Undeadly. Michele Vail

held me closer and I lay my head on his shoulder as we swayed to the music. Someone turned off the living room lights. The lamps on the end tables were on, but their muted glow barely pierced the darkness.

      Still, I could see Rick lean down, his nose almost touching mine. I’d brushed my teeth twice and refrained from food and drink. Because I wanted our first kiss to be perfect—you know, without Doritos taint.

      His lips ghosted across mine. My belly pulled tight with excitement. I was chest to chest with him. OMG.

      “Sweet Molly,” he murmured. He angled his mouth against mine and I opened for him. My eyes fluttered closed. Tentative, I met the gentle thrust of his tongue. I felt electrified. I clung to him, completely unsure about what I was doing.

      He drew away, just a little, took a shuddering breath and returned. I was pressed so close to him that I could feel how his heartbeat matched the ferocity of mine. I felt awkward and amazed and—

      The lights snapped on. I opened my eyes, blinking, horrified that Dad might have come down to check up on us crazy teenagers and freaked to see me lip-locked with Rick.

      “Mina! No!” Rick tried to push me out of the way, but he ended up projecting me right into Mina’s path.

      The full contents of the punch bowl showered me. Red liquid splattered my face, hair and clothes. Ice cubes fell down my shirt and spun off my toes. Some of the sticky sweet drink dribbled into my mouth. Shocked beyond words, I could only stand there like an idiot.

      “Damn it, Mina.” Rick’s expression was murderous. He looked like he wanted to hit her. I just wanted to melt into a puddle of shame.

      “Oops,” she said in a bored tone. She let the plastic bowl drop to the floor. She flicked an icy glance around the room. No one laughed, which was a blessing. Usually Mina’s cruel humor got all kinds of chuckles—at least at school. But even though the music played on, every conversation had stopped. People were looking at me, at Mina, or at the floor.

      “Smile for YouTube,” said Danette. That’s when I noticed that both of Mina’s friends were using the video cams in their iPhones to film me. I swallowed the knot in my throat and felt hot tears gather in my eyes.

      “That’s enough,” said Rick. He moved to stand in front of me. “Get out.”

      “This party is a yawn fest.” Mina swung her blond hair over her shoulder. “We’re outtie.”

      She and her minions spun on their Prada heels and pranced out. The front door slammed, echoing above the soft drone of the music. Rick looked down at me, fury and regret warring in his gaze. “Mol, are you okay?”

      I managed to nod.

      “Aw, man. Is the party over?” I couldn’t pin the voice, it had drifted from the back of the room. People stirred, looking at me. Some started putting down cups, picking up purses, turning toward the door.

      “No way,” I said, moving past Rick. I pasted a smile on my quivering lips. I really wanted to cry, but I wouldn’t. Mina couldn’t have my tears. “I just need to change.”

      I sensed the hesitancy, the awkwardness.

      “C’mon!” I said, nervous that people would leave. Then Mina would get exactly what she wanted. Me, humiliated and abandoned. “If you go, you’ll miss out on Nonna Gina’s triple-chocolate cake. And homemade ice cream.”

      Stupid, right? So totally stupid to bribe partygoers with cake. I was glad Dad hadn’t made a surprise appearance. Then the party really would be over.

      “I’m staying,” said Rick. He grasped my arm, not seeming to mind that it was covered in punch. “I’ll clean this up, Mol.”

      Cake had nothing to do with keeping my guests here. Rick was just as popular as Mina. Probably more so, since he was likeable. He was staying. His friends, the jocks I’d seen in the backyard earlier, would stay. So, everyone would stay.

      “I’ll be right back,” I said, not quite able to meet his eyes.

      Then Rick leaned down and kissed me again. I was sticky and gross, but his hands cupped my face and his lips melded with mine. People laughed, whistled and one joker yelled, “Give her the tongue!”