Alexandra Bracken Quotes & Sayings

And people like you are the reason we have middle fingers. — Alexandra Bracken

Has anyone else ... "
"Hmm?" Grams walked the paper back across the room and took up her tray of hospital good again, settling it over me. "Has anyone else, what?:
"Been by," I mumbled. "To visit."
Grams gave me a knowing smile. "A charming young woman with a mouth that could give a sailor a heart attack? A sweet little one who brought you flowers? The one who spent half a day chasing doctors and nurses around, demanding answers about your condition? Or, by any chance are you referring to a very well - mannered Southern boy? — Alexandra Bracken

I was screaming and no one could hear. — Alexandra Bracken

If I wasn't the same person I had been six years ago, how could I expect her to be? — Alexandra Bracken

It rained the day they brought us to Thurmond.
And it rained the day I walked out. — Alexandra Bracken

There's something I forgot to do. I know I left something I didn't mean to.But when I look back in the rear-view mirror, no one's there. There's nothing at all. Nothing. — Alexandra Bracken

It feels like we should do something," he said. "Like, send her off on a barge out to sea and set her on fire. Let her go out in a blaze of glory."
Chubs raised an eyebrow. "It's a minivan, not a Viking. — Alexandra Bracken

Jude gave Chubs a long look of appraisal. "You had day-of-the-week underwear growing up, didn't you?"
Chubs merely pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I don't see how that's any of your business. — Alexandra Bracken

Are you sure this isn't a nightmare?" he asked quietly. "And that we won't just wake up?" I stared ahead at the road, the way the dust blowing in from the desert covered it with a faint golden sheen even as gray clouds began to gather over us. "yes," i said after some time. Because dreamers always wake up and leave their monsters behind. — Alexandra Bracken

The thing that scares me is that some part of me understands where they're coming from. They took everything from us, you know? Why shouldn't we be able to take it back if we have the power to? — Alexandra Bracken

A moment later, Liam's bright blue eyes opened, and he was seeing me. He just wasn't seeing Ruby. — Alexandra Bracken

Ugh." Cole rolled his eyes, gave a small laugh. "In a move straight out of Lee's playbook, I rolled over in bed this morning and hit the dresser. Already killing it this morning. — Alexandra Bracken

I couldn't bear the thought of even your face here, left alone, for only the jungle to admire." He shook his head. "Never. I'd never allow it. The only thing is to hire an artist to turn you into a figurehead for a ship, so some part of you will always be venturing out where you belong. — Alexandra Bracken

He held me against him gently, as if I was glass - as if I could shatter and fall away from him at any moment and leave him breathless and alone once more. — Alexandra Bracken

I know you don't want to scare her, but you can't pretend that her life isn't going to be hard. It's not fair. — Alexandra Bracken

What I'm trying to get at is, as bad as everything seems, I think, at its heart, life is good. It doesn't throw anything at us that it knows we can't handle - and, even if it takes its time, it turns everything right side up again. — Alexandra Bracken

Is this how you got around before?" Vida wondered aloud. "It is a miracle you dumbasses survived. — Alexandra Bracken

Some spent so long outside of their own heads that they couldn't function right when they finally had to return their own. — Alexandra Bracken

And the minute the doors slammed shut, his arm slid around my waist, his other hand wove through my hair, and I was being kissed to within an inch of my life.
'Hi,' he said when he finally came up for air.
'Hi,' I said, now both dizzy and breathless as he leaned down to rest his forehead against mine. — Alexandra Bracken

Don't just get up and go like that again-like you always do. — Alexandra Bracken

Stop trying to make me feel better," Sophia ordered. "It won't work. I'm determined to be angry and guilty about this for at least another two days, and then again when I'm punching your corpse. — Alexandra Bracken

You're important. You deserve to speak up and have people shut the hell up and listen to you. — Alexandra Bracken

Where in the world did you get that dress?"
"Present from Zu."
"You look like you want to throw it in a fire."
"I can't promise there won't be an unfortunate accident later on. — Alexandra Bracken

