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I Couldn't Picture Myself With A Boyfriend, But If I Had To, I Envisioned A Nice Normal Guy Who Turned In His Math Homework On Time And Maybe Even Played Rec Baseball.

-Becca Fitzpatrick

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I Couldn't Picture Myself

Becca Fitzpatrick

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I Couldn't Picture Myself With A Boyfriend, But If I Had To, I Envisioned A Nice Normal Guy Who Turned In His Math Homework On Time And Maybe Even Played Rec Baseball.

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Keep In Mind That People Change, But The Past Doesn't.

You Smell Good." "it's Called A Shower. Soap, Shampoo, Water-" "naked. I Know The Drill.

His Finger Flicked Open A Button On My Cardigan-then Two, Three, Four. It Tumbled Off My Shoulders, Leaving Me In My Camisole. He Pushed Up The Hem, Teasing And Stroking His Thumb Across My Stomach. My Breath Came In A Sharp Intake Of Air.

Listen, Patch, I Don’t Want To Be Rude, But—” “sure You Do.” “well, You Started It!” Lovely. Very Mature.

I Could Get You To Smile Like That, And Without Sales Tax." I Whirled Around To Find The Real Patch Standing In The Fitting Room Behind Me. He Was Wearing Jeans And A Snug White Tee. His Arms Were Folded Loosely Over His Chest, And His Black Eyes Smiled Down At Me. Heat That Wasn't Entirely Uncomfortable Flushed Through My Body. "i Could Make All Kinds Of Pervert Jokes Right Now," I Quipped.

I Would Lay Down Everything I Possess, Even My Soul, For You. If That Isn't Love, It's The Best I Have.

He Gave Marcie A Spare To The Jeep—i Should Park This Thing In The Ocean, Twenty Feet Under.

Every Animal On The Planet Attracts Mates With The Goal Of Reproduction. Frogs Swell Their Bodies. Male Gorillas Beat Their Chests. Have You Ever Watched A Male Lobster Rise Up On The Tips Of His Legs And Snap His Claws, Demanding Female Attention? Attraction Is The First Element Of All Animal Reproduction, Humans Included

You’ve Never Been To School, Ever? If That’s True—and You’re Right, I Don’t Think It Is—what Made You Decide To Come This Year?” “you.

Nora: This Is Crazy. Patch: I'm Crazy. About You.

The Archangel." I Murmured. Looking Back Over My Shoulder At The Ride, Which Had Started Its Next Ascent. "it Means High-ranking Angel." There Was A Definite Smugness To His Voice. "the Higher Up, The Harder The Fall.

Heat Flushed Chauncey's Neck; It Took All His Energy To Curl His Hands Into Two Weak Fists. He Laughed At Himself, But There Was No Humor. He Had No Idea How, But The Boy Was Inflicting The Nausea And Weakness Inside Him. It Would Not Lift Until He Took The Oath. He Would Say What He Had To, But He Swore In His Heart He Would Destroy The Boy For This Humiliation.

I’m Not Stealing It. We’re Stranded. This Is Called Borrowing.” “this Is Called You’re Crazy.

Go Ahead. You're Not Going To Walk In On Anyone. I'm Home Alone." "the Whole Night?" Immediately, I Realized It Might Not Have Been The Smartest Thing To Say. "dorothea Will Be Coming Soon." That Was A Lie. Dorothea Was Long Gone. It Was Close To Midnight. "dorothea?" "our Housekeeper. She's Old- But Strong. Very Strong." I Tried To Squeeze Past Him. Unsuccessfully. "sounds Frightening," He Said, Retrieving The Key From The Lock. He Held It Out For Me. "she Can Clean A Toilet Inside And Out In Under A Minute. More Like Terrifying.

If Anyone Were To Find Out—” I Began. Patch Kissed Me, Hard, But With An Amused Glint In His Eye. “if I Get Caught, It’ll Mean The End Of Kissing You. Do You Really Think I’d Risk That?” His Face Grew Serious. “i Know I Can’t Feel Your Touch, But I Feel Your Love, Nora. Inside Me. It Means Everything To Me. I Wish I Could Feel You The Same Way You Feel Me, But I Have Your Love. Nothing Will Ever Outweigh That. Some People Go Their Entire Lives Never Feeling The Emotions You’ve Given Me. There Is No Regret In That.

..."good, Because I Need Your Help." "help Is My Middle Name." I Was Pretty Sure She'd Already Told Me Bad Was Her Middle Name, But I Kept My Opinion To Myself.

Is Everything A Joke To You?” I Asked. He Dabbed His Tongue To His Lip Again. “not Everything.” “like What?” “you.

You're Crazy. You're Impossible.' 'i'm Crazy?' He Tipped My Chin Up And Planted A Quick, Rough Kiss On My Mouth. 'and I Must Be Crazy For Putting Up With It.

Right Now, Vee Was The Only Person I Could Count On. She Could Be Obnoxious,annoying, And Lazy, But She Never Lied To Me.

Class Was Like Watered Down Porn Today. Vee Said

Thinking. A Process By Which I Use My Brain To Make A Rational Decision.

You're Mine, Angel, And Don't You Forget It. Your Fights Are My Fights. What If Something Bad Had Happened Today? It Was Bad Enough When I Thought Your Ghost Was Haunting Me; I Don't Think I Can Handle The Real Thing.

