grl2grl (13 page)

I choked. Literally. Annika laughed. It made me laugh. We both knew how ridiculous that was. My violin was an appendage, like
her cello. I almost asked where it was, but enough stalling.

Extending my legs, I began again, “Annika.”

She took a deep breath and let it out. Slowly, deliberately,
she twisted to face me. “Yes, Kat.” She fluttered her eyelashes.

Dammit, don’t joke around, I thought.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Chunks I’d been blowing for a week. “I have to tell you something.”

Annika pressed two fingers to my lips. “Shut up. It’s been a year.”

Her fingers moved across my cheek and spread apart. Her other hand found my other cheek. With her thumbs under my chin, she
drew me close. She kissed me.

Martinů played in my head. Finely tuned, fiercely pitched. We came apart, our lips making a soft suction sound, a conductor’s
baton. I locked on her eyes.

“What?” she said.

“Bryce.”

She made a face. “What about him?”

“Are you… ? Does he… ?”

She hunched her shoulders and lifted her palms. “What?”

“You said you’re glad he’s coming.”

She scoffed. “Well, yeah. He’s my only competition. I plan to beat the crap out of him again.” She cocked her head. “Why?
What’d you think?”

I couldn’t speak. My heart roared in my ears. I said the only thing I could. “I was scared. So scared you —“ My throat constricted.

“Kat, I swear.” Annika shook her head. Then pinched me on the arm.

Ow.

“All these years,” she said. “All this time.” Her eyes filmed. “You’re tone-deaf, you know that? You never could pick up the
beat.” She exhaled disgust, or something, then caressed my cheek again. I transferred the weight of my head to her hand. The
weight of it.

“You always come in late,” Annika said. She pressed her forehead to mine. “Tune in, girl. I love you.”

In this honest, emotionally captivating short story collection
, renowned author and National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters offers a stunning portrayal of teens as they navigate
the hurdles of relationships and sexual identity. From the young lesbian taking her first steps toward coming out, to the
two strangers who lock eyes across a crowded train, to the transgender teen longing for a sense of self, or the girl whose
abusive father has turned her to stone, Peters is the master of creating characters whose vulnerabilities resonate and stay
with you long after the last page is turned.
Grl2grl
shows the rawness of teenage emotion as young adults begin to discover the intricacies of love and dating.

J
ULIE
A
NNE
P
ETERS
is the critically acclaimed author of
Define “Normal,” Keeping You a Secret, Between Mom and Jo, Far from Xanadu
, and National Book Award finalist
Luna
. Her Web site is
www.julieannepeters.com
.