“Stars also symbolize the cycle of life, solitude and gravity. They glow in the dark energy that’s the majority of space, and remind us that even in the pitch black, there’s always something that can shine.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Because I had to sell it and lost a shit-ton of money the moment I realized you were going to be my neighbor if I stayed in my current place. Real talk, Rosie, you are all I ever wanted. Even when you wanted me to be with your sister. She was a comforting candle. You were the dazzling sun. I’d lived in the dark—for your selfish ass. And if you think I’m going to settle for something, you’re dead wrong. I am taking everything. We will have kids, Rose LeBlanc. We will have a wedding. And we will have joy and vacations and days where we just fuck and days where we just fight and days where we just live. Because this is life, Baby LeBlanc, and I love the fuck out of you, so I’m going to give you the best one there is. Got it?”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“You’re awfully possessive.”
…“That’s because you’re awfully mine.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“I’m kind of hoping it will end like this. You made me happy. Very happy. But…you deserve everything. Wife, kids, a white picket fence.”

“And I’ll have all of it. With you.”
“You know that can’t happen with me.”
“Then it can’t happen with anyone. There won’t be a next Rosie. And there won’t be another story like ours. This is it, Rose LeBlanc. And this is us. If there is no you, then there is no me.”

“You know, I always hated Romeo and Juliet . The play. The movie. The very idea. It was tragic, all right. Tragically stupid. I mean, they were what? Thirteen? Sixteen? What a waste of life, to kill yourself because your family wouldn’t let you get hitched. But Romeo and Juliet were right. I was the next eleven years killing myself slowly while I grieved for you. Then you came back, and I still thought it was just a fascination. But now that I know…”

“Now that I know that it can only ever be you, you’re going to get better for me so Earth won’t explode. Can you do that, Sirius? I promise not to leave this room until you get out. Not even for a shower. Not even to get you your chocolate chip cookies. I’ll get someone to drive all the way to New York and bring them for you.”

“I love you.” Rosie’s tears curtained her vision.
“I love you, Baby LeBlanc,” I said. “So fucking much. You taught me how to love. How well did I do?”
“A-plus,” she whispered. “You aced it. Can you promise me something?”
“Anything.”
“ Live .”
“Not without you.”
“And have kids. Lots of them. They’re fun.” “Rosie…”
“I’m not afraid. I got what I wanted from this life. You .”
“Rosie.”
“I love you, Earth. You were good to me.” “Rose!”
Her eyes closed, the door opened, the sound on her monitor went off, and my heart disintegrated.
Piece.
By piece.
By piece.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Contrary to general belief, stars don’t twinkle. There is only one star that sparkles that scientists can agree on. It twinkles so bright, sometimes people mistake it for a UFO. It’s not big, but it stands out. That’s Sirius, and it’s also you. You shine, Baby LeBlanc. So fucking bright sometimes you’re the only thing I see.” - Dean "Ruckus" Cole”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Rose LeBlanc got her name for a reason. She was full of fucking thorns. She was so beautiful—so ridiculously, unbelievably alluring—that just like real roses, she grew little spikes to protect herself. Because everyone wanted to have her.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Like you?” My face twisted in abhorrence, spitting the words like they were revolting. Her eyes widened. I shook my head, a dark chuckle on my lips. “You think I fucking like you? Are you kidding me here? I don’t like you. I love you. Even that’s an under-fucking-statement. I live for you. I breathe for you. I will die for you. It. Has. Always. Been. You. Ever since I saw your sorry ass for the first time on that threshold and you fucking poked me in the chest like I was a toy. We’ve been apart for ten years, Rose LeBlanc, and not even one day has passed without me thinking of you. And not just in passing. You know, the occasional she-could-have-been-a-g reat-fuck. I mean really taking my time to think about you. Wondering what you looked like. Where youwere. What you were doing. Who you were with. I stalked you on Facebook. And Twitter—which, by the way, you need to deactivate because you never once bothered to tweet—but you aren’t exactly a social media animal. I asked about you. Every time I was in town. And once I realized you were in New York with Millie…” “Rosie, I bought a new penthouse in TriBeca a few months before you moved into our building.”

