“It's just not worth it to be so stressed and angry about everything. Life's generally not so bad- most people just choose to see the negative.”

“Life's generally not so bad-most people just choose to see the negative.”

“Aghhh! You don’t get it! I have to resist! No kiss, no matter how good it is, is worth killing you for. I’ve already lost one boyfriend. I am not going tolose another one! Do you understand me?” Ryan didn’t answer my question, but he was positively glowing. “You just called me your boyfriend!” heaccused.“I—” My mouth dropped all the way to my lap. “I did not!”“Yes you did! You said you weren’t going to lose another boyfriend, and that would be me—the other boyfriend you don’t want to lose.”“But…I…I…”“Ha! You said it, and you can’t take it back! You are so my girlfriend now!”“I am not!”“Are too!“Am not!”“So are too!”“Aghhh!” I screamed again. “You are so impossible!”When I screamed, I lost control for a second and let out a burst of energy that stalled the truck.Ryan just grinned at me. He was lucky the car stopped right then, because I was contemplating knocking the stupid cocky smirk right off his face.Instead, I flung the door open.“Bye, honey!” Ryan called playfully as I jumped out of the truck. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow!”

“According to Mr. E., all of this was my fault,” Ryan explained. With a little too much amusement if you ask me. “For making you fall in love with meand ruining everything.”“Why did that ruin everything?”Ryan was quiet for a moment, and I couldn’t believe it when his grin changed into that infamous cocky smirk. “You just said you love me!” heaccused with excitement.Again, I gaped at him, temporarily speechless. Of course I denied it. I had to; it was my natural reaction to his ego. “I did not!”“Did too.” He grinned. “You said, ‘why did that ruin everything.’ Meaning you agree that it happened. You said it. Can’t take it back. You love me.”Learning to control my powers was child’s play compared to keeping a straight face right then, but I couldn’t give in to his smugness. He was just sosure of himself. “Do not.”“Do too.”“Do not.”“So do too.”

“The way I see it,” Carter said, “I have to keep your secret because if I don’t call a truce with you, that someone who’s going to get killed somedaywill probably be me.” I shrugged. He was right about that. But I smiled again and held out my hand. “Fine. Truce.”“Truce,” Carter agreed, and shook my hand. “So how about a statement for my article?”“Sure. ‘No comment.’ ”

“Right then I wasn't a freak. I wasn't an ice queen. I didn't have powers. What I had was a friend comforting me when I needed it most. Right then I was just a normal girl, and Ryan was the superhero.”

“If ever a girl was [worth waiting], Val, it'd be you, but I can't promise that. You have no idea what my life is like. There are always too many beautiful and willing women. There's too much temptation. Too much expectation. If I wasn't getting it from you I'd probably stray. I know how that sounds, but I'm just being honest. I'm only human, Val. A weak one who's been indulged way too long. I can't give you what you're asking for because I'm afraid of breaking your heart.”