She'd dealt with it before- everyday in fact. The words were thrown around as much as the beer bottles. But no one could know. She told people she was clumsy, that she did kickboxing... anything to hide the truth that only her dad and best friend knew about. Until she landed in hospital, and four people made it their mission to make her as safe as possible.

SEQUEL TO SAFE Bella has never felt so safe in her life. The boys were helping her recover, and by adopting her, she felt like she had somewhere she belonged. No one had ever made her feel so accepted before. However, she knew better, and nothing was always as easy as the boys liked to make out. Fears were still tugging at her stomach, making it spin as much as her head when her relationships were being pulled. No one told her being a teenager would be easy, but no one said it was hard either. It wasn't something you could prepare for. But with the right people, she knew she could get through it because she had the most important part. Hope.

Parents always say they don't have favourites. Well, most of the time anyway. In some situations it was painfully obvious, like in Maya's. As the youngest, there were high expectations. Even higher when your brother is a doctor, and you're well... a high school drop out. She resented him for getting out of there, and living a life with fancy cars, and houses, and holidays. She thought his ego was probably huge, and that he didn't really like her anyway. But in a time of need, her brother was all she had, and it turned out he wasn't as much of a dick as she thought. In fact, it was that much the opposite that it totally freaked her out.

Hold your head high, take a deep breathe and sigh

her biggest desire was to get away. nothing - not her friends, her family, nor her town - was strong enough to keep stella jade madden tied down to this place. she'd been wasted, abused, and was plain old tired of being here. when one day her worlds collide with a caring doctor, stella's plans to run away come to a halt. maybe he could be the one to convince her to stay this time, to remind her happiness is right where you are.

I must not let them see me cry