I always wondered why hospitals couldn’t have more comfortable beds. Don’t they get millions of dollar? Why do they charge hundreds of thousands of dollars for even the simple operations? Well, I laughed to myself. Of all things to be wondering about, that was what came to my mind. I was sent here for another emergency. I was bit, and damn, it hurt a lot until the doctor came in. Then she got the venom from the bite
out.

Before going to bed, I log into my email account and what do I find? Another email from Joey! Laurie gives me an I-told-you-so look when I tell her.  He sent the email late in the day and attached another of the pictures taken yesterday. He asks how my day went and if I've found out anything about the race on Saturday.

Ugh!  What do I do? I decide to ignore it for the time being. I feel bad to ignoring someone who is trying to be friendly, but Laurie has me concerned that Joey is looking for more than just a friend. Maybe if I send him a thank you email late tomorrow he'll take the hint that I'm not interested in establishing a romantic relationship. Why can't we just be buddies?

Chapter 19: A Night Out

Mrs. Jones came up to me and asked, “Is Dan bothering you girls?”

Dan blanched. Bernie was about to say something, as was Ally, but I got there first. “No, Mrs. Jones. Dan was asking me a question and he deserves an answer. He was not threatening, or anything like that. It’s alright, I think.”

“Ok Em. Let me know if there is any trouble.” Mrs. Jones gave Dan ‘THE’ look, then walked off and I saw Dan quaking in his shoes.

I went to my drawer and pulled out the navy blue tights. I put them on and then put my school trousers back on top. At least that way I would know part of me was a girl, even if no one else knew. Yes, I know. I was asking for trouble. And I got it!

"But we're just friends," I mutter.

"Yeah," she smiles, "get used to it, when you're a girl, it's hard to be 'just friends' with any guy you didn't grow up with. They all get the wrong idea. If you want to flirt with a guy though, don't worry, I won't get jealous. I know Chris'll be back at the end of the summer and, somehow, I don't see Tina stealing my Chris from me."

Chapter 17: Odds & Ends

Crystal Friend Chapter 1 By Mildred Ki'Lya

On her bed was sitting a small creature, about four inches tall, with marvellous green wings. She must have been there for a minute, looking in amazement for the little creature spoke

“So, have you decided to stand up here for the whole night?”

I screamed and jumped all at the same time. My leg went up and got Roger right between his legs hard, I caught him squarely in the crotch.

I saw his eyes go wide open and seemed to bulge out of his head in surprise, then his mouth formed a giant ‘OH’.

15-year-old peter was feeling rotten about himself as he walked to his house. He didn’t how he was going to fix it but he felt like a ass. He hung his head down as he walked down the sidewalk. He couldn’t help it, he felt really ashamed.

Sorry it has taken such a long time to get this chapter posted, but real life just got in the way. If you lost the thread of the story, I recommend you read some of the previous chapters.

As the story stands, Rhod/Em was being slandered by Roger Stoller; a boy he/she had a horrible date with on Saturday. He was bragging how Rhod/Em did all kinds of sexual favors for him on the date, last Saturday. They were all fabricated lies to make him look good in the eyes of the other boys at school. Not realizing he was making it difficult for Rhod/Em. But why should he care?

Rhod/Em left in a huff from school Monday night, when she found out about the lies Roger was spreading about him/her. Even the high school girls were getting upset with Rhod/Em. Rhod/Em was beside herself.

The story continues With Rhod/Em on Tuesday.

He/She wanted to get Roger back and make him confess his lies to the school.

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Upstairs I led him into my old bedroom and seated him on the bed slowly I untied the halter — neck dress and eased it down my body over my hips as he watched.

“You like what you see” I asked “Very much” he replied.

“Good! we aim to please!" I said as I kicked of my pastel blue high heels and moved towards him.

One week after Joseph had first met Holly he was just walking back to his dank little motel room with it's wet carpet that stunk like rotting organic matter. As Joseph ambled along, in no hurry to return to the place he slept at night or the dreams that awaited him there he thought long and hard about all that Holly had said to him.

Due to Joseph's lack of desire to return to the empty room that awaited him, he ended up walking towards the centre of town, where the bustle of the people and the noise of the overall rush of inner city life could drown out the voice of doubt in his head.

“What?” Joseph asked more out of shock then out of curiosity.

“I mean what’s on your mind, I've seen you here every night for the past month and frankly sir, this dive doesn't seem to be your kind of place.”

Echoes Part VI

Melanie Ezell

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Cary tried to pay attention to the movie, but just like the walk to the restaurant he kept finding his eyes wandering over to the beautiful creature next to him. *I REALLY need to talk to Miriam about this. This is insane.* Miriam turned her face away from the screen and smiled at him briefly, and he felt the blood rushing to his cheeks.

The feeling of embarrassment quickly turned to one of surprise. Her face never left the screen as her small hand travelled across the armrest, hovering above his right thigh, before dipping between his legs...