Pushing the Limits - McGarry Katie. Страница 72

Skater Girl turns her head toward me and the drive-through. “Is someone going to take my fucking order?”

Chris’s laughter from our corner table jerks me back to reality. I pull off my baseball cap, mess my hand through my hair and shove the hat back in place. Why her? Why tonight? There’s a dare and I’m going to win. “Counter’s a little slow tonight.”

She glares at me like I’m a little slow. “Are you speaking to me?”

Her hard stare dares me to glance away. Keep staring, Skater Girl. You don’t scare me. I’m drawn to her eyes though. Her eyes are blue. Dark blue. I wouldn’t have thought someone with black hair could have such brilliant eyes.

“I asked you a question.” She rests a hip against the counter. “Or are you as stupid as you look?”

Yep, pure punk: attitude, nose ring and a sneer that can kill on sight. She’s not my type, but she doesn’t have to be. I just need her number. “You’d probably get better service if you watched your language.”

A hint of amusement touches her lips and dances in her eyes. Not the kind of amusement you laugh with. It’s the taunting kind. “Does my language bother you?”

Yes. “No.” I don’t care for the word, but I know when I’m being tested.

“So my language doesn’t bother you, but you say—” she raises her voice and leans over the counter “—I could get some fucking service if I watched my language.”

Time to switch tactics. “What do you want to eat?”

“Fish. What do you think I want? I’m at a taco joint.”

Chris laughs again and this time Logan joins in. If I don’t salvage this, I’ll be listening to their ridicule the entire way home. I lean over the counter and wave at the girl working the drive-through. I give her a smile. She smiles back. Take lessons, Skater Girl. This is how it’s supposed to work. “Can I have a minute?”

Drive-Through Chick’s face brightens and she holds up a finger as she continues taking an order. “Be right there. Promise.”

I turn back to Skater Girl and instead of the warm thank-you I should be receiving she shakes her head, clearly annoyed. “Jocks.”

My smile falters. Hers grows.

“How do you know I’m a jock?”

Her eyes wander to my chest and I fight a grimace. Written in black letters across my gray shirt is Bullitt County High School, Baseball State Champions.

“So you are stupid,” she says.

I’m done. I take one step in the direction of the table then stop. I don’t lose. “What’s your name?”

“What do I have to do to make you leave me alone?”

“Give me your phone number.”

The right side of her mouth quirks up. “You’re kidding.”

“Give me your name and phone number and I’ll walk away.”

“You must be brain damaged.”

“Welcome to Taco Bell, can I take your order?”

We both look at Drive-Through Chick.

I pull out my wallet and slam ten dollars on the counter. “Tacos.”

“And a Coke,” Skater Girl says. “Large. Since he’s paying.”

Drive-Through Chick enters the order and returns to the drive-through window.

We stare at each other. I swear this girl never blinks.

“I believe a thank-you is in order,” I say.

“I never asked you to pay.”

“Give me your name and phone number and we’ll call it even.”

She licks her lips. “There is absolutely nothing you can do to ever get me to give you my name or number.”

Ring the bell. Playtime ended with those words. Purposely invading her space, I steal a step toward her and place a hand on the counter next to her body. It affects her. I can tell. Her eyes lose the amusement and her arms hug her body. She’s small. Smaller than I expected. That attitude is so big I hadn’t noticed her height or size. “I bet I can.”

“Eight tacos and one large Coke,” says the girl from behind the counter.

Skater Girl snatches the order and spins on her heel before I can process I’m on the verge of losing. “Wait!”

She stops at the door. “What?”

Her what doesn’t carry much anger. Maybe I’m getting somewhere. “Give me your phone number. I want to call you.”

No, I don’t, but I do want to win. She’s wavering. I can tell.

“I’ll tell you what.” She flashes a smile that drips with a mixture of allure and wickedness. “If you can walk me to my car and open the door for me, I’ll give you my number.”

Can.

She steps into the humid night and skips down the sidewalk to the back parking lot. I never would’ve bet this girl skipped. I follow, tasting the sweet victory.

Victory doesn’t last long. Before she can even make it past the yellow lines confining an old rusty car, two menacing guys climb out.

“Something I can do for you, man?” Tattoos run the length of his arms.

“Nope.” I shove my hands in my pockets and relax my stance. I have no intention of getting into a fight, especially when I’m outnumbered.

Tattoo Guy crosses the parking lot and he’d probably keep coming if it wasn’t for the other guy with hair covering his eyes. He stops right in front of Tattoo Guy, halting his progress, but his posture suggests he’d also fight for kicks. “Is there a problem, Beth?”

Beth flashes an evil smirk. “Not anymore.” She jumps into the front seat of the car.

Both guys walk to their car while keeping an eye on me, as if I’m stupid enough to jump them from behind. The engine roars to life and the car vibrates as if duct tape holds it together.

In no hurry to go inside and explain to my friends how I lost, I stay on the sidewalk. The car slowly drives by and Beth presses her palm against the passenger window. Written in black marker is the word signaling my defeat: can’t.

PLAYLIST FOR

PUSHING

THE

LIMITS

Music is my muse of choice. These songs helped shape the overall theme of the story:

‘Push’ by Matchbox Twenty

‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Gaga

‘Scar Tissue’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers

‘Use Somebody’ by Kings of Leon

To help get into character for Noah, I listened to the following:

‘Down’ by Jay Sean

‘Changes’ by 2Pac & Talent

‘Hey, Soul Sister’ by Train

For Echo, I listened to:

‘Paint’ by Roxette

‘Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough’ by Patty Smyth & Don Henley

‘The End of the Innocence’ by Don Henley & Bruce Hornsby

Songs used for specific scenes:

‘Undone (The sweater song)’ by Weezer—This song inspired the moment between Noah and Echo at the party.

‘Crash Into Me’ by The Dave Matthews Band— I listened to this song whenever I needed to write a kiss between Echo and Noah.

‘Free’ by Zac Brown Band—This song represents everything I wanted Echo and Noah to have gained by the end of the story. If you’re curious as to what happened between them the summer after the story ends, just listen to this song.

A song special to me:

‘Can You’ by Angela McGarry—After reading a draft of Pushing the Limits, Angela was inspired to write ‘Can You.’ Check out the song performed by Mason Stonebridge on my website: www.katielmcgarry.com.

Q&A WITH

KATIE McGARRY

What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits ?

I had two main inspirations:

One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation.