How is everyone? I haven't written on here in a while, so I'll update.

Story's going great. I am really paying attention to the content and how well my writing is. I wrote this obscenely hypocritical chapter and edited it. Now I'm really getting into the character's for the next one. It's pretty big, and I'll try my best not to make it corny.

See, I haven't touched a cheesy love story in probably a year or more, so I'm rusty. I want to make this story realistic and yet pretty entertaining and meeting to what is required for a love story now. Except I still want to play with what's expected.

I am not writing as much as I'd like to, its my awful procrastination, but I'm getting on track don't worry. Plus, my winter break's coming up, so I'll have tons to update then when I decide to ignore my reading to write. Get ready, kids.

I'm sorry to complain, but I'm getting really frustrated actually because of this no reviews thing. I know people might be busy, but I have been posting a lot and writing a lot, and I'd like to hear back.

Oof.

This no reviews thing it killing me. It's gettign juicy and nobodys talking. Silly geese, review. I lahve ya.

Notes will start to be posted, especially of the old version.

There always seems to be this weird drop-off on my stories when people stop reviewing. Now's the real test. Can I stay inspired long enough to keep posting without any reviewing readers?

Kayla has always looked like the girl in this photo for me. I think it's Charlie Sheen next to her, but I've yet to find out who the heck this mystery girl is, so she'll just stay Kayla for me. The original Kayla was supposed to have dark hair, but it's like, c'mon. How unoriginal is that? I've done that ten fold. So I made Kayla a brown-red-head. Hope that's okay.

Excuse: Fanfiction just rebooted my account after I wrote probably 1,500 words for the next chapter. Eff you, FF. It actually came out good and you delete it. However, it's a weekend, so I might just type it fast.

I am impressed with the amount of reviews I have been getting. Nearly 2 for every chapter, kudos. They're not that consistent, but I am lucky to have peeps still reading my dabbling. Especially since I am super rusty on the whole "writing" aspect of this thing.

I'm juicing it up, and am having a little fun doing so. I haven't read a Sarah Dessen book in over two years now, so I'm proud of myself. Except I find my writing more male-populated than hers. Huh, guess that's what I get when all I do is read man-books.

I have so much fun writing Peter though. I am so amused by the fact that he is based look-wise on a literary Peter, whom I absolutely adore. Now my characters aren't based on members from my favorite bands, but instead on writers from the 50s. Sheesh.

I don't have any cool notes to post, mainly because I can't do so without ruining the fun.

Nntz nntz nntz.

I am embracing my inner Kayla a little now. Making her super miserable and whiney, but adding a little person-ality.

First Incarnation: Kayla's POV --- Meeting original Peter

So since I have been a busy bee writing and not posting and deleting and rewriting, here's a little thing I found.

(NB: MY first incarnation of the story featured the same characters with the exceptions of Kayla and Peter and Alyssa. I drastically changed everything after being inspired by an indie movie, and re-modeled the three above characters. Peter being the most drastic, so here is the original Peter as described by Kayla the first time she [literally] met him. That is only because he was some kid from another town.)

kayla's pov

I waited for the next boy to come up to the window, still blushing from the first's comment about my sister. Even people from the next town knew everything about her. I looked up at the boy, he was porky- not grossly chubby, but he was a little. He had short brown hair and blue eyes, and he didn't smile at me right away. In fact he looked at my shyly. "Can I help you?" I was obligated to ask.

"Oh, yeah," He said softly. "I'll have a cup of rocky road."

I nodded, getting a cup out and walking down a few freezers to scoop. There wasn't anyone else in line, just him. Harper had this one family a few windows down. "Are you guys busy today?" I lifted my head to see him looking at me through the row of windows, he hadn't moved but instead called out to me.

"Kind of," I said packing in his ice cream. "Nobody usually comes that much on Tuesdays. But it was kind of hot... I guess." I got him more, one more scoop which we usually promised but never actually gave out.

Then I walked down to my little register. He wasn't disgusting. He was kind of cute I guess. I guess I just noticed how chunky he was because he wore a fitted t-shirt instead of a baggy one like most chubby kids wore. I got him a spoon and he took out his wallet.

"It'll be two-seventy-five." I said, not thinking or looking at him.

He fished out a five. "I usually have exact change," He said. "Sorry."

I shrugged, glancing at the money. "It's fine," I smiled a little. I felt him looking at me. I got him change, avoiding eye contact, because most boys who stare at you are creeps. I handed him his money back, and he smiled at me.

"Thank-"

"Come on, dude," One of his friends said impatiently. "You're taking forever."

He looked back at me. "Thank you," He said. "I'm sorry about my friends, especially Calvin. He can be a real douche-bag sometimes, don't take it personally."

I nodded, smiling weakly out of embarrassment. "I'll try not to,"

He took a bite of ice cream, reacting to it with shock and wonder. "Geez," He said. "Your recipe has improved sicne I last came here..." He looked at the cup intently. "I might have to come back soon."

I smiled a little tucking hair behind my ear. He smiled at me, in a way that made me realize how much of an actor he was. "I'll see you later then," I said laughing a little.

He started to walk backwards. "I think you might," He said. Then he turned and headed back to his friends. I really didn't know what to think. Guys never liked me, or flirted with me. Was he flirting? I had no idea. It had never happened before. I watched him walk away before I turned back catching a smile from Harper.

"He was cute," She said laughing to herself. He was kind of goofy, but I didn't really know if I despised him or found him to actually be kind of cute.

I kind of like "Lazarus" more and more as I read it. I haven't been writing a lot since my abrupt stop on good old FanFiction, but I am pretty into this. I have a system now too, to keep my updates rolling in.

I write a chapter and then have to write another in order to post it. I have a couple sitting on my document manager, and they're pretty juicy. There's one that's pretty long but it feels rushed. But it's a little important so I might write a few more chapters before I post that one to make sure it's really good.

But I am nervous that Kayla is a very dead character. I need to put more thoughts into her head I guess. Make her a little more complicated, I just don't relate to her too much right now.

Hopefully it gets good.

So "Lazarus" is up.

It's a hyvrid of a piece I fashioned specifically for FanFiction and one that has come up naturally. That being said neither story at all resembles the other. I stole one character from my natural story and stuck him in. But I am interested in it, and am looking to really take it up a notch from whatever "Last Place" and "Perfect Kisses" was.

So expect that. I may post tonight, but I might feel it out a little more.

Story is coming along. It's very juicy and concerned with the romance at the moment. But it's almost ready for posting. I might put up a little taste of it. Just to see if I have anyone left.

I just need a title for it.

I have a new story I am working on. It's a hybrid of two stories I have been working on, so I will be more motivated to work on it. I don't know where I'll post it. Maybe still under a Sarah Dessen catagory. I just have to pick the lucky one.

It's been inspired by real people, who might as well be fictional to me- since I don't know them very personally. It's from a girl's POV, but kind of different, but very stereotypical. Family dysfunction, friend dysfunction, falling in love. But I like it quite a bit.

I'm on the second chapter. I'll start posting when I feel ready to.

Can I make a comeback? Or should I start anew?

I saw Saves The Day this week.
Does anyone still look at this?

Update for those who are listening.

I plan on returning to FanFiction in September.

That gives me a week to figure out what project I'm going to go with and what one I'm going to let simmer and grow a little. Which leads me to phase two of this update.

I have two story ideas all hashed out in my head ready to go to real paper and then to virtual paper and then to FanFiction. I started really laying out my stories and planning them all out in a notebook again. It's pretty old school but it's all in there. Now I just need to get it moving.

The titled story is from a girl's POV and definitely going under a Sarah Dessen catagory.

The other is untitled, but I'm really excited about it right now. It may or may not leave my homey little Sarah Dessen catagory. It depends on what POV I'm picking. I'm leaning towards multi-POV but I really like the male lead's perspective.

If anyone is reading this, I'd love to run the two summaries by you and you can give me some feedback. Drop a comment down here- anyone can comment, FYI- and leave your FanFiction Penname or if not I can just post them on here.

I miss you guys and my life a secret online teen fiction-ist. My life is boring without it.

JaseyRay

"New Slang" The Shins

Hi

I had a nice little creative vacation. I won't bog you down with details, because I figure I'm just talking to myself. But if someone is reading this, here's my little speil. I'm still building up a whole new story. I want to work out all of the kinks before I start writing and posting. I won't even give you a snippit or anything. Just know I am working, not just sitting around finger-plucking my guitar and watching movies.

I hope you guys stuck around.

JaseyRay

"Smarter" Eisley

Hello,

I have no idea why I keep updating this blog. It's a little silly. I have nothing interesting to post. I literally am changing direction every other day. One day I decide to continue an unfinished rewrite, the next I delete another story and start to work on a rewrite for that. I want to slap myself with a tuna! I'm that frustrated!

I'm not serious, though. I guess you have to laugh at yourself sometimes. I'm going to paraphrase a movie. Sometimes we cry, but in the meantime we laugh. (I just remembered that that was from "Garden State" - movie/music/book plug #1). So tonight I'm laughing.

I've never been so lost. (I unintentionally playgerized (sp?)Something Corporate's "I Woke up in a Car" - plug #2). I literally had no idea where to go. But I'm signing off for a little while on this blog, I literally sound like a broken record. If you want a blog update, just go back a few entries and read my so-called Game Plans.

But I will not be long. For once I'm excited.

Final plug: Listen to "Smarter" by Eisley. Take note that it's been on repeat for me for roughly four hours- it's only live on YouTube.

No promises,
J-C RAy

"I'm Yours Tonight" The Academy Is...

Hi

So I don't know where all my old readers went. I posted a new chapter- absolutely no reviews on it. My new ones don't review much. I got my first review in weeks from a new reader. It meant so much to me.

