Romancing Elena (A Short Story-Stories from Colony Drive, #3)

By Tiffany Apan

After seeing her ex-fiance with his new wife at a poetry slam, Elena decides to call it a night. She returns to her studio apartment, still feeling guilt over the reason behind the break up that occurred two years ago.
As she settles in for a quiet evening alone, Elena is visited by a handsome - though mysterious - stranger and finds herself awakening in unfamiliar territory.
And maybe even a second chance...

Romancing Elena is the third book in the short story series, Stories from Colony Drive, a collection of stories centered around the Northeastern Pennsylvania area.

The end of the book also includes a sample from the beginning of the novel, Descent, the first book in Tiffany Apan's The Birthrite Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany Apan
• Release date: May 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311203915

Tiffany Apan

As a time-traveling, classically trained soprano with a vocal range that spans four octaves and an award-winning songstress and writer, Tiffany started honing her creativity in the thick forests of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her grandparents were among her first musical influences as she developed a keen interest in history and mythology at a very young age (opting to write poems of Viking sea adventures in her fifth grade writing class!). Such interests carried over into works she continues to create today.Her music and stories have garnered critical and audience acclaim as her debut album, Poet, has been hailed as 'music of a very high standard' with 'phenomenal classically trained vocals.' