First Kiss (Heavy Influence) by Ann Marie Frohoff

wanna embarrass myself, one of those girls’ probably Rachel.”
    “What are you talking about?” Nadine snapped loudly. I about died. She said it so loud that Nicole and Grant looked over at us. I immediately glanced in Jake’s garage and thankfully no one looked our way.
    “Shush, you spaz,” I pleaded. “Calm down already. You’re like freaking out for nothing. I’m talking about Jake’s girlfriend. I just told you about her at your house. I just don’t know which one she is yet.”                           
    Nadine slumped, “Oh, that’s right.” She pouted, and I didn’t blame her. I felt the same way. “Yeah, I’ve seen them together at school. She’s the one with the blond hair. I thought she was just a friend.”
    “You’re killing me.” I shook my head, agitated. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Calm down. What’s going on with you, you’re acting like…like not you,” Nadine said, glowering.
    I huffed, pulling my arms to my chest. “Nothing, never mind.”
    Nadine just stared at me like I had two heads. It was pointless complaining. I looked back in Jake’s direction and that Rachel girl was near him and all I witnessed for the next half hour was her all up in his face. It made my insides churn.
    “All right you idiots, what are we gonna do?” Grant as ked as Matt skated up to me, placing his arm around my shoulder. I froze and the butterflies swarmed.
    “We could go to my house,” Matt offered. “My parents aren’t home.”
    Now my stomach really flipped around. I quickly turned to face him so his arm would fall. I casually glanced in Jake’s direction, but he wasn’t there any longer. Only Mike and Dump remained. To my surprise, Mike acknowledged us and waved. I smiled and returned the gesture.
    “Who’s that?” Matt asked.
    “That’s Mike, Jake’s guitarist, I guess. I met him yesterday,” I explained.
    “Ah,” he said softly, looking in Grant’s direction. “That’s the guy that Jake picked instead of Grant.”
    I was reminded how defeated Grant was the night he found out Jake hadn’t chosen him as his new guitarist — how I’d seen him wipe tears from his eyes, even though he tried to hide it. He’d wanted it so badly.
    I sat back o n the wall taking in the scene and turned to face Matt, but my eyes kept bouncing back to the garage. Mike played with his guitar and a loud trill bounced around, echoing off the neighborhood facades like a pinball machine. He glanced over at us now and then. He was a good-looking guy, with his short spikey bleached blonde hair & lightly decorated tattooed arms. He always seemed to have a cigarette hanging from his lips, lit or not. I wasn’t sure what color his eyes were, but he had good form. Tall, a little thinner than Jake, but I suppose just as good looking. There was no reason Nadine shouldn’t be interested in him.
    Finally, Jake and The Envies came back outside. Rachel was hanging on Jake until one of her friends, a gorgeous raven-haired chick with bright red lipstick, prying her away. She had a punky vibe for sure. I really liked her look. I was completely and utterly captivated by the whole spectacle. Finally they boisterously walked to their car. They looked like they were drunk or on something. Maybe they were.
    “Hey, Nadine, check out that girl with the black hair,” I pointed out quietly, “What do you think? I think she’s cool looking.”
    Nadine nodded slowly, deciding. “Yeah, she’s got a great look.”
    “And what do you think of Mike? I think he’s Abercrombie status,” I said, hopping off the wall nonchalantly. I planted the seed and now she was staring at him. “I think he’s hot, more edgy, you know with his tats and all. I can’t believe his parent’s allow him to get tattoo’s.”
    “I think it’s hot. I can’t wait to get one as soon as I move out.” Nadine informed.
    That surprised me.
    ***
    Matt was attentive and it made me feel worse about leading him