Us, After Everything
- Reads 42
- Votes 3
- Parts 14
Us After Everything
Ava Porter didn't mean to let anyone in. Not after her mum fell into a coma. Not with a house full of silence and secrets. But then Leo: the golden boy who cares too much and Elliot the funny one who sees more than he lets on,showed up and stayed.
What started as comfort turned into something messier. Something real.
Now Ava finds herself stuck between two boys, both offering something she's never had before: safety, softness, and the space to feel again. But as friendships blur into something more, and jealousy begins to burn, Ava must face a truth she's spent years avoiding choosing might mean breaking more than one heart, including her own.
A raw, emotional story about love, grief, and figuring out who you are when everything else falls apart.
All Rights Reserved
#8
smalltownsecrets
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
The Jock Next Door
Ava Grey is your ordinary, yet ambitious high school girl, enduring life with her friends by her side. Later on, she finds out that the school's jock is her next-door neighbor, and they form a unique and inevitable connection. Asher Cooper is the well-known jock at Eastwood High School. Although he has serious issues in his real life, he's good at hiding them and his emotions. He forms a special friendship with Ava Grey and decides to provide her with unforgettable adventures and memories to liven her senior year, yet he doesn't like how good she is at reading his lies and true feelings. Does their valuable friendship last? --------------- " How about we forget about everything that's happening in our miserable lives right now and just be ourselves ?" I say all in one deep breath with a really convincing voice. " Under one condition, brunette." " Did I mention you're also very complicated ?"I point out as she rolls her eyes. " Your condition ?" " Later on, you tell me about your miserable life, because I feel like I just told you about my past, present, and soon enough I'll start talking about my future. So?" I sigh, running a hand through my hair. " Whatever you want, Grey." She smiles. " Now my idea?" " I like this side of you, Asher Cooper and I hope I see more of it. " " Don't get used to it Grey, because for now you'll have to see the competitive side of me. " and with that I smack the ball out of her hands as she gasps and I start dribbling the ball away with my feet that are full of energy. --------------- What happens to this strong and valuable friendship? WARNING: Strong language, Violence, Cliche ( 100% ) Started February 12 2018 Status: Completed (September 29, 2020)Complete
If It's With You
[COMPLETED] [IN REVISION] What if the hardest part isn't falling in love, but believing someone might actually stay? Todd Bounsok has mastered the art of disappearing. Abandoned by his mom and emotionally neglected by his dad, he keeps his guard up. It's safer that way. Then there's Jack Arlington-golden boy, hockey player, the kind of guy who doesn't just notice you... he looks at you like he wants to. One spark at a college party turns into something neither of them expected. But as Todd pulls away and Jack tries to hold on, they're both forced to face the parts of themselves they've been running from. A slow-burn, angsty, and tender bxb romance about love, identity, and what it really means to stay.Complete
Faultless
Having a best friend since childhood to do everything with and be inseparable from is the greatest feeling in the world. That is until one randomly cuts off the other and moves away, ending all contact and hope for an explanation. Alex Pierce is a college student just trying to get through life as stress-free as possible. After just getting out of a two-year-long relationship, all he wants to do is move on from the past, something he struggles to do. Despite how desperate he is to be carefree, he is constantly juggling other obligations and responsibilities and he's just trying to keep his head above the water. River Moore is your all-star athlete. After switching schools and accepting a starting position on the basketball team, he wants to continue his college athlete lifestyle and live his life to the fullest. After a traumatic experience a year prior, he likes to focus on the future. Spontaneous has always been his personality since he was young. When Alex and River are reunited six years after their unbreakable friendship dies, Alex thinks he will finally get the answers to his long-awaited questions. Unfortunately for him, River did not have the same idea. River claims that he does not remember Alex at all. This creates a whirlwind of awkwardness between the childhood friends, and they are forced to realize just how much all of that time apart affected them. •~• {Spinoff from 'Effortless' but can be read as a standalone.} {TW⚠️: This book contains depictions of mental health struggles, seizures, mature scenes, and strong language. Please do not read if this will affect you!} {Any names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, or incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.}Complete
