K is for Kindle

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.  

K is for Kindle

Coach slowly turns, sensing me there, but based on the blankness on his face and in his mind, he still can’t see me. I’m still invisible.

Which makes it even easier…

Coach jerks forward, like someone pushed him. I freeze where I am, still twenty feet or so from where he’s planted by the end of the pier.

Another push must’ve come because Coach jerks again, only that time he can’t get his bearing. He falls into the water with an impressive splash.

I run to the end of the pier and look over. Coach’s arms are flailing around trying to gain some real estate, just like they had been three minutes before in my mind.

Coach’s head goes under.

I jump in where I last saw him, and search for something to grab ahold of; a shirt, a hand, anything. After two minutes of nothing, I come up for air. The water is calm and smooth, calmer than I’ve ever seen it.

He’s gone.

I grip onto the edge of the pier and pull myself up and onto the concrete and wait for someone else to come, for someone to take me away like the monster I am, but no one does.

When the sun starts to dip into edge of the lake I get to my feet. It’s little consolation to know I didn’t cause it, not really.

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

J is for Justice

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.  

J is for Justice

It’s my coach who rushes down the stairs down onto the pier. He passes less than three feet from where I’m crouched, but he doesn’t see me.  

He’s thinking the postman said he saw me come this way. He’s thinking he’ll just sit and wait for me. He’s thinking all kinds of things, none of them good.

His thoughts are pushed aside as a picture fills my mind of my coach, of his body flailing in the water. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head…it feels so real. With him looking out over the water like that, with his back to me, it would be so easy, too easy.

I get to my feet.

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter :

I is for Invisible

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.  

I is for Invisible

Wilson looks different during the day; there are people out, and cars, but I’m not looking at them, and they’re not looking at me.

I know that’ll change pretty quick though, with me not being in class, and CPS being involved now. Soon lots of people will be looking for me.

My pace quickens.

In my mind I can see Coach page me to his office; I can see his face go from fake worry to the real thing. I can see Miss Chambers pull out her phone.

Go wait by the pier.

Are you sure? I ask. The pier is someplace I go all the time. It’s the first place they’ll look for me.

Hurry. You don’t have much time.

I nod. I know I don’t.

The sound of waves lapping against pier draws me and I know that’s where I’m going, whether I think it’s a stupid idea or not. I just make it to the stone break-wall when I hear the car pull into the parking lot right behind me.

I curl myself into a ball, like I could pass for one of the rocks or something.

Stay here. I’ll hide you.

I nod and tuck myself in tighter.

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter :

H is for Hope

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.  

H is for Hope

You need to get out of here. Now.

Get out of here? Exactly where do you suggest I go? I ask.

The letter from Newstead flashes through my mind. You can go there.

I nod, taking another step away from my coach’s door, then another.

I was going, and there’s nothing he could do to stop me.

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter :
a Rafflecopter giveaway

G is for Go

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.  

G is for Go

You don’t want to go in there.

I stop with my hand frozen on the handle. That’s when I hear voices coming from the other side of the door; my coach’s, and someone else’s. It’s a woman.

I can just make out what they’re saying.

“And you just found this out?” the woman asked. I can see her in my mind. She’s tall, in a dark suit, sitting in front of my coach’s desk.

My coach’s booming voice answers her. “Jason, one of my players, came to me today. I guess he’s been staying with him.”

“And his parents?”

“Jason said they took off.”

The woman nods and sifts through stack of papers in her briefcase. “And where is Steven now?”

“In class,” Coach answers distractedly. “Miss Chambers, I know Steven, he would want to stay here, in this district. What are the chances of that happening?”

Miss Chambers straightens up, sensing his deeper agenda.

I back away from the door.

He’s never going to let you go.

I nod. I know he isn’t.

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

F is for Figuring out a thing or two

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.  

F is for Figuring out a thing or two

The next morning I cut behind the house by the school. The light that’s normally left on for me isn’t; it’s as dark as all the rest.

Must just be blown, I think as I make my way toward it.

Actually, I can see just fine in the dark. I’ll have to tell Coach that from now on he doesn’t have to bother with the light.

I reach for the handle.

It doesn’t turn in my hand. I take a step back and take another look at the light. The filament seems just fine.

I nod to myself as I back away, seeing things clearly.  

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

E is for Everything

For this year’s A to Z, I will be doing a collection of flash fiction featuring Steven, the MC from Blackbird, from right before he came to Newstead through his first year there.

E is for Everything

It was all on a single sheet, barely more than two paragraphs, but it was enough. It was everything.

I could feel Coach’s expectant eyes on my face as I read it again. Finally, when I didn’t say anything, he did, “Letters like that are fairly common. Usually you just ignore the first few while you wait for the best offer.”

“The best offer? What more could they give me? What more could anyone give me?”

Coach’s face went scarlet. He didn’t have an answer to that, at least not one I wouldn’t call him on. I took his silence as affirmation, but that wasn’t it at all.  

Coach was coming up with a new plan.

I am giving out review copies of Blackbird through Story Cartel, in exchange for Amazon Reviews (And blog reviews would be great, too) before it’s official release date on May 1^st.  You can get your copy here  Also, Story Cartel is doing a big giveaway of its own this month, so signing up for a review of any book featured there puts your name in that pot.

Don't forget to sign up for my A to Z Rafflecopter :

a Rafflecopter giveaway