Yacontemporary Stories

𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸-𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘸. Calla has always known she wasn't wanted. Not by her parents. Not by her seven siblings. Not even by the servants who barely acknowledge her. She's used to being ignored, used to being unloved-and used to quietly loving someone who doesn't love her back: her brother's best friend, Kieran Holt. But when he snaps at her in a moment of carelessness, something inside her breaks. Calla begins to fade-stops reaching out, stops speaking, stops trying. And when her body finally gives out from an illness no one even knew she had, her family is forced to face the truth: the sister they all overlooked was slowly disappearing right in front of them. Kieran is the first to realize just how badly he hurt her. And he's determined to earn her trust, her forgiveness... and her heart. Because now that he sees her for who she really is-soft, strong, worthy-he'll never look away again. A heart-shattering, slow-burn brother's best friend romance about trauma, healing, and being loved out loud for the very first time.

✨ New boys. Old secrets. And one year at Messina Academy, where "nothing" is ever what it seems. ✨ For decades, Messina Academy for Young Ladies has upheld its legacy of tradition and prestige. But this year, everything is about to change. After a fire forces the boys from St. Joseph's to relocate, Messina's once-serene halls will welcome male students for the first time in fifty years. Among them are siblings Beatrice and Anthony Davis, who have just moved to Scotland following the loss of their parents. Surrounded by family and old friends, they hope to find solace-but grief isn't the only challenge ahead. As the school year unfolds, teenage drama takes center stage. Beatrice's sweet cousin Hana quickly falls for Cole Singer, pulling Beatrice into the orbit of his friends-including her longtime rival, the infuriating yet charming Benny Quinn, and the kind-hearted Peter Balthazar MacDonald. Meanwhile, The Watch, the school's beloved gossip podcast, is busy uncovering secrets. When its clueless yet determined hosts stumble upon a hidden conspiracy with Peter at its heart, they become entangled in a mystery far bigger than they ever anticipated. Despite its title, Nothing Happened promises a year brimming with masquerades, mischief, romance, rivalry, and a cunning villain who threatens to upend it all. A fresh, modern retelling of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, this novel is a whirlwind of honor, desire, wit, and unexpected love at Messina Academy for Young Ladies.

"One fell in love too soon. The other, too late." In the quiet corners of a sterile hospital, 17-year-old Elena folds a paper crane for every moment she refuses to let go. Then Alex arrives-silent, bruised by his past, and uninterested in attachments. But when two broken souls find comfort in shared silences and stolen rooftop stars, the cranes begin to carry something stronger than hope: love. They make a pact-one hundred cranes for one miracle. But life doesn't wait for love to catch up. As illness lingers and time unravels, their story unfolds in delicate moments and paper-thin promises. And when the last crane is folded, one of them will be gone. A bittersweet slow-burn where love blooms in the shadow of goodbye. If you're ready to cry over quiet conversations, soft touches, and the ache of almost, always-this story is for you.

Toby Eathon had a simple plan for his first day of university: keep his head down, stay invisible, and hit the reset button on his quiet, predictable life. That changed the moment he met Elly Gormeo, a philosophy major with cat ears who pulled him from the safety of a taxi into a breathless run through city traffic. She was everything he wasn't: loud, impulsive, and unapologetically alive. But beneath Elly's bright, chaotic energy lay a secret she never spoke of. As Toby was drawn deeper into her world, he realized he was navigating more than just a budding romance. He was uncovering a past that still haunted her, and he had to decide how close he could get to her. And if he did, what would it cost him?

Andy Rigdy looks like the kind of kid who doesn't care what anyone thinks. The wolfcut. The red streak. The piercings. The headphones that never leave his neck. To everyone else, he's the quiet metalhead who must have it all figured out. They're wrong. Behind the tough exterior is a boy who never stops watching, never stops guarding himself, and never stops wondering if escape is even possible. His best friend Valdo is the only one who sees through the silence-the only one who pulled Andy back when he tried to leave for good. But being misunderstood cuts deep. And when home feels like a cage and school feels like a stage, how long can someone keep living in the shadow of who the world thinks they are? A raw, emotional story of friendship, survival, and the weight of being misread.

Some scars are invisible. Some are buried so deep, even you forget they're there... until someone dares to see you. Ayla Amaris Ifeoluwa Banjoko didn't come to Veloria for a fresh start. She was sent there. Exiled like a family secret no one wants to talk about. Cold, guarded, and emotionally locked down, Ayla has mastered the art of disappearing in plain sight. She's ice - sharp, distant, and untouchable. Then there's Zayn Carter. Her next-door neighbor. The boy with green eyes, a fading smile, and a kitchen that smells like cinnamon and survival. He's fire - passionate, warm, messy, and too kind for a world that keeps burning him. Their first encounter? Brutal. Their second? Even worse. But sometimes the things we fight the hardest are the ones we need the most. He's trying to keep his family afloat. She's trying not to drown in her past. They were never supposed to collide. But when ice meets fire, someone's bound to melt... or burn. "Tell Me You See Me" is a deeply emotional coming-of-age story about pain, healing, and the terrifying, beautiful thing called love.

I was supposed to die. If it weren't for Carter, I would have. Turns out broken hearts can be mended, for a price. Emma Angel Presley was born dead. Until her senior year of high school, she was convinced her overprotective parents intended to keep her that way. That was until they granted her one wish: to attend the local high school. That's when Carter Wright entered her life and changed the game forever. In discovering what it means to love, Emma learns how to live. But, living comes with consequences. Will Emma be able to face hers?

Stella had her three best friends; Libby, Addison, and Caroline. Then, she met the new guy in school. Her life will change forever once the new guy enters her life.

