Simone Elkeles

“I wish I could help you" I whisper.You are," he murmurs against my knee. "just dont leave me, okay? Everyone leaves me.”

“Dont ruin my balls!" She laughs as the words leave her mouth.Better yours than mine, chica." I toss the dough balls at her, one by one, until I've got none left.”

“Tonight was... well, it was perfect for me too. You've turned my world upside down. I've fallen in love with you, chica, and it scares the fuckin' shit outta me. I've been shakin' all night, because I knew it.I've tried to deny it, to make you think I wanted you as a fake girlfriend, but that was a lie.”

“I want to know how to make this girl laugh. I want to know what makes her cry. I want to know what it feels like to have her look at me as if I’m her knight in shinning armor.”

“No, the next time i kiss you it'll last a long, long time. And then when we're done you're gonna realize being turned on is not about experience”

“It's hard keeping everything the same when the same things look and feel so different”

“Believe me, I know people who have doting Grandmas. Jessica's Grandma Pearl spent four years knitting her a blanket. Four years! And she's got arthritis. I wonder what Grandma Pearl would think if she knew Jessica lost her virginity to Michael Greenberg under the blanket she spent four years knitting with her crooked fingers.”

“Makin' mistakes ain't a crime, you know. What's the use of having a reputation if you can't ruin it every now and then?”

“Don't let your life outside of school dictate your future.”

“Playing with fire doesn't necessarily get you burned.”

“Alex kneels down to Shelley's level. The simple act of respect tears at something suspiciously like my heart. Colin always ignores my sister, treating her as if she's blind and deaf as well as physically and mentally disabled.”

“Brit: What's your major?Alex: Chemistry. And yours?Brit: Chemistry. Kiss me so we can see if we still have it. 'Cause you own my heart, my soul, and everything else in between.”

“Mujer, you own my soul.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t run from my heart. It hurts, deep inside my body. And I know I’ll never be the same.”

“I understand the reasons behind his keeping a distance from a girl he cares about. Because the truth is, sometimes getting close to the fire does actually burn you.”

“He has eyes so expressive they give a hint to more than what he portrays. He’s dedicated to his friends, family, and even his motorcyle. He touched me as if I were made of glass. He kissed me as if he’d savor it for the rest of his life.”

“Something is happening. I sense a change in the wind…a mutual understanding of each other. I haven’t felt this way in forever.”

“Opening yourself up to making mistakes and being vulnerable is what makes it beautiful and special with the person you love.”

“I'm ready for that adrenaline rush...with you.”

“Music is my drug, the one thing that makes me numb.”

“Distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

“dear kiara, The women in the shop told me that yellow rose represents friendship and red rose shows love. And the rosery is the only thing i own that i care for, its yours i'm yours C”

“Girls like you want to cut guy's nuts off and hang 'em from your rearview mirror.”

“Next time I want to do something nice, slap me.”

“Can I request another peer guide, One who isn't so happy to be at school at 7:30 a.m.?”

“Dios mio, I think my brother lost his balls somewhere between here and Mexico. Or maybe Brittany has them zipped inside that fancy purse (of hers).”

“[about her offer of a Swedish massage]Alex: You're not Swedish. Brittany: Yeah, well, neither are you. So if I do it wrong you'll never know the difference.”

“Since you came back from summer break, our entire relationship is about fooling around. We never talk anymore, and I'm sick of feeling guilty for not ripping my clothes off and spreading my legs to prove I love you.”

“I wonder if it's medically possible to be addicted to another human being.”

“I'm poor, not homeless.”

“Don't ever pity me.”

“Who am I kidding? I have no reason for being here other that the fact that I want to be near her.”

“I don't belong here. It doesn't matter, because even if I don't belong in this place, she's here and I want to be where she is.”

“I'm not starting any fights. I might finish one though.”

“your actions with holds your future”

“I cry a lot.''Yeah? Well I'm gonna change that.”

“Are you following me?" she asks, but doesn't meet my gaze."Yeah," I say."Why?"I give her the only honest and true answer I have. "You're where I want to be.”

