*The sequel to Across the Pond* Brooks Caldwell is the bane of my existence. Has been ever since I've known him. And, of course, luck would have it that I'm forced to spend my entire summer in his presence when I'm offered a job at the posh country club that his family belongs to. He's egotistical and arrogant; not to mention annoying. And yet, as time goes on, I find myself gravitating towards him in ways I never thought possible. In fact...I think I could fall for him if he let me. If I let myself.

Trigger warning for the following: -mature content -some strong language -fighting -mentions of abuse Everything was cool. It was fine and normal until, a new family moves I'm next door. The beautiful family seemed normal enough, but something was off. Their son didn't fit into the rest of them. He was mysterious and seemed a little bit standoffish. He seemed rude and like he didn't belong. Meeting him went well, and she catches his eye. Going to school together and their families spending some time together causes them to grow closer. So close that things happen. What happens? Do sparks fly?

After getting attacked one summer night, 19-year-old Elle Russo doesn't want to be weak anymore. Deciding to get a self-defense teacher sounded easy until it ends up being the guy she hates most from her childhood. Elle is known for her sweetness, but he brings out her venom. Nico Cross is very quiet and to himself. The only time he speaks is to make sarcastic remarks or tell people to shut up. With a gaze that makes you shiver, most people choose to not speak a word to him. Hating each other and seeing each other everyday isn't a good mix. They push each others' buttons and hate nobody in the world more than they hate each other. But as time goes on, they both soon realize, Sometimes you hate something to keep yourself from loving it. ---------- "Why would I be scared of you?" I asked. "What are you gonna do, kill me?" He leaned forward, and I could feel his breathing against my skin. I whispered, "I think you want to kiss me."

"Noelle." He spoke. That was my first time hearing my name off his lips, and I may have lost my cool for the first time in my life. "Now that I say it, you more of a Noelle than a Nikki" he gave a goofy grin.

Nico Bradford is nothing like me. He's rich, popular, and gorgeous. He's also been my best friend and neighbor from across the pond since I was 7 years-old, despite the fact that I've always wanted to be something more to him. To mean something more to him. And, this summer...I plan on doing just that.

Our moms were best friends. There wasn't much more to it than that. Every holiday, vacation and weekend, I was forced to spend time with Jax and his family. When I was four years old and he drenched my favorite blouse in ketchup, Jax and I became arch enemies...and then - somehow - we became best friends. But like I said, there wasn't much more to it than that. Mostly. Okay, so of course I liked him a little. How could I not? Even though Jax was annoying at times, he was also funny, athletic, popular, and downright hot, and I was his nerdy little best friend. He was my protector, the one who rescued me countless times from countless threats. We shared more than just friendship... Until the death of Jax's mother. The grief drove a wedge between us, and only so much more grief would follow. But pain has a way of tearing people apart, only to force them back together again. That's what happened to us. And, unfortunately, the only way around pain is through it. Trigger Warning: This book contains references to physical abuse and sexual trauma. Please read cautiously, and remember to take care of yourself.

"How many romance books do you read?" Devin asks me. I shrug. "I like them," I say. I keep browsing, running my fingers along the spines. "So, you like romance then?" he asks me. I nod. "What's your favorite part of a love story?" "I like the very first kiss, but I like the second one even more," I say. I bite my lip and look at him. Oh. My. God. What the hell am I doing? Am I flirting? I think that I'm actually flirting. With Devin. Devin, my best friend. I have officially lost my mind. I should probably stop. But I can't seem to. "Will you grab me that one?" I ask. I point above my head, my back's pressed against the bookcase. He locks his gaze on mine and reaches over me to grab the book I asked for. "Thanks." I don't move and neither does he. Riley and Devin have been best friends forever-since Kindergarten. It's Senior year of high school, now. And it's always been simple, Riley's got his back, he's got hers. But as life goes on Riley can't help but wonder if maybe he's not just her best friend, if she likes him as possibly something more. As her feelings deepen and become something greater it becomes more evident that she's falling, really hard. No matter how hard Riley tries she can't stop falling, she can't stop from loving him. Even if it tears her to pieces or even if it destroys their friendship. Pretty soon Riley is going to have to choose between walking the safe line of friendship or taking the unpaved path of love. Will she risk everything for love?

Elowyn "Winnie" Smith met Ben when she was 4 years old. They've been best friends since they were 6. After her dad died when she was 13, he was the only person she wanted to talk to. He should know everything about her, shouldn't he? But he doesn't, and Elowyn is slowly drowning in the weight of her secrets. He doesn't know about the creepy guy who won't leave her alone or how bad her home life and her mother have gotten. And he definitely doesn't know that she's slowly falling in love with him. But he would never want her, he's captain of the soccer team and could have any girl he wants. She's the girl he sees as a sister, he's even known her since before she went to speech therapy for her stutter. So why can't she shake this feeling, even though she knows it's so wrong? ✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦ He draws me back in, our lips connecting again and I feel like I'm melting. Like I can't think at all. Like there's no such thing as any of my problems. There's no depressed mom, there's no jealousy, there's no secrets. There's only his calloused hand rubbing my cheek and his hair beneath my fingers. I'm hot and I'm cold and I'm melting. I'm gone, disappearing into the sand beneath us. ✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦ Tropes: friends to lovers, childhood friends, golden boy, shy girl x popular boy, only one bed, secret crush Triggers: mental illness, depression, sa

#1 in Friends To Lovers Trope! "Sia I love you please don't avoid me like this. I'm not asking you to return my feels. Just don't ignore me? Please? It hurts so much." ~Atharva Malhotra who fell for his bestfriend. Will his feelings always be one sided? "Even if I like him in the future, there is no chance of us having a great and happy future. Don't even dream about this Sia!" ~Sia Sharma, stuck between many decisions. Will she accept his feelings? Let's go through the adventures of their love story and find whether they have a happy future? *Please ignore the grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language!* *All right are reserved for this story!* Please Support and I hope this doesn't disappoints you. :p

"Listen Dev. I..I am sorry. Please let me explain" I pleaded while taking my steps back. "Sorry? Really? Ms Aasha Sharma" he asked with a smirk. Now my back hit the wall i gasped. His face is few inches away from mine. Suddenly he held my waist tightly. "You know without you i can't live. You know without you i will be like a lifeless body. Then why you left me?" He shouted in rage. What he saying is true. Yes i left him. I know he will be hurt if i leave him. But my life left no options for me. I love him a lot. I can't live without him. I even know that he also can't live without me. But i can't tell him the truth. "Tell me damn it why you did this to me?" he shouted. I shivered. "I..I" no words came out from my mouth. "I left you because for your own good" I said closing my eyes tightly. "Oh! My own good?"Saying this he crashed his lips on mine. His kiss was not a passionate one but a punishable. I flinched in pain when he bited my lower lip. "You are going to endure more than this Ms.Aasha Sharma. You are going to face the consequences for leaving me" he said while wiping the blood from my lips. I gulped. "Get ready to face the New Dev Malhotra!" saying this he left the place not before locking the suite door. ~~~~ Aasha sharma, a 24 year old beautiful girl, for her love is a forbidden subject in her life. She has a family. But she never knows how a family feels like. She always dreamed for a happy, caring family. She thinks that love only exist to lucky people and she is not the lucky one to get a true love. Dev malhotra, a 28 year old, CEO of the Malhotra industries, India's number one company, best business man of the year. For him everyone has the right to be loved. He thinks love exist for everyone. He has a big loving family. He is waiting to fall in love. Will Aasha fall in love with Dev?Will Dev make her feel lucky by giving his love? Will Aasha get a family's love?