Kimberly Derting Quotes & Sayings

She was exhausted from her own self-deprecation and inner turmoil. — Kimberly Derting

He was the last person in the world she wanted to get away from. — Kimberly Derting

As if their actions were synchronized, they both jumped off the swings at the same moment, Jay racing toward the laddered steps as Violet rushed to reach the bottom of the slide. — Kimberly Derting

Jay sat down across from Chelsea and took both of her hands in his. The oversized lunchroom was buzzing with activity, and he practically had to yell to be heard.
"Chelsea, for the love of everything good and holy, please ... please stop ruining my friend."
Violet bit her lip to stop from laughing at the two of them. She knew what he was talking about before he even explained. It was the new facial hair.
Chelsea jerked her hands out of his. "Oh, relax, drama queen. He's not broken. Besides, I'm gonna fix him this weekend."
Jay seemed relieved. — Kimberly Derting

Eden will stay with you." I glanced up at the blue-haired woman who watched us. "She promises to take good care of you. Right, Eden?"
Eden nodded, curt and no-nonsense, a soldier to the bones.
I glanced back at Angelina. "You trust her, don't you?"
Angelina didn't turn her wide eyes away from me. I needed Angelina's answer. But then her eyes sparkled, ever so slightly, as she gave me her response, a barely perceptible nod.
No one else could have possibly known how much meaning that single gesture held.
Eden was honorable. Angelina had told me so. — Kimberly Derting

It wasn't until she was about to press Play, just as she was climbing under her covers, that she noticed it, the envelope tucked beneath the edge of her pillow. She frowned as she reached for it, her fingers lingering for only a moment before pulling it free. The plain white envelope was blank, but she suspected who it was from.
She tore the top apart and unfolded the paper inside, her heart fluttering when she recognized the handwriting.

I miss you like crazy.
Jay

Violet grinned. It was just a note - a single line, really - but even his notes made her pulse race. Ridiculous, she thought as she ran her fingertips over his words, committing them to memory. — Kimberly Derting

What are you so afraid of? — Kimberly Derting

Hey, A-D-D," she called out to Claire, "come over and try these on. — Kimberly Derting

I miss the smell of him. I miss his lips and his strong arms. I miss him. — Kimberly Derting

Violet handed the phone to Jay, who seemed remarkably composed considering they'd almost lost their closed-door privileges.
They'd lost them before, once when they were eight and Violet's mom had walked in to find them playing a game of "I'll show you mind, if you show me yours," which at that point consisted of Violet flashing her flat-as-a-pancake chest at Jay. Her moment had come in while the bottom of Violet's shirt was pulled up in front of her face. They never got far enough for him to show his. — Kimberly Derting

Odd how somehow she'd once thought she hated had become such an integral part of her daily life. Like breathing. — Kimberly Derting

I loved voices, I always had. Words held meaning, but voices held emotion. — Kimberly Derting

Multihued light radiated up from beneath the water, centered among the reeds, and then diffusing outward as it reached the surface. Violet had never seen anything like it, and she knew that the spectrum of light was defying its very nature by behaving in that way.
It could only be one thing.
There was something dead down there. — Kimberly Derting

And touching him - I would have to stop doing that as well. But not now. Later, perhaps. — Kimberly Derting

What are you doing here?" she asked as she slowed from a jog to a walk and placed her hands on her hips. It would take her a few minutes to get her breathing back to normal. Longer if he kept smiling at her like that.
He shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. What about you?"
She opted for the obvious and filled her voice with as much sarcasm as she could. "I live here, actually — Kimberly Derting

Jay glanced up at Violet, and there was something about the expression on his face that made her pause. He gave her a look that told her, without saying a single word, that he wasn't at all happy about what she'd done, and that he had plenty to say to her once he got her alone.
And there was something else.
It happened just as he was turning his head back toward her father: Violet could have sworn - and she would have bet money on it - that she saw Jay smile. Just a little one ... almost unnoticeable, maybe completely imperceptible to anyone but her. She was sure that her dad had missed it entirely, as he continued his discussion without taking a breath. — Kimberly Derting

Jay's mom was a lot of great things that Violet admired, technologically savvy was definitely not one of them. She was one of those people who were loath to move into the twenty-first century and embrace all things modern. She was the only adult woman that Violet knew of who didn't own a cell phone, and she refused to buckle beneath the pressure to pay good money for high-speed internet, so Jay was forced to plug his secondhand laptop into the phone line and use dial-up. Not because they couldn't afford such luxuries, but because Ann Heaton wasn't going down without a fight. — Kimberly Derting

