I'm back! - Creative Thursday & news

Hey guys!
I am back from my Godmother's, as of Monday, but I was super tired and didn't really feel like posting - sorry! And I've been busy Tuesday and Wednesday, with my cousin over and seeing an old friend with Lauren and Megan (she's recently started her blog, go check it out now. You should definitely do that. ;D )
But you're getting a post today before I leave for London - but more about that and other things later on. First, Creative Thursday!

{via Pinterest}

She clutches her train ticket, not letting her one chance of freedom slip through her fingers like sand. Her left knee bounces, the balls of her feet just barely touching the ground. She stands up and paces along the platform, staring into the blackness, waiting for the train. She sits down again and bites her thumbnail, glancing down the track every few seconds. She picks up her empty coffee cup, then places it down again - she doesn't dare get a new one now. She could miss her train, and that would end it all. This is her one chance, her only chance to get away from them. All she needs is to get on that train and she is free. She prays that nobody will try to strike up a conversation, that nobody will sit next to her, that nobody will recognise her. She lowers her head, hiding the lower half of her face in her warm scarf. Her stomach growls, angry at her for not eating anything. But she couldn't afford the time it would take to grab a burger or a doughnut. She was risking it grabbing a coffee, but she was so tired, she was afraid she'd fall asleep on the bench by the side of the tracks and miss her train. She would buy some food on the train. She could wait. All she needs is to get on the train.
'Of all the trains to be delayed, why this one?' She thinks.
She un-tucks her hair from behind her ears, letting it fall across her face, hiding it from strangers.
'I am invisible.'
"Um.. Excuse me? May I sit here?"
She glances up, cursing in her mind. A tall boy, a couple of years older than her, stares down at her with warm brown eyes. He pushes a curl of brown hair out of his eyes and smiles nervously at her.
"Sure." She replies. This is the last thing she needs.
'Obviously not as invisible as I thought.'

Well, I hope you liked that! It's just a quick thing that I might use in a story at some point.
Right, news.

I am off to London tomorrow and won't be back until Monday. I think I will post sometime on Tuesday, because I'll be tired and unpacking on Monday. The post will probably be pictures of London and stuff I bought, so that gives you some idea. :) I'm so excited!

You have 10 days to enter my writing competition. Information about that here. Make sure if you are interested in entering, you enter by the deadline - 31st August, midnight, your time. I have had 12 entries so far, which is amazing - a lot more than I thought I would get! They are all wonderful!

Urgh, it's raining. *sigh* Let's hope it's better weather in London this weekend!

Right, well that's all I think. Bye guys.
Thanks for reading ♥

(late) Creative Thursday // C.C.C.WC :: Chapter Six + Photo Challenge Entries

Helloooooooooooo!
Ya know what time it is......It's Friday. I'm posting. That can only mean one thing... A late Creative Thursday. XD
I will be sharing with you, my lovely readers, Chapter 6 for the wonderful Celia's Writing Challenge. Click here to check out her magnificent blog, here to find out more about Chapter 6, and here for more info about the Writing Challenge.
One more thing before I start. I did a guest post on the beautiful Rose's flawless blog, Truly. Madly. Deeply. That was more of my writing, so if you wish to check that out, click here, here, or here.
...I've written 'here' too many times and now it doesn't look like a word.... My brain is melting....

.....

...

Anyways! Chapter 6.

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Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

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Grace closed her eyes and let her head fall back onto the itchy bus seat. People around her muttered apologies as they squeezed into seats next to strangers and their shopping bags slapped against legs.

She sat like that for a while, watching the patterns swirl and twist across the darkness of her eyelids, when a thought came to her, emerging from the black.

I never changed. I just learned.

She opened her eyes. Whose voice was that? Because it wasn't hers.

"Hey, Gracie, are you sure about this top?"

Jess' face hovered inches above hers, holding up the floaty floral top she'd bought earlier.

Grace sighed and sat up. "Yes, yeah. It's gorgeous, Kit-Kat. It looked amazing on you." She smiled wearily. Jess noticed.

"Gracie, what is it? What's wrong?"

She took a deep breath before turning fully to look at Jess. Another deep breath, before saying, "I'm fine."

She hated lying to her best friend, but it was for the best. Jess looked skeptical.

"Honestly, I am." Grace said, laughing.

Though still unsatisfied, Jess decided to drop it, instead going back to holding up each item of clothing for Grace to see again.

"Oooo, I almost forgot about this one..." Jess said, rifling through a bag as the bus lurched forward onto the road.

Grace laughed. "I think it's fair to say you have an obsession with shopping, Kit-Kat."

Jess grinned before picking up Grace's shopping bag and looking through it. She glanced up, "So, you coming over for lunch?"

Grace snatched her bag back while nodding.

Jess smiled, "Cool beans."

***

"How's your mum doing now, Grace?"

Grace looked up from her plate to see Julie, Jess' mother, watching her with a concerned look on her face.

Grace smiled, "She's a lot better now, I think. She... Yeah. Better. She's been going to more job interviews."

"That's great!" Julie beamed, scooping sweetcorn onto her plate.

"Did you have a good birthday, Grace?" Jess' father poured gravy over his plate and handed the jug to Jess.

She nodded, rubbing the ring on her finger that Jess had given her. "Yes, it was great, thanks, Andrew. Yeah. Really great."

Jess' little brother walked in to the dining room carrying a piece of paper.

"Hey, Tommy!" Grace ruffled his hair as he sat down.

He gave her a small smile and slid  the piece of paper across the table towards her.

"I'm really sorry it's late. It wasn't finished when you came over last time." He mumbled as she picked up the piece of paper.

It was a birthday card. 'Happy Birthday' was written in red crayon, the letters varying in sizes. There was a photo glued inside. It had been taken before... Grace sniffled... before her dad had died. Jess' parents had been having a garden party. Grace and Jess were mashing cake into each other's faces and Tommy was keeled over laughing. Her mum and dad were smiling, gazing at each other and Jess' parents were laughing hysterically.

Grace wiped away a tear. "Thank you so much, Tom."

***

"Mum, the yellow paint has run out!" Grace yelled.

"Check the cupboard next to the shelves!" was the reply.

Grace sighed and got up, placing her paintbrush onto her palette. Her vest top was already covered with splashes of colour, as were her arms, but she didn't mind. She quickly re-adjusted her ponytail before opening the cupboard. A new bottle of yellow acrylic sat proudly in the centre of the cabinet, surrounded by a mess of other paints, palettes and overalls.

"Found it! Thanks Mum!" She shouted down the stairs.

Grace made her way back to her stool, dodging canvases and easels.

This room had been her Dad's study and her studio. But after he died... Well, the study wasn't needed anymore.

Grace sat down on her stool, closed her eyes and leaned her arms against her canvas as she watched memory after memory of her dad. Her 6th birthday party, when he took her to the zoo. Her parents' 20th anniversary last year, when he bought two plane tickets to Paris, letting Grace sleep over Jess' place for the weekend they were away. A montage of all the happy moments with him flashed across her eyelids, and she felt a tear slip out onto her cheek.

"I know you miss him."

Grace sat up, eyes wide open. That wasn't her mum's voice. It was definitely male. She stared around the room, her eyes falling on a figure, standing by the open window.

She opened her mouth to scream. The figure dashed forward and placed his hand gently over her mouth. He was so fast. She wouldn't be able to outrun him, even if she had the chance.

"Hello, Gracie." He said. Grace gasped behind his hand. It was the boy from yesterday.

He smiled tightly. "I've come to take you back home."

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Want to do it too? I'm sure you can still join!

To clarify for Celia and any of you wondering:

Obsession - Jess, shopping

Little Kid Character - Tommy

Quote for the Book - I never changed. I just learned.

Cliffhanger - "I've come to take you back home."

Well, I really hope you liked that! I am really enjoying taking part in this Writing Challenge. It's sooooo much fun, and it's really forcing me to write, even when I have a bit of writer's block, as I do right now.

Now, for my entries for Anna's Photo Challenge. Please check out Anna's amazing blog, Banana and Bear.

Category 1: Summer Food

Category 2: Summer Fashion

Category 3: Nature

Category 4: Animal

Category 5: Summer Activity

Category 6: Something you use in Summer

Category 7: Anything

I hope you like them. :) I'm especially proud of that last one!

And my entry for Paige's Photo Challenge: Category 6, which is 'Sun'. Here's mine!

Wow, this was quite a long post... Warning for you all. There might be another really long post on Monday. Just letting you know! Sorry for all the long posts recently. Ideas for posts have just sort of built up and I need to get them all done so I can go back to the normal posts I used to do. Lately, I haven't been doing any life updates or anything, and I've missed doing that. Because it's like talking (or typing, I suppose) to friends, which you all are. And I want you to know what's going on in my life right now, what I'm loving, what I'm reading, what I'm listening to. What's happening.

So yeah. Possible super long post on Monday.

I've said the word 'post' too many times now....

.....

Melting brain again.....

.....

Thanks for reading (and putting up with my weird, weird self). Love you! ♥

Creative Thursday: Tane's writing challenge + Paige's Photo Challenge: Category 3

Hi guys!
Sorry this is late, but last night I was packing for my holiday. :) I'm going to Devon with my family for all of next week, which is going to be really fun. I'm taking so many books to read!
Anyways, this is my entry for Tane's writing challenge - I really hope you like it!

*** 

I've been thinking. And I've realised I'm like a little flower. I'm fragile and oh-so delicate. You can crush me with your smallest finger and toss me aside like I'm nothing. And I am. Nothing, that is. I'm lively and bright and colourful with my armour, my petals. Pluck my petals - my jokes, my smiles, my laughter, my "I'm fine"s - and you see what I truly am. A tiny stump of a thing with nothing to hide behind, nothing for me to use as a shield. An ugly thing to be thrown away and forgotten about after no time at all. I really try to stay strong. But it's so hard. So, so, so hard when you have people staring at you, shouting at you, pointing out your flaws a million times over and moving on without you as if you're nothing. Which you are. I am nothing. Nothing. I just want to be loved and cared for and seen for who I truly am without being judged and tossed aside in disgust. I am hurting and I don't know how to stop it.

***

So there you go. I wrote that last week when I was a bit.... upset. As you can probably tell. *coughs*

Well, I hope you liked it.

You can join Tane's challenge too! Click here to go over to her BEAUTIFUL blog. :)

And now for Paige's Photo Challenge - Category 3! The 3rd category was Nature. I took this photo when I went to Bristol Zoo with my school yesterday, in the Butterfly Forest area.

Bristol Zoo was amazing. :) The penguins and seals were so cute!

