Hush, Hush: Chapter 5
ZeldaQueen: Alrighty then. The sooner we more on, the sooner we get done.
Incidentally, and I know I should have posted this last chapter but I forgot, but there's two things to check out in the comments section of Chapter 3. The first is a lovely, lovely GIF from das_mervin, which shows exactly what would happen if Castiel went up against Patch. The second is a splendid spitefic by mogseltof, in which Nora gets some of her own back
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
Chapter 5
ZeldaQueen: So apparently Nora just goes along with Vee's plan to look up any medication Patch might be on, which means that we start off our chapter with Nora smiling and lying her ass off to the secretary about how she wants to sign up some prescription meds she's on, so she and Vee can snoop around in the filing cabinet. Nora is all upset about this and worries about how she's been engaging in a number of unsavory things, like following Patch to the bar and...erm, that's about it really. And that's not even illegal, though she insists it is. I mean, yeah she didn't pay, but it was more that they gave her a quick pass for that one time. It's not like she got smashed while underage.
Although I must note, both of these things - the bar visiting and this current scam they're pulling, came up in the name of Patch. You know, the guy who said that Nora was too "safe" and needed to liven up a little? Nora even mentions "what was the matter with Patch, that when it came to him, I couldn't seem to stop exercising bad judgment?" If I didn't know any better, I'd say that it looks like a textbook case of the abusive asshole getting his girlfriend (or soon-to-be-girlfriend in this particular case) to engage in dangerous or illegal activities. And yes, I'm well aware that what's going on now is Vee's idea and that both of the examples are hardly smuggling contrabands or getting high, but in Nora's mind, she's clearly uncomfortable with it and it's all worded in that vein. I'm just saying, there's unfortunate implications out the wazoo.
Back to the story. The secretary tells Nora that yes, all medication must be recorded, She sends Nora back to the nurse's office, telling her to just sit on the bed and wait if the nurse isn't there. Now I personally would think that the secretary would keep the student up front and in view, or at least ask to see a doctor's prescription first, but that's just me. Anyway, Nora goes back and her walking into the office is written in the most drawn-out and boring way possible. I suspect that Fitzpatrick was trying to draw suspense, but it just fails.
Also, apparently if Nora was called out on her lie by the nurse, she was to register her iron pills as a necessary medication. I have to wonder, did Nora randomly become anemic a few weeks back? Because I find it very hard to believe that if her iron pills are prescription (actually, are iron pills prescription?) she wouldn't have had to register them at the beginning of the semester. There's also no mention of her having an actual prescription or note from her doctor, so I'd imagine that if the nurse did come in, she'd be mighty suspicious that Nora just shows up near the end of the semester seemingly just declaring that she spontaneously developed anemia recently, would she mind just taking her word on it?
Nora continues to sit there, waiting for Vee's unknown signal. Why is it that people in these books never actually tell each other what their signals are? Nora continues to worry about getting into serious trouble, which I'd say is a legitimate concern, considering that she's trying to get into very prestigious colleges. Truly, Vee is a wonderful friend to put Nora through such stress and potentially ruin her future.
Oh, but Nora also considers herself justified in rifling through Patch's records and whatnot (although I'm confuzzled as to why his last semester's grades would be in the nurse's office), because if he really is stalking her, she has the right to defend herself. By...helping herself to his personal information, how nice. Nora dear, it probably would be a lot more effective and legal to just go to the police with your concerns. They could provide you with protection, arrest Patch's ass, and do the background check for you, with the added benefit of having an actual search warrant. Hell, even the principle or superintendent could legally do most of that (sans the arresting), and you wouldn't have to worry about accidentally botching your future in college.
My logic goes ignored as Vee sneaks into the back office, doing some stupid spy-sneaky walk. She tells Nora that the secretary stepped out of her office, due to Vee using the pay phone outside to call in a bomb threat. Good God, what is with calling bomb threats? It's not an innocent or silly prank, that's serious! And Nora just acts like Vee only committed some minor faux pas and Vee is all chirpy about how they have to leave before the cops get there.
