Sunday, November 30, 2008

A Pocketful of Poppies

As usual, my mind is running in twenty different directions but I cannot seem to help myself. If the post below is any indication, Justin Aldridge and Poppy Sheppard have been on my creative mind lately. Wonderwall was the first romance story I ever posted and my writing has improved much since then. I have always wanted to give Justin and Poppy a story that they, in my opinion, deserve.

A Pocketful of Poppies by Kate
Justin Aldridge has a gun being pointed at his face and he doesn’t know if the person is going to pull the trigger. Possibly about to die, instead of his life flashing before his eyes, he thinks of Poppy Sheppard, the only girl he has ever loved and her heart that he broke.

The first chapter would be of Justin when he is an adult and a police detective - an introduction to the man he has become - and the rest of the story would be a flashback to when he was in high school and met Poppy for the first time.

I do not know when I will post the first chapter. I am working on it as well as my other stories but I am excited about this one. I think I can make Wonderwall a much better story than what it currently is. I will, of course, let everyone know if/when the story is posted. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I still sometimes cannot believe how awesome all of you are to me.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Justin and Poppy

Please read the unfinished story below. It is of Justin and Poppy and would be an exert from Wonderwall - a missing scene from the story so to speak. This just came to me randomly and though I have to finish it, I am interested in seeing what everyone thinks about it. And I found the most beautiful, perfect pictures of Poppy Sheppard - more of which I will be posting later. Although Wonderwall is one of my - in my opinion - worst stories, it was the first one I ever posted and Justin and Poppy have always had a special place in my heart because of that. Also, please read part eleven of The Flower Girl if you want and let me know what you think. Thank you very much.

..XX..

A Pocketful of Poppies by Kate

She had the saddest smile he had ever seen.

Even when she was laughing, even when she looked as if she was happy, he saw something in her eyes; in her face. Where there should have been a brightness in her eyes, when her smile should have overtaken her entire face, that never happened. He would wait for it but it would never appear like it did for most people.

When Poppy Sheppard smiled, it passed across her pale pink lips like a ghost, barely appearing, barely staying, barely taking the time to fully form before disappearing.

Justin Aldridge normally wasn’t the type of person to watch those around him. He had a small world and it consisted only of his friends, basketball, school, his mom and plenty of ready and willing girls eager to be with him. He didn’t pay attention to anything around him but for some reason, Poppy Sheppard had caught his interest.

He watched her in the cafeteria as she sat at her usual table with her tight circle of friends. They were loud, boisterous, always joking and making fun of one another, and she never seemed as if she fit in with them. She smiled and laughed along with them but when Justin truly started watching her, he noticed that she seemed to always be so far away when she did so. Her eyes never lit up. Her smile was faint, brushing over her face.

Justin watched her, wondering what would truly make her smile.

Before he started watching her, Justin had never noticed how beautiful Poppy Sheppard was before. Her long, brown curly hair, tumbling down to almost the small of her back, her dark brown eyes, pale rose lips, pale skin. When his eyes seemed unable to leave her, he didn’t understand why he had never noticed her sooner than he did. He had been going to school with Poppy since they were both in kindergarten but he didn’t first see her, truly see her, until they were juniors in high school.

He started watching her in their shared English class. She didn’t talk a lot but whenever Mr. Gardocki called on her to answer a question, she always knew the answer. Most of the time, she spent the forty-minute class period staring out the window. Justin sat in the row next to hers, a couple seats back, and he began passing the time in class by watching her watch the world outside.

She wasn’t like the other girls he surrounded himself with. Her hair wasn’t dyed a bleach blonde and her skin wasn’t tanned to an unnatural shade of bronze. She didn’t wear clothes that left nothing to the imagination. She wore jeans and tee-shirts and hooded sweatshirts with Converse or Puma sneakers. She dressed for comfort instead of for fashion and Justin really didn’t hang out with girls who did the same.

The girls he knew wore outfits that made them look so much older than seventeen and eighteen years old. And though their short skirts were easy to maneuver around while in the backseat of a car, Justin was intrigued with Poppy’s complete lack of sluttiness.

He was the most intrigued by her smile though and the fact that she never seemed to actually produce a real one.

Justin didn’t talk to her. They were in two completely different social circles and he didn’t know if he had ever actually talked to her before. He wanted to though and he was Justin Aldridge. He could talk to any girl he wanted.

Already though, he knew that Poppy Sheppard was different.

He supposed that he had had preconceived notions about her. She was a nerd, a bookworm, a genius, a skater – mainly because of the others she hung out with. Of course, before he started watching her, Justin hadn’t thought much of her at all. She was just another face in the crowd, another girl that went to the same high school. Someone he didn’t know but knew of.

