“Did somebody whisper something? I look left then right. Uh oh. I think I'm hearing voices now. Not, I AM hearing voices I THINK I'm hearing voices. Okay not voices, just a voice. Is thinking you heard it better or worse than knowning you heard it? Does the distinction matter?”

“Fuck you."I shrug. "You already have."She rolls her eyes as her cheeks gain color. "So I have."Bethany puts her drink down and her voice drops a few octaves, laughingly, "And what fun i had whilst doing it."I chuckle uncontrollably, at so small a thing? No. Maybe it's the fact I've realized why other men had held nothing more than a vague interest for me "Oh, Beth!" I mock lament, both in reaction to her silliness and my own thoughts.She abruptly stops laughing. "I swear to god, I would kill for your voice. Each time you speak it's like being ear fucked.""Ear fucked," I echo and wince. "No, thank you.”

“Where was my head just then? I've already said I'm plain yet all of a sudden I think I'm The Shit? I'm not myself, my thoughts just took an uncharacteristic turn to vanity.”

“Every day I like what and who I am less and less,” he whispered more quietly than before,“because I know you wish for a different life. And I cannot give it to you.”

“I know you wish to be normal, human, but soon you will see there is nothing better than what you are.”

“Oh, Lee, how deep into the rabbit hole you have fallen. You're worse than Alice.”

“Oliver...''What?''I do like you.''But?''I just don't want you to think that I'm... that is, I'm really not looking for...''Hey.' I could hear the faint smile in his voice. 'It's a book, not an etching.”