There are times where you want nothing more than to be loved. To be wanted. To be accepted. But life wants to challenge you instead. Toreesa Lane comes from a wealthy lifestyle. Breezing her way into college and trying to live up to her fathers diligent reputation, she only seems to attract people who want to use her for what she has to offer. She was raised to believe that money gets you everything...even a persons love for you. Erica Milliano, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Being predominantly poor, she works hard every day and night to pay for her college education, even if that means skipping meals and living on the streets; she will do whatever it takes. She was on her own from the very beginning and trusts absolutely no one. She relies on no one, but herself. These two are so different from one another but they manage to fall blindly into each others arms; One Bus Ride at a Time...

"It is your choice," he said, stepping so close to me that our lips were almost touching. "Either do what I say - or get another job." My heart stood still as I gazed up into his deep, dark, dangerous eyes... In a world where women's only role in life is to sit at home and look pretty, Lilly is determined to fight for her freedom. There's only one problem: a powerful man blocking her way.

|| Featured FREE story with exclusive paid chapters - previously a paid story || When Haley discovers the truth behind Xavier, whose silence holds a deeper meaning, she sets her mind on making his life better one small step at a time. ***** Haley Rosamond is happy with her simple life, content under the wing of her father. Well-protected, she has no idea of the darkness surrounding Xavier Hunt, with his all-black attire and infrequent presence in school-accompanied by his bruises and scars. That is, until Haley catches a glimpse of Xavier's reality and is made to question everything she knows about family and life in general. The truth, she realizes, couldn't be more different from everything she has heard. Supported by her father, Haley sets her mind on helping Xavier any way she can, and what begins with tutoring sessions, free food, and random acts of kindness blooms into friendship and something a little more. But when Haley's admission into her dream college and another tragedy in Xavier's life threaten to undo everything she has worked for, Haley needs to decide if she'll stick by Xavier or simply be another person in his life that disappears. [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]] Cover designed by Holly Thurston