The Gathering Quotes

“Yes you're getting your tattoo."
I threw my arms around Dad's neck. "Thank you!"
"Hey," Mom said. "I'm the one who had to persuade him it wasn't turning his little girl into a streetwalker."
"I never said that," Dad said.
"No?" I said. "Cool. Cause I've decided to skip the paw print. I'm thinking of a tramp stamp with flames that says 'Hot in Here.' No wait. Arrows. For directionally challenged guys”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“This is so cool," I said loudly as Dad walked away. "Have you met the tattoo artist? Is he hot?"
"He's a she," Mom said.
"Is she hot? Cause I'm still young, you know. My sexual identity isnt fully formed."
"Your father can't hear you anymore, Maya." Mom sighed.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.'

'Or,' I said turning to Rafe, 'if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event you could just submit your life story including your view on politics religion and every social issue imaginable along with anything else you think they might need to conduct a thorough background check.'

Mom sighed. 'I really don't know why we even bother trying to be subtle around you.'

'Neither do I. It's not like he isn't going to realize he's being vetted as daughter-dating material.'

Rafe grinned. 'So we are dating.'

'No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate.' I turned to my parents. 'We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't yet officially dating I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need.'

Dad choked on his coffee.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I want you to have big dreams, big goals. I want you to strive to achieve them. But I don't want to see you beating yourself up every time you make a mistake.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Rafe didn't just flirt-he charmed girls right up to the point where they fell for him, then he changed his mind.I called him a player with attention deficit disorder.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“It was completely fifth garde and completely silly and I loved it, because he wasn't afraid to be silly. It was like kissing him first - I could do whatever I wanted and not have to worry what he'd think of me.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Got your text,” he said when I climbed out. “How much did it hurt?”
“Not at all,” I said. “Apparently, I can’t get a tattoo because I’m a witch.”
“I could have told them-” He stopped. “Oh, you said witch.”
“Ha-ha.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Ooh, big day in town for our park warden,” I said. “They’re even making you wear the uniform.
Hayley’s mom will be happy. She thinks you look hot in it.”
Dad turned as red as his hair.
Mom’s laugh floated out from her studio. “Maya Delaney. Leave your father alone.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I just... I understand you might want to start dating more seriously, and that means dating someone from town. But if you're going to do that..." This time he took a long drink of coffee, and the mug was still at his lips when he said, "I like Daniel. He takes care of you."
I blinked. "Oh my God. Did you really just say that? He takes care of me?"
Dad flushed. "I didn't mean it like-"
"Takes care of me? Did I go to sleep and wake up in the nineteenth century?" I looked down at my jeans and T-shirt. "Ack! I can't go to school like this. Where's my corset? My bonnet?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Oh my God. You're a witch-hunter. I'm a witch. Hate to break it to you Daniel, but if you're a witch-hunter? You're doing it wrong."
He gave me a sidelong smile. "Maybe it's not that kind of hunting."
"Then you're definitely doing it wrong.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“He pulled back, barely a fraction, but I knew he was hurt. Why was it so easy to do that these days? For both of us. He wouldn't want to talk about something, and I'de be hurt. Or I wouldn't want to talk about something, and he'd be hurt. Or he'd invite me along with the guys, and I'd analyze every nuance of his voice and expression, worrying that he really didn't want me along, was only being polite. Or, like the other night, I'd want to comfort him, but would be worried about how he might misinterpret that.

