How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I reached over and put my hand on her arm. I understood about disappointing people. "Friends forgive each other."
She looked up from her bowl. "I don't think you believe that any more than I do." (8.68-69)
Before Nikki has any idea who Mary actually is, they have this conversation about friendship. Nikki is trying to be optimistic about friends forgiving one another (possibly because she hopes the people in her life can forgive her for disappearing for the Feed), but Mary shoots this idea down. It's a nice thought, but how realistic is it for friends to always forgive each other, no matter the transgression?
Quote #2
Jack and Jules had been friends before I left, but it was mostly through me. I wondered if they ate together every day now. Nobody seemed to notice them. (12.6)
During her Return, Nikki notices how close Jack and Jules seem to have gotten. They were friends before, sure, but is there something else going on now? It's not uncommon for close friends to start dating, and in fact that's how Nikki and Jack got together. Is Nikki just being paranoid here?
Quote #3
Her words held an unspoken warning for me. Don't hurt him again. Jules was here as Jack's friend. Not mine. (15.24)
During Nikki's Return, Jules pays her a visit to tell her about all of the horrible stuff Jack went through when Nikki disappeared. This is when Nikki has a tough realization: In her absence, Jules and Jack have in fact become close friends. Jules wants to look out for Jack's mental health, and because of this, she's warning Nikki about what Jack has already been through for her.
Quote #4
For a moment, I mourned the loss of our simple friendship, and in that moment of grieving, I realized that Jules and Jack would be okay if I were gone for good. They would probably be better off than they were now. (19.68)
Nikki used to be super comfortable hanging out with Jules and Jack as friends. But when the three of them get stuck handing out flyers together for Nikki's dad's reelection campaign, it's pitifully awkward. It's a bummer to realize that your close friends would probably be better off without you.
Quote #5
He took a deep breath and held out his hand. "We got off to a bad start, but you're obviously a friend of Becks's." (20.18-19)
Even though Jack and Cole/Neal are vying for Nikki's attention, Jack's friendly nature wins out. He offers his hand to Cole/Neal and makes an attempt to become his friend. This is partly for Nikki's sake, but we also get the impression that Jack is a generally friendly dude.
Quote #6
"Enough, Becks. This is what friends do. Before we got together, we were friends, remember? The friendship is still there, isn't it?" (20.91)
When Nikki finally tells Jack the truth about Cole and the Everneath (well, part of the truth, anyway), she apologizes to him and says she'll handle Cole. But Jack's response is that he's in this to help, because they're friends after all. They've been friends for a long freaking time, and Jack thinks of them as still being friends, which is sweet.
Quote #7
"Okay. Friends talk. Friends help each other."
I nodded.
"Friends don't eat friends' souls." (20.95-97)
Jack is trying to establish that he and Nikki are still friends, and that he's there to help her out. He can't resist throwing in a joke, though, about how friends aren't supposed to eat each other's souls. While this statement is probably only relevant for a very limited set of circumstances, we tend to agree with Jack there.
Quote #8
"I miss my friend," she said. "I miss being able to talk about anything with you, and knowing you'd take it to the grave. I don't have that anymore. I can't talk to my mom—you remember her, she never understands anything. And talking to a boy just isn't the same as talking to my girl." (23.44)
It takes Jules and Nikki a while to patch up their friendship after Nikki Returns, but eventually they get there. Jules extends an olive branch to Nikki by asking her on a coffee date, Nikki accepts, and they talk about all kinds of things, finally getting back on the same page as friends.
Quote #9
I loved it. To be with my old friend, slurping coffee and forgetting about life.
For a little while. (23.48-49)
When Nikki and Jules catch up, Nikki reflects on how good it is to reconnect with her former best friend. Not only is it comfortable to fall into established conversation patterns, but it's also a way for Nikki to forget about all her problems. It seems like this offers another perspective on friendship: Jack is all about friends solving each other's problems, while Jules offers an escapist diversion.
Quote #10
"Tell me. Is it true? Do you like me?"
I tried to roll my eyes, and promptly forgot how. So I just looked at the ceiling. "You know I like you. You're one of my best friends." (32.120-121)
In the process of getting together, Jack asks if Nikki likes him. You know, if she likes likes him. She tries to deflect the question by saying of course she likes him, because they're friends. Jack persists by asking if they're more than friends, though, so even though Nikki is totally being a chicken during this conversation, she eventually admits that she has feelings for him. Aw…