Excerpt: Something Less Than Ecstasy

"Somebody’s gonna get it tonight! Somebody’s gonna get it tonight!" The boy, a big boy, hands in fists, was headed right for Elle and her new best friend Noah. Elle and Noah were leaning against the bar. The boy had cake on his face.

"Whoa, cowboy," said Noah to the boy. "Good cake?"

"What's it to you?" said the boy.

"I made the fucking cake," said Noah, lying. "I'm taking a poll. You like it or not?"

"I hardly got to taste it," said the boy.

"Miss you mouth?" asked Elle.

The boy glared at her.

"You've got some cake ... right there," said Elle, brushing at her own face.

George continued to glare.

"You need to cool off," said Noah. "Need a ginger ale?"

"Like I need a hole in the head," said the boy. "Ginger Ale gives me the squirts. Roy Rogers. Lots of syrup. Stat."

While Noah ordered up the kid's drink, Elle asked him his name.

"George Herbert Walker Vacca," said the boy.

"How old are you," Noah asked, handing him his drink.

"Twelve," said George. "Almost twelve. Obviously not old enough for my mom let me have my own piece of cake."

"I made more than enough cake for everyone," said Noah. "I'll get you a piece."

"Forget it," said George. "Can you hand me a cocktail napkin, please?"

Elle handed him a wad of napkins. George snatched them from her with hands sticky with frosting. The boy alternately used the napkins and his tongue to remove the webs of frosting from between his fingers.

"Kid, you're an animal," said Noah. "This situation is beyond grisly."

"Horrific to the extreme," said Elle.