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.

"You're a pile of poop." "You're a fountain of pee." Dialogue Story

Dear Diary, Life's a bitch. Tyler NightLock is a closeted gay boy who starts the 7th grade and is only worried about making it all the way through the middle school so in 9th grade he can "explore the endless possibilities of being out of closet gay boy. " But his plan to survive middle school will have to wait when a boy named Demetrius moves in across the street with his gay parents along with himself, who is openly gay. But when his friends find him hanging out more and more with Demetrius will they start to find out his secret? Also what will Demetrius say when he finds out Tyler is gay too, will his feelings change towards him.? Like Tyler says there's always problems with being gay at 13. *** Cover By: @wannagobackstage