For the next four days heavy metal music filled most of Alex's waking hours. It was angry and loud and distorted. He skipped the occasional tracks on Spotify that attempted metal's version of compassion (Disturbed's cover of Sound of Silence in particular) and preferred songs with minimal lyrics. His head banged. His head avoided thought. To add to his mis...
“What the hell is going on here?” Phoenix asked Trinity as he stepped out of the water. “None of this makes sense. Why would Joshua eliminate Paige from the picture when she was on his side? What did he have to gain by doing that?” “I’m not sure, Phoenix.” She used his codename hoping to get him to focus. As she looked at him a thought crossed her mind. “Ma...
Chapter 3: Enjoying the Moment "Thanks babe." I said as Bobby finished tying my tie. "No problem." He answered adjusting the knot and giving it a final pat. This was it, in a couple of hours we would no longer be in high school. We headed downstairs, with our caps and gowns in tow. Bobby's parents, his grandmother, his mom's sister, and Emily were gathere...
Author's Note: In Icelandic folklore, there are many tales of huldufolk—the hidden people. One tells of ljuflingur, huldumen known to seduce and impregnate human women ('ljuflingur' means 'beloved' in Icelandic). Many thanks to mac ropis for the thoughtful comments, spelling/grammar check, and insightful questions! Volunteer Editors are the best idea since...
We ended up spending the night at the twins' place. Their bed wasn't meant for four people— at least not for actual sleeping— but we made it work. We basically got really friendly: whenever one of us moved, the rest of us would feel it. When I woke up the next morning, I found our blanket had fallen to the floor, and a bunch of our limbs were draped over th...
I cracked my eyes open and sighed. I had just woken up from yet another dream about Chris McCray. The entire night I had been in and out of sleep, my dreams dominated by a certain male celebrity. The sun shone in through the window and I looked over at my bedside clock, seeing that it was just before 8. I yawned, still feeling like I could sleep a few more h...
Chapter 28: Happy Birthday Merrick yawned as he walked out of Adam's bedroom, having slept in several hours after Adam has gone to work. As he walked the hall, he looked and giggled as he saw Nick on Jamal's bed, buck-naked and hugging a pillow. He walked in, and hopped onto the sleeping Latino. "Wake up, Nick! It's going on noon!" He said playfully. Nic...
"Come on, Erik, just do it!" Ryan said. I groaned at his insistence and leaned back against the side of my bed. We were hanging out at my house in California. I had a private beach on the Pacific Ocean and everything. I was damn lucky that my rich parents felt guilty after kicking me out when I came out to them. They still paid for college and gave me this...
As I ate my lasagna at the dinner table, Mom and Dad were talking to Mickey about school. I used to be like Mickey, talkative, and exciting and stuff. Once popular at school. But, I went through this antisocial stage in eight grade and that was the end of that stuff, and I became more quiet and secluded. Since then my parents seemed to have forget about me,...
Chapter 5: Home I sit on the side of the pool, my legs dangling over the side into the water, watching Alex swim laps. My nephew is sixteen this year, and in two weeks he'll be starting his last year of high school. He has his father's blond coloring and stocky body, and his mom's sweet disposition. I love hearing from my sister how popular he is in school;...