In the end, all that's left is an echo. — Kimberly Derting

I miss you like crazy.
Jay — Kimberly Derting

She allowed herself to look his way, pretending she was glancing at the clock on the wall above the door. He was meticulously lost in the lesson, taking notes well beyond the scope of what was written on the board.
She was grateful that at least one of them was listening, because she knew he was going to have to explain it all to her later. And he would, without every knowing that he was the reason she hadn't heard a word of the lesson. — Kimberly Derting

She picked up a handheld grenade launcher, cradling it like a baby. — Kimberly Derting

Funnier still how much faith her parents put in him, considering the fact that Jay would officially be younger than Violet in less than a week.
Violet was about to turn seventeen, while Jay would still be sixteen for nearly two full months/
Jay liked that, the whole older-woman thing. He also liked to joke about the fact that Violet would soon be dating a younger man.
One night, when Violet's parents had gone out, he teased her about it, whispering against his throat, "I should probably be dating girls my own age now that you'll be over-the-hill." Jay was stretched out on Violet's bed as she curled against him.
Violet laughed, rising to the bait. "Fine," she challenged, pulling away and leaning up on her elbow. "I'm sure there are plenty of men my own age who would be willing to finish what you've started. — Kimberly Derting

I'd offer to take you for a test-drive, but I'm afraid that Supercop over there would probably Taser me with his stun gun. So you'll have to wait until tomorrow, — Kimberly Derting

Everyone has regrets, I suppose. You can't choose one path without missing out on another, — Kimberly Derting

He loved her.
Jay Heaton, her best friend since childhood was in love with her. He didn't say it but she knew that it was true.
And the part that really freaked her out, the part that caught her completely off guard, is that he wasn't alone. Because even though she'd been denying it for a long, long time, it had always been there ... waiting beneath the surface of their friendship. And now that it was out there was no going back.
And it was so weird to even be thinking it but ... she was in love with him too. — Kimberly Derting

She sat down on a wooden bench that was bolted to the floor ... in case some high school hooligan like herself decided to make off with it, she supposed. — Kimberly Derting

Now it was just the two of us, Max and me. And about a thousand other people around us. — Kimberly Derting

But I knew something that Elena hadn't. That the measure of a true queen didn't lie in her magic. It had more to do with who she was, and what she was willing to give of herself, than it did with the powers she possessed
- Charlaina di Heyse — Kimberly Derting

I swear that boy can't function without you, not even at lunch. — Kimberly Derting

Recently, the very thought of going to the dance with Grady made Violet's skin itch, as if she might be breaking out in hives-or more likely a bad case of second thoughts. — Kimberly Derting

We've never matched. It's what makes us perfect for each other. — Kimberly Derting

Chelsea was about as understated as a jackhammer. — Kimberly Derting

And the fifth year was the year they discovered the giant boulder at the edge of the playing field, behind which the recess teacher couldn't see what was happening.
It was the year of their first kiss - or kisses, rather - there one and only foray into romance with each other. They tried it once with their lips closed tightly, a small quick peck, and then again, they tried it by touching their tongues together. The sensation was slippery, supple, and foreign. They both immediately agreed that it was gross and swore they would never do it again. — Kimberly Derting

Love required sacrifice and making hard choices and doing things that were bigger than just you. It wasn't something you asked for, or could control or change. It was something you accepted. Love was a force of nature. — Kimberly Derting

Is that how it is now, we're back to just friends?" Violet asked, rasing her eyebrows at him challengingly. "I'll remember to keep that in mind next time we're 'doing homework'. — Kimberly Derting

She once again thought about how badly she wanted to crawl back beneath the mound of already cooling blankets that covered her bed like an inviting nest. — Kimberly Derting

His eyes warmed, even as his brows drew together. "So are you saying we have your cooperation? That you'll agree to be our queen?" "I'm saying that you're guaranteed not to have my cooperation if you don't help me. — Kimberly Derting

She felt Jay squeezing her hand with his. It was warm.
It made her feel safe and attached to the world. — Kimberly Derting

I was wrong. I should have never doubted you. I do trust you. I love you, and I can't do this anymore. I don't want to be ... " He struggled to find the right words. " ... without you." And then, finally, his arms slackened, releasing her, giving her the choice again. She felt his shoulders slump, and his heart shudder. "Please ... — Kimberly Derting

