by Milda Harris
Ariel rolled her eyes. "It's not like everything is about you, Kait."
"Really? Sure," Kait said.
"Look, let me explain," Ariel said.
"I don't want to hear it," Kait stepped forward to stand between Ariel and me. "Give the necklace back to Suzie. Now."
Ariel frowned. "It's not here. It's at my house."
"So, go and get it," Kait said.
"Like I already told you, Suzie and I already settled it. I'll give it to her at school on Monday," Ariel said.
"No. You're going to go and get it now or Suzie and I are going to file a police report," Kait said.
My jaw dropped. Whoa. I didn't want to press charges against Ariel. I wasn't even sure I could. She didn't exactly take it. I didn't think. Besides, I just wanted the necklace back. I thought Ariel was misguided more than anything else.
Ariel looked taken aback too. "If I go get it now, I'll miss my New Year's kiss with Troy. It's almost midnight."
I automatically reached for my phone. Oh no. It was ten minutes to midnight. I texted Kyle. This was not happening.
"So?" Kait said, not realizing that she was about to miss her New Year's kiss with Ethan too. "Have Troy go with you. Suzie should have it on for her New Year's kiss with Kyle."
"But I always see the ball drop here," Ariel whined. "I won't make it back in time."
Kait frowned. She glanced at me. Her facade faltered and she looked torn. She felt bad for Ariel. I did too. Nobody should miss his or her New Year's kiss.
"Kait, it's really okay. Kyle will just be super thrilled that I found it. Getting it back on Monday is totally fine," I said holding my breath a little. We had to go.
Kait reluctantly nodded. "Okay. Fine. If you say so."
"I do," I said. "Now, let's go."
I glanced at my phone again. It was 11:53 pm. I had seven minutes to find Kyle. My heart raced. We had to hurry! I grabbed Kait's hand and pulled her toward the square.
"Happy New Year!" Ariel said as we raced away. She actually didn't even sound sarcastic.
Kait looked back at her, but didn't say anything.
"Happy New Year!" I yelled, not looking back.
I wasn't one to hold grudges. I had told Kait the truth. As long as Ariel gave my necklace back, we were cool. Besides, I was getting excited. The big moment was almost upon us. Still, if I missed my New Year's kiss with Kyle because of all this, Ariel and I might not be so cool anymore.
Chapter 10: New Year's Kissing
Four minutes to go. Kait and I split up when we reached the square. Kyle and Ethan were in totally different sections of the park. Ethan was with Dave and Mike, closer to the stage where the band was playing. Kyle had run into his friend, Mason Alexander, and they were talking about constellations by the playground. Mason was equally as geeky as Kyle. He was really sweet, but I wondered if he had a date to the festival. I texted Kyle that I was on my way to him. I hated to admit to it, but I didn't really want Mason to be our third wheel at midnight. Even though he was a really nice guy, I wanted Kyle all to myself.
The square was packed with people. Everyone was excitedly looking up at the ball. The band was still playing. It would be stopping any minute for the countdown. I had to hurry. I made my way as fast as I could through the crowd of people toward the playground.
Then I saw him. Kyle was waiting for me near the swings, alone. I ran toward him.
"You made it!" Kyle said and swooped me into a hug.
He leaned down to kiss me, but I stopped him with my right hand and a grin. "Not until the new year."
Kyle smiled at me. "Okay."
"And Kyle?" I said.
"What?" Kyle took my right hand in his.
"I found the necklace," I said.
"You what?" Kyle stared down at me in surprise. "But how?"
I explained the whole story to him.
"That's so amazing!" Kyle said and leaned in to kiss me again.
I stopped him again with my left hand, laughing. "Not yet!"
"I forgot," Kyle said, taking my left hand in his too. "I'm just really excited that you found it."
"Me too," I said.
Kyle frowned. "But Suzie, I have something to tell you."
"What?" I suddenly felt worried. There wasn't much time left until the ball dropped and whatever Kyle wanted to tell me sounded a little foreboding.
"I asked Kait to help you look for your necklace," Kyle said. "I talked to her the morning after Scarlett collapsed."
"What?" I was totally shocked.
Kait hadn't even hinted at that. She could really keep a secret. Whoa. So that's where Kyle was that morning. I'd had no idea. And that's why Kait had searched everywhere to find me after gym. And that's why Kyle understood about me going off with Kait tonight and leaving him alone with the guys. Wow. It all made sense now.
"Please don't be mad at her," Kyle said. "I just knew how much you wanted to find that necklace. I couldn't stand to see you beating yourself up about losing it. Then when you thought that Scarlett was wearing it, I got worried. I didn't know how to help you, so I asked Kait to..."
"Kyle, I'm not mad," I said, looking up into his eyes. "That was really very sweet of you. I know you just wanted to help. I promise I'll never lose it again."
"Suzie," Kyle said. "That's the thing. The most important thing in the world to me is you. I don't care about the necklace. I just want to make you happy. I love seeing you smile. That's all I wanted."
I smiled back at Kyle as he said that, "You make me the happiest girl in the world, Kyle."
Kyle looked down at me. Then all I could see was Kyle looking into my eyes, leaning toward me. He had both of my hands in his, but I didn't want to stop him this time. I leaned toward him too. Our lips met. Kyle let go of my hands and pulled me all the way to him.
"Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" The MC yelled.
I barely heard him or the crowd. I didn't see the ball drop and I didn't care. Cheers erupted all around us, but I was totally oblivious. There was only Kyle and I and his lips on mine, our bodies molded together.
We were already well into our New Year's kiss when the clock actually struck midnight. If anything, our kissing just intensified. My hands were on Kyle's back and his were roaming my body. Our lips never left each other, though. They just continued to move together in a teasing, taunting dance long past midnight.
It was the best New Year's kiss ever. It was the first of many that I knew Kyle and I would share. After all, I was pretty sure that he was my forever guy. Plus, I was about to get back the most amazing necklace. I had my happily ever after and I was happy to spend the New Year enjoying it.
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Bonus Scene! Kait & Ethan's New Year's Kiss
It was almost midnight. I had to find Ethan. Suzie was right. It was our first New Year's kiss and I shouldn't let anything spoil it, not even Ariel. Arg! I was so angry with her. She could have just given Suzie's necklace back when she found it. Why did she take it? Her parents bought her anything she wanted anyway. And Troy. Troy could probably have made her a cool necklace if she'd wanted one. No. I'd never understand her.
I took a couple of deep breaths. I had to calm down and find Ethan. This was a big moment in our relationship. So much had happened this year and ending the year on a kiss with Ethan was absolutely perfect, especially after just solving Suzie's mystery.
My anger returned. Ahh! Ariel! She was totally ruining my mood as usual. I should have made her go and get Suzie's necklace. Although, I didn't want to ruin Troy's night by making his date ditch him on New Year's Eve even if Ariel should right her wrong.
Why was I thinking about Ariel? I shook my head like it might make her leave my thoughts. I looked at my phone to check the time.
I had a text. My heart leapt. Ethan? No. It was Ariel. Fine. I'll go get Suzie's necklace and give it to her. If I miss my NYE kiss with Troy, it's all your fault.
Anger filled my throat. I had to breathe. Why did I let Ariel get to me like this? I resist
ed the urge to text her back and tell her off. The New Year was about to start. Did I really want my last thoughts of this year and my first thoughts of next year to be of her? No. I wanted those moments to be filled with all things Ethan.
I clicked out of my texts and looked at the time like I had originally intended to do. I only had four minutes until midnight. I walked faster, constantly looking around for Ethan. He had texted that he was near the edge of the stage. I was almost there. I was definitely going to make it on time. I got there and looked around. There was no sign of anyone I knew. The whole area was packed with people. There was no way I was going to find him in the next few minutes. Where was he? I didn't even see Dave, Mike, or anyone I knew. It was just a sea of endless faces and winter jackets.
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six!" The MC Yelled.