On our sixteenth birthdays, our kind is gifted with awesome powers. Except no, not really because this isn't Narnia, or Hogwarts, or whatever other mythical realm where witches supposedly live. This is Elizabethtown, Illinois, and much to the chagrin of the local chapter of Susie-Homemakers, we live here. All witches understand that the universe is a scary sort of powerful on a good day. On a bad day? Well, that's when The Tower card shows its face during a reading. As summer draws to a close before the beginning of junior year, Rowyn Black is tired of seeing that card stare up at her from the table. Rowyn, Reed, and Rosalyn have made it through just about every dramatic storm their sarcasm could weather during their seventeen year friendship, and it would be nice to have a quiet semester. Rowyn hopes that the only thing The Tower foretells is the frightening sight of the school parking lot come the first day- full of more jacked-up trucks and cut off shorts than a Luke Bryan video. True to its nature, however, the universe doesn't care much for hopes and wishes, and when the promise of The Tower comes crashing down, they might fall right along with it. *** This novel is up for pre-order for 99 cents on all platforms as of May 1st. Check out more on my website: nicolecampbellbooks.com ***

Regi needs some cash fast after her jeep has taken another bad run in. What will she come up with as a side hustle to get that cash she needs for repairs? This is a short story entry in the #sidehustle contest.

--- "They were enemies in the hallway... until detention changed everything." Emma Parker is the definition of perfect: punctual, polished, and always in control. Jace Morgan? Not so much. He's chaos with a smirk, a walking late slip with zero regard for rules. When an explosive argument lands them in a week-long after-school detention-together-they expect five days of misery. But between sarcastic jabs, secret confessions, and unexpected laughter, something starts to shift. What begins as rivalry turns into reluctant friendship... and maybe something more. In this witty, heartwarming enemies-to-lovers high school romance, love doesn't start with butterflies-it starts in detention. ---

Surviving high school is full of emotional twists and turns, isn't it? After his parents divorced, Eric Hudson vowed that he'd never let himself fall in love. Love will only lead to a broken heart. So it's fortunate that Eric is just as good at protecting his heart as he is the goal on the soccer field. Julie Williams faces her problems with the same force that makes her the star forward on the soccer team. But with such a sharp focus on the goal, she is sometimes oblivious to what's right in front of her. Junior year brings on the greatest challenge of high school so far, and it has nothing to do with the state championship. As one begins to fall for their teammate and the other becomes smitten with the new student, Eric and Julie soon find themselves trapped on an emotional roller-coaster that neither of them wanted to be on. And it might require more than their soccer skills to survive the ride. They might need each other.

Moonflowers that bloom for only one day. Venus flytraps that consume on command. And two teenagers who were never supposed to meet. Now when Hae-won literally crashes into the secretive botanical world of Jun-ho, she is not only introduced to the mystical world of plant colors who change color when he touches them, she discovers the boy who whispers to plants may be concealing the most fascinating change of all. Some attractions defy science. Some secrets bloom not more than once. Not all experiments have control as such the chemistry between these two opposites may just be the most volatile reaction of all. And can two students of different worlds meet halfway beneath the petals of possibility?

High school's a whole new ballgame. Elora used to be a big hitter, fashion-forward, and friends with everyone- until life threw her a curve ball freshman year, when she fell hard for John, the popular captain of the baseball team. Unfortunately, Julie wanted him, too, and she'd stop at nothing to make sure Elora strikes out- with John and with the rest of the school, too. Julie's plans worked for a while. Three years later Elora's not the same girl she used to be. But with the help from her best friend, Tallie, she's aiming for a comeback. And this is a game she might just win.

A Boy who could break A Girl who could make TOGETHER.....WILL THEY CREATE? OR DESTROY? Adven was born to destroy anything in his path, even if he wishes not to. He lives in isolation in the wilderness, making friends with animals he hopes not to obliterate. Dallyce is the King's daughter. She lives in isolation in the deepest caverns of the castle, hidden by her father in fear of her abnormal ability to fix matter. Once their paths cross, an unlikely friendship was made. But will it support their self-formation, or be the cause of their own destruction?

Paisley Cooper has been hiding an embarrassing secret: she has a son. Paisley will do anything to keep her son and raise him up to become a good man...but the thing is, she needs to graduate high school first. Most people already know about her little secret, but when a hot new guy named Blake suddenly becomes her new coworker at an ice cream shop, Paisley tries to hide the fact that she has a son. She doesn't know what to do...Her mother had kicked her out of the house when she heard that Paisley was gonna keep the baby. Her loving and understanding father was dead. And she didn't have any more friends after her pregnancy. How can she raise her son while trying to get back into a serious relationship? Paisley will have to decide which one she will have to put first: her son or Blake.

"In order to get into this school, you weren't supposed to be scared of work. The three-steps application took almost a whole year for Keely to prepare. Gaulthier had prepared it too, well, at least, he had started as early as his 15th birthday to talk about it. The essay that would change his life, he used to say with a cocky smile. Sitting besides him at the kitchen table, Keely remembed the slight frown on her face at that moment. She didn't think an essay could change life. She think people could. Little did she know how deeply both the essay, and him, could ruin hers. "

Gemma Richards is smart and beautiful. She has everything going for her. A best friend who will do anything for her, a loving family, and the world at her fingertips. But she worries she won't have much time left. At fifteen, she is diagnosed with cancer. But no one knows. Not even her lifelong best friend, Nathan Foster. When Gemma learns she has to tutor football quarterback Ryan Davis in chemistry, she is the opposite of happy. She is livid. But she can't say no. The success of the team depends on her. If Ryan fails, he can't lead them to play-offs. She reluctantly agrees. During their tutoring sessions, she learns there's more to Ryan than meets the eye. Along the way, she realizes she has feelings for him...and Nathan. Then everything changes when the news of her cancer comes to light, drastically changing her relationship with everyone.