Quotes by Simone Elkeles

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dickhead. Well, I did.

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.

Listen, I didn’t ask for a face and body girls find attractive. But thanks to the mixture of my parents’ DNA, I’ve got them, and I’m not ashamed to use ’em.

You’ve got a big ego, Fuentes.”“That’s not all I’ve got.

The Professor doesn’t have a problem being called Dick? If my name was Richard, I’d go by Richard or Rich . . . not Dick. Hell, I’d even settle for being called Chard.

I lead Paco through the house. We pass Shelley in the family room looking at some magazine. Shelley, this is Paco. Hes Alexs friend. Paco, this is my sister, Shelley.At the mention of Alexs 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.

I wish I could help you I whisper.You are, he murmurs against my knee. just dont leave me, okay? Everyone leaves me.

Are you going to dance with me tonight? I ask.Hell, yeah.Colin never wanted to dance with me.Im not Colin, querida, and never will be.Good. Ive got you, Alex. I realize its all I need and Im ready to share it with the world.Inside the club, Alex immediately heads for the dance floor with me. I ignore the gawking stares from Fairfield students from my side of town as I pull Alex close to me and we move as one to the beat.We move together as if weve been a couple forever, every movement in sync with each other. For the first time Im not afraid of what people think of me and Alex together. Next year, in college, it wont matter who came from what side of town.

Want some? he asks, pointing to his dinner.Maybe eating will calm my nerves. What i

Do you think about making love with me?I lie awake most nights, fantasizing about sleeping next to her ... loving her. Right now, muneca, makin love to you is the only thing on my mind.

The urge to jump into his arms and feel the warmth of them surrounding me is so powerful, I wonder if its medically possible to be addicted to another human being.

Why shouldnt I be introspective? We dont make sense.Neither do Chocolate and Peanut Butter, but it somehow works. He says Somehow the mixture of two things is genius.

Lets have a bet, then. If Im right, you kiss me, he says.And if Im right?Name it.Its like taking candy from a baby. Mr. Macho Guys ego is about to be taken down a notch, and Im all too happy to be the one to do it. If I win you take me and the class project seriously, I tell him. No teasing me, no making ridiculous comments.Deal. Id feel terrible if I didnt tell you I have a photographic memory.Alex, Id feel terrible if I didnt tell you I copied the info straight from the book. I look at the research Id done, then flip open to the corresponding page in my chem book. Without looking, what does it need to be cooled at? I ask.Alex is a guy who thrives on challenges. But this time the tough guy is going to lose. He closes his own book and stares at me, his jaw set. Twenty degrees. And it needs to be dissolved at one hundred degrees, not seventy, he answers confidently.I scan the page, then my notes. Then back at the page again. I cant be wrong. Which page did I- Oh, yeah. One hundred degrees. I look up at him in complete shock. Youre right.You gonna kiss me now, or later?Right now, I say, which I can tell shocks him because his hands go still. At home, my life is dictated by my mom and dad. At school, its different. I need to keep it that way, because if I have no control in every aspect of my life I might as well be a mannequin.Really? he asks.Yeah. I take one of his hands in mine. Id never be this bold if we had an audience, and am thankful for the privacy of the nonfiction titles surrounding us. His breathing slows as I sit up on my knees and lean into him. Im ignoring the fact that his fingers are long and rough and that Ive never actually touched him before. Im nervous. I shouldnt be, though. Im the one in control this time.I can feel him restraining himself. Hes letting me make the move, which is a good thing. Im afraid of what this boy would do if he let loose.I place his hand against my cheek so it cups my face and I hear him groan. I want to smile because his reaction proves I have the power.Hes unmoving as our eyes meet.Time stops again.Then I turn my head into his hand and kiss the inside of his palm.There, I kissed you, I say, giving him back his hand and ending the game.Mr. Latino with the big ego got bested by a ditzy, blond bimbo.

Youre stressing too much about what might be. Do something to take your mind off thinking about what might never happen.

Shes a Texan, born and raised. Football is in our blood.

Snakes dont have fuckin legs, so how was I supposed to think thered be one hidin in the face of a damn rock thats ten feet below the summit?

Ill never let it happen. Ill do everything in my power to keep my sister at home.I dont want to have a civilized discussion. My parents want to send my sister to a facility behind my back and my head feels like its about to split open. Leave me alone, okay?Something is sticking out of my pocket. Its Alexs bandanna. Isabel isnt a friend, yet she helped me. And Alex, a boy who cared about me last night more than my own boyfriend did, acted as my hero and is urging me to be real. Do I even know how to be real?I clutch the bandanna to my chest.And I allow myself to cry.

Shelley, you think shell take me back? Alex asks her, his hair dangerously close to her fingers. She doesnt pull his hair . . . just pats his head gently. I feel the tears running down my cheeks at full speed.Yeah! Shelley yells with a goofy, gummy grin. She looks happier and more content than shes been in a long time. Both of my favorite people are with me right here; what more could I ask for?

I catch sight of Luis with one of my bandannas on his head and my gut tightens. I yank it off him. Dont ever touch this, Luis.Why not? he asks, his deep brown eyes all innocent.To Luis, its a bandanna. To me, its a symbol of what is and will never be. How the hell am I supposed to explain it to an eleven-year-old kid? He knows what I am. Its no secret the bandanna has the Latino Blood colors on it. Payback and revenge got me in and now theres no way out. But Ill die before I let one of my brothers get sucked in.I ball the bandanna in my fist. Luis, dont touch my shit. Especially my Blood stuff.I like red and black.Thats the last thing I need to hear. If I ever catch you wearin it again, youll be sportin black and blue, I tell him. Got it, little brother?He shrugs. Yeah. I got it.

Forget about that and kiss me, I say.I weave my hands in her hair. She wraps her arms around my neck as I trace the valley between her lips with my tongue. Parting her lips, I deepen the kiss. Its like a tango, first moving slow and rhythmic and then, when were both panting and our tongues collide, the kiss turns into a hot, fast dance I never want to end. Carmens kisses may have been hot, but Brittanys are more sensual, sexy, and extremely addictive.Were still in the car, but its cramped and the front seats dont give us enough room. Before I know it, weve moved to the backseat. Still not ideal, but I hardly notice.Im so getting into her moans and kisses and hands in my hair. And the smell of vanilla cookies. Im not going to push her too far tonight. But without thinking, my hand slowly moves up her bare thigh.It feels so good, she says breathlessly.I lean her back while my hands explore on their own. My lips caress the hollow of her neck as I ease down the strap to her dress and bra. In response, she unbuttons my shirt. When its open, her fingers roam over my chest and shoulders, searing my skin.Youre . . . perfect, she