Oh no. I froze. This was it.
"Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" The MC yelled.
It was midnight! I turned to see the ball drop in the middle of the square. Cheers erupted. People embraced each other. It seemed like everyone around me swooped his or her significant other into a New Year's kiss. Tears welled up in my eyes. This was all Ariel's fault. I had missed my first New Year's kiss.
Just as I thought that, I felt a hand grab my arm and spin me around. For a second my whole body tensed at the surprise of the contact, but then I was looking up at Ethan's face. My eyes met his.
"Happy New Year, Kait," Ethan said, smiling down at me.
Then he leaned down to kiss me before I could even reply. As my lips met his, fireworks exploded all around us and then they disappeared. Ethan's arms wrapped around my waist and underneath my coat, pulling me to him. It was like we were one for a brief moment.
Ethan deepened the kiss, our tongues touching, and I lost all sense of time or propriety. I kissed him back with the same fervor he seemed to be feeling. I could barely breathe, but I didn't care. I didn't want to come up for air. I lost my hands in his silky hair, while his hands ran up my back as he continued to kiss me.
My legs quivered, but I managed to stay upright. I didn't want this kiss to end. Ever. I pressed my body further into his, moving my arms down his back.
"Ow," Ethan said and pulled away from me suddenly.
Cold air rushed in. I felt a little shell shocked at the loss of contact, but then as Ethan came into focus, I laughed. He was sucking on his index finger. I looked down. The safety pin that was holding my one dress strap in place had come undone and Ethan had stuck himself.
"Are you okay?" I said.
Ethan laughed. "I'm fine. It's nothing."
The thing is, if it wasn't for that safety pin a lot more than nothing might have happened. Well, okay, not that much more since we were in a public place and surrounded by people, but we had definitely gotten a little carried away. I didn't mind that, of course, but if we had kept going, whoa. Wait. Were we already at that part of our relationship? We were flying through the milestones - first dating, then in a relationship, and then saying I love you, and now I had to worry about taking the next step? We'd only been dating a few months, but if that kiss was anything to go by... Wow. The New Year was already giving me something big to think about.
"Happy New Year, Ethan," I said trying to act normal, but inside I was totally freaking out.
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Adventures in Funeral Crashing Excerpt
Currently available for FREE!
Read the excerpt and see how Kait and Ethan first got together.
Funeral crashing is a little weird, I suppose, for someone my age. I’m sixteen, almost seventeen, and I just started my junior year at Palos High School in Palos, IL. It’s in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Still, I’m not Harold from Harold and Maude, just to make that clear. I love movies and that one is funny and dark, but I’m not like him. I don’t stage fake suicides or drive a hearse. He was dark and somber and totally weird. I don’t think I’m like that. I like normal things like regular cars. Actually, I’d really love a bright blue convertible. And, I’m not obsessed with death. I just like going to funerals.
I’m kind of young to be a professional mourner, though, right? That’s what they call it if you’re old school. It tends to be in reference to groups of old ladies, who just love to attend funerals. Maybe they’re trying to get ideas for their own funeral. Maybe they want to beat the Joneses’ and get a shinier coffin and better flowers than their neighbor had. Or, maybe they just like funerals, like I do. And, when I say funerals, I’m including the wake and the actual burial. They’re both part of the same process.
I actually once found a website advertising an exciting career as a professional mourner! I’ll admit it - I was googling. It said you could make $500 a day and all you had to do was start calling funeral homes and offer your services. Now that’s an awesome after school job! So, I called, but none of them called me back. I guess it wasn’t a lucrative career after all. It doesn’t matter. I go to them anyway for free.
I know, I know. What more can I say to explain? It’s simple. Super simple. I happen to like funerals and I completely realize that it makes me seem like a totally and utterly bizarre girl. Okay, I’m weird. Yes, I’m a freak. I admit it. Hey, I’m not going to make fun of you for singing along to the latest Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber song or anything. You know you do. Those songs are catchy. Believe me, it wouldn’t be the first time someone told me I was weird. My ex-best friend, Ariel Walker, loves to tell me how strange I am whenever she gets the chance.
