Jenn Bennett Quotes & Sayings

This was the night bus, not a Journey song. Two strangers were not on a midnight train going anywhere. I was going home, and he was probably going to knock over a liquor store. — Jenn Bennett

Feeling alive is always worth the risk. — Jenn Bennett

It's hard to think about next week when you're not sure if you'll even make it through today. But — Jenn Bennett

We all really do contradict ourselves and contain multitudes. How do we even figure out who we really are? — Jenn Bennett

You're like ten prismacolors all at once. — Jenn Bennett

Oh! Do you have a pocketknife?"
He narrowed his eyes at me. "Pocketknife?"
"Don't men your age always have pocketknives?" I asked in a high-pitched voice.
"My age? I'm not a fucking grandfather," he snapped. — Jenn Bennett

Too weird for jocks, and not weird enough for hipsters, I was neither freak nor geek, and that left me stranded in no-man's-land. — Jenn Bennett

Bind Merrimoth," he finally said, "and I'll do that think you like later."
"It's not like my power reacts to the reward system," I said, then added, "What thing?"
The corner of his mouth quirked. "On the chair."
"You mean the thing you like?"
"We both like," he corrected. "Win-win. — Jenn Bennett

He looks toward the ocean, dark purple with the last rays of light. "My mom says we're all connected--people and plants and animals. We all know one another on the inside. It's what's on the outside that distracts. Our clothes, our words, our actions. Shark attacks. Gunshots. We spend our lives trying to find other people. Sometimes we get confused and turned around by the distractions." He smiles at me. "But we didn't. — Jenn Bennett

For the evaders, avoiders, dodgers, and side-steppers.

You probably have a good reason for hiding.

May you work through it and find your inner lion. — Jenn Bennett

I'm not one of those cool, creative kids in my art class who make skirts out of trash bags and paint in crazy colours. — Jenn Bennett

Earth to Beatrix: This was the night bus, not a Journey song. Two strangers were not on a midnight train going anywhere. I was going home, and he was probably going to knock over a liquor store. When — Jenn Bennett

The entire time they're talking, I can't tear my eyes away from Porter. What I'm feeling for him now is like drowning and floating at the same time. — Jenn Bennett

Distichiasis. Your eyelashes. A genetic mutation that causes double rows of lashes — Jenn Bennett

You've both got that sweet Hotbox sheen. Looks better on the two of you than the last pair. By the way, one of them is . . ." He swipes his thumb across his throat, indicating that the kid quit, and not that he actually offed himself. I hope.

"Another one?" Grace murmurs.

He leans back against the door, one foot propped up, scrolling through his phone. The propped-up foot puts his knee in my space, mere centimeters from mine. It's like he's purposely trying to crowd me. "This job weeds out the weak, Gracie. They should flash their photos over the teepees in the fake starry sky in Jay's Wing. — Jenn Bennett

Sometimes you have to endure painful things to realize that you're a whole lot stronger than you think. — Jenn Bennett

I don't want my mistakes to affect everyone else in the room," I said after a moment. "I want to keep to myself and do as little damage as possible. — Jenn Bennett

I'm not sure what I feel. All I know is that I'm tired of being the innocent bystander who gets punched in the gut. It's their fight - Mom and Dad's. But how come Heath and I are the ones who end up bruised?" He rearranged one of my braids and wound the loose tail around the tip of his index finger. "Because everything we do in life affects someone else. Buddhists say that inside and outside are basically the same thing. It's like we're all trapped together in a small room. If someone pisses in the corner, we all have to worry about it trickling across the floor and getting our shoes wet. — Jenn Bennett

So ... "he whispered huskily in my ear, "we've discovered that you can arouse me." He demonstrated this fact by pressing harder against me, just in case I'd forgotten. "However, we don't know about you. And there is the small matter of Heka. — Jenn Bennett

Frankly, I was just thrilled to be going out into the real world again and would have been satisfied with a trip to the grocery store. — Jenn Bennett

