Novels by C.J

I grabbed a handful of the sodden earth and sniffed it."I don't think ma would've liked to see you do that," Warren objected. I flicked him off and took another huge whiff of the scent.I heard grunting and after a few pants, felt a touch on my shoulder. His straight face came into view and the orange light behind him created a halo around his head. "You ready?""I'm sure this is what ma would've wanted." I breathed in and tried to relax my stiff shoulders when Warren picked up the ceramic vase.After he settled into the same kneeling position beside me and we just sat in silence. My mind strayed and I felt he did the same.I would never get over what she did. Not fully but I had that mutual understanding that she felt she was protecting us anyway she could. Admittedly not the best decision as this is where it had led us to; her on the other side and both of us hurting and shattered.

Wriggling my toes in the wet sand, I smiled up at the sun feeling like a kid at Christmas. My shades flipped over my eyes and I smiled at the redhead beside me. "You know, you don't have to be so grumpy on the beach.""Uh, yes I do," she said. "Someone has to be the adult here."I smirked and wrapped my hands around her, stopping further movement and eliciting a yelp from her. "Oh yeah?""Yeah." She bent her head to the side. An open invitation and how could I resist? I lowered my head and dropped a kiss on the curve where her neck met her shoulder earning a shiver in return."No need to get all touchy, people!" The shout made Val jerk in my grip and our heads collided at the sudden movement. "Let's try to keep what goes on in the bedroom, in the bedroom please!""Yeah, we have children in our midst so keep it light and PG." Devin backed her up and I could hear them snicker behind us.After our initial shyness after the graduation cere

*ONE MONTH LATER*Wild cheers tore through the field and caps flew in the air as our graduating set hugged each other with wide smiles plastered on their faces."Congratulations!" Warren crushed me into a hug threatening to cut off my blood circulation but I wouldn't have it any other way. "Told you we'd make it."The huge eagle of happiness and pure joy in my heart only allowed me to nod, smiling widely. Before I could say, Jack, Val snatched me away from his side and right into her tight hug. "Omg, we made it, Rowa!""Yes." I squealed with her as we both jumped multiple times while holding hands. "Now you can give my baby brother the kiss he's been dying for.""Shhh." She covered my mouth with her hands, her eyes wide. After peering over my shoulder, she tried to conceal the vivid blush on her cheeks. "Remember I'm taking things slow.""Slow, shmlow," I scoffed waving my hand as if throwing the idea away. "It's just one k

Deep and varying shades of the sun set set the dark brown of his eyes off , the warmth of his palm over mine a silent reassurance he didn't plan in going anywhere anytime soon. His silence said it all while he waited for me to sift through and try to solve the puzzle of emotions clashing against each other, demanding my attention in my mind."Who would've guessed it?"Even with my eyes concentrated on the miniature view of the city below us and the cars, lights, people, movements seemed to take slow motions but I knew they hurried but it made no difference from this distance, I noticed his head tip back and he drew in an audible breath.He didn't give me a response, silently urging me to continue. I sigh and found his hand giving it a small squeeze."Who would've thought my creep would turn out to be this annoying being beside me."That drew a silent chuckle from him and he tightened his hold in my hand. "True." He

Glistening and bouncing light off each other, both rectangular caskets stood beside each other. People gathered around a few feet away from them as we all bowed our heads waiting for the Reverend to say the final prayers.My eyes felt ran out of tears as I held unto my new brother's arm like a life line cause I felt the earth would shift from under me if I let go.I just met her and we hadn't even connected the way a mother and daughter should and this happened. Her eyes, similar to mine, shone in my mind as she smiled up, warding off the chill of the world around me."I'm so sorry.""My deepest condolences.""She was such a strong woman, unfortunate really.""Are you sure they're even really twins, what if the boy was adopted?""What an unusual pair."All whispers, good and bad were directed at us even as we paid our homage to our mother. Hard to believe that she really laid insi

Ariana's voice came out loud in the void silence of my room as I searched for the blasted phone with my eyes closed, raining curses on the person calling me at this time of the night."Warren speaking." I rubbed my eyes still facing the ceiling."Hey son, your mother is having an episode of coughing and is spitting out her guts and we're in the way to the hospital right now, please meet us there beca—." He literally yelled threatening to destroy my ear drums while an engine revved in the background followed by coughs."Dario, the road!" Her warning drowned his voice before a the line dropped with silence."Dario!" The phone bug into my face where I breathed down the mouthpiece praying nothing bad had happened.My hands dailed his number again, my fingers slipping in the wet screen from my sweaty palm. Nothing added up. Zhurah coughing and the line cutting off abruptly?

