Summary

In Chapter 1, “Right now,” Neon Benton stands in the mirror and talks to his girlfriend Aria Wright’s dog Denzel Jeremy Washington about what is happening. He and Aria are about to have sex for the first time and Neon is nervous. They have planned the occasion but he is unsure he is ready. He did not know his “fingers would tingle” or his “face would burn” (5). He also did not know that Aria would look so good.

Worried that he is keeping Aria waiting in her room across the hall, Neon reminds himself he wants to be with her. Suddenly afraid he smells bad, his skin is ashy, and he will mess something up, he cannot get himself to move. Then he reminds himself that he and Aria love each other. He imagines what would happen if this were a movie, realizing...