Get me in here. Get me in here now! I order. I have to get out of the swamp before it happens again.But it does.I feel it before I see it. Dozens of thick, razor-sharp needles pierce my right leg, sinking into my skin. It hurts like nothing I've felt before, and a strangled scream of pain escapes me.Babette whips her head around, the motor forgotten. Rylan! What is it!Get me out! GET ME OUT! I scream. Fearfully, I look over my shoulder, but seconds later I wish I hadn't as the attacker comes to the surface. It has a scaly body, sharp claws, feral eyes, and a long, ugly, sneering snout that's clamped around my leg.Melanie identifies it with a shriek. GATOR!

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Alligator Attack Babette Boat Fear Gator Get Me Out Of Here Melanie Rylan Forester Swamp

I'll never see Ivy alive again.But she's still everywhere. In every drop of bubbling swamp water. In every leaf hanging from every tree. In every speck of swamp mud. In every blade of grass. In every gift she left behind for me: two sacks of miscellaneous objects, a grass bracelet, her home, her love, and my life.A swamp angel named Ivy lived in my backyard. And now she doesn't.But wherever she is, I know she's watching me.Just like the angel she's always been.

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Angel Everywhere Ivy Love Nature Plants Rylan Forester Swamp Angel Watching

I'm seeing someone.It gets quiet enough to hear our breathing.You're dating someone? Aidan asks, sitting back down in my chair. Nadia retakes her spot on my mattress.I glance down at my hands, feeling my cheeks redden. Not dating, really. It's more like I have feelings I haven't told her about yet.Do we know her?I shake my head.Who is she? Nadia inquires. I glance up and instantly hate the look of rejection on her face,The lies flow out of me too easily. Her name's Ivy. She lives over in Harraway with her parents.Is she our age?Yeah. She's only a year o

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Aidan Beautiful Dating Disappointment Feelings Ivy Like Nadia New Feelings Rylan

RYLAN!I feel Ivy's palm on my chest and, with a powerful shove, she pushes me back, away from fire, danger, and death. In that moment after the tree plunges, I see Ivy for a single second as I fall. In those emerald eyes is a look of complete calm, undying gratitude, and powerful, protective love.The tree crashes down, the sound echoing in my head.For an eternal moment, I sit there on my butt, staring at the spot where Ivy was standing. I'm numb, only registering the slightest changes; the wind dying down, the rain lessening.What just happened?Desperately, I look side to side, praying that Ivy jumped to the side and what I saw was just an illusion made up by my panicked mind.But Ivy's nowhere. And there's an arm sticking out from under the trunk.IVY!I sprint to the fallen tree. The smoldering wood stings my hand when I grab the trunk, but I grit my teeth and bear it. Pulling with all my might, I throw the remains of the tree aside.Ivy's lying there, her eyes closed and her lower half on fire.No... I fall to my knees and yank off my sweatshirt to try and smother the flames, but they burn strong, and soon the fabric's on fire. I toss it away, not knowing where it lands as I'm unable to tear my eyes off the most gut-wrenching sight of my life. My hands go to my head and my shouting grows even louder. No, no, no!This can't be happening. She can't be—

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Fire Gut Wrenching Ivy Love No Numb Protect Rylan Forester Save Swamp Tree

I'm never going to 'not come' because of you. You're my friend.I finally turn around so I can reassure her some more, but I freeze. Guilt stabs me deeply.She's crying.It's not full-out bawling, but in the little light available I see two wet trails slowly dripping from sorrowful eyes.Ivy?Her wet eyes close as she slumps forward, her shoulders shuddering.

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Crying Guilt Ivy Reassure Rylan

Nadia...first, I'm flattered you like me. You're a wonderful girl, and I'm lucky that I met you. You're one of my best friends, my only friends. And since that night with Ivy, you've been amazing. You and your brother have truly been there when I needed you to be.I sigh. Maybe if things had stayed normal—if I never got attacked, if I never met Ivy—I may have been able to return your feelings. But now...right now, I need a friend more than a girlfriend to help me get through this.Nadia didn't look very happy, but she nodded; she understood. You really liked her, didn't you?There was no doubt about my answer.Yeah. I did. I still do. And I will for the rest of my life.

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Answer Confession Friend Girlfriend Like Nadia Rylan Forester

If guilt can cause heartache, then I've definitely experienced it. Seeing Ivy hunched over and crying for probably the first time in her really long life is making me feel like the worst person in the world. With her tears streaked face in her hands, she looks so fragile, vulnerable, and human. I come forwards and give her a hug.

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Comfort Crying Guilty Hug Ivy Rylan

As I came closer, it took shape: long, slender, and curling, with numerous heart-shaped leaves. I felt my soul leap inside me. For Ivy's tree was now hung with her namesake. Jade-green ivy clutched the bark with such strength that, no matter how hard you pulled, it would never let go.I know I started crying

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Aidan Comfort Crying Ivy Nadia Okay Rylan Forester Sign Signal

We stand, gazing at each other, until Ivy moves again, pulling me into another super hug. But this time as my arms touch her waist, it somehow feels softer than before. I wish I could hold on forever.

~ Colleen Boyd

Colleen Boyd Forever Hug Intimate Ivy Rylan