[Watty Awards 2019 Winner - New Adult!] Damian Ryker is something of a nomad. In his 22 years of life he's moved a grand total of 14 times. But he's here to stay this time, honest. He's already got himself a cushy new job in town and he's exploring the popular local shops, like that coffee shop down the road. It seems nice enough, perhaps a little too hipster for his taste and the barista is awkward, if not the slightest bit weird. But there's something strange about the innocuous café, like-oh I don't know-earthquakes that seem to destroy it every morning before miraculously repairing themselves and leaving him with the only memory of it. And just when that sounded a tad off, things start to get...a little out of this world. ------------ This was my 2017 Nanowrimo story that I couldn't quite fall out of love with. Inspired by the fun and fascinating world of fan fiction AUs, I hope you'll have as much fun with this as I had writing it!

"This summer will be our legacy. This will be what you will be remembered by. This will be the story you tell your grandchildren about when you were in high school. We're going to travel to places we never thought existed. We're going to do things we never even thought were possible. Things that we never dreamed about doing, this is the summer." Crestview High is an average high school in an average city with people who live average lives. Except for one thing, of course: Their senior tradition of riding a bus around the country for the whole summer after graduation. Not just a normal bus, an old school bus that the Belton family bought years ago and ever since their first son graduated, they've carried on the tradition. Now, the youngest and only girl of the family is graduating Crestview, which means that Alaina Belton is determined to live up to the Belton name and make this summer memorable for all twelve people on the bus this year. Of course, with twelve celebratory teenagers under one tiny roof for two months, there is bound to be love, drama, regrets, and a few memories to be made.

{SEQUEL OF POST IT} - The day's been endless, but it's almost over. I know she's out there, I know she's on her way to me. I know we are getting closer and I've been waiting for her, since that fortuitous reply. Because everything started with a post-it.

It’s cold and it’s dark by now. The day has gone so fast, going to all those places, meeting all those people and now I’m here. He’s led me here. It’s time now, after all I’ve done, it’s time to see him. And everything started with a post-it.

Sometimes all you really need is a place to call home. * * * Being re-written completely as of May 14, 2021

A collection of notes, a public library, two teenagers, and zero spoken communication.