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I Might Have Been Tempted To Hit Him Square In The Jaw Had He Not Taken Me By The Shoulders And Pinned Me Against The Wall. There Was Hardly Any Space Left Between Us, Just A Thin Boundary Of Air, But Patch Managed To Eliminate It. "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." He Leaned Into Me And Put His Mouth On Mine. A Lot Of Him Was On Me, Actually. We Touched Base At Several Strategetic Locations Down Our Bodies, And It Took All My Willpower To Break Away.

-Becca Fitzpatrick

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I Might Have Been

Becca Fitzpatrick

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I Might Have Been Tempted To Hit Him Square In The Jaw Had He Not Taken Me By The Shoulders And Pinned Me Against The Wall. There Was Hardly Any Space Left Between Us, Just A Thin Boundary Of Air, But Patch Managed To Eliminate It. "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." He Leaned Into Me And Put His Mouth On Mine. A Lot Of Him Was On Me, Actually. We Touched Base At Several Strategetic Locations Down Our Bodies, And It Took All My Willpower To Break Away.

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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!

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

Arrogance Can Be Deadly.

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.

His Black Eyes Sliced Into Me, And The Corners Of His Mouth Tilted Up. My Heart Fumbled A Bit And In That Pause, A Feeling Of Gloomy Darkness Seemed To Slide Like A Shadow Over Me. It Vanished In An Instant But I Was Still Staring At Him. His Smile Wasn't Friendly. It Was A Smile That Spelled Trouble. With A Promise.

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.

I Had Fun Last Night," I Told Patch, Flicking Off My Chin Strap And Handing Over My Helmet. "i'm Officially On Love With Your Sheets." "that The Only Thing You're In Love With?" "nope. Your Mattress, Too." Some Smile Crept Into Patch's Eyes. "my Bed's An Open Invitation.

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.

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 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.

A Feeling Of Violation Swayed Inside Me, Making Me Feel As If Id Been Shoved Off A High Platform Without Warning. I Was Falling, And I Feared The Sensation Far More Than Hitting Bottom. There Was No End; Just A Constantsense Of Gravity Having Its Way With Me.

Why Is Anthony Amowitz Using His Pimp Smile On You?” “you’re Only Calling Him A Pimp Because He’s Here. At Marcie’s.” “yeah, So?” “he’s Being Nice.” I Elbowed Her. “smile Back.” “being Nice? He’s Being Horny.

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.

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.

If We Hooked Up, He Could Write Me Ballads And Stuff. You Gotta Admit, Nothing's Sexier Than A Guy Who Writes Music.

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

..."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.

Fine! I'll Throw On Some Clothes. Turn Around. I'm In My Pj's" "i'm A Guy. That's Like Asking A Kid Not To Glance At The Candy Counter.

How Warm I Feel. How Icredibly Alive And Vibrant And Heedless Every Last Inch Of Me Feels Next To You.

You Keep Life On A Short Leash.” “what’s That Supposed To Mean?” “you’re Scared Of What You Can’t Control.

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.

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.

We All Know You're Beautiful, Scott.

You Re Beautiful

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

I Gave A Relenting Sigh. "fine! I'll Throw On Some Clothes. Turn Around. I'm In My Pj's." Pj's That Consisted Of Nothing But A Tank Top And Boy Shorts--an Image I Didn't Want To Sear Into Scott's Mind. Scott Smiled. "i'm A Guy. That's Like Asking A Kid Not To Glance At The Candy Counter." Ugh. The Dimple In His Cheek Deepened. And It Was Not In Any Way Cute... Pg 196

But If I Hadn't Fallen, I Wouldn't Have Met You.

I Was Just About To Ask You The Same Thing. I Know You Followed Me. Don't Look So Suprised. It's Called A Rearview Mirror. Are You Stalking Me For A Specific Reason?

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.

I Was Tired Of Admiring Your Legs From A Distance.

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

I Need An Endorphin Boost.” “and Making Out In An Abandoned Barn With Me Will Give You One?” “no, It Will Probably Put Me In An Endorphin Coma, And I’m More Than Happy To Test The Theory.

