Lavender Quinn has always struggled with her mental health but somehow managed to always stay at the top of her class... until her senior year. Everyday seems like something new to her, how much more stress could she possibly take? She can't stand her academic rival, Elijah Rivera. She's had about enough of him and in somehow someway this year just keeps bringing them closer together. Group projects, field trips, Paris, debate tournaments, what else? She notices what's going on between them but she can't let him in, she refuses. How can she love him if she doesn't even love herself? She doesn't want to burden him with all her "issues." She has enough going on for crying out loud. ...But what if Elijah convinces her to try? *** Lavender brings her hands down my chest, lightly tracing over the fabric of my shirt. She opens her mouth but hesitates for a moment. "I like how you make me feel safe with you." I don't expect that coming out of her mouth and I actually stop my ministrations to look at her. "Safe?" She nods. "Yes, safe. I think I understand that you'd never purposely hurt me." I let my eyes roam her face, admiring her features closely. "Never. Not in this lifetime. Not in any lifetime." Her hand touches my cheek and she nods just barely. "You don't make me feel like I have to watch my back." I smile softly and lean into her touch. "Good, because I'm not going anywhere." Her smile fades. "Don't say that if you don't mean it." My fingers play with her hair. "I do mean it. Lavender, I will be by your side for as long as you will let me. And even if you don't, I will still be there from afar, waiting for when you do." *** ~ To everyone who feels like they're not deserving of love. started november 10th, 2022 ended ??? *** RANKINGS: 9/21/24 • #2 IN FRENEMIES 3/27/25 • #3 IN LAVENDER 7/07/26 • #2 IN TEENROMANCE 8/13/26 • #2 IN PARIS

'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.]