Hey Now, None Of That. You Know I Don't Have One Evil Bone In My Body. Only Two Hundred And Six Of Them?

Does This Have Anything To Do With The Unit We’re Studying? Because I Can’t Find Anything About Desired Characteristics Of A Mate Anywhere In Our Text.

It’s Brown.” So Maybe I Had The Teeniest, Tiniest, Most Infinitesimal Amount Of Auburn In My Hair. I Was Still A Brunette. “it’s The Lighting,” I Said. “yeah, Maybe It’s The Lightbulbs.” His Smile Brought Up Both Sides Of His Mouth, And A Dimple Surfaced.

It Makes No Difference To Me Whether I Shoot You Or You Fall To Your Death.” “it Does Make A Difference,” I Said, My Voice Small But Confident. “you And I Share The Same Blood.” I Lifted My Hand Precariously, Showing Him My Birthmark. “i’m Your Descendant. If I Sacrifice My Blood, Patch Will Become Human And You’ll Die. It’s Written In The Book Of Enoch.

Say 'provoking' Again. Your Mouth Looks Provocative When You Do.

You're Mine, Angel. And I'm Yours. Nothing Can Change That.

My Arms Hurt From How Tightly Patch Held Me. “now That’s What I Call A Scream,” He Said, Grinning At Me.

If You Keep Running From Me, You're Never Going To Figure Out What's Really Going On.

You Possess Other People's...bodies." He Accepted That Statement With A Nod. "do You Want To Possess My Body?" "i Want To Do A Lot Of Things To Your Body, But That's Not One Of Them.

You’re Not Going To Drive Me Home?” I Asked. A Waste Of Breath, Since I Knew Her Answer. “there’s Fog.” “patchy Fog.” Vee Grinned. “oh, Boy. He Is So On Your Mind. Not That I Blame You. Personally, I’m Hoping I Dream About Him Tonight.

I Hung My Fingertips On His Waistband, Tugging Him Closer. Patch Buried His Face In The Curve Of My Shoulder, His Hands Flexing Over My Back. He Gave A Low Groan. "i Love You," He Murmured Into My Hair. "i'm Happier Right Now Than I Ever Remember Being.

Light Had A Way Of Keeping The Monsters Of My Imagination At Bay.

If You Can't Feel Then Why Did You Kiss Me? Because I Can Feel It Here, In My Heart.

Did I Really Want To Stay On This Road Longer, Knowing It Was Only Going To End In Devastation?

She Cleans A Toilet Inside And Out Under A Minute. More Like Terrifying

You've Got Food Stuck In Your Teeth," Vee Told Marcie. "in The Crack Between Your Two Front Teeth. Looks Like Chocolate Ex-lax.

Nora: I Have Questions. Patch: I Should Have Known You've Only Been Keeping Me Around For Answers. Nora: Well, That And Your Kisses. Anyone Ever Tell You You're An Incredible Kisser?

Vee: And I'm Not Going To Let You Sit At Home All Afternoon With Your Sour Face On. Nora: I Don't Have A Sour Face. Vee: Yes, You Do. And You're Wearing It Right Now. Nora: This Is My Annoyed Face. You Woke Me Up At Six In The Morning!

I Should Probably Confess That Ice Cream Is My Favorite Food, And I Eat It Every Night. When I Go Grocery Shopping, I Try To Buy A New Flavor, Rather Than Reverting Back To A Favorite Flavor. I'm On A Mission To Taste Every Flavor Of Ice Cream Out There!

Before I Forget, Here's Your Homework. Where Do You Want Me To Put It?" She Pointed At The Trash Can. "right There Would Be Fine.

Reading A Good Book In Silence Is Like Eating Chocolate For The Rest Of Your Life And Never Getting Fat.

Her Hair Was Strawberry Blond, And She Had The Shape Of A Popsicle Stick: Turn Her Sideways And She Practically Disappeared.

Hank Had Left Me His Doomed Army, And He’d Left Marcie His Inheritance. Unfair Didn’t Begin To Cover It.

Ready?" Despite The Grim Mood, I Smiled And Cracked My Knuckles. "ready To Wrestle With My Gorgeous Boyfriend? Oh, I'd Say I'm Ready For That." Amusement Softened His Eyes. "i'll Try To Control Where I Put My Hands, But In The Heat Of Things, Who Knows What Could Happen?" I Added. Patch Grinned. "sounds Promising.

Try It On." "it's Probably A Little Snug," I Said, Suddenly Feeling Conspicuous. "marcie Tends To Buy Down When It Comes To Sizing." He Merely Smiled. "it Has A Slit Up The Thigh." His Smile Deepened.

Angel... I Don't Think You Understand The Lengths I Would Go To If It Means Keeping You Here With Me.' -patch (pg 262)

The Sensible Part Of Me Wanted To Dissect My Emotions, Overthinking And Overcomplicating My Reaction To Jev.

I Felt His Eyes Devour Me As I Moved Around The Room. He Assessed Me Head To Toe Without Blinking, And A Hot Ache Shivered Through Me. A Kiss Would've Been Less Intimate.

I'm Not Good," He Said, Piercing Me With Eyes That Absorbed All Light But Reflected None, "but I Was Worse.

