Chloe Quotes

“He wet a paper towel, and took my chin, lifting and wiping my face.
"Derek? I'm not hurt."
"You're covered in blood."
"But it's not mine. Honest. It's from—"
"The werewolf. I know." He picked up my hand and started cleaning it. "That's why I have to get it off."
"Derek?" I leaned down, trying to see his face. "Are you okay?"
He kept scrubbing. "There are two ways to become a werewolf. Either you're born or you get bitten by one. If you get saliva in your bloodstream, it's like a virus."
"Blood, too?"
"Dad says no, it's just saliva. But he could be wrong, and you've got cuts and scrapes and blood all over."
I had a few cuts and scrapes, and I was only flecked with blood, but I kept my mouth shut and let him clean.
As he did, I tried to check out how badly he was hurt. His scraped cheeks were pitted with gravel. His nose was bloodied. Broken? One eye was already darkening. Was that blood in the corner? His lip was cut and swollen. Were any teeth loose? MIssing?
"Stop fidgeting, Chloe."
I couldn't help it. His injuries obviously needed more attention than mine, but here was no sense saying anything until he was done.
Finally, when he seemed to have scrubbed off every fleck of blood—and a few layers of skin—I said, "Okay, now on to you."
"Take off your jacket and sweatshirt."
"Derek, I'm clean. Trust me, I've never been this clean."
"You've got blood on your cuffs."

***

"Okay, now can we take care of the guy that was actually in the fight? There's a lot of blood. It seems to be mostly from your nose."
"It is."
"You got hit in the chest a few times. How are your ribs?"
"Maybe bruised. Nothing critical."
"Shirt off."
He sighed, like now I was the one fussing too much”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“I knew Derek didn't lack empathy—he couldn't forget what he'd done to that kid who attacked Simon. But it was like what he held some weird list of checks and balances, and if you got on the wrong side, like Tori had, he had no problem 'kicking you on the curb,' to face whatever fate waited.
"No," I said.
"It isn't up for negotiation. She's not coming."
"Okay." I stood and brushed off my jeans. "Come on, Tori."
When Simon rose, I thought he was going to stop me. Instead, he followed me to the door. Tori caught up, and we made it into the next room before Derek jogged out, catching my arm with a wrench that yanked me off my feet.
I winced and peeled off his fingers. "Wrong one."
He dropped my arm quickly, realizing he'd grabbed my injured one. A long minute of silence, then, "Fine." He turned to Tori. "Three conditions. One, whatever your problem is with Chloe, get over it. Go after her again, you're gone."
"Understood," Tori said.
"Two, get over Simon. He's not interested."
She flushed and snapped, "I think I've figured that out. And number three?"
"Get over yourself." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“ "It was hot at the restaurant," I said. "So I rolled up my sleeves."
"What?"
I pushed my left one up, showing four bruises, dark as ink spots. Simon paled.
"My aunt wanted to know what happened. When I wouldn't tell her, she tricked me into admitting it was a boy. She met Derek this morning and he was rude, so she decided it had to be him. I never confirmed it. If he's in trouble, it is not my fault. I had every right to tell someone and I didn't."
"Okay, okay." He rubbed his mouth, still staring at my arm. "So he grabbed your arm. That's what it looks like. Right? He just grabbed harder than he thought."
"He threw me across the room."
Simon's eyes widened, then he lowered his lids to hide his surprise. "But he didn't mean to. If you saw how freaked out he was last night, you'd know that."
"So that makes it okay? If I lose my temper and smack you, it's all right, because I didn't mean to, didn't plan to."
"You don't understand. He just—"
"She's right." Derek's voice preceded him around the corner.
I shrank back. I couldn't help it. As I did, a look passed through Derek's eyes. Remorse? Guilt? He blinked it away.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Summoning

“She saw Derek and without so much as a hello, leaned to look behind him. "Where's Simon?"
"He's—"
"Is he okay? Why isn't he here?" She glared up at Derek. "Where'd you leave him?"
"Passed out in an alley." Derek frowned in thought. "Not sure where, though ..."
"He's kidding," I said as Tori sputtered.
"We need to get moving." Derek hooked a thumb as Tori while looking at me. " She's your responsibility."
"Excuse me?" Tori said.
Derek didn't even glance her way. "Make sure she keeps up. And shuts up." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“What do you mean? How does he look at me?

