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She Looked Up, Her Face Pink As A Christmas Ham. “you Ever Try Chasing Down A Car?” She Gasped. “i’ll One-up You. I Gave Scott My Hot Dog And Asked If He’d Go To Summer Solstice With Me.” “what Does The Hot Dog Have To Do With Anything?” “i Said He’d Be A Wiener If He Didn’t Go With Me.” Vee Wheezed Laughter. “i’d Have Run Harder Had I Known I’d Get To See You Call Him A Wiener.

-Becca Fitzpatrick

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She Looked Up, Her

Becca Fitzpatrick

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She Looked Up, Her Face Pink As A Christmas Ham. “you Ever Try Chasing Down A Car?” She Gasped. “i’ll One-up You. I Gave Scott My Hot Dog And Asked If He’d Go To Summer Solstice With Me.” “what Does The Hot Dog Have To Do With Anything?” “i Said He’d Be A Wiener If He Didn’t Go With Me.” Vee Wheezed Laughter. “i’d Have Run Harder Had I Known I’d Get To See You Call Him A Wiener.

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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

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

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 Swear To You, Nora Grey, On This Day, From Now And Forever, To Give Myself To You. I Am Yours. My Love, My Body, My Soul—i Place In Your Possession And Protection.” He Held Out The Ring, A Single Offering, A Binding Promise. ~ Patch + Nora

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

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

You're Scared Of What You Can't Control

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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!

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

You Find The Wrong Boy, You Ask For Trouble. You Find The Right Boy, You Find Love.

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

His Muscles Flexed Under His Clothes, Holding Me, Leading Me. Never Letting Me Stray Far.

Arrogance Can Be Deadly.” The Corners Of His Mouth Crept Up. “but You Didn’t Hear Me Say That.

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 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!

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.

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

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.

Tacos." "tacos?" I Echoed. This Seemed To Amuse Him. "tomatoes, Lettuce, Cheese." "i Know What A Taco Is!

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

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

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

Emotional Health

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Patch Was Dressed In The Usual: Black Shirt, Black Jeans And A Thin Silver Necklace That Flashed Against His Dark Complexion. His Sleeves Were Pushed Up His Forearms, And I Could See His Muscles Working As He Punched Buttons. He Was Tall And Lean And Hard, And I Wouldn't Have Been Surprised If Under His Clothes He Bore Several Scars, Souvenirs From Street Fights And Other Reckless Behavior. Not That I Wanted A Look Under His Clothes.

His Smile Was Sexy And Warned Of Trouble, But I'd Made Up My Mind That Not All Trouble Was Bad.

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

..."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.

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

You Belong To The Biblical Race Of Nephilim. Your Real Father Was An Angel Who Fell From Heaven. You're Half Mortal." The Boy's Dark Eyes Lifted, Meeting Chauncey's. "half Fallen Angel." Chauncey's Tutor's Voice Drifted Up From The Recesses Of His Mind, Reading Passages From The Bible, Telling Of A Deviant Race Created When Angels Cast From Heaven Mated With Mortal Women. A Fearsome And Powerful Race. A Chill That Wasn't Entirely Revulsion Crept Through Chauncey. "who Are You?

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

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.

Stop Crying. You're Giving Archangels Everywhere A Bad Name." Patch To Pepper

He Tasted Deeper, Holding Himself Over Me, And Suddenly He Was Everywhere; His Knee Trapping My Leg, His Lips Grazing Warm, Rough, Sensuous. He Splayed His Hand At The Small Of My Back, Holding Me Tightly, Driving Me To Sink My Fingers Deeper Into Him, Clinging To Him As If Letting Go Would Mean Losing Part Of Myself.

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.

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.

Killer Skirt, Deadly Legs.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I Needed Him Like I'd Never Needed Anyone.

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.

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

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

Boys Everywhere Take Note: That Was A Kiss.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

He's Got The Whole Bad-boy-in-need-of-redemption Thing Going On, But The Catch Is, Most Bad Boys Don't Want Redemption. They Like Being Bad. They Like The Power They Get From Striking Fear And Panic Into The Hearts Of Mothers Everywhere

Well Yoy Did It,"i Congratulated Patch. "i´m As Trained As I´ll Ever Be-a Lean, Mean Sword-fighting Machine. I Should Have Made You My Personal Trainer From Day One." A Rogue Smile Surfaced, Slow And Wicked. " No Match For Patch." Patch&nora (p.379)

Because I Thought I Was In Love. And When You Think You're In Love, You Are Willing To Stick It Out And Make It Work Until It Is Love.

