“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.”

“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.”

“Jack! "Where have you been,you miserable little creep?"He raised his eyebrows,a look of mock hurt on his face."This is the thanks I get?""Give me that bat and I'll show you how grateful I am, coward!”

“I smelled it before i saw it, and the same unicorn I'd met on a field trip with Jack pranced up, pleased as anyting to see me again. It wasn't mutual."It's so cute, isn't it?" Arianna said dreamily."Are we seeing the same creature? It's like a demented goat with a bone growth”

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

“I want to get you out of here.""Don't you mean you want me to get you out of here?"He took my hand—yeah, my hand again. I was liking this. A lot. "No, I mean I want to get you out. This shouldn't be your life. You deserve a lot more. Like a locker.""And a driver's license?""Let's not get carried away.”

“Something smashed to the ground. Jack looked at me, all the mugs forgotten. "I'm not going to let anyone kill you." He grinned. "If I don't get to, no one should.”