Enjoying Life with 3 Dogs, 2 Kids & an ADHD Husband.

Wait—you mean our characters have to be deep? Um…

Joking, of course. Characters need to have layers, and almost more importantly for me—they need to have flaws. I’m sorry, but being that I’m about a bazillion degrees away from perfect myself (shocking, I know), it’s really hard for me to relate to flawless characters. You know, the ones that are beautiful, rich, have superpowers, get the guy, and gosh darn it, are just flat-out nice. All. The. Time.

All that and she bakes, too? Kill me now.

Barf.

In fact, I’ll even go a step further. I would much rather read about a deeply flawed character than one without any imperfections. Why? Because the deeply flawed character is a heckuva lot more interesting.

If you don’t believe me, check out Justine Larbalestier’s novel Liar, where her MC Micah is a pathological liar, or Courtney Summer’s Regina in Some Girls Are. As a former high school bully, Regina was hard to relate to at times, and had some major issues. Heck, I didn’t even really *like* her half the time. That said, I finished that book in one sitting and still teared up at least three times.

When I think of some of the most memorable film characters—from Scarlett O’Hara to Forrest Gump to Hans Solo—I can see that they all have flaws. Perfection just isn’t exciting. But character flaws, and how they deal with conflict IN SPITE of them, is.

Smokin'.

So, a complex character is one who has both strengths and flaws, good and bad. Just like a real person—except when it comes to our characters, we get to torture them. Legally.

Ah, torture. That brings us to the book I’m reading, Plot & Structure, and what it has to say on character. Because you can create the most interesting character in the world, but the reader will never know unless you make that character struggle—and change as a result. The character arc, so to speak.

When James Scott Bell talks about characters, he has this to say:
What makes a plot truly memorable is not all of the action, but what the action does to the character. We respond to the character who changes.

To him, I think the heart of a complex character is the ability to change.

I float out of the room a short while later—minutes? Hours? I have no clue. I’m glowing, glowing. My fingers skim the walls, graze the nubby texture, the air. I laugh and the sound floats around me, hovers. I’ve got more energy than I can fucking stand. I feel like I could explode out of my own skin, race a few hundred laps around the neighborhood, and not even have to stop for air. But most of all, I feel like I’m going to burst if I don’t find someone to talk to. I need people around me.

I take another step and stumble. Underneath my buzz, something slinks into my consciousness, something dark and dirty.

I brush my fingers against my lips, brush away the taste. Then shake my head. My hair whips at warp speed and I see black dots and lights. I welcome the distraction and do it again. And again.
Then I stumble out toward the comforting chaos of the party.

The laughter, the voices—they cover me like warm fog, fill every corner of my brain. I shove my way into the first group of people I see, just craving that feeling of connection. Shane’s telling some story about a practical joke they played on their coach, and I start laughing hysterically. The sound roars around me. Musical. Free.

Shane grins and ruffles my hair. “Gee, I wonder what you’ve been doing? I can’t believe anyone ever thought you were such a goody-goody. Slacker.”

It’s fairly rough, so bear with me. This story is about a girl who used to have everything together, a girl who was totally under her parents’ control. And then one day she exploded. This isn’t from the beginning, but somewhere in first third.

“Where’s Jake?” I stumble into the table and hit my hip, almost drop my beer. No pain. No pain, no gain. I giggle, even though I have no idea why that’s funny. The laughter freezes in my throat a second later, though. My hip might not hurt, but inside, I’m dying for a fix. Just a little something to boost me back up. No big deal. Anything will do, anything at all. I’m not picky these days.

Sarah laughs and tries to bounce a quarter into a cup. “You’re so obvious. Jake had to bail for awhile. Jones is here, though—in the bedroom. He can hook you up for a price.”

A price? Shit. I drain the beer in my cup, but it’s doing nothing for me, not anymore. I might as well be drinking Evian. “I’m broke. Will he take an IOU?”

Sarah’s laughter explodes like a bullhorn this time, forceful and way too loud. I wince as the sound splinters in my ears. “You’re shitting me, right?” she says.

Am I? I don’t think so. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I’m too restless to figure it out. I jiggle the cup on the table, jiggle my leg. I can’t stop moving.

Sarah sighs. “Just go back there. I’m sure you can work something out.”

Joy blooms in my chest. Work it out, that’s it. I’ll work it out. As I turn to leave, Delissa collars my wrist with her hand, throws an angry look at Sarah. “Hey, that’s not cool—the girl is wasted. Look, Kaylin, I think you should just wait here for Jake. He’ll be back soon.”

Yeah, but that’s the thing—I’m not wasted. Not wasted enough. I jerk free and stumble away in search of Jones.

Past the group of guys smoking in the family room. Past the couple making out in the hall. The closer I get to the bedroom, the faster my heart beats. Anticipation curls my fingers, writhes likes frantic worms in my gut. I’m almost there. It takes three or four grabs for the doorknob before I finally manage to turn it.

Anyway–this scene comes in pretty close to the story’s climax. Shade just found Summer talking to Cody in a deserted hallway during the school dance. The boy clearly isn’t in good shape, not at all, and he’s wanting to know if there’s something going on between our heroine and another guy. Here goes:

My heart broke at his defeated tone. I couldn’t help it; I caved. “No, Cody and I aren’t an item. I was just…well, never mind that. I don’t understand, though—why does it matter to you?”

