Riley was quiet for a minute. She gathered her blanket all around her. "Paul always loved you, Alice. He knows I know that. I know he loves me, too. But it's different." Alice opened her mouth, but nothing came out at first. "He loved me once. But I think that part is over," she said slowly. "No, it's not. It hasn't even begun." Riley took Alice's bare foot in her hand and squeezed it. "I told him, though, that he better be good to you. When you came along, I said I'd share you, but I told him to remember that you're my sister. I loved you first."

Why does he have to be my boyfriend? Are you inferior if you don't have a boyfriend? Why does everybody have to be in love with somebody?

Do you have any idea how much I've loved you?

When I turned fifteen, I remember my father gave me a credit card which I was allowed to use for two things: emergencies and books.

Life isn't just fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all. -William Goldman

He'd pushed her. He'd scared her. He'd besieged her. He'd vowed he wouldn't, and he did.

Exactly! We run or we lose ourselves in something, somebody, anything to try and ease our pain.