“My life is a black hole of boredom and despair.""So basically you've been doing homework.""Like I said, black hole.”

“Oh,you. The usual. With you gone and Easton Heights in reruns, my life is a black hole of boredom and despair.""So basically you've been doing homework.""Like I said,black hole.”

“I don’t want to be like her, like Vivian. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Am I going to hurt people?”“No one can make you do that, child. You are caught between two worlds, much like my own Lend. You will want the fire, you will want to be filled. It is your nature. I hope you do not fall, but she is much stronger than you are.”She smiled at me, reaching out as though she would wipe away my tears. “Cling to what is good in your life. Be good to my son.”

“I rolled my eyes at Tasty Neck Girl. "Oh, get over it. Would have been the shortest relationship of your life.”

“Tell you what," he said, noticing my stare. "I know you can't get a license, but I might be able to do something better.""What?"He smiled. "How would you like to come to school with me tomorrow and see a real, live locker?" I'm pretty sure I squealed.”

“Are you about done yet?Because this is all very impressive,but it's a school night and I've got homework to get back to.”

“I closed my eyes. I used to think I was protecting the world, too. But it wasn't that simple. Nothing was. Who were we to decide that anyone or anything didn't deserve the spark of life they had been given?”