Up in the Treehouse

Sometimes people would rather accept a lie than know the truth. Life is a whole lot easier to swallow that way.

He looked like he wanted to eat you." With that, I throw my head back and laugh. "That man has no problem finding a meal. I highly doubt he's starving." She scrunches her nose to show me she doesn't agree. "Well, maybe he just spotted something new on the menu. You know men and their food; they have to try a little bit of everything until they're completely satisfied.

Life isn't always predictable. But it's how we survive the bad weather that defines us.

The moment romance got involved, everything changed … and I mean everything.

I let it come to this, and I can only take responsibility for my own mistakes. Unfortunately, I've made a lot of them.

I could always see him for all that he was—for all that he is. Perfect.

Gavin doesn't pull away and I'm grateful for his comfort, but I also know this thing between us—what's always been between us—is wrong.

All I wanted was to follow my heart, but somehow along the way I lost my soul.

Our friendship was like glass, fragile and irreplaceable. One moment of weakness … one mistake … and it might have shattered completely. Our friendship was worth too much to me to risk even the slightest crack.

It's hard to be around Gavin and not get little hot flashes every now and then. I'm having an episode now ...

Chloe has always had a serious effect on my heart, but lately . . . she's stolen pieces of it, bit by bit. Or maybe she's had them all along.

My world stops at the sight of her ... it's as if I've been looking at Chloe through a two-way mirror this entire time—aware of her, always feeling her presence, but never allowing myself to break through the barrier.

Chloe doesn't move right away even though I've stepped to the side to allow her to pass. When she finally does, it's as if she's stealing my air as she goes. She's so damn beautiful.

You were staring out at the horizon, telling me it was the most beautiful thing you'd ever seen, and I was staring at you thinking the exact same thing.

Well"—I place my hands on my hips—"aren't you going to sketch me?" I twirl slowly, allowing him to take in the entire outfit. Before I'm even facing him again he's moving toward me, then grabbing me by the hips and pulling me against his hard body. My heart is trying to catch up to his eagerness as we fall onto the bed. "I've done all the practice sketches I can handle.

I don't think we're allowed to call this friendship spooning anymore

The liquid seeping through my system instantly turns to fire, and it burns like the flames of guilt that have consumed me for so long.

When she left she took a piece of me with her—and it wasn't until she returned that I realized just how big that piece was. I want it back.

Her beauty radiated from her core and touched every morsel of her exterior … and it only seems to have gotten better with age.

When someone has already made their choice, you just have to be smart enough to know they made it and have the strength to walk away.

When a girl gives you her heart and tells you to trust it, you don't question it. You don't waste a second. You just do it.