Fading Hearts: A Tale of Lost High School Love
[Available on Amazon] In a quiet corner of Crestwood High School, Leo, a shy high schooler, catches the eye of Elisa, a stunning girl who secretly has many admirers. As Leo takes a daring step to win her heart, their friendship blossoms, blurring the lines between camaraderie and something deeper, stoking the flames of jealousy among their peers. Rumors start to spread, testing their relationship until it breaks. Now they have to figure out what comes next. Can a love that seemed invincible truly meet its end? The answer lies within these pages. Dive into the story to uncover the fate of a relationship that defies conventional wisdom. Rooted in reality, this narrative explores a high school romance that flourished, then faltered. Yet, the yearning for an alternate outcome persists, urging us to reshape the narrative. While the actual names have been veiled, the emotions depicted are undeniably authentic.Complete
Beneath his fur
Beneath His Fur is a deeply personal exploration of anxiety, self-worth, and the quiet battles fought behind a carefully maintained mask. Inspired by the author's own experiences with anxiety and the pressure to appear "fine," this story weaves themes of emotional vulnerability and resilience into a tender, unfolding romance. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals where societal struggles mirror our own, Max appears to have it all together. Outwardly, he's confident, quick-witted, and seemingly at ease with the world around him. But this is a mask-a defense he's perfected to keep others from seeing the weight he carries beneath the surface. Behind his laid-back demeanor is a young man wrestling with depression, overthinking, and the constant fear of being "too much." When Elliot-a quiet, guarded fox-enters Max's life, the cracks in his mask begin to widen. Elliot is someone who sees through the facade, even if he doesn't fully understand it. Together, they embark on a slow, tentative journey toward healing and connection, navigating their emotions and discovering intimacy in ways that feel both unfamiliar and transformative. Beneath His Fur doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of mental health, but it balances those struggles with moments of hope, warmth, and humor. As Max's relationship with Elliot deepens, so too does his understanding of himself, offering readers a raw and authentic glimpse into the complexities of vulnerability and love. This story contains explicit NSFW content, intertwined naturally as the characters' bond evolves. It's a narrative about the highs and lows of self-discovery, the courage it takes to let someone in, and the profound impact of connection. Thank you for joining me on this journey. While this is my first story, it's one born of honesty and a deep desire to resonate with those who may see parts of themselves in Max and Elliot. I hope you'll stay for the ride.Complete
Love Again (Second Chances Series Book 2)
**Complete ** **Book 2 in a series involving the same group of friends** Emma Jones doesn't do one night stands...usually. That all changes when she meets Leo Baker. She thinks she'll never see him again since he lives in a different state. And even though she has a hard time getting him out of her mind she starts to get involved with David Reed who she meet at a charity gala. Just when things start to heat up between her and David, Leo returns. This time for good. Leo Baker has had a lot of heartache in his life. Now he keeps his distance. One night stands are nothing new for him but not being able to forget the women he's slept with is. He can't get the way Emma tastes, looks, sounds and feels out of his head. When he moves for work and finds her with another man he has a very strong reaction to that. He doesn't know how to handle those feelings so things get complicated quickly. Leo is given a second chance at love, will he take it?Complete
Between the lines
Briella transferred schools to escape her past. All she wanted was a clean slate, quiet days, and no reminders of Winterfield-the place where everything went wrong. Asher Pierce was the last person she expected to collide with. Star athlete, golden boy, everyone's favorite-everything Briella swore she hated. But when he pretends to be her boyfriend to rescue her from her old demons, a fake act turns into something she can't ignore. She thinks his perfect smile is a mask. He thinks her walls are just waiting to be broken down. Tutoring sessions. Sideline stares. The line between pretending and something real blurs fast... And when her past and his future collide, Briella has to decide: was escaping Winterfield the real challenge, or is it keeping Asher out of the mess she left behind?
