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Mikayla is used to working hard. As the only person in her house, she works multiple jobs to pay the bills and put food in the cupboards. Having no friends in school helps her focus on getting top grades so she can one day go to university. She's fine on her own. All she needs is the interaction with customers and the chance to steal secret glances at her crush, Lila. Then her sister/guardian leaves her a surprise in the dead of night meaning she won't be alone again. Everyone thinks Lila is a female lothario since she come out, yet she is still waiting for her first kiss. Hoping that her long-time crush on Mikayla, the girl completely out of her league, will be the one. Her twin brother, Caleb, good-naturedly tries to build her confidence but keeps missing the mark. Mikayla had hoped for a quiet final year in high school, but her sisters surprise changes her whole life. Her quiet year goes up in smoke when the whole school suddenly learns her name. Lila doesn't believe the rumours but doesn't know how to help either. When Caleb innocently befriends Mikayla both girls are forced to face their crush every day on the school commute. Can they admit their feelings for each other, or will they push each other further apart?

"We met earlier, kind of," he smiled at her. "I'm Jake." "H-hi!" How had she missed him before? He was delightful. Dark blond hair, slate grey eyes . . . and oh my goodness, that smile!!! To be fair, back in the bar, all of their faces had been merging together, but now she was a bit more with it, she could see this guy was pretty much perfection. What a shame she was getting married . . . No, wait, she wasn't. But he thought she was. And yet here he was, apparently interested. Time to see how this one played out . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Charlotte Tyler has a theory - when it comes to girls, all guys want what they can't have. The fact her colleague Aaron flirted with her constantly while she was in a relationship and lost interest the second she was single has in no way disproved this theory. And so her best friend Thea comes up with a way to test this further - if Charlie stages her own hen night, will she manage to hook an unsuspecting guy? Despite being technically off-the-market? It seems like a crazy idea. But the plan, surprisingly, is a resounding success, and Charlie actually meets and starts to fall for someone as a result. But with an imaginary fiance and an upcoming fictional wedding to juggle, her lies are starting to spin out of control. Is this what she really wants?

Skye Templeton is sick of living in a small village in the Scottish Highlands where everyone knows every single little thing about her. She's tired of her dead-end "situationship". She desperately needs to escape . . . So when a chance encounter opens her eyes to the possibility of a different life, she decides it's time to shake things up a bit. Moving to Glasgow on a whim probably isn't her smartest idea, but Skye is determined to make the most of her new life. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out the way you planned . . . Especially if you didn't really have a plan in the first place! ~~~~~~~~ I initially started this story with the intention of entering it into the Open Novella Contest this year - I've since found out that it wouldn't qualify but I'm still using one of the prompts all the same! The prompt I'm using is: Prompt 45- "Keep your happily ever after; it ain't mine." And, much like Skye, I really don't have a plan for it yet, so let's just see what unfolds! ;-)

"You were worried about me, Specs?" He smirked. "No, Tyler. I hoped that someone cut up your corpse and fed it to paranas. Obviously I was, you idiot! I'm a doctor. Worrying about people is kind of programmed into my system. It's a curse if you ask me," I surprised myself a lot more than I thought was possible with my answer. And what did he do? Laugh! He fucking laughed! Not full on rolling- on- the- floor laughter but a laugh nonetheless. "This isn't funny, Tyler." "It kind of is. Almost a month ago, I would've sworn that you hated me. Be careful, Specs," he squinted down at me, "or you might actually sound as if you like me." I rolled my eyes. "Don't flatter yourself. I was concerned. Don't confuse that with affection. It's two very, very different things." *** When you think that all is not lost in the world. That not all men are pricks and that not all sushi is bad. When you think that there is a light, no matter how dim, at the end of the tunnel. When you think that life isn't the ruthless bitch you've always thought it was... It turns around and bites you in the ass. When you think that the past will always and forever remain where it should be... It comes at you from every direction. Like a violent tsunami destroying everything...and everyone in it's path. Can you change what happened? I wish. Can you stop what's going to happen? God! I really hope so.

