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. * **** **** **** ******* ** ****, ****** **** ***** ********* ******* ***'* ****** ** ******* ****** *** ******.