Here's another snippet from my YA paranormal thriller After Me. (You can catch up on the earlier excerpts here.) As promised, this scene shows Jada meeting her new bestie Annalee, who is nothing like any of the friends she had before her untimely demise.
When I got on the school bus the next morning, the guy I'd tossed across the yard the day before stuck his foot out in the aisle in front of me and said, “Better watch your back, bitch.”
I smiled at him and said, “How’d you get that lump on your head, Tree Boy? Unless you want some foot pain to go along with that headache, you better move that smelly cross trainer outta my way.”
One of his hands wandered up to the back of his head and he muttered something about how I’d be getting mine, but he took his foot out of the aisle and didn’t meet any of the curious looks from the people around him.
“Yeah, I thought so,” I said before walking away and sitting in the first empty seat I came to. I was still snickering to myself when I noticed the girl across the aisle—a mousy little thing wearing clothes that had to have been through at least two previous owners—looking at me curiously. I opened my mouth to ask her what the hell she was looking at, then I changed my mind and smiled at her instead, and she looked startled for a second before smiling back at me.
I tilted my head in Tree Boy’s direction and said, “Hope that guy’s not a friend of yours.”
“Dougie? No way,” she said, frowning at the back of his head, then she leaned toward me and whispered, “You should’ve stomped on his foot.”
Next week we'll see how Jada's new friendship with Annalee affects that crush she has on Lew Stanton. Can't wait? You can buy After Me here. And please do also check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors. Something for everyone among these talented writers!
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Loving this story, nice that she could smack down the bully and befriend the outcast in one short snippet!
ReplyDeleteLove that she's making a new friend! And sounds like someone who might need one.
ReplyDeleteInteresting the way she teetered between the smile or the insult. I feel as if her new friend may be a life changer. :)
ReplyDeleteI think they're going to be very good friends indeed, and vote that you totally use the post title in your story. It seems like something Jada would say. ;) Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, thanks, Amy. This book is already published, but maybe I'll add it to the blurb. ;-)
DeleteBest friends for sure with that comment. lol Great snippet.
ReplyDeleteOoh, mousy girl had a great idea there! Love the MC's cheekiness. Although I do worry that Dougie has something bad in store for her.
ReplyDeleteNo need to worry about Jada anymore. She's already dead, you know. ;-)
DeleteGreat character building in this for all three of them.
ReplyDeleteNear and dear to my heart! Love it
ReplyDeleteAmazing what one smile can do...for both of them. Great snippet, Joyce. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she didn't let herself be ruled by the anger she still felt at Dougie.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one friend will soften the hardness in the other, and one friend will help the other grow a backbone. :-) Nice scene, Joyce!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how this new friend affects her.
ReplyDeleteLooks like she's going to get along just fine here! Great snippet.
ReplyDeleteShe's making friends ... and setting boundaries. Great snippet.
ReplyDeleteI guess Dougie is not universally love. I guess they'll start being friend just because of their dislike of him.
ReplyDeleteAw, this looks like the start of a friendship! I'm wondering whether someone would say "cross trainer" rather than just "shoe"
ReplyDeleteI seriously love this girl's attitude! Between the nickname she gave him and the guts she has, I love her character. I would have stomped on his foot though. LOL.
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