Maybe I'll never surpass "Last Place"/"Perfect Kisses"
I just feel bad that "Perfect Kisses" will go on unfinished. From what I've collected- personally or on here and stats-wise it's everyone's favorite.

But I will in no way give up.

I am potentially seeing The Academy Is... this weekend. Those of you who know "Last Place" very well will know how deeply it is inspired by TAI. I literally started writing it while listening to their records. It's strange how this is turning out. I still love them, I just grew up a little.

I'm all talk and no game.
I apologize.
I'm just so lost in my writing.

Jasey Ray

Review-less

Hi

I updated "All We Ever Needed"

Fate,

I just gained and lost something.

I have been wearing a bracelet for about a year now. Just a simple silver chain. It's quite a natural realtionship- it's become a part of me, you know- I always wore it and it always wore me. But just now, I realized it was gone. Without a trace. That's what happens when you take things for granted I guess.

I just turned on my headphones to hear a new record. I sat there and listened, smiling to myself because everything is falling together. It fit right along with my writing project right now. I'm so excited. About everything. I'm going to stop talking and start working.

I'm going to knock your socks off, or so I hope.

Here's the game plan.

"Perfect Kisses"/"Last Place"
Officially abandoned. I wish I didn't delete "Perfect Kisses" but it'll unfortunately remain half-finished. It's a good story, I just don't have the motivation for it. I'm not the same person who started writing it like two years ago.

"All We Ever Needed"
Will be continued. I think it has a lot of potential and I have a fresh start with it. I've been writing notes for it. I think it's one of my unsung heroes. It has the highest Reviews-per-chapter ratio, I think. I haven't worked the numbers in a while, but I want to see where it goes.

"Miracle of 86"
This is where I'm making my big renovation. If you do not know it, my main writing project is a story about Lace and Nick. It's set a little while after the span of "Miracle" but it's what I've been trying to write in my absence. What my plan is: I'd like to play around with multiple POVs. Not to the extreme, but I'm going to pull a "Nick & Norah" and do the alternating boy then girl POV. I'd love to explore Lace's POV. In this little "Miracle" + Lace-Nick-Story world, I write in Nick's POV about 80% of the time. Hopefully you guys will dig it. I'm also changing the name and reworking the plot so it works better and is more realistic.

The future
My writing outside of my FanFiction world is a lot darker. Too dark for this penname. And a lot more personal. But for after "AWEN" and "Miracle" I'm cooking up a whole new story and plot and characters. I have some character dynamics and relationships I'd like to play with and more POVs to explore. Then some ideas I never used. So far I have one character that seems extremely clear and is nearly ready for some notes. I'll character sketch him sometime soon.

Role Call:

1) Favorite writing piece of mine at this very moment?
2) Do you prefer a POV that switches around, or one that is consistent?
3) Long "chapters" or short "chapters"?
4) Have you been reading lately? What have you been reading?
5) Favorite drama TV show- if you watch them.

"Coney Island" Good Old War

Heloo,

It's really hot and humid where I am here today. The heat is literally roasting my little kitties to the point I can hear their little hairs singe-ing (just kidding, if that happened I'd ditch this town and move to Alaska).

I have a busy day ahead of me and I had a busy day yesterday. I don't mean I'm working or anything but I have to pick up books at the library and cash a check from work and then see if my mailman wasn't stupid again and took my Netflix movie. I'm addicted to Netflix now. My life revolves around it.

Ex.
Mother: Do you want to go to the beach?
Me: Can't.
Mother: Are you going out with your friends?
Me: No, I have to watch "Milk" (a movie I got on Netflix), we can go some other time.

I'm weird. Sorry for blogging about my life. Here is the important thing: while I work at my mundane job, it is mindless enough that I can map out future events of "All We Ever Needed" and I can write in my head. But I'll be writing a little here and there when I get the time.

Jaseyrayy

Baby pictures.

This is my cat by the way. My dad ripped out the ceiling of this room in my house, so we- being my cat and I- were playing peek-a-boo. He's in the attic and I sniped him as well as his personality. (He's crazy, frankly).

My writing routines usually goes the same. House empties. I make lunch and my cat wakes up from his snooze. He goes crazy for an hour. I sit down and write and he passes out next to me. Then when I write at night he goes crazy again and passes out at like midnight. Then we go to bed.

I'm probably a crazy cat lady, but I got him right around when I stopped writing so if I kept writing I probably would have written entire blogs about him like this one. But I'm just doing this because I'm overtired and he's attacking my feet making it impossible to get into a mindframe of a 16-year-old boy.

"All We Ever Needed"

Has. Been. Updated. WTF?!?!?!

So, when I posted "Expect the unexpected" I guess I subconciously was speaking to myself. I have huge-r plans popping out. (Oh god, I keep making all of these weird personifications that sound like I'm talking about pimples and popping them. It's creepy.)

Read up and review please. A reviewer recently changed my whole outlook on my life as a secret online een-fiction writer. In fact she changed a lot of things for me. So if you caught my drift: I went back five chapters in "Perfect Kisses" and started rewriting. I realized you guys may have not gotten an alert (I have no idea how alerts work :\ ).

But all of a sudden words are pouring out of me. I'm exhausted and I have work tomorrow, but I'll write until my cat passes out. Then we'll go to bed.

Jasey Ray

Lace's POV -------- setting: first kiss

I couldn't think of a more perfect situation. It was warm out and we were sitting on the back porch of this house. She was leaning against me and my arm was around her. She smelled really good. It was like fruits or something. Nick was with us too. I sat there quietly as he talked. She turned her face looking up at me. Em was really perfect.

Per came out all of a sudden and ruined it. "Hey, Nick," He said. "Come here,"

Nick sighed putting the joint out and got up. "I'll be back," He said. I nodded and he walked away. I watched him disappear and all of a sudden it was just me and Em. She moved her arms around me and I moved my hand up cupping her elbow. She looked at me. I smiled and she giggled looking down again.

This was perfect. I hadn't smoked that much but I was still a little up there. I looked at her. I wanted to kiss her. I always wanted to kiss her but that was just because Nick was right. I was basically treating her like she was my girlfriend. She liked me. That's all I knew. "Em?"


"Yeah?" She said. She looked up at me. I moved my arm more comfortably around her because it was starting to fall asleep. She shifted with me and I felt better.


"Do you want to be my girlfriend?"


A smile flickered across her face. "Are you asking?" She said. For some reason I knew if I did she'd be okay with it. She would say yes. I didn't feel that before now but I was almost certain. But am I asking?


"No," I said. "I was just wondering."


She stilll smiled slightly blinking really slowly. She shrugged one shoulder. "Yes, I do," She said.


"Good," I said.


"Are you okay?" She asked quietly. I sounded like an idiot to her. I wasn't even that high because that pot was terrible but I just looked at her and smiled a little. I was talking like I just smoked six bowls. I felt so stupid.


"Yeah," I said. She smiled back at me. My stomach got all shaky, but I had to ask. I would be an asshole if I didn't. "So, what are you doing tomorrow night?"

"Nothing," She said. "We always hang out on Saturday nights."


I hadn't realized that. I guess that meant it was a night for me. She got up shifting again and my arm fall more towards her back. My fingers tangle in her hair and I smooth my hand out against her back. "So," I said. "I'll pick you up at seven, is that okay?"


"Yes, that's fine."


I was going on a date with her tomorrow. This was perfect. "Good," I said. I felt really tired all of a sudden. I think I even started rambling about some band.


She sat up. "Can I hear it, is it in your car?" At first I didn't even know what I had been talking about. But I knew suddenly I had been talking about "Untitled 01" so I figure why not. We get up and walk over. I remembered what Nick said to me about how I was probably confusing her. So I held her hand. She squeezed my fingers and we walked over to my car.


It was a mess but I unlocked her door and she got in letting me shut the door behind her. Then I walked to the other side and got in. The tapes were all over the place. I started going through them but couldn't find it. She reached down and started picking them up and as the amount of tapes on the floor lessened I finally found it way at the bottom.


I set it up. Insert, rewind, pause, play, volume. It came out of the speakers nicely. Tapes always sound the best. She dropped the others onto the ground and listened. I watched her. She mouth curved upwars slightly but she moved her hand in front of it and she had this look of intent and concentration.


Tonight she looked gorgeous. I couldn't even believe how lucky I was. We were going on a date. She wanted to be my girlfriend. I never fell for a girl this fast but with Emily I couldn't seem to help it. I just watched her occassionally glanging at the stereo. It was a short song. I had the entire tape playing it over and over again, but as soon and it finished I pressed stop. I look over and she's looking at me differently. Softly.


I smile a little and she moved a hand to my face, right along my lower jaw. I reach up and smooth hand hand against it. The way her fingers coil up slightly and spread out against my skin is enough to make me weak. I can't help it. I lean in slowly to find her moving right towards me. I couldn't believe this is happening. Then her lips are on mine. I close my eyes and move my hands to her face. I am in shock.


Fuck everything, I hate myself for waiting. If fireworks really can be ignited from a single kiss then this is it. This is the single kiss. I felt everything in one short kiss. It ended and I looked at her. She looks beautiful. She's mine.

"Wow,"

I know I must seem like an idiot. But she smiled moing her hands to the bac of my neck and pulling me closer to me. We kiss again. Her fingers play with my hair. I close my eyes moving my hand to the side of her neck. It is soft and innocent. I could feel the soft thump of her pulse. I moved back and looked at her.

She stared back, speechless.

the moon is really bright where i am.

