All of my characters are a little bit based on people I know in real life. You know when you do that you have to change the character a little bit in case your friend or your relative reads the book, because you don't want them to know you wrote about them... They might get mad.

But once I'd come up with it, I realized it really was the perfect plan. Instead of waiting for Maria to come to me, I was simply going to go to her and, well... Send her back to where she came. Or reduce her to a mound of quivering gelatinous goo. Whichever came first.

I felt as if the Milky Way, hovering above our heads like a celestial pitcher, had suddenly overturned, pouring suns and planets down my throat. Stars seemed to be shooting out of my finger and toes, the ends of my hair.

It's kind of depressing, if you think about it. I mean, me being so young, and yet so cynical and suspicious.

Wait. Why am I thinking about Krispy Kremes? We’re supposed to be exercising.

Smiles like that should be against the law. Considering what they do to a girl.

So take my advice: whatever you do? Don’t blink