It’s not Brittney’s face, not her smile, not even her eyes. All of that surface stuff made the world see her as beautiful, but it was the deeper stuff that made her different.

When she wraps her arms around my neck, all I want to do is protect this girl for the rest of my life.

Opening yourself up to making mistakes and being vulnerable is what makes it beautiful and special with the person you love.

Why are you making a joke out of this?" she asks. "Because it's stupid, Nik. There's not even room in my day to think about someone else.

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.

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.

Every time I break out of what is expected of me and do what feels right, I feel stronger.