"If the man stayed on the sun for the entirety of his life and completely ignored the moon -- his happiness would soon burn out. If the man stayed on the moon and ignored the sun, his life would be dark and full of craters. However, if the man was to jump between the moon and the sun, balancing happiness and sadness, he may cry without despair and smile without regret." ***************************************************** Eleanor Grace Parks thought she had all of her life figured out. With a newly sober father, his wife, the perfect friends and her boyfriend, her life seemed to have no faults. But as events pan out and the dark side of her moon is revealed, all really isn't as pristine as it seems.

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."

"Bea," Olly's smooth hand caressed my cheek as I laid with my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. "You're so cute when you're pretending to sleep." I laughed and snapped my eyes open to meet his. "You know, Beatrice Case," Olly began. "The internet is not a scary place. The internet is not filled with bad people like paedophiles or identity stealers. The internet is full with social media and sites where you can be yourself. The internet is not a competition to be the perfect weight, or have the most perfect smile. The internet is a place for friendship, and occasionally, people like me find their own Beatrice Case." Beatrice Case is a social media addicted teenager. You'll always find her at her laptop at home, or tapping away instead of communicating or doing everyday activities. Procrastination is the only thing she's good at, accept typing with her eyes closed. Bea has never really fit in at school, with her "olden day" name, low self esteem, small house and unique fashion sense, the total opposite to what you'd find in an average high school in Indianapolis. But Beatrice soon begins to find opposites do attract, and not by looks - but by country.