"Today, however can change things for better or worse. The outcome depends on you." When a marriage fails, the residue trickles down to everyone in the family. Sixteen-year-old Daya Nicole Johnston must fight to understand what is happening in her life. The revelations about her father surprise her, her brother is becoming distant, her mother is a shell of her former self, and her best friend will not talk to her. To complicate things further, she finds herself caught in a love triangle that pulls at her heart. These events turn her life on its head. How will she cope? And what will she do to combat this? Book 1 in the One Week Older series *Completed October 25, 2019* *Revised July 2024* Cover by comicstvr

I never thought my life would be like this; trapped in a dark room and scared for my life. A blindfold was wrapped around my head, covering my eyes, making me completely blind and on high alert. My breathing was ragged and I could smell the mold that was most likely covering most of the room. My hands were tied behind my back, my feet tied together and I was sitting on the floor, propped up against a wall. I heard a slight shuffling across the room that was coming closer to me. I tried my hardest to keep my breathing under control to seem confident and fearless, but in reality, I was shitting my pants and squealing like a scared little girl on the inside. To say I was terrified was a drastic understatement. I was petrified, shaking with fear, but they were not going to know that. "Who are you?!" I demanded. If I was going to die, it would be with the name of my kidnapper. A voice boomed closely to me, "Well, if I told you that, this wouldn't be any fun." **************** Skylar James, a 24 year old girl, is kidnapped by a very well known gang who has a vendetta against her family. In an attempt to find light in her situation, she makes friends with one of the members. Logan Grant was forced into the gang at the young age of 16. He was abused until he became emotionless and ruthless, so that one day, he could rule the gang. Everything was going smoothly until Skylar is brought in. With a blindfold wrapped around her head, he instantly feels bad for her, though he cannot show it. Afraid of getting caught, he shows no emotion while others are around. Though, behind closed doors is a whole other story.

When the mysterious teashop suddenly appears, one can't help but hear its call and wonder-what's its true purpose? *** Alicia Ward's ordinary life takes a fantastical turn when she encounters Aidan, the elusive boy once believed a figment of her childhood imagination, now real and impossibly intriguing. Following him leads her to The Crooked Kettle, an enchanting teashop hidden from ordinary eyes. But curiosity leads her astray when she steps into a corridor filled with endless doors, each one offering glimpses into magical realms where reality is fluid and the impossible becomes possible. Where each door leads somewhere and nowhere, anywhere but her world. Trapped now in this place where reality bends at whim and magic comes alive, Alicia must navigate this bewildering place and find her way back to The Crooked Kettle's parlour if she ever wants to return home. And with the help of her once-imaginary friend, Aiden, and charmingly chaotic vampire, Harley Hatter-Sinclair, who has an uncanny ability to make her heart race and cheeks turn red, Alicia might be able to do just that. Or not. Will she be forever lost in a world where dreams and magic intertwine with reality? Everything and nothing is possible within the magical worlds of The Crooked Kettle. ______ All graphics were created by myself, with their subsequent credit and rights reserved for Andre Di Rosa (me).