When the Lights Dimmed
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- Parts 3
MatureOngoing11m
Last published Sat, Aug 2, 2025
Jayana Quinn enters college with high hopes, a bright smile, and a heart eager for new beginnings. She's bubbly, brave, and always the first to make friends. But she doesn't expect her path to cross with Bren Jairo - a quiet, sarcastic scholar who hides behind humor and group chats, and who carries the weight of a one-sided love he can't seem to let go.
What begins as innocent teasing and arcade candy slowly unravels into something more - moments shared between class recordings, late-day walks, and glimpses of who they are beneath the laughter. Jayana sees him: not just the funny guy in the group chat, but a people-pleaser, an introvert, someone fragile beneath it all. And Bren? He sees her, too - the girl who was never just passing by.
Set in the early days of college life, "When the Lights Dimmed" is a quiet, aching story about the connections we don't expect, the words we almost say, and the people who arrive just when the world stops performing.
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18 Going On 30 || h.s. au
They've known each other since they were eleven, inseparable best friends for as long as they can remember, but long distance and spotty behavior causes them to lose touch after graduation. When Maddie and Harry run into each other again ten years later, what happens when feelings that were pushed away begin to resurface? EXCERPT: "How about this..." He suddenly gets an idea, a bold one, but he can't help but share it. "If neither of us are married by thirty, let's get married." Obviously, she'll be married by thirty. She's perfect, and any man who's as dense as a rock could see it. Surely, someone will sweep her off her feet and put a ring on her finger in the next twelve years, it's inevitable with the type of person she is. Deep down he wants it to be him, but he wouldn't dare make a move that could ruin the strongest friendship he's had his entire life. Maddie finds herself smiling at Harry's idea, she loves it. It won't happen though, because some girl in the future is bound to fall in love with Harry and his kind heart, and he'll be head over heels for her too. It's inevitable that someone will fall in love with his dimpled smile and caring soul, and even though Maddie already has, she wouldn't dare make a move that could ruin the strongest friendship she's had her entire life. The age of thirty is twelve years away for them, it's too obvious that nothing will come from this harmless bet. "Deal." "Really?" Harry raises his eyebrows, amused at her response. "Really." They shake hands just as the song comes to an end and another one begins. But Harry doesn't let go of Lainey's hand, instead he catches her off guard by spinning her under his arm and dipping her. "You better not fall in love then." STARTED MARCH 2021 COMPLETED OCTOBER 2021 *NOT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REAL HARRY STYLES OR HIS CAREER*Complete
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You Are the Shell to My Tortoise | ✓
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They've known each other since they were eleven, inseparable best friends for as long as they can remember, but long distance and spotty behavior causes them to lose touch after graduation. When Maddie and Harry run into each other again ten years later, what happens when feelings that were pushed away begin to resurface? EXCERPT: "How about this..." He suddenly gets an idea, a bold one, but he can't help but share it. "If neither of us are married by thirty, let's get married." Obviously, she'll be married by thirty. She's perfect, and any man who's as dense as a rock could see it. Surely, someone will sweep her off her feet and put a ring on her finger in the next twelve years, it's inevitable with the type of person she is. Deep down he wants it to be him, but he wouldn't dare make a move that could ruin the strongest friendship he's had his entire life. Maddie finds herself smiling at Harry's idea, she loves it. It won't happen though, because some girl in the future is bound to fall in love with Harry and his kind heart, and he'll be head over heels for her too. It's inevitable that someone will fall in love with his dimpled smile and caring soul, and even though Maddie already has, she wouldn't dare make a move that could ruin the strongest friendship she's had her entire life. The age of thirty is twelve years away for them, it's too obvious that nothing will come from this harmless bet. "Deal." "Really?" Harry raises his eyebrows, amused at her response. "Really." They shake hands just as the song comes to an end and another one begins. But Harry doesn't let go of Lainey's hand, instead he catches her off guard by spinning her under his arm and dipping her. "You better not fall in love then." STARTED MARCH 2021 COMPLETED OCTOBER 2021 *NOT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REAL HARRY STYLES OR HIS CAREER*
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