Love you guys!

Thanks for reading. ♥

Creative Thursday: Six Word Story #6 and Mockingjay Teaser Trailer 2

Hey, guys!
Creative Thursday.... on time?!
One of the Teacher Unions are having a strike today, so I have the day off school *PARTIES* Haha, I didn't have a party, I'm joking. C'mon guys, it's me we're talking about. I slept in late and have been reading all day.
So here you go. Bit of a short one as I want to get back to reading - I've just started The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and it's amazing! - so it's just a few six word stories for you.

{photo via Pinterest. Isn't it just adorable? So cute.}

For the first time, I'm happy.

And it feels amazing. Absolutely amazing.

The darkness is still there, hidden.

But I can pretend it isn't.

Just for this moment, I'm happy.

*****

As you can probably tell, I'm feeling a lot happier now. But I can feel the pile building again. *sigh* the circle is never-ending.

ALSO, have you guys seen the second Mockingjay teaser trailer? If you follow me on Pinterest, you've probably seen me pinning everything to do with it....

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! Johanna. :( And... and Beetee!
'The Mockingjay lives'
*faints*
I'm so excited for this film, you have no idea! I love the two teaser trailers we have had so far. I did a post about the first one here.

Thanks for reading ♥

Creative Thursday....Late again....

Hey guys. I am so sorry for always being late. But I have a valid reason this time! I came in yesterday after a bit of a rough day, did some homework, had dinner.....and fell asleep. That's right. I thought I fell asleep for 10 minutes, maybe 15. No. Oh no. I was informed afterwards that I fell asleep for 2 hours. 2 hours! So yeah.. That happened. But here it is anyway because I love you guys and hate to disappoint (not that you're waiting for me to post, looking forward to reading my writing - I know that isn't happening...)

*****

Little things, making chips in the dam that holds back all my feelings, all my emotions. The thing that holds back my tears, that stops me from breaking, is started to crack. Tiny things, things that shouldn't matter, are building up. At first, they're chipping away at the wall. But as they build and build and build, they begin to slam against the wall, large cracks spreading across the dam, joining together, forming jagged constellations.

And then it's breaking, crumbling, and I'm breaking and crumbling with it. The tears come, the feelings release, I let go, finally.
I need to be alone. Right. Now.
I'm panicking, I can feel the emotions surging and crashing over me.
I need to be alone.

I run. I run away and hide and cry. I can't run away from my thoughts, though.

'Nobody likes you, Bethan.'

'Everybody thinks you're weird, Bethan.'

'Your friends wish you'd leave them alone, Bethan.'

'You're not good enough, Bethan.'

The feelings are crashing over me like a wave and I'm drowning. 

I can't breathe. 

I can't breathe. 

I can't breathe.

And then I'm forced out of hiding, but I'm not ready yet. So I'm forced to re-build the wall, shove the wave back. Until the next time I shatter. It's a vicious cycle, and I can never win. Because the feelings are always there, but I can never express them. I hold them back. I break. I shove them away. I hold them back. I crumble. I shove them away. Over and over again.

How long can I do this?

I don't think I can stand this much longer.

*****

Sorry this is a bit depressing. As I said, rough day yesterday. It's how I'm feeling right now. This is the truth, though. This is me. Me and the vicious cycle.

Not that you care.

(really, really, really late) Creative Thursday // C.C.C.WC :: Chapter Five

Hey, guys!
Here is my Creative Thursday. I know... I know. Bethan didn't post on time. And not only not on time, but 3-4 days late. That...that is a new record for me.... I'm so sorry! I started this on Thursday but had homework to do, and then more homework on Friday. Saturday... Saturday, I have no excuse because I read all day.. actually, that is an excuse - read Looking for Alaska in a day. :) Did nothing else.... #socialskills.
Anyway, so here it is! Chapter 5 for Celia's Writing Challenge. I am having so much fun! Click here for her amazing blog, here to find out more about Chapter 5 and here for more info on the Writing Challenge.

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Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