Do You Ever Think Of Moving Back?" "to Coldwater? Heck, No. England Suits Me Fine. These Brits Love My Accent. The First Time Gavin Asked Me Out It Was Just To Hear Me Talk. Lucky For Him, It's One Of The Things I Do Best." All Teasing Left Her Eyes. "too Many Memories Back Home. Can't Drive Down The Street Without Thinking I See Scott In The Crowd.

I'm Yours, If You'll Have Me.

I’m Going To Grab A Cheeseburger,” I Told Patch. “want Anything?” “nothing On The Menu.” I Smiled. “why, Patch, Are You Flirting With Me?

Patch Stood Over Me, And A Drop Of Rain Slid From His Hair, Landing Like Ice On My Collarbone. I Felt It Slide Along My Skin, Disappearing Beneath The Neckline Of My Shirt. His Eyes Followed The Raindrop, And I Began To Quiver On The Inside.

I’m Really Starting To Like All This Spy Work,” Vee Said. “when My Normal Life Gets Boring, All I Have To Do Is Sidle Up Next To You.

Your Past Wouldn’t Frighten Me,” I Said, Buckling My Seat Belt Across My Lap. “i’m Guessing I’d Be More Appalled Than Anything.

My First Job Entailed Spending A Summer Working In A Cornfield In Nebraska.

You’re Crowding Me. I Need— Room.”... What I Needed Were Boundaries. I Needed Willpower. I Needed To Be Caged Up, Since Yet Again I Was Proving I Couldn’t Be Trusted In Patch’s Presence. I Should Have Been Bolting For The Door, And Yet … I Wasn’t.

Tell Me What's Going On Here. Why Can I Hear Your Voice Inside My Head And Why Did You Say You Came To School For Me?" "i Was Tired Of Admiring Your Legs From A Distance.

I Nibbled My Lower Lip. "if You Could See Into My Past Just By Touching My Back, You'd Have A Hard Time Resisting The Temptation Too." "i Have A Hard Time Keeping My Hands Off You Without That Added Bonus.

We Touched Base At Several Strategic Locations Down Our Bodies, And It Took All My Willpower To Break Away.

Pac-man? Or Is It Donkey Kong?” In Truth, It Looked A Little More Violent And Military. A Slow Grin Spread Over His Face. “baseball. Think Maybe You Could Stand Behind Me And Give Me A Few Pointers?

I Tended To Be More A Romantic Than A Realist, And Chose Blind Faith Over Cold Logic.

Don't Make Me Regret This" I Said, Breathless. " You Haven't Regretted Me Once". He Kissed Me, And I Answered So Hungrily I Thought My Lips Would Bruise. Patch&nora ( P. 180)

Vee Said," I'm Trying To Read The Title He's Holding…hang On…how To Be A Stalker." "he Is Not Checking Out A Book With That Title." But I Wasn't So Sure. "it's Either That Of How To Radiate Sexy Without Trying.

Well, Well,” He Said. “five Days A Week Isn’t Enough Of Me? Had To Give Me An Evening, Too?

This Was It. Together. Forever. As We Left It All Behind, The Sun Warmed My Back, Lighting The Way Before Us. I Knew Of No Better Omen.

Patch Backed Me Into A Tree And Kissed Me, Hard. I Regained My Breath. "boys Take Not Everywhere: That Was A Kiss.

The Higher Up, The Harder The Fall.

I Wasn´t Expecting To Come Home To You, But Now That You´re Here, I Have No Intention Of Letting You Leave." Patch :d (p. 295)

And Anyway, The First Three Letters In The Word Diet Should Tell You What I Want It To Do.

I Know You Followed Me. Don't Look So Surprised. It's Called A Rearview Mirror.

Rear View Mirror

There Was Nothing Wrong With Fire … As Long As You Didn’t Stand Too Close. Something To Keep In Mind.

All I Can Think About Is Bed.” “we’re Sharing The Same Thought.” “you’re Thinking About Bed Too?” “i’m Thinking About You In My Bed.

Thinking About You

You’re A Guardian Angel Now.”.... I’m Your Guardian Angel,” He Said. “i Get My Very Own Guardian Angel? What, Exactly, Is Your Job Description?” “guard Your Body.” His Smile Tipped Higher. “i Take My Job Seriously, Which Means I’m Going To Need To Get Acquainted With The Subject Matter On A Personal Level.

We Need A Ride. We're Stranded." "we Still Have Two Legs, Leftie And Rightie. Mine Are In The Mood For Exercise. They Feel Like A Nice Long Walk--are You Crazy?" She Shrieked. I Was Standing With The Tip Of The Beach Umbrella Aimed At The Driver's-side Window. "what?" I Said. "we Have To Get In.

I'm Not Leaving Until You Tell Me Why You Followed Me. I Know I'm A Fascinating Guy, But This Is Starting To Feel Like An Unhealthy Obsession.

My Mom's Coming Home Soon," I Said. "we Should Go To Your Place." Patch Ran A Hand Across The Shadow Of Stubble Along His Jaw. "i Have Rules About Who I Take There." I Was Getting Really Tired Of That Answer. "if You Showed Me, You'd Have To Kill Me?" I Guessed, Fighting The Urge To Feel Irritated. "once I'm Inside, I Can Never Leave?" Patch Studied Me A Moment. Then He Reached Into His Pocket, Twisted A Key Off His Key Chain, And Slipped It Into The Front Pocket Of My Pajama Top. "once You've Gone Inside, You Have To Keep Coming Back.

