Short Story

Jenna was thinking about Aubrey. She hadn’t meant to but she was now. She sat with her back against her pillows, legs tucked in to her chest. Her warm mug burned her hands as she held it between her knees, waiting for it to cool off. A novel and some textbooks lay at her feet but she didn’t feel like reading them. She looked out the window through the rain, tucking a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear. It was pouring and the sound of it tapping against her window comforted Jenna and made her relaxed. She felt the most at ease she had been in weeks. Finally she could stop pushing down everything she was feeling, and start reflecting. She thought of Aubrey and realized that she missed her. She wondered if Aubrey was still upset;

Abby moves around her chair, like an overexcited puppy, there was something she couldn’t wait to tell us “Well last night I went to this book fair and I went to one of the stands and there was a book called “Just Babies” and I found it so fascinating. It really makes you think about how we are as human beings and how babies behave.”

“Just think, Jan, if we continued on we could reach Highgarden in three days.” Alayna pointed out as she and Janna road ahead of the rest of their group.

the pungent aroma of beer, drugs, smoke, sweat, and other questionable smells hit her as she stepped through the door frame, cringing slightly as her nose wrinkled. she instinctively pressed closer to ryan, eyes flitting nervously around the crowded room, flinching slightly at each loud shout, cry, or moan, uncomfortably tugging at the bottom of her shorts in an attempt to make them seem longer. her feet drug reluctantly on the carpet as she held her distance from the strangers, her arms crossed defensively around herself. her shoulders were slumped, clearly unsettle, much unlike her friends who were grinning and whooping from next to her. what with her tense posture and furrowed brows, she stuck out like a sore thumb.

When she woke they were in that little fishing village where she had stopped to eat. Only it wasn’t Keegan and Luc in the car with her; it was Ash driving and a Vampire sitting next to her in the backseat. Shimmer glanced up at the Vampire when he smiled at her inquiring. “How do you feel?” Shimmer moved to sit up in the seat when the Vampire reached over to help her. “I feel better, what happen? Where are Keegan and Luc?” The Vampire answered. “Keegan and Luc are in the truck behind us.” Shimmer turned in her seat to see them, and spotted Luc waving at her, she waved back, then relaxed against the seat. Ash started to introduce the Vampire. “This is Jasper Bay my Master and,…” “My Vampire.” Shimmer finished his sentence. She already knew he was her Vampire she felt the connection the moment their eyes met. Shimmer felt a wave of panic come over, and noticed Ash’s shoulders grow tense with her panic. He turned to look at her and she yelled. “Watch the road.” Ash laughed, then asked what was that panic for?” Jasper glanced down at her. “Panic? Why are in a panic?” She could hear the stress in his voice. “I’m not in a panic, I was thinking about my parents and their worry over me.” Jasper smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I contacted your father and let him know we got you out of Hades and are on our way back. Consequently at the speed we are traveling, we should be back before sunrise, --- I

Pushing her mirrored sunglasses atop her head Sophie smiled against Adam’s lips, her hands trailing up the hard muscles of his back. “Mmmm no, I’ve never been to such an amazing place.” On their plane’s descent onto the island and on the ride from the airport she had been pressed against the windows, big hazel eyes trying to drink in all of the lush vegetation and natural beauty of the world around them. “But I’m sure I can find some satisfactory way to repay your generosity…” As she spoke the teen rubbed her hips sensually against his, a teasing grin lighting up her features.

“I know you’re longing to get out of here and explore on your own, and today your request is granted, but on one condition – you must take Sparkle with you, as she knows more than you do. She will make sure you return here safely. The ruling power has surely run your image through facial recognition software, and the dark elves are curious about you.

"So you could be anyone?"She asked, rolling onto her side. "You could be a prince."

He continued to talk with no expression on his face, “She was my everything. No one understood me like her. When everyone turned their backs on me, she was there.”

Happily looking forward to this new life we were giving each other, we were unprepared for what came next. Slipping away from the kids, Billy decided to treat me to lunch on a rare weekend off. Sitting on the table between us, his cell phone rang. Glancing at the number he gave it a puzzled look, it was from his National Guard Unit. Answering, I could only hear his side of the conversation.

"Are you sure you don't want me to carry it?" Clary asked, watching as Simon struggled to carry both their backpacks and Clary's painting. "At least let me carry my own backpack." She insisted. "Nah." He panted and sweat was forming on his brow. "All good." But he looks like he might fall over any moment. "Alright, Superman." She reached and pulled her backpack off his shoulder and sung it back over her own. His back straightened. "I was fine." He argued, but she could see the relief in his eyes. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and looked over her painting again. "You did really good, Fray. Looks just like it." He praised, and she smiled. Her walks home with her Simon were her favorite part of the day. They had just recently talked Jocelyn into letting them walk back and forth from school together. Simon didn't look scary, but if anyone tried to hurt her she was pretty sure he'd

The tape started, “All I remember was running. Debris, blood, water, needles, and bodies lay on the floor as I ran. I hurdled a body as I sprinted down the hall towards what I thought was a right turn, but I was sadly mistaken. Like a mouse in a trap, I shook as I turned to the tidal wave filled with the same items and carcasses. I closed my eyes and accepted my fate as the wave rolled closer and got taller and taller. My eyes opened in shock as I heard the last toll of the bell, the locks to the doors of the house clicked, and the tidal wave evaporated as my own tidal wave of relief and freedom rolled through me. I walked out the door, tired, dirty, and scarred for life. The walk to the police station was easy compared to what I endured.

There is nothing amazing about being a wannabe YouTube star, however my neighbor, a tall, greedy, e-begging, neckbeard seemed to believe otherwise. His large YouTube channel was an excellent measuring tool for his insatiable ego. He had made a steady living over the years from his pseudo-intellectual rants covering a wide variety of topics. He also did a fair number of internet challenges so he could get some money from the high number of views they received. Needless to say, he was a greedy person. He could eat his own weight in cake, and was probably about two happy meals away from a mobility scooter. He was a chronic narcissist who also owned a podcast with three other people. You’ve got the man himself, his brother wearing sunglasses

Anxious bodies scurried out of the car and into a building. Julia ran up to someone with squeals, greeting the stranger with a hug. As they moved apart, the rest of us had slight confusion, “This is Rose, my friend I told you about,” Julia said. Rose had piercing eyes that one could get surely get lost in. Her face was plump, her dimples appeared when the group said their quick greetings, I returned the smile as I introduced myself. “I like you necklace,” Rose explained to me.

2 pip Twenty million rand worth of shares... - How does that sound to you? - Twenty million? I thought you wanted to think things through. I have.