King Dork

One of my better reads lately actually came from the YA section of the bookstore. King Dork highlights a year in the life of one nerdy, unpopular, imaginary-band-loving high school sophomore. By stumbling upon his late father's copy of The Catcher in the Rye, Tom Henderson sets off on a series of adventures that range from the typical to the surreal. And, true to the turmoil of fifteen year olds everywhere, Henderson obsesses about girls throughout it all. After wondering just what it is that couples actually do together (which he assumes includes "a lot of making out and groping in public, sex in cars, blow jobs in public restrooms, going to the movies, eating in restaurants, listening to the radio, arguing about trivia , and--what else?"), he presents his hope about relationships. I found this passage, as well as the entire book, charming and well worth reading, so I'm including it below:

...I have this idea, a dream really, that part of what it would mean is that the boyfriend is in his little club with the girlfriend where when one is hurt or troubled by being assailed by the cruelties of the world, the other decides not to be on the side of the world, but to join forces with the other member of the club against the world, even it's frowned upon. Even if it's a doomed scenario, even if the world is definitely gonna win. Like you're allies. The last remnant of your people. A Sex Alliance Against Society. But maybe I have it all wrong. It does sound like a quaint, far-fetched idea now that I put into words. And also overly dramatic, if something can be o.d. and q. at the same time.