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Crow closed the hatch behind him before making his way down the stairs. Rosie's curls bounced in front of him, gradually faded into the darkness around them. He had once needed a torch to light his way down the steps, but now he knew every nook, every crack, every uneven surface.
The black began to lighten until Crow could see the long white corridor, lit up by fluorescent lights. People moved along the hall, moving in and out of rooms, shuffling papers, fiddling with blades and guns.
Rosie winced again, pressing her fingers against her arm. The blood had nearly stopped now - a small drop was winding its way between her fingers, along her tanned hand and down her arm, a tattoo in red ink, swirling around her wrist and twisting on her forearm.
"Come on. Rhea should be in the planning room," Crow said as he placed his hand in the crook of her arm. A drop of blood landed on his fingers. He ignored it.
They walked along the main corridor, then turned left. Nobody was walking down here. It was still and quiet, the white walls and floor muffling any sound. Rose glanced down at his hand on her arm before staring up at him, smiling. There was a glint in her eyes that made Crow feel uneasy.
He stopped abruptly, taking his hand away from her arm. She looked confused as he began to speak, "Listen, I love Gracie. She's beautiful and funny and intelligent and... Not that you're not any of those things. You're..you are beautiful. I just don't like you. I mean, of course I like you. Just not in that way. I love... I love Grace. Okay?"
There was an awkward silence, heavy and suffocating. Crow shuffled his feet, staring at the white tiles, up at the ceiling, anywhere but at her. Rose gazed up at him, her eyes flitting over his face, before breaking into a grin,
"Honestly, Crow, get over yourself. I'm not into you, if that's what you're suggesting. I know that you and Grace..." She trailed off, looking awkward, her grin slipping. Then, after only a second, the smile was back, "So can we get me to Rhea before I bleed to death?"
Crow sighed with relief, and took her arm again, guiding her to a door at the end of the corridor. He knocked, four times, slow, once, four times, fast, then twice. The sound of several locks being turned and pulled back echoed through the corridor before the door was opened, revealing a severe looking man - dark hair, dark skin, dark eyes. But his mouth was pulled into a huge smile, white teeth gleaming.
"Hey, Crow! And Rosie!"
"Hiya, Scott." Rose grunted.
Scott noticed her gritted teeth and the blood winding its way down her arm and the smile left his face, "Oh my... What happened? Rhea! Get Will here. Rosie's bleeding."
Scott ushered us in, locking the door behind us. Rose sat down on a chair, clutching her arm.
The planning room was a mess, papers scattered on tables and empty food packets littering the floor but it was still beautiful. The walls and ceiling were a map of the stars, all the constellations painted and labelled with extreme accuracy. A telescope sat in the corner, ready to be taken upstairs and out into the woods for star-gazing. But there wasn't time for that anymore. There was only planning, nothing else. Not after...
Crow shook his head, helping clear maps and pencils from a long conference table. Will came in, his shoulder-length blond hair tangled and flying over his face as he lay bandages and antiseptic on the now empty table.
Scott turned to Crow, "What happened? Was it... them?"
Crow blushed. "No, it was me. I came in and heard a noise upstairs. I didn't know she was up there. I thought it was one of them. I couldn't see her face - it was too dark. So I swung. I'm sorry."
Scott nodded and clapped Crow on the back, "Don't worry about it. We all would have done the same."
Rosie looked up as Will wrapped a bandage around her arm, smiling at Crow, "I'm fine, Crow. Don't worry about me."
Crow nodded as Rhea walked back in holding a water bottle. Her long white hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she wore the same knitted cream jumper and worn jeans as yesterday. She was young, 23 years old, but her dyed silver hair and severe frown lines from recent worries made her look older.
She listened carefully as Scott told her the story, then burst out laughing. "So, you cut Rosie? Wow, Crow. You idiot!"
Crow smiled. Rhea used to laugh so much, but he hadn't heard her in so long. It was a relief to hear her warm, rich laughter in this miserable time.
She hugged him then. Her jumper was thick and warm and she smelled of sweat and acrylic paints and vanilla and safe. She was home for Crow. She acted like Crow's mother and big sister and teacher and occasionally army general but really, she was just home.
Rhea pulled back and smiled at him, but her eyes were worried. "Come on. I'll show you the plans."

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Want to do it too?

Well, I hope you liked that. :) I love Rhea - I think she might be my favourite character. She's so strong for everyone but she herself is so vulnerable and weak. I also love Scott. He's the one that gives big bear hugs and cracks jokes.

So, yeah. Sorry it's late!
I decided to post this instead of my usual Words post, and I won't be posting tomorrow - it will probably be Tuesday or Wednesday. :] - as I have my Grade 4 piano exam on Tuesday morning, so I'll be practicing hard for that!

Thanks for reading ♥

Creative....Wednesday?! Six Word Story #5

Hey, guys!
Wait....what? Bethan....posting a Creative Thursday.... early?!
Yes, guys. I'm posting early for once. That's right. I can be organised when I want to be....haha....not often...
But, I am going to see The Fault in our Stars tomorrow (because that's when it comes out over here in the UK) with the beautiful Charlotte - I'm so excited! I am taking a tissue box. Literally. I will be posting a movie review I think, or maybe just say my thoughts in a general post...probably the latter because I'm lazy and I'd probably mess up the review haha! - so I won't be able to post tomorrow - well, I would be able to, but it would be late, rushed, and, let's be honest, I'd probably forget... >.<
And I didn't want you guys to miss out on a Creative Thursday. So, it's early. Yay! *sprinkles glitter everywhere*
Celia is letting a few people catch up with their Writing Challenge chapters, so hasn't posted a new challenge. So, it's back to the good ol' days of six word stories and poems for this week. :) Feels so weird...

{photo via Pinterest}

Let's go on an adventure together.

Let's leave and never come back .

Let's go. Let's disappear. Right now.

+++

Okay, so three six word stories... 3 for the price of 1. ;)

Well, thanks for reading ♥

I hope you've all had a great week so far. Love you all!

Late Creative Thursday // C.C.C.WC :: Chapter Three

Hey, guys!
So sorry this is late. I started writing it on Wednesday, but was so busy doing other things I couldn't finish and publish it. And I was away yesterday 9am - 9pm, so I couldn't finish it and publish it then either :) So here it is, even though it's a bit late...This is Chapter Three for Celia's Writing Challenge. Click here for more information on the challenge and click here for the Chapter Three post.

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Chapter I

Chapter II

Crow stumbled through the streets, running and tripping, never looking back at Grace's street. He'd just wanted to make sure Rosie was okay with doing the watching shift - he hadn't expected to bump into...her. When she feel into him, he forgot how to breathe. She felt so warm and comforting and normal against him for that second she was pressed against him. His heart had been beating so fast, she must have felt it. But then the moment passed and she was looking at him, but not seeing him, seeing a stranger, her eyes sweeping right over his face, not so much as a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. She didn't remember him. At all.

