You, Maybe (15 page)

Authors: Rachel Vail

If We Kiss

Kevin led me quickly around the side of the building, then stopped. I managed not to crash into him. I tried to look calm, cool, unperturbed. I told myself not to laugh, especially not a snorting kind of laugh. “Wha . . . what did . . .”

And then he kissed me.

Charlotte (Charlie to her friends) falls for the one boy she can’t have: Kevin. Why? Her best friend is in love with him. And Charlie’s mom and Kevin’s dad are dating. Still, Charlie can’t help but wonder,
what would happen if we kiss
?

“Amazing what one kiss can do.”—
Kirkus Reviews

Do-over

Whit doesn’t get girls, in either sense of the word “get.” Especially his crush, Sheila. All he knows is that unlike in basketball, there are no do-overs in life—or in love. Which is either really scary or really awesome, depending on how you look at it.

“This is the real thing!”—
BCCB
(starred review)

Ever After

Instead of having the time of her life this summer, Molly has two best friends who are fighting, and her ex-fling Jason acting all weird. She’s beginning to wonder if “happily ever after” really exists. At this point, she would just take the ever after part.

“A funny, desperate story.”—ALA
Booklist
(starred review)

Acknowledgments

First I’d like to thank my father, who made me practice saying, “First I’d like to thank my father” regularly as a child. He was so confident that someday I’d win a Tony for best play, he was already working on my acceptance speech. Especially because I don’t write plays anymore, the Tony’s looking increasingly unlikely—but for that unwavering confidence in me, thank you, Dad, almost as promised. Before I thank Dad, though, I’d like to thank Mom, my great friend and confidant who not only likes me just as I am but also still helps me to do so, too.

Abigail McAden and Amy Berkower are extraordinary partners and also quite wonderful lunch companions. Avi, Judy, Sarah, Chris, and Meg get me through the sludgy uphill parts of writing a book, for which I owe them deeply. Thanks to Julie Golin, who helped me figure out a bunch of details of life in PA, to Magda Lendzion for all she does every day, and to the good people of the Authors Guild for their tremendous support.

Despite all the real-life inspiration from people I know or knew well, readers who write to me so movingly about their own lives, and my own adolescent self, I want to be clear: This is a work of fiction. My resemblance to everyone in it is purely coincidental.

A special big operatic thank you to the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus, particularly Elena Doria, Alicia Edwards, and all Zachary’s other friends at the Carmen Café and beyond. Though the genders are switched here, I hope some of the music remains.
Toi, toi, toi
.

To Mitch, Zachary, and Liam: You are the men I hope someday to deserve.

Rachel Vail

Other Books by Rachel Vail

WONDER

DO-OVER

EVER AFTER

DARING TO BE ABIGAIL

NEVER MIND!

IF WE KISS

YOU, MAYBE:
THE PROFOUND ASYMMETRY
OF LOVE IN HIGH SCHOOL

THE FRIENDSHIP RING:

IF YOU ONLY KNEW

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

NOT THAT I CARE

WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?

POPULARITY CONTEST

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You, Maybe:

The Profound Asymmetry of Love in High School

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Vail, Rachel.

You, maybe : the profound asymmetry of love in high school / Rachel Vail.— 1st ed.

Summary: Josie, a fifteen-year-old high school sophomore, is smart, funny, and very much her own person, but when popular senior Carson Gold starts wooing her, she cannot resist his attention.

ISBN 978-0-06-056919-8

Epub Edition © MAY 2012 ISBN: 9780062035851

[1. Identity—Fiction. 2. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 3. High schools—Fiction. 4. Schools—Fiction.]

PZ7.V1916Yo 2006

[Fic]—dc22

2006000365

CIP

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