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His breath was warm against my skin, and for a moment, everything else faded, just his presence, his closeness, the tension thick in the air. "Are you always this difficult?" he murmured, his voice low, teasing. I swallowed, my heart pounding. "I'm not difficult," I whispered back, though my voice betrayed me. His gaze softened, his lips almost touching mine. "Then stop pushing me away, Cassie." Before I could think, his lips brushed against mine, and everything shifted. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ In The Art of Being Lost, Cassie, a reclusive girl who hides her tender heart behind solitude, spends her days wandering the quiet aisles of her favorite bookstore. She's long dismissed the idea of connection, until one fateful Wednesday. Aiden, a charming and carefree stranger, collides with her world amidst a cascade of books. Their first encounter is brief, but undeniable sparks fly. As Aiden's humor and optimism chip away at her defenses, Cassie finds herself questioning whether her isolation is a refuge or a prison.

Cassy and Blake stand on the brink of a new beginning, hearts full of hope, ready to carve out a year at university filled with beauty and unforgettable moments. They dream of a year where every moment is steeped in beauty, every memory etched in time, as though the world itself would unfold gently at their feet. But life has other plans. The path they envisioned quickly unravels, giving way to unexpected challenges that disrupt their dreams. What was meant to be seamless becomes a struggle against the unknown, with buried secrets surfacing and the weight of life's trials threatening to overwhelm them. As past wounds resurface, each misstep feels like another blow to their fragile hopes. The road ahead, once promising, now seems uncertain and treacherous. In the face of struggle, the question remains: can they find the beauty they once dreamed of, or will their burdens break the vision they held for their first year? Only time will tell whether they can reclaim what was lost or if the future they hoped for will remain just out of reach. "Prepare yourself-putting this book down isn't an option."

Kai and Ryu's lives were never meant to intertwine in the way they did. In a world where silence often speaks louder than words, their connection grew in the quiet spaces between their conversations-moments of vulnerability, shared smiles, and a bond that felt too strong to ignore. Kai, with his open heart and determination, has always been comfortable with who he is. But when it comes to Ryu, the boy who hides his heart behind walls of doubt, Kai finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about love and trust. Ryu has always kept his emotions locked away, scared of the vulnerability that comes with giving himself fully to someone. Haunted by fear and insecurity, he finds in Kai a source of solace-and also his greatest fear. Can he really open up? Can he truly allow someone to love him, just as he is? As they navigate the challenges of high school, societal expectations, and their own hearts, Kai and Ryu learn that love is not just about finding the perfect person-it's about accepting each other's imperfections, growing together, and trusting that no matter how hard things get, they are stronger side by side. With every quiet touch, every tear shed, and every shared moment of understanding, they realize that love isn't something you just feel-it's something you choose, again and again. But the question remains: Can they overcome their own fears and take that leap together into the unknown future? A story about love, fear, and finding yourself in someone else's heart. A journey of discovering that the most beautiful things in life are often the ones we can't see, but feel deeply. If you believe love can be as tender as it is fierce, join Kai and Ryu as they learn to embrace the love they never saw coming.

This story delves into the lives of two high school students whose seemingly disparate paths converge in an unexpected and transformative way. It is a deeply moving exploration of teenage love, personal growth, and the inevitable transitions of life. It captures the essence of how connections evolve, the challenges of navigating young relationships, and the bittersweet nature of moving on from a chapter that has shaped who we become. As the story progresses, Mia and Jace must confront the reality of their situation and the necessity of moving forward. Their relationship reaches a turning point where they must face the decision of whether to continue together or part ways. This moment of reckoning leads them to a place of understanding and acceptance.

High school senior Emerson Vermont is counting down the days until graduation, eager to escape her small town and its tangled past. But when her mother is severely injured in a car accident, Emerson's plans are thrown into chaos. Now, she's forced to move in with her ex-boyfriend's family-bringing old wounds and unresolved feelings crashing back. As she navigates this unexpected reality, Emerson finds comfort in a familiar face, forming a bond that blurs the line between solace and true affection. Torn between the past she thought she left behind and a future she's struggling to grasp, she must confront her emotions and the unintended consequences of her choices. Will Emerson find the clarity and strength to move forward, or will she remain trapped by the ghosts of who she used to be? Trigger warnings: alcohol abuse, suicide, mentioning of drugs, ... Please read with caution. If you can't read things like these because they trigger something, don't read because your well-being is more important! Cover credits: @future_worlds