He entered the forest and tripped over a tree root, falling painfully to the ground. He cried out, but it was his heart that was hurting. He pulled himself up, scratching his hands on the rough bark of the tree he was clinging to.

Crow stared at the forest around him and let out a sigh of relief. He knew where he was. He wasn't too far now. He picked a leaf that was dangling in his face out of his hair and headed straight on, deep into the forest.

***

Around an hour later, Crow arrived at the base, panting from his uneven trek through the woods. He'd only gone that way once before and even then, it hadn't been for long - he'd cut away from the trees onto a different street. Wiping his forehead, he dragged his feet towards the old house, his feet feeling like weights on his jelly legs.

He pushed open the door, feeling the hidden camera in the old wood and smiling. This house might look like nothing to anybody passing by, but to him - to them - it was home. The familiar sound of the squeaking floorboards was so comforting, Crow wanted to break down and cry about Gracie, like a toddler would in the arms of their mother.

Instead, he pushed forward, lifting open the hatch in the living room, hidden by a thick rug. He put his foot on the first step when he heard a creak coming from upstairs. Subconsciously, his hand fell to the blade hanging from his belt. Closing the hatch slowly, he began to climb the rotting staircase, hopping away from the creaky and weak areas of wood. He stood in the middle of the landing, dagger in hand. He was perfectly still, listening for any noise - another creak, a rustle of clothing, a muffled breath. Another squeak came from the room opposite Crow. Stiffening, he crept forward like a cat. Holding his dagger tight, he leaped into the room, blade swinging at the girl standing there. She jumped pack, gasping as the knife glided through the air past her, slicing a thin cut along her upper arm. She shouted at him, "Stop it! What on earth do you think you're doing, you stupid idiot?!"

Crow squinted at the girl, focusing on her instead of the warnings in his head, "Intruder, intruder, danger, enemy, intruder, intruder, intruder." He dropped the dagger, hearing the metal clatter against the hard wood floor. He covered his mouth with his hand. "Wait...Rose?"

Rosie glowered at Crow as she dabbed at the cut on her arm. She winced and he lowered his hand, biting his lip. "I'm so sorry, Rosie. I thought it was...one of them," his voice turning into a harsh whisper on the last three words.

She looked up, understanding obvious in her eyes. She nodded, and sat down on the floor. Looking down, Crow saw paper scattered everywhere, drawings and maps and notes covering the floor like a rug. He crouched, watching Rose work. Her long black hair hid her face like a curtain, a few curls falling across her back. She was wearing shorts and a vest top - her long tan legs and sharp shoulder blades were visible. As she sketched on a new piece of paper, he could see the muscles moving under her skin. She glanced up at him, her brown eyes warm and twinkling. Blushing, he looked away. He didn't want to giver her any false ideas. Gracie was the only girl he cared about...But what if she never knew who he was?

Glancing back at her, he spoke. "So, wh-" He broke up. His voice had turned deep and hoarse. He cleared his throat, "What are you doing?"

Rosie tucked a curl behind her ear, keeping in in place by sticking a pencil there as well. "Drawing,"

Crow rolled his eyes, "Ha ha."

She stuck out her tongue at him, before picking up a blue pencil and sketching a curve on a new piece of paper. "I swapped shifts with Scout. I told him I wanted to make some plans," she gestured at the papers, "Maps, sketches of the various rooms, drawings of the house. I thought with plans, we could make a strategy, and find the best places for people to keep watch. What do you think?"

She took the pencil out from behind her ear and swept her hair over her left shoulder. it fanned out like the feather's of a raven's wing. Crow picked up a drawing of Grace's house and then another sketch, a bird's-eye voice of her bedroom. "I think it's great. It's...Yeah. It's great. Good idea, Rosie,"

She smiled. He touched her shoulder lightly and she winced. Blood dripped onto a map of Gracie's area, splattering dots onto random locations. Pulling back his hand and ignoring her blood tracing a path from his palm to the crook of his elbow, Crow looked at her cut. It wasn't too deep, but it was still oozing blood. Rosie bit her lip - it obviously hurt a lot.

"I'm really sorry," He took her hand and pulled her up gently, "Let's get you to Rhea and the doctors."

Well, I hope you enjoyed! So sorry it's late. I'll be posting the next chapter tomorrow and then I'm up to date!

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Want to do it too? I'm sure it's not too late....

Thanks for reading ♥

P.S. 37 followers? When did this happen?! Thank you all so much, it means the world to me every time somebody clicks Follow This Site. I love all of you. When I started this blog, I didn't really care how many people followed me, but it's so lovely to know that I have 37 people reading my words, commenting on my posts saying lovely things. I really do love it when you comment - every word from you beautiful readers is a burst of joy in my heart. :) Love you guys so much! ♥

Creative Thursday // C.C.C.WC :: Chapter One

Hi, guys!
I'm taking part in the wonderful Celia's Writing Challenge. Yay! Click here to check out the first challenge and click on the button on my sidebar to read more information about it. Seriously, this could not have come at a better time - I've been really struggling to write lately, and I just can't come up with a decent plot. Hopefully while taking part in this, I'll get some ideas :)

