Teen Ink

January

Chapter 1: January
I had spent New Year's Eve at my cousin Hillary's house. This was always a mistake I only realized when I got there, and Hillary's Absolut-stained breath wheezed into a "Haaaaay baby cousinnnnn!"

I would stand by the bowl of Chex Mix all evening and find myself strangely emotionally invested in her cat Sprinkles all evening. Meanwhile, Hillary and her college friends were drinking and vomiting and making out to the synthetic pounding of some Rihanna song, and I wished I'd stayed home to watch the Nick at Nite marathon.

We all went on the porch when it was midnight, and after the shouted countdown, mouths found mouths and I stood awkwardly with Sprinkles tucked beneath my arm, fidgeting and meowing to get down, while my cousin and her friends tangled tongues like it was some alien handshake.

I had no idea that you were just across town, swaying in the arms of Frances Hemsley, who you'd only known for the duration of the party. What if you two had kissed in front of me at Hillary's party? I would've thought you were the same as all of them.

I'm glad you decided to go to Frances's party instead of Hillary's, I really am.

I never told you this, I was afraid you'd laugh, but that night I felt so lonely and unkissable I actually kissed Sprinkles's cheek at midnight. She leapt from my arms immediately and I had to spit to get the fluff out of my mouth.