But she let herself think of Jay. And of the kiss. And suddenly the damp chill that had been clinging to her evaporated in a wave of heat that started in her belly and spread like an uncontained blaze, flushing her from cheek to toe.
She realized that she was smiling now, and she had to force it away, not wanting anyone to see her as she searched in vain for the missing girl, grinning like the village idiot. — Kimberly Derting

No, I tried to use Lissie. But apparently you're more pigheaded than I gave you credit for. I thought for sure that would do it. Instead, it backfired on me, and you agreed to go to the dance with ... someone else. — Kimberly Derting

Maybe she'd just say she ran into a door; that seemed infinitely more plausible than the truth. — Kimberly Derting

Curiosity is an addictive drug. — Kimberly Derting

If it makes you feel any better, he's been all sad doll lately too."
"What are you talking about, Chels?"
Chelsea stopped walking and stared at Violet.
"Jay. I'm talking about Jay, Vi. I thought you might want to know that you're not the only one who's hurting. He's been moping around school, making it hard to even look at him. He's messed up ... bad." Just like the other night in Violet's bedroom, something close to ... sympathy crossed Chelsea's face.
Violet wasn't sure how to respond.
Fortunately sympathetic Chelsea didn't stick around for long. She seemed to get a grip on herself, and like a switch had been flipped, the awkward moment was over and her friend was back, Chelsea-style: "I swear, every time I see him, I'm halfway afraid he's gonna start crying like a girl or ask to borrow a tampon or something. Seriously, Violet, it's disgusting. Really. Only you can make it stop. Please make it stop. — Kimberly Derting

But he was bigger and stronger and his hands reached up behind her to the back of her head, ignoring her denials and pinning her in place. When his mouth finally landed on hers, the combination of his alcohol soaked breath and his brutish unrestrained actions made her quiver sickly beneath him ... ... she felt like she was going to puke. — Kimberly Derting

And are you trying to tell me you aren't a little bit fascinated by me? — Kimberly Derting

Trust had become a commodity that few could afford. — Kimberly Derting

What about her? Does she have a name? Not that I care really, but it would be rude to call her 'new girl' once Mike and I are dating."
"I have an idea," Jay suggested, leaning toward Chelsea from across the table. "Why don't you put together a list of questions, in order of importance, and I'll have him fill out the answers? Kind of like new-kid homework." He smiled innocently. "You don't have to do it now, of course; just try to get it to me before the end of the day."
"Ha-ha." Chelsea made a face. "You're freakin' hilari-ous, Jay." And then she turned to Violet. "That must be why you like him so much. 'Cause other than that, I just don't get it. — Kimberly Derting

1) I'm, a, comma, whore. Apparently, I throw them around like confetti. Or glitter. The title of my next book: WHY COMMAS RULE THE WORLD, AND STUFF. — Kimberly Derting

He leaned in then and kissed me again, sweet and soft and tender, silencing my arguments and stealing my breath, making me wonder how one simple gesture could be so tragically lovely. — Kimberly Derting

She fell asleep like that, wrapped in warmth.
Wrapped in Jay. — Kimberly Derting

We don't want that, Charlie. We don't want to fight, but we can't just go on like this. We deserve to choose what we want to be, who we want to be. — Kimberly Derting

I swear, Claire-bear, I am going to call your mom and tell her you need to start riding the short bus. You really need to start practicing your bitchy comments. — Kimberly Derting

It excited him. He felt powerful. Alive, — Kimberly Derting

Paranoia was always a potential side effect. — Kimberly Derting

Now she would become the hunter ... and he, the hunted. — Kimberly Derting

What was that all about?" Jay asked in loud whisper.
She still felt like her head was reeling. She had no idea what she was going to tell to Grady when school was out. "I think Grady just asked me to Homecoming," she announced to Jay.
He looked at her suspiciously. "The game?"
Violet cocked her head to the side and gave him a look that told him to be serious.
"No, I'm pretty sure he meant the dance," Violet clarified, exasperated by the obtuse question. — Kimberly Derting

Violet could see the fear in his eyes. "I have to tell you, the idea of losing you scares the hell out of me, Vi. You know that, don't you?" He sighed heavily, still holding on to her as he stared back at her. "Promise me, no more gang fights. — Kimberly Derting

She set aside her crutches and quickly unbolted the door to open it.
"What took you so long?"
Her knee was bent and her ankle pulled up off the ground. She balanced against the doorjamb. "What d'you think, dumbass?" she retorted smartly, keeping her voice down so she wouldn't alert her parents. "You scared the crap out of me, by the way. My parents are already in bed, and I was all alone down here."
"Good!" he exclaimed as he reached in and grabbed her around the waist, dragging her up against him and wrapping his arms around her.
She giggled while he held her there, enjoying everything about the feel of him against her. "What are you doing here? I thought I wouldn't see you till tomorrow. — Kimberly Derting

