“James stared at him for a moment, a brief moment, before his stonelike fist landed in Richard's gut. "Wrong answer. Try again.”

“Wow. I'm impressed. Seriously." Ryan stared at him in amazement. "Wow." A brief moment passed and he shook his head slowly. "Some day I'll be able to think of something more clever than that to say, but at the moment I'm freakin' floored.”

“Richard started to walk away. Zedd called his name. He stopped and turned.Just be glad she cares for you as much as she does. If she didn't, she might have touched you."Richard stared back at him a long moment. "I'm afraid, in a way, she already has.”

“It gave me an extraordinary feeling, being on the receiving end of such a stare. It made me feel like I was more important than air to him for a brief, profound moment.”

“For a few brief moments, Matt got to hold Julie in his arms. And that gift? That would stay with him forever.”

“Richard opened his hand, and the key stared up at him from his palm. "By my crooked teeth," asked Richard, remembering, "who am I?”