"Why wasn't it me?" The thought entered his head before he could stop it. He pushed it away roughly. She wasn't who she used to be. She was different now. She didn't know him anymore.
He watched her from the other side of the road, his grey eyes flashing like steel in moonlight as she walked past him, a smile plastered on her pretty face. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes sparkling and the tips of her ears were as red as her boots. She'd had boots just like those when she was... He choked on the memory, pushing it down, shoving it into the dark room he kept for memories just like that. Memories of her. They way she used to be.
He wanted to jump out at her, to shake her out of this delirious state she was in and make her remember. Remember her past, her family, him. Everything. He imagined the conversation they would have, the way she would suddenly throw her arms around him and whisper his name over and over. Not his real name, but the name known by everyone, "Crow."
He clenched his fists, his face turning red as he watched her stop and touch her pale fingers to her lips where that...boy had kissed her. Her first kiss. And it wasn't with him. He hadn't been the one to run his fingers through her soft, honey-coloured hair, to trace her perfect features or to whisper her name as he cupped her face upward to meet his, "Grace." He hadn't been the one to press against her smooth, pink lips, to feel her arms around his neck and her hair against his face. It should have been him.
Stop.
He couldn't think of her like that. She didn't know who he was. She didn't even know he existed.
Crow sagged against the brick wall behind him, watching her smooth hair swing back and forth like a pendulum as she strolled dreamily toward her house.
The sky was the same grey as his eyes, birds appearing like black ink splattered on a page. It had stopped raining but the pavements were still wet and the darkening sky promised more to come. The trees were nearly bare, red and gold leaves carpeting the ground in fiery colours, falling into soggy piles that filled the cool air with the sweet scent of rotting leaves mixed with the lingering smell of rain.
He leaned his head against the building behind him and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths as colourful patterns swirled on the back of his eyelids. Crow ran his fingers over his left hand, feeling his bruised knuckles. He opened his eyes and she was gone. Pushing off from the wall, he stretched like a cat, his black t-shirt riding up a little, showing his scar. He quickly pulled it down and stretched his neck, working out the stiffness. The cold had settled into his bones, spreading through his veins. He cracked his knuckles before pulling his hands through his already messy black hair and flipping up his hood. He needed to get back. But he couldn't get the image of that boy kissing Grace out of his head. She looked so happy.
Stop it. Remember what Rhea said. You need to focus.
Still, his thoughts kept on coming back to Grace. He bit his lip hard and clenched his hands into fists, hoping the pain would bring him back. All he ended up with was blood in his mouth and white half-moons on his palms where his nails had dug into the skin.
The thought came again.
Grace.
Without realising what he was doing, Crow had crossed the road, half running towards her house, her name a constant mantra in his brain. He was sprinting now, spinning around the corner, his heart beating fast, blood pumping... SMACK!
Pain and shock burst through him, concrete and stones digging into his back, the dampness seeping into his hoodie. His raven hair had fallen across his face, obscuring his view. Brushing it away from his eyes, he looked up. Above him stood a tall boy with broad shoulders and a tanned face. There were lines around his chocolate brown eyes from smiles and laughter, his hair swept back off his face in a curly brown mess. His calloused hand was held in front of him, a slight smirk on his thin lips.
"Scout. What are you doing here? Did you just slap me?!" Crow propped himself up on his elbows, gripping Scout's hand as he was pulled from the ground.
Scout pushed a hand through his hair, blowing a curl away from his face. "I'm sorry. I couldn't let you run to her. She can't know somebody's watching her, Crow! You know that. And Rhea sent me. She didn't trust you watching Grace on your own. Apparently, she was right not to trust you. I thought you had it under control."
Crow studied him, thinking of possible lies, excuses, to get him out of this hole. If he told the truth, Rhea would never let him watch Grace again. That couldn't happen. He needed to make sure she was okay. That she was safe.
Scout was eyeing him up, watching his face closely for any tell of a lie about to be told. Finally, Crow sighed, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again. It was a mistake."
Scout shook his head, brown curls falling into his eyes. "I knew it was a bad idea letting you-"
Crow interrupted him. "I do have it under control. That wasn't the reason I ran after her. I..." He hesitated, knowing once the lie was told, things would change. More people would be watching Grace - he wouldn't be alone with her anymore. But it was either more people with him included, or someone else. It was an easy choice, "I thought I saw someone following her. I was wrong, obviously. If there was a person going after her, they would have passed you."
Scout frowned, his thick eyebrows drawing together, wrinkles forming on his brow, "You're sure it wasn't anything?"
Crow nodded, "I'm sure." He held his breath, hoping that Scout wouldn't think anything of it. But no.
"We'd better add more people to the watch. Just to be safe."
Crow gulped, his heart wilting like a flower cut from the roots that helped it live. Disappointment flooded every cell in his body, but he knew it was coming. He licked his dry lips, tasting blood from the cut he had inflicted on himself. He should have tried to focus harder. Slowly, he bowed his head, "I think that would be appropriate."
Scout bobbed his head, biting his stubby nails - a nervous habit from years ago - before pulling his hand away from his mouth, forcing his arms to his sides, "Great. Let's get back to Rhea. Rosie's in position now." Crow glanced up the road to where her house was. Scout watched him worriedly. "Crow."
His head whipped around at the sound of his name, his gaze focusing on Scout staring at him.
"Right, yes, of course."
Scout put a hand on his shoulder, "Hey, don't worry about Grace. You know Rosie has it covered. She's great at this kind of stuff."
Crow scratched his temple, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm not worried about her. Well, I am, of course, but I know Rosie's gonna be fine... It doesn't matter. Let's just go."

