“If he can’t handle it, then you aren’t very good friends, are you?” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I suppose that means you don’t want any band-aids, either,” I said, a touch more bitterly than I’d meant to.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I need you to just trust me for now without knowing all the answers.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I got through it, and I wore it like a badge of honor—I Can Be Alone and it's Okay.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“If you want to call it quits, just tell me. Man up and say it to my face. Don’t just skulk around.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I know he’s a realist, he’s okay with being alone, and he helps people when he thinks no one is watching.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“When the moment shifts, and you realize you don't actually want to be alone, that underneath the bravado is an ache that… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“You shouldn’t have to pretend to be as excited as I am just to make me happy. If it comes to that,… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Who are you?” he asked, in a bewildered tone. I cocked my head at him, totally baffled. “I told you. Anna Fisher.… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“For someone who wrote a novel with a superhero named “Dark Lightning,” you wouldn’t think a thunderstorm would make me so nervous.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Alan shrugged. “I love the CBC, really, but being voted its president—” “Co-president,” Sputnik corrected. “—is kind of like being declared King… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“We walked to dinner, ate together, and talked nearly the whole time. I was amazed that I had as much in common… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“It’s so peaceful. I could go to sleep in here.” His eyes flickered to me once more, and for a dizzying second… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“It was nice. Even in high school, I’d mostly had makeshift friends forged by the shared status of outcast. It was rare… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I had always thought that I was fine with being alone. Halfway through high school, I moved from Brazil to America, and… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“He smiled at me shyly and took a step closer. I froze, heart pounding, as he put one hand on my cheek… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I bundled in my own blanket and reflected on the strange and somewhat unexpected friendship that was slowly developing between Davin and… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Jill!” I called to her through our connecting bathroom as I pulled on some jeans. “You realize I’ve been more than twenty-four… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“He’s a vampire.” I laughed again, feeling there was no end to the outrageous, ridiculous excuses we were coming up with. “Seriously,… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Well, as I said, you look terrible, for one thing. Beat-up terrible. Like someone was using you as a punching bag.” He… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I wouldn’t joke if you weren’t always patching me up,” Davin retorted. He looked at Chad again. “You must have noticed, right?… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“When I arrived back at Intro to Basic Art again later that week, I thought for a moment we had a new… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“As we were about to cross the road, Davin suddenly grabbed my wrist and held me back a moment; a car peeled… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Well, if you can accept that I’m a great big geeky fangirl, then I guess I can accept that you’re a skeptic… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Nice slippers,” Davin grinned. They were green and furry. “Thanks.” I shrugged and looked him over, half expecting to see a new… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“As much as I cared about him, I wasn’t a slave to fate. I could choose to ignore my feelings, strong as… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“Anna, you do have decent fashion sense. But I’ve seen your outfits, and you don’t have anything to wear on a date.… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“No weapon in my bag? No problem—my whole bag was a weapon. Grabbing it by the strap again, I swung it off… — J.M. Richards Copy Share Image
“I suppose that means you don’t want any band-aids, either,” I said, a touch more bitterly than I’d meant to.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“If you want to call it quits, just tell me. Man up and say it to my face. Don’t just skulk around.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“I didn’t say anything; I could find no words that would express the swirled chaos of emotions inside me. So I just watched him… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“Um, you don’t have to join me, but if you’re looking for a table, there are a couple good seats over there.” He nodded… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“Amazing? My heart fluttered. “But I don’t want Flash or Harry,” I murmured. “You want Spider-Man,” he finished for me, looking a little wistful.… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“Nice slippers,” Davin grinned. They were green and furry. “Thanks.” I shrugged and looked him over, half expecting to see a new injury. “So… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“He smiled at me shyly and took a step closer. I froze, heart pounding, as he put one hand on my cheek and leaned… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“We didn't have to talk, and it wasn't awkward. We were just two lonely, out of place people sharing a holiday with junk food… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“Oh, it was 1775.” “What?” “1775. The Battle of Bunker Hill.” “Oh.” I laughed. “We learned about it the day we met,” he added.… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“I wouldn’t joke if you weren’t always patching me up,” Davin retorted. He looked at Chad again. “You must have noticed, right? It’s kind… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“For someone who wrote a novel with a superhero named “Dark Lightning,” you wouldn’t think a thunderstorm would make me so nervous.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“No—I’ve got it,” Jill announced, interrupting my musing. “He’s a vampire.” I laughed again, feeling there was no end to the outrageous, ridiculous excuses… — J.M. Richards Copy Share
“He was quiet for a moment. “So, in this analogy, you’re Mary Jane?” “You got that right, Tiger.” — J.M. Richards Copy Share
