Readers embrace all kinds of characters as long as they are written with emotional truth.

I want to take back at least half of the “I love you”s, because I didn’t mean them as much as the other ones.

You like him because he's a lost boy. Believe me, I've seen it happen before. But do you know what happens to girls who love lost boys? They become lost themselves. Without fail.

Belonging. Togetherness. These words are as complicated and confusing as the word love. It’s probably all the same thing. Or it would be if we let it be. I can only guess from observation.

I am learning that a life isn't real unless someone else knows its reality. And I want my life to be real.

I see Nick's number. I debate whether to assign a name to his number. If I commit to that, then I will truly be heartbroken if he never calls me again; my heart will knot each and every time I use this phone and see his name in there. I would probably end up having to trash the phone entirely.

I never know what you really want, if I can give it to you, or if I’m already too late.