“Cold and anger were not a good mix."Hayden," Nick called from behind me.Oh, good! Just what this walk needed: a double-shot of ex to go with that cold and anger.”

“And then my mom called, "Have fun on your date, Hayden!"Another step down and I thought, Good.Mom is mistaken and has led Nick to believe I'm going on a date.One more step down and I thought,Oh no,Mom has led Nick believe I'm going on a date!"”

“Nick looked for his coat on the rack.I snagged mine and shrugged it on without stopping.I swung open the front door of the restaurant.The frigid night wind blew snow into my eyes."Hayden," Nick called me."Close the door," hollered the couples in the booths nearest us.I let go of the door handle, then turned to Nick in the warm room. When he just stood there,staring down at me,I walked back to him."On second thought,"he said, "I don't know about this."I was not going to get dissed again.I said brightly, "Oh,don't be scared.It's easy!" I jerked his puffy parka down from the rack and held it open for him. "Try one arm at a time."Glaring at me,he took the coat and shrugged it on. "Close the door!" shouted the couples around us as we walked outside.”

“Do you want me to call the boys?" Liz suggested from way above me."Do not not call Nick Krieger!" I shouted. "God, would he love this.""I've got Davis in my cell phone," Liz called. "Gavin,too.""Absolutely not.If you call Davis or Gavin,Nick will be attached." Chloe squealed,"Yes,please,liz. Gavin would be excellent right now! No offense,Hayden,but don't join the ski patrol anytime soon.""Ingrate!" I yelled. "I'll show you.I'm about to save the day, in just a minute here.”

“It's not fair," Davis protested. "After Nick wins, you'll just say conditions were different when Hayden came down, and that's what made her slower.Like,it started snowing.""Or it stopped snowing," Gavin said."Or the wind was harder," Davis said."Or the wind was softer," Gavin said. "Girls will whine about anything.”

“Talking about your feelings helps you let go of your anger. And it takes a lot of energy to be angry all the time.”

“His fingers, frozen in midfidget on his good knee, said PEOPLE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO ASK ME THAT.Either that or I HAVE JUST BEEN SHOT THROUGH THE PAPER SCREEN.He wasn't bleeding.”