Your File Was Empty. Nothing. Not Even An Immunization Record.” He Didn’t Even Pretend To Look Surprised. He Eased Back In His Seat, Eyes Gleaming Obsidian. “and You’re Telling Me This Because You’re Afraid I Might Cause An Outbreak? Measles Or Mumps?” “i’m Telling You This Because I Want You To Know That I Know Something About You Isn’t Right. You Haven’t Fooled Everybody. I’m Going To Find Out What You’re Up To. I’m Going To Expose You.” “looking Forward To It.” I Flushed, Catching The Innuendo Too Late.

His Were The Kind Of Eyes That Held Secrets. The Kind That Lied Without Flinching. The Kind That Once You Looked Into Them, It Was Hard To Break Away.

We All Know You're Beautiful, Scott.

You Re Beautiful

You Can Call Me Patch. No Really. Call Me.

Maggots Squirming In Your Eyeholes...and Your Other Orifices, Might Be Carrying Things A Bit Too Far." "this Is Why I Keep You Around, Rixon. Always Seeing Things From The Bright Side.

Hate To Disappoint, But No Feathers. I Came To Earth Stripped Naked.

Dante Said, “i Tried Talking Nora Into A Ride, But She Keeps Blowing Me Off.” “that’s Because She Has A Hard-a Boyfriend. He Must Have Been Homeschooled, Because He Missed All Those Valuable Lessons We Learned In Kindergarten, Like Sharing. He Finds Out You Took Nora For A Ride, He’ll Wrap This Shiny New Porsche Around The Nearest Tree.

His Words Filled My Heart To The Brim. I Loved Him In A Way I’d Never Be Able To Express In Words. He Was Part Of Me. And I Was Part Of Him. Tethered Together For The Rest Of Eternity.

I Need To Get Back To Work,” Patch Said. He Gave Me A Once-over That Lingered A Bit Below The Hips. “killer Skirt. Deadly Legs.

Are You Crazy?" I Said. "crazy About You." "patch!" "don't Worry, We've Got Time." "how Do You Know?" He Staggered Back A Step, With His Hand Over His Heart. "your Lack Of Faith Hurts.

I Took Three Steps Back; He Nudged The Door Closed With His Foot. “you Like Mexican?” He Asked. “i—” I’d Like To Know What You’re Doing Inside My House! “tacos?” “tacos?” I Echoed. This Seemed To Amuse Him. “tomatoes, Lettuce, Cheese.” “i Know What A Taco Is!

Being Nice? He’s Being Horny.

In The End, The Only Thing Between Us Was Silence.

I Don’t See Any Police Cars.” “they Probably Had To Park A Couple Blocks Over. Anyway, As I Was Saying, I Noticed Illegal Substances In The Hands Of A Few Guests.” “so?” She Snapped. “it’s A Party.” “alcohol Is Illegal Under The Age Of Twenty-one.” “great!” Marcie Shouted. “what Am I Going To Do?” She Paused, Then Raised Her Voice Again. “you Probably Called Them!” “who, Me?” Vee Said. “and Lose The Free Food? No Way.

What Was Up With Class Today? It Was Watered-down Porn. He Practically Had You And Patch On Top Of Your Lab Table, Horizontal, Minus Your Clothes, Doing The Big Deed.

That's Really Eco-friendly Of You," Vee Told Marcie. "recycling Nora's Old Trash.

And You Would Have Lost. We Were Surrounded. He Threatened Your Life, And He Would Have Made Good On That Threat. He Had You, And That Meant He Had Me, Too.

She Shrieked. "nora! What Happened To The Banister!" Good Thing She Hadn't Seen Her Bedroom Yet.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

It Was A Smile That Spelled Trouble. With A Promise.

Mr. Green Sweater Looks Normal, But His Wingman Looks Hard-core Bad Boy,” Said Vee. “emits A Certain Don’t-mess-with-me Signal. Tell Me He Doesn’t Look Like Dracula’s Spawn. Tell Me I’m Imagining Things.

She Already Has A Car.” “a Ford. That’s Like Toyota’s Worst Enemy.

One More Thing. I Sold The Mustang. Too Conspicuous. Don't Get Too Excited, But I Bought You A Little Something With The Extra Cash. I Heard You've Had Your Eye On A Volkswagen. The Owner Is Dropping It By Tomorrow. I Paid For A Full Tank Of Gas, So Make Sure She Delivers.

She'll Kill Me If She Finds You In Here. Can You Climb Trees? Tell Me You Can Climb A Tree!" Patch Grinned, "i Can Fly.

I’d Like To. Problem Is, I’m Not Stupid.” “you Act Stupid.” “right. Thanks For That. For Your Information, There’s A Difference Between Acting Stupid And Being Stupid.” “it’s A Fine Line, But Someone Has To Draw It.

I'm A Private Contractor Now. I Choose My Clients, Not The Other Way Around.

Let’s Be Honest, Nora. You’ve Got It Bad For Me." His Eyes Held A Lot Of Depth. "and I’ve Got It Bad For You.