There´s My Date, I Said. "fashionably Late." Nora (p. 232)

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.

Anyone Ever Tell You You're An Incredible Kisser?

Should Have Known

Vee Never Needed A Reason To Do Something Stupid. Sad Thing Was, Most Of The Time I Didn't Either.

We Don't Have An Address," I Said, "but We Do Know Where He Works." "are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?" Vee Asked, Eyes Brightening Briefly Through The Haze Of Chemical Sedation. "based On Past Experience, I Hope Not.

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

Any Happiness, No Matter How Brief, Seemed Better Than The Long, Simmering Torture Of Waking Up Day After Day, Knowing I Could Never Have Him.

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

Love The Hair. Love When It’s Out Of Control. It’s Like Seeing A Side Of You That Needs To Come Out More Often.

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.

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

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!

Try It On." "it's Probably A Little Snug. Marcie Tends To Buy Down When It Comes To Sizing." He Merely Smiled. "it Has A Slit Up The Thigh." His Smile Depened. "zip It Up?" Patch's Eyes Made A Slow Assessment Of Me, Sharpening To Vivid Black. "i'm Going To Have A Hard Time Sending You Off With Scott In That Dress. Just A Heads-up: If You Come Home And The Dress Looks Even Slightly Tampered With, I Will Track Scott Down, And When I Find Him, It Won't Be Pretty.

Right Now, I Had Everything I Could Ask For. It Wasn't A Long List, But It Was A Very Satisfying One, Starting With The Love Of My Life Back In My Arms.

Love Of My Life

Normal And I Parted Ways When Pateir1ch Strolled Into My Life. Patch Has Seven Inches On Me, Operates On Cold, Hard Logic, Moves Like Smoke, And Lives Alone In A Supersecret, Superswanky Studio Beneath Delphic Amusement Park. The Sound Of His Voice, Low And Sexy, Can Melt My Heart In Three Seconds Flat. He’s Also A Fallen Angel, Kicked Out Of Heaven For His Flexibility When It Comes To Following Rules. I Personally Believe Patch Scared The Pants Off Normal, And It Took Off Running For The Far Side Of The World.

The Truth Is Scary, But Knowing Nothing Is Crippling.

Knowing Nothing

The Older Woman Waiting For Admittance Looked At Me, Then Over Her Shoulder At Patch, Who Was Vanishing Down The Hall. “honey,” She Told Me, “he Looks Slippery As Soap.

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

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.

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

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

..but Maybe This Was A Defense Mechanism. Maybe My Mind Was Making Me See Things I Refused To Accept Were Gone Forever. It Was Filling The Void, Because That Was Easier Than Letting Go.

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.

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

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

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

Door’s Locked,” He Said. “and We Have Unfinished Business.

Unfinished Business

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.

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.

Scott: Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. Nora: Are You Trying To Appeal To My Conscience? Scott: How Can You Turn Down A Once-in-a-lifetime Chance To Drive The 'stang? Nora: How About You Sell Me The 'stang For Thirty Dollars? I Can Even Pay Cash. Scott: Drunk, But Not That Drunk, Grey.

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

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.

I Love You More Than I Think I Should.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Are You Keeping Anything Else From Me?” “i’m Keeping A Lot Of Things From You.” “like?” “like The Way I Feel About Being Locked Up In Here With You. You Have No Idea What You Do To Me.

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)

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.

The Trouble Was, My Feelings For Patch Weren't Harmless.

I Was Tired Of Admiring Your Legs From A Distance.

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.

Class Was Like Watered Down Porn Today. Vee Said

Patch's Eyes Were Slate Black, Darker Than A Million Secrets Stacked On Top Of Each Other. He Dropped His Gaze To The Ring In His Hand, Turning It Over Slowly. "swear You'll Never Stop Loving Me," I Whispered. Ever So Slightly, He Nodded.

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

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.

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.

Based On Past Experience, I Hope Not.

Past Experiences

They Said The Moment I Fell In Love With You Was The Moment You'd Leave.

I Fell In Love With You

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.

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.

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.

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

Since We're Keeping It Primal, You Smell Good," He Observed. "it's Called A Shower...," I Began Automatically, Then Trailed Off. My Memory Snagged, Taken Aback By A Compelling And Forceful Sense Of Undue Familiarity. "soap, Shampoo, Hot Water," I Added, Almost As An Afterthought. "naked. I Know The Drill," Jev Said, Something Unreadeble Passing Over His Eyes.

