Huamns, uregulated, are cruel and capricious; violet and selfish; miserable and quarrelsome. It is only after their instincts and basic emotions have been controlled that they can be happy, generous, and good.
Lauren OliverThere's that confidence again, that semi-infuriating easiness of his, the tilt of his head and the smile. but today it's not infuriating. Today I like it, feel like it's somehow rubbing off on me, like if I was around him enough I would never feel awkward or frightened or insecure.
Lauren OliverIโm Hana,โ Hana says. โAnd this is Lena.โ She jabs me with an elbow. I know I must look like a fish, standing there with my mouth gaping open, but Iโm too outraged to speak. Heโs lying. I know heโs the one I saw yesterday, would bet my life on it. โAlex. Nice to meet you.โ Alex keeps his eyes on me as he and Hana shake hands. Then he extends a hand to me. โLena,โ he says thoughtfully. โIโve never heard that name before.
Lauren OliverI'm gone, lost, floating away into nothingness like I am in my dream, but this time it's a good feeling - like soaring, like being totally free, and I can feel the impression of his fingers everywhere that they touch, and I think of stars streaking through the sky and leaving burning trails behind them, and in that moment - however long it lasts, seconds, minutes, days - while he's saying my name into my mouth and I'm breathing into him, I realize this, right here, is the first and only time I've ever been kissed in my life.
Lauren Oliver