Your Enemy's Enemy Is Your Friend

Rollover Minutes Don’t Work With Curfews.

Here It Comes," She Said With An Expression Of Pure Bliss. "drug Rush ... Any Moment Now ... The Surge Of Warmth ... Bye-bye, Mr. Pain..." "vee-" "knock, Knock." "this Is Really Important-" "knock, Knock." "it's About Elliot-" "knock, Knoooock," She Said In A Singsong Voice. I Sighed. "who's There?" "boo." "boo Who?" "boo-hoo, Somebody's Crying, And It's Not Me!" She Broke Into Hysterical Laughter.

Patch Smiled. “you Come By Your Red Hair Naturally?” I Stared At Him. “i Don’t Have Red Hair.” “i Hate To Break It To You, But It’s Red. I Could Light It On Fire And It Wouldn’t Turn Any Redder.

I Undress To Impress - Patch

I Love You,nora. Whatever Happens, Promise Me You'll Remember That. I Don't Care Why You Came Into My Life,only That You Did. I Don't Remember All The Things I Did Wrong. I Remember What I Did Right, I Remember You. You Made My Life Meaningful. You Made My Life Special.

...five Minutes From Now, When Everything Else Had Dropped Away And I Realized The Full Impact Of What I’d Done, I’d Feel My Heart Breaking.

I Love You.” His Voice Was Straightforward, Affectionate. “you Make Me Remember Who I Used To Be. You Make Me Want To Be That Man Again. Right Now, Holding You, I Feel Like We Have A Shot At Beating All Odds And Making It Together. I’m Yours, If You’ll Have Me.

There's Nothing Special About Losing Your Virginity Over A Toilet.

Hang On, Did You Just Call Me Angel?” I Asked. “if I Did?” “i Don’t Like It.” He Grinned. “it Stays. Angel.” He Leaned Across The Table, Raised His Hand To My Face, And Brushed His Thumb Along One Corner Of My Mouth. I Pulled Away, Too Late.

For The First Time All Day I Felt Safe. Except That Patch Had Cornered Me In A Dark Tunnel And Was Possibly Stalking Me. Maybe Not So Safe.

It Would Be Like A Cleansing Diet. The Problem Was, The Only Diet I'd Ever Been On Backfired. Once I Tried To Go An Entire Month Without Chocolate. Not One Bite. At The End Of Two Weeks, I Broke Down And Binged On More Chocolate That I Would Have Eaten In Three Months. I Hoped My Chocolate-free Diet Didn't Foreshadow What Would Happen If I Tried To Avoid Patch.

I Tilted My Chin Up A Fraction. "you Can't F-force Me To Stay Here." I'd Only Agreed To Come This Far Because I Didn't Want To Stand Out In The Downpour, For One, And I Had High Hopes Of Finding A Phone, For Two. "that Sounded More Like A Question Than A Statement," Said Patch. "then Ans-s-swer It." His Rogue Smile Crept Out. "it's Hard To Concentrate On Answers With You Looking Like That." I Glanced Down At Patch's Black Shirt, Wet And Clinging To My Body. I Brushed Past Him And Shut The Bathroom Door Between Us.

You Want A Blood Relative To Lead Your Army? Get Marcie. She Likes Ordering People Around. She'll Be A Natural.

But If The Choice I Have To Make Comes Down To You Or Me, I Choose You. I Always Have. All My Love, Patch

He Was Abominable...and The Most Alluring, Tortured Soul I'd Ever Met.

I Could Get You To Smile Like That, And Without Sales Tax.

Cooking Isn’t Taught,” Patch Said. “it’s Inherent. Either You’ve Got It Or You Don’t. Like Chemistry. You Think You’re Ready For Chemistry?” I Pressed The Knife Down Through The Tomato; It Split In Two, Each Half Rocking Gently On The Cutting Board. “you Tell Me. Am I Ready For Chemistry?” Patch Made A Deep Sound I Couldn’t Decipher And Grinned.

It Will Cost Me A Lot To Send You With Scott Wearing That Dress But, Just So You Know: If You Come With That Dress Slightly Wrinkled,i Will Trace Scott, And When I Find Him, It's Not Gonna Be Pretty

Everything Had Come Into Sharp Focus : His Smooth Words, His Black, Glinting Eyes, His Broad Experience With Lies, Seduction, Women. I'd Fallen In Love With The Devil.

Boys Everywhere Take Note: That Was A Kiss.

If We're Doing This For Ten Hours, I'm Going To Need A Little Incentive To Stay Motivated." Patch Hooked His Elbow Around My Neck And Dragged Me Into A Kiss. "every Time You Strip My Sword, I Owe You A Kiss. How's That Sound?" I Bit My Lip To Keep From Giggling. "that Sounds Really Dirty." Patch Waggled His Eyebrows. "look Whose Mind Just Rolled Into The Gutter. Two Kisses Per Strip. Any Objections?" I Pulled On An Innocent Face. "none Whatsoever.

There's Only One Thing I Know For Certain Anymore." He Turned, His Eyes A Clear Black. "that I Would Do Anything For You, Even If It Means Going Against Mu Instincts Or My Very Nature. I Would Lay Down Everything I Possess, Even My Soul, For You. If That Isn't Love, It's The Best I Have.

