Men of Ottilie ~ Lucas Edwards

Good Morning,
I started back up at work this past week. I'll have to go back to figuring out a way to work and write, yay for back to finding a balance. Got to love adulting. Jenn is moving through Call for Help which I can't wait to share with you all this year! I usually edit a story a couple of times, then have someone else go through it, I go through the story again, then I send it off to an editor. Right now Define a Hero (Beneath the Scars 3) is in the stage of being in someone else's hands. I mailed it to my mom and she is going through it. Apparently she edits while she is going to the city on the train. Whatever works right?
Here is Lucas Edwards. If you read Beneath the Scars, the last name Edwards should look familiar! ;) Tom Holland seems like a nice, funny guy so I was tempted to put him in as Lucas, we'll see what you all think!

Lucas Edwards

Dark Blond (might be switched to brunette)
Hazel eyes
Ex Marines
Wears a prosthetic leg
Watches his niece and nephew after school
Hates Star Wars

The TV was on as I munched on some cereal that I kept in my room. The sheets were still covering my lower half of my body. I was waiting to hear the results of the DNA test. I didn’t understand people. The woman said she loved her boyfriend, but slipped up and swore it was his best friend’s baby. She promised that she had never been with another man except those two guys. The guy on the screen pulled out the envelope. I grabbed another handful of cereal and crunched down. The boyfriend came back as not the father. The boyfriend bent over, covering his face. If I was him I’d take my chance and run off the stage, change my phone number, and make sure never to see the girl again. His best friend leaned forward in his chair. I bet was that he wasn’t the father either. The guy opened up the envelope. He wasn’t the father either. I could make money betting on this show. The second guy jumped up out of his chair, knocking it over, screaming ‘I told you so’ over and over. The woman was sobbing.

There was a knock on my door. The door creaked open. There stood my brother, Cameron. I raised my eyebrow. He opened the door completely and came in. He sat on the edge of my bed. My eyes stayed on him, waiting for the shoe to drop.

“This is seriously what you are watching?”

Quickly I swallowed. “It’s completely mindless, and I can feel my brain dying a little with each second, but at the same time I find myself unable to change the channel either.”

“So I got that job.”

“That’s great.”

I didn’t look at him.

“So I’m going to need some help.”

I raised my eyebrow and looked at him.

“What kind of help?”

“Just for you to get the kids from school and make sure they don’t die until I get home from work at five thirty.”

“Will I have to pick them up from school?”

Cameron shook his head. “Nah, the bus drops them off at the corner and they can walk here together. Just make sure no sweets after school and that they do their homework. You don’t have to leave the house.”

I shrugged. “Well in that case, I will.”

“At some point you will have to see people in public.”

I stared at him blankly. “I’m a grown man, if I don’t want to do something, I don’t have to.”

He shook his head. “Whatever, but you got the kids?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I got them.”

“You will have to leave this room though.”

I turned my head to the other side of the bed where my prosthetic was resting.

“Whatever.”

“You better get a grip soon because you’re starting to affect Hunter.”

I made a noise and narrowed in at Cameron. “I think you’re giving the kids more credit.”

“I think you don’t realize how old they are now.”

I glanced back to the TV. The girlfriend was covering her face as she was crying and ran off stage.

“I think you need to socialize with actual people instead of this real life soap opera crap.”

“Please, those writers wished they could write a script like this.”

Cameron stood in front of the TV. His arms were folded over his chest and his were practically slits.

“I don’t want to come home to the kids downstairs by themselves, or with this in the background as you are so called watching them. It was nearly impossible for me to get full custody against Laura.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

“You must be downstairs, at the kitchen table helping Amelia and Hunter with their homework when I walk through the door.”

“Yes, mom,” my voice was deeper.

“When you have kids you’ll understand.”

“I’m not a full man, who the hell is going to have a kid with me?” I barked.

“You’re right, you’re not a man. You’re a child. It’s one in the afternoon now get your lazy butt up. I’m not mom and I won’t coddle you anymore. You’ve been on that bed for nearly a year. We all took turns driving you to therapy sessions. The gloves are coming off now. Your niece and nephew will be home soon since it was a half day. Now I want you showered, in clean clothes, and acting like a human within ten minutes.”

Cameron stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him so hard that it shook in the frame. The people on TV started to yell at each other, their voices only mixed with my groan. I threw the sheets over to the side. On the night stand was my prosthetic sock and socket. My face twisted as I swung my leg over. My one foot rested on the floor while my stub on edge of my bed. I rolled the sock over the nub that was once my leg. I docked in the socket over it. Leaning over slightly I took hold of the prosthetic leg. Hooking it up to the socket until I heard the click. Pushing myself up I felt the weight transfer, my shorts fell over the fake leg, resting over the ball of a joint.

Picking up my leg I started to walk down the hall. I could feel each roll of the foot and knee of my new limb. Once I was out of my room I turned to go down the stairs. My one hand gripped the smooth wooden railing with each step. My pace was measured, just as I got to the first floor it opened. Amelia came bursting through the door. Her arms were wide open with a grin spreading across her face.

“Uncle Lucas!” she giggled and wrapped her arms around my waist.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. Hunter was moseying up the porch stairs with his eyes on the ground.”

“School was awesome!”

“You like your teacher?” Cameron came up from behind me.

Amelia let go and went around me. I heard her sandals clapping against the tile floor. Hunter closed the door behind him. He went past me.

“Hunter, I’ll get a snack ready please take out the paperwork so I can start signing.”

I heard the thud of his book bag on a kitchen chair. I followed everyone else into the other room. Amelia was following Cameron around the kitchen as he was gathering things for a snack. Her short legs were doubling the amount of steps, but that didn’t seem to slow her down.

“Mrs. Jackson she is sooo nice. She has short hair and she likes to sing songs. Oh! Her favorite color is green. She has two kids. Oh! She has toys in the room too. She told us a story today about pie.”

Her voice was going by fast. I was pretty sure that I knew more about this Mrs. Jackson than anyone else in the past year. Hobbling by I sat in a chair at the table. Hunter plopped a folder onto the table then sat in a chair next to me. Cameron placed a table with apple slices in the middle of the table.

“Thank Mr. Mom,” I smirked.

Cameron shook his head. He grabbed a pen off the table and started to go through Hunter’s papers.

“Am I to provide fuel in such a manner?” I asked.

Cameron was reading papers and then his pen scribbled across the paper.

“I prefer chips if you’re taking requests,” Hunter muttered.

He and I smiled at each other.

“We don’t have chips.” Cameron spoke flatly.

“We can go to the store.” Hunter responded as he looked at his dad.

“Your options are fruits or vegetables. If it’s from the ground you’re in the clear.”

Hunter rolled his eyes and slid down his chair.

“Amelia loves her teacher, how was yours?”

“Miss Bennett?” Hunter raised an eyebrow, Cameron glanced up from his paperwork and returned the facial gesture.

As I looked at both of them. Hunter had his mother’s tanner skin and eye color. However, the shape of his eyes, nose, and hair color were all my brother.

“That is your teacher correct?”

“Yeah. She’s new, she’s alright I guess.”

Hunter shrugged his shoulders. Amelia was on the other side of me. She shifted herself so that she was sitting on her knees, she leaned half of her body over so that she could fingertip an apple slice. I nudge the slice closer to her. She picked it up and started to munch on it. She smiled at me and the corners of my lips curled. Amelia scooted back a little. She swung her legs around and she dropped in her chair.

“I love my teacher.”

Hunter’s features fell. “You’re in kindergarten, you don’t know the truth just yet.”

“What truth?” Amelia’s head titled causing her already slanted hair tie to droop more.

“That school is just a building that eats your soul.”

“Is that true?” Amelia’s eyes rushed to me.

Cameron’s head snapped up and his eyebrows were fused together.

“Hunter, where did you hear wording like that?”

Cameron’s eyes then shot at me. My eyes widen.

“Don’t look at me this time.”

“This time,” Cameron muttered.

Cameron put his pen down and turned towards Hunter.

“You need to keep comments like that to yourself. School is fine. I promise it is just another year, and despite what you think I swear you will live through it.”

“I wish I moved with mom,” Hunter growled.

He stood up, shoved his chair into the table and ran up the stairs.

Cameron rubbed his face with both hands.

“Look, I got the kids after school. Don’t worry.”

Cameron’s green eyes caught mine. There were deep circles under them.

“I’ll try.”

Men of Ottilie ~ Jack Corrente

Hello!
I really enjoyed this story. The first was so much fun to write it made writing a second in this series a little hard to write. It was a lot of pressure that I put on myself! I actually started a version, Jack was a cop and the leading female had a different name. She was visiting the town her family had a beach house in. It started to get depressing and honestly I wasn't into writing it. I figured if I was having trouble writing it, people wouldn't want to read it. I took some time off and a new idea came to me. I started to write then not long afterwards I got the story rolling. I enjoyed the characters, some of the lines I was eager to get to. Then again some lines I didn't notice until I was editing.

I love Jack. He was interesting to write. I went back reading the flashbacks and had to tweak a few things in Call for Help. I originally wanted to have most of the story told through phone calls/text messages and flashbacks. I love writing flashbacks. I have I think in this story it helps paint a full picture of Jack and Faye. I wasn't as set on an actor for Jack, so I'm open for suggestions and interested in who you picture for Jack! I like the actor Sam Claflin so I put him, because who doesn't? Look at that smile, so sincere.

Jack Corrente

Blondish
Blue Green Eyes
Was in the Marines
Mechanic
Helps everyone
Puts others first
Great Pool Player

There was a slight breeze, but it was the first night that I could go outside without a coat. The sky was ink black and decorated with pure white stars clear as a bell. I was sitting in the backyard with my feet up on another chair. My head was tilted up, my phone that was on my lap went off. I’d been waiting for hours to hear from Faye. We had discussed going out tonight, but I hadn’t heard from her. I knew better than to blow up her phone. All I did was text her before dinner about asking what she felt like doing.