“Kait Lenox is a freak!” tends to follow me around everywhere, at least when Ariel is around. I’m usually busy trying to blend into the wall when she walks by now. It makes life easier, much easier, and I’ve actually gotten quite good at it. I doubt most of the student population even knows I exist, unless Ariel points me out to them or something.
Ariel was named after The Little Mermaid. You know, the really cute kids movie? Her mother loved it. Well, my ex-BFF Ariel didn’t grow up to be a sweet little singing mermaid, let me tell you. We were best friends until our freshman year of high school and then poof! She was gone with the popular crowd, like we had never even known each other. Well, we don’t know each other unless she stops to tell me how weird I am. Then she’s happy to talk to me. That was the year my mother died too. Can you believe that? See what I mean? Ariel is not a nice and sweet singing mermaid. Her mother should have named her Ursula, after the Sea Witch.
Yes, my mother died a little over a year and a half ago. She had ovarian cancer, but by the time the doctors found it, it had already spread. It was like one minute she was diagnosed and two months later she was gone. I try not to think about it. It still makes me really sad and if I dwell on it, I just get depressed. I start thinking about things like if I ever get married she won’t be there. Not that I remotely have any prospects, but you know, if I ever do.
I miss her. I really miss her. I’d give anything to have her back and wipe away those last two months. The last moments my mother was alive, she was unconscious in our living room, dying. It’s still depressing to walk into the living room. I can almost still see where the hospital bed was, even though my dad has replaced it with a leather couch and a brand new flat screen TV. We all deal with grief in different ways.
The funeral was actually a relief. It was the first funeral I had ever attended. I mean nobody in my family or any family friends or anything had died in the fourteen plus years I had been alive and then the first one to go is my mom. Sure, I had grandparents die before I was born, but I wasn’t born yet, so I never knew them. Anyway, it was a memorable first funeral. I loved my mom more than anything else and it was comforting having all of the people who loved her all around us, even if most of them were just family. And, you know what? It was a nice funeral for being really depressing and all.
It was really cool hearing all the stories about my mom. Things she had never mentioned to me. Like, I didn’t know she lived in Los Angeles, California for three months when she was twenty-six just to see if she liked it. She s
lept on her friend’s couch and everything! She was too in love with my dad at the time to stay, but wow, my mom had an adventure! She lived in Hollywood! Where they make movies! I love movies. Maybe one day I’ll go into filmmaking even. But, anyway, my mom was there in LA with the movie stars! How cool is that?
Needless to say, the funeral was actually the best part of that whole ordeal. I sound intellectual there, don’t I, using the word ordeal? I like to read too – anything and everything. My favorite books range from The Shining by Stephen King (very creepy) to Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell (classic romance) to Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (funny chic lit). See, I’m not all dark and dreary. A good book is a good book when you like to read as much as I do. I suppose some of my reading affinity comes from my best friend having ditched me, becoming the weird girl, and having no friends at all upon starting high school. Suddenly, you get a lot of time on your hands to do stuff like read.
So, yeah, I’m not a Goth girl, by the way. I don’t wear all black and I haven’t dyed my hair black either. I did put bleach blonde highlights into my hair last year, but they’ve all kind of grown out now and my hair is mostly back to it’s reddish blonde again. It’s kind of rusty really. My mom always said it was strawberry blonde and that it made my green eyes stand out. I think she was just being my mom because my hair looks rusty to me.
Oh, and to be Goth you have to know it inside out and be good at fashion, in a Goth way. It’s not all just wearing black and I’m not good at fashion, by any means. I mostly just wear jeans and T-shirts. To the funerals, I dress up and yes, I do wear black. It’s a funeral, you’re supposed to. You’re respecting and remembering the dead, you know? You should look nice and black is the accepted color for mourning. Besides, the whole point of crashing is to blend into the wake or funeral and fit in, so a black outfit can be key. And, I am there to mourn with them, so it’s good to play the part.