I don't know. It's like you're a chocolate ice- cream and he doesn't have a spoon.”
― Catherine Anderson

“A soft poke at my shoulder blade startled me.
"Still jumpy, I see."
I spun to see Simon, Derek hanging back behind him.
Simon grinned, the sight as familiar as Derek's scowl. "Got my note, I hear," he said.
I pulled it out and waved it.
He plucked it from my fingers and tucked it into my jacket pocket.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“As we sat, Derek pulled a handful of energy bars from his pocket, and gave me one.
"Oh, right. You must be starving." Simon reached into his pockets. "I can offer one bruised apple and one brown banana."

***

"You guys are weird," Tori said.
Simon sat on the crate beside me. "That's right. We are totally weird and completely uncool. Your popularity is plummeting just by being near us. So why don't you—"
"Chloe?" Derek interrupted. "How's your arm?"
"Her—?" Simon swore under his breath. "Way to keep showing me up. First, food. Now her arm." He turned to me. "How is it?" ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“ "I'm not going anywhere. I'm joining your little gang of baby heroes on the quest to find Superdad."
Simon and Derek exchanged a look.
"No," Derek said.
"No? Excuse me, it was Rae who betrayed you guys. Not me. I helped Chloe."
"And was it Rae who tormented her at Lyle House?"
"Tormented?" A derisive snort. "I didn't—"
"You did everything you could to get Chloe kicked out," Simon said. "And when that didn't work, you tried to kill her."
"Kill her?" Tori's mouth hardened. "I'm not my mother. Don't you dare accuse—"
"You lured her into the crawl space," Derek said. "Hit her over the head with a brick, bound and gagged her, and locked her in. Did you even check to make sure she was okay? That you hadn't cracked her skull?"
Tori sputtered a protest, but from the horror in her eyes, I knew the possibility hadn't occurred to her.
"Derek," I said, "I don't think—"
"No she didn't think. She could have killed you with the brick, suffocated you with the gag, given you a heart attack from fright, not to mention what would have happened if you hadn't gotten out of your bindings. It only takes a couple of days to die from dehydration."
"I would never have left Chloe to die. You can't accuse me of that."
"No," Derek said. "Just of wanting hr locked up in a mental hospital. And why? Because you didn't like her. Because she talked to a guy you did like. Maybe you're not your mother, Tori. But what you are..." He fixed her with an icy look. "I don't want around."
The expression on her face...I felt for her, whether she'd welcome my sympathy or not.
"We don't trust you," Simon said, his tone softer than his brother's. "We can't have someone along that we don't trust."
"What if I'm okay with it," I cut in. "If i feel safe with her..."
"You don't," Derek said. "You won't kick her to the curb, though, because it's not the kind of person you are." He met Tori's gaze. "But it's the kind of person I am. Chloe won't force you to leave because she'd feel horrible if anything happened to you. Me? I don't care. You brought it on yourself." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“Tears sprang to my eyes. I blinked them back, grabbed some tissue, and started awkwardly trying to daub leftover dye into my pale eyebrows, praying it would make a difference.
Through the mirror, I saw Tori walk in. She stopped. "Oh. My. God."
It would have been better if she'd laughed. Her look of horror, then something like sympathy, meant it was as bad as I thought.
"I told Derek to let me pick the color," she said. "I told him."
"Hey," Simon called in. "Everyone decent?"
He pushed open the door, saw me and blinked.
"It's Derek's fault," Tori said. "He—"
"Don't, please," I said. "No more fighting."
Simon still shot a glare over his shoulder as Derek pushed open the door.
"What?" Derek said. He looked at me. "Huh."
Tori hustled me out the door, brushing past the guys with a whispered "jerk" for Derek.
"At least now you know never to go dark again," she said as we walked. "A couple years ago, I let a friend dye mine blond. It was almost as bad. My hair felt like straw and..."
And so, Tori and I bonded over hair horror stories.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“ "Were you crying?" Tori peered at my face. "You were."
"I-it's nothing. I—"
"Simon pulled something, didn't he? Got you out on that walk, and the next thing you know, it's not your hand he's holding." Her eyes blaze. "Guys. They can be such—"
"It wasn't like that."
"If he pulled that crap, you can tell me. I've had a few surprise first dates myself. Wish I'd had my spells then. Especially the binding one." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“Seeing me shivering, he stretched a front leg toward the sweatshirt, pawing the edge and snarling when he realized he couldn't grab it.
"The lack of opposable thumbs is going to take some getting used to, huh?" ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“Sometimes we just have to take the time to notice something to see how amazing it is.”
― Jessica Wood, Promise to Marry

