How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I can't believe I almost forgot about meeting her for lunch. Now, instead of Motojet, I play a movie in my head of Aimee standing alone outside the cafeteria door, checking her watch, looking at all the people who aren't me pass her by. (20.5)
Sure, Sutter forgot about his date with Aimee and had to be reminded by Ricky. But at least he feels guilty, right? We're not sure why he feels guilty about this and not about being late to pick up Cassidy—but we suspect it might have something to do with Sutter's inability to stick with anything, including hot, cool, and loving girlfriends.
Quote #2
I told her I'd help with the paper route this morning. […] Apparently, I never did actually set the alarm, though. It was an honest mistake. […] Still, the idea of her sitting and waiting on that cold front porch is enough to smack the Antichrist heebie-jeebies right up the side of the pope's head. (33.6)
We're starting to sense a pattern. Sutter spends a lot of time berating himself for forgetting Aimee—but not a lot of time making sure that he fulfills his promises. Hm. Seems like he might be setting up a little self-fulfilling prophecy here: he's so convinced that he's like his dad that he makes sure he never does anything—like keep a promise—that would prove himself wrong.
Quote #3
Here's my problem with public display of affection – it's undemocratic. […] But here's my best friend, practically building a border fence to keep the rest of us out. (36.23)
Uh. Sutter's problem with PDAs are that they're exclusive. Correct us if we're wrong, but isn't being exclusive the whole point of a relationship?
Quote #4
"It's been almost two weeks since that stupid party, but have you called her or taken her to lunch? No. You haven't even talked to her one time." (38.16)
Look, we're no big fans of mean girl Krystal—but she's right: Sutter's making himself feel better about that party debacle by avoiding Aimee. No talking it out, no apologies, no explanations, no thought for anyone but himself.
Quote #5
I laugh along with her, but the truth is I can't help feeling a touch sorry for Krystal. Nobody likes seeing someone lose a friend. (41.21)
Sutter has Aimee screaming obscenities at an imaginary Krystal at the lake—and we have to say, we're not feeling too good about this. Krystal may be mean, but she's never abandoned Aimee, unlike some other people we could name, Sutter.
Quote #6
The truth is I don't even know where my dad is. After my mom kicked him out, he just disappeared. (46.43)
Whaaaaaat? You mean Sutter's dad doesn't actually make a buttload of money sitting at the top of that tower in the city? We never saw this coming. /sarcasm.
Quote #7
Aimee's sitting off to the side with the kind of strained expression on her face that people get when they're trying to look like they don't mind being left alone in the middle of a crowd. (50.88)
You know what's super fun? When this boy you really like invites you to a party and then leaves you alone in the middle of a bunch of kids you don't know and don't like. It's awesome. Aimee must really like Sutter to put up with this kind of abandonment—kind of the way Sutter feels about his dad, come to think of it.
Quote #8
"Right, like you've been with her all night at this party? You haven't spent a minute with her since you've been here." (54.12)
Even Sutter's ex-girlfriend seems more worried about Aimee than Sutter does. We're no psychologists, but we're going to say that Sutter might have some problems with empathy. It's like he just can't see the parallels between his own situation and the way he treats Aimee—or maybe he sees them and just doesn't care. (Hint: maybe putting down the flask would help.)
Quote #9
"Remember when he was moving his things out, and he sat us down on the front porch and told us not to worry, that he'd be just across town and we could call him any time we needed him? Well, where is he?" (57.34)
Hm. What Sutter's dad told him and Holly sounds a lot like what Sutter tells Aimee about getting things ready for him in St. Louis. Sounds like someone might be repeating the mistakes of the past—which, if you ask us, is basically the opposite of living in the spectacular now.