Okay, time out. Time the fuck out!
Ladies and gentlemen, my high school has had some...colorful stories attached to it throughout the years. Here are a few.
Several times during my senior year, there were various bomb threats found written on the bathroom walls. They weren't called in, they weren't mailed to the principle, they were just written on the toilet paper dispensers like any old graffiti. These threats always ended up on the school news channel, and the schools were always searched by the police while the news crew hung around.
The year before I entered high school, there was a scare where a girl ran out of the bathroom, scratched, bleeding, and scared. She said that her boyfriend from another school had broken in and beaten her up and was now prowling the school. The entire place went on lockdown. The classroom doors were barred. Students were told to get on the ground, as far from the windows as possible. My Theater teacher told us that she was in the hallways, screaming for students who were rehearsing to get their asses into the room now. Like I said, it was a scare. The girl was apparently pissed at her boyfriend and clawed herself up to frame him.
When I was in my Junior year, we had another scare. A kid got into a fight and ran off, screaming "Columbine, 2007!" Everyone thought he was going to shoot up the school, so we again went on lockdown. At the time, I was not in class. I was in the theater with several hundred other students, parents, and teachers, as we all were preparing for our school's musical. I was lucky, actually. I was outside when the lockdown was called and only got in because one of the stage hands noticed me wandering around as she was locking the doors. They found the kid in the locker room with no guns, no one was hurt, and all was well.
Now I know that schools have different policies on that sort of thing, but this book apparently takes place in pretty modern times. And Fitzpatrick honestly believes that I'm going to buy that a casual bomb threat called directly to the secretary would not result in a total lockdown and/or evacuation of the school? Or that, surprise, surprise, there's no consequences to it the next day?
You ask way too much of me, Fitzpatrick.
So yeah, they go to the room for student records and Vee starts trying to punch out the small window on the door. Yes, that's very smart of her. They've just called in a fucking bomb threat, they're trying to break into an area decidedly off-limits to students, they're putting both of their academic records and futures in danger, and Vee is making a lot of noise by banging on a window. And when Nora points out that the door's unlocked, Vee pouts because just opening the door is no fun. Oh, those scamps!
Vee says she's going to act as surveillance, which basically means that she's going to abandon Nora and actually do fuck-all. She tells Nora that when she's done, they're to meet up at a nearby Mexican restaurant. As soon as Vee leaves, Nora goes diving around in Patch's file and finds... something Vaguely Horrifying and Mysterious. Just as she discovers this, the principle comes in. Nora gets the file put away before she's caught red-handed and spins some tale about how she was registering her iron pills. Again, there's no request for a note and no one ever says "Well then, we'll call you up on Monday". Apparently it's just forgotten, which is doubly odd because you'd think that he'd hear her slamming the filing cabinet shut and see her crouched on the floor, making her "I got lost" excuse rather suspicious.
The principle tells her to leave, and an hour later she's on her way to the restaurant. I have to bring something else up here. At my high school, even if the students had to be let out unexpectedly (for example, the time we lost all electricity), they still had to remain on school grounds until either every one of them got parental permission to leave or the school day was actually over. The rules stated that until either of those conditions were fulfilled, the school was responsible for every student and thus would get in trouble if said student left early and got hit by a car or something. Point is, was my school the only one like that? Because I find it a little hard to swallow that they'd just let the kids wander off after evacuating for a bomb threat.
Ah well, the long and short of it is that Nora meets up with Vee at Borderline. Hmm, where have we heard that name before? They order their food and Nora randomly describes Vee as "voluptuous, Scandinavian fair, and in an unorthodox way, incredibly sexy", which kind of contradicts how the rest of the book treats her as the stereotypical fat girl who's always on weird diets. I mean, I know what image we're supposed to have, but it's honestly the first time that she's been described in such a way.
Vee leaves to go deal with her period (because yeah, I really wanted to know about that) and...Patch shows up. *rolls eyes* Yeah, who didn't see this one coming?
