Branch Extended
- Reads 11
- Votes 0
- Parts 9
Life passed by and Olive never tried to slow it down, even if everything moved too fast to keep up. Everyone else seemed to manage, and over the last few months she had learned to cope with not understanding just how they did it.
A fateful trip to detention, an annoyingly persistent boy named Ben, and a whirlwind of chance changed everything for the girl who had all but given up on herself.
. . . . .
"You're trying to fix me!" I yelled, letting my temper unleash itself through my volume. But I wasn't mad. I was disappointed in myself. "I know I'm broken but what kind of repair job would it be if I didn't do it myself?" My effort to lower my voice was in vain, apparently.
"You're not broken!" Ben yelled back.
I scoffed at the notion, provoking Ben even more. He grabbed my shoulders tightly and jerked my body enough so that my head swung up towards him, forcing eye contact out of me to convey his sincerity. "You are not broken. You're... you're like a puzzle that's just halfway done."
"Huh?"
"You have all your pieces, and you're working on putting yourself together. Is it really so bad if I point out where a piece could go? You're doing all the work; I just want to keep you company while you do."
His honey-brown eyes never wavered from me. His gaze was intense, and if anyone else looked at me the way he was, I would have been uncomfortable. With Ben, though, it made me relax, letting my shoulders sag into his hands. We stood like that for at least a long moment, if not forever.
. . . . .
TW: This book deals with mental health, specifically depression, and sexual assault.
All Rights Reserved
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
It Started in Spanish
Anthony stops at my bare shoulder and leans down to press a hot kiss onto the skin. "You can't say things like that.." He delivers another, this one to my collarbone and making my words grow weak, unconvincing ... even as they come from my own mouth. "We're supposed to be ... friends." Anthony is quiet at first, the only response I get being his free hand drifting over to cage my body into the small space between us. "I know .." He trails off. It goes dead silent for a second. "But I ... don't think that's enough for me, B." There's a sharp breath from me at the words and a flush of heat to my cheeks when Anthony pushes my hair over my shoulder. His actions expose me to him, showing off my bare shoulders in a way that's downright indecent as the straps pulled down now hang loosely off my arms. "I don't want .. to be just a friend to you." And then, there's another kiss to pair. Although it isn't a simple peck this time. It's an actual kiss now, slow and softly pressed onto my neck. Beatrix thought she'd never trust another guy again. After being burned, both physically and emotionally by her ex-boyfriend Rudy in her senior year of high school, Beatrix's trust in people is low. That is, until she transfers to the esteemed, private Highland University. It's a fresh start to give the girl what she wants most: A shot at normalcy. The plan is simple .. just keep her head down, study her ass off, try to become a functional person once again and hopefully make one friend or two. Everything was supposed to start over that year. She'd had high hopes of starting anew and faithfully prepared to blend in to the background. And the day goes well. Until she sits down in Spanish, where she meets Anthony Gamaro. After a slight misunderstanding, Beatrix finds herself in an odd friendship with the 20 year old football player. One that slowly helps her regain the confidence she'd long lost before.
Silence And Honey
Silence and Honey I talked enough for both of us. He listened like he might never let go. Runerth Castellion was the boy with the sharpest eyes and the quietest heart. He didn't talk much-didn't smile much either. But he always showed up. For me. I had known him since we were twelve. Since I decided I was going to be his friend, whether he wanted one or not. I was the chatterbox play school teacher who sings songs about dinosaurs and glue sticks. He was the grumpy heir to a mafia empire no one talks about out loud and a CEO of a heritage company. We were never meant to fit but we did and we did not at the same time. All that until the fate tested us. Tested me. In a world where healing feels impossible, our bond became a refuge, a promise that no matter how dark the night, dawn was waiting. This is a story about the strength found in vulnerability, the power of a patient heart, and the beautiful, messy journey toward a love that saves. Credit to the original owner of picture used in cover. I do not own it. 7 in comfortcharacter on 20th August, 2025.Complete
Destined By Fate
Kendall has always lived a quiet life in a small town in Illinois with her family, friends, and boyfriend Jordan. Her life had been mostly happy other than when her best friend moved away when she was 10. It took her years to get over that loss. Then several years later, tragedy struck when her father passed away suddenly and Kendall was forced to move with her mom closer to Chicago where she could find a job to support the two of them. Little does Kendall know that she is in for the surprise of a lifetime. From the book.... As he catches up to me, he grabs my arm swings me around and with one swift movement he ushers me into a nearby empty classroom with the lights off. He cages me in against the wall. His close proximity is making me dizzy and my mind is thinking very dirty thoughts. Wait no. I can't think like that anymore. "Kendall." He says hungrily. "You are mine and only mine. You drive me wild and no one else can have you." He says as he attacks my lips. It feels so amazing I can't help but kiss him back. I run my hands through his beautiful hair and he groans into the kiss. Man I don't want this to ever end. I feel drunk on him. I don't think I can let him go. He stops suddenly to finish his thoughts. "No one can make you feel like this. Or kiss you here...." He says as he kisses down my neck. I moan and he smirks pulling his face impossibly close to mine. "..or touch you." He says as he takes his hand and brushes it lightly down my arm and he snakes it back around my back pulling me even closer if that is possible. He finally stops at my ass which he squeezes delightfully and I hum in response. Warning: Contains graphic sexual content. Read at your own discretion. You will not be warned ahead of time. This is your only warning.Complete
It Wasn't Love ✔️
"Fuck." He whispers into my neck, sending a thrill of excitement through my body. His lips still smothered kisses over my neck and his hands roamed my body, starting at my chest, going down to my stomach. Caressing my soft skin, his thumb trailed circles on my groin before slightly slipping into the waistband of my jeans. My breath catches in my throat as I pull at the hoodie that covered his chiselled body. Understanding, Jacob pulls it off in one swift movement before attaching his lips back on my neck. Sucking and biting it before flicking his tongue over the sore spot. A quiet moan leaves my mouth and I clasp my hand over it, denying any noise to escape. "You drive me fucking crazy, Aria." ---------------------------- Aria Bailey finds it hard to fit in. Her parents are always busy and never have time for her. She lives alone at her family home and has top grades in all of her classes. But being a 17 year old friendless nerd comes with its disadvantages. The bullying gets worse every single day, driving her to self harm and suicidal thoughts. Aria learns more about popular boy, Jacob Rickson and starts developing feelings for the well known 18 year old. Jacob helps her come out of her shell and learn to be more comfortable and confident. Aria has to make a tough decision by choosing if she would rather be with Jacob and be bullied by her mind for eternity, or to leave and be left alone, exactly how she wants to be. -Strangers to lovers -Right person, wrong timeComplete
Better Kept Secret
Elowyn "Winnie" Smith met Ben when she was 4 years old. They've been best friends since they were 6. After her dad died when she was 13, he was the only person she wanted to talk to. He should know everything about her, shouldn't he? But he doesn't, and Elowyn is slowly drowning in the weight of her secrets. He doesn't know about the creepy guy who won't leave her alone or how bad her home life and her mother have gotten. And he definitely doesn't know that she's slowly falling in love with him. But he would never want her, he's captain of the soccer team and could have any girl he wants. She's the girl he sees as a sister, he's even known her since before she went to speech therapy for her stutter. So why can't she shake this feeling, even though she knows it's so wrong? ✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦ He draws me back in, our lips connecting again and I feel like I'm melting. Like I can't think at all. Like there's no such thing as any of my problems. There's no depressed mom, there's no jealousy, there's no secrets. There's only his calloused hand rubbing my cheek and his hair beneath my fingers. I'm hot and I'm cold and I'm melting. I'm gone, disappearing into the sand beneath us. ✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦ Tropes: friends to lovers, childhood friends, golden boy, shy girl x popular boy, only one bed, secret crush Triggers: mental illness, depression, saCompleteINTRO
