How thin is the line between love and hate? Cindy Leclair. She's what could be the personification of perfect. Perfect face, perfect body, perfect family, perfect life. You couldn't find a single flaw on or about her. Considered the school sweetheart, she gets outstanding grades and is an exemplary student. But what if the girl underneath the front isn't so perfect after all. Loren Carson. Almost the exact opposite of Cindy. It seems as if trouble finds her everywhere she goes. She can't go a week without finding herself in the principal's office. Even with her bad reputation, boys and girls alike swoon over her looks. Long blonde hair, deep ocean eyes and a model like body. One thing they have in common? They absolutely hate each other. When their parents sign a business deal together, Cindy and Loren end up spending a lot more time with each other than they first anticipated. Will Cindy be able to break Loren out of her bad habits? Or will it be the other way around? The line between love and hate is seemingly squiggly, zig zaggy, and confusing.

She looks up at me, taking a step forward and smiling slightly, "How can I ever get hurt when I have you here to protect me?" "But you could have gotten hurt," I murmur softly, hanging my head and feeling my shoulders drop, the tension seeping from my body. "No. Stop," She cuts me off sternly but tenderly, "Don't talk like that, Reece. I'm okay, you're okay, we're okay," She speaks softly, reaching her hand up to gently brush her thumb over my cheek, just under the cut that's there. "We're okay," I repeat, taking a small step closer to her. She nods with a small smile, moving her hand down from my cheek and instead placing the palm of her hand on my chest, right over my heart. I know she can feel how fast my heart is beating. I just don't know why it's doing that. ~ Reece Carter is the bad boy of Northwood High. He smokes and he fights. He has countless tattoos covering his body. And he doesn't care about anything or anyone else. Layla Stevens is your average seventeen year-old girl, just trying to get through high school, with the friends she loves and doing the things she loves. When these two cross paths accidentally in an unusual way, they leave and never expect to speak to each other again. But fate has other plans. Layla finds her way into Reece's life and Reece doesn't know what to do about it. This ray of Sunshine suddenly meant something to him. She understood him when it seemed like no one else did. And he protected her from everyone who tried to hurt His Sunshine. Get ready for a story filled with bad pick-up lines, twin telepathy and a lot of fighting. Like, a LOT. Thanks for that one, Reece.

"The moon's really beautiful, if you think about it," I blurted. "Yeah?" he asked, mild amusement and curiosity mingling in his voice. "Yeah," I confirmed. "It's just- there's something about the moon that's ethereal. I don't really know how to describe it, but it's a constant in life. You can't always see it, but you have to trust that it's out there somewhere. And when you can see it, it's all bright and shiny and overcomes the darkness." I paused, searching for the right words. "I don't know. I guess it's a reminder that there are good things out there, even if you can't see them... And it's cool to think that someone hundreds of miles away is staring at the exact same moon as you. It makes me feel not so alone in life." Turning my head, I saw him staring at me intently with a thoughtful look on his face. "Too deep for a Friday night?" I laughed nervously, feeling my face grow hot. And this was precisely why I didn't go to parties. He shook his head and seemed to snap out of his daze. "It was deep in a good way." *** SHE was quiet & left out. Part of a friend group because of convenience. Dealing with fighting parents at home. Looking for more in life. Always wanting to get away from Chicago & start over. Her parents' divorce gave her the perfect opportunity. Ending up in Haven Beach, she rekindled relationships with estranged relatives & got the teenage experience she had always dreamed of. Midnight drives. Bonfires at the beach. Adventures every day. Friends who actually cared. Because of Haven Beach, she found herself. HE was a focused athlete- Haven Beach's golden boy. The 4 F's were all that mattered: football, friends, family, & food. All that changed when a quiet brunette moved to town. Because of her arrival in Haven Beach, his world shifted on its axis. THIS is Charlotte & Eli's story. Started: 12/10/20 Finished: 2/16/21 WC: 107k #1 in contemporary romance 5/24 #1 in sports romance 7/16 #1 in friends to lovers 8/1 #1 in newgirl 8/8

Without hesitation I crashed my lips to his. He was too surprised to kiss back at first, but he quickly recovered and snaked his arms around me. Now I was the one not responding due to shock. He didn't push me away? Just as the kiss was about to deepen, I pulled away from him and sprinted down the thankfully empty hallway. • • • • • Emma Burns and her two best friends have a tradition. Each year one girl takes a turn - the first person you bump into on the first day of school, you have to complete the three kisses with. Kiss #1 - No matter what, you kiss them then and there. Kiss #2 - Get them to kiss you. Kiss #3 - Tongue. COVER MADE BY @angelicapascoe check out her work she's amazing!!