Biggest Dream?” I Was Proud Of This One Because I Knew It Would Stump Him. It Required Forethought. “kiss You.” “that’s Not Funny,” I Said, Holding His Eyes, Grateful I Didn’t Stutter. “no, But It Made You Blush.

When It Comes To Reflexes, I'm Like A Cat. I'm Catwoman. I'm Invulnerable. The Only Reason He Got A Piece Of Me Is Because Of The Rain. Cats Don't Like Water. It Impairs Us. It's Our Kryptonite.

Nice Costume," He Said. "ditto. I Can Tell You Put A Lot Of Thought Into Yours." Amusement Curled His Mouth. "if You Don't Like It, I Can Take It Off.

I Take My Job Seriously, Which Means I'm Going To Need To Get Acquainted With The Subject Matter On A Personal Level.

I Want To Wake Up With You Every Morning And Fall Asleep Beside You Each Night,” Patch Told Me Gravely. “i Want To Take Care Of You, Cherish You, And Love You In A Way No Other Man Ever Could. I Want To Spoil You — Every Kiss, Every Touch, Every Thought, They All Belong To You. I’ll Make You Happy. Every Day, I’ll Make You Happy.

This Is Crazy," I Told Patch In An Undertone. "i'm Crazy." He Was On The Brink Of Smiling Again. "about You.

I Couldn't Escape Him, Now Or Ever. He'd Always Be There, Consuming My Every Thought, My Heart Locked In His Hands. I Was Drawn To Him By Forces I Couldn't Control, Let Alone Escape.

Something Doesn't Look Right," Vee Said. "is The Tire Supposed To Look Like That?" I Banged My Head Against The Nearest Tree Trunk. "so We've Got A Flat," Vee Said. "what Now?

With You, What You See Is What You Get. And I See Cheap.

He Inclined His Head At My Dress. "what's The Occasion?" "homecoming," I Said, Twirling. "like?" "last I Heard, Homecoming Requires A Date." "about That," I Hedged. "i'm Sort Of...going With Scott. We Both Figure A High-school Dance Is The Last Place Hank Will Be Patrolling." Patch Smiled, But It Was Tight. "i Take That Back. If Hank Wants To Shoot Scott, He Has My Blessing.

You Sound Worked Up. Really Worked Up. No, That's Not It. You Sound Agitated...flustered...aroused." I Could Feel Her Eyes Widen. "he Kissed You, Didn't He?" No Answer. "he Did! I Knew It! I've Seen The Way He Looks At You. I Knew This Was Coming. I Saw It From A Mile Away." I Didn't Want To Think About It. "what Was It Like?" Vee Pressed. "a Peach Kiss? A Plum Kiss? Or An Al-fal-fa Kiss?" "what?" "was It A Peck, Did Mouths Part, Or Was There Tongue? Never Mind. You Don't Have To Answer That. Patch Isn't The Kind Of Guy To Deal With Preliminaries. There Was Tongue Involved. Guaranteed.

Nope. That´s My Line. This Is My Boyfriend´s House, Which Makes That My Line,exclusively.where Is He?" Nora (p. 287)

Since The Dawn Of Time, Women Have Been Attracted To Mates With Strong Survival Skills—like Intelligence And Physical Prowess— Because Men With These Qualities Are More Likely To Bring Home Dinner At The End Of The Day.” He Stuck His Thumbs In The Air And Grinned. “dinner Equals Survival, Team

Hang On, Did You Just Call Me Angel?" I Asked. "if I Did?" "i Don't Like It." He Grinned. "it Stays, Angel.

He Cracked A Slight Smile, But It Didn’t Look Amused. “i’m Not Letting You Out Of My Sight. You’re Looking A Little Deranged, Angel. We’ll Go Together.

Girl, I'm Going To Show You The Bear In Hug.

Quit Calling Me Grey. It Makes Me Sound Like I’m A Boy. Like Dorian Gray.” “dorian Who?” I Sighed. “just Think Up Something Else. Plain Old Nora Works Too, You Know.” “sure Thing, Gumdrop.” I Grimaced. “i Take That Back. Let’s Stick With Grey.

Don’t Start. I Saw Marcie Climb Inside Your Jeep.” “she Needed A Ride.” I Adopted A Hands-on-hips Pose. “what Kind Of Ride?” “not That Kind Of Ride,” He Said Slowly.

If I Missed Out On Some Really Big Action, I’m Going To Be Royally Pissed Off!

Inwardly, I Gouged My Eyes Out.

The Subject’s Pulse Increased On Contact,” He Said. “don’t Write That.

You're Scared Of What You Can't Control

I Missed You, Angel. Not One Day Went By That I Didn't Feel You Missing From My Life. You Haunted Me To The Point That I Began To Believe Hank Had Gone Back On His Oath And Killed You. I Couldn't Escape You And I Didn't Want To. You Tortured Me, But It Was Better Than Losing You.

You Didn’t Tell Me She Was So Soft On The Eyes,” He Said To Patch, Wiping His Mouth With The Back Of His Hand. He Spoke With A Heavy Irish Accent. “i Didn’t Tell Her How Hard You Are On Them Either,” Patch Returned, His Mouth At The Relaxed Stage Just Before A Grin.