I was rolling the dead warrior over to steal his cloak, too, knowing it would be far too large on me, when I noticed the blade stashed in the back of his belt. It was solid in my hand, and its blade was sawlike. It would be perfect for gutting the Astonian queen and her traitorous paramour.
- Charlaina di Heyse — Kimberly Derting

They lay there like that, in a different kind of silence now, watching the lake and the stars, listening to the night, each basking in the warmth of the other. — Kimberly Derting

He nudged her with his shoulder but didn't say anything. They stayed like that for a while, enjoying the silence of being alone and enjoying each other's presence. It was easy ... and comfortable. — Kimberly Derting

Charlie?" he said, pulling mme back to face him. "I do love you." My breath caught on his words ... words I'd waited so long to hear. — Kimberly Derting

He reached out, capturing her hand in his. He laced his fingers casually through hers.
Violet leaned against him and the calm finally came, settling over her peacefully.
And then he kissed her. Gently. Softly. Not on the lips, as she'd imagined so many times before, but on her forehead.
The gesture was sweet and a little possessive.
Violet hoped, maybe, it was a start. — Kimberly Derting

I wanted to see if I could pick up some of those sticker badges you give out to kids. I like to give Jay a hard time about his little man-crush on you."
Her uncle's laugh filled his cramped office. "You're terrible, Vi. You act more like your aunt Kat every day. Has she been giving you lessons?" But he was already reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out a stack of the foil stickers. He slid them across the desk. "How's he ever gonna stop being so jumpy around me if you don't stop teasing him?"
This time Violet's smile was genuine. "Give him time, Uncle Stephen; he'll relax. He's just grateful, that's all. — Kimberly Derting

She slipped her hands beneath the front of his shirt, slowly running her fingertips over his chest and back down to his waist. He turned in her arms and smiled, but his grin was filled with mocking suspicion. "Are you trying to distract me, Violet Ambrose?"
"I guess you're smarter than you look," she teased as he pushed her backward so that they both fell on her bed.
"And you are not as funny as you think you are." His mouth hovered over hers, his arms tightening, crushing her against him. Violet giggled and tried to squirm free, but Jay wouldn't let her. He kissed her throat, his lips teasing her until it wasn't his grip that made it hard for Violet to breathe.
"Oh, and Violet, he whispered against her ear, his breath tickling her cheek, "I'm still your best friend. Don't ever forget it." His words were fervent and touching. — Kimberly Derting

Cushions had been sliced apart and were bleeding stuffing onto the floor. — Kimberly Derting

He stood straight then, moving to stand directly in front of me as he dropped low and bowed dramatically. Your Majesty. — Kimberly Derting

C'mon, lets get out of here. It's too dark. Besides, its more fun if I can see you while you're bitching me out. — Kimberly Derting

I pledge to keep you safe. — Kimberly Derting

Story of my life, she thought miserably. She was never willing to put herself out there. — Kimberly Derting

The idea of going back to basketball drills made her stomach tighten, but she stood up on her tiptoes and leaned into Jay, whispering against his cheek. "I got your note last night. Would've been better if I'd have found you in my bed instead."
Jay groaned and grabbed her by the shoulders. There was the hint of accusation buried behind his breathy chuckle as he set her away from him. "You're playing with fire, Vi. You shouldn't tease me at school. Besides, I think if I hid in your room, your father - check that, your mother - would skin me alive."
Violet heard the coach shouting her name, and she knew she'd be getting a demerit for slacking off. But she didn't care.
She flashed him her most wolfish smile. "Next time, you should totally take that chance. It could've been fun," she promised before sauntering away. — Kimberly Derting

You're such a girl," she chided, but somehow the words came out too soft ... too tender, and ended up sounding like a compliment.
Jay just laughed. "So what does that make you, the guy?" He squeezed her hand even tighter, keeping it buried in his.
"Or some sort of lesbian," she teased, raising one eyebrow. "Maybe we should try out a little girl-on-girl action."
"Nice, Violet. Do you kiss your mom with that mouth?" His eyes glinted as he watched her.
She leaned closer to him in the darkness of the car's interior. "No, but I'll kiss you with it. — Kimberly Derting

At some point, during the early hours of the morning, the dreams found their way in.
they were dark dreams, treacherous, submerging Violet in their murky depths until she incapable of finding her way to the surface. At first the images were harmless, like some sort of crazy kaleidoscope, drifting in and out of focus, colliding and splintering and reforming again. — Kimberly Derting