It never used to be like this. Maybe that's just part of having a close friend of the opposite sex. As a kid, you don't think anything about it. Then you're a teenager, and you can't help but think about it.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Rafe grinned. "So we are dating?"
"No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate."
I turned to my parents. "We have Kenji. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't officially dating, I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need."
Dad chocked on his coffee.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I like Daniel. He takes care of you."
I blinked. "Oh my God. Did you really just say that? He takes care of me?"
Dad flushed. "I didn't mean it like-"
"Takes care of me? Did I go to sleep and wake up in the nineteenth century?" I looked down at my jeans and T-shirt. "Ack! I can't go to school like this. Where's my corset? My bonnet?"
Dad sighed as Mom walked in with her empty teacup.
"What did I miss?" She said.
"Dad's trying to marry me off to Daniel." I looked at him.
"You know, if you offer him a new truck for a dowry, he might go for it.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“This is so cool,” I said as Dad walked away. “Have you met the tattoo artist? Is he hot?
“He’s a she,” Mom said.
“Is she hot? Cause I’m still young, you know. My sexual identity isn’t fully formed.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I told him what my dad had said. That got him laughing and as we pulled into the school parking lot, even the sight of Rafe waiting for me only made him roll his eyes.
We got out. I glanced at Daniel.
He sighed. "Go on."
"You sound like you're giving a five-year-old permission to play with an unsuitable friend."
"If the shoe fits..."
I flipped him off.
"Watch it or I won't marry you," he said. "Truck of no truck."
I laughed and jogged over to Rafe.
"Did he just say...?" Rafe began.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I leaned forward and kissed him. His eyes widened, then his lips parted and he kissed me back, mouth warm and firm against mine and that floating feeling washed over me and through me, and it was so amazing that when it ended, I just stayed there, my face so close to his I could feel his breath, see those incredible amber eyes, and that was all I could see,
all I wanted to see.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“so, when I spotted a cougar stretched out on a thick pine tree branch near the park gates, I wasn't surprised. I can't say the same for the women clinging to the branch above the cat. she was the one screaming. The cougar-a ragged-ear old top I clled Marv-just stared at her, like he couldn't believe anyone would be dumb to climb a tree to escape a cat.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“We got out. I glanced at Daniel.
He sighed. "Go on."
"You sound like you're giving a five-year old permission to play with an unsuitable friend."
"If the shoe fits..."
I flipped off.
"Watch it or I won't marry you," he said. "Truck or no truck."
I laughed and jogged over to Rafe.
"Did he just say..." Rafe began.
"Yes. And don't ask”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“The school is on the edge of town. Hell, most of the town is on the edge of town--you can’t walk far in any direction without ending up in the forest.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“When I leaned out, trying to see it, I noticed a faint figure about thirty feet away, watching us. Before I could warn Daniel, the figure waved frantically, and I realized it was Rafe.
He pointed to show us where the ATV was. Daniel nodded and whispered, “About ten feet away in that direction.”
“Too close,” I whispered back.
“I know.”
Rafe motioned that there were two ATVs. I waved for him to take off--he was far enough to get away safely. He shook his head…and stepped out from his hiding spot.
“What the hell is he--?”
“Hey!” Rafe yelled, looking in the opposite direction. “Maya! Daniel! Where are you guys?”
He stopped and slowly turned, as if just noticing the ATV. Then he took off, barreling through the brush. The ATVs followed.
Daniel caught my arm before I could run after Rafe. “He gave us a chance to get away. It won’t do us any good to blow it.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Rafe started to rise again. Daniel caught his arm.
“They’re not from the fire department,” he whispered.
“Right. In a fire truck, wearing fire--”
“And carrying automatic rifles? Maybe that’s standard gear for rescue workers in the States, but no one carries those here. Not even the cops.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Go on, then,” Daniel said. “But don’t expect me to come to your rescue if you do something stupid again.”
Rafe stopped, crouching. “Stupid? What the hell did I--?”
“Standing up to a bear? Yeah, kinda stupid.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Wait,” Daniel said sharply, not a request but a command. I swore Rafe’s hackles rose.
“Just hold on a sec,” I said.
“No. I’m sorry, Maya, but this is nuts. I need to get to town and see if Annie’s there.”
“Go on, then,” Daniel said. “But don’t expect me to come to your rescue if you do something stupid again.”
Rafe stopped, crouching. “Stupid? What the hell did I--?”
“Standing up to a bear? Yeah, kinda stupid."
Rafe's face reddened.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“The truck rounded the last corner. It was more like a cube van, yellow with some kind of crest on the side. I struggled for a better look. The air was getting hazy now. Invisible smoke stung my eyes.
“The fire department?” Rafe scowled at Daniel. “We’re running from a fire and hiding from the fire department?”
I could see the insignia now--a red crest with a lighthouse in the middle. An auxiliary vehicle for Nanaimo Fire Rescue.
Rafe started getting up.
“Wait,” Daniel said sharply, not a request but a command. I swore Rafe’s hackles rose.
“Just hold on a sec,” I said.
“No. I’m sorry, Maya, but this is nuts. I need to get to town and see if Annie’s there.”
“Go on, then,” Daniel said. “But don’t expect me to come to your rescue if you do something stupid again.”
Rafe stopped, crouching. “Stupid? What the hell did I--?”
“Standing up to a bear? Yeah, kinda stupid.”
Rafe’s face reddened.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“The truck rounded the last corner. It was more like a cube van, yellow with some kind of crest on the side. I struggled for a better look. The air was getting hazy now. Invisible smoke stung my eyes.
“The fire department?” Rafe scowled at Daniel. “We’re running from a fire and hiding from the fire department?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Our lips brushed. Then his eyes snapped open and he pulled back fast.
I jerked away. “Right. Bad idea. We--”
“No.” He pointed. “That.”
I twisted to see a wall of smoke heading straight for us.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I don’t want to lose it.”
He took it. Before I could pull my hand back, he caught my wrist and tied the bracelet around it.
“Problem solved.”
I tried to glance down at it, but his fingers slid under my chin, eyes closing as his mouth moved toward mine. Our lips brushed. Then his eyes snapped open and he pulled back fast.
I jerked away. “Right. Bad idea. We--”
“No.” He pointed. “That.”
I twisted to see a wall of smoke heading straight for us.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“Keep it.”
“But it’s important to you.”
“Proving I mean it when I say I’ll be back.”
My cheeks heated and I pressed it into his hand. “Please. I don’t want to lose it.”
He took it. Before I could pull my hand back, he caught my wrist and tied the bracelet around it.
“Problem solved.”
I tried to glance down at it, but his fingers slid under my chin, eyes closing as his mouth moved toward mine.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I pulled out his bracelet.
“You’d better take this,” I said.
He shook his head. “I still need to take off, track down answers. Keep it.”
“But it’s important to you.”
“Proving I mean it when I say I’ll be back.”
My cheeks heated and I pressed it into his hand. “Please. I don’t want to lose it.”
He took it. Before I could pull my hand back, he caught my wrist and tied the bracelet around it.
“Problem solved.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering

“I didn’t even notice I’d caught up until I was right beside him and he was leaning around the tree, smiling at me.
“Gotcha,” I said.
“Uh, no. I stopped.”
He waved overhead and I realized we were as high as we could safely go.
“Damn,” I said.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Gathering