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Author: shirleyannedwards
The Reaping
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The quaint village where Adela Jane lives is surrounded by fear. At night, a centuries old green mist covers the land and controls the animals within the forest. Lately, Adela feels someone or something is following her every move. Unbeknownst to her, the mist waits for the perfect moment to make her his. Adela feels trapped by her small town life and burdened by her love she keeps hidden for her best friend's older brother, Nathan Alexander. But all that changes on her eighteenth birthday when Nathan admits his love and desire to marry her. Adela's joy is cut short when the mist kidnaps her and takes her to his secret underground lair. Her nightmare has only just begun when the mist makes Adela his bride.
What if the Jabberwocky fell in love with Alice from Lewis Caroll's Through the Looking Glass? That's the question tackled in The Reaping. A Young Adult with an atmospheric Gothic feel, and elements from such classic novels, as Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera and John Fowles' The Collector.
Check out these chapters of The Reaping on Wattpad:
The Blackmail of Evelynn Faust
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Evelynn Faust suffers from horrible insomnia and paranoia. The summer before her senior year of high school should be one of the best summers of her life. But she's tormented by guilt and an addiction that haunts her every waking moment. Evelynn is a drug dealer who also craves the drug she sells. The money and the popularity that come with it aren't bad either. But when she's caught dealing on school property by Eric Wagner, the respected and admired police chief's son, the game is over.
He won't snitch on her, unless she gives him whatever he wants – her.
She's being blackmailed.
Evelynn has no one to turn to for help. Not her parents who don't understand her rebellious nature or her circle of friends who only care about partying and getting high. When Adam Tristen moves in across the street, and he wants to get to know her better, it all seems too good to be true.
She must make a pact with the devil.
Evelynn now looks over her shoulder wherever she goes, waiting for Eric to act on his threats. But Adam, the charming college sophomore, sees something special inside Evelynn, and he wants to help her fix mistakes. In order to do that she must confront a dark secret from her past that could destroy her family…her life…and her entire world as she knows it.
She'll need to take a leap of faith.
Chapter One
I'd always had a fear of dying of carbon monoxide poisoning. Dying in such a way would be virtually painless with some dizziness, a headache, and then unconsciousness. I'd end up in the great beyond in less than thirty minutes. But with my recent track record, I was on the road to Hell.
My morbid thoughts dissolved as a helicopter flying somewhere overhead, along with the buzz of the lamp across the street, aligned in a strange harmony. I sat in my rocking chair, watching the annoying lamp post cast a light into my bedroom every night for the past sixteen years. Not that I got much sleep. My bad case of insomnia had worsened after prom. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a breakdown before senior year started in September.
The squeaking of the floorboards as I rocked made me drowsy, but I couldn't fall asleep. The combination of a horrible chest cold and my guilt played a part. For the past week, I went to bed by midnight, would doze until three, and then remained wide awake afterward. I averaged a paltry three hours of sleep a night.
I couldn't go on much longer like this. But I wouldn't kill myself…yet.
Tugging my baby-blue Snuggie higher—a cheesy gift from my parents last Christmas I secretly adored—I tucked it under my chin. You'd think in July I wouldn't be so cold. But, with my flu-like virus, shivers took over my body even though the temperature sat at a balmy seventy-something degrees. Even in my sick condition, I'd opened the windows, worried if I didn't, invisible carbon monoxide fumes would get me. Such a stupid fear. Maybe it would be better to go out by phantom gas instead of the impending fate headed my way.
In less than three days, my blackmailer would return from his vacation and expect me to hand myself over to him. All because of my selfish and greedy actions a few months ago.
Coughing into my hand, phlegm-filled diseased droplets smeared my fingers, sticky and wet. I didn't move to clean them off. Instead, I wiped them on my gray pajama bottoms I'd worn for almost a week.
I snuggled deeper under the blanket and checked the time. A few minutes after five. The sun would rise soon. Sniffing, I pushed away my tangled, unwashed hair I had chopped off last week. When he saw how short I cut my hair, he'd freak out—a small jab that gave me incredible joy.
Rocking again, I studied the blazing street lamp. The bright light caused black spots to appear in front of my eyes. Blinking them away, I ignored the sharp pressure building in my head as the humid breeze shifted my light-purple curtains to the side.
I would continue sitting here for another morning to come—one more day closer to my imminent doom.
A door opened, jolting me awake. I guess I'd fallen asleep. Instead, of the light from the street lamp, the glare of the sun poured through the windows, stinging my eyes. I yawned, still exhausted. Outside, male voices filtered through my window.
I rocked forward, noticing two, light-skinned black guys—one a little older than me, the other much older, probably in his thirties—carrying a couch up the front steps. A U-Haul van parked outside. Behind it, an SUV filled with three more guys in T-shirts and jeans and shorts, all of different races, got out. My cousin Jenn and friend Corrine would have approved of the eye candy. It didn't make much of a difference to me…I had enough guy problems already.
Dad would know who moved in since he knew everything and everyone on the street. It wasn't just nosiness on his part—he had major people skills as the longtime principal of Franklin Hills High, my school. The two guys, who looked like brothers, carried the couch into the house while the rest grabbed furniture from the van.
Stretching, I stood, rubbing my tongue over my teeth. The inside of my mouth tasted foul. Must be from of all the phlegm I'd been coughing up. A crusty stain dried on my pajama bottoms. These would go in the wash.
My alarm clock showed the time as a little after eight. I should be sleeping in, but I was wide awake even though my body ached with this crappy bug I had.
Shuffling to my bedroom door, I opened it. The sounds of the television downstairs reached my ears. My sister Olivia's door remained closed. The only seven-year-old I knew who liked to sleep late and not up at the crack of dawn watching cartoons. She would be buzzing around soon enough to bother me. I had plans this morning which didn't include her.
I went into the bathroom, my bladder full from all the orange juice I drank last night before bed. I craved Mountain Dew, my favorite beverage hands down, but since my insomnia, I'd cut myself off. At least the caffeine-withdrawal shakes had subsided last week. Getting off the Dew had been harder than breaking the pot habit. Smoking up wouldn't be a good thing with my gasping and wheezing from my stupid cold.
Too bad I gave my stash to Jenn last month. What I wouldn't give for one puff.
After flushing, I washed my hands. I may not be up to showering just yet, but washing my hands after using the toilet was mandatory.
My reflection in the vanity mirror almost made me cry. I'd blamed my wacky emotions on the antibiotics I took. I opened the mirrored door, grabbed the script bottle, and swallowed two pills without drinking any water, a skill I had mastered. I then blew my nose. Opening the used tissue, I found the mixture of snot and blood. Nice.
I slam-dunked the tissue into the plastic beige garbage can matching the bathroom wallpaper. My head felt like a hot-air balloon because of my constant blowing and my stuffed up sinuses.
The dark circles under my eyes and my pale face didn't help my mood. No noticeable acne at all—thank you, Baby Jesus. The freckles on my nose had faded due to lack of sun. My hair, once shoulder length, hung in a shaggy mop of brown-and-blonde highlights. It needed major washing and styling, but with no real motivation, I didn't care what I looked like.
I opened the bathroom door and snuck down the stairs because I didn't want to wake the brat. When I reached the bottom, I bypassed the dining room and headed to the kitchen, not remodeled since the 1960s. Oh yeah, we had ancient wooden cabinets and bright-yellow counters. Our stainless-steel appliances were so out of place in the pukey kitchen.
Mom sat at the table smoking a cigarette while she watched some morning news show on the small television on the counter. I yawned and scratched my stomach. My belly-button ring caught on my black tank top.
"Is there enough milk for me to have a bowl of cereal?" I asked, twisting the hoop in my belly.
Mom finished her cigarette and rubbed it out in the ashtray. Dad didn't like her smoking in the house, but when he wasn't around, she did it anyway.
"There should be enough. I'm going to the grocery store today after Olivia's swim lesson." She patted my cheek for some strange reason and opened the refrigerator door.
"I'm having a bowl, and then I'm jogging in the park. Maybe fresh air will unclog my lungs."
She handed over the milk and I grabbed a box of Cheerios from the cabinet. I loved Cheerios with a passion. I used to eat a bowl with a can of Mountain Dew for breakfast. This morning it would have to be orange juice. Bleck.
"You must be feeling better if you have an appetite again and you want to exercise. But I don't think you should run just yet. Your lungs still need to get rid of all the nasty mucus."
Mom worked as the nurse at my school and also taught nutrition classes. The irony wasn't lost on me that she smoked half a pack a day.
"I know, Mom. I'll be careful. I'm just tired of feeling this way. If I haven't hacked up a lung by this point, I won't." I poured the cereal and milk in a bowl and ate standing up.
She filled two glasses with orange juice and drank hers. "When's Eric returning from his cruise?"
I stopped from choking on a soggy Cheerio. "I think Monday. Why?"
"Invite him to dinner one night this week. We can barbeque."
Hell would freeze over before I invited him to dinner. I chugged my juice. "Why? He isn't a friend."
Mom crossed her arms. "The facts tell me otherwise. You went to prom with him, and he's driven you home from school." She sent me an arrogant grin. "I know you two are serious."
I set down my glass. "No, we're not. I can't help it if the guy likes me. I went to prom with him because he all but got down on his knees in front of the whole school to ask. He can be pretty annoying."
She tapped her pink acrylic nails on her glass, her eyes blazing in annoyance. "Evelynn, what's going on with you? I know you're sick, but the last few weeks you've been less than ideal to be around. You cut off your beautiful hair, leaving a rat's nest on your head, which for the life of me I can't understand why. You treat your sister, who adores you, like she's nothing, and for no reason I can think of, you can't stand one of the sweetest and most attractive boys at your school. I don't know what to do with you! All you care about is jogging and nothing else. Something's got to give here."
Dragging my hand through my short strands, I swallowed the urge to scream. "You forgot about my strange taste in music."
"You've told me countless times how disappointing I am, especially because I won't go out of my way to be kinder to the police chief's son. I think you're using me to get Daddy into a cushier position with more money."
When she pinched her lips together, I knew I'd gone too far. "I'm done speaking with you. Go wake up your sister. You should be thrilled someone like Eric wants to date you because, honestly, I don't know what other guy would with your piss-poor attitude and how you dress like a hobo sometimes." She waved me away. "Get out of my sight before we both say something else we'll regret."
I stomped up the stairs. My mother wanted me to be a virginal sacrifice for the good of our family.
The joke was on her because I wasn't virgin. I'd stopped being a sacrifice way before the night Eric coerced me into having sex with him in order to save myself.
