Testing, Testing, One Two Three

I thought I'd try out writing a scene from my new book. Man, there's nothing like the new idea thrill--figuring out the plot, fleshing out characters, creating the world you'll spend the next sixty- or seventy-thousand words in. Fun, fun stuff. This is an experimental scene from my as-yet-unnamed book, which I am currently--and creatively--referring to as...Unnamed.

Liz stood facing the stall, hands firmly on her hips. "No, you may not take the horses out tonight. I don't care if you want to. I don't care if they want to! We've got an early morning group coming tomorrow, and I won't have time to brush all of the knots out of their manes. I said no!" Her shoulders dropped, and she gave an exasperated sigh. "Oh, don't be like that. Come on, I'll give you extra milk--warm, with cinnamon in it!"

She jumped as she heard a voice from the stable doors. "Um, Beth? Who are you talking to?"

Oh crap, she thought. Sam. Her face was totaly blank as she looked into his curious eyes. After a moment's pause, she scowled deliberately. "Who do you think I'm talking to, dork?" She cringed slightly when his face fell. Stupid, she chided herself. Why'd you have to call him that, of all things?

He stood up straighter, setting his jaw. This was new--usually he shied away from confrontation. "I don't know; maybe you still have your little imaginary friends."

Liz was about to reply when she felt a sharp poke in her shoulder. "Ouch!" she cried.

Sam looked confused, then lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings."

"No, it's not that," she replied, when they jabbed her again, even harder. "Stop it!" she yelled, turning toward the horse's stall. "Fine!"

She turned back to Sam, who was clearly starting to worry. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Not imaginary. Just mythological." Shaking her head, she muttered, "Happy now?" out of the side of her mouth.

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked, raising his eyebrows skeptically.

Liz looked at him, then cocked her head to the side. "Hey! You're not wearing your glasses!" she said, noticing for the first time. Funny, she had never realized what thick eyelashes he had around his large brown eyes. Maybe she only noticed now because he was blinking so slowly, trying to follow her string of nonsense. Stupid pixies, she thought. Rapid subject change was her only way out now. "Hey, let's go make some hot chocolate, okay?" She smiled cheerfully at Sam, who still seemed dubious, but shrugged and turned to go back to the house. As soon as he was leaving, Liz quickly leaned back into the stall. "No riding tonight, guys, I mean it!" she hissed, then hurried after Sam, hoping he wouldn't bring this up again.