The Wattys 2014 "Undiscovered Gem" Stella Henry is afraid of a lot of things. As a child, her simple, comfortable home life did not prepare her for the sort of people whom she would meet as a younger teenager. Now eighteen and a freshman at Clemson University, Stella meets Charlie, who, like her, has long been keeping others at bay. Though his disposition is kind and gentle, Charlie is a boxer, and his world only reminds Stella of elements of her past she would like to forget. When both realize that they have a safe place in one another, they start to overcome their fear of other people, and of letting them get close enough to matter. In many ways, this is a story about allowing people to matter to our lives, and about meaning something to them, in turn. At some point in your day, in your routine, in your life, you will matter to someone. That is a special kind of power, do be careful with it. "We love people not so much for the good they've done us, as for the good we've done them." Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Completed - He had me pinned against the wall outside of his dorm late at night. He was staring down at me angrily. I was confused to say the least. "Are you okay, Jackson?" "No," He shook his head. "Pissed." I was about to ask why but then he continued. "I'm supposed to be a player, Jaycee." He groaned. "But here you are, fucking making me fall for you." What had I done to make him fall for me? Then he smashed his lips onto mine. ~•~ Jaycee was smart, she accepted that. She wasn't the prettiest (in her own eyes) but she accepted that. She was quiet and sweet, she accepted that. What she didn't accept? Someone to be disrespectful toward her. Jackson isn't very intelligent, he accepted that. He was gorgeous, he definitely accepted that. He was loud and obnoxious, he accepted that. What he didn't accept? Someone to reject him. When these two cross paths, it's like Mother Nature was asking for love, hate, loss, betrayal, etc. ••• reached #5 on Teen Fiction May 4th 2015