“It's so trendy, almost bleeding to death. All the cool girls are doing it.”

“He slowed down a bit more. "Gaia, how do you know these things?" She shrugged. "I'm smart." "And modest, too." "Modesty is a waste of time," she pronounced. "I'll keep that in mind.”

“He saw her right after the seventh-period bell rang. She seemed dressed for the sole purpose of blending in with the lockers, but she stood out, anyway. It didnt matter that her wide blue eyes were...”

“She walked away without bothering to look further. She knew hed be fine. Her specialty was subduing without causing any real damage. Hed lie there for a few minutes. Hed be sore, maybe bruised tomo...”

“As the crow flies. Thats how she liked to walk. So what if she had nowhere to go? So what if no one on earth knew or probably cared where she was or when shed get home? That wasnt the point. It did...”

“He smiled all the way to physics class. He almost laughed out loud when he passed through the door and saw her shadowy, hunched-over form casting around for a seat in the back.She was in his class;...”

“The land of easy mathematics where he who works adds up and he who retires subtracts.”

“At the age of 45, most days in Tucson were spent feeling like I was on the summit of Mauna Kea, as I was exhibiting debilitating health symptoms that corresponded to what I saw at very high altitud...”

“The hour is only long thus, if you've waited.”