Okay, posting this excerpt.  Quite  a contrast to the tone of the one last week, I think.  Keep in mind, it’s the roughest yet–I need to go back and edit some of the cliches, etc.  That said, I’ll go ahead and post it.  Cheers!

“Hey, I need you to help me out.  Quick!” I hissed, jerking Cody’s sleeve.

          “Asking works, too.  What could possibly be so urgent that you have to rip my shirt to tell me?”

          “I need a decoy.”           

His brow creased.  “You mean, like a duck?”

          “What the—no, not a duck.  Freak.”  I choked back a laugh, in spite of my jittery nerves.  “I need someone to—crap!  Here he comes.  Look, just follow my lead, I don’t have time—“ I broke off and smashed my body against his, pressing my lips up to his mouth.

          He froze, his arms stiff metal rods at his side.  Wrapping my own arms around his neck, I tried sending him a mental message to do the same.  It failed.  “Put your arms around me—they’re coming, ” I hissed.  Still no response.  Finally, in desperation, I kicked him in the shin.

          “Oof!”   But at least he got the clue.  Well, sort of.  He rested his hands ever-so-gingerly on my hips.  Like if he held me closer, I might infect him with flesh-eating bacteria.

I held my breath against Cody’s stiff lips as Nate’s and Kenzie’s footsteps thudded closer, then paused.  After several tense moments, the footsteps finally retreated.  I shoved Cody away and expelled a disgusted sigh. 

          “Okay, that was seriously the lamest fake kiss—or any kiss, for that matter—that I’ve ever seen or experienced in my entire life.  What, do I smell bad or something?”  I raised my arm and sniffed, but the only aroma tickling my nose was the cherry blossom scent of my deodorant.  I frowned.  Maybe he had an aversion to fruit.

          Cody scrambled two steps back, his face registering shock.  “No, it’s not that, it’s—what the heck was that, anyway?  I thought I made it clear that we’re just friends.” 

          I threw my hands in the air.  “You idiot—I was trying to scare Nate away.  But still—that was weak.  I mean, I just sort of figured—“ I stopped, realizing how conceited that sounded.  No need to humiliate myself further.  Unfortunately, Cody took up where I left off.

          He leaned back against the stone wall, amusement starting to chase the surprise from his face.  “You figured what, exactly?  That I’d be thrilled to kiss you?  Sorry, but you’re not really my type. Oh, don’t worry—there’s nothing wrong with you.”  His smile turned derisive.  “It’s me. I’m just into someone else.”

          “Wait—oh my God—it’s Allie, isn’t it?  I knew it!  That would be so cool, the two of you as a couple.  Only—you can’t have date nights every night, because what would I do?” 

          He broke in before I could go off again.  “No, it’s not her.”

          “Then who?”  A hideous thought had my stomach lurching.  “Please, tell me it’s not Steph.  I’ve seen the way she looks at you, but I figured you had too much taste to fall for that Barbie hair and freakishly perfect body.” 

          He shook his head in exasperation.  “No, it’s not her either.  If you must know, it’s—“ He studied me for a moment, took a deep breath, then blurted it out. “Nate.  I have a crush on Nate.”

          My mind went blank.  It was like I heard his words, but somehow, they just didn’t compute.  “As in, Nate Nate?  Boy Nate?  My ex-Nate?”

          “Yes, as in that Nate.  I guess I should have told you this before, but I’m so used to keeping it secret, it was hard for me to let it out.  Summer—I’m gay.”

          I felt my jaw muscles working, but no sound made its way past my suddenly flaccid tongue.  Finally, I managed one measly squeak.  “Huh?”  And then, my speaking-ability returned.  Unforunately.  Because I cringed when I heard the words that escaped my mouth.  “But—you don’t even like Bravo TV!”