| a true story about a boy who hides his pain behind his smile and a girl determined to see it | - FREE story with paid Exclusive Chapters and Writer Reveals - Twice Featured - Taylor Ming is trying to cope with the aftermath of her twin brother's suicide, and her depressed mother and avoidant father aren't really helping. With one of her friends' self-harming while another deals with a chronically ill boyfriend, being diagnosed with Diabetes and forced to use insulin thrice a day is Taylor's worst nightmare. When she catches the school's golden boy Shane Gray popping pills in a bathroom, then, Taylor is sure she's in a living hell. Is he depressed? Is he using drugs? She's afraid of losing more people and strikes a deal with Shane. He'll tell her if he ever has the urge to hurt himself and she'll keep his secret. What neither of them knows, however, is that he's already hurting himself without knowing it. And Shane's life is falling apart quicker than Taylor's. Because life isn't black and white and, sometimes, seeing gray can make all the difference. Warning: The story talks about suicide, self-harm, drug use, and mental health problems which may be triggering for some readers.

|| Featured FREE story with exclusive paid chapters - previously a paid story || When Haley discovers the truth behind Xavier, whose silence holds a deeper meaning, she sets her mind on making his life better one small step at a time. ***** Haley Rosamond is happy with her simple life, content under the wing of her father. Well-protected, she has no idea of the darkness surrounding Xavier Hunt, with his all-black attire and infrequent presence in school-accompanied by his bruises and scars. That is, until Haley catches a glimpse of Xavier's reality and is made to question everything she knows about family and life in general. The truth, she realizes, couldn't be more different from everything she has heard. Supported by her father, Haley sets her mind on helping Xavier any way she can, and what begins with tutoring sessions, free food, and random acts of kindness blooms into friendship and something a little more. But when Haley's admission into her dream college and another tragedy in Xavier's life threaten to undo everything she has worked for, Haley needs to decide if she'll stick by Xavier or simply be another person in his life that disappears. [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]] Cover designed by Holly Thurston

For eleven years, Oakley Farrell has been silent. At the age of five, she stopped talking and no one seems to know why. Refusing to communicate beyond a few physical actions, Oakley remains in her own little world. Bullied at school, she has just one friend, Cole Benson. Cole stands by her refusing to believe that she is not perfect the way she is. Over the years, they have developed their own version of a normal friendship. However, will it still work as they start to grow even closer? When Oakley is forced to face someone from her past, can she hold her secret in any longer?

Michelle Adams is nowhere near popular, and she prefers it that way. She has her best friend Isaac, her burning desire to get into a good college, and a drama-free life just the way she likes it. Until she is inconveniently persuaded by Isaac to go to a dumb high school party before they graduate, where she is instantly thrown into a classic game of spin the bottle with some of her school's most elite. Except there's no kissing involved in this version - not yet at least. Instead, when she spins the bottle and it lands on Cactus Valley High School's biggest heartthrob, she has to agree to date him for one month. So Michelle is tossed into the spotlight and forced to adapt to a new lifestyle, and it all starts with her new fake boyfriend, Chase Matthews. * REWRITTEN * [Written & Completed - July 2018] [Fully Rewritten - 2023] awards & recognition: - #1 in drama - 05/19/2021 - #1 in lose - 08/20/2021 - #1 in kissing - 03/14/2022 - #2 in game - 11/07/2021 - #4 in teen - 05/23/2021

When Charlotte agrees to fake date bad boy Mason to make her best friend and secret crush, Ben, jealous, she thinks it will be a simple arrangement. The rules are clear and she's certain of her goal: make Ben fall in love with her. So why does it seem like the lines always blur when Mason is around? *** Charlotte Anderson has secretly been in love with her best friend, Ben Hathaway, since childhood, though he's never seen her as anything but the girl next door. After witnessing Ben kissing another girl at a party, a heartbroken Charlotte accidentally admits her crush to notorious bad boy Mason Reed... who also happens to be one of Ben's closest friends. But Mason isn't going to tell Charlotte's secret; instead, he suggests they fake a relationship to make Ben jealous. They create a set of strict rules for the arrangement: no kissing when Ben isn't around, no sex, and no falling in love. But as their fake relationship progresses, and Mason's walls break down, Charlotte finds herself questioning her true feelings for both boys, and wondering if some rules are meant to be broken-especially when it comes to love. [[word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Cover designed by Gillian Goulet (This story is a standalone title in the Dependency series) [[Wattpad Editors Choice: June 2021]]