Chapter Two
I banged on my sister's bedroom door then went in my room, leaving the door open. I chose clean underwear, a sports bra, shorts, a T-shirt, and socks. As I rolled deodorant under my arms, Olivia's door opened. She strolled over my threshold, wearing her bright-aqua nightgown with some Disney princess on it.
"Evie!" She ran to hug me.
I held out my hands to stop her. "Nuh-uh, Liv. Remember I'm sick?" I placed my hands on my hips, standing in all my naked glory for her to see.
She gave me an adorable pout. I longed to comb her blonde, bedhead curls. Instead, I hopped on one foot, pulling on my underwear.
She zoned in on my chest.
"What?" I asked, putting on my bra.
"Will my nippies jiggle like yours soon?" She poked to her own microscopic ones.
I gulped down a laugh and started coughing. "Go downstairs for breakfast. But be careful because Mom isn't in a good mood."
"Why's Mommy mad?" She rubbed the bottom of her foot on top of her other one.
"She just is. Go." I gave her a small push.
"After swim class, you wanna play Barbies with me?" She stood in the hallway while I sat on my bed, tying my running shoes. Her bottom lip quivered, as if she knew I would say no. The last time I said no, she cried and ran to Mom, who gave me shit for it.
"Let me see how I'm feeling, okay?"
Her whole face brightened, and she nodded. "Can we go to the park also?"
I did some stretching exercises. "Don't push it Pee-Wee. Go play or something."
She giggled and ran downstairs. Olivia was the only one in my family who acted like she loved me. It had been too long since I'd seen the expression in my parents' eyes. I wasn't sure if I even cared whether they loved me or not. It had been so long since we said "I love you" to one another.
I walked down my front steps, my iPod on pause and my earbuds in my ears. I did a few more stretches. No one came out of the house across the street. Some sort of salsa-sounding music played inside, the music filtering through the open windows and front door. I guess the guys had taken a break.
No longer a concern, I speed walked down the sidewalk, listening to Jamiroquai's Greatest Hits album, my pre-run jam. I stared ahead through my sunglasses, striding along the streets I knew so well even with my eyes closed.
When I walked or ran, I took the three-mile trek around the neighborhood. I'd then run around the million-dollar track in the park near my house. The urgency to run, to kick back my legs and let my mind wander was all the motivation I needed.
Now enveloped in the sounds of Amy Winehouse, I strode into the park. People walked their dogs, and too many kids to count ran crazy in the playground. A soccer game took place in the middle of the green, surrounded by the track. I enjoyed running on the oval asphalt. It helped me forget all the stupid drama in my life.
Bracing myself for some wicked burning in my lungs, I started jogging. I wanted to run the New York City Marathon before I graduated high school, but I still needed more training. I hoped to increase my time and commitment when school started again.
My senior year would be different from my junior year. But even after my big mistake, I had bought three-hundred-dollar running shoes—the best investment of my life so far. They made my feet light on the track. When I completed my twentieth turn, a stitch jabbed my side. I slowed to a gait, drenched to the skin with sweat. Bending over, I coughed up more mucky mucus. My lungs were on fire, and my head spun. I moved off to the side. Taking some deep breaths, I spit on the grass—greenish-colored snot with some blood mixed in.
"Gross." I shook my head to relieve the pounding pressure there.
"You're sweaty as hell, but I still find you very sexy."
I froze at the familiar voice responsible for my insomnia. Closing my eyes, I turned down Bessie Smith's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" playing in my ears. Crap on a stick. He wasn't supposed to be home for another three days.
"Hey, Eric." I waved instead of running in the opposite direction.
He leaned on the other side of the fence. Crooking a finger, he beckoned me closer. I didn't obey.
"I thought you were coming home on Monday."
He smirked. Eric did it a lot. I wonder how he would react if he knew I called him Smirky McSmirkson behind his back.
"Oh? I thought I told you I'd be home yesterday evening? Oops, my bad. You look like you're going to pass out. You should quit running for the rest of the day."
I pulled my sunglasses down low on my nose, betraying nothing.
"Nice haircut." He scanned my face with his judging eyes. "A way to stick it to me?"
"It's not always about you."
"You sure? We have a difference of opinion, then." He crossed his arms. He wore a dark-blue T-shirt with the Franklin Hills police logo in the middle. His jeans were also a dark color, which he filled out pretty well. We were total opposites in appearance and personality. His jet-black hair and tanned skin contrasted my bland-a-a-auburn tresses and pale skin which only got color when sunburned. He had tight muscles and a flat stomach with cut abs, while I had my share of dimples and cellulite, although I wasn't "fat" in the technical sense. I was pretty average, with the exception of my legs, and my thighs because of my years of track and field.
Any girl would be thrilled to have Eric Wagner's attention. Not me.
"Let's take a walk." His far-too-broad smile allowed dimples in his cheeks to appear.
He hadn't asked. He'd ordered and expected to be obeyed. Must be a personality trait handed down in the genes. His father, Chief Wagner, acted the same way. They probably thought it was a good way to get people to respect them.
I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. When your blackmailer tells you to do something, you do it.
"Don't touch me. I-I'm sticky with sweat and getting over a virus."
Eric walked beside me, an arrogant smirk still on his face. "Sure, Evie."
Only Olivia had the right to call me Evie. Not him. "I'm serious." I let out a cough, not a fake one but a deep, chest-numbing painful one. "You can check my bloody snot I coughed up on the grass near the track as proof."
He hung his arm around my shoulders, ignoring my comment. "I don't mind a little sweat. Didn't matter to me on prom night."
I tried moving out from under his grip, but he held on too tight. I stopped from saying something stupid. Eric acted easygoing, but he had a temper. I'd seen it many times before. I had been on the end of it, starting a few months ago when he cornered me in the girls' bathroom at school after prom. He didn't like rejection, and he'd made a point to show it.
"I can't stay out too long. It's been days since I showered, and I promised Olivia I'd play with her."
He squeezed my shoulder. "You're the first one I wanted to see when I got home last night. I couldn't sleep and woke up as the sun rose."
Both of us couldn't sleep—but for two very different reasons.
"Why don't we sit on the bench?" I moved toward one near the baseball field in full sight of the players there.
"Let's go over by the trees and the shade."
Again, I didn't have much of a choice. What Eric wanted, he got.
I light breeze blew under the big oaks I used to climb as a kid. Eric balanced his arm on a branch near my head, boxing me in. An inch or two over six feet to my five feet four inches, he loomed over me.
Tugging my sunglasses off my head, I set them on my nose again. "How was the cruise? One of those ten-days-at-sea excursions, right?" I asked politely, even though I didn't give a rat's ass about his cruise or what he'd done on the ship. Why couldn't he have fallen overboard into the Atlantic?
"I had a great time. I sunbathed, went jet skiing and parasailing in Aruba. Staying in Miami Beach after the cruise rocked. I had a few special fruity drinks, if you know what I mean." He waggled his eyebrows, trying to be cute.
"I bet you partied with a lot of hot girls."
He moved in closer. "There were some hotties, but you don't have to be jealous. I didn't sleep with any of them."
Ugh. Tilting my glasses down, I gave him a hard glare. "I don't care either way if you slept with one girl or had two at the same time while you were there."
"Why wouldn't you? After our prom night, I'd never cheat on you." His brows dipped, and he seemed confused.
I let out a deep exhale. "Eric, you're not getting it. We're not together as a couple. Just because we had sex for a few hours after prom doesn't mean anything. You have my permission to see other girls and do whatever you want with them."
I stepped back, but he grabbed my arm. I would've struggled, but I didn't want him to think he repelled me.
"You can't act like you don't care." He lowered his face to mine. "We were both virgins."
He was so clueless. He wasn't my first. "Whatever." I shrugged. "The situation called for it."
He gripped my upper arm harder. "What the hell are you talking about?"
I rolled my eyes and rubbed my nose. "You forced me to go to prom with you and expected me to have sex with you. I did those things, not because I wanted to, but because you blackmailed me. Did you really think after prom, I'd fall in love with you and want to be your girl?"
He moved away, his hands crossed behind his head—which he often did right before he lost his temper. But, I didn't think he would hurt me in such a public place. He had a reputation to uphold because of his family name.
"Evi…Evelynn, I've wanted to be more than just friends since we were in middle school. I'm not blackmailing you. I'm protecting you because I love you." Tears shone in his eyes.
He lived in fantasyland if he thought we were friends. In middle school, we would hang out every so often, usually with a group of people or at birthday parties. But by high school, my attention had moved elsewhere. He wanted to be the big man on campus, while I wanted to stay off to the side and observe and watch people walk by. We weren't compatible at all.
"I don't know what else to say to you." I lifted my hands in the air, frustrated. "You're not protecting me. If you were, you wouldn't keep bothering me and making me do things I don't want to do. A friend would ignore what they saw and never bring it up again."
He seized my arms and pushed me against the tree. His icy stare made my stomach cramp.
"Are you saying you don't smoke up anymore and you told your cousin to stop selling? I bet you haven't. You'll pick it up again because you need money to buy the things you want."
I turned my face away to escape his harsh breath. His mouth brushed my cheek, and I flinched.
"I know your eight-dollar-an-hour babysitting job didn't buy the running shoes you're wearing. Whatever you think, Evie, I can't let what you did at school slide. You broke the law. I can't let you off without any consequences. This isn't some petty crime. Dealing drugs on school property is a major offense."
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, trying not to cough. "Then turn me and my cousin in. I'll live with the consequences."
"What about your dad? Could you live with yourself, knowing your selfish actions lost him his cushy job?"
"You don't know—"
"Yes, I do." He nudged my chin with his fist. "It will happen if I tell my dad about you selling pot at school."
He could be bluffing. But his father did have a lot of power and also sat on the school board. If I was arrested and thrown in jail for selling drugs, Dad would be mortified, maybe even let go from his job. I could never show my face in town again. But then, I may be locked away for thirty years.
Clearing my throat, I met his gaze and set my palms on his broad chest. "Okay, calm down. I need to think, and I can't with you pressuring me. Why don't we at least try and be friends and see what happens. Okay?"
He scrutinized my face, as if he saw through my lie. It made me want to duck my head. But then he gathered me in a tight embrace.
"You think you can manipulate me. Fine, take a few days, but the next time I see you, we will be on better terms. Got it?" he whispered his threat in my ear.
I gave him a short nod. He released me and pinched my chin, his smug smile returning.
"I missed you so much," he spoke under his breath, and then kissed me. I didn't fight and kissed him. For the moment, I would let him think I was his.
My life sat on the line. I could come clean, bringing shame to my family, or protect them and let Eric use me how he wanted.
It would serve him right if he got my cold.
Chapter Three
