany's mouth, as if she's content to stay in my arms forever.I brush the tip of my tongue against her lips, enticing her to open her mouth. She tentatively meets my tongue with her own. Our mouths and tongues mingle in a slow, erotic dance until the sound of the front door opening makes her jerk

How was the kiss with Alex?""Nice," I say, thinking about how sensual it was. "Actually, Isabel, it was more than nice. It was fucking incredible."Isabel starts laughing, and I laugh right along with her this time.

After we've been dancing awhile and need a breather, we walk off the dance floor. I whip out my cell and say, "Pose for me."The first picture I take is of him trying to pose like a cool bad boy. It makes me laugh. I take another one before he can strike a pose this time."Let's take one of the both of us," he says, pulling me close. I press my cheek against his while he takes my cell and puts it as far away as he can reach, then freezes this perfect moment with a click. After the picture is taken, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me.