The Pieces You Left Me (Book 2)
Leo is learning how to breathe again. Maddie is still the calm in his storm. They're older now-changed by time, by pain, by everything they've fought to survive. But some things don't change. Like the way he looks at her. Like the way she always knows what he needs, even when he doesn't. This is a story about love that grows with you. About holding space for someone even when it hurts. About choosing each other-again and again-even when the world keeps pulling you apart. And maybe... about finding your way back when you never really let go. Story Snippet: ---- And she hasn't looked at me in twenty minutes. I know it's not personal. I know she's not trying to be cold. But it feels like I'm on the outside of something I didn't even know I could be outside of. I swallow hard and move toward her before I can talk myself out of it. She glances up as I approach, blinking like she didn't expect me to come over. Her smile flickers but doesn't quite fade. I reach for the hem of her hoodie and tug on it lightly-just enough for her to feel it. "Maddie," I say, quietly. "I really don't like this." Her body stills. She looks at me, really looks at me now, and the sound of the others fades a little. Her eyes soften, but her shoulders don't drop. Not yet. ---- Continuation of "The Softest Parts of Me" Book 1 I highly suggest reading the first book before this one!!! I post Chapter Updates daily! (cover pic is from pinterest)Complete
Everything Changes
Aria had a simple life, she had her friends, her brother, and her parents. At the time she thought life couldn't get any better; minus the guy she was in love with was having a hard time noticing she's the one. But when tragedy strikes, she doesn't know how to deal with it. Losing someone close to her and the guilt that eats away at her heart. How do you deal with it? The life she had known was gone. The pain feels like drowning. Though putting your life together is hard when you keep finding out people aren't who they say they are. Who could possibly help her keep her head above water? Someone she least expected? Could he be the one to save her, before it all becomes too much? Ryder didn't leave much falsehood to rumors. A complete playboy. He didn't have much he cared about in life anymore, at least, other than his friends. They were the only ones who knew his dark secrets, the mystery that hid in his eyes. That's the way he liked it, usually keeping to himself, not giving a shit what anyone thought about him. When Aria walks in his life, things get shaken up. Now, life starts getting a little more interesting.Complete
Burning Bright
Ember Hayes has one year left to live. At nineteen, she should be worried about college parties, first kisses, and what to do with the rest of her life. Instead, she's making peace with the fact that she won't have a "rest of her life." When her three childhood best friends discover her secret, they make her a promise: one last perfect year. No hospitals, no pity, no holding back. Just life-raw, real, and blazing bright. Caspian Moore, the golden boy who never stopped believing in fairy tales. Declan Cross, the brooding artist who sees beauty in broken things. Wolf Quinn, the reckless adrenaline junkie who's been running from his own demons. What starts as a mission to give Ember every first she's never had becomes something none of them expected: a love story that defies every rule. They're not supposed to share her. She's not supposed to love all three. And none of them are supposed to fall this hard for someone they're destined to lose. But Ember is done playing it safe. If she only has one year, she's going to live it loving fearlessly, even if it breaks all their hearts in the end. A heartbreaking and beautiful story about first love, last chances, and the courage it takes to burn bright instead of fading away.Complete
Ava Grey is your ordinary, yet ambitious high school girl, enduring life with her friends by her side. Later on, she finds out that the school's jock is her next-door neighbor, and they form a unique and inevitable connection. Asher Cooper is the well-known jock at Eastwood High School. Although he has serious issues in his real life, he's good at hiding them and his emotions. He forms a special friendship with Ava Grey and decides to provide her with unforgettable adventures and memories to liven her senior year, yet he doesn't like how good she is at reading his lies and true feelings. Does their valuable friendship last? --------------- " How about we forget about everything that's happening in our miserable lives right now and just be ourselves ?" I say all in one deep breath with a really convincing voice. " Under one condition, brunette." " Did I mention you're also very complicated ?"I point out as she rolls her eyes. " Your condition ?" " Later on, you tell me about your miserable life, because I feel like I just told you about my past, present, and soon enough I'll start talking about my future. So?" I sigh, running a hand through my hair. " Whatever you want, Grey." She smiles. " Now my idea?" " I like this side of you, Asher Cooper and I hope I see more of it. " " Don't get used to it Grey, because for now you'll have to see the competitive side of me. " and with that I smack the ball out of her hands as she gasps and I start dribbling the ball away with my feet that are full of energy. --------------- What happens to this strong and valuable friendship? WARNING: Strong language, Violence, Cliche ( 100% ) Started February 12 2018 Status: Completed (September 29, 2020)
More detailsContent Guidelines