Qzie's Disturbingly Creative Mind

     "We are told people stay together because of chemistry, because they remained intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck... but part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness."

 Ellen Goodman's words apply perfectly to Fine Line. A love story with a strong emphasis in forgiveness, Fine Line can make you smile, laugh, and tug at your heartstrings. It's not your traditional romance: the main characters are middle school kids who can barely handle the cafeteria's so-called food, let alone all the complexities of "being in love" for the first time.

 Caomhe is a usually kind girl who makes an exception for Keiran by expressing her immense hatred for him. Caomhe's best friends, Fiona, Celia, and Leah, have their own drama with Fiona constantly falling for the wrong boy, Leah getting very frustrated because the objects of her affections never get a clue, and Celia... well, Celia's in love from the very beginning.

 On the boy front, Garrett pushes down his inner idealist because he doesn't want to be labeled as a "girl," unlike Charlie, who is constantly called a girl because he wears his heart on his sleeve. Keiran is persistent in his pursuit of Caomhe and says somewhat heartbreaking things like, "But it's also true that I think you're wonderful." And Joeri? He's the "spunky go deadly" boy Celia's in love with; he would do anything for her.

 Amidst all this young love are scenes and lines that will make you laugh, which include makeshift go-carts, fireworks, skipping school, pick-up lines, and boats. Of course, there are also scenes that will make you either hate me or go, "...that's so sad..." The most infamous of these scenes involve an eccentric old grandmother, serious misunderstandings, and a felony.

 This is a story about love, but it's also about forgiveness, friendship, unwavering loyalty, hope, and why you should never give middle school kids sugar or caffeine of any kind.

Check out more pictures here. ~_^

The Basics

Full name: Caomhe Dorean Grant
Birthday: February 14, 1994
Siblings: Seamus (five years older), Ian (five years younger), Marsie (Marselyn) and Malcolm (ten years younger)
Parents: James and Siobhan (shi-VAWN)
Future career: History teacher

Her favorite things

Favorite color: Black, because of an incident in first grade involving burning ants.
Favorite movie: Serenity
Favorite TV Show: House
Favorite pizza topping: Pepperoni
Favorite thing on the playground: The swings

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: Agnostic
What she wanted to be when she was five: She didn't know
Her view on life: Don't miss a thing.

The Basics

Full name: Garrett Gerard LeBlanc
Birthday: September 5, 1993
Siblings: Jen (Jennifer, three years older)
Parents: Edward LeBlanc and Mallory Coghlan (divorced, kids live with Mallory)
Future career: Lawyer

His Favorite Things

Color: Blue.
Movie: The Godfather... naturally.
TV Show: Numbers
Pizza topping: Pepperoni or sausage.
Plan: The Ultimate Take Over the World in a Term Plan.

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: None (he's an atheist)
What he wanted to be when he was five: President (OK, so that hasn't changed)
His view on life: It's a dog eat dog world... so be Chinese. (They eat dogs... TT_TT)

Basics

Full name: Fiona Aileen O'Malley
Birthday: March 1, 1994
Siblings: David (two years older)
Parents: Evan and Sarah
Future career: Writer

Her Favorite Things

Favorite color: Yellow.
Favorite movie: LotR
Favorite TV show: Scrubs
Favorite pizza topping: Cheese
Favorite class: English.

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: Evangelical christian
What she wanted to be when she was five: Someone who tests the chocolate
Her view on life: Always smile and never lose hope.

The Basics

Full name: Charles Alastar MacDonald
Birthday: March 17, 1994
Siblings: James (five years older), Shawn (two years older), Ralphie (two years younger)
Parents: Owen and Michelle
Future career: Photographer

His Favorite Things

Color: Green.
Movie: Charlie refused to comment. Go ahead and be suspicious.
TV Show: Boy Meets World
Pizza topping: Pepperoni
Food: PB&J sandwich.

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: Agnostic
What he wanted to be when he was five: An astronaut
His view on life: It's crazy and scary and totally fun. Like a roller coaster.

The Basics

Full name: Joeri Joseph Anderson
Birthday: April 30, 1994
Siblings: Only child
Parents: Thomas and Anna (deceased)
Future career: Lawyer

His Favorite Things

Color: None.
Movie: Spiderman.
TV Show: M*A*S*H.
Pizza topping: Sausage.
Weapon of choice: Pocket knife, only when called for.

