I had been kissed once by someone I liked. His name was…
““I had been kissed once by someone I liked. His name was Ray and he was Indian. He had an accent and was dark. I wasn't supposed to like him. Clarissa called his large eyes, with their half closed lids, "freak-a-delic," but he was nice and smart and helped me cheat on my algebra exam while pretending he hadn't. He kissed me by my locker the day before we turned in our photos for the yearbook. When the yearbook came out at the end of the summer, I saw that under his picture he had answered the standard "My heart belongs to" with "Susie Salmon." I guess he had had plans. I remember his lips were chapped.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A brief, bittersweet recollection of a secret school crush that ended in betrayal.
In simple terms: A crush that turned out to be a lie.
Key Takeaway
Beware of hidden motives.
Themes
love
betrayal
adolescence
trust
identity
Mood
nostalgic
melancholy
reflective
Type
narrative
personal
confessional
When to use this quote
- high school hallway
- yearbook planning
- cheating on exams
- unrequited affection
Key Concepts
first love
deception
social pressure
Questions to Reflect On
- Did you ever discover the true intentions behind a seemingly innocent gesture?
- How do secret crushes shape our self‑esteem?
A Different Perspective
The narrator’s perspective may be unreliable, casting doubt on the truth of events.