“How could I ask for a better friend? Someone who gives me a backup plan. Instead of someone who makes me the backup plan.”

“They walked to school, talking about how much they were longing for the summer holidays."Oh, I am planning things," said Jamie. "Great, great things. I could join a band.""You gave up the guitar after two lessons.""Well," he said, "I could be a backup dancer.""Backup dancers have to wear belly shirts and glitter," said Mae. "So obviously, I support this plan.”

“Tomorrow is not another day; tomorrow is today's backup plan.”

“I wasn’t ready to think about the other yet: that it wasn’t that I wasn’t right for Macon, but that maybe he wasn’t right for me. There was a difference. Even for someone who things didn’t come easy for, someone like me.”

“So what's the plan?''Why do people ask me that? Do I seem like a person who could make and then keep plans?”

“Shapeshifter parenting motto—if your kid slits somebody's throat, always have a backup plan to make the body disappear.”

“I love you."You imagine hearing the words from someone related not related to you, someone not your best friend, but when someone you love, you dream about, actually says them, it makes your body melt and your breath get caught in your chest."You love me?" I asked, leaning toward him.He nodded. "Say it again" I said. I let my knee bump against his."I love you," he repeated.”