`` i do n't know how long it 's going to last '' i said despite the fact i knew that it was going to last three months and not a second longer . beth did n't consider herself close at all . alexs uncle always called a group like that , a squad . with cat-like speed , marc sat up , grabbed one of her arms , and dragged her down on top of him . he closed the book and returned it carefully to the magazine rack beside the chair . 