“Might not hurt you to pick up a book, just as an experiment."Whatever. I looked up the definition for 'nerd' in the dictionary. Know what it said?""I bet you'll tell me."" 'If you're reading this, you are one.' "You're a riot.”

“Are you missing the library again?" Seth asked, startling her as he walked into the room.Kendra turned to face her brother. "You caught me," she congratulated him. "I'm reading.""I bet the librarians back home are panicking. Summer vacation, and no Kendra Sorenson to keep them in business. Have they been sending you letters?""Might not hurt you to pick up a book, just as an experiment."Whatever. I looked up the definition for 'nerd' in the dictionary. Know what it said?""I bet you'll tell me."" 'If you're reading this, you are one.' "You're a riot." Kendra turned back to the journal, flipping to a random page.Seth took a seat on his bed across from her. "Kendra, seriously, I can sort of see reading a cool book for fun, but dusty old journals? Really? Has anybody told you there are magical creatures out there?" He pointed out the window."Has anybody told you some of those creatures can eat you?" Kendra responded. "I'm not reading these just for fun. They have good info.""like what? Patton and Lena smooching?"Kendra rolled her eyes. "I'm not telling. You'll end up in a tar pit.""There's a tar pit?" he said, perking up. "Where?”

“You're just a character in my dream.""You wish.""I didn't mean my love interest," she replied defensively. "You'd have better hair. You're the character I dreamed up because the rest of the dream was making me homesick." "Maybe you're the character I dreamed up to scare myself awake.""That's not very nice!""You made fun of my hair. I like it this way. Short and simple."I don't mind short. Mine is short.""Then what's wrong with mine?" Jason challenged."Maybe we should talk about something else.""Like the guy on a horse coming to kill us?""It needs more style," she muttered."The horse?""Your hair.""I forgot to bring my gel when I got eaten by a hippo.”

“I think we should probably get Vanessa out of the Quiet Box to help us. What do you guys say?''Absolutely,' Newel affirmed. 'Best idea I've heard all day.''I'll second that,' Doren said gladly.Seth gave the satyrs a doubtful scowl. 'Wait a minute. You guys just think she's pretty.''I've been around a long time,' Newel said. 'Vanessa Santoro is not jut pretty.''He's right,' Doren agreed. 'She's walking dynamite. My pulse is rising just talking about her.''She also might be a traitor,' Seth stressed.'The lethal temptress,' Newel said with relish. 'Even better.''It will definitely spice up the adventure,' Doren encouraged.'I'm obviously talking to wrong guys,' Seth sighed.'Believe me,' Newel said cockily. 'you're talking to the right guys. We've been chasing babes since the world was flat.'Seth rolled his eyes.”

“Ew, sicko. I was practicing Edomic.""Sure you were," Jason said. "You're just too embarrassed to admit you were playing hide-and-seek all alone. Rachel hiding, nobody seeking.”

“Oh, Kendra, before I forget, Gavin asked me to give you this letter." He held out a gray, speckled envelope."Happy birthday to you!" Seth exclaimed, his voice full of implications.Kendra tried not to blush as she tucked the envelope away."Dear Kendra," Seth improvised, "you're the only girl who really gets me, you know, and I think you're very mature for your age--""What about some cake?" Grandma interrupted, holding the first piece out to Kendra and glaring at Seth.”

“I don't know how you're standing here. Yet you haven't broken. Not where it matters. Having come this far, I'm not sure you can be broken.”