Fieldwork

If you're ever working on a YA MS, and you're specifically writing a first-kiss, or first-sex, or break-up scene, and you're beginning to wonder--just every so often, from the back of your mind--if young love really was such a passionate, heart wrenching, soul-crushing, all-consuming experience (because really, who can remember?), go hang out at a college for about four hours. Because you will see some awe-inspiring love going on.

Across the hall from me right now, camped out on a wood-frame, purple-cushioned couch, is a couple, I'd say age nineteen or so, doing nothing, but leaning on each other, holding hands, using the other hand to pet the other on the arm, or leg, or face, or neck, or et cetera. They're also sharing earbuds. Neither has smiled for about an hour. But both are wearing expressions that suggest they are, indeed, Romeo and Juliet themselves.

It's pretty great. Maybe Lily's not so crazy after all.