Doing nothing can cause as much damage as doing something. — Jenn Bennett

Can't command respect unless you act like you deserve it. — Jenn Bennett

While eating our feast, we watch The Big Lebowski, which is sort of bizarre, because Alex was trying to get me to watch this a couple of months ago. And the Roths have it on DVD, so they are all amazed I've never seen it. Turns out, it's really good. And what's even better, in addition to Porter preparing me for the sound of gunshots in the movie - so I won't be caught off guard - and quoting lines along with the actors, which makes me smile despite the dreary events of the day, is when he leans close and whispers into my ear, "You belong here with me."
And for that moment, I believe that I do. — Jenn Bennett

You were loud." "Oh God." She tried to hide her face, but he wouldn't let her. "I knew you would be - when I imagined us together. I hoped you would be." His hand smoothed over the skin down her back. "You were loud, too," she pointed out. Almost alarmingly so. "Mmm-hmm. You made me feel wild. Are you proud? You should be." "Not proud, no. Just happy. — Jenn Bennett

One man's deviance is other man's lunch break. — Jenn Bennett

And you're apparently made of mountain. Are you sure you're an engineer and not a lumberjack? — Jenn Bennett

And not after, when we're clinging to each other like the world just fell apart and is slowly clicking back together, piece by piece, breath by breath . . . heartbeat by beautiful heartbeat. — Jenn Bennett

That's the thing about being an evader. You have to be flexible and know when to bail before it all gets weird. Better for everyone, really. I'm a giver.

My plane landed half an hour ago, but I'm taking a circuitous route to what I hope is the backside of baggage claim, where my dad is supposed to pick me up. The key to avoiding uncomfortable situations is a preemptive strike: make sure you see them first. And before you accuse me of being a coward, think again. It's not easy being this screwed up. It takes planning and sharp reflexes. A devious mind. My mom says I'd make a great pickpocket, because I can disappear faster than you can say, Where's my wallet? The Artful Dodger, right here. — Jenn Bennett

You're my favorite person, you know ... you're my favorite person, too. — Jenn Bennett

Before, my anxiety was singing solo. Now all this weird anticipation and jumbled excitement has added some strange harmonies into the mix. I'm a barbershop quartet basket case. — Jenn Bennett

My brother was right about one thing: I didn't really know how to be bad — Jenn Bennett

Yeah. I guess I'm a color-inside-the-lines girl. Worse, really - I'd rather shade inside the lines with a nice, light 4H pencil. Something dark like a 5B or 6B? That's me going nuts. He laughed, stretching out his long legs — Jenn Bennett

Beatrix Adams," he said. "You know I trust you with everything. The anatomical representation of my heart, my life ... even my car."
"You must really love me," I said, matching my steps with his.
I knew he did, of course. We try not to say it casually too much, because we want it to mean something. Not just a throwaway phrase like "How's it going" or "See you later." But when I'm in his arms, when we're alone, he whispers "I love you," and those three words never stop amazing me. Never. — Jenn Bennett

Why is the vegetarian Buddhist dressed like a jewel thief? — Jenn Bennett

Do you ride?" That sounded sort of dirty, and the way he looked at me felt sort of dirty, too. No one ever looked at me like that.
"Why 'Ghost'?" I asked.
Grasping the top of the car door, he leaned over it and spoke in a dramatic, foreboding voice. "Because she's so fast she disappears down the streets at night."
"That sounds dangerous."
His dimple appeared. "The best things in life are. — Jenn Bennett

A couple of yards before we hit the ground, he speaks up in a voice so quiet, I can barely hear him. "What I said the other day about you having champagne tastes?" He pauses for a moment. Mr. Reyes is smiling, waiting to unhitch our bar. "I just wanted you to know that I like the way you dress. I like your style. . . . I think it's sexy as hell. — Jenn Bennett

