Adam Hixx is a cool guy. In a small Louisiana town like his, being a Christian, straight, brash delinquent with a douchebag crony and a hot girlfriend is the recipe for popularity. Life's going great for Cool Adam.
But not for Regular Adam.
Being gay and having the nerve to doubt his family's religion sparks anger in him. Rage fueled by years of abuse, both exterior and within himself. Rage that comes out in violence towards his childhood best friend, whom he wished so desperately to be with again... At least, until he came out as gay.
Love and hate battle in this heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, bittersweet story of overcoming abusive backgrounds, learning to let go, and even learning that maybe, having emotions isn't as bad as it's chalked up to seem.
Cool Adam will just have to wait and see.
Trigger warning: Severe homophobia, alcoholism, abusive relationships, slight suggestions of sexual assault, suicide, self harm, homicide.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255. (U.S. and its territories only.)
Content warning: Swearing, slurs, and sexual/suggestive content.
After an incident three months ago and her parent's divorce, Reina Caverly finds a way to cope: cutting herself. Her mother's a workaholic, her sister is an out of control teenage girl, and her dad disappeared from the face of the planet. She can't even tell her two best friends, Joshua and Megan, about her problems.
Then she meets young and mysterious Calvin Young about to commit suicide by jumping from her school's rooftop which surprised Reina. He's rich; he's handsome for his age, and does well at school, so why? Why would someone who has everything want to kill himself? Everyone has a dark secret, even Calvin who seems to have the world.
Can Reina and Calvin learn to speak up about their issues?
Can they find their reasons to live?
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"One day you'll leave me. You don't want a girl with a rape story," I said as I desperately tried to stop my sobs and hiccups. "You deserve someone who is prettier and more stable then me."
"Mon ange ," he whispered to me lightly as he held my tear-stained face. I looked at him and my breath shortened as I met his intense look.
"I don't want anyone else," he said, "because I just want you."
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WARNING: Story contains rape, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.