The cut in Nick's arm was starting to throb dully with the pressure he was putting on it. He kept looking at Alan. 'How many times have you lied to me?' he asked in a soft voice. Alan replied, equally softly, 'I've lost count.

Actually," Alan said, earnest and clear-eyed, "this is my first time playing poker.

She walked beside Jared, four inches of rain-dashed darkness between her hanging wrist and his.

Oh, Rusty, why did you let her in?" Angela said. "We could have just lain down on the floor until she went away. We could've had a nice floor nap." "Have you guys eaten?" Kami asked. "I'm starving." "Cooking is so much trouble," Rusty said mournfully. "You could order in," Kami suggested. "Delivery people are so annoying," Angela responded.

And about that," he continued. "Now that Kami and I have met, she likes me better than you. So you can leave.

I don't think he likes girls", I said. "Or boys. Look at the horror on his face. He doesn't look like a people person.

There are none so deaf as those listening to ‘All by Myself’ over and over and over again.