The F- It List by Julie Halpern Read Free Book Online Page A

wafted out of Leo’s mouth as he spoke.
    “Yeah. How’d you know?” Welcome to the mutual stalkers society . I tried not to sound giddy at the thought of Leo knowing something about me.
    “I saw you last year at the midnight showing of Evil Dead 2 .”
    “You did?” I wanted to tell him that I saw him, too, but that felt too eager.
    “Yep” was all he said.
    “What’s your favorite?” I asked.
    “Horror movie?” he checked.
    “Yeah. Your absolute favorite. Which one?”
    “Is it too obvious to say Evil Dead 2 ?” He seemed less confident when I talked to him than when he stood around looking menacing and mysterious. I didn’t know if I liked the vulnerability on him. Just like I hated it on me.
    “Maybe a little predictable, but still a noble choice. Did you hear Bruce Campbell—”
    “Is going to be at the Orpheum for Army of Darkness . I know. I’m stoked. Do you want to go?” I smirked at the possibility of a date until he added, “My friend Brian was supposed to go with me, but he’s going out of town now. So I’ve got an extra ticket.”
    This wasn’t quite how my fantasies went, but I’d take it. Horror movies were always more fun with someone else. And I didn’t think Becca would make it. Would she be bummed that I was going out and she wasn’t? Or would she want every detail of what it was like being near Leo? I wondered if there was a horror movie out there where someone gets killed by their own guilt.
    “When is it?” I asked as if I didn’t already know.
    “Friday at seven. It’s okay if you’re busy. Just thought I’d ask.” Aren’t we casual ?
    “I planned on going, so sure. Yeah.”
    “Good,” he replied.
    We lay on our backs quietly for a couple of silent minutes, until Leo asked, “So what’s yours?”
    “Excuse me?” I asked.
    “Your favorite.”
    “Oh yeah. I like Dead Alive . I think it’s funnier than Evil Dead without trying as hard. Maybe it’s the New Zealand accents.”
    “That’s a good one. The lawn mower scene is killer.”
    “So good,” I agreed.
    Several more minutes of silence rolled by with the clouds. I didn’t mind. Leo’s presence, the outdoor air, even the cigarette smoke was calming. I found a whale in the clouds, a sailboat, an evil clown.
    The grass rustled, and Leo rolled onto his side. I did the same and faced him. I marveled at being this close to him, finding freckles on his nose, watching the way the sunlight made his red eyelashes almost transparent. Then out of nowhere he kissed me. It was a hard kiss, a quick one. Then he pulled back and took a drag off his cigarette, turning his head to blow the smoke away from my face.
    “Why’d you do that?” I asked, hiding the smile and desire that seeped from every pore in my body.
    “You looked like you wanted me to,” he explained, then took another drag.
    “What does that mean?” I asked, annoyed. “Was I pursing my lips? Were my tits glowing? What?” He actually laughed loudly at that one. “I’m glad my glowing tits amuse you,” I told him.
    “They sound very amusing. Mind if I take a look?” he joked. I think.
    “Only if you show me your balls of fire,” I deadpanned.
    He fell onto his back again and looked up at the passing clouds. The sun was starting to set. Summer was definitely over. My dad was gone. My best friend had cancer. And there I was, sharing cigarettes with the boy of my sick and twisted dreams.
    That kiss made me feel lit up like his cigarette. Did he want me to kiss him again? Or was that a pity kiss? Was I someone worth pity? How would he even know if I was or not?
    I was tired of thinking, so I propped myself up on my elbow and looked down at his mouth. Did it want to be kissed, too? There was only one way to find out, and I went for it. That time the kiss was longer, stronger, and wetter. I fell onto him, not worried at all about my insignificant weight on his substantial chest. He wrapped his hands around my back, then moved down until he