for as long as anna can remember, every song she has listened to has been overlaid with the voice of boy next door, tobias. in the car, if katy perry was singing firework, toby was too. if the fray was blasting from anna's headphones, she could see toby mouthing the words. but when toby disappears one day without a trace, anna is left with a box of tapes and an empty passenger side. at first, anna is hesitant to listen to the tapes, worried that what they contain would shatter everything she knew. but, at the same time, she misses his voice. she just wishes that she could hear it in person.

In which a fortune cookie saves a blind date going down faster than a roller coaster after a steep climb.

"We could fly to Berlin, Tokyo or Jamaica. We can go where you want, say the word and I'll take ya. But I'd rather stay on the sofa, with you." Summer time means vacation; three months of new discoveries, thrilling adventures, wrinkled maps to be pried open, and gorgeous foreign countries to explore. When Kira Walker is left defeated by the fact that she won't be going anywhere extravagant for her summer vacation for the umpteenth time out of her seventeen years of existence, her best friend, Xander Harrison and his remarkable talent with words just might save the day. Through Xander's beautifully crafted tales, the pair embark on adventures which evolve around unique encounters and quite a few mishaps. Kira and Xander find solace with each other’s company as they voyage the world through the remarkable power of words from a faded old sofa. Cover credit; morstan

Blurb: Ally and Rey. Two characters in an almost love story. [Coffee Stains © Meridian James 2014-2015].

In which I am you, you are me, and we are the moments that define us.

Sometimes all you really need is a place to call home. *** Claire is lost and scared and utterly alone. Her family is in shambles after the death of her older sister Ina, and she's left to pick up the broken pieces of herself as her life heads into a downwards spiral of loneliness. Her heart leads her to 5:48, a little cafe by 33rd street, where she finds her new home. With a broken heart and a speech disability, Jasper has his heart and mouth sewn shut by the winding threads of hurt and fear. Painting and serving coffee in cafe 5:48 are one of his last few saving graces, but the smile he's been painting on himself will soon fade away as everything he's ever held dear slips away from his grasp. Ezra is out-of-sync and oddly cold by the way life has treated his young self. Abandoned by his single mother at an early age, he has grown up thinking that he is a mistake. His constant shaking hands are a reflection of what he often thinks of himself, but the delightful pastries he bakes for 5:48's customers are a reflection of what others see of him. Drew is a quirky rarity. He is a dash of loud, a pinch of exuberant, and a cup of eccentric - just like the meals he serves in the cafe as the only chef there. Behind his playful grins and outlandish clothes, however, are his jutting ribs, hollowed cheeks, and too-thin arms. Sometimes he cannot stomach being in his own skin as much as he cannot stomach food. This family has gone a long way from finding each other, and they'll be going a long way together too as reality comes catching up to them, threatening the newfound happiness they've found with each other. Secrets are revealed, pasts become presents, and lives are changed. Slowly but surely, they find their way back home. *** NOTE AS OF 08/2026: This is the old version of the story from 2012, posted in FULL. Another story that will be considered a reprise of this old version is in the works, and will be posted under the name "Hiraya House."

Aria has always laid low in school with her tight-knit group of friends. When she meets Nash at a party, he's rude, he's blunt, and he's got more baggage than he can carry. Aria immediately dislikes him. But the line between hate and love is very thin, and a continuous game of Never Have I Ever may change everything.

Everyone knows the story of Snow White: blood red lips, ebony hair and skin the colour of freshly fallen snow. Her vain step-mother, desperate to be the 'fairest of them all' attempts four times to have her killed, until her prince comes to save the day. But what if Snow wasn't a princess, but a prince. And the queen's antique silver mirror contained not just her reflection, but a girl. Mirror can no longer remember her name - or life - before the queen imprisoned her. All day, every day, she finds herself at the queen's beck and call; a life of endless servitude and isolation. Snowdon is approaching his 18th birthday and is an increasing threat to the queen's right to rule. And his looks are putting him in the running for her 'fairest' title too. So the queen decides the quickest way to solve all her problems is to get rid of Snowdon. Permanently. But the girl watching their every move has other ideas.

~complete~ Charlotte is as sweet as a strawberry. She's the kind of person who will drop everything just to help you, just to put a smile on your face. She's as sweet as the sugar that constantly runs through her bloodstream, and as excitable as the rush that comes with it. And then there's Benjamin, who's as sour as a lemon. The last thing on this Godforsaken planet he wants to do is acquaint himself with her. While Charlotte is kind and caring, he's rude and vulgar, while she's friendly and innocent, he's crass and mean. So how in the hell is that going to turn out?

Everly Winter hasn't had a day without responsibility in years. Between dealing with her newly divorced parents and watching out for a suicidal best friend, Everly never has time for herself. But then Jace Wasson comes along, self-contained and enigmatic. He doesn't give Everly the best first impression, but the two of them just can't seem to stay away from each other. Everly finds herself falling- falling in love with someone who she never expected to like the slightest bit.