“He smiled, a little smile, but the sight of it made my breathing speed up. "I've always needed you. For my entire life,' I said in a whisper,'and I'm always going to need you.”

“Besides...' She smiled. 'I'm perfectly safe, remember? I've got you. I've always got you.''Please always stay mine,' he whispered.'Always.”

“You'll always be my friend, won't you Fred? Don't let me fuck this up. I need you in my life now. I need the golden eyed girl who can make me smile.”

“I take a deep breath and put on my best smile. You could sell ice to Eskimos, my dad always says, and looking at this crowd, I think I'm going to have to be quite the salesman.”

“I'm gonna barf," I whispered to Fang,wiping my sweaty hands on my jeans.You'll be fine," he whipered back. "You always are.I'm gonna die," I moaned.You can't die," he said a hint of a smile in his voice."You're the indesructible Max.”

“Daddy," I whispered, feeling my own breath hitch in my throat. "I love you."Just when I was sure he was asleep, the one corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. "I knew that," he murmured. "Always knew that.”