"Do you have a date to the dance?" Riley shifted his weight from one foot to the other."Are you asking me to the dance?" Celia stuffed a textbook in her locker. She had to keep her cool. Can't have her slight crush on him show. "Uh Yes, but it's okay if you don't want to go with me, I mean why would you wanna be seen with Humpty Dumpty, I—""Riley." She turned to him staring at his sneakers. "Don't."He sighed. 'I understand. I'll see you around?"She gathered all her courage to make eye contact with him. "I don't have a date to the dance, Riley."The reddish tint of his ears and nose didn't go unnoticed to her while he fiddled with his bag strap. "Is that a yes?""Do you want it to be?""Yes.""Then yes." She smiled through the pain of suppressing a full-blown smile. "I'll go with you."Shock registered on his face for a while but he quickly recovered with a beam. "Awesome, I'll see you

Exams. Why did they exist in the first place? To torture students or to just rate their ability to master topics that wouldn't aid them in the real world? She could go on with being diplomatic about it but it didn't get rid of the fact that this test would crush her. A fat and proud 'D-' on her History paper when she got it back and was called into the principal's office due to the saddening decline in her grades. She could see it all happening."I'm going to flunk the paper, Lani." She groaned into her elbow. "So bad, nobody will see it coming."Her friend's hand come up in a 'hold on' position. "You're going to do fine and will get a C at best."With an eye roll, Adana gave her the stink eye. "Is that meant to make me feel better?"Leilani mirrored her earlier action, not breaking her gaze with her phone. "Sort of?""Wow, I feel so motivated.""That's my girl.""Who are you texting anyway?" Adana scrunched her brows. "No one special," Leilani muttered lowering her head. The slig

Wisps from the cigar end infused the air as she took a big inhale, releasing through her nostrils."How are you gonna pay up the credit?" The man beside her asked, lifting a bottle to his lips.The stars ahead beg for their attention as they conversed. "I don't know but I'll pay up okay? ""Boss is getting suspicious and it gets harder to keep things from him." He lifted his shoulders in what should be a shrug. "I got a few friends that owe me a favour tho, and I can easily pay off the debt myself.""But?" Nothing goes for nothing with the man, she had come to learn over the treacherous path which defined their 'friendship'. "I wanna taste a certain broad." He salivated on his thick lips. "See if bigger is always bett—""Don't."His now empty bottle clanged against the floor. "You don't have a roof over your head, your debt is causing trouble, and did I mention you're homeless?!"Her nose flared, eyes darkening. "You lay a hand on her and there's no telling what I'll do to you.""I do

Slivers of sunlight peeked through the blinds piercing the darkness in the room where she laid in her back staring at the ceiling. She had refused to go out since the interrogation perusing how little she had knowledge of.The smell of pizza filled the room giving it an Italian diner's aroma though the room looked like a birds' nest. Maybe a birds next was a bit more organized than this. The pizza boxes of the past week littered the floor and her bedside table, her phone laid on the bed on airplane mode to elude the numerous messages and phone calls she had been getting.A knock sounded from her door but she groaned and rolled over. Nobody but her had occupied this room since the interrogation last week. It wasn't as if she didn't want to go out but the possibility of Helen jump out from the shadows and attacking her were high. Staying indoors wasn't the safest way to go but the harmless and easiest."You've been in there

Small wisps of smoke emitted out of the cup of cocoa on the breakfast table, the gleam of the sun reflected off it and unto her face. Her fingers swiped and tapped endlessly on the phone in her hand. The clattering behind her seized and the sunlight got blocked out by a particularly curious shadow."You're on that picturegram thingy again." Sarah pointed out and."Instagram, mom." Celia rolled her eyes and narrowed it at a particular post. "It's called ÏÑSTĀGRÂM.""Whatever it's called, you can do it after breakfast and right before first period." Sarah turned away to switch off the cooker. When her daughter continued, she cleared her throat loudly. Celia sighed and dropped her phone on the table."Mom, do you think it's possible to skip P.E?"Sara carried her tray to the table, sitting across her daughter. "Why would you want to skip P.E?"Celia lowered her eyes, playing with a piece of toast. For the past week, she'

