by Chris Babu
Catrice took Drayden’s hand and dragged him away.
Drayden peeked back.
Charlie and Sidney were watching them, looking surprised. Sidney frowned.
Catrice rounded a corner of the deck behind part of the building, hidden from view. She stopped, released his hand, and faced him. She placed her hands on Drayden’s hips and pushed him gently back against the wall. She rested her hands on his chest and nestled her cheek between them, closing her eyes.
Drayden’s heart raced. Could she feel that? Did she know how nervous he was? He wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her even closer, feeling her body heat against his.
Catrice’s silky hair smelled like flowers. She raised her eyes to his, their faces only an inch apart.
Drayden noticed a few freckles he hadn’t seen before.
“Drayden, I’ve been watching you at school for a long time too.” She smiled, and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I never followed you around in the hallways, but I always admired how smart you were.”
Drayden’s jaw dropped. “You knew about me following you?”
“It was hard not to notice, especially that time everything fell out of your backpack.”
Drayden chuckled. “Damn. Tim used to tease me about that a lot.”
She laughed too and bit her lower lip.
They stared into each other’s eyes in the awkward silence after that. Sweat greased Drayden’s palms. They were so close he smelled her breath, which was minty and fresh. He panicked.
My God, how is my breath?
Catrice wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tippy toes. She leaned in. They both tilted their heads the same way, bumped noses, and laughed. They tried again. Their lips met this time.
An electric current ran through Drayden’s whole body. Her lips were so soft, and moist. He placed his hand behind her head, pulling her further into the kiss. Warmth spread through to his limbs. He couldn’t get enough. He savored every moment. Eventually they pulled back and held each other.
Drayden looked up to the sky. It was a strange moment to think of Tim. But Tim would always be with him, and Mom too. Even when they’re gone, the ones you love never truly leave. Somewhere up there Tim was watching, going crazy cheering for him.
He finally got that first kiss.
Tonight only, Drayden would allow himself to bask in the glory of finishing the Initiation. For tomorrow, another harrowing journey would begin.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I always thought writing a novel would be a solitary effort. But this book would have been impossible without the help of so many people. To everyone who was there to support me along the way: Please know how greatly I appreciate you.
A few deserve special thanks:
Anthony Ziccardi, for believing in me. All the amazing people at Permuted Press: Michael Wilson, Devon Brown, and Maddie Sturgeon, to name just a few. Editors Felicia Sullivan and Ethan Blackbird, without whom my writing would have been far clunkier. My editors Maya Rock and Deborah Halverson, who massaged this story into something worth reading. Christiana Sciaudone, Kristen Holt Browning, and Deneen Howell for all their invaluable editorial input. The team at Simon and Schuster for getting my book out into the world.
The Initiation would still be a .docx file on my computer without Dr. Erika Schwartz and Dr. Karen Kieserman.
A fist-bump to my young adult beta readers: Jack Babu, Samantha Miller, Sydney Miller, Taylor Manett, and Jay Gupta. Much gratitude to attorney Jesseca Salky, photographer Greg Berg, cover designer Ryan Truso, and artist Ivan Zamyslov.
I reserve my greatest thanks for my wife Michelle, daughter Lily, and parents Susan and Suresh. Your support means everything.
One final shout-out to the New York MTA and my fellow straphangers, without whom the story of a hellish journey through the subway might never have been conceived.