The stitch in my side, along with smelling pretty rank from the sweat on my skin and clothes, made my stomach turn. My clogged-up nose wouldn't stop running. I didn't have a tissue. I was in such a piss-poor mood. On top of everything, with trying to keep Eric happy, the stress had piled up to near overwhelming.
After he kissed me with the promise to call me later, I wanted to lie down. At least I would be on my own for a few more hours before Mom and Olivia returned home to bother me. The alone time would give me the chance to call Jenn and not worry about Mom listening in.
My cousin needed a heads up about Eric. I needed to tell her and her drug-dealing boyfriend, Brody, things would soon become much more difficult.
As I turned the corner on my block, I noticed the U-Haul had gone. One of the guys sat on the front steps, drinking a can of soda. He stared right at me as I neared my house.
"Hey," he shouted and held up his hand in hello.
I wasn't in the mood to be all neighbor-like, but I waved. "Hey, yourself. You moving in or just part of the moving crew?"
He pressed the can to his forehead. "I'm moving in with my brother."
My new neighbor smiled, as if he expected me to walk over to him or tell him my name. If I'd been in a better mood, I would have. He was cute with short black hair and nice big brown eyes. He skin reminded me of caramel. His teeth were also white, although his left front tooth jutted out slightly more than his right one. He also had nice arms and big hands. He looked older than me by a few years. I had a preference for older men, and this one was easy on the eyes.
"Welcome to the neighborhood." I nodded in his direction and took out my keys to unlock my front door.
"Hold up! What's your name?" Standing, he stretched his arms over his head. His green T-shirt road up, flashing some stomach.
It took me longer to respond because I had zoned in on the slice of skin. "It's Evelynn." After unlocking my door, I walked inside and shut it behind me, leaning against the cool wood and listening to the pounding of my heart.
Kind of rude of me not to wait and see if he would tell me his name. I shifted to gaze out the window. My new neighbor with the nice eyes and mouthwatering stomach gazed up at the sky, his hands on his hips. He tilted his head as if he heard something and went inside to his new house.
"At last, some nice eye candy on the street." I wiped my forehead with my arm and sniffed as my oniony body odor hit my nose. "Shower first then the call."
I climbed the stairs with thoughts of my cute neighbor replaying in my mind.
The overhead fan in my bedroom twirled the humid air around my room. I lay on my bed in an oversized gray tank top and my underwear. I fiddled with my belly-button ring as I held the portable phone over my chest. My impulse in catching another glimpse of my boy-man neighbor had become a big preoccupation.
Instead, I settled for some "up close and personal me time" before I made the important phone call. The last time I had sex was prom night. What a joke. Eric hadn't had a clue what he'd been doing.
If I got myself off, then maybe I'd be able to sleep at night. The last few times I did, it helped. I didn't even mind the way my blood rushed to my head and how my thighs sometime cramped up because I had a bad habit of stiffening too much before the mini-explosion down below.
With less than an hour to spare, I slid my hand into my underwear, rubbing a certain spot that made my legs tingle. My heartbeat sped up and then my entire body relaxed.
As I shut my eyes, the sudden ringing of my cell interrupted my happy time.
I cursed, ready to ignore the call but then recognized my cousin's number. "Hello?"
"What's up, cuz? Still sick? You sound like you have a sore throat."
"I'm trying to get over this stupid cold. I just took a shower after I jogged in the park."
"You're crazy running in this heat, but you must be feeling better. Want to go to Tink's tomorrow night?"
Jenn always had fun suggestions. Tink's was a big teen hangout with pool tables and dart boards. Live music from rock to metal, and my absolute favorite—jazz played on Saturday nights.
"I'm up for Tink's, but Mom is being such a bitch. She's unhappy I won't make Eric my boyfriend." Shifting my fingers in farther, I moaned.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing. Just a good stretch." I raised my left leg and nudged my knuckles down, making me jerk from the pressure. "We should see if Brody wants to meet up, and soon. It's about Eric. He knows."
"Knows what?" she asked, her voice turning stony.
My libido deflated. "Remember when I stopped selling at school in April? Eric caught me dealing. He's threatening to tell his dad. He knows about you and Brody also."
"Shit, Ev! This isn't good." I held the phone away from my ear. Jenn's screeching could make someone go deaf.
I rubbed myself one last time, which did nothing because I'd tensed up again. Frustrated, I got off the bed. I wanted something cold and strong to drink.
"You don't think I know that?" I threw on my black mesh shorts and walked downstairs, glancing at the grandfather clock. I had thirty minutes to get my drink on.
"Shit. Shit. Shit. How much does he know?"
"Enough where we would all go away for a very long time. That's why we need to come up with a game plan."
"This is so not good." Jenn moaned and cursed under her breath.
I took a beer from the fridge, popped it open, and chugged. I let out a loud burp and wiped my mouth. "Calm down. There's a way to get out of it. But it all rests on my shoulders. Eric is the one blackmailing me."
She let out a long sigh. "What? For sex? So screw him a few times and it will all be good."
I chuckled sadly and gulped down more beer. "I wish it were so easy. He thinks he's in love with me. He just doesn't want sex. He wants to be my boyfriend."
I finished the beer and held off another burp. "All you have to say is 'oh'? I'm not going to be the scapegoat here."
"You may have to—Damn. My brothers just got home from field-hockey practice. Let's meet tomorrow night around eight at Tink's." She hung up before I could say anything else.
I almost threw the phone at the wall. I channeled my anger at the beer can and crushed it, slamming it in the recycling bin. And not a minute too soon. A car drove into the driveway. I took a chocolate Popsicle from the freezer then sat on the couch and turned on the television. The sliding door near the deck opened, and Mom came in with a brown paper bag and Olivia trailing behind her holding a gallon of milk.
"Help, please." Mom walked to the kitchen.
"With the groceries," she said in a terse voice.
I stopped from rolling my eyes and went outside with Olivia to get the rest.
Olivia skipped ahead. "Swimming was lots of fun! Mommy said I can have a sleepover at Tammy's house on Monday!"
I had no idea who Tammy was and didn't care, but since my little sister seemed excited about it, I acted the same way.
"That's great, Liv." I threw my Popsicle stick in the garbage can parked at the side of the house and collected the rest of the bags from the car. I handed Olivia a light one.
"After lunch, can we watch some Dora and play Barbie doctor?"
She loved to pretend Barbie and Ken worked in a hospital. Either she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, or she'd been watching too much of Mom's favorite prime-time medical drama.
"Sure. Let's get this stuff inside before Mom has a shit-freak out."
Olivia giggled. "Yeah, wouldn't want Mommy to have a shifreak out." She walked inside still jabbering.
I winced when I overheard her tell Mom not to have a shifreak.
After watching Dora the Explorer for two hours and playing Barbies for what felt like an eternity, Dad came home from work. Me and Liv were in her room playing yet another round of surgery on Ken—a life-or-death situation because his head had detached from his body.
We sat on her bedroom floor as Olivia performed the "prep" as she named it for this life-saving surgery.
"Liv, he doesn't have a head. He's not going to make it."
She frowned at me in her cute little way. "Can so. Bugs Bunny did it."
I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling.
"How are my two girls?"
"Daddy!" She ran to him. He picked her up and blew a raspberry in her neck. She giggled as she hugged him.
"Hey, Dad." I stood and stretched. My foot had gone numb, and I pounded it against the floor.
"Foot asleep?" He watched me through his professional-looking glasses. His tie hung loose around his neck, and the top two buttons on his shirt had been unbuttoned.
"What gave you that idea?" I walked to him and Olivia after the pins and needles faded from my foot. We high-fived one another. The last time I hugged him I'd been near Olivia's age.
"I'm going to wash up and grill some burgers. Your mother has sweet-potato fries in the oven."
"I love sweet taters!" Olivia bounced and ran out of the room yelling for Mom.
"You'd think she'd be exhausted with swimming and not having a nap," I explained.
"How about you? Cold's better?" He flicked a piece of my hair. "I still can't believe you cut your hair so short and ragged."
"Please don't start. I hear it from Mom all day long." I walked out the room to go downstairs.
"Evelynn, just because I'm your father, don't think I'm not aware when something is off. As of late…no, this has been going on for quite a while. You're pale and always exhausted, and you snap at everyone. You never go out. When was the last time you even went clothes shopping?"
"You think something's wrong 'cause I'm not spending money?" I snorted. "I made plans to hang out tomorrow night with Jenn. Okay?"
He grabbed his briefcase and walked toward his bedroom. "What about Eric? I talked to his father today."
I froze mid-step. A shrill ringing in my ears cut out all other sounds, and my stomach dipped low.
"Let me change clothes, and I'll tell you about it at dinner. It concerns next Friday."
I let out a sigh of relief. It must not be too bad. "Sure. I better go help set the table."
"Good idea. Oh, did you meet the new neighbors across the street?"
"Just the one. We said hello, but we didn't share names. He's around my age, maybe a bit older. Did you talk to them?" I acted as if I didn't care either way.
"Not yet. I might stop over after dinner and welcome them to the neighborhood. You should come with me." Dad disappeared inside his bedroom.
"Whatever, Dad," I whispered, clutching the banister as a sharp pain dug right in the middle of my forehead. It had been too long. I needed a fix bad. Tomorrow wouldn't come soon enough.
What If
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"A startling unique spin on Peter Pan with mystery and romance, and staying true to yourself." – # 1 NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
"Real and honest, sweet and heartbreaking, WHAT IF is an excellent YA read."- NY Times Bestselling author Monica Murphy
Sixteen-year-old Wendy Wyman is bereft over the death of her best friend, Peter Preiss, whose body has been found at the bottom of the town lake. She blames herself because she allowed him to go back to his family's lakeside boathouse late at night where they had just made love for the first time. She wonders what she could have done differently to stop Pete from being killed, and thinks back to the beginning of the school year when her whole life changed forever.
Wendy will stop at nothing until she finds out the person responsible for killing Peter, who was bullied by most of the students in their junior class. She is in for even more of a shock when she finds out that not only did Pete keep dark secrets from her, but a few of her close friends are hiding ones as well. This also includes Dylan Mayone, the new popular boy at school, who wants her for his own, and may have had a hand in Pete's death.
I fell to the floor with tears rolling down my face. I couldn't catch my breath, and my heart rattled around in my chest. I banged the back of my head against the wall. What I did will haunt me for the rest of my life.
My best friend was dead. I'm the reason he died.
If only I'd gone with him to pick up his backpack he left at the boathouse. But he told me not to worry, to get ready for bed. He would return in less than twenty minutes.
"Wendy, nothing will happen to me. We live in one of the safest towns on the East Coast." Pete caressed my cheek with the back of his hand, giving me a kiss that left me wanting more.
He climbed out my bedroom window, just like all the other times.
He waved as he turned the corner and again just before he ducked into his car to drive to the lake.
