Rivalry and obsession The unntaible > She was the only one he couldn't control. At St. Monarch's Academy, power isn't given-it's taken. Carl Yates and his brothers rule the school with an iron grip, feared and untouchable. Everyone bows to them. Except Clarah. She's the top student, the girl who doesn't play by their rules. Cold, distant, and utterly indifferent to Carl's existence. And that should have been the end of it. But Carl doesn't handle rejection well. What starts as a game of pride quickly turns into something darker-an obsession he can't escape. He will make her acknowledge him, even if it means breaking every rule in the process. After all, in their world, the only way to win... is to take everything.

She's a wild, free spirit who sees the good in everyone, and he's the hardened, bad-tempered loner who wants nothing to do with her-yet no matter how hard he tries to push her away, she's the one temptation he can't escape. *** He's never met someone with such a bubbly personality. Not to mention the wildness and odd phrases she says every five minutes. He hates it. He hates how he can't stay away from it. He hates what she does to him; it's not like him to chase after some girl. She gets under his skin like no other. She's never met someone with such a bad attitude. He's ill-mannered and menacing. The glare never seems to leave his face. Considering it all, she can't help but feel the attraction toward him. Dangerous attraction toward a seemingly dangerous man. Maybe it's the tattoos on his arm that gets her attention. Or maybe it's because she can tell there's hope for good under his rough exterior. And she's about to find it, whether he likes it or not. It's no secret that the two of them are complete and total opposites. *** "You like being called Sugar, don't you?" I tease, placing my toothbrush back after finishing. He does the same and gives me a side-eyed scowl. He grips my chin harshly and kisses me. My body temperature raises a good ten degrees and my right leg goes all wiggly. He pulls away. "You like it when I kiss you, don't you?" He teases the same way I did to him and I'm left blubbering. "I think both of our questions are rhetorical," I lower my voice up at him. His lip curls up into a smirk. *** #1 in Young Adult #9 in Badboy #1 in Cold #3 in Goodgirl #1 in Sweetheart #14 in Love *** *Warning* This story contains mature themes (language, scenes

"A story about life, about silent battles, hidden beauty, and the journey of holding on to faith, hope, and discovery. For everyone fighting their own battles silently, 'Through the Surface' reminds you that behind every struggle lies an unseen light, and every soul has beauty waiting to be found."