“Write a letter to a fictional couple.”

Dear Millie Ostermeyer and Chase Albright,


I first read about y’all in July of 2014. I picked you up from the new book collection to read about the mystery of Coach Killdare, and how he was murdered. But when I finished this book (in one sitting, I might add) it wasn’t the murderer who stayed in my mind for months on end-it was you guys.


Millie, in a world of characters whose main goals are to get into a college far, far away from home or star in movies, you stood out. You were clearly more intelligent than most of the characters (your biggest turn-on with Chase was his high-level vocabulary, for pete’s sake!), but you had no interest in college, claiming that everyone else was just “peaking too soon.” You wanted to backpack across the world and eat a sixty-ounce steak while everyone else was planning their way to Ivy-league schools and football scholarships. As someone who secretly wishes they were bold enough to skip out on college, I respect that. Plus, even though you had the classic rivalry with the popular girl, it wasn’t because you secretly wanted to be popular (you hate cheerleaders) or you used to be besties with her and now you’re not (because you guys were NEVER friends), but because you were more creative than her and people noticed. She wanted to choke the creativity out of you, and you wouldn’t let her. That’s what I loved about you.


(Also, as much as Chase made fun of you for your...lack of French speaking abilities-when you said “gracias” to Mademoiselle Beamish, I couldn’t breathe, I was laughing so hard-I totally can relate flailing in an upper level language class, even though a lot of other reviewers couldn’t.)


And Chase? I fell in love with you (sorry, Millie) and I hated myself for it. Why? Because I usually hate bad boys. They’re so cliche, and as a Wattpadian who sees hundreds of horribly cliched “bad boy” books every day, I’ve sworn to myself that I’d never fall for a bad boy. Yet I fell hopelessly hard for you-harder than I have for any book character (though Augustus Waters is a close second). Over the months, I’ve considered why. Was it because you were described as being hot? (It wasn’t; I usually find the “hot” description bland and overused.) Was it because you vaguely reminded me of the real-life guy I liked at the time, who had a similar mysterious air to him? (It wasn’t; after I found out The Boy IRL was actually kind of an ass, I still found you attractive.) Was it because of your vocabulary? (Partially, but that wasn’t the only reason.) Or was it the fact that you


I don’t think I’ll even know why I’m so attracted to you, Chase, but the truth is, even with your horrible decisions in the past, I think you’re not only a fantastically developed character but also a really attractive one too. Maybe I’ll meet someone like you in real life, but in the meantime, I’ll continue rereading BuzzKill, secretly hoping for a sequel and wishing you and Millie the best.


Love,

T

“What are your thoughts on reading or writing books in non-novel formats? Are there any you’ve particularly enjoyed?” 

“How does music relate to your writing?” 

If you knew, knew
what the bluebirds sang
at you, you
would never sing along

Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
  All in the morning betime,
 And I a maid at your window,
  To be your Valentine.
 Then up he rose, and donned his clothes,
  And dupped the chamber door.
 Let in the maid that out a maid
  Never departed more.

By Gis and by Saint Charity,
  Alack, and fie, for shame!
 Young men will do ’t, if they come to ’t.
  By Cock, they are to blame.
 Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me,
  You promised me to wed.”
 He answers,
 “So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
  An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

1. A high-school senior (Mae Whitman) sets out to reinvent herself and revolutionize the student body's social order after learning that a judgmental classmate has given her an embarrassing nickname.