You can't make people listen to you. People only hear what they want to hear.

Boys everywhere. All seven of them plus their dad, running and laughing and shoving each other around on the front lawn, engaged in what appeared to be a full-contact, tackle version of ultimate Frizbee. They were playing shirts and skins. Shirts and might-fine-lookin' skins.

All I know is, he found out you left and he locked himself in the shed and barricaded the door. No one's seen him since, Doug said. When I bolted, Sean and Evan were trying to boost Caleb up onto the roof so he could look through the skylight and make sure the kid wasn't dead or something.

Boys do tell you how they really feel. I think you just have to be in the right place at the right time or maybe be the right person

Megan could have kissed him. If there weren't a million obstacles, both physical and psychological, in her way, of course.

No use dwelling on the past. What you do tomorrow and the next day and the day after that is what matters.

I had a dream this morning too, and you were in it, he said. I don't remember what it was about, exactly, but when I woke up I looked at the clock and it was exactly six thirty-two. I felt an eerie tingle all down my back and froze with my spoon halfway to my mouth. Really? He smirked and popped the cookie into his mouth. No

Finally Doug broke the stalemate and looked at Megan. Thanks a lot, he said sarcastically. Then he yanked off his plastic gloves, tossed them at her feet, and stormed away. Finn let out a sigh as he gazed after his brother. You know, my parents really should have stopped with me.

One more thing, Megan said, stopping Doug in his tracks. His shoulders slumped and he turned around. What? You want my kidney? I want in on the next ultimate Frisbee game, Megan said. Doug grinned. You're playing skins. Megan grinned back. We'll see about that.

Evan stopped completely. He was staring at her with those intense eyes. Staring right into her. Just like he had in those couple of moments when she had thought for a split second, that he wanted to kiss her.

It was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?