[ WP ] An excerpt from the most cliché young adult novel

I was in fourth grade when it happened. The teacher, Mrs. Hopkins, was calling roll. It was the first day of class so we were all a bit jittery. I waited for my name to be called, subconsciously repeating here, here, here. I didn ’ t want to look stupid on the first day, right. My name is Andrew Zelfor, so I ’ m always the last name to be called. 
 
 “ Andrew Zelfor? ”, the teacher called out. 
 
 “ Here, ” I replied. 
 
 “ Tiffany Zolten? ”, her voice rang out again. 
 
 “ Present, ” came the reply from behind me. A pleasant feminine voice. I turned in my chair, surprised that someone ’ s name came after mine. And that was the first time I saw her. 
 
 
 Gainesbrook was a small city. It consisted of a couple neighborhoods, a library, a small shopping center, and a few restaurants. Of course, we had schools, too. Most everyone went to Gainesbrook High, but there were a few who went out of town to a private school. But my story keeps us right here in the city. 
 
 After I saw Tiffany for the first time in fourth grade, I started to have a crush on her. I couldn ’ t tell anyone of course because she was a girl and girls are stupid, so I kept it to myself. It festered and grew until I had to do something. So what does a 10 year old do when he likes a girl? He makes fun of her and teases her. Naturally, that didn ’ t help me, so I was left to my own devices. 
 
 We ’ re in 11th grade now. Tiffany is still in some of my classes and whenever roll is being called, she ’ s always right after me with her feminine voice calling out “ Present! ”. Her ’ s is the only one in a chorus of ‘ here ’ s and effortless grunts. She sits in the front of the class, thick rimmed glasses perched on her slender nose, short brown hair, tucked behind her ear, and she ’ s beautiful. She ’ s been beautiful since fourth grade, she ’ s beautiful now, and shell be beautiful for years to come. 
 
 “ Hey! Asscrack! ” My eloquent friend, ladies and gentlemen, Rob Dorris, pulling me out of my thoughts with yet another charming call. 
 
 “ What ’ s up, ” I asked. 
 
 “ Are you coming over tonight or are you gon na stare and Tiffany forever? ” 
 
 Jeff, another friend of mine, began to guffaw like a donkey, getting Mr. Wooley ’ s attention and my retort was cut short. They knew I liked Tiffany but they didn ’ t get it. They always said her body wasn ’ t “ banging ” enough or something of that nature. 
 It was more than that though. She was smart, and she was modest and respectful. She was timid and quiet. She read books while the other girls gossiped. She wasn ’ t the type of girl you just get with for the sake of getting with. She ’ s the kind of girl you can have a conversation with, take out to dinner and pick her brain. At the same time, she was witty and funny. Every time I talked to her, she ’ d leave a smile on my face. 
 
 “ If you boys are finished with your shenanigans, ” said Mr. Wooley, “ I ’ d like to continue. ” 
 
 English class dragged on, with Mr. Wooley going off about how Shakespeare alluded to this and alliterated that. We were doing Hamlet. I wasn ’ t caught up but I could always Sparknote it at home. 
 
 Later that night, over Mountain Dew and Call of Duty, I got another ribbing from Rob and John. 
 
 “ Bro, you know that Shannon wants you! Just hit that! ” said John. 
 
 “ How about, ” I said as I sniped him from a rooftop, “ I don ’ t. ” I put down my controller. “ And that ’ s your third loss of the night so you lost your right to talk. ” 
 
 “ But in all seriousness, prom is coming up. ” Rob reminded me. “ Just ask her, dude. You ’ ve been crushing on this chick for years. ” 
 
 I nodded as though I hadn ’ t been thinking that for the past two weeks. She was single, I was single. It would work perfectly, if I could just ask, and she could just say yes. 
 
 The night went by and the Mountain Dew flowed. By midnight, I was getting up to leave. Brushing pizza crumbs off my lap I said, “ I ’ m thinking about doing it. You know, asking Tiffany. ” 
 
 “ Oh yeah. You have to, man ” Rob said. “ Right? ” he asked John slapping him on the leg. 
 
 “ Wha-? Oh yeah, bro, definitely. Sure ” he said, looking up from his phone screen. 
 
 “ Alright, I ’ ll see you guys tomorrow. ” I told them with a slight chuckle. 
 
 I strode to my car, and got in. I pulled out my phone and glanced at it. Three missed calls from my mom. I texted her that I was on my way home, and pulled out of the driveway. 
 
 It was a short drive home. I pulled into my driveway, put it into park, and got out. Getting my house key out was a bit difficult in the dark. Unlocking the door, I walked in trying to stay silent. Tip toeing up the stairs, I got into my room and threw myself onto my bed. 
 
 Come on. You have to do this, I thought. Tomorrow. 
 
 I got changed into a pair of shorts and went to the bathroom. Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I judged my features. 
 
 “ Not too shabby, ” I muttered to myself, rubbing my jaw. A little stubble was growing on my face. I decided to leave it there. My eyes traveled down to my chest. It wasn ’ t muscular, that ’ s for sure, matching my narrow shoulders. At six feet, I was a bit lanky. “ Need to start doing push ups, though, ” I said under my breath. I brushed my teeth and went to bed. 
 
 The next morning, I had to look good. Instead of a t-shirt, I put on a blue button down, and a pair of khakis. A couple of sprays of cologne and I was good to go. I was sitting at the kitchen table eating cereal when my mom came down. 
 
 “ Oh, who ’ s this handsome young man? ” she said with a smile. “ Is there a girl I should know about? ” she asked. 
 
 “ No, mom, ” I said with a chuckle. “ Just wanted to look good. ” 
 
 “ What happened to that girl you always teased in grade school? What was her name, Tracy? ” she said. 
 
 “ Tiffany, and nothing, ” I said getting out of my chair to leave for school. I glanced at my mom who had a knowing smile in her face. I gathered my stuff and walked out the door. I had a couple of things to do before school. 
 
 Thirty minutes later, I rushed to my locker. Tiffany ’ s was right across the hall from mine so I knew I would see her. I was ready. I took a deep breath looked around, and there she was. 
 
 T-minus 15 seconds, I thought to myself. You got this. 
 
 Wiping my sweaty palms on my pants, I walked towards her. Heart pounding in my ears, and my throat clenching, I knew the last seven years had led to this moment. By the time I reached her locker, she was already putting books into it from her bag. I stood to her right, her brown hair shielding her eyes. 
 
 “ Tiffany? ” I said. It was probably more of a mumble but I got it out. 
 
 “ Oh, hey Andrew! ” she said, flashing me one of her signature smiles. 
 “ I know this is cheesy, but- ” I said opening the pizza box I had bought before school. 
 Inside was a pizza with pepperoni written into PROM? 
 
 “ Oh, god! ” she said laughing at my corny joke. “ Wow, Andrew you really outdid yourself, ” she continued still chortling at my attempt. 
 
 I locked eyes with her, hers a stormy gray, hoping, wishing that she would say what I wanted to hear. 
 
 “ Yes, I would love to, ” she finally answered. 
 
 **Sorry about the formatting, I dont really know how to do it''