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: Catholic
What he wanted to be when he was five: A Power Ranger
His view on life: Sit back, relax, and kick (butt) when called for.

The Basics

Full name: Celia Inez Ambrosio
Birthday: January 29, 1994
Siblings: Ida (three years younger)
Parents: Riley and Daniel
Future career: AI teacher

Her Favorite Things

Color: Purple
Movie: Princess Bride
TV Show: I Love Lucy
Pizza topping: Pepperoni or cheese
Day of the week: Friday. Duh.

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: Catholic
What she wanted to be when she was five: A teacher (That hasn't changed, either...)
Her view on life: What's the point of living if you're stuck in the past?

The Basics

Full name: Leah Diane Ambrosio
Birthday: November 9, 1993
Siblings: Liam (three years younger)
Parents: Damien and Susan
Future career: Doctor

Her Favorite Things

Color: Pink. No surprises there. (But there certainly is one here!)
Movie: Tuck Everlasting
TV Show: American Idol
Pizza topping: Cheese
Class: Science

Other Random Tidbits
Faith: Catholic
What she wanted to be when she was five: A princess
Her view on life: Life's beautiful. Don't screw it up.

"I give her complexes!" -Keiran

"Yep... chaos... screaming... our work here is done." -Joeri

"HOLMES! Our grade for the entire marking period practically rests on this project so if you do, say, or even think anything stupid, I will personally make sure your body is never, ever recovered." -Caomhe

"Get a hold of yourself, Charlie! It's just a PB&J!"
"JUST a PB&J? Garrett, are you aware that this is the stuff that dreams are made of?"- Garrett and Charlie

"Just because you know big words... doesn't mean you have to be SHOW-OFFS!" -Keiran

"Typical females. Don't trust them. They're probably planting some sort of trap." -Garrett

"THEY'LL EAT YOU! THEY'LL EAT YOU ALIVE!" -Charlie

"The second law of motion is that the force of an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration... F equals M times A."
"That sounds like FEMA."
"Shut up, you loser."- Caomhe and Keiran

"Keiran, I think I'm in love with your granny."
"That's creepy, Charlie."

"Get up, Holmes. Are you a man or a mouse?"
"I'm a twelve-year-old boy who is never going to be able to sleep tonight. Leave me alone!" - Caomhe and Keiran

"NO MATTER HOW MUCH BLOOD I LOST... I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, CAOMHE GRANT!" -Keiran

"Oh GARRETT! THIS IS JUST LIKE ROMEO AND JULIET! Torn apart by the cruel, cruel fates of the world, yet brought together by love!" -Celia

"Girls suck. I hate girls." -Keiran

"Yeah, yeah, blablabla."
"We know, we know, you love us, you can't live without us."
"If we were gone, you'd jump off a cliff." -Caomhe, Fiona, and Garrett

"We're going to die out here..." -Charlie when he, Joeri, and Garrett were stuck in the middle of Lake Michigan

So I'm coming home tomorrow, you can expect me with a large steak knife and some A1 sauce in your room over your bed at ten PM. -Keiran's letter to Charlie

"You're not thirteen already. Why, you must be in sixth grade by now..." -Granny Holmes

"There's an angel in band class and her name is Violet Tannenbaum..." -Charlie

"I was just wondering what topics we would be covering this year, because most of the class is going to San Augustus, at least that's what I assume- pardon my assumptions- and their math program requires..." -Madison Scott

"Maybe if you got some arsenic."
"For what... Joeri's little problem or Samantha?"
"I really don't know..."- Keiran and Garrett, concerning Joeri's zit and Samantha Gamgee (Keiran was her unofficial boyfriend at the time- new part)

"Dude... they might as well slap on a 'Welcome' sign and invite us in for tea and cookies." -Garrett about the haunted apartment

'Keiran SMASH! GRR! How DARE Sam break his Angel's heart! We need to rip out Sam's throat and make him sorry that he ever knew Caomhe to begin with!"
"That's a little violent!"
"That's the point." -Keiran's little devil and little angel

"I AIN'T FOOLIN' AROUND WITH YOU, MAN! GIVE ME MY FREAKIN' SUGAR!" -Fiona

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEE! I'M NOT IN A COMAAA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEE!" -Keiran

"SHE SAID YES SHE SAID YES SHE SAID YES SHE SAID YES GLORY BE AND HALLELUJAH SHE SAID YES!!!" -Charlie after asking Violet to the winter dance

