“…when his tongue slipped between her lips, she went stock-still. not glorious anymore. his tongue. was in. her mouth. she couldn’t stop herself from pulling away. “is that absolutely necessary?”
he exhaled sharply, and his brie creased in puzzlement. “you don’t like french kissing?”
“it makes me feel like a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish.” it was weird and far too personal.”



“… her main weaknesses, and a defining characteristic of her disorder. she didn’t know how to be semi-interested in something. she was either indifferent …. or obsessed. and her obsessions weren’t passing things. they consumed her and became a part of her. she kept them close, wove them into her very life. just like get work.”



“the ball of irritation in his chest loosened. he couldn’t be annoyed with her when she didn’t understand.”


“it was… irritating and anxiety-causing. new place. new people. and after the disaster at the club, her tolerance for new things was at an all-time low. 
in the end, it was the idea of having the wrong my number if skirts and hairy hanging in her closet that had her perusing Yelp for nearby dry cleaners.”


“…. her issues: sensitivities to smell, sound, and touch; her obsession with her work; her need for routine; and get awkwardness with people.”


“…he worked through all his strikes ten attempts a time. always the same number and always the same order. if stella ever took up kendo, michael could see her doing the exact same thing.”



“he didn’t notice so much when it was just the two of them, but she had trouble with eye contact. she rarely spoke unless someone asked her a direct question, and then her answers were short and to the point. when she listened, however, her focus was the kind of stuff she probably used in complex economic problems. she frowned, hanging on every word like it was of utmost importance.”


“my mom likes to surround me with new people. i’ve gotten better at the talking, but it’s still a lot of work. 
….
for him, talking was…talking. there wasn’t a work part. “you overthink it.”
“i have the think really hard when i talk. otherwise i blurt out rude things, and i alienate everyone. “
“it’s because you’re so honest.”
“people don’t like honest. expect for when you’re saying good things. grouting out what people think is good is tricky, especially when i don’t know them. it makes conversation a minefield.”