Kyle "All right, listen up," Coach gathers us all right before the game."That's your most important game. Not only because we're almost at the finals, but because tonight the audience is not just your grannies or cousins, all right?" "Yes, Coach," We say together and he continues "Tonight there are recruiters from some of the top league teams. Do you know what this means?" It's like we're retarded. Of course, we know what it means, but we can't tell him that, so we shout in agreement again. "Now get your asses out there and if you impress the right people, your future is something to be proud of. Come on and let's kick The Knights' asses." Everyone starts booing and we lift our sticks and get out on the ice. My teammates are excited, dizzy with the adrenaline, and the amazing prospect of either being offered a scholarship, or invited to an actual professional team.&nbs

 "Eva!" Chris hugs me when she sees me enter the room at Max's. It's crowded, as usual. I can't help but glance at the piano, and that time when I first spoke to Nathan. It feels like two lifetimes ago. "I wasn't sure you'd come," she says worriedly. But I'm not worried, not anymore. I don’t care f he’s here or not. I might be lying to myself, but I’m trying to sound as persuasive as possible, even in my head. So far it hasn’t been working, but I’m doing my best."Well," I smile widely, “I have a reason to celebrate too. ““Yeah?”“The principal let me off the hook this time. “"No!" "Yes," I say and Chris hugs me again.“I mean, it wasn’t that simple, but he said considering my previous record, he won’t suspend me.““Oh, my god, that’s awesome. We really should cel

Kyle I hear footsteps coming my way, as I'm lying under a car in Dad's garage, trying to fix the breaks of an old model they just brought in. I know it's not Jeremy because he's with Stela and they wouldn't be so quiet if they came in. I slide from under it and see my father. "Dad?" We've been walking carefully around each other in the past few days. The reason- well, he knows about my grand show at the finals. "Hello, Kyle." "Uhh, I'm almost done here, is there anything else I need to fix? I thought you'll be working on the truck. " I have no idea what he's doing here. "No, you... That's enough for today once you finish with that one you can go." "Uh, okay." I'm still lying, waiting for him to continue. My father props himself against the front of one of the cars opposite me and crosses his arms. Then he relax

D Fox The story Nathan talks about when he explains his tattoos is Sakura Gari (The Hunt for Cherry Blossoms) by the brilliant Yuu Watase. He was the character I was most hesitant about when writing, just because Nathan is the ‘misunderstood’ one; the one even I couldn’t always understand. Everything starts with Jeremy, who speaks to the reader whenever he’s uncomfortable; he breaks the fourth wall in an attempt to escape, until he finally stops because he’s found his way. Partly thanks to Kyle, partly because of himself. And by the end, Eva is the one who starts talking to us. Gray Daze is the novel I began writing even before The Gentleman’s Code. I was just afraid of writing about some of the topics here. Afraid, because I know everyone dealing with any kind of emotional trauma, or however you want to name mental health problems (I hate the word problems, especially in this context, but that’s how they’re listed in the Mental Health Foundation List) has a different experienc