Patch comes strolling over and it's more than clear that he enjoys how uncomfortable Nora is. He makes himself at home sitting across from her in the booth, while she scoots as far away from him as possible. He makes a comment about five days a week not being enough time with him and reaches over to start grabbing her water glass (no, that's not a euphemism).
Nora asks him if he shouldn't be working, and going off of my own brief time working at Wendy's I'd say yes, just dropping any orders or duties to sit and talk to a girl is a sure way to net yourself at least a bitching out by the manager. Patch ignores her and asks her if she's doing anything Sunday night, because apparently there's a party he wants to take her to.
*closes eyes* He can not be serious.
Oh, and he also calls Nora "Angel" which, besides being terrible foreshadowing, sounds uncomfortably like the sleezy nickname a gang member has for his girlfriend.
Nora insists that she'll never, ever, ever go out on a date with him, and then starts to emulate Bella Swan by telling us how she gets a "hot thrill" at the thought of spending a night alone with him. "Thrill" would not be the world I would use to describe my feelings on being alone with Patch. She also tells him that she doesn't like the nickname Angel, so of course he tells her that he's going to keep calling her it anyway.
Patch then rubs his thumb across Nora's lips. Erm...
This guy needs to die. Like, right now.
No, he's actually just wiping off her lip gloss. He tells her that she looks better without it, which I think is an attempt at him establishing that he likes how she looks naturally. Instead, it comes across as him being creepy and controlling, calling her by what name he likes and then removing her make-up when he doesn't approve of it.
Nora once again turns into Bella Swan and literally forgets what they were talking about when he touched her. Christ! Fitzpatrick, at least pretend you aren't ripping off Meyer's work! It wasn't even good when she wrote it herself!
She goes back to her previous argument about the party, and how she can't go to it because it's a school night. She also is confuzzled by how Patch is acting towards her. No dear, he's still acting consistent. Just because he's trying to drag you off somewhere doesn't mean he's suffering a change of personality.
I might also add that what I suspect is an attempt at Pet the Dog actually is coming across more as the Honeymoon Phase. I'm so, so sorry.
Nora tries to cool her burning desire with a drink of water (no, really) and tells us "Time alone with Patch would be intriguing, and dangerous. I wasn't sure how exactly, but I was trusting my instincts on this one". She repeats about how she can't go, adding "In hopes of convincing myself more than him" that if the party is something he's interested in, she probably won't like it. She then surprises herself by asking him why he's asking her. "Even though it would probably come back to haunt me, I was curious enough about Patch to go almost anywhere with him".
And just to prove that I'm not making up a hidden meaning to this all, Patch's immediate response to her question?
"'I want to get you alone,' Patch said"
ZeldaQueen: Shall I repeat that?
"'I want to get you alone,' Patch said"
ZeldaQueen: I...was Fitzpatrick stealing lines from slasher movies? I find it hard to believe she wasn't.
To her defense, Nora does have enough brains to pick up on the Signs of Danger from that response. She repeats that she can't go, and Patch asks her if it's because she can't be out on a school night or because she's afraid of being alone with him. Take a guess, dickhead. She replies that it's both, and he asks her "Are you scared of all guys ... or just me?"
*rubs head in agony* Please someone, tell me I'm not the only one who reads that like he's mocking her for being afraid of him.
Oh, and when she doesn't answer, he smirks and asks her if he makes her uneasy. What a great guy. But that's okay, because apparently his smirking is just so damned hot that Nora once again forgets what they were talking about.
Nora brings up that Vee already told her her flaw with guys, and Patch first belittles Vee and then...hold on. Big quote, very sorry
"I was playing with my hands, and slid them out of sight. 'I can't imagine why you're so interested.'
He softly shook his head. 'Interested? We're talking about you. I'm fascinated.' He smiled, and it was a fantastic smile. The effect was a ratcheted pulse-my ratcheted pulse.
'I think you should get back to work,' I said.
'For what it's worth, I like the idea that there's not a guy at school who matches up to your expectations.'
