Cindy C. Bennett

“Yeah, I guess I do.” My heart plummets again. “Or I did. Maybe I still do. I don’t know. But I didn’t bring her to the dance. I brought you. It seems I spend all my time with you.”“Why is that?” I’m genuinely curious but aware that I could be opening a door I don’t want opened. I quickly rephrase. “I mean, why do you want to?”He looks thoughtful.“You’re funny,” he finally says. “I laugh a lot when I’m with you. I always have fun when I’m with you. And you try to hide it, but you’re actually pretty sweet.”“That’s a horrible thing to say,” I say petulantly, crossing my arms tightly again. He chuckles.“And you’re really smart.”“Now I know you’re lying.”“You are. But you try to hide that as well. And you’re pretty.”“Worse and worse,” I moan. He grins.“And when I’m with you, I don’t want to be anywhere else or with anyone else.”

“Kate, I’ve loved you for years. I mean, I know twelve-year-olds don’t know what love is, so I guess I should say I’ve really liked you for years. But when I saw you this year, I knew. I knew we should be together. I just didn’t know how hard you were going to make me work to get you to even like me. So, yeah, of course I want you to love me back.”

“Who knew that you would be The One," I smile, "which I guess makes me your Trinity.""My Amidala.""Your Zira.""My Sylvia.""Your..." I scour my brain, trying to remember some other great sci-fi love interest."Ha! I'm your Saphira," I settle back smugly, only for Trevor to start laughing."Saphira is a dragon.”

“No, I don't party; no, I don't dress in black leather and chains; that's not my style. That's how I was raised. I worry about getting good grades and I go to church and I watch sci-fi movies and I generally follow the rules. Most people would call me a geek or a nerd. You've called me that many times. But that isn't everything that defines me. I mean, look at me, sitting here in a rainstorm under a tree that's probably going to kill us when the lightning hits it, holding the hand of a pretty cool girl who really is the opposite of me, a girl that I happen to be in love with. A girl I couldn't have imagined would want to be with me. But here she is, letting me hold her hand, trying to tell me why she isn't good enough for me. That's crazy.”

“He grins as he straightens and walks toward me, the grin that brings out the dimples and nearly takes my knees out. I'm such a marshmallow.”

“Ella no sabe que nunca me iré, y si ella va, la seguiré hasta los confines de la tierra.”

“No puedo imaginar nada mejor, nada que quiera más, o nada que alguna vez llegue a desear más que tenerla en mis brazos.Para siempre.”

“This is stupid, Kate. I love you. I want to be with you. Today, tomorrow, always. And I know you love me. Tell me I’m wrong about you, about why you left me. Tell me you don’t love me.”

“ You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed the way things are at school. I’m everyone’s favorite loser. There isn’t anyone more fun to pick on then me.”

“The feel of arms around me, in comfort rather than as restraint or in harmful intent, undoes me. I cry for all the years of mocking and teasing received at the hands of my peers, for having been born to hateful, careless parents. I cry for the fact that this one good, kind boy has joined the game. And That makes me think it’s hopeless to find any goon in anyone, which only makes me cry harder.”

“Jen--"I am sorry that I hurt you. I don't have the words to tell you how sorry I am about that."..."I would do anything to take that part away. I would do anything to change the hurt I know I caused you. But I can't be sorry about making the bet with Ella and Beth because if I hadn't done that, I would never have gotten to know you.”

“Trev--"I heard you were going to go out with him and I burned with jealousy. No, burning isn't the right word. I was more like an inferno. So I followed you.....""You're as pathetic as I am," I gasped out."Worse," he qualifies. "I'm a pathetic geek."I snuggle back in to him "Yeah, well so am I.”

“That doesn’t sound quite right to me—what choice did I have but to survive?”

“Well, those who aren’t waiting for you don’t know what they’re missing.”

“Trev, all you had to do was breathe to make me want you. ”