
The Clay Connection
“…I’m the only one who gets to treat you like that, Pearce. You are mine, and I do not take too kindly to those who want to share in what’s mine…”
******************************************************************
Anthony Pearce and Blake Lindell have been locked in a feud for as long as they can remember. The spark that ignited their rivalry? Well, that depends on which side of the clay you ask. You’d think their parents’ constant meddling or the time they spend together on the basketball court would help smooth things over, but nope—this relationship remains stubbornly unshaped.
Everything changes, though, when Blake is forced to ditch the court and take up pottery—Anthony’s territory, where he’s the undisputed “King of Clay.” Now, tasked with the mission of getting Blake up to speed before graduation, Anthony has to spend even more time in close quarters with his rival.
Will they be able to sculpt their fractured friendship back into a masterpiece, or is their bond too cracked and brittle to repair? And when a buried secret surfaces about the rumor that shattered Anthony’s ninth-grade year, will it soften their hardened hearts or leave them shattered beyond the kiln’s fix? One thing’s for sure—things are about to get messy.
Read
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY-ONEANTHONY’S POV“Where the hell are we going to sleep tonight?” I asked Blake. We were in his mother’s car now, chased back in from how cold outside was. We didn’t carry coats or anything that could keep us remotely warm. I had never been this cold in my entire life.Blake turned to look at the back seat. “Looks pretty comfortable to me.”“Blake...” I started in a warning tone. I liked the car, but there was no way I was going to sleep in it. He smiled, a goofy grin and ruffled my hair.“I’m kidding. My grandparent’s cabin is a couple minutes away from here. Luckily for us, I am their favourite grandchild and so they told me the password to it.”He put the car in gear and a couple seconds later we were leaving the beach and on our merry way to his grandparents’ cabin.It was rare for me to feel as happy as I did then and I was scared to let myself feel that happy because I kept having this feeling that it would all be taken away from me. The last time I felt like this – this happy and f
Last Updated: 2025-03-31
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTYBLAKE’S POV I kept driving, not knowing exactly where I was headed, but knowing I was going to take Tony away from everything and everyone that could possibly hurt him. He was sitting so still and so quiet and his face was turned towards the window so he was staring out at the blackness surrounding us through the tinted glass. I wanted to reach out to him, to hold him and assure him that I was on his side and that I didn’t hate him or think any less of him, but I couldn’t. Once again, I was consumed by fear, fear of how he would receive me; whether he would feel pleased enough to take my hand in his without beating himself up so much for whatever happened and what Crystal said to him. Fear of what it would mean for me to take his hand in this situation. We drove on in silence for a long time. About forty minutes later, I pulled up to the snow-covered beach and parked my car there. I really felt the silence then and it burned my heart. “Tony,” I called softly. He stiffened but didn’
Last Updated: 2025-03-23
Chapter: CHAPTER FIFTY-NINEANTHONY’S POVI don't know whose car I used but I found myself pulling up my drive way as if I had teleported there. I couldn’t remember how I got in the car and drove all the home but I did.My mind was completely blank, but at the same time it was filled with spiralling thoughts.My letter was found.Everyone knew I was in love with Blake, my little sister’s boyfriend.Blake knew I loved him even before we became friends again.Who the hell found my letter and taped it back together?Did that person know any more secrets of mine?“Tony!” The sharp, reproachful tone of my mother brought me back to reality that I so badly wanted no part of. I had somehow managed to get out of the car and walk up the little path that led to the front door.“Oh my God, Tony, what happened to you?” Her tone switched from reproachful to caring and worried in the blink of an eye. I had no idea how I looked, but I was sure it was not good since she was looking at me like a precious dragon egg that had crack
Last Updated: 2025-03-19
Chapter: CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHTBLAKE’S POVThe moment I stepped into Crane Hall with my midnight blue tuxedo looking like the most handsome man on earth, while heads turned and whispers followed, I knew I had made the biggest royal fuck-up of the century!It occurred to me while Claire was yelling at the sales girl yesterday who didn’t get my pants size right that I was forgetting something. It was only now, after I had popped a gum ball in my mouth, kissed the daylights out of Anthony right before Claire, Dante and Luke arrived and ridden in the limo my friends rented that I remembered what it was: I had a girlfriend and she was not aware that I was going to show up tonight.“Oh my God! Babe!”Months earlier, I would have loved this greeting. It would have upset me greatly if she hadn’t approached me like this and kissed me so passionately that I forgot we were in the presence of others. I would have most especially loved it if she had done it in front of Tony just to piss him off even more. Now, I couldn’t wait f
Last Updated: 2025-03-18
Chapter: CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVENANTHONY’S POVIf my heart had the ability to detach itself from my veins and arteries and pop right out of my rib cage, I’m sure it would have done so by now from how hard and fast it was beating.As Claire and I raced towards the Lindells garage, the only structure in their once glorious mansion that seemed to be still intact, I couldn’t help but smile so much and be so pleased with myself – and of course Anderson – for coming up with such a brilliant idea!“Blaakkkeeee!!!” Claire sang as she banged on the garage door. I wanted to tell her to quiet down but then remembered my parents weren’t home, so I joined her in her madness. He opened up a few seconds later, looking at the both of us with wide eyes and a startled expression.“Okay, Claire I understand cause she’s crazy, but you? Wanna alert my parents all the way in Sterling Hotel that I’m not suffering and dying alone in solitude like they wanted?”We ignored him and pushed passed him into the cozy garage. His garage bedroom was
Last Updated: 2025-03-18
Chapter: CHAPTER FIFTY-SIXBLAKE’S POV“Hey.”Words could not express how happy I was to see him.The garage door closed softly behind him and I was hugging him in record time, enjoying the warmth his cold body brought me.Right after I hospitalized Gary, the school called my parents. My father had to return back to the country while my mother, contrary to how I thought she would react to my behaviour, ended up fussing over me. Gary’s father was highly infuriated by my actions and he wanted to send me to jail, but then my mother called my grandfather, who was by all right more powerful and influential than the mayor, so I was suspended from school, banned from the dance and was under house arrest by my father who came to that agreement with Kieran Mitchel, Gary’s father.That was three days ago. Three days without talking to anyone or seeing anyone because my phone, laptop, tablet and game system were confiscated. Three days without being able to peep through my window to look at Anthony because my bedroom was
Last Updated: 2025-03-08