“I'd been beaten before; I'd been humiliated; I'd been spit on and ostracized...all the things you should not have to know about when you are on the cusp of sixteen, but do because you're different.”

“There, close enough to spit on--if I'd been a barbarian and inclined to spit--was the dragon.”

“But I'd take you because you're the best part of my day, Rory. Always have been and always will be.”

“If I'd been ten years old again I'd have stuck my tongue out at Caroline. At sixteen, I ought to be above such behavior.I wasn't.”

“I'd run you know. It's like when you're really busy doing something and you don't have time to think about things. Well, I'd run and run and run so I couldn't think.”

“That's what this has been all about for you, correct? Make it clear. That you and me--it was nothing more that you'll have with Spinnerbait boy, or the guy after that, or the guy after that. Right?""Yeah, I said, shrugging. "You're right."He just stood there, looking at me, as if I had actually changed before his eyes. But this was the girl I'd been all along. I'd just hidden her well.”