Hello,

I am getting hit over the head with inspiration a lot lately. I hope you guys liked the update, I hope it doesn't seem too out of place. Stupidly I deleted the chapters I had originally posted (silly me) and forget where I was going, but that's the fun part of a rewrite. Screw what you wrote, write something new.

I reread "Miracle" and feel a few updates are caught up my sleeve. Get ready for that.

Notes? Would you guys like some?

Jaseyray

QQ - Quick Question

When you favorite a story/subscribe to it for alerts: do still get an alert if the author deletes chapters/adds new ones?

Expect the unexpected.
My new/old readers will be excited for this.

I'm staying in tonight and picking up on my writing. I'm so excited- and overwhelmed. What do I start with?

"Last Place"?
"Miracle of 86"?
Do I start a new story?
Do I work on my other penname's stories?

I really missed my secret life as a secret online teen fiction writer.

My goal this summer is to revive my FanFiction life on both of my pennames.

Chapter 2 Modifications:

Kerrington: One school system. Rainie Joseph and Paul Spinella now officially go to the same high school as Elisa and Company. I did this so it was less confusing and more realistic although I kind of miss old Coolen. It was a good school system. Awesome football team.

Now here are some things I kept the same:

Miles - Come on... he was awesome in the first rewrite. I got him spot-on in that one.

Bennett Williams - still tall. Still brunette. Still in Elisa's English Class. Still intimidating.... BUT he's now a junior.

Cautions for now:
Brace yourself for a pivotal plot movement in the near fictional future.
Kiss my 'Catcher in the Rye' references or events involving the book goodbye.
Get ready for new characters and relationship changes.

City People and Trains

So I've formulated a few ideas.

#1: "How To Read Books" Vlog
I'm a fan of vlogs. I also love books and talking about books and my YouTube channel hosts a whole flow of Perks readers. So I think I would like to start a vlog talking about books and what-not and how to go about reading them and what to read if you love some book.

#2: New Story
Chris is living the bare minimum. He's living in the basement of an apartment complex and can't seem to deal with anything in his life anymore. He's in his twenties and he should be out having a fucking ball every night, but instead he's drinking, getting beaten in fights and blowing every chance he has with the one person he can stand for more then five minutes. Then he lands a job driving buses at night. It's pathetic. It pays next to shit but he doesn't have to deal with anyone telling him to get his shit together because anyone who boards a bus at one in the morning doesn't even have their own shit together.

#3: Sunday 8 pm EST Updates
To keep my writing posts consistent I'll post a new update every Sunday at 8 or around that time. I feel like I'll post something and then never again for a month. So to keep you guys busy and keep my writing coming and keeping myself together I'll start writing more instead of staring at my Twitter waiting to see whether or not John Nolan re-joined Taking Back Sunday.

Listen to: Cage the Elephant "Back Against The Wall"
Read: "Oedipus Rex" Sophocles
Go see: "Alice in Wonderland"

Last Place 2.0 is off and official.

So after the first update of the new and improved "Last Place 2.0"...
Nathan is officially annihilated.
Cass is different also.

Fair Game:
-Bennett Williams
-Cass
-Kerrington
-Amber
-Sean and Becky
-Nathan

So don't get mad at me because I promise you a big happy surprise will be coming up. It's going to be quite plot altering but once we leave the good old exposition hopefully you'll be happy.

Pre-occupation.

Hi

Read Oedipus Rex. It's Greek Theatre, but it's helping me figure out my life right now. It's about a king- Oedipus who was gived his fate and did all he could to avoid it. He ended up living up to what was predicted because of his strongest inner flaw. But did he make the decicision to unintentionally make the oracle come true? Or did fate make the decision for him?

I like a boy I've never met. He likes Modest Mouse and The Shins and Radiohead. He makes me feel butterflies. He makes me feel self-concious. I'm not that outgoing and I'm rarely insecure. We make eye contact a lot. He is perfect from afar.

The reason I'm saying all of this:

If I like this boy so much and see us talking and getting along from what I already know about him... is that my oracle? And if I'm trusting what I've learned from the story of Oedipus Rex, should I be the master of my own destiny and try to talk to him maybe once? Should I fight fate in hopes of overcoming it and reaching my oracle which I predicted myself? Or should I wait for fate to force me in his direction if that's fate's plan?

I don't know. I just know what I feel.

But he likes the Shins.

In love? Me? Never. A cynic? Me? Never. Us? Together?!?! Friends?!? Maybe.

He does like the Shins.

I'll stop spewing my nonsense and try writing something.
I'll try writing something listening to "New Slang" by the Shins on repeat.

But oh my lanta. He likes the Shins.

Jaseyray

Nick and Lace

/\ I kind of see a little bit of Nick /\

I really just go to school with Nick.

/\ I totally see Lace doing this /\

Captures him nicely

When I say I go to school with Nick: I see a boy walking the halls that I always picture walking down the halls talking to Lace and being the character I'd imagine Nick being like in school. Also the Lieutenant is a car I walk by on my way home that is exactly as I describe it. I write a lot more about it in Nick's story I started writing originally.

Nick's POV

Around six I hear the Lieutenant driving up. I've been waiting for a half hour. My ride was supposed to get me at five-thirty but Lace is always late. So I always tell him to pick me up a half hour before he's supposed to. The Lieutenant is the shittiest Landcruiser on the continent. He can't take turns too sharply because it loses balance easily, but if there were a better car for the money Lace shelled out I doubt it'd have as much character.

It is all rusty and discolored. The leather seats are all cracked and he has duct tape holding the side-view mirrors on. There is a huge dent in the back, but nothing heart breaking. The wheels screech when he hits the gas. He broke the radio. Sometimes it stops working completely. Sometimes it reincarnates into a Mustang- but that hasn't happened since the one time I took acid when I was a stupid kid. But there's something about it that makes me goddamn love this fucking car. I think they have a name for love like this.

But I think most people would call it an emotional complex.

When the Lieutenant pulls up I get up and dust off my ass in case paint chips are all over it. I walk across my lawn and reach for the door handle. It goes shooting past me as Lace hits the gas. He miscalculates and goes right up onto the "curb" (it's isn't really a curb, it's an inch off of the street) and goes into the Stop sign.

I laugh watching as he backs up like he just recoiled from a hit. The engine cuts and gets out. "Fuck," He says, he's freaked out a little. He walks around and looks at the front bumper. He picks at it a little. "Huh, not even a scratch." He smiles a little.

"You're the worst driver ever," I say in between laughs. Me and Lace laugh like goddamn maniacs when shit like this happens.

He looks up at me kicking the bumper softly. "I may not be the best," He said. "But I'm the luckiest fucking driver out there." I have to roll my eyes at that. I sit down in my passenger seat. He walks over getting in and sitting down behind the wheel. "Besides, you're no expert. ***********************************?"

I roll my eyes. "That was just bad luck." I say. "I'm a good driver."

He turns on the engine again and reaches forward. Lace is the only person on the planet to still use cassette tapes. He flips it over and just sticks it back in. He rolls his eyes at me as he does it. "Keep telling yourself that, kid," He says laughing a little.

I look at the dashboard putting my feet up on it. "You're airbags didn't even go off," I say snorting. "You're going through the windshield someday, dude. I put money on it."

He starts driving slowly by the Stop sign looking at it. It's crooked now a little. Maybe my head was tilted a little, but it looked pretty crooked. "Tell your mum I didn't mean to." He said. "Say you wanted to drive tonight and drove up and hit it."

I snort again. "You're such a joke, you know that," I shift in the uncomfortable seat. Its soft cushion covered with cheap leather. I push down harder on the dashboard with my feet. He turns up the radio some more and nods his head. I don't know if he's nodding at what I just said or the music.

Sinus Infection.

I don't have one.
Bu I think I have something of the sort in my right brain. I can't finish anything. But I want to write. I just start writing useless little love speals and what not.

Stressssssssssssssssssssssss.

Not really. I'm pretty happy for some reason. I guess it's a side-effect of having a crush. This really should be helping me but really it's killing me. But I've been checking out photography and my images of characters are becoming clearer. I'll post a few pictures I've saved. Maybe you'll know who they are.

jaseyray

Nick's POV ---- Nick's house

My mom walked in with a few boxes of pizza. "Hey Suze," Lace said.

"Hi," She said smiling. "I thought you'd be here. I just ran into Salvy at the post office, he said you and Nick were somewhere." She put the boxes on the counter slipping her bag on top of them. "Are you stayign for dinner? We have plenty..."

"Oh, no thank you," He said.

"Suze, guess where Lacey Boy here is going tonight?" I said smiling. He crossing his arms and pretended to now be bothered or annoying by what I just said.

"Where?" She asked. "If you're just embarrassing him I don't want to hear it." She went over to the sink and washed her hands. It's kind of funny how she treats Lace more like her son than she treats me. I guess that was bound to happen.

"Thanks, Suze," He said. "It is just to embarrass me by the way but that won't stop him."

"He's taking a girl on a date," I said smiling. "Guess which girl?"

"Her name's Emily right?" Suze said.

"Yep," I said. "It's their first date and Sir Lancelot is nervous. He's shaking in his sneakers. You can't tell but he thinks she's going to dump him because he couldn't think of anything to do on this first date."

"I thought you were already dating," My mother said looking at Lace. "Isn't she your girlfriend?"

"No," Lace said. "I didn't want to rush things."

"Oh shut up," I said smirking. "You guys are practically engaged. All you guys do is mack it."

"No we don't," He said. "Stop." He is always so touchy about Old Emily like the Poet. It's pretty funny but he's knows I'm only kidding. I just smile and Suze sweeps in.

"Where are you taking her?" She asks.

He shrugs. "I couldn't think of anything," He said. "But just probably out to dinner or something."

"She eats!" I said sthrowing my arms up. "She's a keeper!"

