**THE SCARS SERIES: BOOK FOUR**PLEASE NO EDITING OR CRITIQUING BECAUSE I DON'T CARE** Three long years have gone by since that nightmarish day where Chris put the barrel of a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. A technicality saved his life, but the damage had been done, and he slipped into a coma that has held him prisoner since the moment the bullet hit his skull. Samual Novak has fought back the pain and struggled to the best of his abilities to continue on with his life, but he put his existence on hold when Chris fell that day, and it seems as if that aching emptiness in his heart will remain forever when blue eyes finally open, only to whisper the words, "Who are you?" Three years have passed since the shuddering reality of Sebastian's preference. The young man, now seventeen, is hurting as he watches the bond between he and his brother fray because of stubbornness and guilt, unable to reach out because of the fear of being rejected. He is now well known by his rather odd group of companions as "Vampire", but he isn't the only one hiding a secret life. Brad Richardson was always the bully, the monster, the one that the rumors followed, but it isn't at all what everyone believes, as tiny hands cling to him, and his mind sinks into the cruel reality of his sins. He wants to atone, but not with his life, quite the opposite in fact, until someone unexpected enters his life with eyes of respect rather than resentment, changing his perspective completely.

**THE SCARS SERIES: BOOK THREE**PLEASE NO EDITING OR CRITIQUING BECAUSE I DON'T CARE** Things have gotten far more complicated, confusing, and dangerous since Casey Ryan first met Lex in that mysteriously locked classroom, and after the attempted suicide of one of their closest friends, the Loser Squad sinks deep into emotions of fear and sorrow. But the uncertainty of Chris' health isn't the only thing assaulting their once calm lives. Brad Richardson has unknowingly started an explosive domino effect with the possibility of ending tragically with many casualties, and those in their little family have no idea exactly what danger they are in. An unexpected name from the past will resurface to rattle their lives, a trusted friend will betray them, and childhood memories will haunt them and compromise the happy life they have made. Horrors that should not exist in a normal life will shake the very foundation of their lives, and the lives of their family, but even in the midst of emotional war and fear, love can be found, and the bonds that are forged during this time of pain will not soon break. It's well known, after all, that the most important person in your life will be the one willing to take the time and care to nurture away your trauma, and save you from the scars of your past.

**THE SCARS SERIES: BOOK TWO**PLEASE NO EDITING OR CRITIQUING BECAUSE I DON'T CARE** Casey Ryan has finally found his happily ever after. The promise of forever with the man he adores lies on his ring finger, and the scars of his past, set deep into his wrists, have slowly begun to fade with each kiss that Alexander Divine presses to them. Although he desperately misses the love of his mother and father, he knows he is surrounded by caring friends and family who would never let him down, no matter what. However, with every seemingly happy ending, another harsh reality is thrown into play, and Casey's small group of friends are now tangled in the cruel underworld gang of teen delinquents with ties to a true monster and murderer whose evil deeds tie them all together. Along with the unexpected mystery surrounding this unknown man, Casey's friends are being torn apart by their pasts. Seth has started to slip back into his tortured mind. Cal is fighting against the neglect and lies his father raised him on. Sam's world is being riveted by old scars and new wounds. Lex is in a one sided battle with himself as he tries to make sense of his brother's suicide. Even Kieran, Casey's older brother and detective at the local police department, is being torn at the seams with the discovery of his baby brother's sorrows, and the realization of his old friend's pain. Worlds collided, scars were revealed, and bleeding wounds were mended by desperate affection and love, but with everything these friends have gone through together, bonding them by blood and tears, will those dark scars truly heal?

**THE SCARS SERIES: BOOK ONE**PLEASE NO EDITING OR CRITIQUING BECAUSE I DON'T CARE** Abused and neglected, scarred and rejected; how could someone fall in love with someone when they don't even love themselves? Casey Ryan has been trapped in the terrors of his dark mind for four years, ever since the decision to come out of the closet, leading to the betrayal of his best friend and the parents who were always meant to cherish him. Beaten down like the ocean carving up a cliff, Casey no longer sees his worth or the worth of his existence. He sees no purpose in living, and is empty of everything besides immeasurable mental pain, morbidly immoral thoughts, and the disfiguring scars that litter nearly his entire body. He lives his life as a shadow of his former self, until he quite literally runs into fate. His life is rattled, his reason tested, and his heart strings pulled to a breaking point, but will the pain endured end in the bliss he so desperately longs for?

BOOK ONE Coming out was supposed to set Julian free. Instead, it left him with a broken arm, a mother who won't stop preaching, and a silence that grows heavier every day. High school feels like a cage, and Julian is certain he doesn't belong anywhere-until Paul crashes into his world. With his inked skin, effortless charm, and a following that makes him untouchable, Paul should be the last person Julian lets close. But in Paul's arms, Julian feels something he's never known before: safe. As their connection deepens, so does the danger. Loving Paul means risking exposure, rejection, and heartbreak all over again. Worse, it means facing the cruelest voice of all-the one inside Julian's own head. Tender, raw, and unflinching, Open is a story about first love, first heartbreak, and finding the courage to believe you're worthy of both. ::: I could feel it when his body finally went slack, when he'd fallen asleep and soft snores emitted. And I thought I was getting better at this breaking down thing... I honestly did but when I was alone, I seemed to fall apart. Endless serenades of how worthless I'd been and how destructive I was; I was a disappointment to literally everyone and I hated it. My breathing became shallow as I cried for the second time that day, finally feeling content being immersed in guilt. A shudder wracked through my body, tears escaping and Paul pulled me closer as he woke silently. Mumbling soft nothings against my skin and kissing it to slow my breathing, he tried to lull me to sleep, "It's okay, you're okay." Refusing to speak -my voice failing me- his arm came up to wrap around my shoulder and I held him there, placing a small kiss to his tattooed skin in a broken sign of gratitude, I must've run out of tears. And I felt at ease.

After a lot of rock music, many skating accidents and a considerable amount of arguing, Alex finds out that there are things in the world worth living for. Skateboarding, as it turned out was not the only thing Alex and Jem bonded over. [copyright afterwords two thousand & fifteen] short story #24

Emerson is miserable with his life. He’s constantly bullied, and his boyfriend, Matt, sides with his tormentors. When Emerson hides in the school’s boiler room to escape everyone, he doesn’t expect to find a journal. The journal looks simple enough, but inside, it contains the shocking story of a boy named Nash. As Emerson reads deeper into the heart wrenching words of Nash’s life, he is unaware that his life is about to change forever.

Kida, a boy who is faced with bullying and loneliness, struggles through school and at home because he's gay. He gets no support from anyone around him, including his parents. However, Nowaki, a boy who is his complete opposite, comes to notice him and could completely change his life...

Nowaki's life is shrouded in darkness as he deals with Kida's death day after day. Though he feels he can't escape what happened, and continues to fail at overcoming the pain he is in, is it possible for him to come out of the depths he's sunken into? In this story, the second book to "A Moment Too Late", Nowaki's story is continued.

Tyler Greer is terrified of people; in fact, he is so terrified that he only has one friend in the entire world: Jerry. Jerry is his everything, his soul mate. There is just one problem. Tyler is the only person in the world who can even see him; Tyler is in love with his imaginary friend. Despite this, the two have managed to stay relatively happy in their twisted romance, but what happens when Tyler's safe world begins to corrupt from the inside out? How will he survive his own mind shattering around him?