Too Close | Teen Ink

Too Close MAG

October 28, 2011
By tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
— Eugene Ionesco

As well as pretty much everything that comes out of John Green's mouth.


They were on the couch, him and her. Watching reruns of old TV shows and sitting the appropriate distance that girls and boys sit when they're not really dating – but undeniably share the same desire to release the tension and partake in a passionate exchange of facial activity with a romantic chorus swooning in the background.

You know, that distance.

Squashed on opposite ends of the coach, hands clasped tightly in their laps, eyes determinedly fixed on the screen in front of them, and each acting as if there was a man-eating lion between them.

And yet they were still too close. Why else could the girl, if she wanted to, turn her head slightly to the left and see the sweeping contours of his jaw line? The aristocratic slope of his nose? The individual splatters of freckles on said nose? And, if she looked hard enough, the soft brown hair at the nape of his neck; fuzzy and wispy at first, then growing increasingly more curly until it reached the ringlets that fell into his eyes, radiating blue from the television screen in front of him.

The girl felt a flush creeping onto her cheeks. Her eyes flickered back, forcing laughter at the joke on screen. Don't look at him again, she told herself sharply. Don't look, don't look. But her eyes disobeyed her, moving to the boy as if of their own volition.

Furtively, she surveyed the flecks of color in his eyes – eyes that were most certainly looking back at her.

She pushed herself farther into the arm of the couch. Much too close.


The author's comments:
Sometimes I like to fantasize awkward romances.

"Too Close" was similar in style to my other article I posted on Teen Ink, titled "Still Not Ginger." It has more of a fluffy feeling rather than - you know - deep and insightful. xD I think I write these to get my writing juices flowing, ultimately.

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This article has 25 comments.


on Feb. 21 2014 at 9:00 pm
Wanderlust. SILVER, Burke, Virginia
5 articles 0 photos 14 comments
your style is so cute and simplistic, yet still so detailed. it's great!

on Jul. 11 2013 at 6:55 pm
AdrianaMartinez SILVER, Goose Creek, South Carolina
7 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
Carpe Diem .

Great story, also very relatable. A lot of girls have gone through this at least once in their life. The description could not have been any more realistic. I could feel her gaze on him, and the rush you feel when you see that special someone. I liked this story a whole lot, I could really connect with it and vision it in my mind. Great job.

CountryMusic said...
on Apr. 7 2013 at 8:13 pm
CountryMusic, Dolores, Colorado
0 articles 8 photos 59 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The quietest people have the loudest minds."

This is so accurate, you must be an amazingly observant person (not to mention talented) congrats on being published in the print magazine! :D

on Apr. 5 2013 at 12:06 pm
tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
— Eugene Ionesco

As well as pretty much everything that comes out of John Green's mouth.

I'm so glad you liked it, Artgirl! Thank you! (:

on Apr. 4 2013 at 7:07 pm
IndigoElisabeth SILVER, Woodbury, New Jersey
5 articles 1 photo 171 comments

Favorite Quote:
John 1:1

Great job! I love the descriptive words and the realness of it all. It was amazing.

on Feb. 8 2013 at 7:59 am
directioner173 BRONZE, Orlando, Florida
1 article 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
its not called cheating unless you get cought!

i feel the same way sometimes!

on Dec. 23 2012 at 6:05 pm
musicluvr3 GOLD, San Diego, California
11 articles 0 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Cry. It shows you care."

Wow I have goosebumps now! I loved this so much!

on Nov. 5 2012 at 8:39 pm
LyriceMusicNote, Louisville, Kentucky
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"And so I began to run. And even though my boots did slip on the ice, I did not stumble but kept on running. And not from petty crime but towards a new world where bread was never wanting and roses grew in stone." - Bread and Roses, Too

That was like seriously well-wrtten :) 

on Nov. 2 2012 at 6:44 pm
SugarLoxez GOLD, Orlando, Florida
18 articles 2 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
\\\"No one knows who the real god is but whoever it was gave us an amazing gift..... insanity\\\" ;P

Wow! This was good!

on Oct. 9 2012 at 4:14 am
JuliaRuby SILVER, Melbourne, Other
8 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars
By Les Brown

i love this. well done!

on May. 11 2012 at 8:09 pm
_ella_herondale BRONZE, San Diego, California
4 articles 2 photos 222 comments

Favorite Quote:
"...If the Thames that ran beside them...recalled a night where the moon shone as brightly as a shilling on the same boy and girl... and thought to themselves, 'at last, the wheel comes full circle,' they kept their silence."

I so cute!!!!! I love the whole "that distance" stuff. I really liked your piece! Could u check of mine? Faceless Friend?

on May. 10 2012 at 1:23 pm
MayaBCherry SILVER, Cupertino, California
6 articles 5 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Agreed. I love that line!

on May. 10 2012 at 1:22 pm
MayaBCherry SILVER, Cupertino, California
6 articles 5 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I read this in the magazine and instantly thought, Wow! This totally describes my life! It was surprising to find a poem that had every detail that matched! "Watching old reruns", "on the couch"...so relatable!

Great job! I especially like the line: "You know, that distance". I can't get it out of my head :). (That's a good thing :)


on Apr. 27 2012 at 11:16 pm
tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
— Eugene Ionesco

As well as pretty much everything that comes out of John Green's mouth.

It's quite possible. I've been considering a whole series of these little snippets, as their quick and fun to write. (: Thanks for reading!

morghanhagan said...
on Apr. 27 2012 at 10:03 pm
morghanhagan, Colorado Springs, Colorado
0 articles 1 photo 5 comments
 I really liked it.... are you going to write more???

on Apr. 27 2012 at 8:02 pm
ashley112027 BRONZE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
"All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, and I promise you, something great will come out of it."

Yeah... The boy I was sitting with likes me and I like his older brother sooo.... His older brother was sitting on the couch across the room from me so it was kinda akward... I love your writing though... You should keep up the good work

on Apr. 27 2012 at 6:05 pm
tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
— Eugene Ionesco

As well as pretty much everything that comes out of John Green's mouth.

Awh, that's great that you could relate, Ashley! Hopefully, unlike the two characters, you had the guts to act on those feelings! xD Glad you liked it!

on Apr. 27 2012 at 5:58 pm
tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
— Eugene Ionesco

As well as pretty much everything that comes out of John Green's mouth.

Thank you, amandaxloren! Glad you liked it!

on Apr. 27 2012 at 5:49 pm
tianna-alexa BRONZE, Minden, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.
— Eugene Ionesco

As well as pretty much everything that comes out of John Green's mouth.

Thank you!! I just found out today, actually, and positively screamed. I STILL can't believe it.

amandaxloren said...
on Apr. 27 2012 at 12:29 pm
amandaxloren, Grandville, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
Really good.