Choi is back with her follow-up:Permanent Record.
Hes dodging calls from the student loan office and he has no idea what his next move is.
Leanna Smarts life so far has been nothing but success.
Credit: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
So, they keep things on the down-low and off Instagram for as long as they can.
Read on below.Permanent Recordpublishes Sept. 3 and isavailable for pre-order.
Excerpt fromPermanent Record, by Mary H. K. Choi
I watch the girl on four small screens.
Late-night bodega visitors are often mysterious, and this one is no exception.
Im loopy enough that I wonder if Ive willed her to appear.
I was bored out of my mind and channeling every ounce of my mental energy to tellno compelMr.
Miller in biology to sit down and miss his chair.
You should have seen my face when it happened.
That split second made me believe in God, UFOs, ghosts, and reincarnation all at once.
This dude goes to sit and misses.
I was roaring because I thought I was a freakshow psychic spoonbender.
I dont know what this girls story is, but shes definitely not from the neighborhood.
Beneath her oversize jacket is a Morticia Addamstype dress with jagged spikes on the tail.
She could easily play the villain in an eighties space-action movie.
No question shes attractive.
I dont need to look at the rest of her to know that.
Its the way she carries herself.
Hot laughter is a thing too.
The hotter the group of girls, the more seductive their laughter.
Sure, the laughter can be annoying or scary, intimidating maybe, but thats its own thing.
Our ice cream selection is captivating.
Im personally responsible for orders, so I should know.
Whatever her provenance, Im a fan.
She peers through the glass for flavors instead of leaving the door hanging open.
My mom calls thisnoonchi, which is Korean for situational awareness or considerateness.
Which is to say theyre aholes.
When she unloads her haul in front of me its highly respectable.
Salt and vinegar kettle crisps.
This is the best flavor hands down.
Sweet Maui Onion being the runner-up (Hawaiian brand onlynot Deep River or Kettle.
Sour gummy cola bottles, which to me personally is tartness overkill with the chips.
Artisanal oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
(No Halo Top fake-out garbage.)
A resealable sleeve of sliced provolone.
The most unobtrusive, approachable yet classy snacking cheese in my book.
Hi, she says in a surprisingly raspy voice.
Hey, I say, ringing her up and bagging.
Very much the opposite.
She reaches over to pull the candy out of the bag.
Plastic bags hurt my heart .
, she says, smoothing the bag on the counter.
Ill carry it out.
Shes probably throwing a breakup party.
Sorry, I stammer.
I mean, not for the bag, although apologies to the planet.
Sorry for mentioning Valentines Day.
I dont know your situation.
Oh, she says, and smiles, actually seeing me now.
Im not sad about it.
She tilts her head at the food.
Its a fing celebration, tbqh.
I cant believe shetee-bee-que-aytchdme.
And then, because Im this guy, Can I make a suggestion?
As though she senses my cooped-up feral energy and has zero idea where this is headed.
I admire your snack choices across the board.
However, if youre doing salt and vinegarwhich is an excellent way to go, I begin.
Are you completely satisfied to go sour-sour with the cola bottles?
Just putting it out there that we have regular bottles, twin cherries .
I hold my hands up.
She tilts her head and furrows her brow.
Theres something about all the makeup and this shimmery st on her face that makes her appear CGI.
Objectively attractive but giving the impression that if you wiped the layer off itd be smooth like an egg.
That thered be no features underneath.
Sir, she says.
Do you mean to inform me that those Haribo frogs are peach flavored?
I nod, clear my throat.
Surreptitious is right, she says.
Thought they were apple.
I want to be friends with this person.
Plus, little-known fact: the green gummy bears are strawberry, I tell her.
Why am I still talking?
I want to cringe until my spine collapses into itself.
Little-known fact: the green gummy bears are strawberry?
If sentences could reinstate your virginity, this would be a strong contender.
Even still, Im doubling down on sour-sour.
Power, I rhyme.
She laughs and checks her pocket.
Then she gives her skintight cave-witch chain-mail dress a hurried pat-down.
Like when dudes on the train wear Adidas Sambas or Aldo sneakersdefinite tourists.
St, she says, and scratches her eyebrow with her thumb.
