This is the strange way of the world, that people who simply want to love are instead forced to become warriors.

A good friend keeps your secrets for you. A best friend helps you keep your own secrets.

Because if it weren’t for me, Lena and Alex would never have been caught at all. I told on them. I was jealous.

But that's the problem with love - it acts on you, works through you, resists your attempts to control.

And a face above mine, white and beautiful, eyes as large as the moon. You saved me. A hand on my cheek, cool and dry. Why did you save me? Words welling up on a tide: No, the opposite. Eyes the colour of a dawn sky, a crown of blond hair, so bright and white and blinding I could swear it was a halo.

That's when you really lose people, you know.When the pain passes.

Are you sure that being like everybody else will make you happy?" "I don't know any other way." "Let me show you." And then we're kissing. Or at least, I think we're kissing—I've only seen it done a couple of times, quick closed-mouth pecks at weddings or on formal occasions. But this isn't like anything I've ever seen, or imagined, or even dreamed: this is like music or dancing but better than both.