'I forgot you're the authority on my so-called expectations," I scoffed.
He studied me in a way that had me feeling transparent. 'You're not cagey, Nora. Not shy, either. You just need a very good reason to go out of your way to get to know someone.'
'I don't want to talk about me anymore.'
'You think you've got everyone all figured out.'
'Not true,' I said. 'For example, well, for instance, I don't know much about ... you.'
'You aren't ready to know me'"
ZeldaQueen: Right, what's missing there?
Nora never tells Patch what Vee's advice about boys was. She never told Patch that Vee said that she was overly picky and had high expectations. I didn't skip anything. Nora just says that Vee already gave her a lecture and Patch automatically knows the specifics.
I can see two options here. The first is that Fitzpatrick took out any scenes or dialogue where Nora tells Patch what Vee told her and forgot to alter the connecting bits.
The second is that Patch is stalking and spying on Nora and Nora failed to pick up on the implication of that.
Which do you think it is?
Also, I was right. They are pushing for the idea that Nora needs to loosen up and hang with the psycho. I'm not throwing my laptop out the window though, because I know I'm going to need it come next semester.
Also-also, this is more Twilight theft. The girl is just so quiet and boring and the guy finds her so fascinating and knows her personality better than she does and is good for her because abuse and stalking aside, he's the only one that connects to her, you see.
Okay, chapter's nearly over. Nora tells Patch that she saw his student file and we find out what the Vaguely Horrifying and Mysterious secret is - he doesn't have any records at all, not even immunization files. She tells him that she's going to expose what ever's going on with him, apparently not realizing that if he can somehow just drop out of the sky without any paperwork or history, something a little bigger than delinquency is going on. We get the following exchange...
"'Why are you looking at me like that?' I challenged.
He tipped forward, preparing to stand. 'Because you're nothing like what I expected.'
'Neither are you,' I countered. 'You're worse.'"
ZeldaQueen: And we're done. Good - freaking - God!
Onward to: Chapter 6
Back to: Chapter 4
Return to to: Table of Contents
Incidentally, and I know I should have posted this last chapter but I forgot, but there's two things to check out in the comments section of Chapter 3. The first is a lovely, lovely GIF from das_mervin, which shows exactly what would happen if Castiel went up against Patch. The second is a splendid spitefic by mogseltof, in which Nora gets some of her own back
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
Chapter 5
ZeldaQueen: So apparently Nora just goes along with Vee's plan to look up any medication Patch might be on, which means that we start off our chapter with Nora smiling and lying her ass off to the secretary about how she wants to sign up some prescription meds she's on, so she and Vee can snoop around in the filing cabinet. Nora is all upset about this and worries about how she's been engaging in a number of unsavory things, like following Patch to the bar and...erm, that's about it really. And that's not even illegal, though she insists it is. I mean, yeah she didn't pay, but it was more that they gave her a quick pass for that one time. It's not like she got smashed while underage.
Although I must note, both of these things - the bar visiting and this current scam they're pulling, came up in the name of Patch. You know, the guy who said that Nora was too "safe" and needed to liven up a little? Nora even mentions "what was the matter with Patch, that when it came to him, I couldn't seem to stop exercising bad judgment?" If I didn't know any better, I'd say that it looks like a textbook case of the abusive asshole getting his girlfriend (or soon-to-be-girlfriend in this particular case) to engage in dangerous or illegal activities. And yes, I'm well aware that what's going on now is Vee's idea and that both of the examples are hardly smuggling contrabands or getting high, but in Nora's mind, she's clearly uncomfortable with it and it's all worded in that vein. I'm just saying, there's unfortunate implications out the wazoo.
Back to the story. The secretary tells Nora that yes, all medication must be recorded, She sends Nora back to the nurse's office, telling her to just sit on the bed and wait if the nurse isn't there. Now I personally would think that the secretary would keep the student up front and in view, or at least ask to see a doctor's prescription first, but that's just me. Anyway, Nora goes back and her walking into the office is written in the most drawn-out and boring way possible. I suspect that Fitzpatrick was trying to draw suspense, but it just fails.