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

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."

Don’t Panic, I Thought. But Already My Breathing Was Faster, Shallower. “you Mean You Can Feel Happy Or Sad Or—” “desire.” A Barely-there Smile.

I Looked To The Window. Patch Was Gone, But A Single Black Feather Was Pressed To The Outer Pane, Held In Place By Last Night's Rain. Or Angel Magic

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

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.

Boys Like Girls Who Look Like...girls.

I Learned That I Was Either Crazy In Love With You, Or Putting On The Best Performance Of My Life.' -nora (pg 263)

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

I’m Not Going Anywhere Near A Motel With You.

She Likes You, She Just Doesn't Understand You.

I Don't Have The Body For This," I Quipped, Lifting My Chin To A Voluptous Woman Nearby Who Shook Her Hips Zealously To The Beat. "no Curves." Jev's Eyes Held Mine. "are You Asking My Opinion?

Walk Out,” He Repeated. “we Need To Talk.” “about How You Need To Sacrifice Me To Get A Human Body?” I Asked, My Tone Light, My Insides Feeling Leaden. “that Might Be Cute If You Thought It Was True.

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.

Boys Everywhere Take Note: That Was A Kiss.

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

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.

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)

It Isn't About Love," Vee Said. "it's About Fun.

Patch Wasn't The Kind Of Guy Mothers Smiled On. He Was The Kind Of Guy They Changed The House Locks For.

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.

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.

And Just Like That, I Shut Off The Switch To My Brain.

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 Wondered Why Life Had To Suck So Hard Sometimes.

When I'm Wasted, I Can Almost Forget Who I Am," He Said, His Smile Fading Slightly. "i Know I'm Still There, But Only Barely. It's A Good Place To Be." He Tipped Back The Thermos, Eyes On The Dark Sea Straight Ahead

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.

Violence Doesn't Equal Strength.

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.

Wow. Nice Bike,” I Said. Which Was A Lie. It Looked Like A Glossy Black Death Trap.

I Didn’t Accept Your Sacrifice. I Turned It Down.” I Felt A Small Oh Form At My Mouth, But It Never Quite Made It Past My Lips. “are You Saying You Gave Up Getting A Human Body For Me?

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.

I Didn’t Break His Jaw, But If He Lays A Hand On You, It Will Be The First Of Many Things To Break,” Patch Said.

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

My History Is Long, And Not Much Of It Is Good. I Can't Erase It, But I'm Determined Not To Make Another Mistake. Not When The Stakes Are High, Not When It Comes To You.

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.

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.

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?

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.

A Girl Could Lather Up In Soap Like That.

If I Were Thinking Straight, I'd Take You Home Right Now.

Sometimes Bad Things Have To Happen Before Good Things Can.

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

If I Lose You, I Lose Everything

I’m Doing Boy Detox. Like A Diet, Only For My Emotional Health.

Emotional Health

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.

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.

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

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

You’re Impinging On My Private Space,” I Said, Inching Backward. Patch Gave A Barely-there Smile. "impinging? This Isn’t The Sat, Nora.

As In, I Wouldn't Know Normal If It Marched Up And Poked Me In The Eye.

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!

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.

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.

I Think I'm More Of A Guardian Angel Girl.

I Need To Brush My Teeth. And I Need A Shower." He Grinned, Hopping Off The Bike. "now That Is An Invitation.

Deep, Dark Unearthly Black. I Hadn't Told Anyone Yet, But The Color Kept Streaking Across My Mind At The Oddest Moments. When It Did, My Skin Shivered Pleasantly, And It Was As If I Could Feel The Color Tracing A Finger Tenderly Along My Jaw, Tipping My Chin Up To Face It Directly. I Knew It Was Absurd To Think A Color Would Come To Life, But Once Or Twice, I Was Sure I'd Caught A Flash Of Something More Substantial Behind The Color. A Pair Of Eyes. The Way They Studied Me Cut To The Heart.

