Aspen

“He smiled all the way to physics class. He almost laughed out loud when he passed through the door and saw her shadowy, hunched-over form casting around for a seat in the back.

She was in his class; this was excellent. Maybe she’d call him a name if he struck up another conversation. Even curse him out. That might fun. God, he’d probably earn himself a restraining order if he tried to sit next to her.

He was so tired of saccharine smiles and cloying tones of voice. People always plastered their eyes to his face for fear of looking anywhere else. He was fed up with everybody being so goddamned nice.

That’s why he’d already fallen in love with this weird, maladjusted, beautiful girl who carried a chip the size of Ohio on her shoulder. Because nobody was ever mean to the guy in the wheelchair.”
― Francine Pascal, Fearless

“Cash or check?” he said cheekily. Even the dullest Ohio girls knew that bit of lingo: Kiss now or kiss later?

“Bank’s closed, pal.”
― Libba Bray, The Diviners

“What do you mean Taurus? he frowns. I'm not a Taurus.

You were born on the cusp, I remind him. Jason merely shrugs.

Shows what you know, Scotty, I was born in Ohio.

I can take him anywhere but out.”
― Steve Kluger, Changing Pitches

“Hasta la vista, bitch.”
― Libba Bray, Beauty Queens