Gwen Hayes

“Be still my heart, he cares.”

“Butterface - How does a guy slay dragons for a girl when they're all in her head?”

“His presence in my waking world stirred all my senses. Still in slow motion, I kept walking, warmed wherever his eyes touched me. When I finally dropped eye contact, the world caught up with me--or the other way around.”

“It was him.He'd traded his coat and tails for jeans and a tight Abercrombie and Fitch tee, but it was him. I would have known him anywhere.I blinked slowly, believing he was a mirage. A very handsome mirage. But I didn't have the power to dream cute boys into life. When he didn't disappear, part of my heart sang and part of it worried that I'd never be the same again...Oh, I never would be the same again.”

“He smiled and it was beautiful and horrible what I saw in it. Hope that should not be born and desire that could never bear fruit. Whether they were my feelings or his, I did not know.”

“His dark hair was thick and looked so soft I had to resist the urge to touch it. Looking into his dark eyes was like falling into the stars, making me feel weightless and disoriented.”

“He raised his bony fingers as if to touch me and I steeled myself not to flinch as his hand, still smoldering, neared my face.He rattled and spoke his last words. "Worth...the...fall.”

“But the burning man falling from the sky pulled me from my faraway world. My gaze wandered to the window an instant before he appeared. And then, slowly, like a feather caught on a light breeze, he willowed past my window, turning his grotesque head towards me, his mouth open in a silent scream. He was more than on fire. He was fire.Orange and red flames braided together in the shape of a man, but it was his eyes that caused me to suck in my breath and hold it as I ran to the window. His eyes, scared and imploring, told of a darkness and agony I couldn't begin to understand.”

“I don’t understand.” Except, truthfully, I just didn’t want to understand.Pain shadowed across his face. “Darkness lives in me, Theia. Inside of me. Like a sickness. And right next to it, intertwined with it, are my feelings for you. If I act on one, I’ll act on the other. The darkness in me wants you the way a black hole eats stars. I dream of tasting you, devouring you.” His eyes darkened terribly. “Haden, stop trying to frighten me.” He carried on as if he hadn’t heard me. “This isn’t a crush; it’s an obsession. You are never not in my thoughts. Your scent carries across a room and paralyzes me with longing. I don’t want to hold your hand. Part of me wants to set you on fire and hold you while the flame consumes us both, to eat your heart so I know that only I possess it entirely. Are you scared now? Does your human mind comprehend the danger at last? I’m not like you. I’m not human, not completely anyway.”

“This isn't a crush, it's obsession.You are never not in my thoughts. Your scent carries across a room and paralyzes me with longing. I don't want to hold your hand. Part of me wants to set you on fire and hold you while the flame consumes us both, to eat your heart so I know that only I possess it entirely.”

“What an actor my demon was.”

“Up is down. Down is up.” “And that means … ?” “I’m probably half in love with a boy I don’t really like.”

“My very own goth Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen would be so proud.”

“He walked backwards a few more steps and brought Brittany’s hand to his lips without taking his eyes off me. My hand tingled where he kissed her. And the bastard knew it.”

“Do you think it’s easy for me? No, I don’t remember you. I don’t remember holding you or talking to you or falling in love with you—but I walk around with a giant hole in my heart all the time. I feel your absence every second of the day. It aches and nothing soothes it. Losing you is bad enough, but I don’t even get the comfort of remembering that I had you once.-Haden”

“I'm probably half in love with a boy I don't really like.”

“Everything started the night I saw the burning man fall from the sky.”

“If you are about to tell me you are a vampire that glitters in the sunshine, I will--”

“So he was a sweet-talking, cross-dressing, fortune-telling...surfer?”

“Taking Mike home is a great idea," Donny said. "See you tomorrow. Thanks for your help."Gabe kissed her hand. "I'll be back in an hour, honey."She snatched her hand away. "No need, sweetheart. We're all fine here. See you tomorrow at school. We'll lock up when we leave.""Sixty minutes, sugarplum." He leaned in for a kiss."Get you pleather-wearing, long-haired paws off me--"Gabe kissed her soundly, cutting off her protest.”

“I don't even want to think about all those dishes," Donny said. "Hey, now that I believe in demons and magic spells, who's going to tell me about little dish elves that come and clean your kitchen while you nap?""There is a class of fairy called Nibs that will do it. But they come with their own set of issues. It's never worth the hassle of summoning them," Varnie answered."I was totally kidding, but..." Donny eyed him suspiciously. "Wait, are you punking me? There really is no such thing as Nibs, is there?"Varnie smiled noncommitally."Ame, is there sucha thing as Nibs?"Amelia bit her lip to keep from laughing. "I've never heard of them, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.""Amnesia boy?"I held up my hand. "Yeah, sorry. Amnesia.""You guys suck." She pouted.”