I was just waiting for you to want me as much as I wanted you." His words were quiet but carried one hell of an impact. "I knew we were going to be together; it was just a matter of time. I kept hoping that you would figure it out. But for a smart girl, you're a little dense, Vi. I kept bringing up Lissie Adams, and showing you the notes she was leaving me, hoping that you'd get pissed enough to finally admit how you felt about me. — Kimberly Derting

She needed Jay to go with her. Because despite her bold words about doing it by herself, it was all just a bluff. She really wasn't sure if she could do it on her own. "All right," he finally agreed, flashing her the same stupid grin that always made her heart stutter, even though he still seemed uncertain. "How about we start by going to the movies tonight? We can make sure the theater is safe. — Kimberly Derting

In the privacy of my dreams, I'm a warrior. — Kimberly Derting

Chelsea, for the love of everything good and holy, please...please stop ruining my friend." ~Jay — Kimberly Derting

She would be trouble, this one; the fact that he was lying awake now was proof of that. — Kimberly Derting

Nothing's going to happen to you," Max interrupted, gripping my shoulders and forcing me to look at him. "Because you're not going to do it. You're going to tell her to go to hell! — Kimberly Derting

For some, times of change can be trying. But these times can also present great opportunity, a chance for us to show what we're made of, to show our dignity and fortitude. A chance for us to grow. — Kimberly Derting

She didn't want to smile
this was no time for smiling
but she couldn't stop herself. Charlie, it seemed, was something of a bad ass.
- Brooklyn — Kimberly Derting

Instead of expensive fish eggs and stinky cheeses, Jay had packed Doritos and chicken soft tacos - Violet's favorites. And instead of grapes, he brought Oreos.
He knew her way too well.
Violet grinned as he pulled out two clear plastic cups and a bottle of sparkling cider. She giggled. "What? No champagne?"
He shrugged, pouring a little of the bubbling apple juice into each of the flimsy cups. "I sorta thought that a DUI might ruin the mood." He lifted his cup and clinked - or rather tapped - it against hers. "Cheers." He watched her closely as she took a sip. — Kimberly Derting

I've been so worried about strange men following you around that I forgot how dangerous Homecoming Queens can be. — Kimberly Derting

You even used to make up funny stories about those poor little lost creatures of yours. Remember Bob, the squirrel banker who forgot to pay his electric bill so he froze to death? — Kimberly Derting

Jules stood up and stretched gracelessly. "Let's hurry up and pay before she"-she indicated Claire with a flick of her thumb-"sees something shiny and we lose her again. — Kimberly Derting

Jay had to work the next day, but he called frequently. Checking in to make sure Violet was feeling all right, that she hadn't changed her mind about their decision, and that she missed him. Violet called him just to hear the sound of his voice. And to make unfairly suggestive comments, taunting him across the phone lines.
Violet loved this new game. Jay would groan uncomfortably from the other end, but he never cut her off. — Kimberly Derting

She tried again. "Did you ever tell anyone? Does your mom know?"
He lifted her hand to his mouth and rubbed her knuckles across his lower lip, his gaze locked with hers. "No," he promised. "I swore I wouldn't, not even her. I think she knows something, or at least she thinks you have the worst luck ever, since you found all those dead girls." He lowered his voice. "She was really worried about you after the shooting last year. You're like a daughter to her." He leaned close. "Of course, that makes it kind of creepy when I do things like this."
He kissed her. It was intimate. Not soft or sweet this time, it was deep and passionate, stealing Violet's breath. — Kimberly Derting

She already missed the feel of him beside her, and the scent of him around her. She sat up to give him back the T-shirt she was wearing.
His lazy smile was far too beautiful to be real. "Keep it," he insisted. "I like it better on you anyway." The way he stared at her made her stomach flip. It was a look brimming with tenderness. They were a part of something more now; they belonged to each other.
He tugged his hoodie over his bare chest, and then he leaned down to kiss her one last time, his lips lingering.
His thumb traced the line of her cheek. "I love you, Violet Marie. I'll always love you. — Kimberly Derting

Instead, he reached out and grabbed her hand. If it's all right right you, I think i'll keep ahold of you anyway. I don't want to be responsible for letting you fall again. — Kimberly Derting

The sounds she heard bouncing off the walls around her were those of defeat. — Kimberly Derting

The citizens of Ludania would finally be free, no longer forced into a class system that determined what language they could speak, what jobs they could do, or who they could be — Kimberly Derting