Danielle and Nate haven't gotten along in years, but when Nate discovers Danielle was sexually assaulted the year before, he's determined to fight for her and for love. ***** A week-long power outage can do a lot of things, but mending a decade long broken friendship didn't seem like one of them. However, when Danielle's childhood ex-best friend and current neighbor, Nate, comes knocking on her door every two seconds, she's quickly proven wrong. As Nate uncovers the secret that his best friend sexually assaulted Danielle at a party the year before, he realizes the bitterness of reality and blames himself. While Danielle fights the nightmares that come both night and day, Nate does everything in his power to better things for her, whether she agrees with them or not. Content/Trigger Warning: this story contains sexual content and deals explicitly with sexual assault and violence. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

Grayson Summers has loved Talia Chase since kindergarten-but while she barely remembers him, he's never stopped watching from afar. When fate brings them closer after a championship night, long-buried feelings begin to surface. *** Sometimes, the guy falls in love first. Deeply. In kindergarten, she gave him a flower. She forgot her kindness, but he would always remember. No matter how many girls Grayson Summers dates or hooks up with, he can never forget Talia Chase. Accidentally labeled as the high school's womanizer, he continuously collects more and more problems. Too scared of rejection, Grayson has never asked Talia to be his, and only spends his time hopelessly dreaming. Talia is confused. Her friends have told her Grayson Summers is not a guy who smiles or is kind, but Talia swears she has seen him act both of those ways before. The universe has plans. After the night of the basketball state championship, Talia finds herself questioning Grayson's true reasons behind his actions as the two grow closer together. *** Warning: this story contains strong language, alcohol and drug use, and sexual content