“Hit him.""Don't make her do that," Hunter told Tommy. "She'll break her hand.”

“Her dad brought his hands together and popped a knuckle.“Trevor,” Frances said soothingly, rubbing her hand on his back. But she was looking hard at me over her glasses, telling me upstanding citizens did not act this way.When we were kids, that look from Frances could make Lori and her brother behave, and sometimes even my brothers, but I never seemed to get the message.“I saw you coming out of the woods,” Lori’s dad shouted at me. “Together!”“We weren’t rolling in the leaves or anything. Look, no evidence.” I put my other hand on Lori’s other shoulder and turned her around backward, hoping against hopeshe didn’t have scratches from the tree on her bare back, or bark on her butt.“Get your hands off my daughter.”

“Stay away from her.""Okay.""Keep your hands off her.""I'll try."He scowled at me."I will," I said.”

“Hunter deepened it.”

“It was Gavin's turn to look perplexed. "You're from Tennessee?""Of course she's from Tennessee," Nick said."Why do you think we always make fun of her accent?"Gavin shrugged. "Because it's there?”

“He sighed, then said, "So basically, you're stalking her.""I am NOT stalking her." I insisted."That's where you come in. If I followed her by myself, someone who did not understand the situation and did not realize that I am so responsible-"McGillicuddy snorted."- might mistake what I am doing for stalking.However, her big brother is with me. Therefore we are protecting her.”

“I don’t want to make her jealous yet,” I explained. “She hasn’t gone out with Sean yet. Right now I want her to feel special, like she’s the only girl I ever introduced tomy secret make-out hideout. It’s only after she goes out with Sean that I’m going to pull the rug out from under her.”“Adam Vader,” Rachel said. “I had no idea you were so sneaky.”“Right. That makes me even sneakier. Deal?”