-'𝜗𝜚'- 𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗛 ⎯ what happens when there's no cameras around and they still find themselves drawn to one another as though opposite components of a magnet? they're well aware this whole relationship is supposed to be temporary, supposed to be for personal gain yet the more time passes, the lines keep blurring together and eventually it becomes harder and harder to distinguish between real and fake. can they really just flip a switch and turn off their emotions when it's all over? can they really pretend it's all for show? can they pretend it meant nothing? 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 ⎯ harry lewis ✘ fem!oc 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ⎯ social media | real life 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 ⎯ 15/01/25 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 ⎯ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, ©XIXZAYN.

how far would you go . . . for someone you love? ♔ Levi steps forward, placing himself between me and Jack. Like he's protecting me from him. But I don't need protecting, certainly not from Jack. "Who do you think you are, dude?" Levi spits, getting in Jack's face. "Look, Scarlett was just helping me out with a proj-" "I'm not your dude," Jack bites, and I want to tear my hair out of my head. This is going downhill very fast. Jack turns to me. "Scar, we need to talk," he says lowly. Then loud enough for Levi to hear, "So can you please get this kid to leave." "Hey, you don't get to come in here and start ordering her around," Levi says harshly. "You don't control her." "And you think that you do?" Jack spits. ♔ When Scarlett moved off to college, she hoped to start anew and find her way in this world alone. Two problems. One: her older brother goes to the same college, and it seems like he's everywhere, keeping her from doing everything she hoped to do as a college freshman. Two: her brother's devastatingly handsome best friend also seems hell-bent on ruining her college experience . . . but in a different way. Their paths keep crossing, and Scarlett is reminded of the powerful attraction that they've both ignored for far too long. Not to mention, a new face begins to occupy everyday Scarlett's thoughts. When Scarlett is paired with an allusive, darkly handsome stranger for a film project, her world begins to open in ways she never thought possible. But as his mystery unravels into dark secrets, she wonders if she's falling a bit too hard. Before long, Scarlett is forced to realize that balancing the hearts of two boys at once just might result in the breaking of her own.

He brushed his lips against my jaw, his dark hair falling over his brow. "Open your eyes," he commanded. "Look at me." I followed his orders and looked into the raven-black depths before me. I saw my entranced gaze reflected in his glaring one. "Tell me what you see." I kept on looking at him, searching for something, anything, that remained of the person he used to be. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. But his eyes were so dark, so empty . . . "Nothing. I see nothing," I whispered. He smirked, his gaze still on me. He pulled away, leaving me feeling cold. "Exactly. You see nothing - that's because there's nothing there." ** How much can a person change in just three years? Short and full of fiery spirit, Hanna Jordan is a gifted college student who is enrolled in one of the most prestigious culinary programs in the country. She's just returned from three years of study in France and is anxious to reconnect with her longtime friend, Rian Aronhalt. However, when she does finally see him, she's startled to find that he's become an entirely different person. Cold, ill-tempered, and exceptionally attractive, Rian is absolutely nothing like his old self. Worst of all, he claims he doesn't even remember her. Despite their differences, both are haunted by dark memories of the past, which form a poisonous bond between Hanna and Rian that neither can escape from. Can they both heal from the scars time left behind, and find love in the process?

"You're such a jerk" I say, my cheeks heating up. "Oh really,?" He said, taking a step closer and his breath fanned my face. I didn't know what to say or to do. Was I doing something wrong? He leaned in, when the door opened. My brother just looked at us. * Brianna. Your typical girl. Shy, lovely and adorable. Funny too. Alex. Your bad boy. Dorky, but lovely. Brianna's brother leaves his best friend in charge to keep his adorable sister safe. Little did he know they will grow feelings of each other. With some ups and downs, they soon admitted their feelings, but will it last long? Will the bad boy start being soft and lovely for his crush? The real question is, What will her brother do? What will he feel? Betrayed? Surprised? Angry? Happy? All of them? Read to find out! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED* STRONG LANGUAGE* MATURE CONTENT*

Please note: this is a story about a poly triad, three folks who fall in love - it is absolutely not a love triangle jealousy story (except literally, as they are all in love in a triangular fashion). James is a teacher at the local evening school, teaching creative writing as he tries to get his own writing published. Robbie is a student in the class, starting afresh after abandoning their family's Big Plan for their life. The two haven't seen each other in eight years, not since the night of their school prom where Robbie rejected James' heartfelt admission of love. Robbie is now out and proud as a non-binary bisexual person, and ready to see if those feelings have persisted. Tension begins to bubble as James gets flustered over Robbie's new life, while Robbie tries to cheekily make up for past mistakes. There's just one problem; James' long-term partner, Fraser. Robbie curses their bad luck - of all the men in the world, James had to pick an attractive, charming, attentive, wonderful boyfriend. But when Fraser indicates that he's open to something a little more *open*, Robbie and James are intrigued. Neither of them had ever considered something outside monogamy, but it certainly sounds interesting... Will Robbie be able to clear their head and figure out their feelings for the two? Will James be able to let Robbie back into his life? Will Fraser welcome Robbie fully into their relationship? Join these three adorable cinnamon rolls as they navigate a beautiful poly relationship together. MATURE BOOK: this book is SPICY and by spicy, I mean I whacked an entire spice rack into it. There will be SO much spice.