The rain had pouring down all day and Justin got out of basketball practice around five o'clock when the sky was completely black and the rain poured down in thick torrents that made visibility weak. He ran across the parking lot towards where his car was parked. His mom had told him to wear his raincoat that day but like most stubborn teenagers, he hadn’t wanted to and his sweatshirt was completely soaked and plastered to his body by the time he unlocked his car doors and slid in the front seat behind the wheel.

He sat up slightly, looking at his reflection in the rearview mirror, rubbing a hand through his dripping wet dark shaggy hair. He needed to get home and change his clothes. The basketball season had its game opener in three days and the last thing Justin, the team’s starring point guard, needed was to go and get sick because he refused to listen to his mom and wear a stupid raincoat that day.

He drove carefully, his windshield wipers on at full speed but the street in front of him was still too hard to see. He wasn’t sure how but he managed to see a flash of red walking down the sidewalk. Slowing the car down, he peered out his window, trying to see who was stupid enough to be walking through that storm.

He stopped the car completely when he saw dark brown curls sticking out from underneath the hood and he rolled down his window.

“Poppy?” He shouted out, trying to be heard over the low rumble of thunder shaking off in the distance.

The person stopped walking and turned her head. He smiled when he saw that it was her. Lucky guess.

“What are you doing?” He asked, sticking his head out the window.

“What does it look like?” She shouted back. “I'm walking home.”

“Couldn’t one of your friends give you a ride?”

“Not today, they couldn’t,” she said with a shake of her head and then began walking again.

Justin put the car in reverse and slowly followed her. She stopped once she realized what he was doing and turned her head to look at him again. He smiled at her.

“Let me give you a ride.”

She stared at him for a moment as if she didn’t quite comprehend the words he had just spoken and he smirked. It was a bit strange. Justin Aldridge, a boy she didn’t even know, offering Poppy Sheppard a ride home.

“If you haven’t noticed, Justin, we are heading in two opposite directions.”

He smirked a bit wider. “I don’t mind. Let me give you a ride. It’s pouring and it feels pretty dry in my car.”

Poppy hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip, looking up the street for a moment. Justin watched her as she pondered his offer. He really didn’t know why he only started noticing her. In English class, her answers to questions asked were always well-thought out and intelligent even though it looked like she was a thousand miles away when her name was called. And that sad smile of hers… he didn’t know why but he was almost becoming obsessed with that ghost-like smile and his determination was growing.

For some reason unknown to him, Justin wanted to get her to give him a real smile. He didn’t even know her and yet, getting a smile out of her was his newest goal.

“Come on, Pops,” he said, using the nickname he heard her friends use towards her. “No funny business. Just a ride wherever you need to go.”

Poppy gave him a doubtful look. “Somehow, I think you are incapable of getting a girl in your car and just giving them a ride.”

“Oh, I give plenty of them rides,” Justin grinned and then laughed when she rolled her eyes in disgust. “Come on.”

She looked at him for a moment before sighing heavily and Justin grinned again. He leaned over the seat, unlocking her door as she crossed in front of the car to get in, sliding into the front passenger seat. She knocked the hood of her red raincoat back from her head and he immediately directed one of the heat vents towards her so the warm air blew directly onto her.

“Thanks,” she said softly and he saw the perpetual sadness on her face had returned.

He shifted the car back into drive and pulled into someone’s driveway so he could turn around. “Where do you live?”

“Covington subdivision,” she answered, scrunching the ends of her wet hair and he nodded, heading in the opposite direction of which he was originally heading.

“Comedown” by Bush was playing through his stereo at the moment and Gavin Rossdale’s voice sang softly through the speakers. Justin kept glancing over at her, debating whether or not he should try talking to her. He talked to dozens of girls ever day but this was different. Poppy Sheppard was different. He would actually have to make an effort with her. He couldn’t just use who he was as a way to get ahead with her. Poppy wouldn’t fall for his typical “I'm Justin Aldridge” line.

He wet his lips with the tip of his tongue, his fingers tightening slightly around the steering wheel. “You coming to the game on Friday?” He asked.

Poppy glanced at him before staring back out the windshield. “Basketball, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know. My friends and I… we aren’t really into school sports like that,” she said softly and he smirked.

“That’s obvious.”

Poppy looked at him. “What does that mean?”

“Your friend, Brady, he’s always surrounded by his own stratosphere.” Justin shook his head slightly. “You sit anywhere near some of your friends and you can get high.”

She stared at him for a moment and then shrugged. “Just something they do. Doesn’t mean I do it.”

“I wasn’t suggesting that you did it,” Justin said, looking at her again, slowly easing the car to a stop at an intersection with a red light.