Also, apparently if Nora was called out on her lie by the nurse, she was to register her iron pills as a necessary medication. I have to wonder, did Nora randomly become anemic a few weeks back? Because I find it very hard to believe that if her iron pills are prescription (actually, are iron pills prescription?) she wouldn't have had to register them at the beginning of the semester. There's also no mention of her having an actual prescription or note from her doctor, so I'd imagine that if the nurse did come in, she'd be mighty suspicious that Nora just shows up near the end of the semester seemingly just declaring that she spontaneously developed anemia recently, would she mind just taking her word on it?
Nora continues to sit there, waiting for Vee's unknown signal. Why is it that people in these books never actually tell each other what their signals are? Nora continues to worry about getting into serious trouble, which I'd say is a legitimate concern, considering that she's trying to get into very prestigious colleges. Truly, Vee is a wonderful friend to put Nora through such stress and potentially ruin her future.
Oh, but Nora also considers herself justified in rifling through Patch's records and whatnot (although I'm confuzzled as to why his last semester's grades would be in the nurse's office), because if he really is stalking her, she has the right to defend herself. By...helping herself to his personal information, how nice. Nora dear, it probably would be a lot more effective and legal to just go to the police with your concerns. They could provide you with protection, arrest Patch's ass, and do the background check for you, with the added benefit of having an actual search warrant. Hell, even the principle or superintendent could legally do most of that (sans the arresting), and you wouldn't have to worry about accidentally botching your future in college.
My logic goes ignored as Vee sneaks into the back office, doing some stupid spy-sneaky walk. She tells Nora that the secretary stepped out of her office, due to Vee using the pay phone outside to call in a bomb threat. Good God, what is with calling bomb threats? It's not an innocent or silly prank, that's serious! And Nora just acts like Vee only committed some minor faux pas and Vee is all chirpy about how they have to leave before the cops get there.
Okay, time out. Time the fuck out!
Ladies and gentlemen, my high school has had some...colorful stories attached to it throughout the years. Here are a few.
Several times during my senior year, there were various bomb threats found written on the bathroom walls. They weren't called in, they weren't mailed to the principle, they were just written on the toilet paper dispensers like any old graffiti. These threats always ended up on the school news channel, and the schools were always searched by the police while the news crew hung around.
The year before I entered high school, there was a scare where a girl ran out of the bathroom, scratched, bleeding, and scared. She said that her boyfriend from another school had broken in and beaten her up and was now prowling the school. The entire place went on lockdown. The classroom doors were barred. Students were told to get on the ground, as far from the windows as possible. My Theater teacher told us that she was in the hallways, screaming for students who were rehearsing to get their asses into the room now. Like I said, it was a scare. The girl was apparently pissed at her boyfriend and clawed herself up to frame him.
When I was in my Junior year, we had another scare. A kid got into a fight and ran off, screaming "Columbine, 2007!" Everyone thought he was going to shoot up the school, so we again went on lockdown. At the time, I was not in class. I was in the theater with several hundred other students, parents, and teachers, as we all were preparing for our school's musical. I was lucky, actually. I was outside when the lockdown was called and only got in because one of the stage hands noticed me wandering around as she was locking the doors. They found the kid in the locker room with no guns, no one was hurt, and all was well.
Now I know that schools have different policies on that sort of thing, but this book apparently takes place in pretty modern times. And Fitzpatrick honestly believes that I'm going to buy that a casual bomb threat called directly to the secretary would not result in a total lockdown and/or evacuation of the school? Or that, surprise, surprise, there's no consequences to it the next day?
You ask way too much of me, Fitzpatrick.
So yeah, they go to the room for student records and Vee starts trying to punch out the small window on the door. Yes, that's very smart of her. They've just called in a fucking bomb threat, they're trying to break into an area decidedly off-limits to students, they're putting both of their academic records and futures in danger, and Vee is making a lot of noise by banging on a window. And when Nora points out that the door's unlocked, Vee pouts because just opening the door is no fun. Oh, those scamps!
