Novel Excerpt: The Crown: Ascension
Here's the first chapter of Hannibal Tabu's debut novel. The basics? Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, girl turns out to be 8,500 years old ... much hilarity ensues.
Tonya stood at the front of the storefront Indian restaurant, looking up and down Melrose. She pulled her gauzy wrap around her, more out of nervousness than any sense of chill in the balmy early evening. She looked down at herself -- her mango colored skirt brushing the bottom half of her knee, her favorite white turtleneck clinging in all the right places, and wondered why the story wasn't over yet.
James pulled up in his gray Volvo -- which was still a good car, though it had seen better days -- and hit his hazards. Before she could get to the passenger door, he'd rushed out, forcing a Trans Am to swerve and honk angrily, and come over to open her door. Smiling, she took his hand and let him guide her into the car, closing the door behind her.
A few moments and another honking horn blast or two and they were on their way west down Melrose towards the Beverly Center. Tonya nervously fidgeted in her seat as James tuned the radio into KJLH for some soothing sounds.
"I wasn't too long, getting the car, was I?" James asked, smiling eagerly at her. Tonya felt something inside melting under his sweet attention, and shook her head.
"You were only gone a couple of minutes," she said quietly. "Besides, after what the valet did to my clutch last time, you were probably right to do it this way."
James grinned as he leaned back in the black leather seat. "Well, I figured that you've been nice enough to go out with me three times already, and you don't seem like you wanna kick me to the curb, plus you totally vibed on the chicken jalfrezi ... what's a little sacrifice on my behalf?"
Tonya nodded, staring at her hands.
James let a moment pass, with Luther testifying to how amazing it is to be loved, and then asked, " You're not gonna kick me to the curb, are you?"
Tonya looked up quizzically.
"It's just that ... I mean, we've had so much fun -- the picnic last week, where you hit me in the head with the frisbee three times, you know. I thought we were connecting. Tonight, you've just been kind of ... quiet."
Tonya licked her lips to gain a moment to deliberate. "You're right, and I'm sorry," she offered. "I'm not gonna 'kick you to the curb' or anything. I'm quiet because I really, really like you ... even after I made you watch that horrible
House of Yes movie, you're still a lot of fun and really nice and so handsome ..."
"I'm sensing a disturbing conjunction slipping up on me," James said, more worried than joking.
Tonya considered her next statement carefully. "You're the first guy I've dated ... well, in a long time. I'm just ... scared. This is going so well, and it makes me nervous."
James pondered this, his eyes on traffic, rubbing his goatee thoughtfully. "Lemme get this straight," he began slowly. "You like me, which makes me so happy to hear, we get along, we have fun, we can overcome even a movie as terrible as
The House of Yes, and you're freaking out ... because you're happy?"
Tonya's eyes connected with his, an electric tingle going through her as she caught the gaze of his deep brown eyes, and nodded.
The car was quiet for a moment, and then James stifled a chuckle. The chuckle, however, was awfully determined and charged out of his mouth as a full-fledged laugh.
"What ... don't laugh at me!" Tonya half-heartedly protested, starting to chuckle herself. "I'm opening myself up here! Come on!"
James' hilarity managed to settle down to smirking amusement as he returned, "You gotta admit, that sounds pretty goofy. 'Oh, being happy makes me nervous!' C'mon, dawg, admit it."
Tonya smiled sheepishly, looked away and nodded.
"You're totally feelin' me, aren't you?" James grinned.
Tonya's smile widened, and she nodded again.
"All it took was a little of the ol' Edwards magic," James said smugly, tugging on the collar of his tan blazer. "And a head that's highly resistant to impact."
Tonya burst into laughter, and James joined her, both enjoying the time and the company and the banter. Wiping her eyes, Tonya started to settle down and just turned to watch his profile.
James noticed her and smiled, patting her knee.
Tonya thought to herself,
I can't believe I'm feeling this way. Spirit, please, don't let this go wrong.
"Whatcha thinkin'?" James asked.
Tonya smiled demurely and looked down to her lap. "Nothing," she answered. "Just happy to be here."
| continue to part four | index |
