disgrace

There is something about being 13 that makes you think you know everything in the world. As far as Steve Smith is concerned, he does. Well, he knows all the important things. He knows how to make good grades, he knows how to somewhat manage his insane family, and he knows how to make his best friend of nine years laugh in the sweetest way.

There is something about being 13 that makes you feel completely lost. Steve doesn't understand a lot of things. He doesn't understand why he needs to learn history, or why his sister won't just listen to their dad, or why his father is such an ass to Greg and Terry sometimes, or why his cheeks flush everytime Snot sits too close to him on the couch.

The first time the two kiss, a mess of bumping noses, clashing teeth, and tomato red cheeks, Steve feels more confused than ever. His stomach shouldn't drop like that, his cherry red cheeks shouldn't be aching from smiling too hard and too long, and his heart shouldn't be beating so fast.

But he's 13, and he knows everything. His stomach drops because he's thinking about Lisa Silver and her mesmerizing brown eyes (or maybe they are blue?) He's smiling because Snot just made the most hilarious joke Steve's heard in a long time. His heart is beating at the speed of light because he's afraid his dad, or mom, or roger could walk into his bedroom at any minute. It's a valid fear, even with the 'please knock' sign he put up last week.