“When you run, run to me”
― Catherine Anderson

“ "I'm really glad you found me," my voice cracking.
Simon squeezed my hand. His lips lowering to my ear, whispering, "I—"
He went rigid, head lifting.
"Hey, Simon," Tori said behind me.
"What is she doing here?"
Derek jabbed his thumb at me. "Ask her. I'm not getting any answers." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“Derek stopped short. I smacked into his back—not for the first time, since he insisted on walking in front of me. I'd been tripping on his heels and mumbling apologies the whole way. When I'd slow down to let him get farther ahead, he'd snap at me to keep up.
"We're almost there," Simon said.
He was behind me—sticking to the curbside, walking as close as Derek. While normally I wouldn't complain about Simon being so close, I had the weird sensation of being blocked in.
As we started forward again, I tried dropping back with Tori, who lagged behind, but Simon put his finger on my elbow and steered me back into place.
"Okay," I said. "Something's up. What's with the walking blockade?"
"They're protecting you," Tori said. "Shielding you from the big bad world." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Awakening

“ "I must have been sound asleep if I missed all that shouting," SImon said.
"What shouting?" Derek said.
"You mean that Chloe just told you that she followed a ghost onto a roof, and you didn't blast her all the way to Canada?" ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Was it okay?" he asked.
I smiled. "Better than okay."
"So I won my pass to date two?"
"You did."
"Good"
His face lowered toward mine and I knew what was coming. I knew it. But when his lips touched mine, I still jumped.
"S-sorry, I—I"
"Skittish as a cat," he murmured.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Who taught you to raise the dead?"
"N-no one. I—I've never even met another necromancer before you." Not exactly true. I'd briefly met the ghost of one, but he hadn't been much help.
"Did the Edison Group give you books? Manuals?"
"J-Just a history book that I—I skimmed through a bit. Th-there wasn't anything on rituals."
A moment of silence as she studied me through the mirror. "You were trying to make a point, weren't you, Chloe?"
"Wh-what?"
"I said you couldn't raise the dead; you proved you could. You visualized returning a soul—"
"No!" my stutter fell away. "Returning a ghost to a rotting corpse to make a point? I'd never do that. I was doing exactly what you asked—trying to pull that spirit through. I was summoning. But if I do that with dead bodies around, I can raise the dead. That's what I tried to tell you."
She drove for a minute, the silence heavy. Then her gaze rose to the mirror again, meeting mine.
"You're telling me you can raise the dead simply by summoning?"
"Yes."
"My God," she whispered, staring at me. "What have they done?"
Hearing her words and seeing her expression, I knew Derek had been right last night. I'd just done something worse than raising the dead—I'd confirmed her worst fears about us.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Now, do I dare ask what you guys are doing hiding out up here? Or is it going to make me jealous?"
Simon was smiling as he said it, but Derek glanced away with a gruff "Course not."
"So you weren't having another adventure?" Simon lowered himself on my other side, so close he brushed against me, hand resting on mine. "It sure looks like a good spot for one. Rooftop hideaway, old widow's walk. That is what that is, huh? A widow's walk?"
"Yeah. And it's rotting, so stay off it," Derek said.
"I did. So, adventure?"
"A small one," I said.
"Oh, man. I always miss them. Okay, break it to me gently." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“As Simon went to see if Andrew was up, I wandered into the kitchen, where Derek was eyeing a rusty can of beans.
"That hungry?" I said.
"I will be soon."
He prowled the kitchen, flipping open cupboards.
"So you don't want me asking Andrew about that kid?" I said. "You trust him, though, right?"
"Sure."
He took down a box of crackers and turned it over, looking for a 'best before' date.