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.

What Do I Have To Do To Convince You That I'm Only Using Dabria For One Reason, One Only Reason: Destroy Hank, Bit By Bit If Is Necessary,and Make Him Pay For All The Things He Has Done To Harm The Girl I Love?

Does Patch Have A Restraining Order Against Him?' He Read. 'is Patch A Felon?' 'give-me-that!' I Hissed Furiously. Patch Gave A Soft Laugh, And I Knew He'd Seen The Next Question. 'does Patch Have A Girlfriend?

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

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.

I Couldn't Look At You And Breath At The Same Time.

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

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.

Looking Forward

I Loved You Long Before You Loved Me. It's The Only Thing I Have You Beat At, And I'll Bring It Up Every Chance I Get.

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

Patch Was In My Life For A Reason. I Needed Him. We Were Two Halves Of The Same Whole.

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

Nora: What Are You Planning? Patch: I Wouldn't Call This Planning. I'd Call This Throwing A Hail Mary With Seconds Left On The Clock.

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

The Guy I've Got My Eye On Happens To Be Hot. Off-the-charts Hot. Hotter-than-patch Hot.' She Paused. 'well Maybe Not That Hot. Nobody's That Hot.

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.

Class Was Like Watered Down Porn Today. Vee Said

You Smell Good, Too,” Said Patch It’s Called A Shower.” I Was Staring Straight Ahead. When He Didn’t Answer, I Turned Sideways. “soap. Shampoo. Hot Water.” Naked. I Know The Drill.

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.

Anthony Raised His Red Plastic Cup To Me And Shouted Something, But It Was Too Hard To Hear Over The Music. “what?” I Called Back. “you Look Great!” A Goofy Smile Was Plastered On His Face. “oh Boy,” Vee Said. “not Just A Pimp, But A Smashed Pimp.” “so Maybe He’s A Little Drunk.” “drunk And Hoping To Corner You Alone In A Bedroom Upstairs.” Ugh.

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.

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

You're Scared Of What You Can't Control

If I'd Wanted You Dead Five Minutes Ago, You'd Have Died Five Minutes Ago.

The Patch I Knew Didn't Run From Anyone.

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.

What Is It With You And Girls’ Bathrooms?

Your Mom Isn’t Going To Let Me Step Foot Inside This Place. I’ve Seen The Gun She Keeps On The Top Shelf Of The Pantry.

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

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

I Already Know My Size. I Don't Need Reminding.

I Take That Back. If Hank Wants To Shoot Scott, He Has My Blessing.

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)

They Say That When You're About To Die, Your Life Flashes Before Your Eyes. They Never Tell You That When You Watch Someone You Once Loved Dying, Hovering Between This Life And The Next, It's Twice As Painful, Because You're Reliving Two Lives That Traveled One Road Together.

Being With You Never Felt Wrong. It's The One Thing I Did Right. You're The One Thing I Did Right.

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

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

A War Was Coming Either Way. Now All I Had To Do Was Choose My Opponent

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

He Grinned When I Didn't Protest, And Lowered His Mouth Toward Mine. The First Touch Was Just That - A Touch. A Teasing, Tempting Softness. I Licked My Lips And Patch's Grin Deepened. "more?" He Asked. I Curled My Hands Into His Hair, Pulling Him Closer. "more.

There's A Disconnect Between My Mind And My Heart, But I Feel The Truth. They Say When People Lose Their Vision, Their Hearing Comes Sharper. I've Lost Part Of My Memory But Maybe My Intuition Is Stronger.

You Should Shower," I Said. "right Now." "i Smell That Bad?" (patch) Actually, He Smelled That Good.

I Have A Free Couple Of Hours," I Told Him, Walking Toward My Car, Which Was Parked On The Next Block. "there's A Very Private, Very Secluded Barn In Lookout Hill Park Behind The Carousel. I Could Be There In Fifteen Minutes." I Heard The Smile In His Voice. "you Want Me Bad.

