“If you want to touch me, Kendall, touch me. Don't hide behind those little girl slaps.”

“If you don't want me to see, I guess, don't sleep in the same room as me."He looks at her with a sly smile. "But I'm known for sleeping in school. It's my shtick.”

“WE We feel the heat, and for a moment, We believe! Life is back. But this heat is intense, not gentle. Not submissive but searing. Painful. We moan, scream, Our face cracking like gunfire... like a whip. Thirty-five, one hundred. One hundred! ONE HUNDRED! The fire consumes our wooden host. It burns, breaks, explodes. Releases Our remaining souls to travel to Our final resting places. Or. To find new places to hide. And wait. Touch me.”

“It's the touching they both long for. The holding. Spent their whole lives, each without any.”

“Are you okay?" she whispers, giggling.Me? Oh sure. You might have to carry me out of here, though."What happened?"I created a distraction."I gathered that."Step stool, encyclopedias, floor."I see. Well, I can't thank you enough."Sure you can. Help me flunk enough tests, so I drop out of the 'torian range."Can't you just tell Abernethy that you have a reputation as a dumbshit to keep up, and you don't want the attention?"Flunking is more fun.”

“This phone," he says finally. "I want this phone."She laughs. "No. S'mine."Janie, I don't think you understand. I want it."Sorry."It's got photo caller ID; Internet; video, camera, and digital recorder?! Holy Hannah... It's making me warm all over."Oh yeah?" Janie says in a sexy voice. "Wanna play with my phone, baby?"Hell yes, I do.”

“So, what are you doing tonight?"Me?" Janie laughs. "Homework, of course."You want company?" Carrie's looking wistful.Do you have homework to do?"Of course. Whether I do it or not is the real question.”