she tried to seem cynical, always telling louisa not to trust anyone, but deep down fish's big problem was that she believed in happy endings. that was why she was so easy to hurt.
"you haven't called to say we're coming?"
"no."
"so what will you do if she isn't home, then? or if she can't sell the painting?"
"i don't know. but i'm sure you'll think of something."
"me?"
"yes. i trust you."
a new record for the kindest thing he's said.
"do you really think you'll never go back to being a teacher?"
"no. i'll never go back to teaching."
"what are you going to do instead? become a comedian?"
"i'm going to become a politician. and pass a law saying that annoying teenager shouldn't be allowed on trains."
"HELLO?"
"see? i am funny."
"sometimes i think that my childhood lasted two years, between when i was thirteen and fifteen."
"would you swap those two years for a whole childhood? i mean, like, a happy childhood, only with different friends?"
"i wouldn't have swapped those idiots for a thousand childhoods."