"this Isn't Over," I Said. "after Everything We've Been Through, You Don't Get The Right To Brush Me Off. I'm Not Letting You Off That Easily." I Wasn't Sure If It Was A Threat, My Last Stab At Defiance, Or Irrational Words Spoken Straight From My Splintered Heart. "i Want To Protect You," Patch Said Quietly. He Stood So Close. All Strength And Heat And Silent Power. 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. "but You Didn't".

I Got A New Job.” Patch Locked Eyes With Me, And I Warmed In A Lot Of Places. In Fact, I Was Dangerously Close To Feverish.

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

I Wondered Why Life Had To Suck So Hard Sometimes.

Your Name?” I Repeated, Hoping It Was My Imagination That My Voice Faltered. “call Me Patch. I Mean It. Call Me

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?

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’m Not Going To Kill You, Nora. I Don’t Kill People Who Are Important To Me. And You Top The List.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Before I Could Stop Myself, I Punched His Arm. “careful,” He Said In A Low Voice. “they Might Think We’re Flirting.

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?

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

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

Shh!" The Guy Beside Me Hissed Again. "blame Him," I Told The Guy, Pointing At Patch. The Guy Craned His Neck Back. "listen," He Said, Facing Me Again. "if You Don't Quiet Down, I'll Get Security." "fine, Go Get Security. Tell Them To Take Him Away," I Said, Again Signaling Patch. "tell Them He Wants To Kill Me." "i Want To Kill You," Hissed The Guy's Girlfriend.

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

What Is It With You And Girls’ Bathrooms?

You're Going To Have To Drive Off The Road And Park Behind Thoses Bushes," I Instructed Vee. Vee Leaned Forward, Peering Into The Darkness. "is That A Ditch Between Me And The Bushes ?" "it's Not Very Deep. Trust Me, We'll Clear It." "looks Deep To Me. This Is A Neon We're Talking About, Not A Hummer.

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.

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 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.

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

Too Bad. There's A Party On The Coast. I Thought We Could Go." He Actually Sounded Sincere. ( A Bit After) I Affected A Yawn. "well, Like I Said, It's A School Night." In Hopes Of Convincing Myself More Than Him, I Added, " If This Party Is Something You'd Be Interested In, I Can Almost Guarantee I Won't Be." There, I Though. Case Closed- Page 77

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

Guess Who Has Pe First Hour? This Is So Unfair. I Start The Day Off Perspiring Like An Elephant In Heat. Don't The People Who Make Up Our Schedule Understand Body Odor? Don't They Understand Frizzy Hair? ~vee

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."

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

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

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.

Anything Was Better Than Nothing. Half-full Was Better Than Empty. Ignorance Was The Lowest Form Of Humiliation And Suffering.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Call Me Patch. I Mean It. Call Me.

After A Long Day, My Favorite Way To Unwind Is By Going Running. Not Exactly The Most Relaxing Activity, Granted, But I Always Imagine I'm Sweating Out All The Things Weighing On My Mind.

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

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

We All Know You're Beautiful, Scott.

You Re Beautiful

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

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?

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.

I Turned My Face Up To His. I Could Hardly Look At Him The Same Way. I Was Crying Without Realizing I'd Started. "you Made A Deal With Hank. You Saved My Life. Why Would You Do That For Me?" "angel," He Murmured, Clasping My Face Between His Hands. "i Don't Think You Understand The Lengths I Would Go To If It Means Keeping You Here With Me.

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.

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.

He Grinned. “busted. I’m A Monster. Jev Is My Deceptively Harmless — And Shockingly Handsome — Alter Ego.” “and I’m On Top Of It,” She Announced With Witty Triumph. “is That A Freudian Slip?” His Bluntness Caught Her Off Guard. A Self-conscious Blush Rose In Her Face.

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

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.

You Killed My Dad." Any Trace Of Kindness Or Sympathy Vanished From Rixon's Eyes. "well This Is Awkward.

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?

The More Time I Spent With Him, The More I Knew The Feelings Weren't Going Away.

Your Enemy's Enemy Is Your Friend

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.

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.

I Can't Imagine Why You're So Interested." He Shook His Head. "interested? We're Talking About You. I'm Fascinated.

Maybe Scotty The Potty Turned Into Scotty The Hottie. Have You Thought About That?

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.

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.

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