Romantic high school
I’m on the home stretch of my novel right now, working to bring my lead guy and girl together. Their separation for most of this book has been agony, because I know they secretly love each other. So now I’m getting ready to satisfy myself–finally–by seeing them kiss. But not for another few days still. So I continue to suffer.
Writing about young romance always makes me sentimental for the thrills I never had. My most romantic moment in high school was when I went to the prom with the boy I desperately adored, and I waited and waited all evening to see if he would kiss me, and finally when he dropped me off he said, “Might as well get this over with,” and he planted this hasty, dry, tight-mouthed kiss off-center on my lips.
My first kiss, at age sixteen. Is it any wonder I want to write something better for the girls in my novels?
I realize other people out there actually had boyfriends and girlfriends–or at least more than that single date to the prom–in high school. Go ahead and make me jealous. I’d love to hear about your most romantic moment in high school, whether you were the romancer or the romancee. I’m all steeped in high school love right now, so the more the better.
And don’t worry, I already know how these two will end up. I’m not going to steal your story about kissing under the bleachers.
Do people actually do that?
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Young Adult Novels, Young Adult Fiction, Teen Fiction, Teen Novels
December 13th, 2006 at 8:38 am
Romance and high school? Together? I went to small elementary and high schools where all the kids had been together since kindergarten and I couldn’t seem to look at the boys in “that way.” But I do remember the thrill of being in the girl’s bathroom sneaking cigs., and my friends squealing over this very popular boy who “liked me.” I loved the moment, just not the boy. My big high school romance was when I was a senior and “going out” with a boy from another school. I won’t give you the delicious details, but ohhh the squeals from the girl’s bathroom…
December 13th, 2006 at 9:20 am
Having your first kiss at sixteen is nothing to be embarassed about,Robin-I’m like Drew Barrymore,Never Been Kissed(a lame movie but still…).
Anyway,my theory is that shows/movies/books about high school are best appreciated by those who have already been thru it. When you’re actually in high school,your reaction to fictional depictions of it is”Yeah,right! Like this really happens,so not with it,OK?” A few years later,you look at that particular bit of drama and go”Wow,I knew someone like that” or”Yeah,it did feel that way then.”
December 13th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Thanks, Lady T, but it is pretty embarrassing. Oh, well–his loss. (Do you hear that, Stupidhead Prom Date?)
Deborah, hope you don’t mind my saying you’re RACY!
December 13th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
I married my high school sweetheart. I can’t divulge our moments. (Nor do I recommend them to young adults.)
December 13th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
My one high school “relationship” was the epitome of unromantic, despite lasting a year. I’ve been wooed harder by Cheetos in a vending machine.
December 13th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Heather, oo la la!
And Lizzie, “I’ve been wooed harder by Cheetos in a vending machine.”–why can’t I write like that?
December 13th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Robin, that was my one witty thing for the day - I have a quota - but you can feel free to import it for a small tariff. I’m also starving… oh god, why doesn’t this library have a vending machine?! Or toilet paper in all the stalls?!
I’ve been studying in here waaay too long…
December 13th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Well, it’s not my first kiss, but it was the first kiss of my ’serious’ high school relationship.
We were sitting in the river, about two to three feet deep, she was sitting on my lap. We both turned toward each other at the same time. Neither intended to kiss, but thinking the other was since we were so close, reacted to it.
It lasted six days before we seperated. On the seventh day, we rested.
There was a lot leading up to that kiss. Phenomenal kiss. Yes, she had red hair.
December 13th, 2006 at 5:46 pm
Ahhh, Patrick, love it. Thank you for that image.
December 13th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
I did not have a stellar dating record in high school. A whole lotta romantic trauma, mostly of the unrequited nature.
However, I was asked out to senior prom as a junior, by a cool kid who took me to the cool kids party. And there I met my first boyfriend, who is, from last reports, now a rock star in Manhattan.
As for the prom date, that ended badly at the aforementioned party, because I was also very innocent in high shcool, and he was, um, not.
December 13th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
And there I met my first boyfriend, who is, from last reports, now a rock star in Manhattan.
Typical. For you, I mean, Glamour Queen.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Wow, you all sound like you had normal HS experiences. I graduated during the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, and nobody except the pimpliest and most nerdy made it all the way through HS still a virgin. I’m still trying to figure out if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
BJ, those must have been interesting times, indeed.
March 7th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I have been working as a guidance counsler at Booker T High School for about 10 years and I notice that there’s always “he say, she say” going on in high school relationships which make it hard for the young minds to focus on just being together.