'Look at me, Celeste,' he gently lifts her chin up with the tips of his slender fingers. 'I'm right here, okay?' *** When Celestine Vora enrols at the elite Marion University to study medicine, the last person she expected to come face to face with was Adrian Schulz. Always condescending, never conceding. As her brother's best friend, he always caught glances of her in the background, the silent, quiet shadow of an adopted girl who never quite matched her brother's innate talent. One who always seemed to be a hindrance, his biggest competitor for valedictorian in high school. He was looking forward to a fresh start. That is, until she shows up in front of his apartment in the middle of the night, and shakily utters the words, 'He's missing.' ~ [This is a work of fiction. All events and characters are fake.]

"The answer is 'A,'" I say, keeping my voice light and kind. Carter snorts from beside me. "No, it's 'C.'" Bingo. I was hoping he'd say that. "The question clearly asks you to round to the nearest tenth. If I'm not mistaken, which I don't believe I am, answer 'C' has two decimal places." I smirk as his mouth twitches into a frown. We're still standing. "Very well, Miss. Jones," Mr. Neilson says, projecting another question. "I can't stand you," Carter mumbles in my ear. I turn my head towards him, pressing my lips against his ear. "Then sit the fuck down, Conners," I whisper. "I'm winning." ... Fairridge Prep is for the best of the best. Sadie Jones, stubborn and clever, is set on being the best. Returning from winter break feeling, more so than ever, that she has stolen her sister's dream, Sadie is determined to spend the rest of Junior year proving that she deserves everything she's worked towards. Carter Conners, notorious flirt (only when it comes to Sadie), will do anything it takes to not spend the rest of his life working at his parents' diner. Whether it's running for the track team or debating, Carter is always competing, and competing to win. Sadie and Carter have been rivals since freshman year, constantly bickering and trying to best each other. But when the rivals are thrown into a week long debate competition that, along with getting the top spot on the Principal's List, will guarantee one of them the title of Valedictorian next year, they find themselves enjoying each other's company more than they would've ever expected. And it leaves them wondering: "Do we really hate each other?"

A guarded college quarterback's dark past resurfaces when classmate Elena Madison pierces his cold exterior, sparking a dangerous connection that could either redeem or destroy them both. *** Everyone at Ohio State University knows about Blake Andrews, the infamous all-star quarterback of the football team and rumored insomniac. Most refer to him as crude, egotistical, and cold. It isn't until he meets Elena Madison that his world is suddenly flipped upside down. She brings the dark past he has tried to keep hidden for years up to the surface, risking pulling them both under for good. Undeniable attraction radiates between the two clashing souls and he begins to wonder if she can save him from the darkness within him. He's never met someone with such an irritating personality; with her persistent desire to know more about him despite his exhausted efforts to push her away. She is about to uncover what's hidden under his rough and cold exterior-whether she's ready for it or not. After all, eyes are the window to the soul. *** "Thank you," he murmurs sleepily, raising his hand to bring it to my cheek. His thumb slides against my soft skin slowly, it burns hot at his touch. "For what?" I question, my eyes feeling very swollen and heavy now. He takes a deep breath and swallows. "For being my light." *** *MATURE* HIGHEST RANKINGS #1 in enemiestolovers #1 in collegeromance #1 in panicattacks #1 in badboy #1 in brooding #1 in enemiestofriends #1 in trauma #1 in grumpyxsunshine