Still Waters

Jason, a high school senior, has learned to take a beating at home from his abusive father. He has also learned to strike back, and his reputation keeps the other students away. His real goal is to make it until his eighteenth birthday, then escape with his little sister, Janie. That plan changes when Michael, the most popular boy at school, offers to pay Jason to spend time with him. Jason assumes Michael just wants to be seen with someone who has a rough reputation, and the cash will get him closer to freedom quickly.

Michael's girlfriend, Cyndra, seems to notice the hurt Jason hides behind his smile. As the money keeps coming, Jason is pulled deeper into Michael's schemes, and the risks climb. His fighting skills and quick thinking soon stop being enough to keep him afloat.

The novel is a debut thriller with a gritty, intense tone, often compared to The Outsiders. It centers on a teenage male narrator and the moral choices that come with desperation.