Roadtrip Wed/Fanfiction memories

This week's post at YA Highway is about the real YA--the things you wrote back when you were actually YA. While I don't have a diary from back then, I do have fanfiction. It just so happened to be one of my obsessions--the reason I became addicted to writing. The only thing I wrote for? Harry Potter. Sure I've browsed a few Twilight ones a few years back, not to mention the World of Warcraft one that I started writing about a sexy blood elf named Kael'thas--mainly out of humor at my guy friend's reactions--but my first fanfic love was Harry Potter.

This week I dug through my fanfic folder to scavenge up a piece from the past, just so happening to be a Ginny POV version of John Tucker Must Die, only, exchange John Tucker for Draco Malfoy. Completely untouched. *blows dust off*

I am such a nerd. Don't judge me :P

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It had been three months into the school year. I had finally gotten the hang of being a waitress and had I been paying attention to where I was going, I would have thought that I no longer looked like a new employee, but that was if I had been paying attention. One nasty turn around a corner and I had smacked directly into a tall stranger. The food on the tray I had been carrying toppled to the ground and I let out a gasp of surprise as I looked up at the stranger, preparing to apologize profusely. I met gorgeous gray eyes and the lightest sliver-blond hair. I may not like him, but every girl had to admit that his presence made them weak in the knees.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach and I stuttered for words. “I—I’m—uh.”

Draco Malfoy did not smile, but at the same time, didn’t seem aggravated. In fact, he was neutral.

“I’m sorry,” he stated blandly.

Did he even know who I was? Who ever thought that Draco Malfoy would apologize to anyone, let alone to a Weasley?

Still at a loss for words, I simply nodded and bent down to pick up the mess on the floor. I watched as he stepped around me to continue walking. I checked over my shoulder to see if he was watching me, but he strode forward without a backwards glance.

I huffed indignantly. Didn’t I deserve more than a weak apology for the embarrassment I now had to deal with?

My manager, Gina, marched over. She enlightened me about the mess I had caused and the damage I made to the dishes. I only vaguely paid attention to what she was saying. I was too busy thinking about Malfoy and what an arrogant git he was. Was I really that upset about a mess that I had made a million times before?

It was soon taken care of and I continued doing what I had been doing before. It was only until I came to the table in the very back corner of the room that I noticed who the occupants were. Draco Malfoy was the first one I noticed. The butterflies returned and wished that I had a bug zapper in there. The next person, however startled me. It was none other than Cho Chang.

I guess I couldn’t really be surprised. Once Malfoy had been "redeemed" by joining the Order, girls of all ages and types flocked to him like vultures to a carcass.

I accidentally dropped the menus in surprise and bent down to retrieve them. They stared at me for a moment as I struggled to find my voice.

“Hi,” was the most that would come out and probably the stupidest.

Cho gave me the fake smile and looked over to Draco, who had one eyebrow raised handsomely so.

I blinked several times and cleared my head. “Hello, I’m Ginny and I’ll be your waitress. Is there anything I can start you off with?”

Draco looked down the menu and ordered something instantly. “We’ll have the prawns and calamari to start, followed by two steaks—medium rare—and the Soup of the Day.”

Cho looked offended. “Draco, I can’t eat anything like that. I’ll get fat!”

Draco put his hand on hers. “I think you’re beautiful no matter what you look like.”

That was the correct answer because at the moment he said the word beautiful, Cho had decided to, for lack of a better term, maul Draco over the table.

It was the most awkward moments of my life and I quietly and slowly backed away, using the menus to shield my eyes.

“I’ll be right back with that,” muttered to the snogging couple, though I doubt I got a word in.

Sexy Baddies and Road Trip Wed

This post was spurred by a convo between me and Kristin and our love for dangerous guys.

What is it about the sexy villain--the guy we KNOW is evil--that just pulls us in further? When it comes to attractive, mysterious, subtly evil male villains, it's like we swallowed a huge magnet, pulling us unwillingly towards towards him. So what is it?

I like to think that girls are attracted to evil, handsome guys because of the redemption factor, the What-if-I-could-save-him-and-turn-him-good-again. But when he's actually good, we lose a bit of interest. It's the bait they offer, the thrill of the chase.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with the good guy. Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games is a freaking doll--hands down my favorite male book character. But nice characters, with me, sometimes get the shaft when a brooding, charming villain is introduced. Take Draco Malfoy for example. For the most part, I was obsessed. The dark, sisister, and angsty aura that followed around him was like a freakin drug. Cue reading fanfiction, cue browsing fanart, cue writing fanfiction. I stumbled upon Cassandra Clare's Draco Trilogy years and years ago before she even had an agent, fell in love with her characters, plots, descriptions. She managed to capture Draco in a sense that I think would fit him. We never really got a good look at his character, never delved inside his head, but it was always fun to imagine.

I'll cut it short here and move onto Road Trip Wed so I don't bore everyone...or make it insanely long :D

What are the three best books you've read this year?

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I have to put this one on my list, being that this is my favorite book series tied with Harry Potter. Peeta was adorable, Katniss was brilliant, mean cliffie ending--I loved it all!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. One of the most beautifully written, tear-jerking, adorable books I've ever read. There was laughing, tears, anger--everything. After the last roadtrip Wed, I had to *facepaw* myself for forgetting another crush on the list: Clay. The more I read about his inner dialogue or how he felt about a certain person or people, I more I loved his character.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. At the encouragement of my best friend, Sarah, I finally caved and bought the series. While I am stile finishing Pretties (because I've been more obsessed with writing than reading, which I suppose it good :D) I fell instantly in love with the first of the trilogy. The title is deceiving, showing no signs of the epicness and action that lay between the covers. I was pleasantly impressed with everything about it

If you could meet one author (living or dead), who would it be?