Taya's life was forever changed by one kiss, and it wasn't even a real kiss. Taya Williams had been living her life cautiously and drama-free, until one day she found herself as the female lead for the school's theater production. She soon realized that she had to share a kissing scene with the mysterious new guy, Judah Hudson. What happened when Judah offered her the deal of a lifetime? Taya soon found herself in the world of skipping classes, practice kisses, and jealous lovers. I mean, is there ever such a thing as a meaningless kiss? * BOOK TRAILER INSIDE! * Excerpt: "Alright, if that's how you wanna play it," he said lowly. "Game on," I looked up to see his dark amber eyes boring into mine, a predatory glint in his eyes. My knees felt weak and I gulped instinctively as he leaned closer to me. "Tell your heart I'm gonna steal it," he murmured to my ears. Then his lips hovered over mine, just barely touching it. "And don't say you've never been warned." * * * STORY COMPLETED!❤ Featured in YA, humor, and projectbadassreads #teenfiction + #badboy + #romance © 2018-2019 aflyingwhale 🐳

She hears all the locker room talk. She helps when the guys drink too much before a game. She tapes them up when they're injured. And in return, they watch her back. While most students spend their time partying, Lily spends her free time working. But her job as the assistant athletic trainer for the PSU football team comes with the benefit of being friends with every player on the team. Except the entirely too cocky, reckless, and charming golden boy of the team: Vincent Bradshaw. When they aren't spouting insults at one another, Vincent and Lily are doing everything in their power to avoid each other. That is, until Vincent gets injured.

"And when I put on your letterman jacket, I still think about you." When Thea Simmons is tasked with writing an article about basketball hero Faust Carter, the story long buried in rivalry unravels, secrets that should've been hidden are revealed, and a simple letterman jacket turns to be a painful memory. And eighty days is all the time it takes. [cover by @cadetcarswell]

"Seth?" He walked to the door and paused. "Yeah?" He murmured, hand poised on the knob. "Would you...Could you stay?" I asked unsure. He turned to me and a small smile formed on his lips as he walked back over to my bed. "I thought you'd never ask" He grinned laying down so our shoulders touched. And it was at this point, as we lay down, that I realized that I needed him. I needed this brash, obnoxious idiot with me because I, finally, felt complete. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seth Fuller and Trishelle Mcguiness couldn't be anymore opposite. Where Seth was all about having fun, Trish would rather sit home and read. Where Trish was always making sure things ran smoothly, Seth lets all hell break loose. In an ordinary world, Seth wouldn't even do a double take in her direction and She wouldn't be caught dead with the likes of him. But what happens when Seth moves in with Trish's family for the summer and dares her to finally be a kid, and in return she challenges him to finally grow up? Together, they embark on a journey through the small town of Maine, that will change their lives forever.

*Spanish version available to read at @daydreamer_byv profile* 1 Manhattan, the fabulous city in New York where you'll find: the hottest new trends, the best parties, and the wealthiest people. Manhattan may sound like a dream come true but when you stay too long it's a nightmare. The hottest new trends aren't so hot, the best parties turn into horrible photos of that night, and the wealthiest people turn into your enemies. Being the new girl in Manhattan was fun at first until I met Blair Waldorf, the alleged Queen B. I was introduced to Gossip Girl, the blog where everything bad goes. Nate Archibald needed a friend, Serena van der Woodsen showed me the ways of living in Manhattan, Dan Humphrey was the person who helped me, Chuck Bass um well he's Chuck Bass, then there's Logan Devenport. We all know being the hottest blast on Gossip Girl isn't because it's a notable and pretty thing but an embarrassing and the worst thing ever. People in Manhattan crave the juiciest gossip. Their entertainment is knowing everything about us especially when we're dying of embarrassment. I was New Girl Lena Collier from San Diego who everyone was curious to know about. Now I'm just Lena, another typical elite in Manhattan. If you're ever in Manhattan here's a tip, stay low and try not to be on gossip girl's radar. Once you're on her blog, you can never come off. My story will tell you all. {Disclaimer: All credit goes to Cecily von Ziegesar except my characters and some unfamiliar plots} Another note: This is not necessarily a Nate fanfic, sorry for the inconvenience.