How to stay alive
- Reads 118
- Votes 0
- Parts 23
Ongoing2h 1m
Last published Tue, May 13, 2025
Elias Beckett was never supposed to make it to seventeen.
Once warm and full of light, he's now angry, reckless, and unraveling fast-street racing at night, barely speaking in class, and carrying the kind of pain no one sees. Elias races through backstreets at night like he's chasing a crash. Hooks up with strangers like it doesn't mean anything. Lives like he's not planning to last much longer.
Olivia is everything Elias isn't-sunlight in sneakers, loud where he's silent, soft where he's sharp. But she's also barely holding it together, haunted by the same girl, the same night, the same if-onlys.
They've known each other forever-she was his sister's best friend. And when his sister died, something in both of them broke. Olivia hides her grief behind a smile. Elias doesn't bother hiding at all.
And in the first timeline... he doesn't survive.
But when Olivia wakes up sixty-three days before the anniversary of the accident, time gives her another shot. Not to save her best friend-but to save Elias. Because this time, there's a message in her journal: "Save him."
But the closer she gets to Elias, the more she risks falling apart. And the more he lets her in, the more he realizes Olivia isn't as fine as she pretends to be.
.....................
How to Stay Alive is a slow-burn, time-woven love story about losing someone you love, and fighting like hell not to lose someone else. It's about grief, second chances, and the messy, beautiful art of surviving.
All Rights Reserved
#112
bestfriendsbrother
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
Heather
"And for our last question," the interviewer smiles, "if you could title a book about your life, what would it be?" The audience claps. My answer is immediate. "Heather." The host leans in, interested but seemingly confused... "Why?" ---------------×---------×----------------- What begins as a high school crush spirals into a crisis that shatters everything Sara thought she knew-about love, loyalty, and herself. Seventeen-year-old Sara Davis struggles with self-worth and confidence. She's reserved, self-critical, and constantly battling the voice in her head that says she's not enough. Her best friend Heather, bold and unshakable, is her anchor-the one person who sees the light in her and pushes her toward it. Then there's Elijah Garcia-smart, athletic, wealthy, and effortlessly magnetic. For as long as Sara can remember, he's been the definition of perfect. A silent fantasy. A distant dream. Encouraged by Heather, Sara finally pursues her feelings, and for a moment, it feels like she's living her own fairytale. But beneath the glittering surface lies a darker truth. As hearts break, jealousy festers, and betrayal seeps into every corner of her life, Sara finds herself unraveling. Secrets long buried rise to the surface, threatening to destroy everything she believes in. This is not just a story about falling in love. It's about falling apart-and the fight to piece yourself back together. TRIGGER WARNINGS: Depression, self-harm, abandonment, suicide, cursing, and other mature themes. [COMPLETED]Complete
Elemental: Love in pieces #1
Are you up for a steamy romance? One night, one mistake that will change her life forever. He never thought he would feel anything again, especially love, until he met her. Everybody thinks that she's the quiet type, Nobody knows who she really is except for her best friends Sarah, Natalia and Sky. All anybody knows is that she came here for one thing to graduate, and that's all she can possibly focus on, right? She's an all A's student and she never fails to win. Nobody expects such a goody two shoes to be as bad as she really is. There's no way a person can fall in love with someone overnight, right? Because that's impossible. I'm not supposed to be loved, and I'm not supposed to feel love. I'm a loner who stays by herself. The only exception is my friends, and that's just friendship. I will never ever fall in love. The idea of it makes me scared. For somebody to love me back is impossible because everybody that's ever loved me left me, either in death or in literal sense. I'm a curse that has not been broken. The Night Sky. He's the type of guy every girl wants, but only a select Few can get. At what cost will he pay? By pursuing this non-Blueblood. Because in his world, reputation is everything and this will taint it. But he doesn't care. He only cares about her. Everything about her is beautiful to him, which she seems to find impossible, and he doesn't know what to do because he's never felt anything before in his life and that, that is what scares them both the most. How can one's taste be so addictive, so powerful? Why am I so drawn to her? I've never felt this way about anything at all in my whole entire life. Ever. Nothing. I feel nothing. I've always felt nothing. So why does she make me feel something? I'm drawn to her, and I cannot stop. And I will not stop at any cost. I will get this girl because she is mine and she always will be. She just doesn't know it yet. I am a curse. People always leave me in death, but maybe she is my cure.Complete
Lilah
