“He noticed her giving him the once-over and smiled in a way no gay boy in history had ever smiled at a girl.”

“He saw the girl watching him and he smiled at her. It was an old smile that he had been using for fifty years, ever since he first smiled...”

“He was sitting not far away, watching me, and I surprised a smile on his face, the first real smile I had ever seen him give, a smile that curved and softened the tight mouth, and warmed the ice-cool eyes; a smile that brought the blood to my face and made my heart turn over.”

“He glanced over at me, a smile twisting his lips. "Hey, no advice, Ghost Girl. Guardians should be seen and not heard."I flipped him off for the "Ghost Girl" comment but he didn't notice because Lissa was talking to him again.”

“He smiled at me, and it was not the worried, nervous smile from before, but a smile that meant he was pleased. And I don't remember him ever smiling at me that way again.”

“Optimism is the young boy who notices that a girl notices that he notices her.”