|| 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

"New student, right?" the Principal asked me. I nodded meekly, hoping that he would turn out to be a patient suffering from short term memory loss and would forget about detention but his next words confirmed how rotten my luck was! "Mr Spencer, Ms Wilson" he began in an icy calm voice," creating a raucous in the corridors right outside my office isn't exactly a heroic thing to do. Both of you have an option of either a week detention together or a two week detention together." My eyes shot wide open, "One week detention with him! That's practically impossible for humankind!" "I don't want to risk my bright IQ by serving detention with this psycho!" I heard Spencer jerk protest. "You have an IQ???" I looked at him, giving my best shocked expressions, "Is it the joke of the decade or joke of the century???" "Since you didn't react to my calling you a psycho, it confirms that you are one." he shrugged calmly. My brain was ready in an instant with a smart answer to that. I opened my mouth to give it back to him--- "STOP." The headmaster yelled, the pulse in his temple was throbbing red in fury. "The options are now changed to three week detention or four week detention." he muttered in anger. ***** Andrea Wilson was looking forward to having an ordinary life in school. But things don't turn out as planned when she accidentally gets into the bad books of the hot nerd in school. And when that popular nerd turns out to be her brother's best friend....well things don't really uncomplicate. Add to this generous amounts of classes, detentions, friends, enemies, crushes, heart breaks and Andrea is all set to have an eventful year in High School that she was for sure not looking forward to! ~*~~*~*~~*~ #7 in Teen Fiction 4.5.16