“they're good fighters, i think proudly as i watch them duke it out. But as the oldest male in the house, it's my duty to break it up. I grab the collar of Carlos's shirt but on Louis's leg and land on the floor with them. Before I can regain my balance, icy cold water is pored on my back. Turning quickly, I catch mi'ama dousing us all, a bucket poised in her fist abouve us while she is wearing her work uniform. She works as a checker for the local grocery store a couple blocks from our house. It doesn't pay a whole heck of a lot, but we don't need much."Get up" she orders, her fiery attitude out in full force."Shit, Ma" Carlos says, standingMi'ama takes what's left in her bucket, sticks her fingers in the icy water, and flicks the liquid in Carlos's face. Luis laughs and before he knows it, he gets flicked with water as well. Will they ever learn?"Any More attitude, Lous?" She asks."No, ma'am" Louis says, standing as straight as a soilder."You have any more filthy words to come out of that boca of yours, Carlos?" She dips her hand in the water as a warning."No, ma'am" echos soldier number two."And what abot you, Alejandro?" her eyes narrow into slits as she focuses on me"What? I was try'in to break it up" I say innocently, giving her my you-can't-resist-me smile.She flicks water in my face. "That's for not breaking it up sooner. Now get dressed, all of you, and come eat breakfast before school."So much for my you-can't-resist-me smile”

“Miss Ellis?" Mrs. Perterson says. "It's your turn. Introduce Alex to the class""This is Alejandro Fuentes. When he wasn't hanging out on street corners and harrassing innocent people this summer, he toured the inside of jails around the city, if you know what i mean. His secret desire is to go to college and become a chemistry teacher, like you Mrs. Peterson."Brittney flashed me a triumpnet smile, thinking she won this round. Guess again, gringa. "This is Brittney Ellis," I say, all eyes focused on me. "This summer she went to the mall, bought new clothes to extend her wardrobe, and spent her daddy's money on plastic surgery to enhance her, ahem, assets. Her secret desire is to date a Mexicano before she graduates." Game on...”

“Listen Chica-" Carlos says when we're driving to my mom's store"don't call me that anymore" I tell him"what do you want me to call you, then?" I shrug "whatever. Just not Chica"Carlos holds his hand up "what do you want me from me? You want me to tell you lies? Okay. Kara, without you i'm nothin'. Kara, you own my heart and soul. Kara,, i love you. Is that what you to hear?"yes""No guy who actually says those things really mean them""I bet your brother says them to Brittney and means them""that's because he's lost all common sense. I though you the one girl who didn't fall for my bull""I don't. Consider my wanting you as my real boyfriend a lapse of judgement," I tell him "But i'm over it”

“In the end everything will be okay. But hurdles have to be jumped through first.”

“I gave you my heart, but it wasn't enough.”

“God take care of him, because he's my past and my future”

“I look down at our knees, slightly touching. Jeans against jeans. Does she notice the heat transferring from her body to mine? Does she even realize what she's doing to me? I know, I know. I'm not a virgin and the slightest touch of a girl's knee is driving me insane. I don't even know what I'm feeling for Maggie, I just know that I'm feeling It's something I've tried to avoid and deny until yesterday, when I held her in my arms while her tears spilled onto my shirt. God, our knees touching isn't enough. I need more. She's knotting her fingers together on her lap as if she doesn't know what to do with them. I want to touch her, but what if she pulls away like before?”

“If you tiptoe into cold water, you're missing out on the rush of plunging in headfirst.”

“With someone you like that much, the lows are as low as the highs are high. Does that make sense?'It does. It also makes me sound bipolar.'Love will do that to a person.”

“What would it take for you to go out with me?”

“Problem is, the bathroom pass can't help you escape life. It's still there when you come out. Problems and crap don't go away hiding in the can.”

“I'm in deep shit Alex, 'cause I think I'd like nothin' better than to wake up with her every mornin'.”

“If no words come, you can always give him the finger.”