He left a few minutes after midnight. I did what he asked. I got ready for bed and waited for him to climb through my bedroom window again, where I'd lie in his arms all night long.
I fell asleep.
If I'd never fallen asleep, he might still be alive. He'd be in my arms, sharing kisses and dreams of his future.
Pete's future was stamped out.
Twenty-four hours later, the police were at his house, explaining to his parents how they'd found his body at the bottom of the lake.
I was the last one to see him alive, to feel his touch, those warm lips of his against mine.
If only I'd made him forget about his backpack by kissing him, pulling him to bed, and continuing what we did at the lake.
My best friend, the one I loved most of all, was dead.
I had a tough decision to make. He would expect me to do the right thing.
I would walk out of my bedroom and down the steps to tell my parents what I knew. It would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do. I'd kept so many secrets from them already.
They would find out about last night and what we did together.
He's gone, and it's all my fault! If only….
No more if onlys. Now only, what if?
What if they were wrong and he was still alive?
What if I continued to lie?
What if I could go back in time to the end of the summer when things between me and Pete had changed forever.
Chapter One
Five months ago….
"Move your ass, Wonder Woman," Pete shouted, flying by me on his cherry-red bicycle.
"You're a dead man, Preiss," I yelled, wiping the sweat off my forehead as I huffed up one of the biggest hills in Brookview Park. Just another hot and sticky Monday—Labor Day to be exact—as we enjoyed the last few days of freedom before we began our junior year of high school. We'd biked at Brookview forever and did every free chance available. Soon, we'd only be able to bike together on the weekends because of school and Pete's part-time job.
He shot down the hill with his arms spread open like he was on a roller coaster. It frightened me. I didn't want him breaking his leg like he did when he was twelve.
"Be careful, Mr. Daredevil." I took my time coming down. There was no way my leg would be bound in a cast during my first semester of junior year, with me limping down the hallways open for anyone to tease or try to trip me.
He spun his bike and kicked his legs in the air. He could be such a show-off sometimes. He bowed, walking his bike over instead of riding it, and I rolled my eyes. He would be crushed if he knew my true feelings.
Biking wasn't really my thing. My idea of fun was reading magazines and watching television.
Such a teeny, itsy, bitsy lie.
I hit him hard on the shoulder. "You're going to get yourself killed."
"Hey, that hurt." He winced, rubbing his arm.
"Suck it up, Pee Pee."
"You know how much I hate that nickname."
I moved my sweat-drenched hair away from my forehead. I could feel a zit forming, rising under the skin. Great. Knowing my luck, I'd have a huge tumor right smack in the middle of my forehead for the first day of school.
"You call me Wonder Woman. I call you Pee Pee. Deal with it," I teased.
He took off his sunglasses and wiped them off with the bottom of his damp white T-shirt. He sweated more than any person I knew.
"Wendy, I can't help it that your first and last name begins with the letter W. Think of Wonder Woman as a compliment. My nickname, on the other hand, is humiliating."
He frowned, turning away from me. It was bad enough the jerks at our school made fun of him. Among the more derogatory names used were Pity Pete or Patchy because of the bad case of acne he suffered from. Most times he looked like he had a constant case of sunburn. His face was a curse. I could hear the sing-song phrase in my head, "It's such a pity Petey Pee-Pee is a monkey".
At least they'd stopped calling him Jew Boy.
"Sorry," I grumbled. He'd been calling me Wonder Woman for as long as I could remember.
"It sure is hot out here." He lifted his shirt, wiping his face with it. I was about to tell him how gross that was, but then I noticed his stomach. Wow. His abs weren't all that bad.
"You've been working out?" I patted his stomach, hiding a grimace as his sweat moistened my palm. Before I could wipe it away, he grabbed my arm and twisted me around until he held me in a head lock. We grappled like that until I almost slipped out of his grip, but he was just too strong.
"Do you surrender?"
"Never!" I decided to do something very low. I tickled him.
He released me, and I raised my arms in victory. Leaning against his bike, he rolled his eyes.
"Seriously, you have some major guns there." I stretched my arms above my head.
"And your boobs are so big, now, they can crush soda cans. What are you now, a triple D?"
Only he could get away with saying something like that.
"Yeah, thanks for noticing. No push-up bra needed here." I pushed my chest out for emphasis.
Suddenly, a silver convertible drove by with two guys.
"Hey, Patchy, where's your bananas?" the driver shouted, and roared down the street with his radio blasting some air-splitting rock song.
I clenched my fists, wishing they would crash into a tree. "Pete—"
He fiddled with the handle bars of his bike. "I'm pretty wiped out. I should head home and shower before dinner."
I glimpsed at my watch, surprised by the time. "Okay."
He strode away with his bike. I came up beside him, bumping my shoulder into his. He did the same to me.
"Ignore that jerk. He's jealous you're with a big-boobed girl and he isn't."
He gave me a small smile but didn't say anything. We walked in silence until we reached my house.
"Eleven's okay?" he asked.
"Same time as always."
He leaned over to give me a hug but ruffled my hair instead.
"Preiss," I yelled.
He jumped on his bike and drove straight inside his garage, chuckling all the way. I felt too winded to chase after him.
I'd get him back. I always made sure I got the last laugh.
"Wendy, come help set the table," Mom called from the kitchen. I sat on the couch in the living room, reading one of the entertainment magazines after I'd finished taking a shower.
I went to the kitchen. Mom grabbed plates out of the cabinet.
"Is Dad working late tonight?" I asked.
"No. He stopped at a store to get some doo-hickey for the lawn mower."
My father had a strange obsession with our lawn. He would've been a better gardener than an insurance claims adjuster.
"Can I mash?" I asked as I took the milk and butter out of the refrigerator for the potatoes. I loved mashing potatoes. Yup, I was strange that way.
She pushed the ends of her strawberry-blonde hair behind her ears. "Thank you, pumpkin." She squeezed my shoulder and handed over the items as she went to the oven to take out her homemade special meat loaf. What made it special, I couldn't say. It was a brick of meat that stayed in your stomach long after you ate it.
"I'm no longer four. You need to stop calling me that."
"You'll never be too old to be my pumpkin head. Remember the Halloween you were five?"
"You made me dress up like a pumpkin. Oh, yeah. To this day I still get called, The Great Pumpkin." I mashed the potatoes into pulp.
"You were so adorable. I had a blast making that costume."
"A blast? Really, Marie?"
"Yes, a blast, Wendy Margaret. I try to keep up with the teen lingo."
I covered a laugh and finished mashing. "Sure, Mom, sure. You're one hip chick."
She poured soda into a glass. "Like mother, like daughter. Why can't I call you a cute nickname? You don't seem to mind when Pete calls you one."
I set the bowl of potatoes on the table. "Don't remind me. It's perfectly okay for him to call me some cutesy name, but whenever I try to call him something, he gets upset." I scooped up some potatoes with a finger and slipped it into my mouth.
She gave me her I'm-not-amused mom look. "He calls you by a nickname because he likes you."
"It's because I'm his only friend." I winced, wanting to kick myself for what I just said.
She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Pete's such a sweet kid. I don't understand why the other kids in your class can't see the same thing we see."
"They're all stupid. But I don't care. He's my peep."
"Yeah. It's—"
"Hmm…what smells good?" Dad came in carrying a brown paper bag and reached for Mom, pressing his nose into the side of her neck.
She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It didn't bother me my parents were lovey dovey. They'd always been like that. It was pretty cool they still were affectionate after so many years of marriage.
"Hey, Dad." I poured my own drink and then his.
"Hey, pumpkin." He gave me a hug.
"Now, Greg, Wendy doesn't want to be called that anymore." Mom sat down at the table.
Dad pinched my cheek. "Why not? It takes me back to that Halloween—"
I sat down, rolling my eyes. "Been there, done that. The Great Pumpkin label will haunt me to the grave."
He laughed and sat down across from me, winking.
I smiled.
When Dad started to say grace, Mom mouthed the word, pumpkin, and we burst out laughing. Dad shook his head and made me say the prayer instead.
I glanced over at my alarm clock. 10:50 p.m. Ten minutes until show time.
I lay on my back, watching the glow-in-the-dark star stickers on my ceiling and rubbing my stomach while it cramped. The meatloaf, as always, didn't sit well. I'd pretended to enjoy eating it so as not to hurt Mom's feelings. I lied. Parents lied to their children all the time. Why not their offspring? I still hadn't forgiven my parents for fibbing about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. At least I'd kept the Tooth Fairy thing going until I was thirteen.
The whirl of the ceiling fan made me sleepy. I didn't want Pete coming in while I dozed. I liked it better when we fell asleep together.
I turned on my side with my palm pressed against my stomach and continued rubbing it. Glancing at the window, I waited for him to make an appearance. My window was unlatched and opened halfway for him to climb in without any problem.
There was a scraping noise. Waving, Pete popped up in front of my window. I met him, giving him my hand to help him inside. He hopped down and set his backpack on the floor.
I opened my bedroom door and peeked down the hall. My parents' bedroom door was closed—a good sign they were in bed. But I'd noticed the looks they gave each other at dinner, which led me to believe they weren't going to sleep right away.
I shut my door and turned to see Pete lying on my bed with his arms behind his head. He wore black cotton boxers and a T-shirt with a faded picture of Spiderman on the front.
"I think my parents are having sex." I sat next to him.
"Duh. It's pretty much a given parents have sex."
"I mean like now. They were making gooey faces with one another at dinner." I lay down.
He cringed, and I covered a smile. "Please, can we not talk about your parents having sex? That's just…gross."
Turning on my side, I faced him. "Sometimes you can be such a girl."
He rolled his head toward me. "You want me to tell you about the time I found my parents—"
I covered his mouth. "Let's not go there." I tried to get comfortable but couldn't. My stomach wouldn't stop bubbling.
Pete linked out fingers together. "What's wrong?'
"Mom's meatloaf." I clutched my stomach and winced in pain.
"Oh." He knew all too well about Mom's killer meatloaf. He'd eaten it one too many times himself. "Come here. I'll make you feel better."
He moved his big, warm hand beneath mine. He was the only boy to ever touch me this way—skin to skin.
I yawned, the motion of his palm lulling me to sleep. "I can't believe tomorrow is our last day of summer vacation."
"Yeah. I can't wait." He sounded less than thrilled.
I rested my other fingers on top of his. "Don't worry. We're no longer the low men on the totem pole. Things will be better, you'll see."
I couldn't see his expression in the dark. "I bet Brookeside High can't wait for monkey boy. I wonder how many bananas I'll find in my locker the first day."
I lifted my palm to Pete's face. He might look like a monkey with his big mouth, squashed, wide nose, and ears too big for his head, but none of that mattered. I found him to be perfect in every way. He was my best friend, and I loved him.
"You have me for backup. If anyone tries to mess with you, I'll kick their ass."
"With your humongous boobs as weapons?" he joked.
I flicked his nose with my finger. "Are boobs all you ever think about?"
He nestled me against his side and settled his palm on my stomach again. "I'm a guy. What do expect?"
"At least I know you're not gay."
He patted my head then kissed my forehead, and I began to drift off. "You don't have to worry. I'm not gay."
"Really, how?" I yawned loudly and closed my eyes.
