http://slow.writerscafe.org/salhylling The original writings of author Sal Hylling en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776037537 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 I storm out of the room past Toby. I don't even wait to hear what Austin has to say.      "Bethanny!" I hear him yell behind me. I suddenly stop but quickly start again. I turn down a hallway out of view and stop again.     "Bro, just leave her be. Do you love.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1221278/ I still don't believe Nichole is telling me everything about her and Liam. I just don't understand, we were actually getting along last night. You would think she would have told me, but I guess not. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1217654/        I'm stupid. I should have put that picture somewhere else. Somewhere she never would have found it. It wasn't a big deal that Mel had seen my Liam Frame, but it sure felt like a big deal all the sudden when I thought about it, but this is like the first time me a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1207951/ If I would've known the runner Jamie and the James Milburn, leader of Milburn Skies, were the same, I would have never ever set up this meeting. What if we had met more and he had learned I was from Summersville? Why has he been intently staring at me for the past 15 minutes. Nichole had been talki.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1195153/ Why did Melanie get to make all the decisions? Was she really going to go and meet with the leader of Milburn Skies? I knew that if she did go, then I would have to go with her. We're both the mayor daughters; we have the same authority.        The first thing I sa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1193877/ SIX YEARS LATER     "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Melanie, happy birthday to you!" The singing finally ended, thank God. I blew out the candles, all 22 of them, and looked at the people around me. Andie, my 19 year old sister, Nichole, my 23 y.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1190760/      "Dad, are you sure you can't just work something out? Talk to the may-" My voice is interrupted by another explosion in the distance. The closer together the explosions got, the faster my dad talked. My suitcase was sitting by the door and my dad had told me to go, but I did.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1190198/ Jamie: Melanie:Nichole:Quentin:Andie: .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1189865/ "Mels, I love you." Once again I wake with the overwhelming feeling of sadness. I sit up in my bed and look at the clock: 4:16 a.m. I lay back down and look at the ceiling. I can never fall back asleep after that dream. It replays the last thing my mother said to me before she went missing. She woke.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1189854/ The year is 2027, and a war has broke out between two towns located in the remains of what used to be the bustling city of New York. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1189572/         The next morning my alarm clock didn't go off, so I was awoken by Kaitlyn; which is not pleasant at all. I was freezing cold with no pillows, no blankets, no sheets, and no comforter. The spray of ice-cold tap water in my face didn't help the situation at a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1188550/      Bethanny Michelle Tyler, to me she's beautiful, funny, smart and sweet...most of the time. Sometimes she's just a pain to deal with, but I guess that's love.      I decide to wander around the caves and tunnels while Toby sleeps, but what I find just piss.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1183236/         I walked back into the house to find Kaitlyn staring at me. She wore a smile on her face and a robe on her back.     "What were you doing outside?" Busted.     "Turns out that Kyle Mitchell stays here for the summer t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1182577/ I ended up going to my house after all that night. My parents weren't too thrilled with me stumbling up the steps at 2 am, but otherwise could care less about the party. The next week came and passed. Graduation was so close. I could practically taste it. Everything was so normal, I didn't feel lik.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1154761/         I wake up to the sound of her voice. It's Alex. She's in the hallway. I quickly rise from the bed and run to the door. I open the door to see her, but it's not Alex. It's Bethanny. I tell her about Alex and joke about her and Austin, then she closes the doo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1148481/      "Mom, that's not fair. Everyone is going to this party. It's the last party before graduation!"     "I told you this morning that my answer is no. That's final Allison." I let out a big breath of air. Sometimes my mom just doesn't understand.  &.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1102365/ http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1101844/         Okay so maybe I shouldn't of lied to Austin. Truth is, Gabe really was lying to Austin about me only dating him being I had to protect my mom and Alex. If Austin can't trust me then maybe we shouldn't be together. Hopefully Gabe's lie will keep him away fro.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1073635/         The picture that Alex showed me of this place was beautiful, but now it's so hard to believe that it's the same house.      "What's wrong?" I hear Austin ask from the front seat.     "Nothing."    .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1073144/         I watched as Bethanny walked down the sidewalk. For some weird reason it felt like I was losing her for a second time. I've never told her that she's the one. She knows I love her, and she still acted strange today when she left. I guess things have been mo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1017584/       "I'm sorry babe. I have cheer practice after school everyday this week."      "Okay."      "I'm sorry, but what about this weekend?"      "It's whatever. This weekend sounds good though...if you.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1017583/ Bzzzzz.My phone buzzed in my pocket.I take it out slowly, not in the mood to talk to anyone. I look at the number, one I don't recognize. I throw it on my bed and go back to studying. It's almost November and I still can't get over what happened to me and Alex. Everything is still so real, it's lik.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1017274/ See Note for Reviewers for description.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1017081/           My eyes snapped shut when the gun went off. What did I do?      "Hey Jack, watch where you're shooting! You could blow a hole all the way through the money!" Jake's temper flared. Wait, he said Jack. I knew I hadn't pulled th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1016863/           Alex was gone. Great. What did I do to help? Nothing! I quickly decided that there was nothing to do except go back to the concert. I knew that Gabe wouldn't hurt Alex as long as I stayed away.        &nbs.