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."

❝The higher you go, the harder you fall.❞ Elena Evans has always been the observer. No one notices her, but she sees everything. The Elite. Beautiful, spoiled, exclusive. The richest families in the world- they don't let just anyone in. When Elena is asked to make one of them fall in love with her, she figures it's just a stupid game. But the Elite have secrets- and Elena isn't the first one to play their game. [The Elite Series #1] [Wattys2014 Winner: Talk Of The Town Award]

When Ashley found out that she was pregnant with twins, she couldn't wait to share the good news with her husband. But when he got home later that night, he told her that he wanted a divorce without really giving her a reason why. Heartbroken, Ashley does the only thing that she could do. She signed the divorce papers. Now she's forced to go through her pregnancy alone with no one to help her but her friend, Mayla. During her pregnancy, complications occurred that gives Ashley a new outlook on life. She realizes that not everything is as it seems and not everyone can be trusted. *Originally written by ForeverInfinities* Descriptions are not my best but hopefully, the actual story would be better. :))

Jesse Andrews is from Nebraska. The only language he knows is English. He's never been outside of the US, except for that one time his family went to Montreal. Despite of all of this, Jesse's mom decides that it's a good idea to send him to Israel for the summer. She wants him to "get in touch" with his heritage. He doesn't really have any other options, so he travels to the controversy capital of the world. There, he stays with the Gezer family and quickly befriends their three teens and twenty-something. Through these Israeli teens, Jesse is exposed to an entirely new culture and language and country. But regardless of the obvious differences, Jesse learns that no matter where you go, teens are teens. They throw parties and they drink and they screw up and they live. The only things separating these two types of teens is an ocean and a language. But when you can swim and speak, is there really that much of a difference?