Aaliyah Johnson is in her final year at Magnolia State University, where she's balancing a scholarship, an art degree, and the pressure of not knowing what comes next. Elias Carter, the university's baseball captain, seems to have everything figured out, except his own heart. When mutual friends and a poetry club bring them together, sparks ignite in the most unexpected ways. She's brilliant and blunt; he's disciplined and mysterious. But between classes, practices, and the expectations of everyone around them, connection becomes the one thing they can't plan for. From strangers to friends to something far deeper, their story grows with every season, rooted beneath a magnolia tree that sees it all. Autumn brings sparks: "I'm curious about you, but I don't even know why yet." Winter, closeness: "You calm me when I didn't realise I needed calming." Spring, love: "I've known for a while... I just didn't want to ruin it." Summer, uncertainty: "Even if everything changes, you've changed me already." Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the images used both on the cover and throughout the story.

Abuse. Whether it comes from a parent or a significant other is an issue that has brought many into being manipulated, ruined, or even shattered into a hundred different pieces. Alaiya Storm can check off all those things, even though she doesn't realize it. When one day Roman Blackwood; the quarterback of the college football team who has no desire to ever date, sees the way Alaiya is being treated, will he put his hatred aside that he feels for her after a not-so-great interaction? They both find each other irritating. With Roman's sarcastic comments and Alaiya's constant need to stay in this abusive relationship, an annoyance, but also an inability to resist each other grows in a way they didn't expect, nor wanted. ~~~~~~ "I hate you more and more everyday," I say as I turn my head towards her. "Keep going," she encourages me before her mouth begins to suck harder on the crook of my neck. I grip onto the back of the wood tighter while her hand goes to the inside of my hair and pushes my neck closer for her mouth's reach. The minute I feel her tongue begin to glide again, I lose all control instantly. "I don't give a fuck." I throw my stick to the ground and pull her by the back of her throat in under a second as our lips finally connect. ~~~~~~ 1k reads April 30, 2021 10k reads on May 7, 2021 100k reads on May 16, 2021 **** Top Ranks: #1 in College #1 in Football #1 in love story #1 in friends #1 in Series #2 in Happy Ending #3 in bwwm #3 in Humor #3 in Enemies to lovers #4 in Collegeromance