Suze laughs. And Scottie Boy walks in. "Whose a keeper?" He asks. He walks over to Suze and kisses her cheek before moving onto the fridge to get a can of soda. Lace always says how my parents act like theyu're still in their twenties and I guess I can see it sometimes. Especially since my dad still drinks Diet Soda like he's underaged.

"Emily," I said. "Lace's Lady-friend."

"She was a nice girl," He said. "Polite too."

You can see Lace kind of blush. I figure this is enough bugging for tonight. "Do you want me to pick David up from his pottery class?" I ask. "He's at pottery tonight right?"

"Do you mind?" Suze says. "I swear, if Bradly's mother blind-sides me one more time I'm going to gauge her eyes out with a felting knife. I'm so sick of talking about her fundraisers and candy stripes." Scratch that... my parents act like twenty-year olds with a fifty-year-old's problems.

"It's fine," I said. "He wanted to show me his project anyways. He was telling me they're making hollow spheres and shit."

"Watch your mouth," Scott says and I nod.

"He was telling me about that too," Lace said. "When are you picking him up?"

"The class gets out at six," I say.

"I'm going out with Em at seven can I come too?" He asks.

I shrug. "Do you seriously want to?" I ask.

"Yeah," Lace says. "I'm not doing anything until I pick her up anyways. I might as well. I told him I'd come see his stuff too." He really means it too. Sometimes you really can't ask someone to do this, but that's what's different about Lace. He'll tell your brother he'll visit his pottery class and really go and visit his pottery class.

"But you don't want to be late for your date, do you?" Suze asks.

"I'll make it in time." Lace says. "Come on," He pushes off of the counter. I look at my parents who just accept it and move on. I follow him out to the Lieutenant and get in. I jokingly rub the cracking leather and lok around.

"What are you doing?" He asks laughing.

"Relishing the moment," I said. "Just think about it... when Emily becomes your girlfriend after tonight I'm stuck in the backseat for good."

He rolled his eyes and pulled out. "She's not going-"

"Shut up," I said. "You're in love with her. Just admit it, dude."

"Piss off," He sighs and he starts driving. I smile and we head off to the next town to see the elf heads David made for us out of clay.

------------ POV ------- setting: house party

I sank down against the wall and looked over at Elisa and Bennett. I wasn't jealous but they looked fucking awkward. He kept running his hand through his hair and looking down at her feet and she was laughing nervously and squeezing her neck. It was uncomfortable for me to watch. I wanted to walk over and come out and say it that whatever he was doing was a wasted effort. But I don't really know why I was thinking that. I mean, I'm just really fucked up I guess, but when you see two people talking like they were you want to go over and tell them to move on to the next one. This isn't going to work out, guys, I'm really sorry.

Bennett's a nice guy and everything, but he's an airhead for crying out loud. He's a hypocrite. He's a poser. He's aiming to be someone and fallign short. He's not good for Elisa. He has to fucking spine.

Then Rainie came over plopping down next to me. "Hey," She said. She looked at where I was looking. "Who is that?"

"Bennett and this girl Elisa," I said. I didn't look over at Rainie. I just kept staring at Bennett and Elisa. Their names sounded so weird together. They didn't work even with their fucking names.

"I don't think I know her," She said. "Is she a junior?"

"Yeah," I said. "She's a junior." A junior. We've been in the same school system for three years and I didn't even know she existed.

"Huh," Rain said nodding. "Why are you so pissed?"

"I'm not," I said. I finally looked away from them. I looked at Rainie. She sipped the cup in her hand and looked at my like I was lying. "Why?"

"You just looked pissed," She said. "Are you mad at Bennett or something?"

"No," I said. I looked back over. "I just think they aren't that great together."

I felt Rainie watching me. She just looked at me and didn't really say anything. "So," She said. "It's Bennett- he's not great for anyone."

"Yeah," I said. "But look at how awkward he is. He was just flailing around and freaking her out. I mean, he has no spine whatsoever. I don't even know why she's even fucking talking to him." I looked down at the cup in my hand. I took a sip. I was getting all fired up for some reason.

Rainie laughed softly. "What-" She said. "Do you like this girl Elisa?"

"No," I said. "We're friends and stuff though, I just think Bennett isn't good for her."

Rainie nudged me. "Jealousy is part of the process," She said. "Do you think she's cute?"

"I guess," I looked over at Rainie. "We're just friends though."

"What color are her eyes?"

"Hazel," I said. "I'm not like going after her or anything, I'm just saying her and Bennett are fucking weird together. She could do so much better." Rainie was laughing quietly and looked over at Elisa and Bennett again.

"Go talk to them," She said. "I'll get Paul to switch hours with you so you can work Saturday afternoons and go out at night."

I looked over at her. "Is he going to be cool with you gambling his hours?"

"No," Rainie said. "But I can switch mine to whatever I want so he'll have to switch hours with you and everything. I gaurantee you'll get the afternoon shift."

I thought about it. "Ok," I said. I finished off my drink and pushed myself up off of the ground and started over.

Elisa looked over and saw me. Her cheeks turned slightly pink when we made eyecontact and she looked away. She looked back at Bennett who was talking about something in his math class. "Hey, Lise, what's up?" I walked up. She looked at me and Bennett stopped talking.

"Hi," She said softly detaching her fingers from her neck for only a second.

"That CD you burned me is amazing," I said. "How did you find those recordings? I didn't even know they existed." She looked at Bennett quickly and then back at me. She moved her arms down and crossed them.

"Oh, um," She started. "Yeah, I just found them one day or something. They're, uh, pretty cool. Not many people have them..."

Bennett shifted uncomfortablely and I looked at him. Bastard had it coming.

"Have you heard the leaked Early November stuff?"

"No," She said shaking her head.

I smiled. "I'll have to burn you a copy," I said. "It's really cool stuff. You'll love it."

She smiled a little. "Yeah, sure," She said. "And I have some acoustic tracks too that I found. Just Saves the Day stuff, I don't know if you have them but they're really good. I think they're live- recorded at some show."

Bennett cleared his throat. She looked at him. "Hey," He said. "I'm going to go smoke a cig, I'll be right back."

"See you later dude," I said. "We have to talk later, I heard your band has a few gigs. You'll have to tell me about it." I won. The kid knew it. He had to. He nodded and said goodbye to Elisa and walked away.

I looked back at her and she watched him go. Then she looked back at me. "We have English Monday, right?" I said. She nodded.

"Yeah," She said. "I'll burn you a copy and give it to you then."

"Yeah cool," I said.

"What did you think of the EP?"

I don't know why I felt so fucking incredible all of a sudden. I think I was just happy to have broken up their awkward conversation. Maybe I was just really stoned but I felt fucking fantastic.

Muahahaha

Hopefully I've thrown you all off of my trail.

I'll just say as of now this story is under massive reconstruction.
Brace yourselves.

Rainie's POV -------- setting: hallway

I looked over and saw him. I slipped my bag over one shoulder and exhaled. I shut my locker and started over to him. He was cramming books into his bag- one after the other. "Hey," I said walking up to him.

He looked over at me and smiled a little. "Hey," He said back lifting his hand in a wave. he sank dwon to his knees and worked on fitting them all inside.

"So," I said walking up and crossing my arms a little. "What's new?"

"Nothing," He said. "What about you?"

I shrugged. "The same old stuff," I said. I looked at him and he finally got up looking back into his locker for a few more seconds.

"Did Paul's band get that gig in the basement of the Church downtown?" He looked over. This was so strange. Everything was completely forgotten. We were friends. And that was it.

I nodded smiling. "Yeah," I said. "They did. It's a pretty big deal I guess."

"Yeah," He said smiling. "I heard they booted that shitty band Three Cheers."

I smiled. "They were so bad," I said.

"But Paul's bands really good," He said. "I got a demo from him at work."

That was weirder. They were friends. I didn't get it but I didn't want to get into it. It was better than just the three of us walking around the achool avoiding one or the other. I smiled tucking hair behind my ear. "They're getting so much better," I said.

He nodded and shut his locker throwing his bag onto his back. Then he looked at me. "So," He said. "I kept talking to that girl I told you about." His voice lowered a little. "Thanks, you know, for the advice."

I smiled. "Any time," I said. "So are you sweeping her off of her feet?"

He smiled a little. "No," He said. "She's scared shitless of me but we're talking more. She's really cool."

I smiled. "Who is it?" I asked. "It's bugging me." I've asked the few Juniors I've talked to who it could be but they don't know anyone like he's described. He smiles adn shakes his head.

"No," He said. "But I'll see you later. You working this afternoon?"

"Yeah," I said. "We're both working until seven so I'm giving him a ride home. Why?"

"A few records came out today," He said. "I'll stop by and visit you or something."

I smiled. "Okay," I said.

"Paul was complaining though because he said that kid Bennett was working there today," He said rolling his eyes. "I might hang around in there for a while."

"Cool," I said. "I'll be sure to come by on break."

He smiled. "See you Rainie Joseph," He said like he always did.

I smiled. And he walked away down the halls.

He was smiling so much more. I smiled to myself headed down the other hallway to find Paul waiting at his locker for me. He was going through his locker like he always does and I couldn't help but smile even more. I moved my arms around covering his eyes. "Hey," He said not even reacting.

He turned pealign my hands off of his eyes. I smiled and we kissed. I was so happy. That was really strange too. After so long I didn't know I could be this happy again.

Sean's POV ------- setting: peterson high school

I saw Jeremy. He was hunched over eating while Jonah was talking beside him to one of Jeremy's friends. I don't know where Jeremy gets all fo these friends but they are always from completely random groups. This kid is one of those indie rock hipsters, I think his name is Miles or whatever.

