“the scary part is that people don't realize how much they've changed .”

“We're in the Chicago suburbs, ruling our 'hood and the streets that lead here. It's a street war, where othersuburban gangs fight us for territory. Three blocks away are mansions and million-dollar houses. Right here,in the real world, the street war rages on. The people in the million-dollar houses don't even realize a battle isabout to begin less than a half mile from their backyards.”

“I don't play games with people's lives like you do.”

“I've spent so much time avoiding arguments and smoothing relationships with the people around me, this confrontation is painful.”

“I want to tell her how much she's become the center of my being. But I can't. The words won't come.”

“Brittany and I don't date other people.""Why not?""It's called being boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“I can't help but smile as I swipe a lone tear trailing down my cheek. How can I not be crazy in love with this guy? Time away from him didn't change anything. I can't deny him another chance. That would be denying myself. ”