"I dream of your boobs."
I chuckled and kissed his collarbone. Soon after, I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Two
The sun poured through the window, hitting me in my face. I groaned and rolled to the side, expecting to feel Pete up against my back. I lifted my head. My clock said nine fifty. He had left. Poor guy would work his last day of vacation until six tonight.
I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and climbed out of bed, yawning while I made my way to the bathroom. Before I could get there, the phone rang. The need to pee wasn't as strong as it could've been, so I hurried downstairs and picked up the phone.
"I'm hungry. Let's get some breakfast." My other best friend, Pamela, whined for food.
"I could eat." A sudden craving for pancakes hit me. "I need to buy school stuff for tomorrow." I scratched my arm. Damn. I had a huge, ugly red mosquito bite on the inside of my elbow. That reminded me about my forehead. Damn again. I could feel a pimple growing there. "Shit."
"What's the matter? Must be something serious for you to say shit."
"It's life threatening. I have mosquito bites all over me and a zit that looks like a second head's growing out of my forehead."
"If you washed your face with more than just the cheap, generic crap, you wouldn't have a problem."
"You can be such a bitch."
"You better believe it. Hurry up and get ready. Slap on some makeup, and do something presentable with your hair that won't make me embarrassed to be seen with you. I'll pick you up in less than thirty."
"Okay. Later." I hung up the phone and spotted a twenty-dollar bill poking out from under a piece of paper on the dining room table.
Here's money for your school supplies.
Love, Mom
I snatched the cash and ran upstairs to take a quick shower. I took off my clothes in the bathroom and stuck my tongue out at my reflection in the mirror. The monster red zit had popped out of my forehead.
Why me?
It was going to be one of those days.
I gobbled down the last of my blueberry pancakes and finished my orange juice. Pam patted her mouth with a napkin like she was at some fancy restaurant instead of the local IHOP.
"Aw, you finished it all." She pouted, eyeing my plate as if another pancake would suddenly appear.
"You're always hungry. I don't understand how you can eat like you do and not gain any weight." I patted my full stomach.
"Must be the genes, baby. I'll pay this time." She gave me an air kiss.
Glancing outside the window, I expected to see steam rising up from the pavement. It was grosser than yesterday and would probably hit the upper nineties before noon.
"I hope the heat isn't as muggy and hot tomorrow as it is today. I really hate this weather." I fished an ice cube out of my water glass and sucked on it. Even in my light pink cami and khaki skirt I felt overheated.
Pam didn't seem to mind the humidity in her white linen, sleeveless summer dress.
"The sexy weather guy on The Weather Channel said the heat should break by the weekend. We can always go for a dip in the lake."
"You and your obsession with the weather. You really do want to be a meteorologist? I thought you just watched for the cute weather guys."
She took out a few bills from her purse. "I watch for both." She smiled and finished her coffee.
We stood. I stretched, feeling drowsy. She noticed my yawn and crossed her arms. "You just woke up! Come on, none of that. Let's go to the bookstore."
"We were just there last week."
"Yeah, so? I want to visit Toby."
"All right." I scraped my feet across the faded-blue carpet.
She dragged me up to the front. After we paid the bill, we put on our sunglasses and strolled down the street. Quaint shops filled the center of Brookeside, as well as big brand name retailers and Williams' Foods, the supermarket where Pete worked. There was a movie theater, a few other independent clothing stores, and the bookstore we planned on hitting up.
"I feel so gross from this heat," I complained while we strolled toward the center of town.
"This is perfect to tan in." She smiled up at the sweltering sun.
"That's your opinion. More likely I'd melt into a pile of goo on the sidewalk." We passed the supermarket, and I peered inside to see if I could spot Pete.
Pam touched my arm. "Can't you go a day without seeing Pity?"
I stopped. "Don't call him that. I hate when you do it."
"Everyone does. It's just a nickname."
"It's not just a nickname. It's mean."
She made a show of sighing loudly. "I really don't see what's great about Peter Preiss. I know you two have been best buds since you were kids, but he really ruins your mojo."
"Mojo?" I asked when we stopped at the light.
"Yeah. Your mojo with the boys. The entire school thinks you two are an item."
"We're just friends. Like you and I are. But he doesn't go out for pancakes with me. I make sure that's our special thing."
She grinned. "If I was a lesbo, I'd so be in love with you."
I snapped my fingers. "Shucks. Too bad we aren't."
We giggled and crossed the street.
"Seriously though, you're awesome, and everyone I know thinks so, but if you spend our whole junior year with Pity-Pete, you may find yourself ignored or not invited to any parties. You'll never have a date for prom and end up staying at home like a loser."
My temperature rose. It wasn't because I was hot and cranky. "Pam, the whole being a part of the 'in crowd' doesn't interest me at all. If I have to deal with assholes like Anthony Varela and Conner Bryce, I'm fine with the way things are."
We reached the store, and I held open the door for her. Pam rooted through her purse. "What do you have against those two? They can be immature, but they're cute. They're always nice to me when they're at Toby's house playing video games."
I waited inside the entrance for Pam to fix her face with blush and lipstick. I really didn't want to get into it with her. "You know why. Those two jerks are the reason Pete's treated like he has the plague or something."
She finished beautifying herself and fluffed her hair. "You never did tell me—"
"Pammy," Toby called out from behind the coffee counter.
Her whole face brightened, and she skipped over to her boyfriend. He welcomed her with a huge grin on his face. He stopped refilling the straws to give Pam a hug. No one stared. Except for a few tables with customers reading or typing away on laptops while they drank coffee or ate some cake or cookies, the café was nearly empty.
He gave me a wave. "Hey, Wendy. You're going for the beach bunny look?"
I wondered if I should be insulted or not. Based on his snicker, I took it as so and stuck my tongue out at him. He responded by rubbing his cheek and giving me the finger.
"Oh, baby, you're so funny." Pam giggled and kissed his cheek.
Sometimes these two laid it on a bit thick.
"My break is in ten minutes. Can you wait?" he asked her.
She nodded. Great. It would be another half hour before I could get the things I needed for school.
"I'm gonna walk around."
"Sure," she said over her shoulder. She only had eyes for Toby.
I held back a gag and made my way over to the magazine racks. That killed about ten minutes. I then strolled over to the teen section to see if anything caught my eye. I picked up a current release about troubled teens at a boarding school, reading the description on the inside of the jacket cover and went over to a chair. Because my nose was literally in the book, I crashed into someone. I jerked away, and the book landed on the floor. The person bent down to pick up the book, giving me a smile that made me blink in stunned silence.
The guy, near my own age, held out the novel. "Are you okay?" He eyeballed the cover. "You're into cheesy teenage soap opera?" Turning it over, he scanned the back cover. "Love triangle? Sounds pretty corny."
His opinion of my reading material made me want to grind my teeth. Is he making fun of me or is this his lame attempt at flirting? I wish I could come up with a witty comeback, but my mind went blank. At least he was nice to look at. He reminded me of those Hollister models in the fashion magazines I read. He had a great muscular build, gorgeous blue eyes, and blond hair with natural highlights.
"Um, yeah, big fan here of corny teen drama." I took the book from him. Oh God, I was probably blushing. My face seemed on fire.
He nodded and smiled. His teeth were also perfect. He kept staring at me, and I became even more frazzled. Oh no. What if he notices my volcanic zit?
I touched my forehead, releasing a small groan at feeling the very noticeable blemish sticking out from under my skin for the world to see.
"Is something wrong?" He took a step closer. I caught a whiff of his woodsy, yet subtle, musky-smelling cologne.
"Ah, no. It's just, um…are you wearing cologne?" I wanted to die.
The cute boy laughed. "Yeah. Calvin Klein."
I bet he wore Calvin Klein underwear. No, better yet, boxer briefs. "Sorry, I'm such a dork. Blame it on the heat."
"I can understand. It's pretty hot out there but probably worse in Manhattan." He pushed his hands into the back pockets of his tan-colored shorts. He wore dark-brown leather flip-flops. Even his feet were great.
"Manhattan?" I asked, confused.
The cutie flicked a few bangs away from his forehead. "That's where I'm from. I used to live in the city."
"Oh? You're visiting here?"
"No, I'm the new member of the Brookeside population. Actually, my cousin works here."
"Really? Who—?"
Toby and Pam approached us with their arms around one another.
"Here he comes now." The cute boy glanced over at them and then back at me. He couldn't stop staring—or maybe I tricked myself into thinking that.
"Hey, bro." Toby and the hottie slapped hands.
Pam noticed the book and grimaced. "You are not getting that, are you?"
"Shut up," I whispered.
The boys both turned, and I smiled at them.
"I see you've met my cousin," Toby said.
"Yup. But we haven't exchanged names," I responded.
"Only our love for books," Hottie said, shoving his hands in his pockets again.
I would nip this in the bud. I held out my hand for him to shake. "I'm Wendy Wyman."
Hottie took mine in his and shook it. "I'm Dylan Mayone. Nice to meet you."
"You, too." I smiled. He did the same and didn't let go until someone cleared his throat.
I pulled my hand out of Dylan's first. I would've sworn it tingled.
Chapter Three
Pam and I sat together at a table in the café. She drank a frozen coffee while I sipped a soda. We didn't have to pay for a thing. Dylan did. Score one for us!
He talked to Toby at the counter. Again, his hands were in his pockets. Every so often, he would turn our way and smile.
"Isn't Dylan a sweetie?" Pam sucked down her drink.
"I'd say he's more than that. Do all the boys look like that in New York? 'Cause we don't have any of those here."
She bumped my arm. "You're just not paying attention to the local eye-candy. But, you're right. He's different from the guys in Brookeside."
She gazed at Dylan and sighed.
I rolled my eyes and finished my soda. "Okay, give me the details. Who is he, and why did he move here?"
"Dylan's dad is some big television producer. His parents are divorced. His mom lives in Los Angeles. I think she's some important vice president at some hot shot music label. He comes from big money." She rubbed her fingers together.
"Brookeside is filled with big money. You're the perfect example."
She sniffed. "Think more, a lot more. Toby told me when he and Dylan were younger, his uncle would take them to Hollywood movie premieres and after-parties."
I checked out Dylan again. He talked to one of the girls behind the counter. They both laughed, and the girl leaned forward, showing off a chest that was more impressive than mine.
"Someone is jealous," Pam said in a teasing voice. "You should go talk to him."
I didn't correct her, although I wasn't necessarily jealous, more like bothered over my reaction to Dylan. "Other than him making fun of my reading material, he doesn't act too stuck up or like some rich daddy's boy. It's nice of him to buy us our drinks."
"I think it's great to have a new face around. If we're cool with Dylan, and he counts us as his friends, we'll be the most popular girls in the whole school."
"Pammy, you're already popular."
"Then you will be too." She patted my hand and finished her drink.
"Why do you think he moved to boring Brookeside when he was in the middle of all the excitement in LA or New York City?"
She shrugged. "Who cares? It's our gain."
Dylan stared right at me. I peeked at my watch. Shoot. It was past twelve thirty, and I still had to go buy my school supplies and see Pete.