Just Because I've Gone And Snagged Myself A Hot Boyfriend Doesn't Mean I'm Going To Leave My Bestfriend High And Dry.

That Was A Good Fight Back In The Gym,” He Said. “but I Think You Could Benefit From A Few More Boxing Lessons.

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

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

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

Based On Past Experience, I Hope Not.

Past Experiences

And Here I Thought They Were Called Peeping Toms." I Didn't Need To See Him To Know He Wore A Smile. "stop Laughing," I Said, My Cheeks Hot With Humiliation. "get Me Down." "jump." "what?" "i'll Catch You." "are You Crazy? Go Inside And Open The Window. Or Get A Ladder." "i Don't Need A Ladder. Jump. I'm Not Going To Drop You.

I Couldn't Stand Here, Hanging On, When The Very Thing I Held Disappeared More With Each Passing Day.

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

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.

Your Biggest Dream? - Nora Grey Kiss You. - Patch Cipriano

The Truth Is, Normal Might Take Years. Normal Might Never Happen. But It’s Definitely Not Going To Happen If I Lounge Around Here Watching Soaps And Avoiding Life. I’m Going To School Today, End Of Story.

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

Whoa, Who Peed In Your Cheerios?

Vee Is My Un-twin. She's Green-eyed, Milky Blond, And A Few Pounds Over Curvy. I'm A Smoky-eyed Brunette With Volumes Of Curly Hair That Holds Its Own Against Even The Best Flatiron. And I'm All Legs, Like A Bar Stool. But There Is An Invisible Thread The Ties Us Together; Both Of Us Swear That Tie Began Long Before Birth. Both Of Us Swear It Will Continue To Hold For The Rest Of Our Lives.

Hello,pepper. It´s Been A While," I Said. "the Last Time We Met Up, You Tried To Kidnap Me, Isn´t That Right?" Nora (p.303)

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

He Brushed My Curls Back Off My Face. “i Never Pictured My Life So Complete. I Never Thought I’d Have Everything I Want. You’re Everything To Me, Angel.

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

I Missed You, Angel. Not One Day Went By That I Didn't Feel You Missing From My Life.

...i Need A Boyfriend. And To Get A Boyfriend, You Have To Look Good. Doesn’t Hurt To Smell Good Too.

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

Jev Stroked His Chin. "do I Look Like A Summer Fling?

Have You Finished Your Column For Tomorrow's Headline?" It Was Vee. She Came Up Beside Me, Jotting Notes On The Notepad She Carried Everywhere. "i'm Thinking Of Writing Mine On The Injustice Of Seating Charts. I Got Paired With A Girl Who Said She Just Finished Lice Treatment This Morning.

When I Watched Lifetime Original Movies, It Took Me A Day Or Two To Get Over The Idea That The Cute Boy Next Door Is Actually A Serial Killer.

Father' Is Such An Arbitary Word. Douche Bag, On The Other Hand.

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.

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

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.

It Didn't Escape Me That He Couldn't Seem To Stop Finding Reasons To Touch Me. Nor Did I Miss That I Didn't Want Him To Stop.

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

I Want Scott To Look At Me The Way Patch Looks At You.

Anyone Ever Tell You You're An Incredible Kisser?

Should Have Known

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?

Are We Going To Have To Teach You To Fight, Angel?

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

My Most Noticeable Physical Trait Is, Hands Down, My Hair. It's Big, Unruly And Curly, And You Can Spot It From A Mile Away... Literally.

Citizen's Arrest," He Said. "well, That, And Patch Told Me To.

I Forced A Smile. It Was The One I'd Been Practicing All Morning. It Felt Tight At The Edges And Brittle Everywhere In Between.

This Ring Belongs To The Black Hand. He Killed Your Dad.

Patch Grinned Down At Me. “i’m Hard To Resist.

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

The Problem With Human Attraction Is Not Knowing If It Will Be Returned.

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.

Let Me Show You,” He Said In My Ear. “like This. Feel That? Relax. Now Pivot Your Hips—it’s All In The Hips.

