❝The most rebellious people in society are the dreamers; for their minds are capable of creating incredibly beautiful and impossible concoctions. And those single thoughts alone have the ability to reconstruct anything.❞ Alice is nearing graduation and the stress is pushing her to breaking point. So, in a spontaneous decision to run away, she finds herself in the circus tent at a carnival two towns away. What better way to distract herself than speculating upon an entertaining show of optical illusions?

It's a scary thing to do -- trusting someone with the most special thing about you; the thing that defines you as a person: your name. There's no telling what comes after it when someone speaks. It could be positive, and it could also be negative. But sometimes you just have to take a chance and open yourself to every possibility. Whether that be telling someone your name, going on your first date, or even falling in love. [top 10 finalist for the best of me movie contest] [1499/1500 words] [short story #30, 10/03/14]

Another one-shot festive winter romance from me! The last thing Mandy expects when she's out shopping a few days before Christmas and misses her train home, is to meet a guy. Not just any guy - but a really cute guy, Ryan, who's going to be at her friend's New Year's party. Will he be waiting for her under the mistletoe?

Ella was beautiful. Ella was fast. Ella was gone. Ella was never coming back.

For years, Ivy's family tradition had been spending Christmas Eve at Pomona Park. Mistletoes hadn't ever meant much to Ivy, that is until she meets a certain boy with a holiday charm to spice up her seasonal tradition. With a few ups and downs along the way she's stuck wondering, did those moments underneath the mistletoe mean anything to him? *Entry for xTheGirlNextDoor's Holiday Short Story contest 2012*

So what do you do when a deliciously handsome guy breaks into your apartment on Christmas Eve wearing a Santa hat? Some might call the police or maybe scream. Or you could do what Evangeline does, which include the following: 1, point a water gun at him. 2, agree about the ugliness of small, pink tree with kitten ornaments from your stepfather's ex-wife. 3, go to a playground and bury said ugly tree. 4, begin to like the tree burying, Santa hat wearing intruder. So, if you ever find yourself in Evangeline's spot, just call the police.