That's beautiful," she said.
He turned to her. "Would you like me to go take that violin for you? I'd gladly fight whatever angry mob rises up if it might make you smile."
Her heart just about burst at that. Be brave. "I would only want to play for you. — Alexandra Bracken

I tried telling myself it wasn't because of me, but there are some thoughts that live in your mind like a chronic disease. You think you've finally crushed them, only to find them morphing into something newer, darker. — Alexandra Bracken

There needed to be a distance. The one thing the past few weeks had driven into me over and over was the more you got to know someome, the more you inevitably came to care about him or her. The lines between you became blurred, and when the separation came, it was excruciating to untangle yourself from that life. Even if I had wanted to tell them, there was no way to put that kind of pain into words. No way to make them understand. — Alexandra Bracken

When it came to adults, it was better not to talk. They had a way of hearing one thing and processing it as something else. No reason to give them an excuse to hurt you. — Alexandra Bracken

So help me God," I said slowly, clearly, when Cate looked up at me. "If you go back on your word, I will tear you apart. And I won't stop, not ever, until I've destroyed your life and the lives of every single person in this organization. Believe me, you may not always keep your promises, but I do. — Alexandra Bracken

He made her feel brave; he let her be who she was unconditionally, without judgement, and because of it, she felt life shifting around her into something that felt much more beautiful and clear. — Alexandra Bracken

One of the other pilots confirmed the hit to the base on Yavin 4 in that single quiet second before everything changed. — Alexandra Bracken

My bad, Z. I shouldn't have gone bitch on you. We cool? — Alexandra Bracken

It matters not who you love, but only the quality of such a love ... a flower is no less beautiful because it does not bloom in the expected form. Because it lasts an hour, and note days. — Alexandra Bracken

What a privilege it was to never feel like you had to take stock of your surroundings, or gauge everyone's reactions to the color of your skin. — Alexandra Bracken

I see it in colors," I said. "A deep blue, fading into golds and reds - like fire on a horizon. Afterlight. It's a sky that wants you to guess if the sun is about to rise or set. — Alexandra Bracken

Nicholas eased back from her, wondering if this was what death would feel like - the painful release. He had envisioned it so many times as wading out into dark, cool water, letting it rise past his hips, his shoulders, his head. This was a breaking, a thunderclap of agony. How short a person's life was, but how very many times they were asked to die inside. — Alexandra Bracken

if we don't feel any responsibility for each other, who's ever going to care about us? — Alexandra Bracken

The new car's a lot prettier than Lucy, my Sweet Caroline - she's a newer sedan, and, if I'm being perfectly honest, is actually a little bit of a risk. She's flashier than what I'd usually pick. I just couldn't resist her gorgeous shade of ruby red. — Alexandra Bracken

If he were to fall over dead, would they just push the body out of the seat and use it as a footrest, do you think? — Alexandra Bracken

Christ," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "The first time I traveled, I attacked an automobile with an umbrella and nearly pissed myself in terror. So when I say you are taking this well, I hope you'll believe me. — Alexandra Bracken

Because," I said finally, "in the end, she couldn't leave her family behind. — Alexandra Bracken

He's just like a stallion. Wild and kicking on the outside, but a heart soft as satin on the inside. Just waiting for the right girl to break him in. — Alexandra Bracken

Revolutions are won with blood, not words. — Alexandra Bracken

Hey-"I called. Liam stopped, turning back up to look at me. " Be careful.'
His blue eyes flicked back and forth between Cate and me.
" You too, darlin'. — Alexandra Bracken

Home isn't four walls, it's the people you're with. — Alexandra Bracken

...his eyes told a different story. — Alexandra Bracken

Also, screw you - maybe you can be all stealthy and break into their building to get the woman out, but I can get
us there and back safely. I did this for months and never got a second glance from anyone, including PSFs."
"Probably because your ugly-ass face blinded them on the first look," she muttered. — Alexandra Bracken

Etta?" Nicholas's face floated in front of hers.
"I'm okay," she promised. "Just ... "
Hasan's face transformed, sharpening. "Who are you to be so familiar with my little niece? Remove your hands before I do."
"Familiar?" she repeated, just as Nicholas's grip tightened and he said, "Her husband."
Etta choked. — Alexandra Bracken

