Read Online Pop Princess by Rachel Cohn - Free Book Online Page B

the wheels of his skateboard stumbling across the gravel road above the beach. “Ma’s looking for you.” Paranoia consumed Mom ever since Lucky’s death. She wanted Charles and me to call her every two minutes to tell her where we were, and when we’d be home. If we were ten minutes late she sent out a search party.
    I kissed Doug one more time, fast and memorably, and he escaped across the darkened beach. I stood up on the sand and shouted, “Shut up, CHAH-les!”

Fourteen
    Strange that hooking up with Doug could give me a new sympathy for Jen Burke. Now I understood how she could get to be so mean. The guy could give some serious lip lock, but watch out if you tried to truly get close to him.
    Rules for fooling around with Doug:
    DO let him feel you up in darkened places when no one is around.
    DO NOT attempt to hold his hand in public, or let on in any way, shape, or form that the two of you are an item. This fact is strictly a state secret, and the world order as we know it could topple should this secret come out.
    DO fantasize about him during school, preferably during exams that will determine whether or not you pass.
    DO NOT fantasize that Doug will acknowledge you as his make-out buddy to the band or at school, and for God’s sake, DO NOT demonstrate any sign of affection for Doug in front of his buddies.
    DO sneak out your bedroom window at night to meet him down on the beach. DO ignore Science Project’s window surveillance of you sneaking out your bedroom window and climbing down the tree outside the window. DO lie down on the blanket Doug’s laid out on the sand and DO let him kiss you and touch you for hours on end. DO let him beg you to give it up.
    DO NOT give it up.
    Doug was not exactly fulfilling my ideal of having a boyfriend as part of my new life in Devonport. He was not the kind of guy like Science Project who offered to carry your books, or opened a door for you, or who talked to your parents when he was dropping you off after rehearsal like they were real people instead of morons whom you had to bail from as quickly as possible. When Doug and I passed each other in the halls at school he mumbled “Hey” and kept walking, and during rehearsals he snapped at me if I missed a note, or he would say, “Is this Wonder’s Band or is this Doug’s Band?” In private, he was a different guy. All the sweet nothings this girl wanted to hear, Doug was throwing bull’s-eyes: “You’re so pretty,” “I want you so much,” “You fucking rock as a singer.” Yeah yeah yeah.
    One evening after rehearsal we were making out in his basement while his dad was still at work. It was only about six o’clock, but the room was dark except for the flickering TV. My shirt was off and Doug was lying on top of me, his hand between my inner thighs, but not quite you-know-where. My jeans were still on, though the friction between our bodies as Doug rubbed against me told me the jeans were soon to be goners.
    â€œDo you have, you know, something?” I whispered in his ear in that moment of heavy-breathing weakness. What the hell, I thought, why not just do it? Doug and I had gotten so close so many times in those stolen nights under the blankets on the beach late at night, maybe if we just crossed the line we could officially be boyfriend and girlfriend. But Doug’s dad would be home any moment; if we were going to do this, it had to be soon.
    â€œYeah,” he grunted. He jumped off me and raced toward his bedroom. “Be right back,” he called out behind him.
    His absence gave me time to reconsider. I thought, Is this how I want my first time to be, a quick shag in some guy’s basement while Urkel pratfalls across the muted TV?
    I was convinced Lucky watched me at all times. Ever aware of Lucky’s spirit, I often kept naughty behavior in check—binging on Devil Dogs late at night, peeking at the smart