Justin

Poppy

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Flower Girl - Part Eleven

Part eleven of The Flower Girl is posted now on Fictionpress.com so please check it out for me and let me know what you think. Below, there is a picture of the tree without roots in the ground which is introduced in this newest part. And also, Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I am very excited. If you have time, please read The Flower Girl when you can. Thank you.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

The Flower Girl - Part Ten

I just posted part ten of The Flower Girl on Fictionpress.com and I really do like this chapter and the insight into Hawkin it gives. Please check it out and let me know what you think. Also, it was so strange but when I went to go see The Dark Knight, the trailer for Watchmen showed before it and they played “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning” by Smashing Pumpkins - one of my favorite bands of all time. A few days later, 7 years emailed me and let me know that that was the perfect song for The Flower Girl and I could not agree more. The words, the mood, the music itself fits the elements of my story so also, please listen to it posted below. Thank you.

Molly and Hawkin

Thank you so much to Michelle who made the video before for The Flower Girl.

“Hello Kate, The Flower Girl is one of my favorite stories, so I made a video slide show for it. I hope you like it! Thank you for writing such an amazing story!”

It was so weird because I was writing part ten of this story and all of a sudden, this video pops up in my mailbox so thank you, Michelle, for taking the time to make it. Please, everyone, watch the movie and let her know what you think. I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Fallon and Leah

Thank you very much to Ashley who made the video below for Fallon Waverly and Leah Kutcher of The Waverly Myth. “Kate - I hope you like the short little slideshow I made for my favorite couple, Fallon and Leah. They are my new personal favorite that you have created and I am hoping to make a video for them eventually if I can find clips.”

Please watch and let Ashley know what you think. Thank you.

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Beginning of Eden - Chap. Three

Chapter three of The Beginning of Eden is posted on Fictionpress.com and ready to be read and reviewed. Let me know what you think of it if you want. Thank you.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Quick Note

I know I have been updating like crazy and I know that most are too busy to read anything but I also updated The Prettiest Thing on Fictionpress. I have combined chapters and added and edited some things. AFF has been giving me problems lately so I am not sure I will update there anymore. If I do, I will let you know but my new stories are on Fictionpress.com now. I will try to slow down with updating though and give everyone a chance to read whichever update interests them. Thank you.

Winter Solstice - Chap. Two

Chapter two of Winter Solstice is now posted on Fictionpress.com. What does everyone think of this story so far? All four main characters are now introduced and chapters will be longer from now on. I am having fun writing this story and I hope some are having fun reading it. Please let me know what you think of it. Thank you. Also, part nine of The Flower Girl is also posted if you are interested in reading it. Thank you very much again.

Libby

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Flower Girl - Part IX

I was completely bitten with the inspiration bug today and updated part nine of The Flower Girl, now posted on Fictionpress. I love the way this chapter turned out so please read it and let me know what you think of it. Thank you very much.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Winter Solstice - Chap. One

So, I got so excited for this story that I wrote the first chapter yesterday because I wanted to get it posted and see what people thought. Chapter one of Winter Solstice is on Fictionpress.com so please head over there and check it out for me. The first chapter is a bit shorter than my usual lengths but this is just an introduction of sorts. I am really excited for this story and I hope it turns out the way I have it planned in my head. Thanks a lot everyone and enjoy your Sunday. I bought this amazingly warm fleece blanket from Target yesterday so at least, today, I am a bit warmer. How is everyone else?

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Story Idea

Hi, everyone. I hope everyone is having a good Saturday so far. It is freezing here and I am trying to stay warm while watching Lifetime movies - which can be rather addicting. I have a new story idea now that The Waverly Myth is completed and I want to post the summary as well as character pictures to see what others think. Please let me know in the comments section if this sounds good or not. The story would take place in a span of 24 hours and would focus on four main characters and their intersecting lives and stories.

Winter Solstice by Kate
A lot can happen on the longest night of the year. Meg, Lou, Libby and Tom are four complete strangers, living completely different lives. But on this night, their paths will cross in the most unexpected of ways, giving each other just what they need and what they have always wanted.

Meg

Lou

Libby

Tom

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Waverly Myth - Chap. Twelve

The twelfth and final chapter of The Waverly Myth is posted on Fictionpress.com so please, read it for me. I am extremely proud of this story and though I lost many readers along the way, thank you to those who stuck with it for me. I am not sure what I will be updating next. I have been writing constantly with this story and Ghetto Gospel and I have been losing a lot of people who used to enjoy my stories so I think I am going to take a break and hopefully, I will come back with a story that everyone will love. Thank you very much and Happy Friday (finally)!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Waverly Myth - Chap. Eleven

One more chapter to go before this story is finished. The end is very near and I promise to give this story as happy a ending as possible. Please read chapter eleven of The Waverly Myth now on Fictionpress.com and let me know what you think of it. Thank you very much.