They had all of the pieces, and it just took one curious mind to put it all together. — Alexandra Bracken

That was not like riding a bike, you asshole! — Alexandra Bracken

I hope that when you have the chance to crack your world open wide with new possibilities, to meet new people, and to take a turn down an unexpected, new road, you do just one thing: carpe the hell out of that diem. — Alexandra Bracken

And it made me feel empty in a way - like I had forgotten the words to my favorite song. That girl was gone forever, and all that was left was a product of the place that had taught her to fear the bright things inside of her heart. — Alexandra Bracken

Ruby, give me one reason why we can't be together, and I'll give you a hundred why we can. We can go anywhere you want. I'm not your parents. I'm not going to abandon you or send you away, not ever. — Alexandra Bracken

It's in our blood to start again. — Alexandra Bracken

Yeah, well, I decided to try running from my nightmares instead of diving into them headfirst. — Alexandra Bracken

I wondered if she thought I was the girl she had carried out of Thurmond, who had cried the first time she'd seen the stars.
Because she didn't know that there were two of me now; split between everything I had wanted, and everything I would now have to be. — Alexandra Bracken

Wallpaper. Decoration. Her whole life and person, whittled down to nothing. "I don't accept that ," Etta said. I'm neither of those things. And, for the record, neither are you. — Alexandra Bracken

No, just listen. I'm going to tell you the amazing story of us. — Alexandra Bracken

Chubs is useful," I reminded her. "Please try not to kill him."
"Yeah, yeah we'll see. All I'm saying is, accidents happen. — Alexandra Bracken

Maybe we had just gotten too used to being alone
and maybe that needed to change. — Alexandra Bracken

You get a good review, and it's like crack. You need another hit. And another. And another. I know authors are like Tinkerbell and generally need applause to survive, but it's a slippery slope. — Alexandra Bracken

It's hard to put into words. Those things-those memories-are mine, you know? They're the things that the camp didn't take away when I went in, and they're the things I don't have to share if I don't want to ... And I want to talk about everything with you. Everything. But I don't know what to tell you about Caledonia," he said."I don't know what I can tell you that won't make you hate me. — Alexandra Bracken

Maybe nothing will ever change for us," he said. "But don't you want to be around just in case it does? — Alexandra Bracken

It wasn't a weakness to have those thoughts, to feel that need to help another, to save lives. It made one human. — Alexandra Bracken

She imagined she could taste the storm in him, the battering winds of desperation and frustration that met her own, blow for blow. — Alexandra Bracken

It's always easier to take something than work for it ... — Alexandra Bracken

I would have been okay, because you would have been there with me! — Alexandra Bracken

Never. Never again would he allow any other man to define him, set his course. — Alexandra Bracken

Everyone needs reality to punch them in the face every once in a while. Keeps you on guard. — Alexandra Bracken

Cause, frankly, the way I see it, you and me? Inevitable. — Alexandra Bracken

Jude was down there. He was down there. And the last place I would ever leave Jude was alone in the darl. — Alexandra Bracken

I wanted to find something that would make Mom proud of me. Something I could excel at.' she told him. 'But some part of me thought that if I was out there performing, if everyone knew my name, I might reach my father or his family. They might recognize me. They'd hear my music and want to come find me. Know me.'
'I heard you, Etta,' he said softly. 'I heard you. — Alexandra Bracken

You had day-of-the-week underwear growing up, didn't you? — Alexandra Bracken

You'd be surprised how little voice you have when you lose everything. — Alexandra Bracken

Because I'm not strong enough to survive seeing you with the League! I said. Because I wanted you, after everything you went through, to have a chance to find your parents and live your life. — Alexandra Bracken

Next time it'll be your nuts. — Alexandra Bracken

They will never have this, will they? They might not ever know the feeling of cozying up to a lightning bolt, what it feels like to look at someone's face and see your heart there. — Alexandra Bracken

I'm not saving you, I remind her. But something makes me wonder if she even wants me to. — Alexandra Bracken

Maybe I was still broken and would always be-but now, at least, I was piecing myself back together, lining up one jagged edge at a time. — Alexandra Bracken

