Susan
Don’t be a chicken, Ella.
My new friend nudges me toward the Hunny Bunny Booth…
Where the lacrosse team is raising money.
They’re making tons of cash here at the spring fair…
By selling plastic Easter eggs with a surprise inside.
Some eggs are filled with candy…
Like chocolate bunnies, jellybeans, and marshmallow peeps.
But there’s an even sweeter prize in a limited number of eggs:
A coupon for a kiss from a lacrosse player.
I look at the hot guy who’s in the booth right now.
Then I sigh with longing.
I would LOVE to win a kiss from Liam Cassidy.
But I don’t dare go up to the booth to buy an egg from him.
And here’s the reason why—
I’ve actually never been kissed.
This means I’m a bonafide 17-year-old kissing virgin…
And I cannot humiliate myself by getting my first smooch in public.
Ella
Susan, let’s forget about the Hunny Bunny Booth.
Ella
I’d rather ride the Ferris wheel.
Ella
Are you coming with me?
Susan
Hey, I know you’re shy…
Susan
And you’re also the new girl in town…
Susan
So getting into the social swing is hard for you.
Susan
But this is a chance for romance with Liam!
Susan
You can’t deny that you’re into him!
Susan
I see you sitting next to him in French class…
Susan
Blushing like crazy…
Susan
Laughing at all his jokes.
Susan
So just go up to the booth…
Susan
And maybe you’ll get to enjoy a harmless little snog!
Should I reveal my secret to Susan?
No — she’ll think there’s something wrong with me.
IS there something wrong with me?
Susan
Obviously you need some encouragement.
Sending me stumbling up to the booth…
Where I come face to face with the most perfect guy alive.
Liam stares at me for a moment.
OMG, he thinks I’m an idiot.
But then his blue eyes brighten…
Liam
I was hoping you’d be here.
As I stand there stunned…
Susan slides some money onto the counter.
Susan
How many kissing eggs have you given away?
Susan
Awesome! Then Ella’s odds for winning one are great!
He’s going to think I’m desperate for some lip action.
But Liam doesn’t make a big thing out of it.
He only smiles at me again.
Liam
I think I have the perfect egg for you.
Liam
As I recall, you like purple, right?
Liam
You told me once during a conversation in French.
Liam
We were talking about favorite colors and stuff like that.
Liam gestures toward the patch of fake grass next to him.
It’s filled with colorful eggs.
He starts reaching for a purple one.
All the while, I tell myself that the odds are low that he’ll pick a kissing egg.
Please don’t pick a kissing egg!
He plucks the purple one out of the grass…
I stare at it as my nerves scream.
Please be a chocolate bunny…
Please be a chocolate bunny…
Susan
Don’t just stand there, Ella…
I realize that other lacrosse players in the booth are watching.
One of them is Axel Haney—
A total creep who leers at every girl in school.
Almost like he’s hoping I’ll win a kiss.
My heart jolts when I read the paper inside:
YOU WIN A KISS FROM YOUR LACROSSE HUNNY BUNNY!
But instead, I’m panicked.
What if I’m terrible at kissing?
What if I’m so clumsy that Liam laughs at me?
What if they ALL laugh at me?
Susan grabs the egg and reads the coupon.
The lacrosse players start chanting.
Lacrosse guys
Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
But then Liam gives me a sweet smile.
God, I wish we were alone together right now—
And I wish that a kiss meant as much to him…
As the chanting continues, Susan rests a hand on my shoulder.
Susan
Ella? Is something wrong?
But I know there’s no way out.
They’ll think something’s wrong with me.
I’ll never fit in with them.
So as my heart pounds, I lean toward Liam.
My mouth is only inches from his…
My lips tingle as I close my eyes…
My pulse pumps in time to the chants.
Lacrosse guys
KISS! KISS!
My fears finally get the best of me—
So I divert, whispering in Liam’s ear.
Ella
I’ve never kissed a guy before!
I cringe, waiting for him to laugh at me.
Expecting to see Liam looking at me like I’m a freak.
But before I can read his expression…
Axel Haney’s voice brays through the booth.
Axel
Just deflower her already!!
Liam slowly turns to his teammate.
Axel
What? I heard her whisper to you—
Axel
So I know she’s never been kissed before!
Axel
What is she — a nun?
As everyone snickers, I cringe.
I can’t even look at Liam.
He must think I’m pathetic.
Then I turn to look at Susan’s shocked face…
And I don’t feel any better.
She obviously feels bad for me.
Susan
Ella, I’m sorry. I had no idea…
Because everyone is laughing even louder now.
I wonder if Liam is one of them.
Trying to find a place where I’ll never have to see ANYONE again.
I finally stumble to a halt behind the funhouse.
Humiliation courses through me.
All I wanted was to fit in…
But now everyone knows I’m a freak.
Then I hear a voice behind me.
Is he here to say he’s sorry for me??
Liam
Ella…there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
There’s something tender in his gaze…
Liam
I told Axel and the rest of them to beat it.
Ella
But it doesn’t change the fact that they think I’m a weirdo.
Ella
Don’t you think so, too?
He rests his fingertips against my cheek…
And for a moment, everything else disappears.
Liam
I don’t think it’s weird at all to wait for the right guy.
Liam
I’m just surprised you wanted it to be *me*.
Beating hard in my chest.
Ella
You had no idea how I felt about you?
Liam
So that’s why I cheated a little bit with the egg.
He holds out the purple egg…
Showing me a dark Sharpie mark near the tip.
Liam
I marked it ahead of time…
Liam
Just so I could find it if you came to the booth.
This whole time, Liam liked me?
Wait — he STILL likes me…
Even thought I’m a dopey kissing virgin?
But as I look into his beautiful eyes…
I have a feeling that I won’t be a kissing virgin for long.
And, this time, it’s going to be perfect.
My pulse goes wild as I take his hand.
Ella
So about that kissing coupon…
Ella
Does it ever expire?
Liam
Nope. You can cash it in anytime…
Liam
Whenever you’re ready.
With a surge of emotion, I stand on my tiptoes…
And boldly throw my arms around his neck…
Bringing our lips a whisper away from each other.
It was definitely worth the wait.
