“Christian is staring at us. He’s an only child and could never understand the delicate joys of sibling abuse.”

“As a serf, poor Christian has already been killed several times in our class. Aside from dying of the Black Plague on the first day, he’s starved to death, had his hands cut off for stealing a loaf of bread, and been run down by his master’s horse just for kicks. He’s like Christian the fifth now.”

“That wasn’t Christian,” she says.“Brilliant observation, Mother.”“What happened?”“He’s in love with another girl,” I say, and pull the silver laurel out of my hair.”

“His name is Christian,” he calls back. “Can you believe that? We came all this wayso Clara could save a guy named Christian.”“I’m aware of the irony.”

“Tonight I want us to simply be Christian and Clara, two college students on a date.”

“They stare at each other, one of those high-testosterone stares. “Amazing,” Tucker says. There’s a challenge in his voice. “Best summer of my life.”I wonder if it’s too late to get out of this class.“Well, that’s the thing about summers, isn’t it?” says Christian after a minute. “They have to end sometime.”

“But he’s like a god. You worship the gods but you don’t go out with them. You only like guys like that from a distance.”