I set my tray down across from Jonah and climb onto the bench next to Miles. He doesn't look over he just continues to listen to Jonah go on and on about someone. In a few minutes I know he's going on about Steve. Who else would be talking about anyways?

Jonah doesn't even stop to take a breath. He just keep talking and talking. He isn't eating today that's why. He's telling stories he's told a million times too many. They used to be cool or funny but now they're just annoying.

"He's into Sunday Drive, right?" The kid cuts in.

Then Jonah pauses. "Have you guys ever talked about music?" Jonah says laughing a little. "They're all he fucking talks about. He's obsessed with them." I look over at the kid Miles. "You know Bennett, right? He's into them too. They each make up fifty percent of the Sunday Drive fanbase here."

I look down at my lunch. Another Sunday Drive conversation.

"Actually," He says. "The reason I'm asking is because I hang around with this girl who listens to them too and her and Steven started hanging out, I think. I'm not sure, we're not that close, but I heard them talking about the band. I was just wondering what was up with them."

Then is all started clicking. It all snapped into place. I looked at Jonah waiting for him to look at me and piece it together too. Instead he kept talking. I ate my lunch in silence. It all made sense to me.

Cass' POV ------ setting: Cass' house. (Just a taste)

It's official. I'm going to kick the crackhead who decided to have school at seven fifteen in the morning in the balls when I run into him someday, right after I kick the idiot who made my alarm clock in the balls too. I lifted my head and saw my alarm decided to not go off (AGAIN!) and that Lise was picking me up in twenty minutes.

I jumped up in a panic and ran into the hallway to my bathroom. I was going to have to pee, brush my hair and do my make-up and brush my teeth simultaneously if I was ever going to get outside in time so me and Elisa weren't late for school. Fuck. Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Luckily Sue-Ann was done with the bathroom- the bitch- and I could run in and try and look presentable from the neck up. Stupid eighth graders think they need to look good. Who gives a shit what some stupid eighth grader looks like. They just figured out what sex was last week- they don't need mascara or to straighten their hair. I was in a rush anyways. I didn't have time to think about Sue-Ann and her fried straight hair and clear mascara she bought whenever we went to the mall. In fact I didn't have time to think.

I washed my hands at lightening speed and looked up at myself in the mirror. My hair wasn't that crazy. It was curly but it was tame. I'd pull it back though anyways. I wasn't in the mood for Matt Fryer to reach out and play with my banana curls gawking about how my hair was the eighth wonder of the world. I put on make-up to cover the grey circles that would be sure to form around my eyes and enough eye-liner to make my eyes pop.

In seven minutes I emerge and hurry to my room. I don't have any outfit planned I just throw on the first pair of jeans find and the first grey shirt on my dresser. Then I throw on one of those button-down sweaters and call it a day. I grab an elastic, my math textbook, my backpack, my iPod, my cell phone, Miles' book I never read, and a History book and head downstairs. Who the fuck invented text-books. I look forward to when we have computers for everything like that.

Packing is easy now. I can stop rushing. I look at my new schedule. Thank god I dropped that fucking English class. I have a free ride this year. I'm all set. I have all average classes but now I have no classes with Elisa. She would never say it but, in all honesty, she's pissed. We've been all of the same classes since the eighth grade and now I'm ditching her for average classes with kids my own age.

I mean, Elisa's smart. She's got English down pat and a few others Honors. But me? I haven't read a book in a year unless it was Dr. Suess (Don't ask.) and I don't plan to. Who cares about Mocking Bird and Expectations (even if they are Great). I'm going to a State School and I'm proud of it.

I run into the kitchen and see Sue-Ann putting on her shitty furry boots and slipping her backpack over her shoulders. "Late again?" She looks up. We look the same. It's creepy. But that's what my families like. We all look the same.

"Shut up," I say. I grab a pop-tart and look over my shoulder and see Elisa's car parked out front. Then I rush grabbing my bag and the stuff I haven't crammed into it and head out the front door.

Elisa's car's really nice. Her mom bought is last June when she got her license. It's new and everything and Elisa was probably one of the best drivers in our Driver's Ed class. I failed it and I don't have a car so it doesn't matter. She has a license and Miles has one. I'm golden.

I open the passenger door and pile in. "Hey," I say. I shut the door and try to disentangle myself from my mess of things hanging out of my arms.

She looks over. "Hi," She says. She looks tired for once. She leans over and looks at me. I would give anything to have her hair. Its a nice dark brown with a little red in it. Plus it's nice and stick straight. She barely even has make-up on today and she looks fine. I have to cake it all on to look like her. Geez.

"Sorry, alarm didn't go off," I said.

"It's fine," She said. "Mine went off early."

I settle and reach forward opening my pop-tart. I break off a good sized piece and pass it to her. She takes it awkwardly and I go on eating it without watching her. She nibbles at it soon enough. "So," I say. "Guess who called me last night?"

"Kevin," She says smiling a little for me.

"Yes," I say smiling. "We talked until like two, I'm exhausted." She smiles a little and turns her car back on. Her stereo is playing- of course- Sunday Drive. If you don't know Elisa- her favorite thing in the entire world is music. Out of that huge catagory she listens to Sunday Drive religiously. She's wearing a Sunday Drive t-shirt she bought this past August today and she has every song they ever wrote and has been a fan since the third year they were together. Die-hard doesn't even cover how crazy she is for them. But you'd never know. She's a closet music addict.

"When's he going to ask you out?" She asks.

"Never," I said rolling my eyes. "He likes Liz Castro."

"She's so ugly," Elisa says. Then she looks over. "He'll like you eventually."

I shrug. "I hope so," I say. I hope she's right. In some weird way Elisa always tends to be right. At least from what I've seen in the past she is.

But who really knows.

Notes. Notes. Notes.

Does anyone want some new notes?

Not just Nick POV's or anything to do with "Miracle" but would it spoil it if I introduced some new "Last Place"? It's very similar and still soooo different. I'm hoping it will seem more realistic. I haven't posted a lot because I've been busy going into the city and drooling over the first biography I ever read (Elliott Smith- musician/songwriter).

Plus I've been drawing again and loving art again. I'll tell you: School Art Ruins Art. Ahh! I can't even explain how much a college art class can help you. Every Saturday I go into the city now for an art class. It's so rad. I'm a city person. I'll tell you that.

But I don't know how severe I should make the notes. Should I bat around the bush and not rip your skulls off or should I just write some other POVs and avoid the main characters? Because a lotta ya are gonna be pissed I think. I'll tell you that.

jaseyray

Nick's POV ------- Lace's House

I opened the front door and walked in. I didn't expect Lace to be around. I mean, I had nothing to do and I figured he just would. He always was. But I walked in and looked around calling for someone.

"Nick?"

It was Salvatore- obviously. He was always around. I walked into his study and he was sitting at his desk writing. He always wrote all these letters to people. He has the coolest handwriting too. It's all skiny and cursive and slanted. It looks like it came out of a goddamn copying machine from the 1800s but it's just Salvatore's writing. And that's what makes it so badass.

"Hey," I said. "Lace around?"

Salvatore has there huge-ass glasses too. They make his eyes all googley. On his side of the family nobody can see for shit- I'm only assuming this though. Lace can barely read without his glasses. I walk in and sit down at one of the leather seats across from his desk. It's set up like a principle's office because Salvatore used to be the principle at Woodborrow. Now he's just a su because he misses teaching.

He paused- his eyebrows furrowed and slipped under the magnifying glass he had just around his eyes. I sweat thoe goddamn glasses make everything underneath them look catastrophic and gigantic. You have to see them. They're ridiculous. They're like those drunk simulation glasses they make you wear at anti-drinking fundraisers. But they are actually doing good for old Salvatore.

"No," He said. "He left an hour or so ago. I assumed he was going to see you."

I sank back shaking my head. "Nope." I said. "He went to hang out with Emily again I think."

"That's the third time this week," Salvatore said raising his eyebrows. It's only Wednesday so don't think Salvatore's crazy or any of that shit.

"I know," I said sighing. "I think he really likes her though." I scratched at the arm of the chair. "He didn't even mention going to pick her up?" I looked up at him. Maybe Lace was coming to pick em up- I mean he's always late and I'm always bored. He was probably at my house right now talking to David or something while he digs up bulbs in the garden.

Salvatore shakes his head. "You know how he is..." He waves his hands and rolls his eyes. I nod and sit back again. Well there goes my afternoon.

"How's school?" Salvatore asks.

I shrug. "Usual," I said. "Class ranks come out next week."

"I know," Salvatore said smiling a little. "What do you think you've gotten?"

I look down and shrug. "Don't know," I said. "I haven't even thought about colleges either." I looked up at a painting on the wall. "What do you think about Lace?"

Salvatore shrugs. "Between the two of us," Salvatore says. "I don't think he's been applying himself enough. He doesn't want to go to college I think. He never seems to interested in it. But I know you'll get into a better school- you're such a motivated young man. Conor just wants to keep living like this where he's happy and safe."

I shook my head. "He's so much smarter than me," I said.

"But you're the one studying," Salvatore says. "He's out waiting to fall in love with some girl. You can do anything right now Nick. I'm thinking you're going to be in the top five of the class."

I shook my head again. "I'm going for top ten percentile." I said. He nodded looking at me steadily. He wasn't changing his mind though. That's another thing about his side of the family. They're stubborn bastards. But I like that. I've picked up on it a little.

"Have you met Emily since that first week?" I asked looking at him.

He nods. "I spoke to her in school yesterday," He said. "She's a very nice young lady."

I nodded raising my eyebrows. "He really likes her," I said. "He doesn't shut up about her, but she's cool. I like hanging out with them together- they're not that bad. Plus he's basically suffocating me with all of his optimism and positivity lately because of her."

