“For the first time in my life, I fully understand the expression "I can't hear myself think.” — Lauren Henderson First time Copy Share Image
“You didn't mind someone shutting out the world as long as they were happy to take you inside with them.” — Lauren Henderson Pushing away Copy Share Image
“If there’s anything more annoying than a boy praising another girl’s beauty to your face, I can’t think what it is.” — Lauren Henderson Beauty Copy Share Image
“You know, we should make a note of all the mean things Elisa says to us in Italian. That way, we’ll learn… — Lauren Henderson Swearwords Copy Share Image
“For a split second, his finger touches my skin, and he might as well have brushed me with a lit match.” — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“He lifts one of my hands and raises it to his cheek, a gesture so tender and unexpected that my breath catches… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“Sometimes I think hanging out with boys would be an awful lot simpler. And then I remember how much they like to… — Lauren Henderson Copy Share Image
“There’s silence for a long moment as we all watch him go: then, like air whizzing out of a balloon, we all… — Lauren Henderson Silence Copy Share Image
“ Is it a whale? I wonder. Or a shark? I shrug. These are the kind of questions you find yourself pondering… — Lauren Henderson Copy Share Image
“My English is much better than my sister Elisa’s,” he adds affably. “Your English ees better,” Elisa snaps, “because you love to… — Lauren Henderson English Better Copy Share Image
“I do a hundred sit-ups every morning,” Kendra says, reaching for her white-framed sunglasses. “You can join in if you want.” “Oh… — Lauren Henderson Every morning Copy Share Image
“ Elisa was right about her brother , I think, having enough experience to recognize when a boy’s flirtation skills are set… — Lauren Henderson Having fun Copy Share Image
“I had a really good time tonight. Tons of boys hanging off me. And I could see it was really messing with… — Lauren Henderson American accent Copy Share Image
“Talking about partying, I didn’t come to Italy for the summer just to hang out with a bunch of girls! No offense,… — Lauren Henderson Paige Copy Share Image
“I learned another Italian word recently, painstakingly working on the translation of Jovanotti’s lyrics: storia. It means “history,” but it can also… — Lauren Henderson Dark blue Copy Share Image
“Andrea’s unlocked the back door, and Kendra and I push and shove Paige in. She flops down inside with a long sigh… — Lauren Henderson Backseat Copy Share Image
“ Something else that’s different about Italian boys, I realize. If they see a girl they fancy they go up to her… — Lauren Henderson Different Italian Copy Share Image
“So,” he starts slowly, “if I am thinking that I want to kiss you, I should not say it out loud?” Oh,… — Lauren Henderson Telling the truth Copy Share Image
“Is there somewhere Maria could go?” I ask in a very small voice. “Maybe”--I have a flash of inspiration--“maybe a nunnery?” Luca’s… — Lauren Henderson Black clothes Copy Share Image
“She’d been on the verge of flying out to see me--she’d practically booked a ticket to Pisa for the first flight out… — Lauren Henderson Long time Copy Share Image
“ I’m in public, in a club in Florence, snogging a boy who I met only a couple of hours ago, so… — Lauren Henderson Electric shock Copy Share Image
“There are plenty of boys clustered around the wall, laughing, shoving each other playfully, yelling, competing for the attention of the girls.… — Lauren Henderson Dark blue Copy Share Image
“Luigi, the art teacher, holds up his brush, and we all do the same. I’m not quite sure why we’re mirroring his… — Lauren Henderson Art Copy Share Image
“Wow,” I breathe as we walk along the road past the parked cars, and come to an arched gate set in a… — Lauren Henderson Fairy tale Copy Share Image
“Luca waits patiently while she clutches him, kisses him, pats his cheek, muttering “ mio bellissimo figlio ,” “my beautiful son,” something… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“ Elisa may have ridden roughshod over other girls who’ve done this summer course, made their lives a misery , I think… — Lauren Henderson Mother Copy Share Image
“There are plenty of boys clustered around the wall, laughing, shoving each other playfully, yelling, competing for the attention of the girls.… — Lauren Henderson Copy Share Image
“We should go,” I say. I look at Luca hopelessly. “Get home safe,” I manage, shrugging out of his jacket, which I’ve… — Lauren Henderson Copy Share Image
“Hey!” Paige waves flirtatiously at Luca, one of those girl-waves where you open and flutter your fingers while flashing a brilliant smile.… — Lauren Henderson Bad thing Copy Share Image
“Eww!” Kendra says, shuddering and clamping her hands on her hair, as if a swarm of bats is about to fly in… — Lauren Henderson Fun time Copy Share Image
“How cool ,” she says, directing a melting stare at Luca. “I’d love to live in a place like this--just pull a… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“ C’è qualche problema ?” comes a soft voice from behind us, and we all jump, startled. He has a way of… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“It is eerie and uncanny how Luca has the ability to read my mind. “Will you go back now to London, Violetta?”… — Lauren Henderson Bad thing Copy Share Image
“So, you have a nice time with Luca?” says a sharp, high voice right behind me. I turn to see Elisa. “Luca… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“ Violetta ,” he whispers into my mouth. “ Violetta, cosa mi fai? ” I open my eyes just a fraction, to… — Lauren Henderson Fine china Copy Share Image
“You know what ‘ vespa ’ means?” I shake my head, my mouth suddenly dry, because he’s taken a step toward me,… — Lauren Henderson Like Wasp Copy Share Image
“I tell the truth,” he says. “ E la cosa più importante nel mondo. The most important thing.” “You can know what… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“I don’t understand the Italian, but it’s obvious that they’re all fighting over him. The principessa wants Luca to have dinner here;… — Lauren Henderson Gaze Copy Share Image
“Luca’s tongue slides into my mouth, slow, drowsy, intoxicating. I hear myself make a little involuntary moaning noise, and I’d be embarrassed… — Lauren Henderson Fine china Copy Share Image