***

"Is he drinking the ketchup yet?" Simon swung into the kitchen. "Ten minutes, bro. Andrew's on his way—”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Derek?" I called.
No answer.
I took a few more steps, then called a little louder, "Derek? Are you out here?"
A branch snapped in the woods. I pictured Derek, in the middle of a Change, unable to respond, and hurried toward the forest's edge. The noise stopped and I paused at the end of the path leading in, peering into the dark woods, listening. Another snap. Something like a groan.
"Derek? It's me."
I stepped in. It took only a few paces for the morning light to fade and darkness to envelop me.
"Derek?"
I jumped as he rounded a corner down the path. I didn't need full daylight to see the expression on his face at all to know I was in trouble, just the set of his shoulders and he long strides as he bore down on me.
"I—" I began.
"What the hell are you doing, Chloe? I said we'd come out here later and try to contact that ghost. Key word? We. If you're here—"
I lifted my hands. "Okay, you caught me. I was sneaking out on my own, hoping no one would notice. That's why I've been calling your name." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Derek's a good kid, Chloe. He always has been. Responsible, mature...Kit used to joke that, some days, he'd rather have a dozen of Derek than one of Simon. But the wolf is coming out now, and he's struggling with it. I always told KIt..." He exhaled and shook his head. "The point I'm making is that I know Derek seems like a normal kid."
Normal? I could have laughed at that. I don't think anyone ever mistook Derek for a normal kid.
"But you need to remember that Derek is different. You need to be careful."
I was sick and tired of hearing how dangerous Derek was. Different, yes, but no more than a dozen guys I knew from school, guys who stood out, didn't act like everyone else, followed their own rules. He could be dangerous, with his superhuman strength. But how was he any worse than Tori, with her uncontrollable spells? Tori had a track record of trying to hurt me, but no one except the guys had ever warned me away from her.
Unlike Tori, Derek was struggling to control his powers. But no one ever recognized that. They didn't see Derek. All they saw was the werewolf.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“Simon appeared at the doorway behind Tori and Derek. He waved to me and mouthed "run while you can."
Not a bad idea. I snuck around them and zipped out the door to where Simon waited. Then I glanced back at Tori.
"Don't worry about her," he said. "Probably the most fun she's had in days." He led me into the next room. "Sadly, I can't say the same for Derek, and as soon as he stops arguing long enough to notice you're gone—"
"Hey!" Derek called. "Where are you two going?"
Simon took my elbow and steered me at a jog through the house as Derek's footsteps pounded behind us.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Andrew's a nice guy, but...too nice, you know?"
"Like me?"
"You're a different kind of nice. I know Andrew's trying to help, but I really wish he had more..." She shrugged for a word.
"Backbone?" I blurted, then felt my cheeks heat. "I—I don't mean—"
"See, there's your version of 'too nice.' You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, even behind their back. Backbone is exactly right." She reclined on her bed. "Anyway, enough of that. Simon's looking for you, as usual. Go play, Chloe. I'll keep your brooding spot warm." ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“Simon kissed me and I just stood there like someone had cut the cord between my brain and my muscles.
Finally, the connection caught and I did kiss him, but awkwardly, some part of me still holding back, my gut twisting, like I was doing something wrong, making a huge mistake, and—
Simon stopped. For a moment, he hovered there, face above mine, until I had to look away.
"Wrong guy, huh? he said, his voice so soft I barely caught it.
"Wh-what?"
He eased back, and his eyes went blank, unreadable.
"There's someone else," he said. Not a question. A statement.
"S-someone...? A boyfriend, you mean? From before? No. Never. I wouldn't—"
"Go out with me if there was. I know." He took another step back, the heat of his body fading, the chill of night air moving in. "I don't mean a guy from before, Chloe. I mean one from now."
I stared at him. Now? Who else...? There was only one other guy—
"D-Derek? Y-you think—"
I couldn't finish. I wanted to laugh. You think I like Derek? Are you kidding? But the laugh wouldn't come, just this thundering in my ears, breath catching like I'd been smacked in the chest.
"Derek and I aren't—"
"No, not yet. I know."
"I—I don't—"
Just say it. Please let me say it. "I don't like Derek." But I didn't. Couldn't.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“The door slapped shut, sound echoing as Derek marched across the yard, dead on target.