Hadn't he shown me, time and time again, that he was willing to be my friend if I was willing to let him?
It had been so long since I'd even wanted a friend that I wasn't sure I even remembered how to go about making one. — Alexandra Bracken

I hated him- I hated him for everything he had done, but, more than that, I hated him for being right. — Alexandra Bracken

Crackers ... " a voice breathed out nehind us, "yesss ... "
Both of us turned, watching as Chubs twisted around in his seat and settled back down, still fast asleep.
I pressed a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. Liam rolled his eyes, smiling.
"He dreams about food," he said. "A lot. — Alexandra Bracken

Hey, this ship hasn't sunk yet," she said, tearing her gaze away from the museum. "We may have one sail, but we're still going. — Alexandra Bracken

I can't make it fade. — Alexandra Bracken

Who says I would have? I knew he meant it cruelly, that it was a weak moment and all he wanted was for me to feel as much pain as he did, but there wasn't enough venom in his words for them to sting. He just wasn't capable of it. — Alexandra Bracken

One day they will name a plague for you," he said.
"Hopefully a particularly nasty one," she answered. "A girl can dream. — Alexandra Bracken

Curse my clumsy tongue," Wren said, raising a glass in a mocking salute.

Nicholas raised his own. "Thankfully, you have a sparkling imagination to make up for it. — Alexandra Bracken

Er, um, well. Most of the things coming out of my mouth are sounds, not words. Seems you spend enough time by yourself dumpster diving, you forget basic
human social skills — Alexandra Bracken

If he was hoping to read some clue in my face, he was going to be disappointed; I'd spent the better part of last six years schooling my expression. Whatever he suspected couldn't have been the truth. — Alexandra Bracken

Imagine someone reaching straight into your chest, past the bones and blood and guts, and taking a nice firm hold on your spinal cord. Now imagine that they start shaking you so fast, the world starts bulging and buckling under you. Imagine not being able to figure out later if the thought in your head is really yours or an unintentional keepsake from someone else's mind. Imagine the guilt of knowing you saw someone's deepest, darkest fear or secret ... — Alexandra Bracken

Anyone who questined me-I made them feel crazy for doing it. — Alexandra Bracken

Calm down, I ordered myself. You're no good like this. Get a grip. — Alexandra Bracken

It was nothing that would hawe seemed odd from the outside, looking in, or drawn attention unless you were really, truly staring at it. — Alexandra Bracken

He doesn't bring many girls round unless they're part of a job - but also 'cause his smell can sometimes kill kittens. — Alexandra Bracken

He'd come here to close that door, but instead he had left it wide open for me to walt through. — Alexandra Bracken

Why would I ever search out someone who abandoned me? Someone who had no regard for any of us, who ran because he's too much of a damn coward to stand up to his family! — Alexandra Bracken

It was amazing how small you could feel when someone wouldn't so much as look at you. — Alexandra Bracken

The thing is ... what they don't tell you about forgiveness is this - you don't give it for the other person's sake, but your own. — Alexandra Bracken

There are times, Miss Spencer, you defeat me utterly. — Alexandra Bracken

WINIFRED - WHO, IT SEEMED, HAD BEEN LISTENING AT THE DOOR - handed her a pair of shoes as soon as Etta emerged from the office. By the time Henry appeared at her side, a light coat over his suit jacket, the woman had faded back down the shadows of the hallway like the ghoul she was.
"No coat?" he asked, eyeing her up and down.
"Darling Winifred didn't think I needed one, apparently," she said. One of the guards chuckled into his fist, earning him a swat across the chest from the other.
Henry looked mildly startled. "Your mother called her that as well."
"My mother met that woman and they both survived it?"
One corner of his mouth twitched, and the parts of her that were still raw, and awkward - and, worse - unsure, eased. "I never said they emerged unscathed. — Alexandra Bracken

We have no idea, but its not like we're going to win any awards for normalcy anytime soon. So you get into people's heads? The two of us can throw people around like toys. Zu once blew up an AC unit, and all she did was walk by it. — Alexandra Bracken