In The Other Side of Ordinary, 18-year-old Elias Garcia has always felt like he lives under the weight of his own reflection. Born with a facial birth defect, he's been accustomed to the stares, whispers, and the feeling of not quite fitting in. Growing up in a small town, Eli was never able to shake the constant sense of being "different," and he doubts anyone could ever see beyond his appearance to the person he really is. Now, starting university, Eli is ready to keep his head down, focus on his studies, and avoid the social pitfalls that plagued him in high school. But when he meets Amara, a spirited and kind-hearted art student, he's caught off guard by her warmth and curiosity. Amara doesn't seem fazed by his appearance; in fact, she seems drawn to his sharp wit and gentle soul. For the first time, Eli begins to question whether he's truly unworthy of love and acceptance. As their friendship grows into something more, Eli is forced to confront his deepest insecurities and the walls he's built to keep people out. Through laughter, shared struggles, and small acts of courage, Eli learns that love isn't about being flawless- it's about being seen. And maybe, just maybe, he might be brave enough to let someone see him for who he really is.

[BOOK 1] "I won't leave" I whisper, and he smiles, "I know, baby" he says softly, and my lips tug upwards into a smile. "You're the exception" he continued, his tone tender as he pressed a short, sweet kiss to my forehead. I didn't know it then, but I started falling in love with Finn Brookes, we were each other's exceptions. * * * Lily Garcia didn't come to university looking for love-especially not with someone like Finn Brooks. He's charming, infuriating, and a walking complication she doesn't need. But no matter how hard she tries to keep her distance, there's something about him that feels like gravity, pulling her closer with every encounter. Beneath his cocky exterior, she senses the fractures he tries to hide-the same ones she's been running from her entire life. Finn's been through hell, and love isn't part of the plan. He's good at keeping his walls high, locking out anyone who might get too close. But then Lily shows up, and suddenly his carefully controlled life begins to unravel. She's everything he didn't know he was missing, and that scares him more than he's willing to admit. But with their pasts threatening to destroy what they could be, and old friends trying to drive a wedge between them, trust becomes their biggest hurdle. And when a new love interest steps into the picture, everything Lily and Finn thought they were building starts to fall apart. Fighting their demons was never supposed to include each other, but now they have to decide if the risk of heartbreak is worth the reward of finally letting someone in.

"I want to go back to my old ways." Ezra said in a monotone. It felt like he held no emotion. I stood dumbfounded not knowing what to do? "I tried you know, it's been eleven fucking months we're dating and I still can't expct anything from you to pleasure me." Is this what our relationship was all about? I thought to myself. Still didn't have the guts to say anything. "The hell how can I want you Leila? You're own mother didn't even want you." As soon as those words came out of his mouth, I felt like something died inside of me that day. 'My own mother didn't even wanted me.' I heard some people gasp not believing that was actually happening. I held my head high and with as much grace as I could muster I walked out of the gym that was so beautifully decorated for the homecoming. ___________________________________ Erza Abe Alder heartthrob of Lake Pearl High school. Leila Grace Rena not the kind of girl you come across everyday. Read further and find out what happens when Ezra dumps Leila at senior prom? They're soon off to collage as they have a whole new set of adventure ,trouble, ups and downs mixing a little bit of jealous ex-boyfriend drama, a whole lot of making out and love triangle and then finally came love.

Some love stories are meant to be simple, but theirs was anything but. Sol never imagined that love could be something he would dread-until he crossed paths with Ember. She embodied warmth and fire, a sanctuary and a tempest, and he found himself captivated by her like a melody he never wanted to end. However, love was a concept Ember had long abandoned. The scars of her past had left her too wary to trust, too hesitant to hope. As their lives intertwine, they discover comfort in one another, yet the very bond that unites them also threatens to tear them apart. Friendships fracture, fears emerge, and the silence of unspoken words becomes a heavy burden of regret. When the shadows of the past finally close in, they must confront a question neither is prepared to answer: What could this be, between you and me? A profoundly emotional and strikingly honest journey of love, loss, and self-discovery, What Could This Be, Between You and Me? is not merely a tale of falling in love-it's about learning to fight for it.

Cassy and Blake have fought too hard to rebuild the fragile trust between them, mending the pieces of a love that once seemed irreparably broken. Just as they finally begin to breathe again, a devastating secret emerges-one so earth-shattering that it shatters Cassy's world and threatens to consume her whole. The betrayal cuts deeper than she ever imagined, inflicted by those she trusted most. The truth, with its sharp edges, sends her spiraling into a darkness she's never known before, pulling her further from everything-including Blake. And as the weight of her pain grows heavier, the love they rebuilt begins to crack under the strain. But Blake refuses to lose her. He sees the light in her even when she can't, fighting to pull her from the shadows before they swallow her completely. Yet, no matter how hard he tries, the walls around her heart keep rising, and for the first time, he wonders if love alone will be enough to save them. In Beneath Shattered Promises, love is tested beyond its limits in a raw, emotional journey of betrayal, grief, and resilience. As Cassy drowns in pain and Blake fights to bring her back, one question remains-can love survive when the past refuses to let go? Or is this the breaking point for two hearts that once felt unbreakable? "More love, more heartbreak...and definitely more tissues." Started writing: 28 February 2019 Finished writing: 16 August 2019

