" my patroclus. " First grade, that's when it all started. When the boy with the ridiculous name and messy, blond hair ran into another boy with a ridiculous name and tanned, ebony skin. They grew jointed at the hip, one was only seen with the other. Achilles loved running, he loved telling everyone about his day; Patroclus loved the way the stars looked at night, he loved laughing at Achilles' jokes. And both of them eventually grew into teenagers who learned how to lose and how to smile brighter than the sun. Achilles has kissed far too many people and Patroclus has learned about each and every one of them. Patroclus lays in his bed, talking about the future, and Achilles listens to every word. And one day, Achilles learns that he only needs to kiss one person. One day, Patroclus knows something certain about his future. / / a work based off of the iliad's achilles & patroclus, but no knowledge about any of the characters or plot is needed to read and/or understand it / /

BOOK ONE Coming out was supposed to set Julian free. Instead, it left him with a broken arm, a mother who won't stop preaching, and a silence that grows heavier every day. High school feels like a cage, and Julian is certain he doesn't belong anywhere-until Paul crashes into his world. With his inked skin, effortless charm, and a following that makes him untouchable, Paul should be the last person Julian lets close. Loving Paul means risking exposure, rejection, and heartbreak all over again. Worse, it means facing the cruelest voice of all-the one inside Julian's own head. Tender, raw, and unflinching, Open is a story about first love, first heartbreak, and finding the courage to believe you're worthy of both. ::: I could feel it when his body finally went slack, when he'd fallen asleep and soft snores emitted. And I thought I was getting better at this breaking down thing... I honestly did but when I was alone, I seemed to fall apart. Endless serenades of how worthless I'd been and how destructive I was; I was a disappointment to literally everyone and I hated it. My breathing became shallow as I cried for the second time that day, finally feeling content being immersed in guilt. A shudder wracked through my body, tears escaping and Paul pulled me closer as he woke silently. Mumbling soft nothings against my skin and kissing it to slow my breathing, he tried to lull me to sleep, "It's okay, you're okay." Refusing to speak -my voice failing me- his arm came up to wrap around my shoulder and I held him there, placing a small kiss to his tattooed skin in a broken sign of gratitude, I must've run out of tears. And I felt at ease.

PHOEBE PHENTON'S PROBLEMS: 1. She's a junior in a new high school 2. She was named Phoebe Phenton (see separate list of why being named Phoebe Phenton sucks) 3. Her mother finds the most random of things unethical 4. Her teacher asked her to join the school newspaper 5. Emily Wester is Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper 6. Phoebe is madly in love with Emily Wester 7. Phoebe has never spoken to Emily Wester 8. Did she mention she's a closeted lesbian? Bonus Problem: 9. The story of her awkward adventure through junior year is being told in a series of lists