I looked around, desperate for an escape route, but there was none. Go forward and deal with Derek, or run back toward Simon and have to deal with both of them. I kept walking.
"Where's Simon?" he snapped.
Relief washed through me. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I just pointed back to the woods.
"He left you? Out here? At night?"
"He dropped something," I mumbled, trying to get past him. "He isn't far."
Without a sound, he was right in front of me, blocking my path
"You're crying?" he said.
"No, I—" I tore my gaze away. "Just dust. From the path. Simon's that way."
I tried to pass him, but he stooped, trying to get a look at my face. When i wouldn't let him, he caught my chin. I jerked back, flinching at his touch, heart thudding at it, too.
I told myself Simon was wrong. I'd never be dumb enough to fall for Derek. But I had. With him so close, my stomach kept doing weird little flips. It wasn't fear. It hadn't been fear for a while.
"You've have been crying," he said, voice softer. Then his breath caught, the growl coming back as he snapped, "What did Simon—?" He bit off the words, cheeks reddening like he was embarrassed even to think Simon might be responsible.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“ "Talk to Simon. He's the one who thinks..."
"Thinks what?"
Step. Block.
"Thinks what?"
"That there's someone else," I blurted before I could stop myself. I took a deep, shuddering breath. "He thinks there's someone else."
"Who?"
I was going to say "I don't know. Some guy from school, I guess." But Derek's expression said he already knew the answer. The look on his face...I'd been humiliated before, having Simon accuse me of liking Derek, but that was nothing compared to how I felt when I saw Derek's look. Not just surprise, but shock. Shock and horror.
"Me?" he said. "Simon said he thinks you and I are—"
"No, not that. He knows we aren't—"
"Good. So what does he think?"
"That I like you." Again, the words flew out before I could stop them. This time, I didn't care. I'd completely humiliated myself, and now I was just empty and ashamed. All I wanted was to get him out of my way, and if telling him that made him run in terror, then good.
But he didn't run. He just stared at me, and that was worse. I felt like the biggest loser at school, admitting to the coolest guy that she liked him. He stood there gaping like he must have heard me wrong.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“He moved into the moonlight. That was no accident. He wanted me to see his eyes burning with fever, his skin flushed, hair sweat soaked. He wanted me to say, "Oh, you're Changing," leap out of bed, and insist on going outside with him, help him through it, a I had the last two times.
I looked at him and I lay back down.
He stepped froward. "Chloe.."
"What?"
"It's...It's starting again."
"I see that."
I sat up, swung my legs out of bed, and stood. He breathed a sigh of relief. I walked to the window.
"Head down that path about thirty feet, and you'll find a clearing to the left. That should be a good place."
A spark of panic ignited in his eyes. After how he'd treated me today, I should have said "good." But i didn't. Couldn't. It took everything I had to just crawl back into bed.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“I made it two steps before he snorted. I turned to see him lying on his belly ready to jump up. He jerked his muzzle, telling me to come back.
"I thought you'd want to be—"
He cut me off with a snort. It was hard for a wolf to scowl, but he managed a good glower.
I took the switchblade from my jacket pocket. "I'll be fine. I'm armed."
A snort. I don't care. A head jerk. Get back here. ”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning

“He pushed to his feet, wobbly, still adjusting to his new center of gravity. He gingerly moved one forepaw, then the next, one rear paw, then the other. He picked up the pace, but still slow as he circled the clearing. A snort, like he'd figured it out, and he broke into a lope, stumbled and plowed muzzle-first into the undergrowth.
I stifled a laugh, but not very well. and he glowered at me.
"Forget running. A nice, leisurely stroll might be more your speed."
He snorted and turned fast. When I fell back, he gave a growling chuckle.
"Still can't resist throwing your weight around, can you?"
He lunged again. This time I stood my ground and he checked his leap at the last second...and toppled sideways. I didn't hide my laugh that time. He twisted fast, grabbed my pajama leg and wrenched, and down I went.
"Bully."
He growled a chuckle. I fingered an imaginary tear in my pant leg.
"Great. I finally get some pj's and you rip them."
He walked over for a better look. I tried to grab his foreleg, but he darted out of my reach and tore across the clearing.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Reckoning