Is That A Yes?" He Asked, Pushing His Fingers Through My Hair, Fanning It Out Around My Shoulders And Searching My Face Intently. "please Let It Be Yes," He Said With A Gravelly Edge. "stay With Me Tonight. Let Me Hold You, Even If That's All It Is. Let Me Keep You Safe.

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.

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

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.

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.

For Someone Who’s Made It Clear That Her Life Is Superior To Every Other Student’s At This School, You Sure Make It A Habit Of Pursuing Every Facet Of Our Boring, Worthless Lives.

Science Is An Investigation," Coach Said, Sanding His Hands Together. "science Requires Us To Transform Into Spies." Put That Way, Science Almost Sounded Fun. But I'd Been In Coach's Class Long Enough Not To Get My Hopes Up.

My Legs Are Falling Asleep,” I Blurted. It Wasn’t A Total Lie. I Was Experiencing Tingling Sensations All Through My Body, Legs Included. “i Could Solve That.” Patch’s Hands Closed On My Hips.

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'll Be Firm," I Promised Patch, Adopting A No-nonsense Expression. "no Backing Down." By Now Patch Was Full-on Grinning. He Kissed Me Again, And I Felt My Mouth Soften Its Resolve. "you Look Cute When You're Trying To Be Tough," He Said.

I Might Have Been Tempted To Hit Him Square In The Jaw Had He Not Taken Me By The Shoulders And Pinned Me Against The Wall. There Was Hardly Any Space Left Between Us, Just A Thin Boundary Of Air, But Patch Managed To Eliminate It. "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." He Leaned Into Me And Put His Mouth On Mine. A Lot Of Him Was On Me, Actually. We Touched Base At Several Strategetic Locations Down Our Bodies, And It Took All My Willpower To Break Away.

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

How Was Your Night?" I Asked, My Voice Carefully Neutral As I Attempted To Break The Ice. My Spying Adventures Still Hung Uncomfortably Between Us. "interesting.yours?" "not So Much." "homework Was Brutal,huh?" He Was Making Fun Of Me. "i Didn´t Do Homework." He Had The Smile Of A Fow. "who Did You Do?" I Was Speechless A Moment. I Stood There With My Mouth Slightly Open. "was That An Innuendo?" "just Curious What My Competition Is." "grow Upp." His Smile Stretched. "loosen Up.

I Needed Him Like I'd Never Needed Anyone.

You Picked The Seats You Did For A Reason, Right? Familiarity. Too Bad The Best Sleuths Avoid Familiarity. It Dulls The Investigative Instinct.

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.

First,” He Said, Coming Behind Me And Placing His Hands On The Counter, Just Outside Of Mine, “choose Your Tomato.” He Dipped His Head So His Mouth Was At My Ear. His Breath Was Warm, Tickling My Skin. “good. Now Pick Up The Knife.” “does The Chef Always Stand This Close?” I Asked, Not Sure If I Liked Or Feared The Flutter His Closeness Caused Inside Me. “when He’s Revealing Culinary Secrets, Yes.

I Don't Have A Car." His Eyes Sliced Into Mine. "i Walked Here," I Explained. "i'm On Foot." "angel," He Said In A Way That Sounded Like He Sincerely Hoped I Was Joking.

That Woman." Vee Hissed, "i'm Making The Sign Of The Cross Right Now.

He Nuzzles My Neck Affectionately. "i Love You. I'm Happier Right Now Than I Ever Remember Being.

Wouldn't Have Pegged You For A Dancer," He Spoke To My Mind "funny, I Would Have Pegged You For A Stalker," I Shot Back.

Nice Costume," He Said. "ditto. I Can Tell You Put Alot Of Though Into Yours." Amusement Curled His Mouth. "if You Don't Like It, I Can Take It Off." I Tapped My Chin Thoughtfully. "that Just Might Be The Best Proposal I've Had All Night." "my Offers Are Always The Best, Angel.

I Wrinkled My Nose, Trying To Figure Out What He Smelled Like. Not Cigarettes. Something Richer, Fouler. Cigars.

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.

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