Salvatore smiles a little. "He's a romanticist," He said leaning onto the amr of his chair. I just nodded because I knew he was true. I looked down. "Now what about you? When are you going to be out chasing after some girl?"

I smiled a little. "Not for a while," I said shifting. "I'm waiting for the right one.

Salvatore looked at me for a second and nodded again. "Don't wait too long," He said. "You'll end up alone or in some strip club."

I laughed once and smiled. "Yeah," I said. "That'll be in a couple years at this rate."

Salvatore laced his fingers together and looked at me. "You're such an old soul sometimes, Nick," He said looking at me. I nodded because I knew what it meant I just was never called it. "You're going to do some great things."

"Thank you," I said. I got up. "I'll stop bugging you, Salvey, I'll head out now."

"Alright," He said. "I'll tell Conor you stopped by. Have any messages for him?"

"Nah," I said. "Just tell him I stopped by. Thanks again."

"Goodbye," Salvatore said picking up his nice old pen. "Have a good afternoon."

"You too," I walked out and headed for the front door. I shut it behind me and sat down on the front steps for a minute or two. I looked around. I could call anyone else but I just wanted to hang out with Lace for once. But I didn't hang out with anyone really. I went home and dug up bulbs with David and we watched Toy Story again and ordered Chinese food and went to pick it up. David gets a kick out of the Chinese restaurant- I'll tell you.

But when I got home the Lieutenant was in my driveway and the front door was unlocked. He was sitting on my couch watching TV. It's almost scary how in tune to one another we are sometimes, but that's what friends are like sometimes.

Charles Dickens is my Homeboy.

**Warning: A large sum of English Geekiness will be dished. Reader discretion (spelling?) is advised.**

Hi

So I wrote a paper about love. I sat down, you know, not even thinking about Elisa and "Bennett" or Rainie and Paul or Emily and Lace. I just sat down and you know analyzed me some Charles Dickens and his book "Great Expectations." Being the English Geek I am I had already been Facebook IM'ed by an English Geek Wannabe asking me what my thesis was.

I'm not going to post my 2330 word monster of an essay but I'll post the end because it came out funny. An amazing kind of funny because I didn't really pay attention to what I was writing. But note: my favorite line of "Perfect Kisses" made it in there.

"Dickens portrayel of love in his novel, Great Expectations, is merely his viewpoint and perspective on the subject. He sees love as a trail-and-error affair where man must learn and move on in search of discovering what true love really is. But in the end, love is irreversible. Once it exists, no matter if the relationship from which it sprouted is terminated or not, love is infinite. And after one hundred and fifty years, this novel simply reinforces that idea."

Love is infinite. And I realized that's why I love writing about first loves in High School. Because you know what, kids in high school who are in love are sure as hell the luckiest bastards in any high school. Not because they have someone to hang out with and wear sweatpants around or kiss in the hallways or hook up with. But because they have a love that they'll carry around with them for the rest of their lives.

Because think about it: who the hell knows if the couple who are seniors this year and are in love forever are going to last. But they'll love each other forever. Who the hell knows if Rainie and Paul will last really. I don't. And I don't want to think about it. Because the point of love is to remember what it was like to live in the moment with someone. You'll carry that one person with you all your life.

That love will never die, no matter what.

*****

Read books people. Because I swear on my life (and the life of Jesse Lacey if you want to make sure I'm serious) you won't understand life without them. And read real books. Because even if "Great Expectations" bores the shit out of you, I doubt any "Twilight" book is going to give you the same amount of happiness and understanding as this book just gave me.

lovealways-jaseyray

Failing.

Hi

I'm trying and working and writing. One word: STRUGGLE.

Remember I said I found out a good way to start "Last Place"- reread it and it sucked. Started over. 700 words so far on Ch. 1. Oof. Major Oof. But you know- it's going to work. I'm revvin up. The new start is good. Actually it's great. I'm a little stoked. Stressed but stoked.

Be prepared.

jaseyray

sdflkhdfdfhjksdf (I didn't do this for any specific reason other than I have no witty title for this)

Hi

I'm actually getting really excited but I have no idea how I'm going to start "Last Place" Phase 2.5

I really like the "It's almost fall" intro but it's harder to prop that up when I'm scooping out so much so I'm not starting it on a school day- I might start it on a weekend. And I might have it start out with explaining the music part because that's a huge part of it. But I want to get into introducing other characters. Hmmm. This is fun.

I might have something up soon but I have to shower and biznat so I'll see what I come up with. This is actually pretty exciting. And I haven't abandoned "Miracle" I've just been making notes.

jaseyayr

So I've Been Thinking..

I might take "Last Place" and rip it apart. Not so it's not the same story but I'm going to be changing things even more. And as I was going through the trivials of my boring life I kept thinking about stuff I'd not ever change and things I would.

Untouchable:
-Elisa
-Jonah
-Sunday Drive related stuff
-English Class
-Elisa's parental situation
-Rainie and Paul

Fair Game:
-Bennett Williams
-Cass
-Kerrington
-Amber
-Sean and Becky
-Nathan

I don't want to tell you all of my ideas BUT I think I might spend this vacation whipping up some notes. I'm getting excited again. It's going to be pretty cool. I think I won't tell anyone either. I might just whip out a couple chapters and have it all completely changed. That'd eff eveyone up haha :P

jase-E ray

Honest Questions-

1. How would you feel if I went back into "Last Place" and changed a few character's appearences?

2. How would you feel if I took "Last Place" and completely ripped it apart and started over?

3. How would you feel if I attempted to take on two writing projects at once?

4. How would you feel if I started thinking about all of this?

update: I really want glasses- but that's irrelevant

Hi

So, I bought a copy of Oasis' record "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" and even though it came without a case I'm listening to it for the first time. It's one of my favorite all time records but it's so hard to actually pick my favorite records but I know it's up there.

Posted a new update after saving $100 by getting rid of my fourth computer virus in a month. So stoked. I'm a wizard. I'm writing the next chapter (Friday Night) no idea what to do with them because I have a really good idea I'm looking forward to writing for them. But I'm going to have to introduce a huge part of their relationship.

I'm going to just come out and say it: if you haven't noticed: I'm recycling "Last Place"and "Perfect Kisses." It's something I do a lot with new stories. I hope you don't get upset or bored but it's what happens with me. Here are some things I noticed while re-reading/writing:
-Lace's favorite band is (in "Miracle")/was (in the Nick/Lace story)
-Nick is a lot like Jonah
-Lace has a huge house (like Mr. Spinella)
-Emily looked a lot like Rainie (until yesterday when I saw a girl and my image of Emily changed)

I won't put in any spoilers here but there is going to be a huge one coming up.

Best prepare yourself.

Jasey Ray

Dug this out of my old notes: Emily's first emergence in the story.

Nick's POV

I mean, a lot of kids think that they're in love when they really aren't. It's the kids who don't think they're in love that really do fall in love. I've told a lot of girls I've loved them, because to a point you really do love them all. That love goes away because you move on from it all. The reason I'm saying all this when you probably expect me to go on and on about Lace's life is because I'm really jealous of him. Not just, you know, he's cool and everything and I wish I was just like him. But because he never really realizes how lucky he was.

Her name was Emily- Em, we called her. I met her one random night when we had a party. It took me a little while but once Lace and her met I figured it out long before they did. They talked so much that night. The whole night they talked. I wasn't sitting there when they were, but I wish I had because when we talk about Em, he always says how perfect that conversation was.

Em was a one in a million. She was grogeous, she was smart, and she was just in time. When he's tired sometimes he'll tell me about her. I like hearing about him and Em. He's not bull-shitting anything when it comes to her and she did the same from the start. If there is such a thing as love when you're eighteen, Lace and Em have found it.

I don't wait for some hot chick to come down the street asking me for the time or something. I'm just waiting for my Emily. I don't tell Lace how jealous I am of his stories. He talks about the nights where they snuck out and sat by the lakes in the summer and talked until the sun started rising. He talks about how he gets this weird feeling of weakness when he thinks about her.

I look forward to all of that. But I'm trusting that Lace isn't bull-shitting me. I know he isn't. Because what he has with Em is always so real. * **** **** **** ******* ** ****, ****** **** ***** ********* ******* ***'* ****** ** ******* ****** *** ******.

Nick's POV ------- School: More on Mr. Ocley

When the bell rang Lace got up. "Do you need a ride today?" He asked me. He slung his back pack over his shoulder and looked at me waiting. I finished my sentence before looking up. "No," I said. "It's cool, my mum'll drive me anyways."

He nodded. "I'll talk to you later," He said. "Is you mom working tonight?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'm ordering a pizza, do you want to come over? It's just going to be me and David." I don't just invite people over to my house hwne my parents aren't home. Because all of my friends generally have money, they barely come over. Not because I'm ashamed of anything. I mean, they come shopping with me sometimes just to buy clothes like me every once in a while. They think I dress like the shit- that's why. I mean, I am quite the fashionista- but Lace is the only one that probably knows where I live.

Now I guess that's because my neighborhood is fucking a hundred years old. Swear to God they probably think nobody even lives in my neighborhood because the houses are all older than they are. But that's not really why- at least I hope it's not why because I didn't think my friends were that dumb. Sometimes I guess I just like keeping things simple. I don't need them knowing all about David. They'd all be dicks to him if I brought them over. I don't need them walking around and looking at my house like it was a third world country they didn't know existed.

I like my house being my house.

I'm a simple guy, I guess.

"Sure," He said. "I'll come over once I drop Em off."

I smile at him. "You didn't tell me Emily the Poet was stealing you away," I said. Ocley comes over sitting at his desk and shuffles papers.