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1016618/ After Bethanny left we all headed back to The Hideout and gathered up our stuff. We all decided to meet up at the town's Mid-Summer concert later. A bunch of local bands play, and it's a lot of fun, like a huge party. The guy's band was performing there too. Of course they wouldn't let me or Beth j.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1006641/           I knew at least one of them would follow me, but I never imagined all five of them would. How dumb do they think I am? It'd be impossible not to hear all their feet marching behind me. I quickly looked at the text I had received again.Meet me at.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/1006589/           Back at the house Dalten and...Austin were actually making breakfast together in the kitchen.     "Hey Dalten, where's Beth?" I asked him and he looked up from the stove.     "She's looking through some st.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/999390/ The only thing I could think when I saw Bethanny's dad was: This guy is crazy and Austin just protected Beth? This is going to be a weird night. After I couldn't look at the psycho anymore, I spoke up. "What are we going to do?" "We need to go to The Hideout." Bethanny answered. The Hideout... a pla.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/985696/ Check Out The Quizzes. Address located in the ABOUT ME section of my profile. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/984086/ We could still hear the stomping of boots on the ground even though we were in the church.  "Are they gone?" I asked Dalten who was peering out behind the curtains. "Think so." He said.  "What should we do?" I asked no one in particular. "We might be able to make a run for it and get back.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/970591/         Alex's house was dead silent when we walked in. In the living room, Dalten sat next to Beth on the loveseat. Beth was sitting there like a statue not paying any attention to him at all, and Austin was lying out on the couch as if dating his sister's best fr.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/962533/      "Austin, put me down!" From over Austin's shoulder I saw Beth run in through the door. Had she been outside with Austin? No. I told myself. The whole maybe Austin and Ashlee thing was really beginning to get to me. I was starting to wonder about Beth now!   &n.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/961850/ The sun was shining in my face, bright and hot. I sat up and looked around to see where the others were. Of course they were all gone. I  got the crazy feeling of being watched, and it was only then that I noticed the guy standing by the window.     "Austin?" I asked even t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/960348/      I was freaking out in Alex's living room; while Dalten just sat on the floor. He probably thought I was a total nutcase.     "Dude, chill out." he said but of course that only made me want to freak out more. I stood up and started to pace back and forth a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/952235/           It was strange, when I walked into my house. I felt as if someone were watching me, again. I knew I couldn't tell Bethanny without explaining what happened before.          I was walking home from the poli.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/951314/           I've been through a lot this past year. For one, I reunited with my father who had been dead for the past nine years. Before that happened one of my best friends, Ashlee, went missing.     "Bethanny? Hello earth-to-Beth?" It was A.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/950933/ The second book in the "Goodbye, Ashlee" trilogy http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/950698/ Beth's mom drove us all back to her house.      "Toby, you and Gabe can sleep in the living room. I don't think it's a good idea to wake your parents up at 2:58am."Gabe laughed a little.       "No, I guess not."      "I'm gonna go.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/949739/ Gabe looked at me and then frowned. "If only things had gone as planned..." Now he was looking at Ashlee.      "Come on Ashlee. The three of us need to go now." Gabe started to back away slowly with Ashlee and Alex. They were all still facing me. I was just hoping that Bethanny .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/885611/ Back at my house, Alex and I laughed on my bedroom floor.     "Oh, it was not that funny Beth. Plus you don't even have room to talk." Alex said. I was making fun of her about Toby, like always.     "I was the one who had to watch that."   .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/848648/      Jake was gone. Poor Bethanny. I felt bad for her, but right then we had something really important to show Beth, so I broke the silence.      "Uh...we found this." I handed Bethanny a note that had neatly written on it 1111.      "What.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/840689/           I was dripping wet on a balcony. It was less than 50 degrees outside, and to make it worse Bethanny was just laying on her bed staring at us.          When she finally decided to get up, she came to t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/819108/           I sat alone in my room, watching re-runs of Friends.     "What did I do? I should've gone with them. I shouldn't have let them go without me." I said quietly out-loud. That was so stupid of me. Alex was already mad at Toby, w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/819093/      "Jake? Is that you?" I was waiting by the pier and the exact person who I didn't want to see steps out.  "Toby?  Oh so you decided to come." I said crossing my arms.      "Yeah, listen Alex. I'm really sorry. This last week has been kind of crazy.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/819077/         I showed Jake the picture Alex sent me.        "Dude there's no way you can expect her to be okay with that." Jake was saying. I was in Kat's getting ready to tell him about a note I found.     "Shouldn't I .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/791061/       "Mom." I said absolutely terrified.     "Well, well, was that Jake and Toby I saw down there?" My mom was really mad. She was about to give us the sneaking out speech. When I turned, Alex looked like she had seen a ghost and I'm sure I looked about .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/786677/                     "I can't believe it!" I screamed to absolutely no one. We had kinda ditched Toby in the woods. Ashlee had taken us there so many times; we knew our way around pretty well.   &.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/770195/           There are days that every girl dreams about. One would be their 'Sweet Sixteen'. Others include Graduation and Prom. Me? I'm not crazy about birthdays, graduating I just hope to accomplish and a Prom is just a dance, but for some reason this bir.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/761517/           I rolled over onto my back and faced the sun. The warmth felt good on my cheeks, but what felt even better was the wave that crashed over me and knocked me off of my board. I love the water and everything about it because I am a surfer. &nb.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/salhylling/759112/