If you want to take me somewhere, give me your wallet — Jenn Bennett

I like the way bones and skin move, and I like seeing how all of the chambers of the heart fit together — Jenn Bennett

But you know, sometimes people smile when they're sad. And sometimes girls who look sad are really smiling — Jenn Bennett

He was kissing me like we were both on fire and he was trying to put the flames out, and I kissed him back like an arsonist with a pocketful of matches. — Jenn Bennett

Her mind made great, panicked leaps between the mundane - He smells pleasantly of soap and witch hazel - and the practical: How could another human being weigh so much? Is he filled with rocks? — Jenn Bennett

His hand cupped the side of her face, and he spoke in a low, calm voice. Just because we came all the way out here doesn't mean you can't change your mind. If you want me to take you back home, tell me now. — Jenn Bennett

It wasn't the first time I'd run across sex spells: they
were just as common as electricity-kindled spells. They just
aren't convenient for your average on-the-go magical
needs.
"Do all the memory spells require that?" I asked.
"I don't think so. I just noticed it on the last couple of
retrieval ones."
"Uh, maybe I could just get myself, you know, privately
... ?" I suggested. I regretted it immediately, and felt my face
flush with warmth. What the hell was I going to do? Ask Lon
if he had any porn I could borrow and hole up in his library's
washroom? — Jenn Bennett

I love you, damn it. — Jenn Bennett

But there was only so much worrying you could do before you just had to accept what life throws at you and move on, because some things were going to be out of your control, and others can't be fixed or changed. And for everything I'd lost over the last couple of months, I still had a lot. More than I expected, actually.. — Jenn Bennett

When he makes mistakes, he's so focused on righting the wrong, and so overconfident about his ability to fix it all, that he loses sight of the big picture and ends up making things worse. — Jenn Bennett

I pause, unsure what to type. It would be weird to say I've missed you too, even though I have, because that feels like I'm betraying Porter. I'm so confused. Maybe he doesn't even mean it that way. Maybe he never did. Lord knows I'm not good at reading people. — Jenn Bennett

You trusted me.'
'You drugged me!'
He grinned. 'Yeah, I did. — Jenn Bennett

Well, imagine that. She didn't shrivel up and die at the feel of his lips on hers - or, rather, she might, but it wasn't him in particular. And instead of just telling him never to try it again, she confessed her secret - partly, anyway.
It almost felt like a challenge. At least, that's how his ever-optimistic brain interpreted it, as if she were saying: You want this? Good luck. You're going to have to work for it. — Jenn Bennett

I was eighteen, baby! I could finally... vote and buy all those cartons of cigarettes I'd been pining for. Yippee — Jenn Bennett

He gathered me closer, kissed my neck, then spoke in a low voice next to my ear. I figure, see, if you find yourself getting more attached to the two of us than you planned, maybe you won't think about picking up and leaving to start another life somewhere else. — Jenn Bennett

I brush off my skirt and notice that a small trail of blood runs from a nasty scrape on my knee. I don't even care. I'm still on an oh-so-sweet adrenaline high.

Porter grins, eyebrows high. "Damn, Bailey. You took him downtown. Full-on atomic drop body slam. I had no idea you had it in you."

Me neither, to be honest. "No one steals from Sam Spade and gets away with it," I say.

He holds his hand up, and I slap it — Jenn Bennett

Sometimes I think I might die if I can't touch you. — Jenn Bennett

She's got the strength of a tater tot — Jenn Bennett

Oh, really? Is that why he's hot and bothered for Arcadia here?" Kar Yee tossed an accusatory glance my way. She was well aware that honesty wasn't one of my strong suits. "Probably," Jupe confirmed. "My dad says he likes her so much that if she kicked him in the balls, he'd just thank her. — Jenn Bennett

Maybe it involved a woman. Oh, maybe even a nun - ooh! Wouldn't that be scandalous?" "Indeed, but no. — Jenn Bennett