Gosh, It Was Nice Talking To You, But I’ve Got A Lot Of Things I’d Rather Be Doing. Like Sticking My Hand In The Garbage Disposal.

How Does This Whole Guardian Angel Business Work? Am I The Only Person Who Can See You? I Mean, Are You Invisible To Everyone Else?" Patch Stared At Me Like He Hoped I Wasn't Serious. "you're Not Invisible?" I Squeaked. "you Have To Get Out Of Here!" I Made A Movement To Push Patch Off The Bed But Was Cut Short By A Searing Jab In My Ribs. "she'll Kill Me If She Finds You In Here. Can You Climb Trees? Tell Me You Can Climb A Tree!" Patch Grinned. "i Can Fly." Oh. Right. Well, Okay.

You're A Liar!" He Turned Around, His Black Eyes Snapping. "i'm Also A Thief, A Gambler, A Cheat, And A Murdered. But This Happens To Be One Of The Rare Times When I'm Telling The Truth. Go Home. Consider Yourself Lucky. You've Got A Chance To Start Fresh. Not Everyone Can Say The Same.

All This Time I've Hated Myself For It. I Thought I'd Given It Up For Nothing. But If I Hadn't Fallen, I Wouldn't Have Met You.

Nothing Makes Me Happy Quite Like A Boatload Of Freshly Fried Fast Food, Smothered In Good Old Msg.

It’s So Real." "most Dreams Are. It Isn't Until You Wake Up That You See All The Plot Holes.

Are You Gloating Inside? That's What This Is About, Isn't It? Getting Me To Trust You So You Could Blow It Up In My Face!" [...] "i Get That You're Angry—," Said Patch. "i Am Ripped Apart!" I Shouted.

Don't Make Me Regret This", I Said Breathless. "you Haven't Regretted Me Once.

That’s An Unfortunate Place For A Birthmark,” I Said, More Than A Little Unnerved That It Was So Similarly Positioned To My Own Scar. Patch Casually But Noticeably Slid His Sleeve Down Over His Wrist. “you’d Prefer It Someplace More Private?” “i Wouldn’t Prefer It Anywhere.” I Wasn’t Sure How This Sounded And Tried Again. “i Wouldn’t Care If You Didn’t Have It At All.” I Tried A Third Time. “i Don’t Care About Your Birthmark, Period.

You Don't Happen To Have A Thousand Dollars I Can Borrow?" "i Don't Have Five You Can Borrow. My Piggy Bank Is Officialy Anorexic.

Right Now, Holding You, I Feel Like We Have A Shot At Beating All Odds And Making It Together.

Guess Where I Am. Clue? She Texted Back Swear U Won't Tell A Soul? U Have 2 Ask? I Reluctantly Texted,@ Dinner W. Marcie's Dad. #?@#$?!& My Mom Is Dating Him. Traitor! If They Get Married, U & Marcie... Could Use A Little Consolation Here! Does He Know Ur Texting Me? Vee Asked. No. They R Inside. I'm In The Parking Lot ----coopersmiths. The Pimp. 2 Good 4 Applebee's, I See. I'm Going 2 Order The Most Expensive Thin On The Menu. If All Goes Well,him Going To Throw Hank's Drink In His Face 2. ~nora & Vee

Based On Past Experience, I Hope Not.

Past Experiences

Humans Are Vulnerable, Because They’re Capable Of Being Hurt.

Bout Time," She Huffed, But Her Voice Sounded Thick And Emotional Too."i Was At The Hospital All Day Yesterday, But They Wouldn't Let Me See You. I Bolted Past Security But They Called Code Ninetynine And Chased Me Down, They Escorted Me Out In Handcuffs. The Way I See It, The Only Criminal Here Is Your Mom. No Visitors? I'm Your Best Friend, Or Did She Not Get The Memo Every Year For The Past Eleven? Next Time I'm Over, I'm Going To Lay Into That Woman." ~vee

Boys Like Girls Who Look Like...girls.

What Good Is A Body If I Can't Have You?

You Want Me To Come Clean, I Will. I'll Tell You Everything. Who I Am And What I've Done. Every Last Detail. I'll Dig It All Up, But You Have To Ask. You Have To Want It. You Can See Who I Was, Or You Can See Who I Am Now. I'm Not Good," He Said, Piercing Me With Eyes That Absorbed All Light But Reflected None, "but I Was Worse.

Strangely Enough, It Wasn’t Gabe Who Was Haunting My Thoughts, Though. That Job Belonged To A Pair Of Sinfully Black Eyes That Had Lost Their Edge When They Studied Me, Turning As Soft And Sultry As Silk.

I Believe In Destiny Angel. I Believe Every Choice I've Made Has Brought Me Closer To You. I Looked For You For A Very Long Time. I May Have Fallen From Heaven, But I Fell For You.

Patch Is The Last Person You Want To Antagoonize. He Doesn't Hold Grudges Because The People Who Cross Him Tend To Disappear Quickly.

Violence Doesn't Equal Strength.

