Tracy lay back slowly, a look of confusion all over her face. “Water.” She said in a raspy voice. Conner held up a glass with a straw and he let Tracy take a drink. Then he pulled it away in mid drink. She tired to follow the straw, but he held her back again.

“She's with Modine in the cafeteria. She needed a break. We've been taking turns with you and Modine.” He said, then he sighed. “Tell me Troy, what do you remember?”

Images 28

Chapter 28

It takes me awhile to get a hold of myself. All the adrenaline is starting to wind out of me and I’m starting to feel all my hurts. The welts from the paintballs, the tackling and the all out fighting. My arms and my hands are killing me. Angie comes over from somewhere with things of ice for my and some pills for the pain. She looks me in the eyes and fresh tears spill out of hers and she hugs me. “Oh God Jenna, thank you, thank you, thank you…I knew some of the kids were having issues with Hunter but…Oh thank you honey.”

Playground Matters.
By Angharad.

Tina’s results in school had been less than her usual average for some months. This was her third school in the past twelve months. Her parents were worried, the teachers were concerned. Something was going on but what?

Cerys Evans–her with the strange accent–had taken to the new girl almost immediately, and Tina had responded–at least to begin with–now she tended to avoid the young teacher.

Open Your Heart
by Abigail Drew

Chapter Two

“Bicycle bicycle bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle!” Drew sang as he rode along, taking his daily ten. “Bicycle —” just then the singing was interrupted — though the music he was singing to could still be faintly heard from the multimedia phone clipped inside his shirt to his bra — by the screech of tires as a car rapidly slowed, and then honked at him. The passenger window rolled down, and the universal signal of disrespect appeared before Drew’s face. “Get over yourself! I’m right where I’m supposed to be, you gotta problem, take it up with the government!” Drew yelled back as the car squealed its tires when it accelerated too fast whilst departing. “Friggen morons,” he muttered as he cranked his small gears up another sprocket.

“So no Tracy?” Shelly asked.

Maggie nodded. “Tracy was so lively on the way down here. I think she talked from home to Tracy, the town, where she changed. Once she changed, Troy was miserable.” She shook her head. “Maybe I shouldn't have let her be Tracy for the ride.”

Open Your Heart
by Abigail Drew

Chapter One

“Open your heart!” Rang out from a tenor voice that was well off-key but enthusiastic just as lightning flashed nearby. “Open your heart!” it rang again as the peal of thunder roared loud enough as to, almost, drown out the singers voice. “Open your heart! To eternal dimension!” It sang again, and then grunted as, synchronously, the soft metallic thud of a shovel hitting dirt could be heard. “Open your heart! For love and affection,” the distinctive sound of dirt being thrown into a trash can. “Open your heart! Your every emotion,” and a flash of lightning. “Open your heart! For tears and rejection!” Thunder crashed as the “n” could be heard.

A frown appeared on William's face. His voice was a whisper again. “I have been pretty bad to him, Vance too. Hell, I'd be surprised if he doesn't hate me by now.”

“A few months back, before mom called me on it at her place, I would have. But I'm trying to get better.” He squeezed his wife once more. “So, no letting on that I know. I think I can do that.”

“And you're worried that you're doing something that may hurt him later?” Shelly asked.

“He's only eleven. He doesn't even know about that yet.” Maggie groaned. “At least I hope he doesn't. I'm not ready for my baby to grow up that soon.”

“I hear there was some trouble at school today. Would you like to tell me what happened?” William asked as Troy took a seat. His face showed no emotions, but the boys could tell how he forced himself to speak in a calm to that he wasn't pleased. The big man shut off the TV, forcing Vance to pay attention to him. He stood in front of them, arms crossed and looking none to happy.

William looked at Vance. “I thought they were your friends.”