Don’t feel like leaving.

y?

I had to ask, because the day before she went on about how she needed to get out and do something. That she was bored out of her mind. She needed to do something after the week she had at school.

Just don’t feel like seeing the outside world today.

What are you doing then?

Sitting in bed watching TV.

I raised an eyebrow.

You’re seriously just going to lay in bed tonight?

y not? Long week and mom is out.

I stood up and marched up the deck stairs.

Don’t be lame.

I opened the back door and through the kitchen when my phone went off again.

I just feel eh and don’t feel like doing much.

I grabbed my keys off the hook in the kitchen. Mom got tired of finding my keys all around the house.

“Mom, I’m going to Faye’s for a bit.”

She looked up from whatever she was working on at the kitchen table. The bright colors bounced off the walls creating a warm comfortable feeling.

“Okay, but don’t be out too late. We have church in the morning then we’re with the grandparents the rest of the day.”

I kissed her on the cheek and went out the front door. I practically jumped off the front porch and walked around my mom’s car to reach my truck. It was my mom’s and she gave it to me the day I passed my test. It was a used truck for her and the once vibrant color was now a heathered version of the color. However, working for Lennie helped me keep the truck running like I was the second owner instead of the third or fourth.

Starting the truck I made my way towards Faye’s house listening to the dings of my phone as she was talking until it went silent. She was probably not going to be in the best mood about the fact that I wasn’t responding. Apparently that was a one way street of acceptability. Finally I pulled up her rock driveway. I turned the car off so that silence was in the air and slipped my phone into my pocket as I slid out of the truck. I ran up the stairs and rang her doorbell. After a moment she answered her door. Her blond hair was tied up in a bun. She was wearing plaid pajama shorts and a baggy t-shirt, just further supporting her words of not wanting to do anything.

“I should’ve known that you were driving here since you weren’t responding.” Her voice was flat as she leaned against the door, her hand was still on the side of the door.

I grinned as she let me into the house.

“What else are friends for other than making them do things they don’t want to do.”

Her open hands waved around her shorts. “Once the pajama pants are on, I don’t leave the house. It’s a golden rule that I live my life by.”

I made my way to her room. “That’s fine I don’t have any intention of subjecting the outside world to you tonight.”

“I’m not sure if that is a jab at me or not.”

She crossed her arms as she stood in her doorframe. Her room was a mess, like always. Even though she had a desk her book bag and homework was scattered on her bed. Her soccer cleats and other clothes were littered across the floor. I tried to ignore the clothes as I was sure there was a bra hanging over the foot of her bed. My cheeks warmed as I pushed some of her old assignments away from her speakers and plugged up my phone. I had to focus. I’m pretty sure that she’d kill me if she thought I was looking at any of her underwear.

“What are you up to Jack?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Well, duh that’s why I asked.”

I turned around as music came through the speakers. A corner of her lips curled.

“Time to get out of that funk.” My voice was a little louder to be heard over my music.

I turned the music louder and went over to her. She bit her lips almost to stop the smile from forming. She was not going to give me the satisfaction. She just stood there. I grabbed both of her hands and started to move her side to side. Ethan was going to take away my man card for this.

“Stop fighting our house party.”

“It’s just the two of us.”

“Whoever said a party had to be more than two people?” I asked her still trying to get her to move.

“Every normal human being,” She finally laughed and started to jump up and down.

“Embrace the dorkiness of it all,” I called out.

She broke out laughing real hard. Faye’s face lit up and I could not help the grin on my face growing bigger. She was at ease. It was at that moment I knew that I wanted to make sure there was a smile on her face for the rest of my life.

“Did you get any sleep last night?”

I lifted my head to see Ethan glancing at me through the side of the open hood of the truck.

“Sorry I didn’t really sleep last night.”

“Nightmares again?”

I shook my head and went back to staring at the engine. “Something like that.”

Leaning further into the car I tried to get a better look at the problem. That and hoping that he would get the hint.

“It might be time for you to see some professional help,” Ethan lowered his voice as he came over to stand next to me.

“I don’t need any professional help that’s why I got Bailey,” I shot back and grunted as I tried to unscrew a bolt.

“Did you just say you got a dog instead of seeking out professional help?”

I glanced up at my friend. “Dogs are great listeners and are cheaper in the long run.”

“What were you having nightmares from then?” Ethan continued to ask and started to lean against the car that I was working on.

I narrowed my eyes. I was going to smack him with a tool if he didn’t move.

“Faye-”

“Why am I even hearing that name?” Ethan’s voice came out harsh.

Groaning I got out from under the hood of the car and stood up straight. I took my hat off, gripping it in my hands, then I re-slid it back on my head. The garage’s clatters and buzzes filled my ears, but I could still hear my heart racing in my chest. Her voice came to me once again. The high school Faye was fresh, crystal clear image with that smile still engrained in my mind despite what I wanted. My palms were sweaty already. I wiped them on my jeans pretending that it was because of the grease.