"...and that's why you'd be making a big mistake going to a state college." -Madison Scott to Garrett

"There's something wrong with me."
"Of course there is. You're in denial."
"Am not."
"And now you're denying that you're in denial, which really means you're in denial..."
"I am not denying that I'm in denial!"
"Well, now you just admitted that you're in denial..." -Caomhe and Fiona

"Oh puh-lease. Even I can tell you're just denying it because you're scared of ruining your friendship with the girl, even though it's quite obvious that she's falling like a rock for you. The problem is, you lost your nerve ever since she forgave you. And now, she'll never know how much you love her. That's right. God's not the only one who can tell." -Keiran's little devil

"It haaaaaaattessss meeeeeee..." -Keiran about his shirt

"OH JUST MAKE THE FRICKIN' FOOD, DOUG!" -the girl at the burger place

"Your food will be coming soon. God willing." -the girl at the burger place again

"Maybe he got kidnapped. Or maybe he's murdered! Or got sucked into another dimension! Caomhe! WHAT IF HE ISN'T EVEN ON THE SAME PLANET!"- Fiona

"I'M NOT WORKING YOU TO STUTTER AT ME, HOLMES! GIVE ME THE DOGGONE PREPOSITIONS!"
"I SUGGEST THAT AFTER WE'RE DONE STUDYING, WE GET CAKE!"- Garrett and Keiran

"CLEMENTINE! WHAT ARE THE THREE CORE DEMOCRATIC VALUES!"
"LIFE... LIBERTY... AAAND... AND THE PURSUIT OF VIOLET TANNENBAUM!"- Garrett and Charlie

"What... the heck... are you doing?"
"Osmosis. If I hold these long enough, the knowledge will sink in."- One of the girls and Keiran

"Hello?"
"Um... Ms. Terrence... this is Charlie MacDonald... I..."
"CHARLES MACDONALD, GET OFF THE PHONE!"
"I was just wondering if you wanted to buy some nose clippers?"
"CHARLES MACDONALD, GET OFF THE PHONE!"- Ms. Terrence and Charlie

"Goodbye, locker. Goodbye, drinking fountain."- Fiona

"Honestly... I never knew that life forms could be formed from a sandwich and some batteries and pencils."- Leah

"Dude... I look like the Pope."- Keiran

"Hey, wait a minute... You can read?"
"Big fan of JK Row-"
"Holy Mother Mary! Are you reading Harry Potter?"
"Darn skippy, I am. We get free copies at home. Still waiting on the Deathly Hallows, though."
"Battle of Hogwarts is awesome."
"You can read, too?!"
"Yes, I can read!"- The little angel, little devil, and Keiran

"Why is it always me?"- Charlie

"There will be marriage!"- Fiona

"I thought we told you you're not allowed to sing!"
"You did... but I'm a rebel."- Garrett and Keiran

She's in Heaven now. The bad guy didn't win. He sent her to the most wonderful place you'll ever see in your life. -Joeri's dad about Joeri's mom dying from cancer (pastness)

The only colors she saw were red, black, and white.
Hey guys, what's black and white and red all over?
The only color she wanted to see was a deep, brilliant green.
Keiran after he's hit by a car.

"It's NOT FAIR! I should've gotten hit! It should be me in that hospital! I SHOULDA DIED!" -Charlie 

"But it's also true that I think you're wonderful." -Keiran

"You asked me if I needed a push, twice. I told you, twice, that I didn't. I'm taking it back. I need one." -Caomhe

Signing this pact is to sign over your soul. Once you're in, you stay in forever. -Caomhe's addition to The Pact

"You know, a girl like you shouldn't be sitting out here when everybody else is dancing." -Jay to Leah

"Well guess what. Life's not fair. Chances are, that girl will never feel the same way about you. Get over it." -Ms. Terrence

"And I always wish I could have done something to get my best friend back." -Granny Holmes

"You're a wonderful person, Charlie. And any girl would be lucky to have you." -Leah

It's amazing what a little courage can do.

"...I don't think we're gonna live forever."- Keiran

But this was life, and life was most certainly not fair. It had the ability to take you to the highest of highs only to send you plummeting into the abyss in seconds. It could give you a million chances to do the thing you need so much courage to do and then rip it away from you in an instant. It could mystify you. It could break your heart.

Things you would never know about the story unless I told you!

