“On the outside, I’m the perfect kid–like a statue of perfect marble, serene and unreal. Inside, it’s all snakes and maggots and broken glass.”

“I’m no rock star, but I’m definitely not ugly.”

“Facing up to this is better than running away."Maybe so. But I’m so good at running.”

“I wish I knew how to turn the volume down on the sadness in this girl’s eyes. I wish I could take her out of this dark, smelly alley and tuck her away some place safe.”

“Thack seemed to sort something out for a moment. “Sometimes I watch him when he’s playing with Harry or digging in the yard. And I think: This is it, this is the guy I’ve waited for all my life. Then this other voice tells me not to get used to it, that it’ll only hurt more later. It’s funny. You’re feeling this enormous good fortune and waiting for it to be over at the same time.”“You seem happy,” Brian ventured.“I am.”“Well … that’s a lot. I envy you that.”Thack shrugged. “All we’ve got is now, I guess. But that’s all anybody gets. If we wasted that time being scared …”“Absolutely.”

“Mona knocked at the wrong time.“Uh…yeah…wait a minute, Mona -- ”Mona shouted through the door. “Room service, gentlemen. Just pull the covers up.”Michael grinned at Jon. “My roommate. Brace yourself.”Seconds later, Mona burst through the doorway with a tray of coffee and croissants.“Hi! I’m Nancy Drew! You must be the Hardy Boys!”

“I know I can't tell you what it's like to be gay. But I can tell you what it's not. It's not hiding behind words, Mama. Like family and decency and Christianity.”