[Mid June]

“That’s it… I’m done with school,” announced Kym as she returned home after her last exam.

“How did it go?” I asked more out of need than anything else. Her body language told me that she thought that she’d done well.

Living Next Door to Alex
By Julie D Cole

I vividly recall that grey autumn morning. How could I ever forget it? I’d decided to stay in bed daydreaming and thinking of what I could do to change my mundane life. The house was empty since mum and dad were away for the weekend so I could stay in bed all day if I felt like it.

Suddenly I jumped. I was disturbed by a message on my mobile phone so naturally I picked it up to see who might be interrupting my Saturday lie in. It was Sally my long-time friend from our schooldays who kept a frequent contact with me and was always trying to coax me to socialise together. What excuse could I give her today since she knew I was at home alone.

As I sit and watch the thunderstorm’s fury unleashed on the city I realize that my life reflects the activity of the storm. I sit here in my friend’s garage shut away from the world hiding from my past. I can’t believe that people can be so cruel and heartless. Well maybe I can’t accuse the whole world of being cruel as I have at least two friends.

I don’t really understand why people have to be so mean when they find out someone is different. Let me go back to the beginning, as it seems that I need to get this burden off my chest.

Andrew’s clothes had just about reached the end of their useful existence when he found the four boxes of clothes in front of the bins. The holes in his shoes had been letting water in for some time, his jeans had more holes than material and his shirt was ripped to shreds as a result of a fight over some thrown out food he’d been eating. He’s lost the fight, the food and more significantly a lot of warmth due to his damaged clothing. The boxes of clothing contained items from a charity shop that hadn’t sold. After three months anything still on the racks was dumped to make way for newer stock. After ratching through the boxes all the way to the bottom, twice, he realised they only contained women’s and girls’ clothes. The solitary pair of foot ware in the largest box was a pink pair of girl’s trainers, [sneakers] but they fit him and were watertight. There were no jeans nor trousers of any description in the boxes.

Life had made the young Andrew cynical, and he suspected if they had their hands on him Social Services would naturally return him to his mother simply because it was the most obvious f*** up they could make.

Link: Every Day Is Your Last Title Page and Description

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Sitting in Erica's office reading the printed copy of the finished manuscript, Brooke flipped through the final pages as she read the words, tears filling her eyes at the remembered heartbreak of losing her best friends. Wiping them away, she finally put down the papers.

Monday, January 31, 2022, 3:01 a.m.

Nyx changes out her chest plate for her armor. She’ll have to rebuild her older armor chest plate. While she is getting the replacement, she runs the list of local supply places you could get what was needed. She knew that the material needed to repair the other armor was special.

It was going to require specialized equipment as well. She does some research to see if she could locate some companies that would either carry the equipment. A long list appears on her computer screen. She tries narrowing it down, but there were just too many places.

 
Supplement 4 - Lizbeth
 
“I know you,” the younger saleslady declared at last. Shit! It was the last thing I wanted – to meet someone I know. Or someone who knew me but I didn’t.

“But won’t I be late for rehearsal?” I asked Bailey as we emerged from the 14th Street subway station into the late morning sun.

[Early September]
"Well, love it is your first day at a new school and in a new country and… as the new you. I know that it will all be rather strange at first and very different from Park View High, but the new girl will be the centre of attention at first, so just be careful, eh?"

 
Supplement 3 - Agreement
 
“It’s like balancing over a thin line. Feminine inside and not masculine outside. Like tomboy. No obligations. But then puberty will come. It always comes. And that thin line becomes a razorblade. It will cut you in half.”

 
Supplement 2 - Alice's Prom
 
“What she had glued on you?” Steve asked.
“Falsies. Breasts.” I replied.
“Where?”
“Here, on my chest,” I pointed to my chest.
Steve gaped at me for a while.
“These are pimples,” he said at last.

Chapter Three – The Scorpion Bitch

The climax to this story of intrigue, danger, love and betrayal. Jennifer Jones and Penelope Bishop team up and betray a friend in order to bring an evil criminal to justice but can two women who admire and despise each other so much really reconcile?

Mare's Tales - Chapter 27 – by: Beverly Taff