"What about Emily Dickenson?" He asks. I look over at Ocley. He has to be around thirty now. He cut his beard last night and it's short again. He looks at us waiting. I look at Lace and wait.

He rubs his eye. "No," He says. "It's just this friend of mine."

"A guy named Emily?" Ocley says. "I didn't know we had a new student. I would have remembered if it was a student named Emily." I laugh a little looking back at my paper. I start writing again.

"Emily is a girl," I said focusing. "Not just any girl- but normal public school girl who Lace has been texting the entire class while you gave the class a nice lecture on the corruption of money when introduced to a class system."

"That was a nice lecture wasn't it?" Ocley says looking at me. He puts a clip on the paper in his hands. He looks at Lace. "Now, I'm not saying this because I'm a lot older and wiser than you are, Simon, but it sounds like- now I'm going out on a limb here- but it sounds like you have a girlfriend."

"Nope," I said. "See, Lace doesn't like it when people call Emily his girlfriend. He likes to say they're just friends. Friends who talk on the phone and text and stay up really late talking and ditch their other friends for each other."

"Oh," Ocley says sliding over ot his computer glancing at the screen. "I see."

"Ocley," Lace says. "I can report you right now for busting in questioning my personal life, so can we drop this?"

"No," I said. "He just asked about Emily Dickenson, I'm telling him all about your girlfriend. Come on, dude, this is completely different." I look up at Lace.

He takes out his phone. "I have to go," He says. "I'll see you later."

"See you," I say laughing a little.

"Bye Ocley," Lace says waving.

Ocley looks up from his computer. "Wait, listen to this:" He says. I turn. Ocley only reads e-mails not if they are really good. I wait and Ocley looks at the computer before starting to read. "'Dear Robert Ocley, It has come to my attention that you have been addressing such subjects in your third period English class as Buddhism, sexual encounters and addressing your students in inappropriate ways.'-" He looks at us. "What is wrong with that?"

"Inconsistent parallel construction," I said. "Duh."

Lace laughs. "Wait, the sexual encounters thing," He says. "Was that when you talked to us about what was going on in the novel?"

"No, wait," Ocley says. "It gets better. 'A student reported that you allegedly wrote expletives on the student Conor Simon's essay and attacked him verbally in front of the class.'"

Lace and I burst out laughing. "No way," Lace went over reading over Ocley's shoulder. "It was a joke!"

Lace wrote a paper that was great except for one paragraph. Ocley- as a joke- wrote simply 'P2 sucks' and explained to us what Lace did wrong in class. I thought it was hilarious. I thought about the low son of a bitch who was working to get Ocley fired.

"This is getting annoying," Ocley sighed. "I'm teaching. Is it that horrible?"

I kept writing. "I hate this school," I said. "Scott always talks about how much he hates it here."

Ocley looks at me. "You know a school is terrible when someone's parent- whose never been to it- says it's terrible." He says. He looks back at the e-mail. "I can't wait until I quit. I'm looking for a job at a high school in Philly or Conneticut."

"Go out with a bang," I said. "Get up in front of the school and call Barcphoph's B-S."

"Like I'd stop there," Ocley says under his breath. He shakes his head and Lace starts to walk away.

"I have to get going," He says. "Ocley, I'll have my paper in tomorrow morning. Do you have a free period?"

"Seven," Ocley says. "What do you have?"

"Study," Lace says. "I'll come here then?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Ocley says. "Who do you have for Study?"

"Mrs. Harney," Lace said.

"Alright," He said. "I'll call her tomorrow morning and tell her you'll be here. See you tomorrow,"

"Bye," Lace said he left and I kept writing finishing my essay.

I passed it over to Ocley. "Did you see Hampton reading Bukowksi?" I asked.

"Yeah," Ocley said. "What's up with that?"

"Thinks he's smart," I said. "Any horny guy can read Bukowski in public." We've established that it's only justified if you read Bukowki poetry in public, not 'Ham on Rye.' Especially if you're in high school. But I guess that's how it goes sometimes. People read good authors at the worst possible times.

"Did I tell you?" Ocley said fishing out a red pen. "They're not giving me any Senior classes next year." We make eye contact and my stomach drops.

"What?"

"They're making me teach sophomores," Ocley said. "He knows."

"What the hell?" I said. "Pardon my French."

"It's excused, I teach English." Ocley says. We say this as a joke. Don't think Ocley's a moron or something. He's the smartest person I know. "They have people walk by my classrooms. Kids have been telling me they see him walking by. How ridiculous is all of this?"

I shake my head. "This school is ridiculous," I said. "I'll have Judy tell me if she hears anything about it if it's getting to that. That sucks."

Ocley looks at my paper. He is reading and I watch him. I look out the window and see the woods. I wait for him to say something. "Great thesis," He says. I look back at him. I wait and see him add a comma here and there.

"Are you going to quit this year then?" I asked. Ocley looks up at me and for a second he pauses.

He pauses. "I might," He said. "I can ask to teach a senior course but I'll have to work really hard for it."

I look at him. "Try," I said.

He pauses. "You aren't sick of me yet?"

"No," I said reaching over picking up his folder for our class. "You're the only teach who knows what they're talking about."

"Thank you,"

I didn't say anything. I opened the folder and looked at it. I don't really know why people always thank me when I'm honest with them. It's the truth. The truth will always be the truth. I'm not being nice to make them feel better. Ocley goes back to reading my paper.

Next class we're reviewing "Catcher in the Rye."

"A little JD Salinger? Bold move," I said. "I'll have to slaughter Lace tomorrow I guess."

"Don't be too harsh," Ocley says turning a page. "You don't want to end up wearing a hunting cap."

I smile. "If you quit the day after tomorrow expect a phone call at midnight asking you to let me come sleep in your house," I said.

He laughs. "Tocuhe," He says. He starts reading again.

I don't want my teachers to all be like Ocley. I think if they were like that I'd take him for granted. He's really a cool guy. I start reading into next week's plan. I hope he doesn'ty quit soon. I want to do the stuff coming up in his planner.

Nick's POV ------- Lace's house

The Lieutenant door slammed and I heard Lace make his way into the kitchen. I had taken it upon myself to make food because I was hungry. His footsteps came closer. I cleared off some of the kitchen getting out trash bags and everything. "Hey," He said walking in behind me.

"Hi," I looked over my shoulder. If you've never been to Lace's house, it's hard to get used to once you're they're. It's all fucked up and in your face. The dining room leads to a hallway room and then another dining room. He walked over to the stove and looked at the bacon I had made.

"I didn't know we had bacon." He said. Looking over at me. He stuck his finger into the pancake batter I had made. Lace is one of those breakfast people. He made me appreciate it and all but I haven't eaten anything since the brownies I had last night. "Thanks, honey for making me breakfast... I'm sorry I didn't make love to you last night..." He was kidding. He stuck his finger into his mouth.

I laughed out loud. "It's okay," I said. "I am fucking starving."

Lace can also cook like a bastard. He barbeques and shit and everything. I can only make pancakes. I walked over flipping them over. "So," I said in a more serious way. "You know Perry was just being an asshole last night, right? You didn't have to sleep with-"

"I didn't," He said. I looked at him over my shoulder. He leaned against the counter. He didn't look dissheveled or anything like that. "He was being an asshole though."

"So you an Emily..." I said. "What's up with that?" I felt relief wash over me. Lace takes stuff too personally for his own good. I didn't think he'd just go have sex with some girl he barely knew because he's not like that.

He smiled a little. "She's cool," He said.

"Cool, huh?" I said flipping pancakes again. "As in: she's-a-guy-trapped-in-a-girl's-body cool, or cool." The pancakes were smokign because of the choclate chips but they had dark brown and golden swirls like hurricanes on them. I emptied them onto a nice plate. I had washed down most of the counters already we just had every other room.

"You don't like her, right?" He asked.

I gave him a look. Obviously I didn't like Emily. She had Lace written all over her. Everything she said was like Lace. She was his soul-mate if I ever saw one. He shrugged exhaling scratching his shoulder. He was in love with her. I sighed. "Do you think she's attractive?"

"Yes," He mumbled.

"Was she nice to talk to?"

"Yes,"

"When you kissed her did you feel the Boston pops swirling around in the brain that is now turned into mush and did you see a green light and think: here is my Daisy- I am her Gatsby never her Holden and she's always my Jane?"

"No," He said.

I looked at him. "So she's not what-"

"No," He said. "I didn't kiss her."

"Oh," I said. Then I looked back at my nice little pancakes freshly placed on the pan. I nodded and played with the edges of the circles. The choclate chips were sticking up like rocks in mud. "Just so you know, if you spend over three hours talking to a girl that's probably going to happen."

He laughed quietly. "Thanks," He said. "I've had girlfriends before."

"Yeah, ditzes who blew you and texted you," I said looking at him. "You never had an Emily before."

He gave me a look. "You say this like she's going to change my life," He said. "How do you know I'm even going to see her again?"

"Does she have your cell phone number?" I asked. Oh how little our little knight knew of such a plot. He nodded. "Then you're going to see her in no time. Just keep texting her." I flipped over some more pancakes.

"Dude, I just met her," He said. "Don't make this a big deal."

I looked at him. "Did you see her?" I asked raising my eyebrows. "She's gorgeous. She's funny. She's talkative. She's outgoing. She's smart- I think. She's not ripping her clothes off. She's a keeper."

He gave me a look again. He pushed off of the counter and picked up a piece of bacon popping it into his mouth. "Whatever," He sighed. "Keep telling yourself that."

I hit him with the spatula. "You're so cynical," I said. "Text her."

"No," He said walking away. "Not yet."