I loved visiting Pete at work and keeping him company on his break. But a part of me wanted to hang here and keep my eye on Dylan, a.k.a. the hottie. I liked mysteries, and he was one I wanted to crack.
Pam had left me and stood up front talking to the two boys. I went over to the garbage can, threw out my empty cup, and made my way over to the trio, catching the tail end of the conversation.
"…the fun begins at three o'clock. Bring your bathing suits and whatever else you want. We'll have a barbeque to welcome in the school year."
"What's going on?" I asked.
Pam hopped up and down. I think she had too much caffeine. "Dylan's having a barbeque on Saturday afternoon. We're all invited."
"Really? Sounds like fun." I hoped it wouldn't be too hot.
"You'll come?" Dylan rubbed my arm.
"Y-yes." I pushed my bangs away from my eyes. Whoa, he's the touchy-feely type.
"Great." He gave me another one of those adorable smiles that showed off his dimples.
"We should go. I need to get some things for school." I sent Pam a let's go look.
"Yeah, before we forget." She scuffed her foot against the floor. "I wish summer wasn't over."
Toby leaned over the counter. "Junior year is going to be awesome. Now with my man Dylan around, we're going to have the time of our lives."
Dylan snorted. He still had his hand on my arm. I moved away.
"Let's get going. Great to see you, Toby." I nodded at him and then at Dylan. "It's nice to meet you, Dylan. I'll probably see you tomorrow."
"It's a promise." He winked at me.
My face grew hot. I pulled Pam away before we ended up staying and talking with Dylan some more.
"Bye, guys!" She waved and followed me out the front doors.
As we passed the huge window, I peeked inside. Dylan had his hands in his back pockets again. He bit his lip as if he held back a laugh. I groaned. He made a boo-boo lip look hot.
"What?" Pam asked.
"Nothing." I hurried down the sidewalk.
It didn't take me long to get what I needed at the drugstore. Pam went crazy buying makeup. She had a basketful while my own wasn't even half filled. My mind kept wandering to Dylan. I couldn't understand why I'd had such a strong reaction to him. He was cute and all, but there was something too perfect about him that irked me. Or maybe I made excuses because those dimples of his were to die for.
Shrugging the thought aside, I bought what I needed and headed down the sidewalk. Nearing Williams' Foods, I slowed down. "I want to run in here for a second."
She gave me a pout. "Can't you do this later? I'm hot. I want to go to the lake."
"Oh, come on! I want to say hi to Pete. It will only take a minute."
She wrinkled her nose. "Don't you see him enough as it is? I mean, you live across the street from the guy. Besides, it's the perfect time of day to get some color," she coaxed. "You need it more than I do."
"Why, thanks." I frowned, feeling insulted.
"You know what I mean." She started to complain again but then someone covered my eyes.
"Hey, Pete," I said, and his hands dropped.
"How'd you know it's me?" He wore black pants and a white polo shirt with the market's logo on the left pocket.
"She can smell you," Pam said.
"Pam." I gave her a warning and glanced over at Pete. "She's just cranky because she's hot."
"It's brutal out here." He wiped his forehead. He had really bad sweat stains under his arms.
She gave me a grossed-out look. "I'm going to the car and turn on the air. You have five minutes, Wendy." She marched off, swinging her hips.
"Miss Cheerleader U.S.A. not in her usually peppy mood?"
"Don't go there."
"Sorry." He rubbed my arm. It was the same one Dylan had touched at the bookstore. This time no tingles, just a soothing touch.
"Eh, don't be. Blame the sun. Pam and I are going to the lake for a swim." I gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "You should join us if you get out early."
He'd probably say no. He wasn't a fan of swimming, especially in big crowds. We stopped going to the lake a few years ago after his father decided he was too busy to boat or fish with Pete like he used to when he was younger.
"I'm stuck here till six. I better get back in. I just wanted to say hi since I saw you standing out here." He gave me a goofy smile.
"You're such a good guy, Pee—" I winced, catching my mistake a bit too late.
He patted me on the shoulder before I could apologize. "Go swim. Show off your hot bod to all the horny thirteen-year-olds. I'll see you later tonight." He headed toward the store.
"Eleven?" I shouted.
"Same bat time."
"Same bat channel," I finished, and he gave me a wave.
I walked to Pam's car, but I realized I'd forgotten to tell him about Dylan and the party on Saturday.
Chapter Four
A sudden summer storm helped alleviate the heat. Instead of turning on the central air, I opened all my windows. A nice breeze whipped around my bedroom while I brushed my hair. My arms and legs were still on fire—when Pam and I sunned at the lake, I'd forgotten to bring sunscreen. Stupid me didn't think I'd get burned. I'd been wrong and now paid for it. Instead of having a nice tan, my face, arms, and legs were blotchy and red. My back was worse. I would look like a freak for the first day of school tomorrow.
I inspected my reflection in the closet door mirror. Yep. A freak. I stuck my tongue out and glanced over my shoulder as Pete climbed through my window.
"You're early. I didn't expect you for another thirty minutes." I finished brushing my hair.
He dropped his backpack on the floor and toed off his flip-flops. "I had to get out of my house. Mom and Dad were arguing."
His parents argued over something every week. "What's it about this time?" I sat on the bed and bit my lip to stop from moaning out loud.
"What do you think it's about? Not having enough money. Same old crap." He sighed and sat down next to me. He stroked a finger down my arm. "Wow, you did a number on your skin."
"Yeah. You could probably fry an egg on it. I'm so stupid. Just 'cause Pam turns a nice golden brown, I think I can, too."
He shook his head. "Did you put anything on to help with the burn?"
I grabbed the bottle of aloe from the bedside table. "I'd planned on covering myself with this gunk before you arrived."
He held out his hand for the bottle. "Lie on your stomach. I'll do your back."
"It's a good thing I wore a one piece. Can you imagine my burn if I'd worn a bikini?" I lay down, placing my head on my arms, and turned to check my clock. It was barely ten thirty, and already I felt beat.
Pete squeezed out the gel. He lifted my loose-fitting, gray tank top until it came under my chest and circled a finger in the middle of my back. He didn't drop a huge puddle of aloe on my skin that would make me cringe from the cold. I could count on him being considerate like that.
He gently rubbed the aloe into my skin. I sighed in relief. "This feels nice. You give the best back rubs."
He snorted. "Too bad you're the only girl I've ever given a back rub to."
"You could always become a masseuse. Then you can touch all the girls you want."
"Knowing my luck, I'll get all the fat, hairy old men."
I let out a small laugh and closed my eyes. He moved down my arms. He straddled my butt as he slid his palms over my swollen, inflamed skin.
"Imagine if my mom or dad walked in right now. They would have a heart attack."
He leaned down. "Your father would throw me out the window and then tell my parents," he whispered in my ear. "Mom would make me join the synagogue and become a rabbi."
"Rabbi Peter Preiss has a nice ring to it."
He poked me in the side. "Behave."
"Yes, sir," I grumbled, and he continued his work.
He made his way down to my legs. When he dug his fingers deeply into my thighs, I covered a groan.
"You like this?" His voice sounded deeper. He moved down to my knee and my leg twitched. I was very ticklish there. He swiped his thumbs under my shorts, near my butt. I moaned. He stopped rubbing and coughed. His thumbs circled the inside of my thigh.
Um, this feels different. "I think I'm good now."
Before he could continue, I rolled up and sat across from him. He rubbed his palms together and acted too involved in what he was doing.
"You okay?" I asked, clearing my voice when it came out higher than usual. He seemed off about something.
He started to wipe off his hands on his faded olive-colored T-shirt when I stopped him. "Don't even think of it. Let me get a towel."
I got up from my bed and limped over to my closet, grabbing one from the shelf. Pete leaned against my headboard. I gave him the towel, and he cleaned his hands. He wouldn't meet my eyes.
I sat next to him and poked him in the chest. "Hey, what's the problem? You're too quiet."
He threw the towel on the floor. "Just worried about tomorrow. One of the reasons my parents fought is because of me. Dad wants me to try out for some sports. If I join football or soccer, I won't be such a loser. He thinks me writing all the time alone in my room isn't a good thing. I guess I'm too antisocial."
"You've got to be kidding! You've won more creative writing awards than any other person in our class. You're going to be a great novelist someday." I grinned and ran my finger up his arm. "Unless you become a world-renowned massage therapist first."
I waggled my finger in front of his face. He captured my finger and pretended to bite it. I tried pulling away, but he kept my hand in his.
"Don't worry what anyone says. You don't need to be some dumb jock to be accepted. You have your writing, work, and…me."
"Those are the three most important things I have in the world. You do know you are the most important thing in my life?" He tapped my chin with his thumb.
"Even more than your writing?" I joked.
He lifted our combined hands and rubbed his cheek against them. "Of course."
The way he gazed at me made my stomach tighten. I let out a fake yawn and took my hand back. This moment we shared together had more going on than I wanted to admit.
"I'm beat. You probably are, too, with working all day and lifting those heavy boxes." I shut off my lamp before stretching out on the bed. The glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling shone brightly, capturing my attention.
Shifting to his side, he hooked his arm around my waist. I pressed my shoulder against his.
"Are you busy after school?" he whispered in my ear.
"Nope. I have nothing planned."
"Let's go biking in the park."
I groaned. "If I can move tomorrow. I have a feeling my burnt legs won't let me do much exercise."
He laid his other hand over my leg. A tingle ran up and down where his finger brushed softly.
"Hey, keep your hand to yourself. You're giving me ideas." I let out a real yawn this time.
He snuggled against me, and I kissed his cheek.
"I don't want things to change between us," he murmured.
"Why would things change? We don't have to worry until senior year for anything like that."
"I just have a bad feeling this year's going to be worse than last year."
I patted his arm in reassurance. "Nothing bad is going to happen. You're not some new kid the upperclassmen jerks can throw into a locker."
He snorted. "That hasn't happened since seventh grade."
"See, you worry too much. I promise you this year will be our best yet."
He pressed his cheek against mine and let out a loud yawn. His breath smelled of mint. He always made sure to brush his teeth before he came over.
"I hope you don't become too popular for me."
"Peter, shut up and go to sleep. If that happens, I give you permission to smack me."
"I'll do more than that."
I twisted my head and gave him a pointed look. "What would that be, Preiss?"
He didn't respond and started to snore. I couldn't tell whether he pretended or he really slept. I shrugged and snuggled deeper into his embrace and closed my eyes. I always slept well in his arms.
Who is Shirley Anne Edwards?
Shirley Anne Edwards is a Northeast girl who first found her love for books when she read Nancy Drew's The Secret of the Old Clock Tower at thirteen. Shirley found her love for writing at a very young age, and since then has let her imagination run wild by creating quirky characters and vast worlds in her head.
Shirley lives in New Jersey and works in the entertainment industry in New York City.
In the immortal words of Mark Twain: "Life is short, Break the Rules. Forgive quickly, Kiss SLOWLY. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret ANYTHING That makes you smile."
You can contact Shirley at shirlwriteredwards at gmail.com and find her at these other places:
Coming in 2017:
A girl who loves to bake…
A boy who loves to draw, but is a little off center…
and the treehouse that brings them together.


