They meet in the girls' bathroom. The last time they were forced to meet in a place like this, they took separate, isolated stalls. Now they share one. They hold each other in the tight space, making no excuses for it. There's no time left in their lives for games, or for awkwardness, or for pretending they don't care about each others, and so they kiss as if they've done it forever. As if it is as crucial as the need for oxygen.

What's the point of living if you're going to hate the world? Guard your heart if you have to, but don't shut it away.

Touch is a freaky thing when you're not used to it. It makes you feel all kinds of things.

Dreams can twist your emotions like no reality can.

Makes sense, the earth is quick to consume the flesh of things that ain't natural.

No," says Ariana. "It was a dream. Reality got in the way, that's all.

The thing was, if I had found a way to escape- even for just a little while- I knew the pain would be there waiting for me when I got back.