Vee says she's going to act as surveillance, which basically means that she's going to abandon Nora and actually do fuck-all. She tells Nora that when she's done, they're to meet up at a nearby Mexican restaurant. As soon as Vee leaves, Nora goes diving around in Patch's file and finds... something Vaguely Horrifying and Mysterious. Just as she discovers this, the principle comes in. Nora gets the file put away before she's caught red-handed and spins some tale about how she was registering her iron pills. Again, there's no request for a note and no one ever says "Well then, we'll call you up on Monday". Apparently it's just forgotten, which is doubly odd because you'd think that he'd hear her slamming the filing cabinet shut and see her crouched on the floor, making her "I got lost" excuse rather suspicious.
The principle tells her to leave, and an hour later she's on her way to the restaurant. I have to bring something else up here. At my high school, even if the students had to be let out unexpectedly (for example, the time we lost all electricity), they still had to remain on school grounds until either every one of them got parental permission to leave or the school day was actually over. The rules stated that until either of those conditions were fulfilled, the school was responsible for every student and thus would get in trouble if said student left early and got hit by a car or something. Point is, was my school the only one like that? Because I find it a little hard to swallow that they'd just let the kids wander off after evacuating for a bomb threat.
Ah well, the long and short of it is that Nora meets up with Vee at Borderline. Hmm, where have we heard that name before? They order their food and Nora randomly describes Vee as "voluptuous, Scandinavian fair, and in an unorthodox way, incredibly sexy", which kind of contradicts how the rest of the book treats her as the stereotypical fat girl who's always on weird diets. I mean, I know what image we're supposed to have, but it's honestly the first time that she's been described in such a way.
Vee leaves to go deal with her period (because yeah, I really wanted to know about that) and...Patch shows up. *rolls eyes* Yeah, who didn't see this one coming?
Patch comes strolling over and it's more than clear that he enjoys how uncomfortable Nora is. He makes himself at home sitting across from her in the booth, while she scoots as far away from him as possible. He makes a comment about five days a week not being enough time with him and reaches over to start grabbing her water glass (no, that's not a euphemism).
Nora asks him if he shouldn't be working, and going off of my own brief time working at Wendy's I'd say yes, just dropping any orders or duties to sit and talk to a girl is a sure way to net yourself at least a bitching out by the manager. Patch ignores her and asks her if she's doing anything Sunday night, because apparently there's a party he wants to take her to.
*closes eyes* He can not be serious.
Oh, and he also calls Nora "Angel" which, besides being terrible foreshadowing, sounds uncomfortably like the sleezy nickname a gang member has for his girlfriend.
Nora insists that she'll never, ever, ever go out on a date with him, and then starts to emulate Bella Swan by telling us how she gets a "hot thrill" at the thought of spending a night alone with him. "Thrill" would not be the world I would use to describe my feelings on being alone with Patch. She also tells him that she doesn't like the nickname Angel, so of course he tells her that he's going to keep calling her it anyway.
Patch then rubs his thumb across Nora's lips. Erm...
This guy needs to die. Like, right now.
No, he's actually just wiping off her lip gloss. He tells her that she looks better without it, which I think is an attempt at him establishing that he likes how she looks naturally. Instead, it comes across as him being creepy and controlling, calling her by what name he likes and then removing her make-up when he doesn't approve of it.
Nora once again turns into Bella Swan and literally forgets what they were talking about when he touched her. Christ! Fitzpatrick, at least pretend you aren't ripping off Meyer's work! It wasn't even good when she wrote it herself!
She goes back to her previous argument about the party, and how she can't go to it because it's a school night. She also is confuzzled by how Patch is acting towards her. No dear, he's still acting consistent. Just because he's trying to drag you off somewhere doesn't mean he's suffering a change of personality.
I might also add that what I suspect is an attempt at Pet the Dog actually is coming across more as the Honeymoon Phase. I'm so, so sorry.
