“True love, by definition, means "someone that is truly loved". But true love must be reciprocated, or it is only excrutiatingly unbearable and devistating - a never-ending lonely night in an empty room.”

“Then, I guess, I can only hope that you will change your mind. But I will love you, without a doubt, for all eternity.”

“So, what were you about to do that day, then? Float away or something?”“No.” He looked up from the ground and smiled. “I was about to lift you in my arms and run, vampire speed, to the closet room under the auditorium stage.”“You would not,” I said, my tone ringing in question.“Ara—” he raised one brow, “I'm a guy. Not a saint.”

“Whoa,” I pinned my dress under my legs and nudged his chest with my elbow. “Put me down. This is kidnapping.”“No, it's not,” he stated with a smile, keeping his eyes on the path ahead, “It's is a rescue.”“Rescue?” I scoffed, but imagined a white horse waiting for us as we burst through the doors. “I don't need to be rescued.”He stopped walking and looked down at me; I shrank into his arms a little. “The fair maiden, who is locked in the darkest tower, guarded by the cruellest beast, never believes herself to be in danger, only suffering from sorrows untold and a heart untouched.”

“Who would I kill?” I asked, sitting up from him, wiping my face.“Who?”“Yeah, I mean, is it random, or do you choose them?”“Well.” He grinned and picked an ant off the rug, then tossed it onto the grass. “I usually avoid eating comedians as much as possible.”“Why?” I asked slowly.“Because they taste funny.” His brows rose. I imagined a tumbleweed rolling past as I listened for crickets. “That wasn't funny.”

“I know you like me, Ara. You don't have to pretend, just because you think it's improper to fall for someone at first sight.” His eyes lit up, shimmering green like a glass marble held up to the sun. “I can see that you feel the same way I do.”Oh, my God! Is this the point where I can jump off the swing and fall into his waiting arms? No. Don't do that. Don't read into it too much. I looked away from his gleaming, white-toothed grin, and clutched the ropes of the swing tighter.”

“No one stays the same, David. Everything you are is a direct result of something that's affected you in your past, whether it was horrible or wonderful -- no one has the right to destroy themselves because they can't deal with the pain. You have to learn from it. It's not over--the good in your life--it's not over until your dead.”