He smirks haughtily. "Fine," was his response before shoving the pink detention slip down his pants. He grins widely and his eyes are mischievous as he taps his crotch. "Come and get it."

Through pain, fear and the sleepless nights, Hassan didn't give up on his dream. He knew that if he was strong enough to get this far, he's strong enough to carry on.

As Ebola ravaged Sierra Leone, it brought fear and confusion with it. But one girl wasn't about to lie back and do nothing. Ikmatu wanted to fight for her home.

Sherwood Institute for the Magically Afflicted. A refuge for those seeking remedy from curses, hexes and other fantastical ailments. In one night, Ariel Winters went from socialite wannabe to cursed freak. Her heart is turned to glass by a vengeful witch and she is shipped off to Sherwood Institute to find a cure. While receiving treatment, she meets a demonic mobster with anger issues, a timid girl who grows a fish tail when water touches her skin, a beast boy who is kinder than his brutish appearance... As time passes, these damaged people slowly wind their way around her fragile heart. Can Ariel learn to trust them enough to let them into her heart? Or will her new found friendships shatter it before a cure can be found? This will be book 1 in what is tentatively titled The Sherwood Chronicles. Copyright © Melissa Lucas 2013 All Rights Reserved. No part of this literary work may be reproduced or used without written consent from the author. The images in the cover do not belong to me and all rights go to their respective owners.

"I'm black!" Nathan screams but the voice that erupts from his throat is a high shrill screech. "I'm white!" Blessing screams but she brings her hands to her throat, mortified at the deep resounding voice that escapes. Nathan and Blessing look at one another in shock and awe, unsure of how to comprehend the situation. "Damn, I am so good looking," Nathan states haughtily, admiring himself through Blessing's eyes. ****************************************** Nathan and Blessing have three things in common - 1. They both go to the same university and live on the same floor. 2. They are both the sluts of their campus and have a running competition to see who can out sleep who. 3. They've been arch enemies since they were 16. One morning they wake up in their beds, in their rooms, in their flats...in each other's bodies! Nathan attempts to find a cure or an explanation to the body swap however Blessing finds this as a golden opportunity to get revenge on Nathan. Nathan gets wind of this and decides that two can play this game and he too begins sabotaging Blessing's life. As they try and navigate and destroy one another, they realise there's more to the surface than what meets the eye.

Rights and responsibilities is the 2014 theme of National History Day Contest, a broad topic. And I chose to write a just as broad topic of human rights. What are human rights? Is it to prove we're human? Prove that we're humans are right? Or to tell us apart from aliens? Though, now that I think of it, all extraterrestrial beings should have rights as well, but let's just have the Men in Black deal with that- But before getting off of topic, let's focus back on this. As you read about this, think about these questions (not the alien one, unless you want to). Think about what it takes to not only be human, to act like one too. And after you read this, think to yourself. Do you have the right to be human? This essay won first place for the 2014 National History Day essay contest in California.