“Because she accidently called me last night,” I muttered and trudged over to my toolbox, making sure not to meet his eyes.

I turned my back and took some sips of my water. His eyes were boring a hole in the back of my head.

“She still has your number in her phone?”

I shrugged and turned around so that my back was against the cool metal of my toolbox. “Apparently. There’s some restaurant near her with the name Jack in the title and she was ordering dinner or she thought she was ordering dinner.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s one of the lamest things that I’ve ever heard of in my entire life.” Ethan’s voice was dry.

“Can we please for the love of God end this conversation? I feel like a middle school girl.”

“The two of you sound like it too,” Joey called over before sliding back under his oil change.

“Answer one thing first.”

I rolled my eyes as I turned to face him instead of Joey. “What?”

“How long was your conversation?”

I scrunched my face and shrugged. “A few minutes, not long.”

He nodded. “Good, I don’t need you running off again because of her.”

“I didn’t run off because of her.” I responded flatly.

“You two broke up, and she was on a plane to New York City two hours later, and then less than a week later you were seeing recruiters for the Marines.”

“That timeline isn’t accurate and you know it.” I grabbed a wrench and raised it. “This will be lodged somewhere if you don’t stop talking soon though.”

He held up both of his hands and took a step back.

“Okay I get it. I’ll drop it.”

“Good.”

I put the wrench back on the top of my toolbox and went back to the car that I was working on.

“You haven’t tried to contact her today have you?”

I just dropped my head and sighed instead of answering him.

Men of Ottilie ~ Nick

Hey Lovelies,
I enjoy doing men of Ottilie and leading ladies posts. It lets me try to give you a rough visual of the character, and let you know the character a little outside of the book. Think of it as a snapshot, or a profile of the character. Nick March is a character from Project US. He was based off a dream I had when I was a freshman in high school, took that person, and threw in some fantasy/creativaity on the character. Then over the years as I edited, he picked up a few mannerisims from my boyfriend, but he doesn't need to know that! My friends in high school adored Nick, and didn't want me to write anything bad about him. Of course I loved writing him as well.

         Nick March

Brown hair
A sophomore at Adams High School
The youngest four children
Middle name is Alexander
Wants to go to college
Used to sneak cookies with his sister


Scene:

2

Nick

I crossed the entryway, my hand behind my back to close the door behind us. Rachel turned around, probably thinking she'd close it herself. She came up chest to chest, face to nape of my neck. I grinned. Rachel's cheeks had pink spreading across them. Her gaze was glued to the floor as the door clicked behind us. I watched Rachel's whole upper body rise, filling up like a balloon before letting out a long breath. Rachel has always been funny to embarrass. I held back laughter. I didn't want to make her completely uncomfortable.

The hall was surprisingly quiet especially considering the hotel was filled with high schoolers. Rachel was a step or two ahead of me despite her shorter legs. I glanced over at her. Rachel's hair was just short of her waist, blond with smooth waves that flowed down from the top of her head to the tips of her strands. Her coat was buttoned and tied close to her upper body and overlapping those dark blue jeans of hers since it was so big. Rachel's white little sneakers were just peeking out of the bottom of her pants, no I wasn't studying her.

I reached around Rachel when we got to the end of the hall to open the door before her. She tilted her head to some extent so that her big green eyes would meet mine. The corners of her lips turned ever so slightly.

"Thanks."

"No problem, Rachel," I responded.

Rachel started to hop down the stairs. When I say hop, I quite literally mean bouncing down the stairs like a small child. I took each step in haste to keep up with her. It was probably not wise to lose a short woman on a mission. My sister and mother proved that one. I was the youngest of four, two older brothers and an older sister. Plus I've had classes long enough with Rachel to know the teachers were going to fix our room situation. She was so sweet and innocent; no one would dare try to corrupt her, minus my sense of humor.

When we reached the bottom of the platform we made our way out into the lobby to see our grade traveling as a herd into another room, a big room filled with tables and chairs for dinning, most likely it was used for conferences that came to the hotel. I glanced down at Rachel who shrugged her shoulders as we followed. We were ushered to a random table.

I sat in the chair, closed my eyes for a moment and stretched, wishing that I could just go to sleep already to make up for waking up so freaking early this morning for this stupidity the school had arranged. My siblings took this trip in eighth grade, my brothers felt the need to brag about the fact they didn't have a project like us. My sister smacked them with a spoon when she was cooking to get them to shut up. That started a food fight in the March household. We were lucky my mom came home before my dad; otherwise we would have been doomed. Mom got the last word in by shoving spaghetti sauce on all of our heads then making us clean up before Dad saw. I love my family.

"It kind of looks like everyone is paired up when they're coming in here," Rachel announced in a low voice, disbelief in every word.

