“So I am your distraction?""You," He said,his face coming within inches of mine, " Are my only hope.”

“I'm going to kiss you now,' I whispered. Rhode lifted his eyes to mine. 'I was hoping you would say that,' he whispered back, and we both cracked a smile. 'Lenah,' he said, and I could feel his body heat humming off him. 'What will I do without you?'I shivered as one word travelled through me.'Live.”

“I started to speak to him in his native tongue, "why would you want to sit with me?" He pressed his lips together, and his eyebrows screwed up. He ran a hand through his spiky black hair. "I don' speak Japanese," He said in English. "But My parents do." "Strange," I said. "A Japanese boy who only speaks English?”

“You did this on purpose," I said to Justin as the man continued to strap me in."Maybe," he said."What is it you're playing at? Your girlfriend is down there at the river.""Let's jump together.""Come on Lenah!" Tony called from below."If you jump with me, Tracy will know."Justin stood up. "Know what?""I mean , she'll think you did it on purpose.""I did do it on purpose," he said."You two," the bungee man said. "Keep you eyes open if you're jumping together. Don't bash heads or anything. I hate cleaning up blood.""If you jump with me-" I started to say."I don't care anymore.”

“I loved so many things about him: that his fingers were always stained with paint or charcoal; his casual sense of humor and that he was loyal, to the end—even when I had lied so many times. He pursed his lips, highlighting his high and prominent cheekbones.”

“I stay because there is an extraordinary difference between thinking of you and seeing you in the mortal flesh. I stay for the one moment you smile throughout the day. Or to watch you run your hand through your hair. Because I must, must –" his breath was short – "must be near you, in any way I can.”

“Lenah?""Yeah?" I replied."Will you go to winter prom with me?""Of course," I whispered, sure I would fall asleep in moments. "Justin?""Mm-Hmm?" he said, moments from sleep himself."What's a prom?”