Quotes from Simone Elkeles

At nine Megan calls to complain about Darlene. She thinks Darlene changed over the summer and now has a big ego because she's dating a college guy. At nine thirty Darlene calls to say she suspects Megan is jealous because she's dating a guy in college. At nine forty-five Sierra calls to tell me she talked to both Megan and Darlene tonight and she doesn't want to get in the middle of it. I agree, although I think we already are.

I lead Paco through the house. We pass Shelley in the family room looking at some magazine. "Shelley, this is Paco. He's Alex's friend. Paco, this is my sister, Shelley." At the mention of Alex's name, Shelley gives a happy squeal. "Hey, Shelley," Paco says. Shelley smiles wide. "Shell-bell, I need you to do me a favor." Shelley bobs her head in response as I whisper, "I need you to keep Mom occupied while I talk to Paco." Shelley grins, and I know my sister will come through for me.

Sam raises an eyebrow. "You know this guy?" "Listen," I say, taking one look at White Guy and am glad he's wearing a blue button-down instead of his coral shirt. It's still geek city, but at least I can keep a straight face when I say, "This guy's been in jail more times than me. He might look like a complete pendejo , but underneath that fucked-up hair and lame shirt he's a complete badass.

As Gary walks down the hallway, I think of how funny it is that the most unlikely person sometimes becomes your ally. And how a blond girl can make you think futures are something to look forward to.

What is this?" "A Smart Car." It looks like an SUV took a dump and out came the Smart Car. I wouldn't be surprised if Westford had said it was one of those toy cars that kids drive around.

I lean over to Paco and ask, "Seriously, what do you think of Alex and me together?" "Seriously, you're pro'bly the best thing that's ever happened to the guy.

I swear dust wouldn't have the nerve to land on their floors or counters.

Brittany was right. I don't belong here. It doesn't matter, because even if I don't belong in this place, she's here and I want to be where she is.

Who am I kidding? I have no reason for being here other than the fact that I want to be near her. Screw the bet. I want to know how to make this girl laugh. I want to know what makes her cry. I want to know what it feels like to have her look at me as if I'm her knight in shining armor.

You're not good at following directions, are you?" He grins as if saying, I'm a gang member, what did you expect?

I'll start caring about what other people think when I'm six feet under.

You'd think Peterson would be afraid of me, too, but that teacher wouldn't fear me even if I shoved a live grenade into her hands. "I don't got the money," Blake blurts out. "That answer ain't gonna cut it, man," Paco chimes in from the sidelines. He likes coming with me. He thinks of it as playing good cop/bad cop. Except we play bad gang member/worse gang member.

Promise me it won't mean anything." I lean my head back on the couch. "It won't mean anythin'." Aren't I supposed to be the guy in this scenario, laying down the no-commitment rules? "And no tongue," she adds. " Mi vida , if I kiss you, I guarantee there's gonna be tongue.

Who can sleep when we've got Trish the fuckin' bulldozer with us?

Do you ever think about makin' love to me?" He slides off a sock before I even answer his question. "Yes," she answers. "Do you think about making love with me?" I lie awake most nights, fantasizing about sleeping next to her…loving her. "Right now, muñeca , makin' love to you is the only thing on my mind.

I brush a strand of hair from her face, then move beside her. When she wraps her arms around my neck, all I want to do is protect this girl for the rest of my life. I ease her jacket open and lean away. A pink lace bra stares back at me. Nothing else. " Como un ángel ," I whisper. "Is our game over?" she asks nervously. "It's definitely over, querida. 'Cause what we're gonna do next is no game.

Not the way it's supposed to go down: bring girl home, kiss girl, mom insults girl, girl leaves crying.

I follow her, my black shirt open and flying in the wind behind me like a vampire's cape. Either that or the grim reaper's.

That shouldn't have happened," she says, throwing back her shoulders in a stance as stiff as a statue's. "What? The kiss or you likin' it so much?

I take a long drag, thankful for nicotine. I feel calmer immediately. Okay, so my lungs are probably shriveled up, but I have a good idea I'll probably die before my lungs decide to quit on me.

Sometimes good men need to do things that aren't good. Right?" I ruffle his hair. Luis is way more innocent than I was at his age. "You know, I think you're gonna be the smartest Fuentes yet, little bro.

If there's one thing I learned, it's that nobody is here forever. You have to live for the moment, each and every day . . . the here, the now." "And

I thought we were gonna take this relationship slow." "A back rub is harmless." My eyes roam over her kick-ass bikini-covered bod. "I'll have you know I've been intimate with girls wearin' a lot more.

How was the kiss with Alex?" "Nice," I say, thinking about how sensual it was. "Actually, Isabel, it was more than nice. It was fucking incredible." Isabel starts laughing, and I laugh right along with her this time.