Say it again,” he says. “That whole drawn-out speech?” I remember something about a solar system, but I’m too light-headed to recite the entire thing all over again. He steps closer. “No. The part about you fallin’ for me.

Alex probably brings his dates sharp knives as gifts, in case she'll need one when she's out on a date with him.

You know you can do more, but everyone expects you to quit.

Feelings can't be a part of this game.

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.

Unfortunately, I can’t run from my heart. It hurts, deep inside my body. And I know I’ll never be the same.

In the end everything will be okay. But hurdles have to be jumped through first.