I was only curious. What do I care? At least he's not Salvadoran. — Jenn Bennett

Wow. Snubbed by a homeless guy. My night was getting better and better — Jenn Bennett

Hey, Bex?" Jack said as he grated. "Just so we're clear, if we were alone, I'd probably kiss you right now."
I gave him a swift glance as the hallway laughter made its way back to the kitchen. "Just so we're clear, I'd probably let you. — Jenn Bennett

Everything we do in life affects someone else. — Jenn Bennett

Feeling alive is merely a rush of adrenaline. — Jenn Bennett

A massive shudder goes through me and I freak out a little. My head's suddenly filled with all the things he's said about being eighteen and sexual freedom, and there is no doubt in my mind that he's exercised his rights with other girls - which is fine, whatever. No judgment. It's just that I have . . . not, and all this super-filthy kissing makes me more than aware of the experience gap between us. Which worries me. And thrills me. And worries me.

(And thrills me.)

Dear God: Save me from myself. — Jenn Bennett

I'm so ready.
I am Mink. Hear me roar. — Jenn Bennett

Arcadia," Lon's voice said from my phone. "Who is this?" I teased.
"You can't take my son on a date." "I didn't ask him. He asked me." "He stole my cell and called without permission." "Sounds like a personal problem to me." A low growling noise came out of the phone. — Jenn Bennett

For the love of rocks — Jenn Bennett

I bet a lot of couples have wondered, if they'd met under different circumstances, perhaps they would've taken a different path and never ended up together. And in a way, you got that opportunity. You chose me twice. If that's not meant to be, then I don't know what is. — Jenn Bennett

Turn left in two hundred feet " the computerized voice said in a cheery voice. "There is no turn in two hundred feet you bitch " I yelled toward the screen. "Zoom out." Nothing happened. "ZOOM. OUT " I said again louder before the screen responded to the voice-activated command. — Jenn Bennett

There was only so much worrying you could do before you just had to accept what life throws at you and move on, because some things were going to be out of your control, and others can't be fixed or changed. — Jenn Bennett

Asking for help isn't a weakness."

"It's more a matter of trust. Not just trust in someone else, but in myself. — Jenn Bennett

Mom says you should never ask for advice you aren't willing to take. I wasn't sure I agreed. Having an unbiased pair of eyes point out a sensible solution was helpful. But the sensible thing and the right thing weren't always the same choice, and no one but you could truly understand the difference. — Jenn Bennett

I just want somebody I can have a decent conversation with over dinner." - Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle (1993) 11 — Jenn Bennett

I stumbled through the dark underbrush again crying out as I plunged through a thick spiderweb. My arms frantically brushed away the clinging web as irrational fear made me batshit-crazy for a moment. Scared of a damn spider when a bloodthirsty demon was chasing me down. Ridiculous. — Jenn Bennett

His hand dove beneath my seat and surfaced with the sawed-off vintage Lupara.
"I distinctly remember telling you not to bring that thing," I complained.
"Felt like you were daring me. — Jenn Bennett

I will fix it for you. Hand on my heart, Bex Adams, I will fix it — Jenn Bennett

My old therapist warned me that avoidance is a dysfunctional way to interact with people you care about, but now I'm starting to understand what he meant when he said it could hurt them, too. Maybe it's time I figure out a better way to deal with my problems. Maybe Artful Dodger isn't working so well for me anymore. — Jenn Bennett

What do I want?" His fingers brushed over loose strands of hair near my temple. "I want to call you every five minutes. I want to text you good night every night. I want to make you laugh. And I want you to look at me like you did that first night on the bus. — Jenn Bennett

Hey." Lon said to Kar Yee, towering over her. "Hanging in there?"
"This? Pfft. It's nothing." Kar Yee said with a silly grin. "How's my favorite pirate captain? Did you come to give me something nice to look at? A little pirate booty?" She snorted a laugh at her own joke. — Jenn Bennett