“Sydney! Stop. Think of something else. Conjugate Latin verbs. Recite the periodic table.”

“But perhaps the best part of all was that I, Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of constantly analyzing the world around me, well, I stopped thinking.”

“Sydney sighed and stood up, smoothing her rumpled clothes with dismay. 'I need a coffee shop or something.''I think I saw one in a cave down the road,' I said.That almost got a smile from her.”

“Do you think that's, like, REAL bacon?" I whispered to Sydney and Dimitri. "And not like squirrel or something?""Looks real to me," said Dimitri."I'd say so too", said Sydney "Though, I guarantee it's from their own pigs and not a grocery store."Dimitri laughed at whatever expression crossed my face. "I always love seeing what worries you. Strigoi? No. Questionable food? Yes.”

“I think I’ve got something else to help center my life.”

“Sydney, this is the kind of shirt that says, ‘You’re never getting in here.”

“Sydney spent a lot of time on my bed these days.Unfortunately, it wasn't with me.”