This is not a new chapter, but please read this message to the end before ignoring it. If you already read this message in one of my other stories, you can choose to ignore this if you want. Anyway, I'm not sure who of my readers are active and who isn't, so I decided this was the best method for getting the message out there. My debut novel, Never Forget, is available (for free) to read, rate, and comment on SwoonReads (for details on links and everything, check my profile). I need readers' comments and ratings to be considered for publication. If they happen to select mine for publication, I intend to donate a portion of the advance and future royalties to yellow ribbon, an organization dedicated to preventing youth suicide.
Here is the summary:
Every action has consequences; Ash Daniels learns this lesson the hard way when his best friend, Abby, pulls the trigger that takes her life. Guilt-ridden, Ash is haunted by her memory. He's determined to make every action count by doing what should've been done while she was alive.
At her funeral, a spirit gives Ash a chance to change everything he wishes had been different. He has three opportunities. Each one is different, but each new decision wields new consequences that he never predicted, including ones that could cost him his own life.
With the chance to bring Abby back at stake, Ash is prepared to take on any obstacle. Nothing is promised when messing with fate, but one thing is certain: this is a journey he'll never forget.
It's a paranormal love story told entirely from the male point of view. It would mean so much to me for you guys to read it and give me your thoughts. And, just so this isn't all just an announcement, I picked a part to give you a taste of what you can expect.
Never Forget: Chapter 5 beginning
Principal Gregory sat behind his desk, his stony expression revealing no emotion. His large brown eyes stared at me for a long time, assessing me. Dark stubble shown on his face from more than just a few days of neglect.
"Ash, I'm sure you know why you're here."
"Go ahead. Suspend me. Expel me for all I care."
"I want to talk to you. I know you're upset right now. You have every right to be, and sometimes when people are upset they do rash things they'll regret later."
"I have no regrets. Abby needs to be remembered. Were you going to give her a proper memorial?"
"We talked about her in the morning announcements. If you would've gotten to school on time, you would've heard it."
I shook my head. "That's not good enough. That took up what—two minutes out of everyone's day? They'll forget by lunch if they haven't already."
He sighed. "What happened to Miss Jenkins is tragic. It's okay if you want her to be remembered, but there are better ways to go about it, ones that don't cause damage to school property."
"Why is what I did so wrong? Abigail Jenkins killed herself because of what everyone in this school did to her! I can't let anyone in this building forget what they did. If I'm going to be forced to live with my mistakes, then so should everyone else."
My hands shook, anger boiling inside me worse than ever. I hated him. He was just some stooge who didn't care at all. I knew how this went; he would talk to the press, brush over the highlights of Abby's life, say it was a tragic loss, claim not to know why such a good student would do something like this, and explain why the school wasn't at fault. Why he wasn't at fault.
"Everyone is well aware of what transpired here on Friday and the consequences of those actions without your interference. Those involved will be punished accordingly. Don't be so quick to think we would just turn a blind eye."
My fists clenched. "It doesn't matter. No matter what you do, it won't bring her back. You could punish everyone in this building and it still wouldn't be enough."
"Ash—"
"The same people who tormented her every day until she died have no remorse for what they did. Demanding me to remove my memorial would make you no better than them, because obviously you don't want to remember her, either. To remember her would mean admitting we have a serious bullying problem at this school that you ignored, and you would have to admit you screwed up."
He narrowed his eyes. "I told you that would be dealt with."
"But not in the way it should be. I did my fair share of screwing up, but at least I'll admit I could've prevented this. You get paid to protect students. You failed as a principal. I failed as a friend. If I can handle remembering her and owning up to my mistakes so can you."
"I couldn't have prevented this, nor could you. No one saw it coming."
I laughed, feeling like a maniac. "No one saw it coming? Abby was bullied for three and a half years! Did you think her life was all sunshine and rainbows?"
"Ash—"
"Seriously, how could you not have known?"
He put his hand up, signaling for me to shut up.
"Ash, I think you're blowing this out of proportion. If she was being bullied, someone would've known. I talked to almost all of her teachers, and none of them said they ever noticed any signs of bullying. If she was, she didn't bring it to anyone's attention."
My head was spinning. "So, you're not going to do anything?"
He shook his head. "I never said that. I said everyone involved will be dealt with. I can't tell you how. Just rest assured it will be handled appropriately." He took a deep breath. "As for you, you're a good kid. I'll cut you a little slack under these circumstances. I know you and Abigail were close, and I feel making you attend school the day before her funeral is not a good idea, and given your display earlier, you might be considered a danger to the student body. So, I want you to go home. I'll call your parents and let them know. This isn't a suspension or anything. For the sake of your mental health, I just want you to stay home until after the services are over and you can move on."
I didn't respond. After leaving his office, I walked to the entrance, feeling like a pipe ready to burst.
Don't cry, Ash. A little voice inside my head whispered, but it only made me want to cry more. It was Abby's voice, and I would never forget the moment she said it.
Abby was below me when I fell out of the tree. I stayed where I was: face-down in the dirt with my head swimming in blood. Tears of pain fell from my eyes, and I thought I was dying.
" Ash!" She rushed to my side and touched my arm.
" Ow! Don't touch it!"
" Mommy! Ash is hurt!"
I smiled through the tears as she met my eyes. She crouched down beside me and tried again. "Mommy! Come here!"
She looked down at me, and, despite everything, I felt ashamed for crying, but she showed no indication if she thought any less of me. Instead, she cupped my cheek in her hand. "Don't cry, Ash. You'll be all better soon. I promise."
"Oh, God." I choked back a sob. The ache in my chest nearly crippled me, preventing me from focusing on anything else.
And there you have it. If you like what you read, I really hope you'll check it out :) Thanks for your time.
