Riley knew how to take care of himself. He wasn't good at much, but he could do that and do it well. Cycling through violence and neglect from his father, he didn't have much of a choice. When the abuse turns extreme and Riley can no longer take care of himself, he's forced to rely on the mother who abandoned him when he was five, who also has another family and doesn't appear too pleased about having him back in her life. Physically and emotionally, Riley tries to heal, only to be repeatedly knocked back down. When it comes to his mom, is there even a relationship to salvage? How many chances are too many? And at what point should he just give up and stay down like his father told him? Awesome cover art by _munroe

Sixteen-year-old Emmett Sidney has spent his life trapped in a cycle of abuse at the hands of his father, with no one left to protect him after his mother's death. His older brother, Emilio, promised to stay-but when he turned eighteen, he left without looking back. Now, Emmett is alone, hardened by years of fists and fear. When his dad dies were does he go? Across the country, Emilio Simmons has built a life he never thought possible-a loving wife, a daughter, and a stable home. But a late-night call from the police brings his past crashing back. His father is dead, and CPS is pressuring him to take in the younger brother he abandoned. Emilio can't forget the horrors of his childhood, but facing Emmett again means confronting the guilt and trauma he buried years ago. As Emmett and Emilio's paths cross again, they must both grapple with the wounds of their past and the choices that tore them apart. Can they rebuild what was broken, or are some scars too deep to heal?

[This story will become free on DECEMBER 13TH, 2024] Isaiah always had his focus set on school and baseball, but when he meets August, he suddenly begins questioning more than just his lack of a social life. ***** As the star of his high school baseball team, Isaiah Carr is looking forward to senior year. While not the most popular of guys, he's got his friends, he's a shoo-in for a baseball scholarship, and he's perfectly content sitting on the sidelines when it comes to his social life. However, when he meets August, a strange but cute boy with a prosthetic leg, there's no denying the connection between them. From friends to more, the two begin to grow a relationship that balances the troubles of their pasts with the hopefulness and acceptance of a future. [[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]] Cover designed by Eva I. WATTY'S 2020 YA WINNER

There's this house. It's right down the street from mine. There's also this boy. He lives in the house down the street. ••• If you are reading this story on any other platform than Wattpad you are very likely to be at risk from a malware attack. If you wish to read this story in its original, safe, form, please go to @-cynicaloptimism- on Wattpad. Thank you

With the Great War raging in Europe, Colin and Dickon are sent to fight. They come home broken, hoping to rebuild their lives with those they love.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?" "Doing what?" He spat "Hurting yourself, there's so much to life and you're throwing all away." She shot back "Why do you care huh? Why does it matter to you what I do with my life? You know nothing about me."

After being paralyzed in the war James "Bucky" Barnes looks for hope. Can Steve help him live again?

Eighteen year old Sasha isn't ready to live independently, but his parents didn't give him any choice. Too anxious and unsure of himself to really live, he sits alone in his tiny apartment and tries to stay distracted. He stays quiet, hoping to go unnoticed by the world. Next door, Cooper shares an apartment just as small with his two roommates. He knows his friends love him, but he's loud and impulsive and easily distracted, and sometimes he feels like a burden. He thinks the apartment next to theirs is empty, until one day he hears a sound from next door...

Roland is a homeless teen who is just trying to make it through life. He does what he can in order to stay alive but years of petty theft has caught up to him. Kit is fresh out of a drug addiction program after spending most of his childhood is a high and confused daze. With neither of them having adults in their life who care about them, they become wards of the state and are sent to a camp for troubled kids until they are 18. The two of them become cabin mates but will they slowly become more than that or will they call it quits before they have the chance? Boyxboy story Spin off but can be a stand alone! Started: November 10, 2021 Ended: