“Maybe he wants you to be his queen," Devyn saids. "Continue the line.""That's crap," Nick says."Yeah." I glare at him. "Why would anyone want me to be their queen?""That's not what I meant." The front legs of Nick's chair slam back down.”

“I stomp toward her and point. I've SO had it with her. "That is SO not nice."You don't even talk like a queen." She glares at me.Nick raises an eyebrow at me. "You're a QUEEN?"I walk to the edge of the bed, stand just a few inches away from her. Power rolls off of her. "Okay, please refrain from your insidious comments, which are obviously geared to inflict harm upon my psyche. I do not appreciate it."Nick cracks up. "Well, you ARE the same Zara.”

“Take her home."Nick fake salutes. "Sir,yes sir.""Sarcasm doesn't become you,Colt," Coach Walsh says,but he smiles when he says it, so obviously he is only mad at me,not superboy Nick Colt,beloved of coaches everywhere. If I were a guy he would let me run tomorrow.”

“Oh my God! Issie's a bunny, isn't she? Do they have those? Do they have werebunnies?""Big leap there,Zare." Nick cracks up. He shakes with laughter.I pout. "She'd be a good bunny.""True.But it's not her.It's Devyn.""Devyn? Devyn is cute and normal."He scrapes at the bottom of the hash pan. His voice comes out dead calm. "He's an eagle.""Oh.Okay.I am not going to freak out about this, but let me say that I am surprised.""Because he's in a wheelchair?""No! Because he's a bird.”

“I lean back down and press my lips against his" you're going to be safe. i swear.i'll keep you safe."his lips move beneath mine." I love you." his eyes are strong for a second, intense Nick eyes."I will always love you no matter what.""we'll always love each other," i say”

“Thank you for getting me," I try to say. My lips are so tired they don't want to move."Anytime,Zara.Really.I mean it." He seems to be smelling my hair."I know you hate me and everything but we should be friends," I tell him, closing my eyes."I don't hate you," he says. "That's not it at all.""What is it then? Are you a victim of parthenophobia?""Parthenophobia?""Fear of girls.""You are so strange." He moves back even closer to me, this wicked glint in his eyes like he's trying hard not to snort-laugh at me. His hand presses against the side of my head. Nobody has ever touched me like this before, all gentle and romantic, but strong at the same time. "I'm not afraid of girls.""Then why haven't you kissed any?"For a second his eyes flash. "Maybe the right one hasn't come around yet.”

“Nick laughs. Dimples crinkle up the skin near his lips.I will not look at his lips. How can he never have used those? That's a crime against humanity right there.”