I'm Not The Distraction In The Room.' 'oh? And What Might Be?' -nora & Patch (pg 242)

I Study Her,” Patch Said. “i Figure Out What She’s Thinking And Feeling. She’s Not Going To Come Right Out And Tell Me, Which Is Why I Have To Pay Attention. Does She Turn Her Body Toward Mine? Does She Hold My Eyes, Then Look Away? Does She Bite Her Lip And Play With Her Hair, The Way Nora Is Doing Right Now?” Laughter Rose In The Room. I Dropped My Hands To My Lap. “she’s Game,” Said Patch, Bumping My Leg Again. Of All Things, I Blushed.

His Eyes Made A Slow Scan Of My Closet Doors, Which Were Cracked. “i Thought I Heard Something.” “yeah, Well, Guess What? I’m A Living, Breathing Person, And Every Now And Then I Make Noise!

Hang On, Did You Just Call Me Angel?" "if I Did?

Shouldn’t You Be Working Instead Of Fraternizing With Customers?” I Choked. He Smiled. “what Are You Doing Sunday Night?” I Snorted. By Accident. “are You Asking Me Out?” “you’re Getting Cocky. I Like That, Angel.” “i Don’t Care What You Like. I’m Not Going Out With You. Not On A Date. Not Alone.

I Trailed Off.patch Leaned Lazily Against The Counter. Dark Hair Flipped Out From Under His Ball Cap. A Smile Tugged At His Mouth. My Thoughts Dissolved And Just Like That, A New Thought Broke The Surface Of My Mind. I Wanted To Kiss Him. Right Now.

You're A Psychopath." "i Prefer Creative.

You Should Go," I Breathed. "you Should Definitely Go." "go Here?" His Mouth Was On My Shoulder. "or Here?" It Moved Up My Neck.

I Want To Wake Up With You Every Morning And Fall Asleep Beside You Each Night.

You're Mine, Angel," He Murmured, Brushing The Words Across My Jawbone As I Arched My Neck Higher, Inviting Him To Kiss Everywhere. "you Have Me Forever.

You Dress To Impress," I Said Approvingly. "no, Angel." He Leaned In, His Teeth Softly Grazing My Ear. "i Undress To Impress.

Vee Lowered Her Lashes And Smiled Wickedly. "this Class Isn't Going To Teach Me Anything I Don't Already Know." "vee? As In Virgin?" "not So Loud." She Winked Just As The Bell Rang, Sending Us Both To Our Seats, Which Were Side By Side At Our Shared Table.

Every Time You Strip My Sword, I Owe You A Kiss. How's That Sound?" I Bit My Lip To Keep From Giggling. "that Sounds Really Dirty." Patch Waggled His Brows. "look Whose Mind Just Rolled Into The Gutter.

I Don't Have 'five' You Can Borrow. My Piggy Bank Is Officially Anorexic.

Do You Think The Bible Is Accurate? I Mean, Do You Think It's Real?" " I Think Pastor Calvin Is Hot. In A Fortysomething Way. That Pretty Much Sums Up My Religious Conviction

The Antique, Almost Primitive Band He Held Between His Fingers Caught The Sunlight, Glinting Silver. “i Found This Ring Shortly After I Was Banished From Heaven. I Kept It To Remind Myself Of How Endless My Sentence Was, How Eternal One Small Choice Can Be. I’ve Kept It A Long Time. I Want You To Have It. You Broke My Suffering. You’ve Given Me A New Eternity. Be My Girl, Nora. Be My Everything."

Your Mine, Angel. And I Won't Let Anything Change That.

Right Then, I Wanted To Go Back In Time And Relive Every Moment With Him. One More Secret Smile, One More Shared Laugh. One More Electric Kiss. Finding Him Was Like Finding Someone I Didn't Know I Was Searching For. He’d Come Into My Life Too Late, And Now Was Leaving Too Soon. I Remembered Him Telling He’d Give Up Everything For Me. He Already Had.

Or, If You Decide You Want To Sleep At My Place, On Opposite Sides Of My Bedroom With A Do Not Cross Line Drawn Down The Middle, I'll Do It. I Won't Like It, But I'll Do It.

Stay With Me Tonight. Let Me Hold You Even If That's All It Is. Let Me Keep You Safe.

But Instead Of Taking The Cue To Leave, Patch Crossed To Scott In Three Steps. He Flung Him Around To Face The Wall. Scott Tried To Get His Bearings, But Patch Slammed Him Against The Wall Again, Disorienting Him Further. “touch Her,” He Said In Scott’s Ear, His Voice Low And Threatening, “and It’ll Be The Biggest Regret Of Your Life.” Before Leaving, Patch Flicked His Eyes Once In My Direction. “he’s Not Worth It.” He Paused. “and Neither Am I.

Anyone Ever Tell You You're An Incredible Kisser?

Should Have Known

I Shook My Head. “i Don’t Think So. This Isn’t A Good Idea. This Isn’t Right.” “there’s All Kinds Of Right,” He Murmured. “on The Spectrum, We’re Still In The Safe Zone.” ... “definitely Right. Usually Right,” Patch Continued. “mostly Right. Maybe Right.

I Saw You, And I Wanted To Be Close To You. I Wanted You To Let Me In. I Wanted To Know You In A Way No One Else Did. I Wanted You, All Of You.

Chauncey Seethed At The Outrageous Insult. "and Your Father?" He Demanded, Extending The Sword. He Didn't Yet Know All His Vassals, But He Was Learning. He Would Brand The Family Name Of This Boy To Memory.

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