Indecisiveness wears a person out.

I've been the oldest child since before you were born

Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away. That is, running away in the heat of anger with a knapsack on her pack. She didn't like discomfort; even picnics were untidy and inconvenient: all those insects and the sun melting the icing on the cupcakes. Therefore, she decided that her leaving home would not be just running from somewhere but would be running to somewhere.

Talk was like the vitamins of our friendship: Large daily doses kept it healthy.

I don't think there is any feeling I like more than the one that someone is glad to see me. —Connor Kane

They called themselves The Souls. They told Ms. Olinski that they were The Souls before they were a team, but she told them that they were a team as soon as they became The Souls. Then after a while, teacher and team agreed that they were arguing chicken-or-egg. Whichever way it began--chicken-or-egg, team-or-The Souls--it definitely ended with an egg. Definitely, an egg.

Secrets are the kind of adventure she needs. Secrets are safe, and they do much to make you different. On the inside where it counts.