1) Garrett got his last name (LeBlanc) from Matt LeBlanc (Joey) on Friends.
2) Keiran got his last name (Holmes, of course) from a boy in middle school, who was, indeed, a ladies' man.
3) Charlie used to have green eyes (He has blue).
4) Garrett had brown-black hair.
5) In Chapter Three (where the boys try to plant walkie-talkies in Fiona's house), the boys originally planned on dressing up Charlie like a girl. Excerpt:

---

     "...So with Charlie cleverly disguised as one of them, he can break into their sleep-over, which, quite conveniently..." Garrett pushed open the curtains on his windows and instantly the boys were at his side to watch, "...is right next door. Then we'll plant this little device on him-" Garrett waved a small little headpiece- "and we'll be able to hear everything. It's PERFECT!" He smiled a dark and evil smile.

 "But what if Charlie does something that's... ungirly? And they figure it out?" asked Keiran with a frown.

"The chances of that are slim."

"HEY!"

Garrett smiled and patted Charlie's shoulder. "Besides, we can always pass him off as a tomboy." He ruffled Charlie's fuzzy brown hair. "You'll be perfect."

Charlie frowned. "I hate you."

---

6) Caomhe (ready for this?) used to be blonde.
7) The story was originally much longer and followed them into adulthood. (Aren't you glad I didn't do that?)
8) Keiran originally enlisted into the army.
9) In the first draft, when Keiran enlisted, he was assumed to be KIA, but this proved false. Excerpt:

---You should know that Caomhe's boyfriend (Douglas) refers to Keiran as Sergeant Pepper---

 Caomhe turned her attention to the other man, who happened to be in a wheelchair. He had black hair, and since he had been out of action for so long, it was growing back, and it was scruffy and flipped around easily. Kathump. As opposed to the blonde guy, he did not look angry at all- he actually seemed to be enjoying himself. Kathump. At the climax of the argument, he took off the brake on his wheelchair, and started yelling something as he wheeled hastily out of the area, the blonde guy glaring after him and several people jumping out of his way. Kathump.

 Caomhe had to stop her jaw from dropping, and she could feel her heart against her chest.

 "That's Pepper for you... Caomhe, are you OK?"

She knew that man.

The man in the wheelchair spun in front of Douglas and Caomhe, jolted to a stop, threw his arms up in the air, and yelled, "WOOHOO! Last time I felt this alive, I'd just read my obituary and we were being bombed like it was Hiroshima! What's up, Colonel Popcorn? This your girlfriend?"

Keiran.

---

10) Also in the first (and second) drafts, Caomhe was engaged to Douglas Brady, but later fell in love with Keiran again.

11) In an early version of the third draft, Caomhe was going out with Douglas Brady at the time of her and Keiran's fight.

12) Originally, it was Garrett who moved.

13) Carissa continually makes references to her best friends (Kassy, Kirstin, Kelly, and Steph) and they are the basis for the girls with:
Kassy as Caomhe
Steph as Celia
Kirstin as Leah
And Kelly and Carissa as Fiona
And later in Duct Tape, Kelly and Kassy as Eloise.

14) Parts of the boys have a small basis in a few of Carissa's guy friends.
Keiran: Chad's sense of humor
Charlie: Actually, Charlie gets a personality all his own. There is no equivalent for any part of him.
Garrett: Beery's plans to take over the world (or at least Japanistan)
Joeri: Joe's generally relaxed nature (although Joe's much more relaxed than Joeri)

15) Matt Colby got his last name because Carissa likes cheese. (Colby Jack!)

16) Carissa accidentally gave Fiona's brother and Keiran's dad the same first name (David).

17) Granny Holmes is based off of Carissa's grandma McNees.

18) Carissa stole some parts from stories she abandoned, including her first NaNoWriMo story (Odd Chances) and her (in her opinion) horrible, horrible Harry Potter fanfic (And So It Begins).

19) Carissa, being a little unoriginal when it comes to minor character names, took names of people and teachers from real life:
Samantha Gamgee (Samantha was a childhood friend)
Mr. Rice (seventh grade math teacher)
Miss Winchell (Carissa went to Winchell Elementary for two years)
Ms. DuPointe (Actually, she was based off the eighth grade math teacher, Ms. Sharpe, who was indeed having an affair with the phone guy)
Mr. Stuckey (middle school detention supervisor)
Dr. Lockett (middle school principal)

Hopefully you found that interesting. :D