“There was silence in her head and silence beneath her window, and still she could not sleep.”

“She clenched her fist in his T-shirt, put her other arm around those too-broad, too-real shoulders. When he tried to pull away, she held on tight. Kami felt the surrender in his mind a moment befor...”

“She walked beside Jared, four inches of rain-dashed darkness between her hanging wrist and his.”

“Wearing that? Wouldn't you fancy a shapeless cardigan instead? You rock a shapeless cardigan, honey.”

“Hark, he said, his tone very dry. What stone through yonder window breaks?Kami yelled up at him, It is the east, and Juliet is a jerk!”

“Forest deep, silent bellsThere's a secret no one tellsValley quiet, water stillLynburns watching on the hillApples red, corn goldAlmost everyone grows old”

“Kami got to school the next day without any incidents like being kidnapped by pirates or having the earth open up and swallow her, which on the whole Kami thought was a pity.”

“We tilt our heads back and open wide. The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and cavities and boyfriend/girlfriend juice, the stain of lies. For o...”

“The teachers complain that the students today are all lazy, ignorant, and stupid. But the truth is that you're smarter than they are. You're not even old enough to drive and you already know that n...”

“I told her about school and how I sat on a wall there and felt stories and words move through me ...”