Oh God girls were absolutely crazy! "Rachel, I think you've been reading too many of your weird books," I started, thinking about when the book, I think it was called Flowers in the Attic, came up with some students because some kid saw the movie and Rachel straightened out the facts which left me to never look at her the same way again. "We go to a public school. We’re not people in a dating service."

I shook my head as she raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't patronize me Nicholas, look around the room," Rachel muttered, she just had to use my whole name.

I rolled my eyes as I scanned the room, observing more of my peers entering. "Okay, maybe you aren't completely crazy," I responded under my breath and she stuck her tongue out at me.

I returned the reaction and she giggled. I smiled. This was so normal for us. I really wish Rachel wasn't right as much as she was.

"Yo, dude, what the hell is happening?" A slap on my back punctuated my best friend's question.

I peeked over my shoulder and grinned. "Dill, if I knew I'd think about telling you for a good price," I told him.

Dill, Mark, John, and I were part of a close-knit group, each person coming in at different years. Dill and I were probably the longest in the group then John later in elementary school when he moved into our town. Mark moved into our town in middle school with his uncle, we were all a little different yet, still had fun busting each others’ chops. What else are friends for?

Dill had his dark hair in his usual short cut. I did not know how he could handle only half an inch of hair. I liked being able to have hair to run my hands through. I would never tell my friends that, the girl jokes that I would get. Dill had dark eyes and was a little shorter than me. Dill sat in a chair across from me, slouching back in the chair. Next to him glared Rachel's dark clothing wearing friend Bridget, big hair and all.

"Hey Rachel, maybe you had a point in being pessimistic on the whole drive here after all." Bridget still kept her eyes on Dill who appeared to be just as thrilled as her.

"Schools, you can't trust them," Rachel responded, but she was turned around not facing the three of us, still surveying the room, her voice distant.

"Rach, you okay?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She withdrew her body from me in a snap of a reaction.

"Don't touch me," Rachel said. Even through her jacket I could see her shoulders tense.

I tried to remember her friends hugging her in the halls like some of the other girls did. I couldn't think of a time I'd seen that. Actually thinking back to eighth grade graduation she was laughing at those who were crying. She kept shouting something like 'you'll see them in three months!' over and over. She'll calm down eventually.

Principal O'Doherty stepped up to the front of the room.

"Students quiet down, quiet down!" His stern voice was cutting through the voices of the whole sophomore class.

A middle aged man with brown hair that was speckled with gray and white, that I could see even this far back, was up front. A microphone was in one of his hands while his other hand was free to be able to be expressive. I scooted my chair a little so that I could see the principal, leaning back I watched around Rachel's blond head. Principal O'Doherty was a tall, lean man who always wore a pressed suit that seemed to hang just a smidge on his frame. Back when my siblings were in high school he was a decent guy, but apparently a few years ago his wife and him started having issues in their marriage. Rumors spread around the school that his wife left him, that they split up, that there was a full-on battle of a divorce. That one of them was caught cheating, you think of any form of gossip that could have been thought up, and it was mentioned. Ever since then Principal O'Doherty had been a hard-ass, ruling Adams High with an iron fist that was apparently desperately needed for a very low key suburban town.

"Before you continue to harass the teachers to fix your room arrangements, there were no mistakes made. That's your roommate." Principal O'Doherty paced, his eyes scanning the room that was now hushed except for a few whispers. One of his hands was somewhat open, rolling around in the air as he spoke. "The project will be taking place over the next few months, possibly longer depending on how things go. Spending more time with your partners will help the project develop for the full experience. That is one of the reasons we said no electronics on the trip, we want you all to be focused on the task at hand."

He stopped in the center of the platform upfront. Principal O'Doherty's body was directly facing the student body. All of us waited for him to continue so we would finally hear the details of the alleged project. My eyes drifted down from Principal O'Doherty and to Rachel. The girl was stressing from the moment the permission slips were passed out during homeroom. Rachel's emotions weren't fully furious or crazed, but more curiosity and dread of who she would be paired up with. GPA was a heavy weight on her and she was the type to stress over that since kindergarten. When our friends were a little side tracked I tried to calm her. I joked with Rachel that worst case scenario that she would mess with her partner, Rachel didn’t like that.

"We want our students at Adams High to be able to enter the real world prepared for life and what will come their way. We have a reputation to keep up. Now I'm sure you students have over the years seen on television or even from grades above you, the marriage project. You and your partner will learn to co-operate with each other, in addition to learning the basic skills it takes for a couple to function in a marriage."

"Oh, for the love of God," Rachel mumbled under her breath, with her elbow resting on the table she leaned her head against her hand.

I might never have been Rachel's number one friend, but I do try to look out for her. I admit that I have been known to pick on her over the years, but I was never that bad. I'm not that mean, like I tell her to stand up for herself against others. My picking is more like joking between the two of us than harshness. For example a few guys made a nickname for her (that she hates) and I call her that sometimes. At the same time I tell her to tell on them since a teacher heard someone saying it to her and told them to stop. When I do push her buttons it always seemed different. I can't explain it, but it just was. It was also written on her face that when I do call her it once in a blue moon, when I do call her Worm, she doesn't have the look of 'I hate you, go die'.