senior year. new year's eve. one last night to take a chance and change everything. stella has been waiting for the neighborhood's biggest new year's eve party since freshman year. now at that infamous party, everything's going great...until it isn't. the boy stella has a crush on turns out to be a bad kisser, her best friend throws beer on her, and stella's childhood best friend turned stranger punches said bad kisser in the face. all in that order. leaving the party with her ex-best friend, stella is pleasantly surprised at how easy it is reconnecting with blake. he's grown up in all the ways she hasn't, and still smiles at her the way he did when they were fifteen. running around their hometown together throughout the night, stella and blake make up for lost time, and finally say all that's been left unsaid. but now that she has blake back, stella's worried that they'll go back to being strangers when the sun rises and the new year settles. she lost him once before, she doesn't want to lose him again.

"Sometimes you have to learn to love yourself before you can love someone else." Ellie Sparks stands out in a crowd... in all the wrong ways. From birth, she's been "big-boned". Growing up, people told her she was ugly and that she needed to change to be accepted. Soon enough, she started to believe them. But everything changes senior year when Ellie meets two boys: Blake Sivan, the school's star football player and ultimate heartbreaker, and Ben Kroll, the sweet southern boy with a kind heart. With the help of the boys, her two best friends, and a couple of mean girls and humiliating circumstances, Ellie learns a useful lesson about self love and self discovery. ***THIS STORY IS COMPLETED***

"There's only so many times I can put my heart back together" "Why are you so sure I'll break it again?" 🖤🤍🖤 No one said university would be easy, but between assignments and relationships, it gets a little too messy. Nicole doesn't do feelings. She barely does friendships. Escaping a life of pain, she drowns herself in distractions. Party. Drink. Repeat. Always on the brink of losing herself. The only person she trusts is her best friend, Miguel. Miguel isn't the relationship type. He's never had a reason to be, and his reputation proves it. Until a kind-hearted waitress makes him question who he wants to be. Alice, dreaming of love like in the movies, falls face first on every try. She refuses to be fooled again, but no matter how hard she tries, her heart keeps tricking her. When she stumbles across someone whose first instinct isn't to judge her for her dreams, Nicole's warnings are in vain. They thought they could keep their walls until Andrew came crashing in. He didn't seek their acceptance, only an escape from his life. He was never meant to break them apart. But mistakes are easy to make. Especially when you're young. 🖤🤍🖤 Start: 07/01/2022 End: 03/07/2023 Achievements: 🥉3rd place Romance winner in The Savant May Awards 🥉3rd place Young Adult winner in The Heart Awards 🏅Featured in The Athena Project

Highest ranking: #1 in Short Story *Rewriting and Editing on hold* It was a race to leave behind her toxic past, the past that demolished her image, her family, and her sanity. Moving and starting fresh was Leila's number one priority. She desperately sought to avoid the people that constantly reminded her that she was worthless, but never had she thought she would meet someone who made her feel things that she thought she would never experience. . . Extreme anger. After the night that two lives were taken right before her eyes, one of her brother and the other of a little girl, nothing for her has been the same. Being neglected by her own parents and being shoved to the side by friends, falling into depression and self-harm had forced the once extrovert into a dark abyss who chose to finish college in silence. However, after an unfortunate mishap on her first day of school, Leila is stuck sharing a dorm room with no other than Professor Kingston. To Leila, Blake Kingston was nothing but a narcissistic, intellectual spoiled brat who sought to make her life a living hell. However, beneath the surface Blake was more than that, he was a damaged little boy who moved away to escape his troubled past. He never planned to meet a young, stubborn woman such as Leila Hart, who barged into his life with no warning. He never planned to let her see right through his cold and distant facade. For Blake Kingston was the most caring and loving person anyone has met, and Leila Hart knows an empath when she sees one. Little did they know they were both two broken souls who not only needed healing from themselves but from one another. Little did they know they were going to be ROOMMATES. What happens when these two collide? Fireworks and lethal wounds.

