Quick! How does one who's never been kissed write a first kiss?

Okay, so I'm trying to write Tre and Nora's first actual kiss in Stuck. Problem is, I'm one of those who doesn't know what it's like to actually be kissed yet. Can you guys tell me how to do this without seeming awkward? It's Tre's first but not Nora's.

Sorry if I seem a bit dorky for asking.

"So, you broke your glasses with my scissors, huh?" Nora asked.

"Yeah. I said, sighing as I opened up the bag. For whatever reason I started taking the pieces out of the bag and put what was left of them on my face.

"I think it was just because I was mad. Blind rage, you know? No pun intended." I layered the last of the pieces, and soon enough my eyes looked like a diaspora of green plastic bits of Blindsided Shade.

"I know the feeling. Anger, then sadness. It happens." She plopped onto the bed next to me. "You know you look like a total idiot, right?"

I raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Do I?" I said, cracking a smile as I did.

"So, are we okay?" I asked, brushing the plastic off of my face. I was surprised to see her face when I sat myself up. "I think we might be more than that, Listman."

Nora leaned in toward me. At first, I didn't get the sign, but soon enough I did, and I did the same.

What happened next was strange. (-insert kiss here-)

So, how would I go about doing this?

edited 15th Nov '10 4:54:24 PM by Tre

I'd say for realism it should be a comically poor attempt. ...Or So I Heard.

Obviously, my first kiss was perfect angels and butterflies, and at no point did she stop and go "K. Seriously?"

Are they going lips to lips or open?

They might not actually do a 'smooch' they might just press their lips together not too sure what to do, and not make any actual kissing actions.

If you're really concerned about it, (complete noob at the subject matter here, by the way) you can always do the "music up and pan to the window" ellipsis. You can always go do field research and revise later.

AHR's is a good one. if you want it to be romantic, it should be a little shivery and exciting, right at first, but one of them should kiss a little long while the other is wondering if ti would be rude if they pulled away yet. My first kisses (all of them) were perfect, so I don't really know what awkward is like. I know. Lucky.

Bah! You people and your sissy kisses. I go straight for the jugular!

^ They're both 14, I doubt they'd want to do that yet. Eww.

But, yeah, I think I'm gonna go the realistic approach (an oddity, as this is Stuck we're talkin' bout) and make them not get it right at first, but after 2 attempts they do.

@Tre: 14 is pretty old. I know kids who were not virgins and active under age 13.

^14's not that old if you're sufficiently nerdy. My first kiss happened at 12 but i didn't get kissed again till 17.

True, but 14 is certainly past the squick area, and where most kids are in hormones full swing.

Really? I'm 14 now and the most I've got is just liking someone. Maybe I'm just that unattractive, or people are jerks. Oh, well.

So, I'm taking the plunge and I'm going to try to write it. Here we go.

-results to be seen later-

@Tre: Yeah, I was similar. Most people's hormones work differently. Try to keep that in mind as you write it. Some won't think of sex at all, others will already have it on their mind 24/7.

I'm 19 and never been kissed. I must be nerdier than the lot of you.

I think, if I ever have to write a first kiss, I'll just go for a cliche-storm and hope it works.

Well, here we go.

I tried to press my lips onto hers, but she ended up inadvertently covering mine while her eyes were shut. "Mmmf! Mmmmmf!" I yelled frantically, but nothing happened. Suddenly, Nora opened her eyes and jerked back from me.

"That didn't go the way it should've!" I exclaimed. After that, I started hyperventilating.

"Are you okay?" she asked, wiping her mouth off.

"Yeah, I'm, fine." I panted, breathing in between them. Once I got ahold of myself I laid back on the bed. "Sorry." I said, sighing.

"Not like it was your fault." she said, laying back with me.

"Okay, for dignity reasons that doesn't count as my first kiss." I said.

"You've never been kissed?" Nora asked, surprised.

"Well, besides what just happened, no." I blinked unflinchingly as I stated this. "That's probably not the case with you."

"Well, I've had one..." she said, turning away from me.

"From who?"

"That isn't important. Hey, do you..."

She turned back to me. "...want to try again?" she finished.

"Ummm..." I looked at her, and her pale green eyes gazed at me like searchlights. "I dunno. Maybe it might not be such a good idea to—"

Before I could finish I found myself in another kiss with her, and this time it actually didn't feel weird. Nope, it was... different. For one thing, it didn't seem awkward, and my mouth was open. No tongue though. That's just nasty. I was taken by surprise at first, but soon I eased into it, and then after a good 10 seconds or so we detached.

"Okay, THAT is the one that'll count." I said. "Wow. That was..."

"Was what?" she asked.

"Awesome. At least, for me."

"Well, I thought it was pretty cool too." We both smiled at each other before she got up. "Let's go and get food or something, Mr. Pilgrim."

"Shut up!" I said. "Besides, you're certainly one to talk, Buffy."

So, thoughts?

edited 16th Nov '10 7:10:01 PM by Tre

14 is fairly old; I lost my virginity at 14. It really depends on where you're from (or they're from) and how those things are looked upon there.

I'm fairly sure 13-year old nonvirgins are outliers. I'm an outlier too, though. Twenty two, never held hands with a girl seriously.

BOW TO MY NERD CRED

Thing is kisses can be anything from completely magical to awkward and uncomfortable. I'd venture to say most people's first kisses are probably the latter. I'd say what you've got down so far looks pretty good though.

Anyway, I'm going to have a similar issue with regards to writing about things I've never experienced in my book.

edited 18th Nov '10 12:51:12 AM by Surenity

Most of the pre sixteen year old nonvirgins are thanks to abuse. Not saying that all the sex they've had has been abusive (discounting statutory rape), but generally the first experience was.

At least, that's my personal knowledge.

I want to disagree, the kids I've seen, one could make a case for a form of abuse, but not sexual abuse.

But that's from what I've seen in highschool. So it's very anecdote-ish.

How does someone who's never murdered write a murder? I'm not seeing the problem here.

Thing is kisses can be anything from completely magical to awkward and uncomfortable. I'd venture to say most people's first kisses are probably the latter.

THIS.

@Lizard: By doing research, I would assume.

@AHR: yeah, likewise — anecdote-ish, and reliant on the accuracy of what's reported too.

You: Hey (friend who has kissed someone before)! What was your first kiss like?
Friend: (tells story)

Repeat until you have a suitable range of experiences.

How does someone who's never murdered write a murder? I'm not seeing the problem here.

The difference is that virtually none of the readers have probably murdered someone, whereas most of them have probably kissed someone.

A compromise route can be to make the kiss be really awkward (from a hypothetical third party's perspective), but seem really awesome to them.

My first kiss was pretty good, but then, I was 17.