I leaned in close to her. "You could have been paired up with someone worse, Rachel," I whispered to her, red spreading across the side of her face.

Rachel always turned red. I smirked. Her chin was against her shoulder so that she could almost see me. She placed her index finger over her lips so that we wouldn't start anything.

"I'm hoping that even though we paired a bunch of high school students together for this assignment you'll will act as young adults instead of hormone driven teenagers," Principal O'Doherty continued, voice still stern despite the catcalls that followed.

I glanced around at all of the tables. There were the girls who did their make up between classes paired with guys from honors classes, then there were some with guys that they wouldn't usually take a second glance at. Then there seemed to be football players with cheerleaders, a couple were with girls from orchestra and some girls from ROTC with guys from choir. I smiled at the so-called social spectrum being scrambled. I peeked over at my friend Dill and he rolled his eyes once he saw that I was watching him.

"Since it's still a decent hour in the afternoon we're going to have you in your groups get organized, then head over to the historical sight. Watch for your chaperones and remember you're representing Adams High on this field trip so behave yourselves."

The teachers started to line up in front of the room to get our attention, but the chatter in the room just grew by the second. Dill rolled his eyes as Bridget next to him was putting on her long black coat, ignoring the guy beside her. I glanced over to Rachel who was always bundled up in class. She was still wearing her coat, her hands buried deep in her pockets. Rachel was already standing up as if I was taking too long.

"Ready to head over?" Rachel asked, her green eyes on me, her voice light.

I shrugged my shoulders and followed her through the mob of students. I was almost tempted to grab onto her hand so that I wouldn't lose her in the crowd. With her tiny stature she was having an easier time zipping through the people than me. I had to watch to trail after her. Rachel kept her arms curled into her chest as she weaved. I did not want to lose her. I was squishing myself between people to keep up with her. How the hell was she doing this? She finally stopped near the teacher, scanning over her shoulder till she found me. Squeezing through the last couple of people I made my way next to Rachel whose head came up to about the nape of my neck.

We moved out of the room and got onto our newly designated buses. It was a short bus ride to Williamsburg. Everyone was talking madly about this new news. We had to share a room with the opposite sex. The guys were either complaining about the girl they were with, celebrating that they got the hottie they wanted to talk to in class, but couldn't, or were too embarrassed to say anything. I didn't really know how to respond to my situation. Here I was with Rachel, even though I had a girlfriend. I kept glancing over at her but she was staring out the window the whole ride. She was acting as if I didn't exist.

Release date: August 7, 2015

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Men of Ottilie ~ Riley Nolan

Hey Lovelies,
I haven't done a new one of these in a long time, and I love these. Now this post of Men of Ottilie is an actual man! Riley is one of the main characters of my New Adult novel Beneath the Scars. He was a lot of fun to write, and hopefully people enjoy reading him as much as I had writing him. Because of his character, and his look I had trouble figuring out a person to kind of represent him for this. Riley is a burn victim and has no hair, and is covered in scars like JR Martinez. So keep that in mind while reading this.

          Riley Nolan

Naturally has Brown hair
Was a Marine
The youngest out of two children
Middle name is Johnathon
Stubborn
Lion Heart
One of the few characters of mine that has a full name

Scene:

3

Rily

Turning off the engine after I pulled into the driveway I sat there listening to the music be cut off, as the engine slowed down until it stopped completely. I had to get out of the car and into the house. Sighing, I tugged on the hood, even though it was already up and covering my face. Slamming the door, I strolled quickly to the front door, ringing the doorbell and waiting on the front porch. Even though I was at family's house I couldn't bring myself to just walk in. My once stand-up-right posture was now slightly hunched over with my head hidden. Through the door I could hear the dog barking and shuffling of feet before my sister, Charlotte, opened the door with a wide smile. She stood aside as she let me in.

"I was starting to wonder when you'd show up," my sister greeted, her voice was so cheery, giving me a hug before moving aside for me.

"Well I was waiting for it to get dark," I answered as their collie ran over to me, standing on it's hind legs to put the front ones on my upper body.

My sister pulled the dog off me.

"Dumb dog, you're going to wake up the kids," Charlotte yanked on the dog's collar as she started in the direction of the kitchen. "Rily, I love you and the kids miss you. You're going to have to eventually come out in the daylight. You can't live like a nocturnal animal forever."

I huffed, rolling my eyes at my sister's back.

"Don't you dare roll your eyes at me!" Charlotte snapped, turning into the kitchen, moving cups and the kettle around.

"Don't use your mommy ninja skills on me," I sighed not in the mood to deal with my sister mothering me, again.

"I'm your older sister and a mother of two. It's a habit," Charlotte turned to face me, head titled slightly as her long, loosely curled, brown hair framed her pale face. "I worry about you."