Mike and Harlow

New Songs

Good morning, everyone. I am working on the eleventh chapter of The Waverly Myth and hopefully, it will be finished and posted later tonight. Most of you will be happy to hear that this story only has two more chapters to go before it is finished since I know that this story was probably the least popular I have written. I am glad some of you have enjoyed it though. I personally love this story and am extremely proud of it even though it is completely different from what I write. After I finish with the Waverly family, I have another idea floating in my head and I write what I am inspired but we will see if I pursue the idea.

Below, I have posted “Sheets” by Damien Jurado and “My Skin” by Natalie Merchant - two songs I always listen to when I am writing for The Waverly Myth. I think both songs apply to all of the characters in the story but please listen to both of them and let me know what you think of them. Do they remind you of The Waverly Myth or another story? I hope everyone has a fantastic Thursday. I am so excited for the weekend to almost be here.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Waverly Myth - Chap. Ten

As promised in the post below, chapter ten of The Waverly Myth is now up on Fictionpress.com and ready to be read and reviewed by you. Please let me know what you think about it. Also, do people still enjoy this blog? I know that nothing is really posted anymore except updates, but do people still come here and visit? I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

The Waverly Myth

Thank you a million times to reader Ashley who made the video below for The Waverly Myth. Please watch it and let her know what you think in the comments section. I appreciate all the time everyone takes to make me art and videos for my stories. It means the world to me. I promise that chapter ten of The Waverly Myth will be posted sometime tomorrow so be on the lookout for that. Thank you.

Friday, November 7, 2008

The Waverly Myth- Chap. Nine

Please read and review chapter nine of The Waverly Myth for me, now posted on Fictionpress.com. I really like this chapter but I am not sure how others will feel about it or even if it turned out alright. Please let me know what you think about it. Thank you very much and Happy Friday, everyone.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The Waverly Myth - Chapter 8

Chapter eight of The Waverly Myth has just been posted on Fictionpress.com so please read and let me know what you think of it. I spent most of this chapter examining some of the couples since I know people have been bothered by the lack of romance. Also, please read chapter two of The Beginning of Eden if you have not yet and leave me your thoughts. Thank you very much.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Beginning of Eden - Chap. 2

I know most are probably distracted with the election tonight but if you want to take a break, please check out chapter two of The Beginning of Eden posted on Fictionpress.com. Let me know what you think. I am really excited about where this story is going to go and I hope that you are excited to read. Please leave me a review and I hope no one suffers from politics overload tonight. Thank you very much in advance. I write because I love it but I also write because you guys are the best. I hope you all like this chapter.

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Prettiest Thing - Chapter Ten

So, no one was probably expecting this but chapter ten of The Prettiest Thing has been posted once again on AFF.net. I hope people still like this story though with the other stories I have going on right now, I know a lot of people probably forgot about this one. But please, read it anyway and let me know what you think. Also, check out chapter seven of The Waverly Myth on Fictionpress.com if you have not done so yet. Thank you very much to Emilie for the Brett/Ella art and I found those pictures of Trevor and Joy and I just adored them. Hope everyone had a fantastic Monday. I cannot believe it is November already.

by Emilie

Joy

Trevor

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Waverly Myth - Chap. Seven

Happy Sunday, everyone. I forgot to turn back my clocks last night so when I woke up this morning, I was a little confused. I hope that did not happen to anyone else. And I hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend. Chapter seven of The Waverly Myth is up on Fictionpress.com so please check that out for me. I love the reaction this story has gotten so far. Please, keep letting me know what you think about it. Thank you very much.

Harlow

Mike

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Come By Me

More music to listen to. I was thinking that this song could be for Wes and Betty Waverly from The Waverly Myth because though one of the main story points is centering around Betty and her illness, Wes and Betty are still the loving couple in the story amongst all the drama and fights going on between their children.

My brother, sister and I are huge Harry Connick Jr. fans and I remember when I was younger, I was insanely jealous because my mom and dad had gotten my brother and sister tickets to his concert for their birthdays and I could not go with them. Come By Me is one of his sillier songs and it makes me smile every time I listen to it. My sister and I went to New Orleans earlier this summer and went into some of the music clubs in the French Quarter Harry Connick Jr. used to play in when he was younger. This song is definitely considered one of my happy songs that I listen to whenever I want to tap my toes. And now, after that insanely long explanation, you can give the song a listen to below if you like. Thank you!

Fallon and Leah

I have chosen the song Til Kingdom Comes by Coldplay for Fallon Waverly and Leah Kutcher from The Waverly Myth. Give it a listen if you are curious. Thank you and have a wonderful Saturday.