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There are lots of reasons to love the La Vie Boheme Yoga Zion Yoga Mat:

At 74-inches long, it's a cut longer than most standard yoga mats, great for those with extra height

The 6.2-milimeter thickness offers extra support during seated and lying poses

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But most of all, it's just really pretty! Who wouldn't want to do a downward dog while enjoying the cactus-spotted landscape of this Zion, Utah-inspired mat?

Most yoga mats simply don't offer enough support for stretching, foam rolling or ab work, particularly if you spend long stretches of time on the ground. The FitnessMat, designed by the company that offers the popular fatigue-reducing WellnessMats that help ease joint pressure when standing, is a cut above other padded workout mats. Its best features include:

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This option is particularly nice because after each workout you can simply throw the towel in the washer and wash and dry it with your normal laundry. It is also a good option for outdoor or beach workouts. Rather than lugging your regular mat to the grass or sand, throw your towel in your bag and use it on the ground instead.

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There's nothing like buying your children their own yoga gear to help get them excited about exercise. Gaiam's Kids Yoga Mats are sized specifically for children's smaller bodies and are geared to children between the ages of five and eight. They're reasonably priced (less than $20), and are latex and 6P-free, so parents can feel comfortable about their use. Choose from a variety of fun patterns and colors, including the bright camo version featured here.

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The Squre36 Extra Large Exercise Mat won't win any awards for comfort - it's nothing more than a thin rubber-blend surface - but what it lacks in comfort, it makes up for in sheer size. At 8-feet by 6-feet, it's the perfect option for home-based exercises that require extra space. Think jumping rope, HIIT cardio sessions, or dance fitness, just to name a few.

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There's a reason Airex mats are often found at gyms and therapy centers. In addition to a thick, supportive surface perfect for stretching and abdominal work, they also feature an active antibacterial substance and closed-cell construction. This protects against mold and pathogenic organisms, even the antibacterial-resistant cMRSA strain that, let's be honest, no one wants to get. If you share your mat with family and friends, it can't hurt to use one designed to limit the transmission of bacteria and microbes.

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Manduka's Black Mat PRO is revered in yoga circles as the go-to mat for committed yogis and yoga professionals. Like the SugaMat, the Black Mat PRO features a lifetime guarantee, so while its upfront cost of more than $100 might seem steep, it evens out over time if you stick to one mat for years.

Both the standard (71-inch) and extra long (85-inch) mats offer 6-milimeters of cushioning support while its closed-cell surface keeps bacterial buildup at bay. The fabric-like surface is comfortable to the touch and its proprietary dot pattern bottom prevents the mat from sliding during use. The manufacturing of the mat is also guaranteed to be emissions-free, making it a more eco-friendly option than most other PVC yoga mats on the market.

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Alright, so an acupressure mat isn't necessarily a standard exercise mat, but I've had my own version for years and I swear by its use when I'm dealing with exercise-induced back pain. While these prickly mats take some getting used to (I won't claim they don't hurt the first few minutes of every use), they certainly provide a relaxing and numbing effect when you lie on one for several minutes.

The Bed of Nails version features 210 acupressure plates (more than most mats on the market), with a total of 8,820 "nails" per mat. The first few times you try the mat, you'll probably want to lie on it with a thin t-shirt between the mat and your skin to reduce the "sticking" sensation, but over time you can ditch the t-shirt for a more pronounced meditative effect.

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subset: commoncrawl


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Video, Windows Compatibility on Tap for iPod? [Updated]
Date: Monday, December 3rd, 2001, 12:14
Category: Archive
Updated 04 December after the job postings were changed.
Apple had posted several interesting job postings for their iPod division, then suddenly changed the descriptions to be much more generic. The former descriptions are an interesting insight into what the future may hold for iPod.