Prologue In the world of college life, words are often thrown around like confetti-light, colorful, and sometimes lacking substance. They say things to fill the silence, to create connections, and to express feelings that often remain hidden beneath the surface. But what happens when those words fall flat? When the promises made in fleeting moments fade into echoes of unfulfilled intentions? This is a story about the complexities of communication and the silent battles fought within relationships. It began with a simple smile exchanged in the midst of chaos during National Pharmacy Week-a moment that seemed inconsequential yet held the weight of possibilities. She found herself drawn to him, captivated by the way he spoke, the way he made her feel. But as she discovered, words alone would not be enough to bridge the gap between us. As their paths intertwined, we danced around each other in a series of unsaid feelings, lingering glances, and an unspoken connection that left her yearning for more. But with every promise unkept, the reality became clearer: words are just that-words. They mean little without the actions to back them up. This is the story of Elle's journey through that realization, a tale of fleeting moments, unfulfilled expectations, and ultimately, the power of choosing clarity over confusion. It's about learning that love is not just spoken; it's demonstrated. And in the end, it was a lesson that would change everything she thought she knew about relationships and herself.

Abigail grew up believing that she wasn't enough. She has built a wall of indifference around herself over the years, but when fate unexpectedly brings Connor into her life, that barrier begins to crumble. From the beginning, Connor appears to be the opposite of Abigail. His daily life is filled with friends, drugs, and parties. But one look is enough to spark something between the two, and he quickly becomes the most important person in the world to her. Their every meeting is filled with passion, creating a volcano ready to erupt at any moment. Despite their young age, feelings and desire overcome them. Both are unaware of how much pain and sacrifice it will cost to maintain their relationship. Will they prove strong enough to survive the storms on the horizon? Selected excerpt from the beginning of the book: "I loved you a lot earlier than I admitted, even to myself. I loved you from the very first moment I saw you. I feel the taste of life with you. I started really breathing only when I met you. I've never felt so alive before."

★ NOW PUBLISHED! ★ What do you get when you add the ultimate meet cute + a bruised head? = A whole can of heartbreak. It all starts in aisle three. Lacie O'Connor prefers to see the world in black and white, logical, rational, and natural, like her biology major. She just wants to survive her freshman year of college, but first she must find a can of peas. Instead, she gets hit on the head with a box of cake mix. Trent Montgomery is all saturated and technicolor even in the maroon employee polo. Lacie thought she left him and his sheepish smiling friend at the grocery store but finds him in her most dreaded class: Intro to Philosophy. He sits next to her, and it's all PLATOnic until he presses his foot up against hers. That's all it takes for her to get lost in the philosophy of Trent. What starts out as sidewalk conversations soon leads to study sessions that transform to cuddle sessions that transform to make-out sessions. But just before winter break, Trent steps back. He dodges her texts. He kisses her in private but blows her off in public. Lacie knows miscommunication and mixed signals spread like an invasive plant species, but what she can't figure out is which version of Trent is real. The one she met in aisle three, or the one who likes to get drunk in dorm building basements. © 2015 ℓαℓαℓαℓαwriting © 2019 ℓαℓαℓαℓαwriting |Edited/NEW| © 2022 Published version All Rights Reserved |Third Place Winner in #Readytoreadya2018 Young Adult Reads Contest|

A bullied girl meets the popular new student. "Still saying that you're perfectly okay?" Max whispers. I'm surprised to hear that his voice is shaking. "I'm going to find who did this to you." One time, I was the most popular girl in school. All the students in Royal Heights, the school of the richest, knew me as the pretty Luna Klein, daughter of a famous superstar and a well-known billionaire. But the next thing I know, I'm an outcast. Just because of a complicated thing called love, everything turns 180 degrees. Now, I'm the girl that everyone hates. I've lost all my friends. I've lost my best friend. And I've lost the guy that I adore. All I can do now is to ignore the bullies and to survive each day quietly, hoping that I don't attract too much attention like before. Everyone in my school starts to call me loony Luna. Or lunatic, their favorite nickname. Then he suddenly arrives. Max Cooper, the new student who just got here from Australia. Insanely good-looking and smart, topped with his impressive family background, Max easily becomes everybody's favorite, especially the girls'. Disastrously, of all the other things he can pick, Max sets his eyes on the most forbidden and despised thing in Royal Heights. Me. Even though the whole school hates that idea. But pushing Max away is like trying to tame a wild lion that has just been released from its cage. Max is unstoppable. My mother once said that if a guy is really into you, he will pursue you no matter what. I think I know now how it feels. I just don't know how to handle my heart. Because every time his piercing eyes land on me, I feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. © 2021 Anya Jayvyn. All Rights Reserved.

STAY MEAN Blake Simmons was my best friend. Then she wasn't. She shut me out when I confessed my love to her, pretended I didn't exist, and I spent years trying to convince myself I didn't care. Now, she's the cool, hot senior, and I'm the girl who's supposed to hate her. And I do. Mostly. But then I keep running into her, and it's like no time has passed. Except it has. And Blake isn't just my childhood best friend anymore-she's something else, something I don't know how to handle. One moment, she's cold and distant. The next, she's looking at me like she never stopped. Like she wants me. But I spent years trying to get over her. I won't let her ruin me again. ...Right? - No explicit content, although physical romance