But deep down, I knew why it mattered. I didn’t need his relieved sigh to tell me, or the feathery stroke of his hand against my hair. “Why do you think, Summer?”

And then he was crushing me to him. There was no gentleness in this kiss, but none of the rage from a moment ago, either. It was pure hunger, sucking me down into a whirlwind of need. He bunched his hands in my hair and smashed me back against the wall. My arms snaked around his neck, urging him closer, closer. I couldn’t get close enough as the heat of his skin burned into mine, searing me with delicious warmth. I never wanted it to end. I craved…more. Wanted…everything.

Until Shade started shuddering. Violently.

My head rattled, and the rough stone cut sharply into my scalp and bare back. I twisted out from under him. “Shade? What’s wrong?”

He stared right through me for a moment, like he couldn’t see me at all, his entire body still lurching with spasms. Then he shook his head. Sweat droplets littered the air around us. “I don’t…I’m not sure. I haven’t felt right since I went off the meds. And I meant to tell you this sooner, but Summer—I think there’s something really wrong with me. I’m remembering things…I can’t possibly be remembering.” Another convulsion wracked his frame. He threw one forearm against the wall and buried his face against it, as if to ride out the storm pummeling him.

Cautiously, I laid my hand on his shoulder. “What do you mean? What kinds of things?”

He raised his head, and I sucked in my breath. A lifetime of agony etched itself onto his sweat-drenched features. “Horrible…horrible things,” he whispered. “I don’t know…I can’t…I don’t want you to hate me.”

“Hate you for what?”

At any rate, this Teaser follows shortly after the one a few weeks ago, where the MC Summer discovers that a lewd photo of her and Billy, a guy she despises, was photo-shopped and sent around the school. This is Billy catching up with her afterwards. Oh, and, if this is your first time–the MC has been hearing voices for a few days now. As usual, all comments welcomed and appreciated!

“So, how’d you like the photo?” he said, his too-slick smile making him look like a used-car salesman. Only—used-car salesmen didn’t usually leer at their customers. His gaze traveled down my body in a way that made my hands twitch to cover myself.

I shook off the sudden urge to dart back into the bathroom and lifted my chin instead. “Honestly? It made me want to hurl.”

He stepped closer, trapping me in the corner next to the bathroom door. Warning bells rang in my head. I pressed myself tightly against the rough wall to keep any part of my body from touching him.

“That’s too bad,” he whispered, “Because I was thinking—since everyone already thinks we, you know, got naked together, what’s the harm in doing it for real?” He reached out and twined a strand of my hair around his fingers.

“You—” Too late, I made a move to knee him in the balls. He yanked the hair tighter, and his other hand flew up to dig into my throat, holding me prisoner in the corner. My scalp burned. I wanted to shout for help, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything but try to breathe—and even that wasn’t going so well.

“Ah, ah, ah. Don’t make any hasty decisions. You know, I’m not really into hume-lovers, but I’d make an exception for you,” he said, wafting his bitter coffee breath into my face.

He leaned harder on my throat and I wheezed, my lungs straining for even a thin trickle of oxygen. His mouth moved closer, closer. I tried to twist my head away, but the hand with the hair grabbed my chin, wrenching it forward to face him. My fingers flew up to pry at his. It was like clawing against stone. Not strong enough. No…air. Dizzy, I squeezed my eyes shut and prepared to bite. And then a familiar drawl sounded from behind us.

“Let her go right now, or I’m going to turn your face into something that really makes the girls scream. And not in a good way.”

The grip on my neck tightened at first, then slowly released. I gasped, my lungs on fire. I was still sucking down greedy mouthfuls of air when Billy turned to face Shade.

“Hey, there, buddy. There’s no reason for you to get involved. I was just having a little fun.”

Shade’s focus shifted to me, to where my hands still clutched my throat. His eyes flashed. Somehow, I could read the violent intention in them, clear as day. Or maybe it was the word whispering through my head. One word, coated in blazing hot fury.

       The second I set foot inside the cafeteria the next morning, I could feel the tension crackling in the air.  The buzz and whispers were back—and with tsunami-like force.  

            I paused, inhaling slowly and forcing a smile.  Maybe it was just my nerves.  After all, they were understandably twitchy from my scheduled B&E debut later today.  But then my gaze caught on a nearby table. The cluster of girls sitting there glanced up at me before consulting their cell phones and dissolving into fits of giggles.  Great. Something was definitely up, and whatever it was?  Not really doing much to xanax my whole jittery thing.

            I stalked over to where Cody was slamming his own cell phone shut and flung my backpack on the table.  “Let’s see it,” I said, thrusting out my hand.

            He tried to push the phone into his pocket, but I grabbed his wrist. His cheeks flamed; he looked like a kid who’d just been caught reading porn by his mom.  “Look, why don’t you just let this go?” he said.  “I think you’ll feel better if—Hey!”

            I wrestled the phone out of his grasp and flipped it on.  “Give me a break.  I’m going to see whatever’s making everyone act all freaky sooner or later.  Let’s just get it over with.”

            He hesitated with his hand hovering over mine, but one look into my determined eyes and he caved.  “Fine.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Here.”  He pressed a few buttons.  Seconds later, a photo popped up. 

            The identity of the couple on the tiny screen didn’t register right away—only that the girl’s skirt was pushed up to her waist while her bare legs were wrapped around a guy’s back.  A naked guy.  “What the heck…?” It was then I started noticing the details.  The silver go-go boots, the white tube top.  The red hair.