I know these are going to sound completely generic, but it's a toss up between J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkein. I honestly can't choose who because these two authors are responsible for so much. Harry Potter was the reason that I loved to read. I picked up the first book in sixth grade, 11 years ago, a year after the first book was published. This was a series that I literally grew up with. It got me started on reading and writing fanfiction--helping me to decide that I loved to write.

J.R.R. Tolkein taught me to create a world bigger than my own, to conjure up stories of magic and good triumphing over evil.

Without these two authors, I wouldn't be where I am today. They literally changed my life.

What book are you most looking forward to in 2010?

Hunger Games (Book 3) is a given, so I'll post another one, which is Kody Keplinger's The DUFF. I'm very excited for her and to read her book. She's an amazing writer and I can't wait for her book to hit the shelves.

Well, I suppose that should wrap up this long blog post. Guess I'm just making up for lack of blog postage :D

Crushcrushcrush

And no I don't mean the super catchy Paramore song.
YA Highway asked the question, "Who are your fictional crushes?" and because I love a question to rant about my loves, this post is dedicated to all those nerdy, mysterious, I-just-want-to-pounce-on-you dream boys from YA novels. The type of oh-so-adorable guys who could make my heart melt in one minute and then explode from frustrating/irritating/so damn cute it's almost nauseating moments. Prepare yourselves for this :)

*WARNING* There's a few spoilers here. Just a heads up for those who don't want some of the books ruined.
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1.) Peeta Mellark - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Blond, cunning, and willing to do anything to protect the girl. What is not to like?! I grew an immediate attachment from the moment Katniss recalls how he had given her the strength to keep living with just a simple loaf of bread. The bruise and the reprimanding didn't steer him away from his need to help her then, it certainly didn't throughout the rest of the book. He remains a knight in shining armor without the leading lady even realizing that he meant every word he had ever spoken and all moves he had ever made.

It was bad enough trying to see through the hearts pounding in my eyes every time I read about him; I can only imagine how worse it will get once the movie (Screenplay written by Suzanne Collins herself! *squeeeeeee*) comes out in 2011.

Quote: "Maybe not that long," says Peeta. "What was that you were saying just before the food arrieved? Something about me...no competition...best thing that ever happened to you..."

"I don't remember that last part," I say, hoping it's too dim in here for the cameras to pick up my blush.

"Oh, that's right. That's what I was thinking," he says. "Scoot over, I'm freezing."

2.) Ian O'Shea - The Host by Stephenie Meyer

So I know that it's technically an adult novel, but for some reason, my brain reads YA. Maybe because the MC-host Melanie, in the flashbacks, is 17. A crush is a crush right?

What's funny about this crush, is he tried to kill the MC-alien--which I take as a symbol of love. He wasn't just choking the life from her, he was doing it with love and compassion. In all honestly, he quickly became my favorite character in the book, and most likely the series with SM finishes the next two books. Fear can make people do strange things, like attempt to strangle the half-alien, but only acceptance can make him love her. The book had a lot of messages, good messages about sacrificing anything for the ones you love, accepting and understanding what you are afraid of, and admitting that you were wrong. This book has it all, and so does Ian. To watch his character turn from an asshat to the most sincere person in the entire camp is a fun transition. I find that every time I read The Host, I crush even more.

Quote:He nuzzled his face against mine until he found my lips, then he kissed me, slow and gentle, the flow of molten rock swelling languidly in the dark at the center of the earth, until my shaking slowed.

3.) Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy - Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

This decision was too difficult. I adore Ron, who has always been a fictional crush since the middle of the first book. The comic relief, awkward schoolboy, and has "the emotional range of a teaspoon," his personality had me dying to read more. There were so many moments when I just wanted to smack him over the head, wanted to *facepalm* at some of the things he did, but all the same, I couldn't ever hate him, or stay mad for long. Just a cute redhead with a boyishness charm.

Quote: "...from now on, I don't care if my tea leaves spell 'die, Ron, die.' I'm chucking them in the bin where they belong."

On the other hand, despite all of the cruelty and taunting he gives, there is something about Draco Malfoy that just grabs me, reeling me in. Completely mysterious, dark, and brooding--we all see him joining the Death Eaters. But wait! Do I see redemption in the future? Is my psycho fangirl crush not completely psycho after all? We never really get a deep look into his character, which is a shame in my opinion, but we do see this unexpected side of him in the sixth and seventh book. Angsty and proud with a hint of sarcasm and insecurity. Don't worry, I'd be happy to take him under my wing ;)

Quote: "Azkaban - the wizard's prison, Goyle. Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backwards."

4.) Cabel Strumheller - Wake by Lisa McMann

What's hot about a nerd-gone-popular who is actually still a nerd? Everything. There were many things I enjoyed about Wake like the language, which captured teenagers very well. The premise was interesting, the first-person present was bearable. But those things didn't keep me reading. It was definitely the secretly attractive Cabel. Mysterious, intriguing, heartbreaking--you got it all with him. You also got his caring, his compassion, his understanding. While Janie struggles with a life she never asked for, in a world she believes really doesn't care, her path wanders into that of Cabel, the person who will love her unconditionally, who--without even knowing what was going on--sheltered her, held her numb hands, shooed away anyone who was curious.
Plus, he ends up being an undercover cop. *fans self* 'Nuff said :)

Quote: She feels like crying, and she does, a little. She closes her eyes and doesn't move. Can't move. The tears leak out. Cabel wipes her cheeks gently with his thumb.
That makes her cry harder.

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And that, ladies and gents, is my fangirl crushes, in order of my favorites. *sighs dreamily* And I can go visit them any day that I want.