Her blue green eyes softened their shade similar to my own. Heavy feet came down the steps, and in a couple of seconds her husband, Paul, strolled into the room. Paul nodded in my direction as he looked over at his wife, she smiled at him.

"I'm finishing up the last bits of my paperwork, but the little monkeys don't want to go to bed," he stated, his gaze locked on my sister's, as a crash upstairs occurred on cue.

"I read to you guys your bedtime story, go to bed," my sister shouted as she put water into the kettle.

"But Mom," a small voice whined. I smirked, ready for what my sister was about to bestow.

"But nothing, you two bed-"

Before my sister could finish, I interrupted, unable to control myself, "Get back into bed before the monster tries to bite your ankles!"

Yelps and screams poured from the upstairs as thunderous steps came down the stairs. Charlotte glared at me as she threw the empty box of tea at me. I chuckled. The two nearly slid into the kitchen with the younger one almost falling from the footie pajamas against the tile.

"Uncle Rily," my niece, Madison, glowed as she changed her direction to me with open arms.

Madison had only recently been that friendly with me. When I came home she was in tears, refusing to come near me or even lay eyes on me. Charlotte talked to her about what I did overseas and why I was covered with burn marks. Madison slowly came around calling me a hero, despite the fact that I didn't feel like one. Parts of my skin were grafted while others were just distorted. She was seven, but my nephew, Elliot, was four, and was still afraid of me. I couldn't blame him. I had the appearance of a malevolent Greek creature. Madison jumped into my lap, giving me a hug, while Elliot tip toed over to my sister, nearly hiding his face in his teddy bear.

"Uncle Rily, can you read us a bedtime story and check to make sure that the monster isn't there?" Madison begged, her eyes grew wide, bottom lip puckered out.

"Maybe," I responded ruffling the top of her head, my fingers getting tangled in her brown hair.

"Aw come on," Madison continued to plead. "Elliot don't you want Uncle Rily to read to us too?"

Elliot further buried his face into Charlotte's leg.

"Elliot go on and say 'hi' to your uncle," Charlotte encouraged her son, putting her hand on his back nudging him in my direction.

The grin on my face faded. My eyes drifted to the floor, knowing that my once happy go lucky nephew who was so young when I left, was no longer that way with me. Everything changed. Now my own family was afraid to look at me, and treaded on broken glass when they talked to me. My sister was the only one who acted like nothing ever changed. Even that I questioned. I felt sick and angry, wanting to go back into my gloomy apartment.

"It's fine Charlotte," I mumbled, my hand formed into a fist by my side on the leg that was opposite of Charlotte.

"It's not fine Rily. Go on Elliot, see Madison's fine," she spoke gently.

Elliot didn't even budge. My brother-in-law just picked Elliot up and brought him back up to his room. Paul had the personality of a wet rag. He managed to talk less to me since I've been home the past year.

"He's four don't-"

"I'm a beast I get it," I cut her off my voice gruff.

"You aren't a beast," Madison responded. She turned around so that she was facing me. She placed a hand on both sides of my face, even the deformed parts that were forever scarred. "You're nice."

Madison then leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"Night Uncle Rily," Madison smiled as she hopped off my lap.

"Night Madison, sweet dreams," I responded, she giggled as she went upstairs.

"See," my sister grinned, her smugness shined in that smile as she poured the hot water into a mug. "Do you want some tea?"

"Sure," I answered bracing myself for the lecture that was about to be served with the steaming water.

"See Madison's not afraid of you. You can stop shutting yourself from the world," Charlotte started while I rolled my eyes. "You did a good-"

"Your husband's a grown man and won't even look at me," I pointed out getting sick of this.

"Oh Paul's just awkward around all people. It's not because of the burn scars Rily."

"Whatever," I grumbled.

"Rily, you're not Madison's age, use your words," Charlotte scolded her eyes narrowed.

"Yes mother," I continued to protest stirring the liquid mindlessly.

"Rily seriously, you did an amazing thing and received honors for-"

"Yeah the honors are really helping me I can't even walk out of my house without being gawked at. My own nephew won't come near me," I snapped, not able to hold back the fury in my voice.

Charlotte sauntered over to me brushing the hood off my head. My brown hair was scorched off of my skin leaving red rippling skin. I cringed as she ran her fingers over the top of my head down to my flamed chewed up ear. Her touch was so soft.

"Baby brother, you've got a heart of gold, you always have. I just wish you could remember that and see past the reflection in the mirror." Her voice was a tender lullaby as she bent down and kissed the top of my head while laying strokes on my scalp.

"Easier said then done," I muttered my voice calmer then before.

"Uncle Rily you said you'd read me a story," Madison pointed out from up the stairs.

"Your audience awaits," Charlotte gave my back a little push.

I sighed and took sluggish steps towards the stairs to see Madison in her pajamas with a stuffed dog in her grasp.

"Come on, Uncle Rily you're walking too slow," Madison complained causing me to run up the stairs as she squeaked.

