Abrie Warren didn't go to the Portland synagogue wedding looking for anything life‑changing - until Judd Nelson walked in wearing sunglasses indoors and staring at her like she'd rewritten his script. What follows pulls her into the warm chaos of his sisters, his unpredictable actor friends, and a chemistry that unfolds with the slow‑burn tension of a 90s indie film.

John Bender is known as a criminal at Shermer High School. His rough exterior and rebellious nature make it easy for people to label him as a troublemaker. However, beneath the surface lies a complexity few have bothered to understand. Angela Williams is the opposite of John, a shy, studious girl, admired for her intelligence and kindness. Despite their differences, fate brings them together when Angela needs a partner for a science project. Skeptical at first, John reluctantly agrees, and Angela's unwavering belief in his potential begins to break down his defenses.

Everyone remembers the fist-pump. No one talks about what came next...On Monday morning, the masks crack, the identities shift, and the five of them discover that one Saturday afternoon wasn't enough to change everything - but it was enough to start something they can't undo.

Nina felt a pair of eyes watching her. Warm, gilded brown, like the whiskey in her glass. That was how she met Roman Conway for the first time. Three years later, she meets him again, and she is pulled back into a past that cracks the surface of the seemingly perfect life she curated. ***** As Nina Jordan admires New York City from a rooftop, she seems content. She is surrounded by her closest friends, and Cameron - the man she is marrying. But when Nina goes to get a drink at the bar, she bumps into Roman Conway. To Roman, Nina looks different. Her signature curls have been pulled straight, and cut into a blunt bob, and there is a dark melancholy about her. The biggest change he is struck by is that she no longer looks at him the way she used to. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by April Alforque

Vivian Dash and Micheal Phoenix. The two had always been rivals in everything they did. Growing up together, Vivian and Micheal often fought over things such as gpa's, number of friends, being the first for major life events, and even college acceptance letters. As the pair finally headed their separate ways to college, Vivian began focusing on her dream of becoming the first female governor of North Stone. She graduated early, worked 3 jobs, and even attempted to marry into a rich family to fund her dream. After multiple failed attempts, she settles with a lead position in the mayor's office. Not even a year later, news spreads like wildfire of Michael's return to North Stone after working on the winning campaign of President Jimmins. The fire of competition is once more sparked in Vivian when she finds out Michael's running for governor next election. Will Vivian be able to beat Michael? Or will her heart lead her to second place? ------ SEMI-SHORT STORY *Kind of Slow Burn*