Chris O'Guinn

“If I couldn't hide from [bullies], then the next best thing was to blind them with my glorious fabulousness.”

“When I do something, I go full-out. Half-measures are for wusses.”

“You're certifiable, you do know that, yes?" Austin commented with a strange look."Well, coming from the school's resident sociopath, I take that as high praise.""Don't make me get my pipe bombs."Oh God, he was actually joking with me. I was in. In where, I had no idea, but I was definitely in somewhere. And he was smiling-- a real, non-adverb laced smile. And damn, he had dimples. I was doomed. So doomed.”

“I'd been beaten before; I'd been humiliated; I'd been spit on and ostracized...all the things you should not have to know about when you are on the cusp of sixteen, but do because you're different.”

“Tentatively, I presented the idea of being naked with Austin to the gallery of my neuroses. It was a loud, raucous meeting. Sex-Drive was bouncing around like a child on Pixy Stix, saying "yes yes yes" over and over again. Vanity suggested that the things in the [safe sex] book would not improve the way I looked in the slightest. Insecurity and Doubt argued over what would be more awful; when Austin saw me naked or when my sexual inexperience made itself evident and he laughed at me. Optimism sulked off to the side because I never listened to it. Prudence recommended tabling the discussion indefinitely. Curiosity wanted to look at the pictures some more. Shyness just sat in the corner, rocking back and forth and crying.”

“[upon hearing that the school received funding for the football field, but not for any of the arts] Well, we might never have another Great American Novel or amazing musicals written by Americans, but at least we will always be able to toss a ball between some metal posts. Our priorities are right on track.”

“He was a sweet guy. Broken, clearly, but we all are, when you get right down to it.”

“Austin stared at me in shock. “You’re going to get us both killed.”“At least we’ll die pretty,” I told him with a smirk.”