Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Vlista's teen drama, Tyler? Make sure you check it out and download your copy of the signature graphic at the bottom if you want to share your love for the story. Or, if you haven't read the story before or checked it out yet, enjoy this excerpt below! 

Cia said: 

Vlista's stories can be quite graphic and dark, but Tyler is more about the life after the worst a teen has faced than the negative experiences that shaped him. I really like the sense of hope in the story as the characters look forward and not back, refusing to let the darkness take away the chance of a happy future. I also really liked the way this one section offers so many glimpses into the major characters in the story.

Quote

 

Though his face was red a small smile formed on his lips as he slipped the sneaker on Connor’s foot.  “So you came in here just to check me out?” he said feeling incredibly flattered as that didn’t happen with anyone but girls.  Girls he could care less about.

Chuckling nervously Connor nodded.  “Fraid so.  We saw you in the food court and suddenly I needed new sneakers.”

His small smile formed into a larger one as he tied up the shoe and put his hands gently on each side of it when he was done.  The gesture made Connor’s heart tingle as well as other parts of his body.  “How does this one feel?”

“Good,” Connor stood up and took the required few steps before he sat back down.  Tyler removed the shoe and pulled another one out having no idea of what to say or do about this sudden situation and hoping Connor would keep talking.

“So not being gay that must gross you out?”

He suddenly felt angry he’d denied his own feelings as his hands worked over the laces on the shoe.  “It doesn’t gross me out.   I’m flattered actually.”

Connor bit his cheek in frustration hoping his question would pry the kid out of his closet.  “You got a girlfriend?”

Tyler sighed and shook his head.  He slipped the shoe on Connor’s foot.  “I lied I am gay.” he was tired of the beating around the bush questions and was really liking the guy back, though he seemed a little weird he figured that just may be nerves, and didn’t want to ruin any chances he may have.

Connor nearly passed out from his glee as his face lit up enough to lite a small country.  He stuck out his hand.  “Name’s Connor.”

Tyler grinned at him and put his hand in his.  “Tyler but I guess you already knew that.”

Connor grinned and nodded. “So do you have a boyfriend?”

Sniggering Tyler shook his head.  “I don’t think I need to ask but do you?”

“Nope.” Connor said happily perhaps the first time in his teen years that he was glad of it.

Tyler motioned with his hand for Connor to stand up and this time when he did he checked him over from head to toe.  The guy was cute.  Something he would have seen before if he’d not been so scared of him.  He had short dark hair cut much the same as his own hair.  Light blue eyes that sparkled and a lean yet solidly built body.

He looked back at Rick wondering how much Rick knew about his life since his mother was his social worker.  He knew now that’s where he’d recognized him from as his picture was on her desk down at the social services offices.  A desk he sat at three or four times in the past.

Rick seeing him studying him smiled.  “Don’t worry man, I don’t know nothing about you.  Ma just said you’d be starting school with us yesterday and it wouldn’t kill me to be nice to you.”

He smiled filling with relief though it nagged at him still as it would be plenty easy enough for Rick to dig up dirt on him.  Stuff he was not yet ready to tell anyone about but his social worker knew from dealing with him for many years as long before he was taken away from his parents social services had been part of their lives.

After deciding on a pair of sneakers Tyler walked Connor to the counter where he stepped behind it.  “So can I have your phone number?”

 

To read more, check out the rest of the story here.