[WATTY'S 2024 SHORTLIST] Seventeen-year-old, popular Athlete, Ontario Hackman struggles with identity, and the fact he may be facing something deeper-rooted than the surface, and when fellow gay boy, Nathaniel Ericson comes along, out and about, with his rainbow bracelets, and his shameless crush on the Popular Athlete, and begins experiencing torment at the hands of his peers, Ontario realizes just how much easier it is to stay hidden.
But everyone knows, What's done in the dark will always come to the light
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In the gilded halls of his high school, seventeen-year-old Ontario Hackman is the epitome of perfection-a star athlete, a charismatic leader, and the heartthrob of every party. But beneath the surface of his flawless facade lies a turmoil of uncertainty and hidden desires.
When Nathaniel Ericson, openly gay and unapologetically himself, arrives with rainbow bracelets and an unabashed crush on Ontario, it sets off a chain reaction that shatters the delicate balance of Ontario's carefully curated life. As Nathaniel faces relentless bullying at the hands of his peers, Ontario is forced to confront the shadowed corners of his own identity. The conflict between staying hidden in the comfort of his popularity and embracing his true self becomes a battleground for Ontario's soul.
As their worlds collide and intertwine, Ontario and Nathaniel must navigate the tumultuous waters of love, acceptance, and self-discovery.
[Word count: 45k)
#1 in mentallyunstable out of 3.97k (July 4th, 2024, 10:39 AM)
"Don't do that." I mumble.
"Why not?" His husky voice cracks as he speaks softly into my ear.
Blood rushes to various places in my body.
"You're making me horny." I answer truthfully.
He chuckles.
"What a crime." He speaks quietly. I feel the tingles all over again. Meanwhile he continues to tease my body.
I try to keep my breath even. I try to control myself. I basically have to go against every part of who I am to not jump him right now. Why? Why is it only with him that I get so panicky when we try to do anything sexual?
• × × × •
Oliver Sky is a beautiful yet ruthless heart breaker.
Aron Santiago is his mysterious, handsome rival.
Both of their lives change when they first meet. Suddenly the two hottest guys of the school are madly in love. The closer they get, the more past wounds start to open and what they reveal is a sad and dark history.
Oliver and Aron set out to battle their past for a better future but along the way they get tangled up in lies, disloyalty and heartbreak. Is their relationship strong enough to survive?
Trigger warning: This book contains topics regarding trauma, abuse and more.