That was really fun :) I hope you liked it! I'm sort of going along with the theme of this story scene from a while ago because I was really interested in the characters, their back story, and what was going on all around. I'm loving writing about Crow - even I'm not sure what his background is! He surprises me more and more :} I feel like Scout is going to be fun to write as well!

Anyways, I hope you liked this. This is my Creative Thursday, and it will be for a while. Celia is planning on posting a new challenge thingy every Monday and Friday, so when she posts on a Monday, I'll link it in to my usual routine and use it for my Creative Thursday. And for the Friday one, I'll post on Saturday, so that it isn't straight after the previous chapter but I don't have to change my "Words" post schedule :)

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If you would like to join in with Celia's Writing Challenge, head over to this page. 

Thanks for reading ♥

P.S. Oh. My. Gosh. I have 31 followers. Is this real life?! Thank you all so much, I never thought I'd get 1 follower, let alone 31. I love you all - you mean so much to me, every comment, every click of the follow button, every mention of me on your beautiful blogs. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! >.< ♥

Creative Thursday: Six Word Story #4

Hi, guys! This is a really quick Creative Thursday because I want to get back to reading City of Heavenly Fire! It was so hard to put it down and write this! I'm currently on page 427 - I read 300 pages yesterday when I first got it (it came out late in the UK) and 127 pages today, but I plan on reading a lot more! At least 200 pages :)
Anyways, here it is.

{photo via}

Her memories lay scattered around her.

Now, back to City of Heavenly Fire!

Thanks for reading ♥

Creative Thursday

Hi!
There is half a day until I meet Cassandra Clare. I repeat, half a day!!!! I think I might cry when I see her....
In other news, it was year 13's last day today and I walked in on a girl writing "The chamber of secrets has been opened" in red paint on the girl's toilets mirrors. I told her it was awesome ;) I'll show you a picture sometime :)
So here's your creativeness for the week. It's another story in a picture from Celia over at Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. I love this idea! It forces me to write - so thanks Celia! I can't believe I was the feature story for last week's (or 2 weeks ago... I have a terrible memory...) challenge! Thank you so much Celia. :}

He started writing again, his pencil digging harder and harder into the paper. He forced words out of him, everything feeling wrong. She couldn't be described. He dug hard into the notebook, thick black lines covering his work as he scribbled angrily over the page. The lead snapped and he sighed, throwing it into the mess of his room.
Running his hands through his hair, he looked at his guitar, propped against his bed. Slowly, he picked it up again, trailing his thin fingers absentmindedly over the strings. His mother had always wanted him to play the piano - he was born with pianist's fingers, she always said - but he had been insistent in the music shop. He wanted that guitar.
Placing it carefully on his bed, he picked up his coffee mug and sipped. He made a face as the black liquid slid down his throat, cold and bitter. He put it down on the floor and scooped up his notebook, thinking about the way her hair curled around her shoulders, her eyes were always smiling, her laughter filling his heart and his mind and warming his soul. But no words came.
He started to write about her smile but it didn't sound write. He rubbed it away, the words on the page brushed off.
Music had always helped him escape his feelings, escape the real world. I guess this time he couldn't escape.

Thanks for reading ♥

(Late) Creative Thursday

Hi, guys!
Sorry for the late Creative Thursday post - I was really busy yesterday! But it is here!

{photo via}

He took off his shoes and stuffed his socks into them. He gripped the wet grass with his toes and dug them into the soft mud. He shook his head and droplets of water flew around him, a spiral of glittering liquid crystal that spun around him. The rain became heavier but he stayed there, water soaking his clothes and the grass between his toes, the cold mud seeping into the bottom of his jeans, and he wept.

Thanks for reading! ♥

Creative Thursday

Hi, guys!
*gasps* I'm actually doing a Creative Thursday... on a Thursday. I know. I've shocked myself!
Today, I am going to be taking part in the amazing Celia's Story Within A Picture writing challenge. Please go check out her blog Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. because it is wonderful and awesome and I love it ^.^ So yeah. Go check it out here or here or here. Or here. If you're wondering what the writing challenge is, click here to read Celia's post about it (this is a great idea, by the way Celia. I love it!)

I wuv this photo >.<

"We'll rest here." He dropped his old, worn satchel down in between the roots of a gnarled tree. Grace gazed around her. They had stopped near the edge of the forest, where the trees began to thin. The leaves were just beginning to brown and a crisp layer of them covered the grass, bright red and gold in the dying light. The sky was just visible through the tops of the trees, a dark grey as the night drew in. As the trees stopped, sand and pebbles began, the blue-grey sea like liquid mirror, lapping at the shore. She walked towards the little cove, the smell of salt and the sound of the waves drawing her in, an invisible rope around her waist and an invisible something pulling her towards the water.

She heard him stutter behind her as she walked forward, her worn boots catching on hidden branches and stones. Who was he, anyway? He had half dragged her through this forest, not telling her anything, not even his name, and expected her to be calm, not to ask questions, to rest with him as her guard. He expected her to trust him. She reached the cove and breathed in the salty air. Grace heard him stumbling behind her, cursing as he tripped over tree roots. She smirked and continued forward, toward the waves.