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|Man Brats
|Episode 409
Vital statistics
|Release date
|March 21, 2016
|Hosted by
|Scott Aukerman
| Taran Killam
| Bryce Cripple
Episode guide
|LIVE at SXSW 2016
|You Know John Leguizamo
Earwolf Synopsis Edit
Tob Handlez is a pilot and Bryce Cripple is formerly of the coast guard. They are also friends and both grown men who suffer the affliction of sporadically and uncontrollably flipping into becoming little brats. On a very special episode of Comedy Bang! Bang!, Tob and Bryce join Scott to put out a call to action for those who may suffer from being a Man Brat and are here to recruit members for The Man Brats Association of America (MBAA). You don't have to hide being a Man Brat anymore.
List of Recurring Jokes Edit
- Catchphrase Suggestion: grant&cody
- Side-by-Side
- CBB Bump: Bryce is going to give Batman v. Superman the CBB Bump


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(Please follow the links below to get a closer view of these pictures.)
This is what the wall of the post office building looks like now:
And this is Maidan Nezalezhnosti slightly over two weeks ago (my papa's old photo was taken from right across the square) - the renovated columns of the post office building that collapsed in 1989 are on the left from the white column, and the bell tower of the St. Sophia's Catherdral is on the right:
Finally, here's the huge building with the star that was still being built in 1954:
Thursday, December 09, 2004
(Please follow the links below to get a closer view of these pictures.)
1 comment:
- Anonymous10:28 PM, December 09, 2004
Thanks for the great pictures--no one explained that was the post office wall! Amazing.ReplyDelete
By the way, did you read the nice article in the Guardian today by Timothy Garton Ash? You've got to admire a correspondent who uses the phrase "so frigging cold."


text:
Join Reality Kings! Download full-length 30min 31sec movie now!
These girls are living together and boy are they getting along good. They like to swim and play in the water, but sometimes things get a lot dirtier! Here they are, feeling really horny and kissing until they head inside. After they've got inside the girls undress and one of them gets her superb, bald pussy licked!
- amadeus
- : 7min 58sec
- : 18 Sep 2014
- Exclusive video


text:
Aizawl, Aug. 22: A group of 29 constables of an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) from Mizoram deserted their barracks midway through a training stint at the Vairengte Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School, allegedly because they were scared of fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
The deserters were part of a 673-member contingent being specifically trained at the counter-insurgency school for a stint in Chhattisgarh, where nine IRB personnel from Nagaland died in a landmine explosion on February 6. Sources said the constables had been grumbling about not being paid travelling and dearness allowances in advance and walked out in a huff last night.
However, an officer involved in training the personnel dismissed it as an excuse. The main reason is their fear of facing the Maoists, he said.
The 29 constables, all of them allegedly drunk, trooped out of their camp at Lailapur around 9 pm and forced their way through the Vairengte police checkpoint. Some of the deserters were involved in a scuffle with their seniors before stomping out, a source said.
The entire group is believed to be hiding somewhere along Mizorams border with Assam. Of the 29 constables, 3 are from the Delta Company and the rest from the Charlie Company of the 2nd Mizoram IRB. The Union home ministry requisitioned their services earlier this month.
Officers at the counter-insurgency school, which has even hosted US Marines, said some of the IRB personnel gave them a hard time in the first few days of training. But IRB deputy commandant Lalthafamkima claimed the majority of the personnel had fallen into a groove and would be physically and mentally ready for deployment soon. We have made great progress and hope to have the trainees fit before they leave, he said.
The Mizoram government had faced criticism for agreeing to deploy an IRB unit in Chhattisgarh. Experts argued that personnel drawn from the state police force were not trained to fight Maoists, forcing the IRB to turn to the counter-insurgency school for help.
The training school at Vairengte, in northern Mizoram, does not have facilities to house over 600 trainees at one time, which is why the 2nd IRB set up a mess at Lailapur. The trainees reportedly asked for allowances in advance to pay the mess fees.


text:
Question: Natasha s Flowers a local florist purchases fresh flowers each day
Natasha's Flowers, a local florist, purchases fresh flowers each day at the local flower market. The buyer has a budget of $1000 per day to spend. Different flowers have different profit margins, and also a maximum amount the shop can sell. Based on past experience, the shop has estimated the following NPV of purchasing each type:
What combination of flowers should the shop purchase eachday?
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What combination of flowers should the shop purchase eachday?
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Answer to relevant QuestionsYou own a car dealership and are trying to decide how to configure the showroom floor. The floor has 2000 square feet of usable space. You have hired an analyst and asked her to estimate the NPV of putting a particular model ...Using the assumptions in part (a) of Problem 5 (assuming there is no cannibalization),a. Calculate HomeNet's net working capital requirements (that is, reproduce Table 8.4 under the assumptions in Problem 5(a)).b. ...Using the FCF projections in part (b) of Problem 11, calculate the NPV of the HomeNet project assuming a cost of capital ofa. 10%.b. 12%.c. 14%.What is the IRR of the project in this case?Kenneth Cole Productions (KCP) was acquired in 2012 for a purchase price of $15.25 per share. KCP has 18.5 million shares outstanding, $45 million in cash, and no debt at the time of the acquisition.a. Given a weighted ...Using the data in the following table, calculate the return for investing in Boeing stock (BA) from January 2, 2008, to January 2, 2009, and also from January 3, 2011, to January 3, 2012, assuming all dividends are ...
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text:
Create a Culture of Accountability to Invigorate Your Team's Commitment and Passion for Success
Create a Culture of Accountability
Have you noticed complacency and complaining, or shoulder-shrugging and finger-pointing within your group or your company? Is everything blamed on "the economy" or "bad management?"
This behavior points to a pervasive trend in corporate America: the lack of personal accountability. The attitude behind these behaviors creates a vicious cycle, leading to a breakdown of morale, yet more blaming, and less productivity.
In times of tight budgets and greater demands, every team member must own their decisions and actions if the organization is to succeed as a whole. This BRODY workshop will invigorate your team's commitment and passion through an accountability audit, and reinforce the principle of accountability as the linchpin to success.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants who complete this program will be better able to…
• Develop a culture of accountability
• Convert a poor attitude into a winning attitude
• Lead by example in all that they do
• Give and receive honest feedback
• Demonstrate courage in challenging situations
• Eliminate behaviors that can destroy relationships and reputations
• Hold themselves and others accountable for results
Target Audience:
Those who want to achieve greater individual and team success
• Defining accountability and steps to achieve it
• Techniques to access and improve individual and employee…
o attitude
o performance
o behavior
• 5-step framework to develop a culture of courage and accountability
• Multiple personal assessments and activities
customized workbook and No Excuses! Create a Culture of Accountability "mini" book by Marjorie Brody


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When Gov. Doug Ducey was stuck in a six-way Republican primary one year ago, he promised to "fight back with every resource at my command" to secure the state's border with Mexico. "Fencing, satellites, guardsmen, more police and prosecutors," Ducey ...Read More »
Arizona to appeal ruling that tossed immigrant smuggling law
Arizona plans to appeal a court ruling that bars authorities from enforcing the state's 2005 immigrant smuggling law — once a powerful tool for local authorities to confront illegal immigration.Read More »
Judge rejects Arpaio lawsuit against Obama on immigration
A federal judge on Tuesday night rejected an Arizona sheriff's lawsuit seeking to halt President Barack Obama's plan to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation.Read More »
Tucson police to stop some immigration checks
Tucson police said Wednesday they will no longer fully enforce the state's landmark immigration law that requires local police to check the immigration status of people they encounter while enforcing other laws.Read More »
Johnson defends Obama immigration move, vows Arizona visit 'early next year'
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he will return to southern Arizona early next year to meet with residents and talk about steps his agency is taking to secure the border and further reduce illegal immigration.Read More »
Arpaio sues Obama over immigration executive action
Not even waiting until President Obama gave his speech Thursday night, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio filed suit in federal court seeking to block the announced plans to allow millions of people not in this country to remain and work here legally.Read More »
Johnson: Border is tighter, but 'new threats' to homeland security loom
The number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally has stopped growing for the first time since the 1980s, another sign of the success of border-security efforts, the head of Homeland Security said Oct. 9.Read More »
3,100 Arizonans may lose insurance over immigration status
Federal officials say 3,100 Arizonans will lose health insurance coverage they bought through the federal marketplace if they don't provide proof of citizenship or legal immigration status by the end of the month.Read More »
Number of child immigrants at border declining
The number of immigrant children caught alone illegally crossing the Mexican border into the United States continued to decline in August, according to figures disclosed Wednesday by the Homeland Security Department.Read More »
¡Ay Caramba!
When Huppenthal addressed the media yesterday to discuss the effects of illegal immigration on education spending, the Fourth Estate was quick to question the timing of the event and voice suspicion that the news conference was a shameless attempt at election pandering.Read More »


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Lioness Fame & Lust Silk Dress
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We love the sexy vibe of this dress, it's so perfect for a dressy occasion! It can also be worn as a top, the draped cut looking great layered over jeans.
- Silky mini dress
- Twisted knot at waist
- Plunging neckline
- Very high split
- Long sleeves


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When the Mandate was declared, almost two decades past, the new Emperor Yah Chieng declared that the might of Khitai belonged with its mages. Shortly after that he gave the order to disband the military might of the empire.
The soldiers of the Last Legion are all that remains of the greatest army of the east. They hold the Great Wall despite the lack of contact with their superiors in the east. They are true to their ideals of defending the wall and they protect the dream of the empire.
Recently, however, the Last Legion has come upon many challenges. The Scarlet Circle have decided to push their dominance in military matters and have taken up residence in the Great Wall itself. Now there is a power struggle as the Last Legion try to retain their grip on events.
Further into Khitai, former members of the Last Legion have grown aghast at the Emperor's apparent indifference to the people of the Empire. They have re-armed themselves and seek to strike back at what they see as the injustices done to the common people.


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7月 7, 2014 合計視聴数:: 6323 今日: 1
Hotel Shiva House Ubud, Shiva House features Balinese architecture surrounded by greenery. A 5-minute walk from Ubud Palace, it provides free Wi-Fi access throughout its premises. The sacred Monkey Forest is a 10-minute drive from Shiva House, while Ngurah Rai International Airport is a 1.5-hour drive away. Offering garden views from the private terraces, rooms are fitted with a wardrobe and tiled flooring. The private bathroom comes with bath and shower facilities. Airport transfers and area shuttles can be arranged on site. Breakfast is delivered to guests' rooms every morning. (Hotel Shiva House ウブドのホテル 予約).


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