"Beautiful things don't ask for attention." In a world that thrives on conformity, August is an anomaly. Raised in a secretive overbearing family, she was chosen to leave its hidden grounds-not for freedom, but for duty. Sent to college to become the strategic mind for her generation behind the family's growing empire, she tries to move through the world like a ghost, draped in gothic shadows with secrets too heavy to share but her style is just too much to go unnoticed by judging eyes unscathed. Then she meets Kason through his older brother. A rising rapper with a reckless charm and a hunger for something real, dealing with battles of his own, he's instantly drawn to August's eerie demeanor and the quiet storm that lingers behind her dark mysterious eyes. She's nothing like the women he's used to-unbothered by trends, and untouched by the need for validation. The more she resists, the deeper he falls, his infatuation turning into an obsession he can't shake. One he cant let go of. As their worlds collide, the slow burn of their connection threatens to ignite everything August has been taught to suppress. With her past closing in and expectations pressing down, she must decide if she's willing to defy everything she's ever known for the chance at something dangerously real. In a society that demands she fit a mold, August stands in defiance. Unfortunately, love has a way of making even the strongest question their silence. STARTED; February 22nd , 2025 PUBLISHED; MARCH 18th, 2025 FINISHED; MAY 27th, 2025

" I don't even like you like that." Her face scrunched up in disgust watching water drip from curls in his hair. " 'Cause you love me. Just like I love you." He retorted with a grin, disregarding the deflecting she was doing. --- They were two sides of the same city-until one move split them down the middle. Elijah and London were inseparable once, bonded by childhood summers, beat-up bikes, and secrets too deep for anyone else to know. Unfortunately, when Elijah's mom packed up and moved her family across Onyx to a rival neighborhood, everything changed. She always thought when she spoke to him again he would've changed like her. She was witty, sarcastic, and had a low tolerance, but he was still the same calm , sweet, cute boy with a heart the size of the sun. Some things haven't changed. Some things never change. The pull between them, the memories that still burn etched marks in their brain, and the words they never said out loud. In a world where loyalty can be life or death, and love isn't always enough to cross old lines, Elijah and London find themselves circling each other again. --- STARTED; MAY 26th, 2025 PUBLISHED JUNE 6th, 2025 FINISHED; SEPTEMBER 27th 2025

Freshman year at the top-ranked college basketball school comes with a lot of responsibilities, especially from the two top-ranked high school seniors. Despite not sharing a father, their fathers have the same level of basketball experience. Dakari, the rookie who led his team to a championship in his first year, is a living history lesson. His son, Zyair, idolizes him. Joshua, a seasoned basketball player with experience in various leagues, including the G-League, has yet to win a championship. Even though he's the arch-nemesis of Dakari, he can't bring on-court problems home, especially due to Jamir. Jamir is a headstrong young man passionate about basketball but lacking the responsibility and structure of his best friend, Zyair. Choyce, the youngest of Cedarian and Kamora's children, is spoiled and protected by everyone. Unlike most girls her age, she doesn't have a social media presence. Her life revolves around her faith, volleyball, her family, and friends. She's a beautiful plus-size girl with high confidence and strong morals. While pursuing her higher education, she encounters two best friends who present her with a life-altering decision.

Malcolm Carter never imagined raising four daughters alone. Three years after losing his wife to a brain tumor, his life is loud, messy, and filled with ponytails, homework, ballet recitals, and late nights trying to make sure his girls are okay. He loves them more than anything, but some days it still feels like the heart of their home disappeared when Aaleah did. Celeste Moore lives the opposite kind of life. A disciplined ballet instructor who thrives on routine and quiet, Celeste spends her days teaching children grace, focus, and confidence before returning home to peaceful nights with her cat. Her world is calm, structured, and carefully balanced. For four years, Malcolm's daughters have danced in Celeste's class. She watched them grow. She watched them grieve. She watched Malcolm do his best to be everything his daughters needed. But Celeste has one strict rule she refuses to break: She does not date the parents of her students. Especially not a single father with four daughters and a life full of chaos. Yet somewhere between late pickups, quiet conversations, and watching Malcolm braid his daughters' hair before class, the line between professional and personal begins to blur. Malcolm never expected to love again. Celeste never expected to want the kind of life he lives. But sometimes healing comes in the form of loud houses, messy kitchens, and one unexpected seat at the table. sometimes love looks like The Sixth Chair.

"we fell in love the way you fall in leaves." Juwan "Rocky" Rockwell has had a pretty hard life. Between trying to find a way to fend for himself and dealing with the normal hardships of teenage angst, he had nowhere to turn as an adolescent and no time for anything other than taking care of himself. Having been set on survival rather than love itself, Juwan, now twenty-four years old, is ready for a change. He just hasn't realized it yet. Quinn Campbell, a woman accustomed to the moderately luxurious lifestyle that her parents immersed her in, has been passive all of her life. Having been torn between parents who are both demanding and have been divorced since she was nine years old, trying to find her way in the world as an adult has proven to be challenging especially since her overbearing parents have been making decisions for her since birth. One morning, on a whim, she finally decides that it's time to take control of her life. The first step is finding a change in scenery. Who ever would've thought that the second step would be becoming smitten with a man who claimed to never have had a heart? [based on "falling in leaves" from my book of one shots.]

Hyacinthe Claiborne is simple. She's an introvert, a foodie, and can't go a day without reading a good book. But between classes and daily naps, she's come to the conclusion that she's wasting her college experience. So, when a dare makes her create a Tinder profile, Hyacinthe isn't worried. After all, it's not like she'll fall in love. Justice Davis is complex. He's made it his mission to do everything that could possibly end up on a bucket list, including making a Tinder profile. He barely uses it anyway, but Hyacinthe is making an offer he can't refuse. ---- Best rankings: #2 in Contemporary #1 in Black Love The cover and the story are created by me, so please uphold the copyright (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED). Thanks for the support.

Since I was sixteen I've always known the kind of life I wanted for myself. I wanted the love. The peace. The happiness. The marriage. The family. The home. But sometimes life doesn't always go as planned. Instead of getting what I wanted, I got what I needed. I got lessons. I got heartbreaks that forced me to grow. I got silence that taught me how to listen to myself. I got endings that pushed me toward new beginnings. And even though it wasn't easy, every detour shaped me into the person I am today. Stronger. Wiser. More passionate about the life I'm still building. And despite all of that, I still want the love. The peace. The happiness. The marriage. The family. The home. I still want it all. Because no matter how many times life has tested me, the desire for those things has never left. It's only grown stronger. ~ Crystal

She arrives in the city, believing distance could keep her untouched. He arrived unconscious, his future already alternated. What connects them is never named, or felt formed in silence, restraint, and moments that were never supposed to happen. This is a story about loss, proximity, and what happens when feelings become unavoidable. © 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐋𝐈