“I kind of wish they’d shut up,” Jack said.“Dude, true dat,” Lend answered.Jack nodded solemnly. “For serious.”

“Well, that’s interesting,” I said.“What’s interesting?” Jack called from the other room.“Something is interesting?” Lend shouted.“No! Nothing!”

“The doorknob twisted. “I’m coming with you.”I ran over and held it shut. “No, you are so not. We can’t carry your unconscious body around the Center. Besides, I need you here. If something goes wrong, I can’t handle you getting hurt.”“Wait, so it’s okay if I get hurt?” Jack asked.“Yes,” I snapped at the same time as Lend and Arianna.“As long as you’re sure, then,” Jack muttered.”

“Don't go alone," Lend said, his voice tight with concern. "I'll take Jack." "Oh, wonderful, take the other psychotic guy in your life to go find the first one.”

“Evie-you-GAH!" Lend shouted, and I looked up at him, surprised.”

“We've got a problem!" I shouted."No, I heard that. I mean, what's the problem now?""I have the solution!" Jack interrupted."What?" I sat up, all ears."Bells!""What?" Lend and I asked at the same time."Get her a kitty collar with bells on it. That way you can hear her coming and get someplace where you won't be hurt by collapsing immediately into sleep.”

“I nodded and smiled enthusiastically. "Party!""Lend'll whine.""He's cute when he whines.""There's something wrong with you," she said.There were a lot of things wrong with me, but loving Lend was definitely not one of them.”