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“But I didn't know about the other story."
"What other story?��
"About how you and Adrian Ivashkov are��"
"No, whatever you heard it’s not true."
"But it was really romantic"
"Then it’s definitely not true.”
― Richelle Mead, Shadow Kiss

“It’s only a scratch, don’t cut my arm off!”
― Carrie Vaughn, Steel

“We walked to dinner, ate together, and talked nearly the whole time. I was amazed that I had as much in common with her as I did. I’d been raised mostly in a completely different country, yet we were so similar.”
― J.M. Richards, Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning

“He loves that you love the car more than he does and thinks it’s awesome you’re getting so good in your defense class. Not that that’s a surprise. You’re always so good at everything, and you don’t even realize it. You don’t even realize half the things you do—like how you watch out for others and never even think about yourself.”
― richelle mead, The Golden Lily

“Women like us have to learn to give to those who appreciate it instead of to those who expect it.”
― Wendy Wasserstein, The Heidi Chronicles

“I'm Jack, short for Jacqueline [...] This is Jill, short for Jillian, because our parents should never have been allowed to name their own children.”
― Seanan McGuire, Every Heart a Doorway

“He’s a vampire.�� I laughed again, feeling there was no end to the outrageous, ridiculous excuses we were coming up with. “Seriously, it makes sense. He’s always tired and pale, and keeps himself away from people so he won’t bite them....Maybe that’s what he’s doing when he disappears. Getting his fix of blood.”
― J.M. Richards, Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning

“My head felt like it was going to crack down the middle, like some demented dwarf was driving glass pins through my brain.”
― Lilith Saintcrow, Hunter's Prayer

“You took Jill," I tell him, as he reaches up to hack free another branch. "You didn't even ask."
That gets me a look. His pale eyebrows knit together. "Jill?"
"The machete."
You named the machete Jill?"
"I can do whatever I want with my machete.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Girl in Question

“I think I loved you before I ever knew you because it’s never felt like a choice for me. It’s just something as certain as the change of the seasons, the tilt of the earth, the dawn welcoming a new day.”
― Jewel E. Ann

“The intruders spoke no words as they rushed in. Five boys carrying baseball bats and tire irons. They wore an assortment of Halloween masks and stocking masks.
But Derek knew who they were.
“No! No!�� he cried.
All five boys wore bulky shooter’s earmuffs. They couldn’t hear him. But more importantly, they couldn’t hear Jill.
One of the boys stayed in the doorway. He was in charge. A runty kid named Hank. The stocking pulled down over his face smashed his features into Play-Doh, but it could only be Hank.
One of the boys, fat but fast-moving and wearing an Easter Bunny mask, stepped to Derek and hit him in the stomach with his aluminum baseball bat.
Derek dropped to his knees.
Another boy grabbed Jill. He put his hand over her mouth. Someone produced a roll of duct tape.
Jill screamed. Derek tried to stand, but the blow to his stomach had winded him. He tried to stand up, but the fat boy pushed him back down.
“Don’t be stupid, Derek. We’re not after you.��
The duct tape went around and around Jill’s mouth. They worked by flashlight. Derek could see Jill’s eyes, wild with terror. Pleading silently with her big brother to save her.
When her mouth was sealed, the thugs pulled off their shooter’s earmuffs.
Hank stepped forward. “Derek, Derek, Derek,�� Hank said, shaking his head slowly, regretfully. “You know better than this.��
“Leave her alone,�� Derek managed to gasp, clutching his stomach, fighting the urge to vomit.
“She’s a freak,�� Hank said.
“She’s my little sister. This is our home.��
“She’s a freak,�� Hank said. “And this house is east of First Avenue. This is a no-freak zone.��
“Man, come on,�� Derek pleaded. “She’s not hurting anyone.��
“It’s not about that,�� a boy named Turk said. He had a weak leg, a limp that made it impossible not to recognize him. “Freaks with freaks, normals with normals. That’s the way it has to be.��
“All she does is—��
Hank’s slap stung. “Shut up. Traitor. A normal who stands up for a freak gets treated like a freak. Is that what you want?��
“Besides,�� the fat boy said with a giggle, “we’re taking it easy on her. We were going to fix her so she could never sing again. Or talk. If you know what I mean.��
He pulled a knife from a sheath in the small of his back. “Do you, Derek? Do you understand?��
Derek’s resistance died.
“The Leader showed mercy,�� Turk said. “But the Leader isn’t weak. So this freak either goes west, over the border right now. Or…�� He let the threat hang there.
Jill’s tears flowed freely. She could barely breathe because her nose was running. Derek could see that by the way she sucked tape into her mouth, trying for air. She would suffocate if they didn’t let her go soon.
“Let me at least get her doll.”
― Michael Grant, Lies

“It’s only pain if it hurts�� discomfort is not pain.”
― Patrick deWitt, The Librarianist