Send Me a Sign (39 page)

We didn’t bump noses, or grind teeth, or mash lips. There wasn’t that period of awkward learning—because it was Gyver and it was me, and there was no one who knew me better, no one I’d ever know so well.

It was sweet and fierce and many things my mind and body couldn’t name. The type of kissing that eclipsed all prior kisses—the type of kissing I hoped to be doing for a very long time.

And when Gyver and I finally pulled apart, his face was flushed and we were both the best kind of breathless. I knew exactly how he felt and what he was thinking:
more
. We both leaned in for a second kiss at the same instant—and this, I decided, was the very best sign.

Acknowledgments

I’ve always daydreamed of writing an acknowledgments page, much in the way that actors dream of giving Oscar acceptance speeches. And now here’s my chance! Even better, I get to type this while wearing pajamas instead of an uncomfortable gown and heels. Lucky for me there’s neither a live audience nor aren’t-you-done-yet? music because I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the many, many people who have helped me reach this stage, and it’s making me a little teary eyed.

Huge, from-the-bottom-of-my-heart-accompanied-by-hugs-and-baked-goods thank-yous to the following people:

My team at Walker—Emily Easton, Mary Kate Castellani, Laura Whitaker, Patricia McHugh, Jill Amack, and everyone else there who worked to bring Mia’s story to the shelves.

The dreamiest of dream agents, Joe Monti, as well as Barry Goldblatt, Tricia Ready, and the rest of the BG Literary family.
Regina Forever
.

Jenny Southard, my go-to person for all things medical, and Kari Olson, whose patience with my radiology questions was truly impressive. Any mistakes are my fault. All medical brilliance is theirs.

My friends who forgave me when I canceled plans to stay in and write and were waiting to hang out when I needed to get away from my computer. And my fellow writers who read these pages and pushed me to be my best: Jonathan Maberry, Nancy Keim Comley, Kerry Gans, Katie Foucart, Leah Clifford, Tiffany Emerick, and Stacey Yiengst.

Team Sparkle—a.k.a. Scott Tracey, Courtney Summers, Victoria Schwab, Emily Hainsworth, Linda Grimes, and Susan Adrian—I owe them my sanity. Especially Emily, who read this manuscript more times than I can count and never lost her enthusiasm for Mia, Gyver, and co—have I told you how pretty you are?

The Apocalypsies—I couldn’t imagine sharing this publication adventure with a better group.

Andrew McMahon—for being an inspiration with his music and his leukemia survivorship and for permission to use his lyrics—as well as to Ellie Waite for doing all the permissions paperwork! For those who are interested in more information on Andrew’s story and his work promoting awareness about cancer in young adults, please look into his charity, the Dear Jack Foundation. (
www.DearJackFoundation.com
)

The Mysza family. You are my superheroes. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you, miss Morgan, and send you all love.

And, finally, for my family. To my parents and siblings for putting up with my endless princess and puppy stories as a child. To my Schmidtlets, who were nappers when I needed to revise and snugglers when I needed to pace and brainstorm. And St. Matt, thank you for being so …
saintly
and putting up with me through this whole crazy process. I love you.

Copyright © 2012 by Tiffany Schmidt
All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce, or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

First published in the United States of America in October 2012
by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
Electronic edition published in October 2012
www.bloomsburyteens.com

Break Myself
Words and Music by Andrew Ross McMahon
Left Here Publishing (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved International Copyright Secured Used by Permission
Reprinted by Permission of Andrew McMahon and Left Here Publishing

Superstition
Words and Music by Stevie Wonder
© 1972 (Renewed 2000) JOBETE MUSIC CO., INC. and BLACK BULL MUSIC
c/o EMI APRIL MUSIC INC.
All Rights Reserved International Copyright Secured Used by Permission
Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard Corporation

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to
Permissions, Walker BFYR, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schmidt, Tiffany.
Send me a sign / by Tiffany Schmidt.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: Superstitious before being diagnosed with leukemia, high school senior Mia
becomes irrationally dependent on horoscopes, good luck charms, and the like when her life shifts
from cheerleading and parties to chemotherapy and platelets, while her parents obsess and lifelong
friend Gyver worries.

[1. Leukemia—Fiction. 2. Superstition—Fiction. 3. High schools—Fiction.
4. Schools—Fiction. 5. Family life—Pennsylvania—Fiction. 6. Secrets—Fiction.
7. Pennsylvania—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.S3563Sen 2012 [Fic]—dc23 2012005070

ISBN 978-0-8027-3406-8 (e-book)