I scooped Madison up so that she was in a ball near my head, blowing a raspberry into her neck she giggled louder.

"Stop it!"

"Continue? Okay," I tickled her stomach; her laughter filled the house as a door behind us cracked open to show a peering Elliot.

"Rily I wanted them to sleep stop winding them up!" my sister ordered. "So help me when you have kids, karma's going to get you in the butt. And if karma doesn't I sure as hell will!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I stuck my tongue out at Madison. She grinned, Elliot shut the door.

I sat on Madison's bed as she grabbed a picture book. Madison scurried under her sheets curling against my side. I started to read the book as her eyes slowly drifted to close and before the book was done Madison was asleep. Getting up slowly I tucked her in before tip toeing out of her room, closing the door lightly. My sister was standing there at the top of the stairs smirking, her arms crossed over her chest.

"You're great with kids."

I shook my head.

"So?"

"You're going to be a great daddy one day," Charlotte continued.

"A girl would have to be able to stand to look at me to make that happen let alone touch me."

"You would have to actually leave your house at normal hours to start with. I just want you to be happy Rily, you know that, right?"

"I do, but I probably should get going," I spoke, and she gave me a hug and I made my way out into the night.

The "Last" Week, Day 2

Hey Lovelies!
Today is the second day of the "last" week of Earth. So I will be continue the countdown till Friday on this blog with End of the Line. Today we had to get special permission from a couple of people to go inside a prison to talk to a cellmate. This is a high rate criminal for his multiple offences. Dean Manson was once the Major of a small town and had connections to the police force. Till one day his path crossed with Aaron's then everything was turned upside down. Now I got a chance to sit down with Manson and his Lawyer Jim Henderson.

::Enter cell and sits down:: Manson is sitting in the chair across from me in an orange jumpsuit as his lawyer is sitting besides him.

Jim
Remember, don't answer anything you don't want to. We don't want to ruin chances for parole.

Manson
(Smirking.)
Don't worry I have things under control.

Me
(Shifts in seats.)
So...(pauses) what exactly did you do to end up in here?

Manson
(Face is calm as his tone is smooth.)
I do not know I am innocent.

Me
But you were tried-

Manson
I was wrongfully accused, if it had not been for that boy's testimony I would not be in here.

Me
Maybe you wouldn't be in here unless you did something you weren't suppose to have done.

Manson
It is rare, but sometimes our court system does put an innocent man away.

Me
I see we are not going to go anywhere on this question. So how about that prison food?

Manson
(Raises an eyebrow.)
I doubt you got permission from a lawyer to see me to talk about prison food.

Me
Fine, when you get out in what, ten years, what do you plan to do when you are free?

Manson
Well, I lost my job, my wife just sent me divorce papers, and my reputation is forever tainted so that I will forever be labeled as a criminal. I will never be able to work another day. I do not have anyone to take care of my estates or what is left of them which the courts have not taken away. And you want to know what I will do when I am free?

Me
Well yeah that was the question. So next question, what do you do in prison?

Manson
The only real thing that gets me by is thinking what I will do to that Aaron boy once I am let out. How I will make him pay for putting me in here. That I-

Jim
(Standing up quickly cutting off Manson)
I think we have had enough for now.

Me
But-

Jim
No, my client is now done.


Fun Fact of the Day:
This story when it was a nightmare was actually taking place in the future with flying cars and such.

QUESTION
If you answer these two questions right you win a free ebook copy of End of the Line, just comment this post.

1. What was the villain's name in Sleeping Beauty.
2. What was on the original cover of End of the Line?

The "Last" Week, Day 1

Hey Lovelies!
As we know that the Mayan calendar ends on Friday. That the world will apparently end on Friday. With that sad, we also know my humor is a little well off. That being said I decided to spend this week showcasing End of the Line, a post apocalyptic tale about a group of teens trying to stick together and survive. This story is very dear to me because it is based on a nightmare I had every couple of years since I was nine. Each day something will be done differently in order to play around with this idea of the end along side with End of the Line. So keep your eyes out!

Today I decided to let everyone get to know the other cast members in this journey, a good way to get the ball rolling, introduction day. I have done Leading Lady or Men of Ottilie for the main characters for now Family Ties and End of the Line, but not much further then that. However without the other members in End of the Line a lot of what happens and what else is in store for the cast.

Lauren
Aaron

Cole

Brown Hair
Lightish Eyes
Hates Aaron
Wants to help more
Likes playing cards

Jill

Dark hair and eyes
Athletic
Friendly
Smart
Is into the medical field

Mandy

Brown hair
9 years old
Only child
Looks up to Jill
Shy

Sean

Reddish Brown hair
5/6 years old
Lauren's little brother
Has a crush on Paige
Becomes attached to Aaron

Paige

5/6 years old
Sweet
Has a crush on Sean
Follows Lauren like a little sister
Loves stuffed animals
Fun Fact of the Day:
Cole was originally named Alex in the first edition.