Yeah, she says.
I watch her glance down at her food.
she asks brightly, holding her phone out.
I dont think thats a thing with us, I glance at the register.
Do you know how that st works?
You know, Ive never successfully used it before in my life?
Do I wave the phone over a reader or .
Yeah, I dont know.
Man, she says.
Then she shivers violently, blowing on her hands.
She grins at me and raises her brows.
Yeah, my powers of deduction are legendary.
What are the warning signs of hypothermia?
She hugs herself tight.
My jaw hurts just looking at her chattering teeth.
Her eyes are closed as if to conserve energy.
I think Im just going to walk toward the light if thats cool, she says.
I spring into action.
I pour a cup and hand it to her.
She smiles at me self-consciously and then adds even more sugar and cream and then takes another sip.
Youre a lifesaver, she says, smiling.
Are you ready for the next part?
Go on, she says.
Its kind of wild, I warn her.
Whoa, she says appreciatively.
Up close shes really, very, extra cute.
Man, this is easily the best part of my evening .
She shrugs, inspects her thumb, and then sticks it in her mouth.
Go ahead and keep this.
I gesture to the chips and candy.
But I already knew I liked this girl when I wouldnt let her see my house shoes.
Noooo, she says in this theatrical way, eyes bugged, thumb still lodged in her teeth.
I hand the Magic Shell to her.
How could I bogart such joy?
She takes another sip of coffee.
New York tests you on certain days.
Youve clearly traveled a long way .
possibly many, many light-years.
I nod at her dress.
She laughs as I wave my hand magnanimously, channeling Brando as Vito Corleone forgiving a loan.
I narrow my eyes for effect, puffed up by my own generosity.
Whats sixty short of rent when it’s possible for you to be a hundred?
The girl observes me.
I give her a look like, I know.
Were the exact same pop in of tired.
Its a Black Amex.
The throw in rappers talk about and warlords never mention.
The kind with no interest and no limit.
I ring her up again, arm buzzing lightly from her contact.
She swipes the card reader, which beeps in protest.
Its a chip, I think.
Meanwhile Ive never seen a Black Card in real life.
Who is this girl?
Oh, she says, taking another sip.
Well, st, now I have performance anxiety.
I reach over and hit yes before reinserting it.
I catch the name: Carolina Suarez.
about my age, with a Black Card.
As I hand her the receipt our fingers touch.
Let me ask you .
Shoot, she says.
How many miles did you travel last year?
Theres no way the Black Amex Centurion is a better deal than the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Is there a mansplain deluge in my forecast?
Okay, fair enough.
Oh, come on, she says, cracking a smile.
The suspense might kill me.
This and snacks are my wheelhouse.
My legerdemain, my alleyway.
If youre not scamming as much money as humanly possible from institutions are you even living?
I made them throw in HBO and a free ground line.
I know theres a card out there thats a better deal than a Black Amex.
So, you do travel a lot?
A lot, she confirms.
You fly with one airline?
She looks too classy to be on that Southwest mayhem tip.
Virgin maybe, but its all the same now with the buyouts.
She clears her throat then, tugging her hair out from the back of her windbreaker.
Its long, in this bewitching shade of red that doesnt exist in nature.
The effect is spellbinding.
She reminds me of the Little Mermaid.
Thats when I realize who she is.
Carolina Suarezis Leanna Smart.
My heart drops into my ahole.
Leanna Smart is in the store.
I ribbit after what has to be an hour.
I attempt to swallow.
You dont fly commercial, do you?
She knows that Ive made her but Im not letting on.
, she says as the blood thunders into my ears.
She gathers her groceries, and I take a half step back.
When am I going to see her again?
So, do private jets really cost $300,000 to fly internationally?
Why are you so obsessed with money?
I guess so, she says.
Even the ones who dont talk about it.
Especiallythe ones who dont talk about it.
So, its money and snacks with you.
Sounds crowded, she says, smiling to dull the sting.
Leanna Smart cocks her head, sizing me up.
Wait, dontIknowyoufrom somewhere?
Its easily the most surreal question a famous person can ask you.
Then she claps her hands.
I hate this part.
