I’m Annie, and I work at Nest Ventures. My email signature says Secretary to The Regional Director, though my official title is Executive Assistant to the Regional Director. This is pompous Americanism, which I despise, as I’m just a humble Secretary. I joined Nest two years after its creation, when there was already another EA/Secretary: Angela, though she was, and remains, in Seattle. Who I report to hasn’t changed; it’...

It was love at first sight for me. The minute I saw her, I knew I wanted her. Her curves drove me crazy. She could stand out in any crowd. Alas, like most young men, I soon got bored and wanted to move on. It wasn’t long before I started jumping from one to another. Somehow, none were as satisfying as my first love. Despite her many faults, she was still my first. Now that I’m older; I would give anything to have her back...

I come up on deck laughing... then freeze, instantly transported in time.  That smell, that unforgettable cloying aroma of funnel cake and sunburned skin leaves me reeling mid-laughter. I start trembling where I stand, unprepared for the whirring picture reel of memories that appear unbidden behind blindly staring eyes. I don't notice Bob talking. I don't notice anything except the screams of children living life at their...

Morning Mist burning offSoulful sound of loons in the distance.Two young friends,about to find love.Oars in the water,making ripples to the shore.Her brown eyes so bright,bouncing off the water.Water splashing her arms,balled up fists.As you laugh,your heart melts.Two friends,on their lake.Now two lovers,finding themselves.Falling madly in love.  

Paris … ah Paris … he had been in love with the city since that magical day in April fifty five years before when he had stepped off the train at the Gare du Nord and walked out of the station into the bustle of the busy streets of the capital. He was a country born and had lived all his life on his father’s farm and his mother had decided that now he was fifteen it was time he saw something of the wider world. He was a q...

I lie in bed at night, softly crying out your name;Because you touched my heart, I'll never be the same; You held me very gently, with much tenderness and care,But you gave me only a moment of your love and life to share;Now that you are gone, forever from my life;I have no other choice, but to endure the pain and strife;I don't want any other; you are all I'd ever need;I wish that I could reach you, make you hear my hear...

"These things suck!" I turned and looked at the girl who stood beside me and raised an eyebrow in question. She gestured at the garishly decorated gymnasium. "This! It sucks!" She pointed at Jessica Wheeler, the head of the junior varsity cheer squad. "These things are designed for girls like her to have a good time." She then gestured between the two of us. "And for girls like us to be reminded of what losers we are." Th...

"I don't understand why I have to be there," Teagan whined from where he sat at his desk. Textbooks and note pads surrounded him, along with empty snack bags and soda cans. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him through narrowed eyes. He couldn't be serious, right? There was no way. "Are you for real?" I demanded. The look I got in return told me he was. I uncrossed my arms and slammed my hands down onto my hip...

"I really don't think this is one of your better ideas, baby," I told Teagan with some trepidation. I hung back as we approached the restaurant; I was sure it was going to end in a disaster much worse than when I met his friends the first time. It didn't help this was the same place, either.He shot me a look as he reached past me and opened the door for me. "I don't care if it's a bad idea or not, Aislinn." He waved me th...

Once a child With a world so wide The sky so close I could spread my arms like wings Reach for the warmth of the sun Feel the fall of rainbows Washing over me Leaving me vivid I was color  Soft like petals  Opening for the first time Mouthing words  Becoming sound Spelling my own name Always Dreaming forward More than a girl Less than a woman Learning power  The curve of my smile To sway my own hips A request to hold my h...

"Now, what's a pretty girl like you doing in a dump like this?"The question was so corny that I had no choice but to laugh. I looked up from the book I had been reading while eating my dinner to see Ryan gazing down at me. Seeing my amusement, he gave me a smug look."Well, had I known that cheesy pickup lines were the key to you not being hostile, I'd have used it a long time ago," he said. "I've built up quite the collec...

“I’m sorry, what?” A frustrated sigh met my question and I fought the urge to take my annoyance out on the owner of the said sigh. “For the third time,” Ryan grumbled, “Do you want to see one of the movies that are on the syllabus? Or do you want to do a book report first?” I stared at him blankly, having no idea what he was talking about. The entire concept of studying for my classes seemed inconsequential these days. Ev...

DECISIVE MOMENTS – CHAPTER 7 “Hey, man! Can I borrow your shaving cream? I’m out.” I turned to see Connor standing at the bottom of the stairs. He was glancing into the kitchen where Teagan was cooking. I had offered to help but was turned down with an emphatic no! I still hadn’t gotten any better with my dismal culinary skills. I found it rather offensive that the two of them continued to remind me of this, however. “Yea...

Decisive Moments – Chapter 6 When I walked into the kitchen the following morning and saw Connor sitting at the table, I had to fight not to turn around and run. Teagan had left earlier to catch up with his early morning study group, so I had no buffer. I was comfortable with the step that we had taken the previous night. But the thought of my brother knowing anything was mortifying. It didn’t help that every time I thoug...

She was the product of four different diasporas - Armenian, French, Greek and Scottish - and this showed in her features; her face was long and thin, with freckles spread across it like stars on a cloudless night, her nose was large and beak-like and her eyes, wide, understanding, and a deep chocolatey brown that clashed so shockingly and wonderfully against her thick tresses of curly red hair. She was everything I had ev...