Fallen
~Completed~ 'I'm bold.' 'I'm ever confident.' 'I don't give a fuck about what anyone thinks and have to say about me.' 'I'm who I am.' 'I'm Stella Downer.' That's how it has always been, but what happens when things don't go exactly the way she planned... ~~~ He said nothing more, he had a sly smile on his face as he ran his hands through his hair. No doubt he was gorgeous. No doubt he's got good lips. No doubt he got any girl he wanted. No doubt I'm having crazy thoughts right now. "You're my boyfriend's bestfriend" I blurted. "It doesn't matter, I respect that but he's the only thing standing between 'us'" he replied, his voice still as calm as ever like nothing was weird... Like 'THIS' was normal. "'We' are not possible" I said mustering all the courage I could, trying not to melt under his gaze. "Does it mean you're considering it?" He asked. I wanted to reply but I couldn't, I couldn't just make out words right now. Was I perhaps considering it? What is wrong with me?! I just stood there, staring at him, his eyes piercing into mine like he was trying to read me. There was something about those dark eyes I couldn't quite comprehend. His presence was doing something to me! Everywhere was suddenly so quiet. Where is everyone?! Few seconds later, his face was inches away from mine, I just hope it wasn't what I was thinking. Every foward motion he took, I equally took a step backwards till I felt my back hit against one of the lockers. I could have pulled out. I could have pushed him away. I could have walked away. I could have hit him or slapped him away from me. But I did nothing... My body felt numb. The only thing I could feel were the weird sensation inside me. We were a breathe apart. I could already feel his body heat... •••••• Book #1 of the Downer Sisters Series. CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE BOOK!Complete
His
Jaida was twenty almost twenty one when she was raped and she hasn't been the same since. Since it has happened, she has tried to forget and wanted to move on but that definitely wasn't working for her. She was so tired of fighting her never silent mind and was so tired of looking at her baby and seeing the rape. So she decides to go to therapy and that's when she met Ezra. Ezra was going for reasons that might make you cry yet maybe even make you cower with fear. This tattooed man might not be the best thing for Jaida right now while she is dealing with things but who knows. Maybe he can save her. Or maybe he will just destroy her more.Read and find out. ~~ "I get you know. You don't have feelings for me so you ghost me thinking I'll take the hint while you fucked and went with the girl you wanted which was that girl" I said shaking my head as I looked away from him. He sighed and shook his head. "Jaida come on thats no-" "No it's fine Ezra I mean I wish you would have told me that but it's whatever" I continued not letting him talk. "Jaida just liste-" "You know I may have only known you for what like a month and a half but I actually was really kinda feelings you and I get it I mean you didn't feel the same way so I understand" I said cutting him off again before turning away from him to walk to the elevator. He quickly grabbed my hand pulling me before his lips smashed on mine.Complete
Anthony stops at my bare shoulder and leans down to press a hot kiss onto the skin. "You can't say things like that.." He delivers another, this one to my collarbone and making my words grow weak, unconvincing ... even as they come from my own mouth. "We're supposed to be ... friends." Anthony is quiet at first, the only response I get being his free hand drifting over to cage my body into the small space between us. "I know .." He trails off. It goes dead silent for a second. "But I ... don't think that's enough for me, B." There's a sharp breath from me at the words and a flush of heat to my cheeks when Anthony pushes my hair over my shoulder. His actions expose me to him, showing off my bare shoulders in a way that's downright indecent as the straps pulled down now hang loosely off my arms. "I don't want .. to be just a friend to you." And then, there's another kiss to pair. Although it isn't a simple peck this time. It's an actual kiss now, slow and softly pressed onto my neck. Beatrix thought she'd never trust another guy again. After being burned, both physically and emotionally by her ex-boyfriend Rudy in her senior year of high school, Beatrix's trust in people is low. That is, until she transfers to the esteemed, private Highland University. It's a fresh start to give the girl what she wants most: A shot at normalcy. The plan is simple .. just keep her head down, study her ass off, try to become a functional person once again and hopefully make one friend or two. Everything was supposed to start over that year. She'd had high hopes of starting anew and faithfully prepared to blend in to the background. And the day goes well. Until she sits down in Spanish, where she meets Anthony Gamaro. After a slight misunderstanding, Beatrix finds herself in an odd friendship with the 20 year old football player. One that slowly helps her regain the confidence she'd long lost before.
More detailsContent Guidelines