What are we without flesh and blood? Are we nothing but a beating heart in a ribcage, a marching soul inevitably leading to our demise? Or are we here as a test of loyalty to our God, a God we do not know but must trust? And without this trust, we will be punished indefinitely for questioning his divinity. And what is a sheep without his shepherd? Without God, are we nothing but sheep led astray? How will we be guided to the light without a shepherd on earth? Should we trust our shepherd to tell us the truth? Or will we be covered in the blood of the lamb? A shepherd with blood on his hands could infect his flock with poison. And with this poison, he has control. And to Luke, this poison is all he knows. His seventeen years of life have been devoted to nothing else but God. He wakes up, goes to school or church, and sleeps; rinse and repeat. There is no place or time for anything else in his life, such as television, going out with friends, or discovering new hobbies. His father, Pastor Ivy, ensures this. His life purpose will be to serve the Lord and nothing else. A purpose that Luke believes is the right way. What else would there be to life? He hadn't questioned this until he met Gabriel, a man who was the complete opposite of him. A man who was strong in his sense of self. A man who didn't bow to anyone or anything and stood firm in his beliefs in The Church of Satan. A man who Luke feared. But also a man who felt like home to him.

(Wattys2018Longlist) Childhood friends, Luka and Dakota, commit the ultimate drunk mistake and have one unforgettable night that changes their friendship in ways they never imagined. But is it for better or for worse?

This story is now published. Get the full version of The Bartender on Amazon. Please check Author's bio for more information. ~~~~ TW: Homophobia, Self-harm, Drug-use and insinuations of SA are heavily present in this story. Please tread carefully. ~~~~ "I'm not gay." "Sure, you're not." Not once in Aiden's life has he believed that bullying a gay kid is wrong. Especially not when he believes that all gay people deserve to go to hell. But when his best friend comes out to him, and he uncovers a very scandalous secret about his own family, Aiden is left confused and terrified. It also doesn't help that amidst all his troubles, all Aiden can think about is just how hot The Bartender in the local bar across town is and just how much he wants to kiss him. ~~~~ You will hate Aiden in the beginning, trust me. But, please do give him a chance if you read this story. You'll love him, I promise. Kindly keep negative comments to a minimum.

Everyone at school knows Andrew Jennings. Missing an arm. Openly gay. But when he meets star athlete Ryan Sullivan in therapy, can friendship lead to more? ***** When Andrew 'Jacky' Jennings ends up in therapy after an English assignment gone wrong, he doesn't expect to find his high school's star athlete, Ryan Sullivan, sitting in the same waiting room. After all, he and Ryan couldn't be more different: football captain, future valedictorian, and all-around nice guy, Ryan is the school's golden boy, while Andrew is known for his permanent snarl, being openly gay, and losing his left arm (along with his father and sister) in a car accident. But when Andrew learns they actually have a lot in common, he's surprised to see past the enigma that is Ryan Sullivan and his seemingly perfect life. And as the two boys begin to connect over their shared grief, depression, and teenage angst, they might just discover a little pocket of happiness for themselves -- if they're willing to fight for it. [Word count: 100,000-150,000 words] Cover designed by Lily Taylor Please read the 'Introduction' for a full list of content/trigger warnings