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Hello everyone!

So I've pushed my boundaries and decided to step out of my comfort zone of fantasy writing--I bunch paranormal with this too because of the magical element. I was told by my distributor that paranormal and fantasy is so saturated, that sales are actually slowing and he encouraged me to approach realistic fiction.

Here's my gift to you, HIDDEN is a YA thriller (yay, my very first one!), the unedited version (for now).

You guys are the very first ones to taste my wind of change. I will still write paranormal and fantasy, but this is so exciting, too!

About the cover: it no longer looks like a cold and lonely read. Thanks to models Chey and Matthew for indulging me here--you guys totally RoCkEd the book with your perfect exactness of how the book should feel.

Elizabeth Mueller©copyright 2012

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chapter 1: terror

I bit my nail, rehearsing what I was going to say to Ty. What did he have planned? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when Jannie said he liked me. It was obvious the way he let his eyes drop down with painful slowness to my shoes all the way back up, only to stay on my lips as we passed each other in the hallways.

A hot thrill shot through me, and I tried my best to keep from shivering.

"I see that," Jannie growled as she plopped down in her seat at our lunch table. "Thinking about Mr. Jerk-o-matic? I mean, c'mon, I don't know what you see in him."

I stared at my best friend, willing her to look my way. When she didn't, I wanted to slap that twist from her dark lips. Snorting instead, I slid my tray against hers until her milk carton tipped.

Jannie rolled her eyes and righted her carton with a shake of her head.

"Why do you have to be so mean? I mean really."

"You know, he's not as hot as you think."

I found her eyes sizzling as she took Ty in when he turned to me, setting my throbbing heart on fire with his infamous "What's up?" nod. My face grew five degrees warmer.

"I mean really?" She curled her lip and sucked on her milk through the straw. She didn't stop until it slurped.

"Why don't you just forgive him for calling you baby bat already?" I slapped the table space between our trays, earning Janica a small yelp. "That happened in what, sixth grade? I mean, c'mon already." She glared at me through her lowered lashes, her eyes making me wish I could change mine to match.

"Lookie here young lady," Jannie pointed her dripping straw at me, "just because Ty drools over you every chance he gets doesn't make him an angel."

I sighed, feeling my eyelids sweep in slow motion.

"Pu-lease." Jannie grunted, shifting in her seat.

"What do you plan to do when you graduate next year?" I asked Jannie as I stuffed a fry into my mouth. The salt zapped my tongue awake.

"I'm applying for scholarships now to do graphic designing, but you knew that already." She batted the air and kicked her leg over the bench, rising.

I clamped her wrist and gazed at her. "I haven't finished my food yet."

"Ugh." She pushed her empty tray forward and slouched her chin into laced hands.

"Aw, Jannie, you know I love ya, right?" Just knowing that Ty sat a few meters away drove me mad. The fire in my chest spread to my face, making my eyes dance. I couldn't stop my sweaty hands from shaking.