Friendships take a lifetime to make and a second to break. They can be pieced back together, but they'll never be the same.

With summer just around the corner, Coraline's prepared for another busy tourist season at her family's hotel. What she's not expecting, however, is England's hottest up-and-coming music sensation, Leon McCarthy, showing up at the check-in desk.

You know that girl you called fat? She's been starving herself for God knows how long. You know that chick you called emo? She's been battling depression for years. You know that gal you bullied and whenever she would cry you would say "Aww is little Missy going to go cry to her mommy and daddy?" Her parents died a couple years ago and she's still grieving their death. The tiniest thing can hurt a person beyond words, but it can also shed light to a dark tunnel. This is Missy Vega's story about loss, hurt, betrayal and hope.

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."

When Elise Van Hastening got a request to chat with 'prince_charming01,' she never expected him to be the real Prince Charming!

{Watty Awards 2013 Winner} This is simply a story about a lonely girl who finds love. I was inspired to write this because I wanted to know that there are good things that happen to invisible girls like me. I wanted to write Hope for those who seem hopeless. • • • In March of 2013, Letters was #1 in the short story category. June 2013: Short Story #3 and Romance #40 February 2014: Winner of The Watty Awards 2013 for On The Rise Short Story

Zoey Stone never felt like she was beautiful. She never even believed that she was a hint of decent looking. She was the awkward and shy outcast that was stuck in the shadow of her popular, gorgeous best friend. Her insecurties were low and she never felt good about herself. But that suddenly changes when one unfortunate day at the park turns into a happy ending.

Charlotte “Charlie” Crawford is practically the definition of a nerd. She gets extraordinary grades, works at her family’s comic book store, and most importantly, she never gets into trouble—ever. Hunter Greene is supposedly the epitome of a bad-boy. He gets into fights, is on a first name basis with the school principal, and most importantly, he is infamous for breaking the rules. When Charlie is assigned to be Hunter’s tutor, she doesn’t think she will be able to handle him and his antics. But after the two warm up to each other, Charlie realizes that Hunter isn’t at all who everyone else thinks he is. High school life is going to be one tumultuous roller coaster ride for Charlie and Hunter, but together they might be able to make it through what could be the ride of their lives—especially since they’ll be under each other’s influences.