She looked so calm and helpless in this state but that illusion contrasted with the truth. Steady beeping being the only sound in the room, kept her company as Adana took in every curve of her soft face. "What have I done to deserve this?" She sighed. "I never went against your rules as a child. Everything changed so fast." In the blink of an eye, the eyelids which were previously closed lifted open and those eyes, a clone of hers stared back at her. The blank expression lasted only a second before morphing to one of anguish and anger. The woman on the bed, dressed in the light hospital gown sat up. "You deserve everything I'm doing to you." She started to rise, not taking mind of the connected drip to her hands. "Every single thing, you deserve!" "No." Adana placed a hand on her chest her eyes widening significantly. Mom couldn't be waking back up and comi

"I think the the Kootaca people will forever be in your debt for helping Maro deliver Kovu and Kulo" Cecilia, one of the vets at Kootaca Zoo."No, it's nothing really" I assured her calmly "she just needed a little help is all"I had just assisted a young Giraffe on her first delivery. The situation was worse because she had twins and they were two weeks early.I smiled while remembering my joy when they finally stood on their shaky legs and started walking a little, testing the grounds but didn't take more than three steps away from their mother. Smart animals."I won't have this argument with you because this isn't the first time you're coming to our rescue" she continued "a vacant spot is always available for you to work with is as a vet""You know I can't" I said lightly "I haven't started college but I am really busy making applications but thanks for letting

"Enjoy the rest of your stay here and no misbehaving" Mr. Green said finally dismissing the class for the last time ever."At last" Chloe said while walking with my to our last lunch at school."Freedom!" She screamed earning weirded out looks from some students but I've got to agree with her on that. No more waking up early. No more snotty teachers and students alike."What are you going in to the graduation party?""There's a party?" I asked clearly confused because the school only arranged for a formal celebration where we were to dress in dresses and suits (horrible, I know)."No dufus" she rolled hey eyes"Ther

Graduation was slowly creeping up close. It was three weeks away. Chloe and I had already discussed our plans for college. I was sad and disappointed to know we would be going to different schools."I'm going to miss you" she pouted" I won't " I said with feigned boredom resulting in my pillow being thrown at me. I dodged easily."I'm kidding, I'll miss you more"I told her as we continued with our assignments."Hey Clo?" I called her with my eyes glued to the textbook in my hands."Do you thi-""Wow" Chloe uttered as she opened my window which I had closed earlier so we wouldn't get distracted and start talking about Chris. I have had enough of him to last me a lifetime."I didn't know your room was directly opposite HIS room" she put emphasis in the his like there was a hidden meaning to her words."Chloe, please come

"You know what?""You were so right about our cheating boyfriends but we were so blind to see through our apparent love for them" Chloe finally concluded.So here I was back in school but we were in first period waiting for our teacher and we decided to catch up.I missed this no matter how much I claimed I hated it. Chloe updated me on anything and when I say anything,I mean anything and everything including the details such as time, date and location. Yes. Location. She's that deep.I haven't seen Mark yet or Chris or any member of the baseball team. Sigh."Kamara" Chloe whined "what's on your mind?"I couldn't tell her. Or could I. I weighed the pros and cons. Pro: she would finally know I like him and can also update me on his movements. Con: she could totally tell him I liked him and I don't want him finding out from her. Right?. Pro: I would

After my phone call, I padded across the hardwood floor to what I assumed to be the living area.For a cabin out in the woods, this place was huge. I searched the large area before my eyes rested on Ramon.He hadn't noticed my presence in the room so I took my time taking in his appearance in the brighter light of the living room.His hair looked even more bleached, it was almost white falling over his eyes as he concentrated on the book in his hands.He was hunched over with his eyes skimming over the words slowly like he was taking his precious time to drink in the words of the book.I finally decided to make my presence known by clearing my throat softl

Ramon sat on a chair beside the bed where the unconscious melanin beauty laid. She must not be older that her teens he presumed as he watched her clutch at the sheets while her breathing increased.She had been unconscious for four days now and if not for her rapid breathing and small words every now and then, he would have thought get dead. The doctor which he has immediately called after placing her on the couch on the living room, arrived after the storm had quietened down, told him she was in a kind of state due to shock but other than that she was alive but there was a catch. If she didn't wake up any time soon, she was liable to die of hunger. He stood from where he sat and made his way to the kitchen. After preparing the soup in a can he has prepared, he took the soup in a bowl on a tray to her room. After placing the soup on the bedside table, he went to the door to check if Lily was back from her mornin