Can I request another peer guide, One who isn't so happy to be at school at 7:30 a.m.?

We're in the Chicago suburbs, ruling our 'hood and the streets that lead here. It's a street war, where other suburban gangs fight us for territory. Three blocks away are mansions and million-dollar houses. Right here, in the real world, the street war rages on. The people in the million-dollar houses don't even realize a battle is about to begin less than a half mile from their backyards.

Stop thinking about Michael," Tuck orders. "He was cute." "So is a hairy ferret but I wouldn't want to date one. [...]

Three things Marco taught me today race through my mind: boys will lie to your face just to have sex with you, don't trust any boy who says I love you, and never date a boy who lives on the south side of Fairfield.

...there's no rule book or game plan when it comes to the grim realities of our lives.

With someone you like that much, the lows are as low as the highs are high. Does that make sense?' It does. It also makes me sound bipolar.' Love will do that to a person.

I'm ready for that adrenaline rush...with you.