"You're atheist," I remind him. "You don't believe in god." "I believe in you," He murmurs, letting the cigarette hang from his lips. "I believe in whatever you believe." He says, letting the confession roll off his tongue as if it were that simple. As if god, the devil, heaven, hell-as if none of it really had meaning to him. "That's not how it works," I mutter as we walk down a few more alleyways-the city of Manhattan coated in a light blanket of snow. Henry Vitiello had never had anything to pray for, that is, until he met me-the only thing that had ever opened his mind up to the possibility of religion "Isn't it?" He argues, taking the cigarette by his middle and pointer finger before blowing the smoke out. "I'II dip my hands in holy water if it means I could touch you." "You'd probably burn." 𓆩♡𓆪 𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐎, the reaper. He's a prick. An asshole. A pretentious son of a bitch. He's not perfect. He's not even decent. But he's hers. She could be a bottle labeled poison but he was an alcoholic, and he had drunk her empty. Now he was hungover. 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒, the healer. She's known to be the perfect good girl, with perfect grades and a perfect life with a perfect family. They didn't know that behind the gated doors of their billion dollar estate, she was strapped down to a chair every night and picked apart just to be put back together in time for supper. 𓆩♡𓆪 star-crossed; adjective (of a person or a plan) thwarted by bad luck. 'star-crossed lovers' and that, they were. So they fucked under those very stars that tried so desperately to break them apart. 𓆩♡𓆪 ‼️DISCLAIMER ‼️ BOOK REFERENCES TO MARA DYER, SHATTER ME, MIND FUCK, ETC ARE ALL INTENTIONAL SO DONT BE RUDE. AS FOR TRIGGER WARN

Seventeen-year-old Mabel, a reserved and studious teenager from a small town in England, finds herself uprooted from her familiar surroundings and thrust into a prestigious boarding school in America. As she adjusts to her new life, she quickly becomes acquainted with the colorful characters that make up the student body, including the enigmatic and rebellious bad boy, Kai. From the moment Mabel crosses paths with Kai, their interactions are fraught with tension and heated exchanges. Kai's devil-may-care attitude and disregard for rules clash with Mabel's structured and rule-abiding nature. They quickly establish themselves as adversaries, locked in a battle of wits and wills that captivates their classmates and sparks a flurry of rumors throughout the school. However, as Mabel reluctantly gets to know Kai beyond his tough exterior, she discovers there is more to him than meets the eye. Beneath his aloof and brooding demeanor lies a troubled past and a vulnerability that few have ever seen. Drawn to the complexity hidden within him, Mabel finds herself irresistibly intrigued and starts to question her initial judgments. "Guarded Hearts" is a captivating tale of enemies turned lovers that explores the transformative power of forgiveness, trust, and understanding. It delves into the complexities of teenage emotions, the allure of mystery, and the magnetic pull of unexpected connections. Amidst the backdrop of a vibrant boarding school, Mabel and Kai's journey reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely of pairings can ignite a flame that changes our lives forever.

Chin up sweetheart, she'd kill to see you fall." "You'd let me fall?" She asks. ☆☆☆ Isabella Cooper ☆ Meek.Hollow.Broken.Fragile "She's had her own back throughout her journey, and now she'll fight for theirs too." Eli Parker ☆ Observant.Perceptive.Reluctant.Insightful "She is the only woman I shall worship. She is my eternal belief. Her and only her." ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~• Growing up, Isabella faces numerous challenges that many teenagers can relate to: dysfunctional family, financial struggles, insecurity in high school and social anxiety. However, what sets Isabella's story apart is her determination to overcome these struggles by doing something unconventional - street racing.