Lace is old-fashioned, I guess. He waits for the third date to kiss a girl. He doesn't do anything more until he sees himself with them in three years. When he stops seeing himself with them he starts pulling away. That's when they break up and returns to his life as Sir Lancelot- the cynic. I'm not a romatic but you know, sometimes you have to go out on a limb and assume the girl you meet at a party whose pretty, nice, and made for you is your soul mate.

I have to do that for Lace. And that's okay. That's what I'm here for.

JD Salinger.

The author of my favorite book passed away yesterday. JD Salinger wrote "The Catcher in the Rye" and I can read that book over and over again and never get bored of it. I try not to read it so much because I know I'll be reading it for the rest of my life. I was to be an English teacher just so I can teach that book.

When I found out he died my stomach dropped. I've never suffered from loss that was closely related to me. Which is strange but it's inevitable I guess. But I felt like I lost a close friend. He created Holden Caulfield who I think about all the time.

Once you read "Catcher in the Rye" and you really want to read it it will change your life. It did for me. It's the original "Perks of Being a Wallflower" but it surpasses "Perks" in every way shape and form.

RIP

Woooooooh.

Hi

So. I've been so bizznizzle (busy) lately. BUT good news and bad.

1.) Working on "Miracle" and thinking up some Lace and Nick POVs
2.) Will post something this weekend
3.) Started a new writing project - will not be on FanFic but it #4 on my list
4.) I've become and eBay fanatic

So, I'm going to go read me some Charles Dickens. Freshman English is a breeze for me. Got a 94 on a midyear that made a girl cry. I own every reading group. My secret? I'm literate. I write in my spare time. This is proof that when you write and read you will be good in school. All the smart kids need to figure that out. Don't diss reading. It'll save your life.

jaseyray

Lace's POV --- meeting Em

Lace's POV

Tonight was going perfectly. We had it planned out and everything was going along smoothly. I should have been looking around and thinking about how great this was. My chest should have been swelled with pride and with one look everyone would know we pulled it off. But I was walking around looking for Nick.

He had to be here. But there was so many people this endeavor was proving hopeless. I took out my phone texting him. 'where are you?'

Knowing Nick he was passed out on the roof or asleep in the bathroom or taking acid somewhere in my basement. My theories were all far-fetched but all of them were possible when it came to Nick. But the ext I got in a few minutes was something I had never considered. 'smoking w/this girl in the left starboard room- join us'

He simply found a girl. I sighed and tucked my phone into my pocket heading up the stairs. I should have texted him saying I didn't want to be a third wheel, but I figured it was best. I headed upstairs. Anxiety was getting the worst of me to come out full blast.

I knew exactly what room he took her to. I headed towards it knocking once. "Secret knock!" Nick yelled.

I sighed and started doing the "Secret Knock" which was just the beat of a Journey song. When I stopped I heard him answer. "I'm sorry that's incorrect- get the hell out." Typical. I opened the door and peaked my head in.

"Asshole," I said. I looked and saw a girl sitting near him passing him a newly lit joint. She was skinny and had long wavy brown hair. Nick took it from her looking back at me. "You didn't play the beat to 'Don't Stop Believing.'" He said waving his hand like it was obvious. He went on talking but I lost it shutting the door behind me and locking it.

I walked across the room. The girl took notice of me for the first time. She looked at me up and down as I sat down across from her. I looked at Nick who was inhaling the joint carefully before handing it over to me. "Hi," I said. I looked at Nick waiting for him to say something. He usually jumped into this type of thing. He looked at me steadily. What the hell was he doing?

I looked at the girl. "This is my asshole friend who isn't going to introduce me who I assume you're already acquainted with." I pointed at Nick. "My name's Lace."

"Hi," She said smiling. "My name's Emily."


Emily. She was pretty. Not the normal kind of pretty that you see all the girls in my school trying to look like. She was really pretty actually. Nick always got the pretty girls. I don't know why. "Like the poet," He added.

I looked at Nick. Perry totally said something like that, he really dug her poetry last year. "I am nobody, who are you?" I started reciting.

"Are you nobody too? Then that's a pair of us- don't tell..."

I smiled and looked at Emily who was blinking thoughtfully looking at me. She didn't know what I was talking about. Most people don't know Emily Dickenson. She's only underrated because of Sylvia Plath. I smiled at Emily. "Emily Dickenson," I said. Then I looked at Nick. "Perry said that right?"

He smiled laughing. "Yeah," He said.

I looked at Emily. "It's a compliment," I said. "At least in my books." I leaned over shaking her hand. She did looking at me steadily. "It's nice to meet you."

She nodded smiling. She had a nice smile. "You too," She said softly. She had big green eyes. They were the green that didn't make a big deal out of themselves. I moved back and Nick pushed the joint at me again. I took a hit. I never got why girls liked him so much. He hooked up with more girls than any of our friends. But that's just because he was Nick.

Nick looked at me again and I passed it over to Nick who took a hit again. "We were just discussing our newly acquired hobbies," He said.

"Really?" I looked over at Emily.

"Yeah," Nick said. "I told her how I'm learning German." We were just screwing around. A lot of people take us seriously. I don't know why they do. It's weird because I would never take someone like me seriously. Even our friends don't catch on. It's just me and Nick going back and forth most of the time picking someone apart.

He passed the joint to Emily. She was really pretty actually. I kept looking at her when she didn't notice. We all talked. She laughed a lot. She had a nice laugh. Nick got out another joint and we passed it back and forth until I stopped. Emily stopped a little while after.

She was cute. She was friendly and fit in. She didn't laugh nervously at jokes. She didn't squeeze her neck like it was about to burst open. She didn't make awkward uneccessary comments. Nick played around with her a lot but suddenly she started catching on. He would look over at me sometimes. I don't know why but after a while he was getting really stoned.

"My ass hurts," He said. "Come on," He said. He got up and walked over sitting on the couch. I looked at Emily who was getting up and doing the same. So I followed. I sat down near her. I don't know if it was because Nick was really stoned but we started talking a lot more. Me and Emily did. I didn't know how but all of a sudden we were just talking about anything.

Nick kept looking over making eye-contact with me. He kept smiling at me in a really dazed way. He was really fucked up. I didn't know what kind of weed that was but it was nice. Emily was nice. Emily was really funny and cute and pretty.

We had a lot in common. Her smile was so nice too. She smiled a lot more than girls usually do. I loved her smile. What got me most was that she wasn't even trying. It was awful. I was a shitty friend. She was Nick's. He got to her first.

I started to like Emily.

Lace and Emily.

Hi


I am having so much fun writing "Miracle" :) Hearing what people think is my favorite part. I have three consistent reviewers which is awesome! And Lace is my favorite character of all time. I love him so much.

I'm worried though that Emily is getting the whole "Bella Swan" thing to her where it seems like she's obsessed with Lace and can't function without him because I don't think that's healthy and realistic. But I might post something here or there from the story this is based off of.

I think I've explained it before but I am writing a story about Nick and Lace's last weekend out before they go to college. Then I started bringing Em in and I had to keep thinking about it. I just can't post a ton without ruining the ending. The ending is going to be huge and explosive.

But I'm really digging this. Let's hope I keep it up.

jaseyray

Saves The Day.

hi.
posted TWO (2) updates for "Last Place"!!!!!! i'd like to thank chris conley for making me feel the need to bring jonah into the story. i'm two steps closer to having a little more excitement in the story and boom-shakalama it has been done. so much has happened. wooo!

i have been fighting my urge to listen to my loves kevin devine and jesse lacey. they make me write for the nick and lace story i drew "miracle of 86" out of. but i want to get into the swing of things and hopefully my writing hasn't suffered although the chapters in both of my new updates are a lot shorter and a lot simpler which is good *thumbs up*

now to actually do some homework. damnit.

jaseyrayyaya

Goalios.

So. This year I am trying to decide what I want to do with myself on FanFiction. I want to dedicate myself a lot more to it. Since "Miracle of 86" appears slightly floppy it will probably be coming down or left incomplete altogether.

But I am wondering what I want to do with the whole "Last Place" and "Perfect Kisses" beast. I might be posting a thing asking people for their input on the subject. Because I am willing to try and invest once again into them due to the fact I now have a proper source to draw from for it that isn't an Academy Is... record (sorry to report in my FanFic absence (sp?) I have evolved into a hipster and cringe sometimes when I hear TAI).

Would people be interested in that? Should I move on and keep up "Miracle of 86"? Should I bother asking people? I don't know. I just know there's a gap growing between what I aim to write and what I have written and left in the past.

So far my goals are:
- Actually finish a writing project.
- Start a new writing project that will equal "Last Place/Perfect Kisses"
- Figure out what the hell I'm going with "LP/PK"

Any input?

Miracle of 86.

It was just complete chance. Emily went to that party unsuspecting and unaware. She went with some of her best friends and somehow she ended up alone. Not alone exactly, but completely without them. She was stuck with the only person she kind-of knew who was nobody else than this kid Nick who her friend thought was the coolest kid ever.

She thought Nick was cute. He was hilarious. It was a bad habit to go through every possibility that she might date every guy she talked to, but what if she meets the right guy? And so her bad habit pays off. Nick introduces her to Lace. She doesn't know what to make of it... somehow he just seemed different. She doesn't want to get cheesey but it was love at first site.

All it took was a few hours and all of a sudden she feels like she has everything figured out, but there's a lot more things down the road she never expected. There's the fact Lace doesn't tell her enough. There's the fact that he basically lives at his friend Nick's house. Nick was the biggest problem. She never got Nick and Lace. But somehow she finds out true love hits you out of nowhere. And once it happens, the conflicts have to be dealt with afterwards... right?

* * *

Like it?