She's a wild, free spirit who sees the good in everyone, and he's the hardened, bad-tempered loner who wants nothing to do with her-yet no matter how hard he tries to push her away, she's the one temptation he can't escape. *** He's never met someone with such a bubbly personality. Not to mention the wildness and odd phrases she says every five minutes. He hates it. He hates how he can't stay away from it. He hates what she does to him; it's not like him to chase after some girl. She gets under his skin like no other. She's never met someone with such a bad attitude. He's ill-mannered and menacing. The glare never seems to leave his face. Considering it all, she can't help but feel the attraction toward him. Dangerous attraction toward a seemingly dangerous man. Maybe it's the tattoos on his arm that gets her attention. Or maybe it's because she can tell there's hope for good under his rough exterior. And she's about to find it, whether he likes it or not. It's no secret that the two of them are complete and total opposites. *** "You like being called Sugar, don't you?" I tease, placing my toothbrush back after finishing. He does the same and gives me a side-eyed scowl. He grips my chin harshly and kisses me. My body temperature raises a good ten degrees and my right leg goes all wiggly. He pulls away. "You like it when I kiss you, don't you?" He teases the same way I did to him and I'm left blubbering. "I think both of our questions are rhetorical," I lower my voice up at him. His lip curls up into a smirk. *** #1 in Young Adult #9 in Badboy #1 in Cold #3 in Goodgirl #1 in Sweetheart #14 in Love *** *Warning* This story contains mature themes (language, scenes)Complete
Never Ending Lies ✔️
{EDITING PROCESS} *BOOK ONE OF TWO* When a high school student named Davina Smith faces her senior year after a tragedy in her family, suddenly finds herself appealed to the new kids in town. She never had an interest in befriending anyone besides her childhood friends Emma and Jackson, But these kids had something about them that just made them stick out. Maybe it wasint such a bad idea to expand her social life. What could go wrong? Right..? ~~~~~~~~~~~ Davina Smith, a 17 year old with trauma of losing those close to her from past experiences and losses, is soon appealed to the new kids in town. Or more like appealed to the attractive black haired, green eyed boy. She's never been the one to want to have a relationship. Is now the time? Xavier Witts, a 18 year old boy hiding a nothing more than a couple lies... or so he says. Xavier never wanted to get attached to someone he could lose. He never to wanted to go through that again. But what happens when suddenly that person fights against his measures of protection? What happens when that person is willing to risk their life just to be with him? Luckily he would do the same ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I don't know what to do Xavier..." I cry uncontrollably into his chest as he holds onto me for dear life. "I know love. I know." "I'm such a bother to yall." I choke out. "I'm so fucking weak. I can't even defend myself." Xavier's arms unwrap from my body, and his hands hold my teary face. "I'm a worthless h-human." Xavier furrows his eyebrows in pain. A tear of his own falling down his face. "No," he says shaking his head. "No. You've never been a bother to me. You aren't weak. And you most certainly aren't worthless." I gasp to breathe, and he continues talking. "What you are is an amazing person who hasn't let all of this crazy bullshit affect her. You handled it like a champ. What you are is a strong, brave being that has stood by my side." I breathe as he leans closer. "What you are, is the love of my life...."Complete
The Game Changer (Blake) 3 ✔️
Book #3 in The Fire series BLAKE RIVERA "You're the leader of a gang." Aiden yells. I look up at him. "You don't think I know that?" I yell back. "I am doing everything I can to protect my people!" "Your people are being murdered. You're in a war you don't even know is happening." "I know what's going on out there. I know what's happening." "Then why aren't you doing anything to stop it?" I slam my hands on the desk and stand up. "I am doing everything I can!" I yell anger laced in my voice as it flowed through my veins. Suddenly the lights went out; a flashing red light comes on as alarms sound. "You need to do more." Aiden says. "Otherwise this. It's never going to stop." "They're attacking." I realize. "They're always attacking. And they're not going to stop until we're dead." "Or surrender." I mumble and Aidens head snaps up to look at me. "You won't. You can't." "No, what I can't do is kill Felix." "The man you loved isn't there anymore. Can't you see that? He's gone. A monster wears his skin. What's it going to take before you realize that?" I shake my head. "Evacuate. Make sure everyone gets out of here. No one dies today." "Well, someone should. And we both know who it needs to be." Aiden says before he leaves the room. I know Aiden is right, but I can't kill Felix, even if he keeps trying to kill me. I shake my head and sit back down. Just because everyone else was leaving didn't mean I had to also. Maybe I can talk some sense into him. I sigh. I've tried to already, but maybe this time it will be different. Maybe I should tell him the truth. Maybe I should tell him Nadia is his daughter. The door to my planning room is thrown open but I stay seated. I look up as men flood into the room, soon followed by Felix. His emotionless eyes find mine and he cocks his gun. "You should have run with the others."Complete
Shattered Asylum
She escaped a house full of monsters... but she never stopped being hunted. I thought I escaped the worst of it. But some monsters don't stay in the past. After years of surviving in a house that only knew cruelty, sixteen year old Aven is sent to live with her grandparents in a secluded town hidden deep in the forest, gorgeous, quiet, and filled with people who act like nothing bad ever happens there. The kind of place only the rich can afford to live. The kind of place that almost feels like peace. Almost. She wanted a fresh start. A chance to breathe. What she didn't expect? Grayson. He's charming, brooding, and way too interested in her. The kind of boy girls fight over... and they do. But there's something off about him. Something he isn't saying. And her past comes crashing back, violent, messy, and impossible to outrun. Aven realizes her new life isn't just fragile. It's built on secrets. Love. Lies. Loyalty. Survival. Aven's never been safe. She's just been watched. And no matter how far she runs, the people she escaped from keep saying the same thing: "You'll always be mine." ***** Complete!!! I will be editing this book! So if some things don't add up... sorry.Complete
A Thousand Secrets (crimson harbor series book 1)
"I feel like I couldn't live without Rose, she was my fucking rock. Four months of only knowing her and it was the most intense feeling ever. She made me feel alive when I was around her. In my eyes she was the most beautiful girl in the whole world, I didn't give a shit about her scars or her past because there was nothing that could stop me from loving her. " BANKS~ On July 23rd in Crimson Harbor Washington, a dark gloomy town filled with unrequited secrets, I found my brother Theo, dead in his car in the middle of the woods. He had Thallium Sulfate in his system, and nothing will stop me and my three friends from finding out why, even when people don't want the truth uncovered. I have just started on a gruesome path to revenge, until we found a girl with long black hair and even darker eyes, bloody and standing over a dead body. Rose Adeline graves a 19-year-old girl who attends Crimson Heights University fortunately where me and my friends attend, she works at a local diner, has no liking for anyone or anything, and is a murderer. But Rose doesn't kill just anyone; she kills people who deserved to be killed and is just what we need to figure out the truth, Roses thorns are sharp, but I've always like to bleed. ROSE~ My life is hell has been hell, when I was six my dad and sister died in a house fire, my mother turned to drugs and I was left in that trailer with her while she beat me. I don't like people, talking, becoming friends and my social life was six feet under. People didn't like me in Crimson Harbor, I was weird or know as a bitch but one man just try's to walk into my life like he owns it, and I wont have it. I would kill Banks to get rid of him and his friends if I half to, but he's like a snake slithering under my skin and cracking all the metal and ice around my heart. (BOOK NUMBER 1 IN THE CRIMSON HARBOR SERIES)Complete
FALLEN FOR A BAD BOY {BAD MEETS BADDEST}
She witnessed horror... and became one. After surviving a harrowing near-rape and watching her best friend brutally assaulted and murdered before her eyes, Aurora vanished-emotionally. What rose from the ashes was someone unrecognizable: Cold. Fearless. Savage. Untouchable. She trusts no one. Loves no one. And as far as she's concerned, no man alive could ever break through her fortress of ice. Love? Dead. Her rules? Simple. No emotions. No attachments. No second chances. But her new college? A battlefield. And him? Leonard Grande - the kind of trouble she didn't prepare for. Wounded. Rebellious. Addictive. Dangerous. A walking paradox with a face carved by gods and a soul damaged by demons. A notorious playboy who takes pleasure in breaking girls, shredding hearts like paper-because he believes every girl is a liar in disguise. Until Aurora. She doesn't look at him like he matters. She doesn't fall. She doesn't even flinch. And that pisses him off. Now it's war. A toxic game of destruction and seduction. She wants to erase him. He wants to ruin her. But when secrets from the past start surfacing, both realize they've been walking in the dark... and maybe-just maybe-they were destined to collide. How deep do their scars go? And who's really pulling the strings in this web of pain and passion. Dive into a dark college romance where love is a weapon, trust is deadly, and only the strongest survive. When bad meets baddest... there are no rules. Trigger Warning: This story contains themes of sexual violence, emotional trauma, murder, psychological manipulation, and abusive behavior. Reader discretion is strongly advised. Some scenes may be distressing or triggering to survivors. ©2025
"And for our last question," the interviewer smiles, "if you could title a book about your life, what would it be?" The audience claps. My answer is immediate. "Heather." The host leans in, interested but seemingly confused... "Why?" ---------------×---------×----------------- What begins as a high school crush spirals into a crisis that shatters everything Sara thought she knew-about love, loyalty, and herself. Seventeen-year-old Sara Davis struggles with self-worth and confidence. She's reserved, self-critical, and constantly battling the voice in her head that says she's not enough. Her best friend Heather, bold and unshakable, is her anchor-the one person who sees the light in her and pushes her toward it. Then there's Elijah Garcia-smart, athletic, wealthy, and effortlessly magnetic. For as long as Sara can remember, he's been the definition of perfect. A silent fantasy. A distant dream. Encouraged by Heather, Sara finally pursues her feelings, and for a moment, it feels like she's living her own fairytale. But beneath the glittering surface lies a darker truth. As hearts break, jealousy festers, and betrayal seeps into every corner of her life, Sara finds herself unraveling. Secrets long buried rise to the surface, threatening to destroy everything she believes in. This is not just a story about falling in love. It's about falling apart-and the fight to piece yourself back together. TRIGGER WARNINGS: Depression, self-harm, abandonment, suicide, cursing, and other mature themes. [COMPLETED]
More detailsContent Guidelines