Full Steam Ahead!

Holy cow. My characters keep doing weird unexpected things. Today, my main character got her very first kiss. From a boy! I know! Hu? They're doing other weird things too, like abandoning all the adults in their lives to go off on foolish adventures. I swear, I have no idea what these kids are doing! It's almost like they don't even belong to me.

Oh, I'm now 3/5 of the way done with my word count and I feel like the story is just getting good. Maybe I'll have some cutting to do. I mean 30K words and I just NOW feel like it's getting good? Then again, I've been kind of feeling this way all along. Maybe I am just constantly surprised that the thing is going anywhere at all and that's all it is. Pleasant surprises day after day. Writing rules! If you've ever even considered trying it, DO IT NOW!

I wrote this scene from the boy's perspective. There is a little bit of an odd triangle going on, with one boy a very sensible choice and the other, this goof-ball named Jasper. I happen to have a thing for the goof-balls of the world though (I love you Tommie!), so I figured I'd give him the first shot at Bethany. I wanted to keep her feelings mostly a mystery, though she definitely likes this boy. I wanted the story to be able to tell itself later if Bethany chooses a different way, so I told this part of the story through Jasper's eyes. I find the farther along I get, I'm having tons of fun telling parts of the story through the eyes of people who don't know exactly what's going on. For instance, Bethany's best friend is her little brother, about 3 years her junior (suprise), but as a 13 year old, things are much different when he's looking at them than they are seen by the older kids or the adults. I love telling the story through him because I get to just observe without outright saying what's happening. Anyhoo...

Ok, so without further ado, here's my very first kiss scene. They're both about 16-ish I figure. See if this rings any first kiss bells for anyone.

******

“I like you,” he blurted. “I was going to ask you to dance at the harvest festival.”

Bethany’s lips curled up at the corners in a shy smile. “I was hoping you would,” she admitted quietly.

“If we were back home, would you still want to dance with me? I mean now that you’re to be off on an adventure and now that you’ve met… other fellows?” Jake asked awkwardly, looking at his shoes.

Bethany took a tentative half-step closer to Jasper. “I’d dance with you no matter how many adventures I’d had. Darren is a nice boy, but he’s not interesting the way you are.”

“Interesting?” Jasper looked up at Bethany’s face. Her lips looked soft and plump like ripe berries in the summer and her eyes seemed to look right into his soul. He suddenly wished that he’d never embellished his stories. He wished she knew everything about him and he wished that she would still find him interesting anyway. Ashamed, his eyes dropped to her feet. His palms were wet with sweat and he could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. His tongue felt thick and dry. He hoped the meager moonlight would not be bright enough to show how his face burned. How he burned.

Jasper could hear Bethany’s breathing. Steady but faster than normal. He licked his lips and ran his hand through his hair. How could he explain how he felt? He wanted to correct all the stories he’d told her right then and there, but knew it would ruin the moment. This uncomfortable, awkward, gut-wrenching tender moment. He looked up at her again. Her berry smile revealed her teeth slightly, and her head was cocked slightly to one side, questioning or daring, he didn’t know which.

Before he realized what he was doing, his hand was on the back of her neck, which was long and delicate and her eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then he stepped close to her, his other hand encircling her waist, his body pressed against hers. His lips brushed hers softly and the stiffness seemed to drain from her body as she leaned into him.

He could smell her then. Could feel the soft wool of her clothes under his hand. The smoothness of her hair against the back of his other hand. He simply stood with his eyes closed breathing her in for a moment, then pressed his lips to hers again, this time with more certainty, more urgency. He felt her arms slide into place, circling his neck, resting on his shoulders. The rest of the world dropped away.

Finally, he leaned back and opened his eyes. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips were wet as she looked at him from under her lashes. He’d never seen any girl as beautiful in all his life.

Jasper kept hold of her waist but ran his fingers through her hair. “I want to come with you, Beth. I want to be with you and I want to help keep you safe. I’m not really as great as you think I am, but I want to be. Let me come and prove myself to you,” he said in a quiet, husky voice.