She reached the edge of the sea, shuffling a little further in so that the little waves covered her boots, lapping against the scuffed leather. Grace could feel him close behind her and wished he was gone so that she could go swimming. She wanted to feel the cool water against her skin, her wet hair tickling her neck and her bare toes skimming the murky bottom. She wanted the salty water to wash away everything that had happened these past few days, to hold her in an embrace and let her go with a clean slate, the last three days gone. She closed her eyes, imagining, for one second, that it were possible. She would dive down under the water and when she surfaced, she would be in the pool, Jess sitting on the edge, feet dangling in the water, towel on her lap, laughing as she was splashed.

"Grace."

She opened her eyes. She hated the way he said her name in that strange, lilting voice, like it was music. He put his hand on her shoulder, his touch like a feather. She let his hand linger there for a second longer than she knew was reasonable for strangers, then brushed it off.

"We can rest here, if you'd like?" His words were gentle caring even. Grace had always been terrible at hiding her feelings - her sadness and longing was probably written all over her face.

She tried to speak but choked on her words. Instead, she nodded slowly. She heard him place his satchel down on the ground and walk back into the forest. Grace flinched as something wet touched her lip. She hadn't realised she was crying. She tasted salt as she licked away the tear, pulling her jumper's sleeves over her hands to wipe her cheeks before turning around.
She cleared her throat, "What do you want me to do?"

He glanced back at her briefly, then turned back into the forest. She sat down on a log, playing with a frayed piece of wool on her jumper.
When he returned, he had a pile of wood in his arms. He dumped it on the beach, bringing a box of matches out of his jacket pocket. His black hair was slightly ruffled, as if he'd been running his hands through it. He dropped a lit match onto the pile of wood, stuffing the box back into his pocket as a warm red glow lit up the tiny beach.
Grace shifted nearer the fire, holding her stiff fingers out to the flames. He started looking through his satchel, until finally he brought out a small axe. Holding it near the blade, he held the handle out to her.
"Take it. If they find us, you need a weapon. In case we can't run."
She hesitated, before grasping the thick wooden handle. The axe was heavy in her hand, but felt good.
Normal, even.

Grace cleared her throat again. "So, who are they?"

He ran his dirty hands through his hair, pulling at strands of it, "I told you, I can't tell you that."
She could feel the rage begin to burn. "I have a right to know! I've been pulled away from my life to run from them but I don't know who they are or why I'm running and I don't know who you are either!"
He looked up at her then, his grey eyes like the churning sea behind her, "You really don't remember, do you?" He looked sad, despair and sorrow in his eyes and something else. Something Grace couldn't pin down.
She calmed herself, taking deep breaths, before asking, "Can you at least tell me your name?"
He looked into the fire, lost in some other place. Finally he spoke, softly saying, "Just call me Crow."
Grace opened her mouth, about to speak, asking for his real name, when Crow looked up at her with such sadness she shut her mouth.
An awkward silence fell over them, stifling their words. She decided to end it first. "I'm going to get some rest," She stood up, moving around the log towards the edge of the forest, where a pile of leaves had collected. She gripped the axe hard in her hand, feeling the heavy weight and the smooth wood, a comfort, something to hold on to as her world dropped out from beneath her. As she was walking away, she heard the soft words "Sleep tight, Gracie."

Thanks for reading ♥

Creative (actually Friday) Thursday

Hi guys!
Sorry for not posting a Creative Thursday yesterday - I was busy stressing about my Welsh assessment. But here it is!

She held her breath and cut. Her curls fell around her as she sobbed. She no longer wanted the hair she had grown for so long. It was part of her past and she wanted nothing to do with her past. Nothing to do with her mother. She cut and cut until she sat in the middle of what she once was.

Thanks for reading ♥

xoxo,

Bethan

Creative Thursday: Six Word Story #3

{photo via}

I don't know where I'm going

+++

But I know I'm not stopping.

Thanks for reading ♥

xoxo,

Bethan

Side Note: My good friend Lauren has just started a blog. I would love if you could go and check it out. Click here, here, here or here to go check it out. Or here if you like. Bye guys.

Creative Thursday: Six Word Story #2

(And) just this once, I was happy.

Thanks for reading ♥

xoxo,

Bethan

P.S. Fangirl came, can't wait to read it. In other news, I'm seeing Cassandra Clare at a book festival and I'm so excited! Now comes the hard part of deciding which books to take, because apparently I can't take all of the TMI books and the three TID books......

Creative Thursday: Six Word Story #1

"Mistakes make me who I am"

So, I may or may not have stolen this idea from the beautiful Rose and the gorgeous Mackenzie..... :/ But I just had to try this!

Thanks for reading ♥

xoxo,

Bethan

Creative Thursday

Hi, guys! Another poem. Feeling kinda down at the moment :( So I wrote this. Bit depressing, I'm sorry. Just feeling a bit upset, so my writing tends to express it.

{photo via}

I don't know why I

Feel this way.

The tears just keep on

Rolling.

I know I shouldn't

Feel this way.

But the bitter feelings keep on

Stirring.

It's wrong for me to
Feel this way.

You're doing nothing

Wrong.

I wish I wouldn't

Feel this way.

But things just keep on

Happening.

Things that make me

Feel this way

Keep building up until I

Shatter.

I do try not to

Feel this way.

I keep on smiling but my heart keeps

Breaking.

Thanks for reading.

xoxo,

Bethan