“We had to go back to the coffeehouse: the Wreck was there. Mel had walked over. Well, I don’t know about walked. He had come over without vehicular assistance anyway.”

“Though we were curfew-free- I'd told Mom I was spending the night at Mel's after our double date, and Mel had told Mrs. Warren that she'd be home "whenever my happy ass walks through the door"- I was nervous about tonight.”

“We are not, not now, not ever, talking about sex,” A.J. said flatly.I had to laugh. “We’re both grown men,” I pointed out. “I don’t see what the big deal—”“Do it,” he said, “and I will walk over to the church, wake up the priest, and demand that he perform an exorcism. On the spot.”“Well, now, that won’t work,” I scoffed. “I’m not a demon. Not even close.”“Yeah, well, I’m willing to try it,” he said. “So go on. Make my day.”

“I had walked into that reading-room a happy, healthy man. I crawled out a decrepit wreck.”

“He smiled my favorite crooked smile, and then he disappeared into the darkness.With shaky legs, ignoring the fact that my action was useless, I followed him into the forest. The evidence of his path had disappeared instantly. There were no footprints, the leaves were still again, but I walked forward without thinking. I could not do anything else. I had to keep moving. If I stopped looking for him, it was over. Love, life, meaning ...over ...."Forbidden to remember, terrified to forget; it was a hard line to walk.”

“He strode over to the ruined church. This, Blue had discovered, was how Gansey got places - striding. Walking was for ordinary people.”