“Why are you telling me this?” She blinked away her tears, but fresh ones rolled down to replace them time. “Because I had to sell it and lost a shit-ton of money the moment I realized you were going to be my neighbor if I stayed in my current place. Real talk, Rosie, you are all I ever wanted. Even when you wanted me to be with your sister. She was a comforting candle. You were the dazzling sun. I’d lived in the dark—for your selfish ass. And if you think I’m going to settle for something , you’re dead wrong. I am taking everything . We will have kids, Rose LeBlanc. We will have a wedding. And we will have joy and vacations and days where we just fuck and days where we just fight and days where we just live. Because this is life, Baby LeBlanc, and I love the fuck out of you, so I’m going to give you the best one there is. Got it?”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much that I hated you for a while. And now that I know that you are damaged, I love you even more. Perfect things are not relatable. Unbreakable is fascinating, but not lovable. You’re breakable, Dean Cole. I’m going to do my best to keep you whole.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“You shine, Baby LeBlanc. So fucking bright sometimes you’re the only thing I see.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“What makes you feel alive?

Regret. For regret reminds you that life has a weight. Sometimes it’s heavier. Sometimes it’s lighter.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“I don’t want to make you forget. I want to make you remember. And I’m about to, Rosie.” He breathed hard against my skin. “I’m about to rewrite the pages of our fucking history, baby.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“There is something you should know before you judge me. I saw him first. I craved him first. I loved him first.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“You’re breakable, Dean Cole. I’m going to do my best to keep you whole.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Why do you shine so fucking bright? You make it hard for me to sleep next to you.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Dean ‘Ruckus’ Cole was a different kind of asshole to Baron ‘Vicious’ Spencer. He fucked you over with a polite smile on his face. In that sense, he was the Joker. In his mix of confidence, cockiness, good looks, and money, there was a dash of insanity thrown in. Enough to let you know that he meant every word he said.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Because the birdsong might be pretty, But it’s not for you they sing, And if you think my winter is too cold, You don’t deserve my spring.” Erin Hanson”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“I love you.” Rosie’s tears curtained her vision.
“I love you, Baby LeBlanc,” I said. “So fucking much. You taught me how to love. How well did I do?”
“A-plus,” she whispered. “You aced it. Can you promise me something?”
“Anything.”
“Live .”
“Not without you.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Forever starts now, Baby Leblanc. With you.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“What does Miss LeBlanc have that the rest of the human population doesn’t?” she inquired, meaning I’d never sent anyone flowers, let alone an amount that could potentially fill a whole forest. I smirked, because the answer was so fucking simple, yet so fucking complicated at the same time. “My heart, Sue,” I said. “She has my heart.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“God and Dean are synonyms. Save battery power. Choose one next time you text me. What do you want to have for dinner?”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“MAN, WHAT THE HELL IS your son doing?”

“It’s not my son.”

“Oh, like hell it’s not.” Trent brings the bottle of beer to his lips, taking a slow sip. “He’s wearing a goddamn multi-colored blazer. It’s Knight, all right.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“What makes you feel alive?

Singing like no one’s listening. Dancing like no one’s watching. Eating like calories don’t exist.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“This is happening, Sirius.

Sincerely,

—Your Bronze Horseman”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“You deserve everything. Wife, kids, a white picket fence.”
“And I’ll have all of it. With you.”
“You know that can’t happen with me.”
“Then it can’t happen with anyone. There won’t be a next Rosie. And there won’t be another story like ours. This is it, Rose LeBlanc. And this is us. If there is no you, then there is no me.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Contrary to general belief, stars don’t twinkle. There is only one star that sparkles that scientists can agree on. It twinkles so bright, sometimes people mistake it for a UFO. It’s not big, but it stands out. That’s Sirius, and it’s also you. You shine, Baby LeBlanc. So fucking bright sometimes you’re the only thing I see.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“I don't want to make you forget. I want to make you remember. And I'm about to, Rosie.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“What makes you feel alive?
Dean. Dean Cole makes me feel alive.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“We’re getting married,” I stated, not asked. “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but we are. And we’re having kids. At least two. Maybe more. I haven’t decided yet.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“You are chaotic, crazy, and full of wars and angst. But you’re the liveliest place I’ve ever been to.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus

“Love felt like dipping each other in gasoline and burning together. Love felt like dancing with madness in the dark, watching all of its bright lights. Love felt like gasping for air when your lungs were already full.”
― L.J. Shen, Ruckus