Nora tries to cool her burning desire with a drink of water (no, really) and tells us "Time alone with Patch would be intriguing, and dangerous. I wasn't sure how exactly, but I was trusting my instincts on this one". She repeats about how she can't go, adding "In hopes of convincing myself more than him" that if the party is something he's interested in, she probably won't like it. She then surprises herself by asking him why he's asking her. "Even though it would probably come back to haunt me, I was curious enough about Patch to go almost anywhere with him".
And just to prove that I'm not making up a hidden meaning to this all, Patch's immediate response to her question?
"'I want to get you alone,' Patch said"
ZeldaQueen: Shall I repeat that?
"'I want to get you alone,' Patch said"
ZeldaQueen: I...was Fitzpatrick stealing lines from slasher movies? I find it hard to believe she wasn't.
To her defense, Nora does have enough brains to pick up on the Signs of Danger from that response. She repeats that she can't go, and Patch asks her if it's because she can't be out on a school night or because she's afraid of being alone with him. Take a guess, dickhead. She replies that it's both, and he asks her "Are you scared of all guys ... or just me?"
*rubs head in agony* Please someone, tell me I'm not the only one who reads that like he's mocking her for being afraid of him.
Oh, and when she doesn't answer, he smirks and asks her if he makes her uneasy. What a great guy. But that's okay, because apparently his smirking is just so damned hot that Nora once again forgets what they were talking about.
Nora brings up that Vee already told her her flaw with guys, and Patch first belittles Vee and then...hold on. Big quote, very sorry
"I was playing with my hands, and slid them out of sight. 'I can't imagine why you're so interested.'
He softly shook his head. 'Interested? We're talking about you. I'm fascinated.' He smiled, and it was a fantastic smile. The effect was a ratcheted pulse-my ratcheted pulse.
'I think you should get back to work,' I said.
'For what it's worth, I like the idea that there's not a guy at school who matches up to your expectations.'
'I forgot you're the authority on my so-called expectations," I scoffed.
He studied me in a way that had me feeling transparent. 'You're not cagey, Nora. Not shy, either. You just need a very good reason to go out of your way to get to know someone.'
'I don't want to talk about me anymore.'
'You think you've got everyone all figured out.'
'Not true,' I said. 'For example, well, for instance, I don't know much about ... you.'
'You aren't ready to know me'"
ZeldaQueen: Right, what's missing there?
Nora never tells Patch what Vee's advice about boys was. She never told Patch that Vee said that she was overly picky and had high expectations. I didn't skip anything. Nora just says that Vee already gave her a lecture and Patch automatically knows the specifics.
I can see two options here. The first is that Fitzpatrick took out any scenes or dialogue where Nora tells Patch what Vee told her and forgot to alter the connecting bits.
The second is that Patch is stalking and spying on Nora and Nora failed to pick up on the implication of that.
Which do you think it is?
Also, I was right. They are pushing for the idea that Nora needs to loosen up and hang with the psycho. I'm not throwing my laptop out the window though, because I know I'm going to need it come next semester.
Also-also, this is more Twilight theft. The girl is just so quiet and boring and the guy finds her so fascinating and knows her personality better than she does and is good for her because abuse and stalking aside, he's the only one that connects to her, you see.
Okay, chapter's nearly over. Nora tells Patch that she saw his student file and we find out what the Vaguely Horrifying and Mysterious secret is - he doesn't have any records at all, not even immunization files. She tells him that she's going to expose what ever's going on with him, apparently not realizing that if he can somehow just drop out of the sky without any paperwork or history, something a little bigger than delinquency is going on. We get the following exchange...
"'Why are you looking at me like that?' I challenged.
He tipped forward, preparing to stand. 'Because you're nothing like what I expected.'
'Neither are you,' I countered. 'You're worse.'"
ZeldaQueen: And we're done. Good - freaking - God!
Onward to: Chapter 6
Back to: Chapter 4
Return to to: Table of Contents