“They examine me like I’m a cow at a 4-H auction. I try not to moo.”

“I’m a morning person and a night person. So I have to be a nap person, or else I’m a tired person.”

“I guess you gotta try the rest before you settle down with the best.”

“That reminds me." I dug into my book bag and pulled out a white cardboard box tied with a string. "I brought these back for you."He looked at the box, then at me, before slowly reaching out. "What are they?""Poisonous snakes. Open it."Zachary untied the string. "They seem like very quiet snakes.""They're stealthy. Or maybe dead.”

“You want me to flash you" I saidHe nodded vigorously, like I'd asked if he wanted fries with that."And then you'll pass on?""That's all I want. So, yeah."I could almost believe that a fourteen-year-old boy could find deep spiritual peace from a pair of boobs.”

“When I got tired, Logan would sing me to sleep, sometimes a painfully appropriate song like Flogging Molly’s “If I Ever Leave This World Alive” or Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.” Sometimes he’d pick a lilting Irish lullaby, or even a song he’d written himself.”

“Hey, it’s not like I was saving myself for the day you had a body again, so don’t get excited.” “Too late.” He curved his fingers around my jaw and kissed me, hard enough to turn my limbs to liquid fire.”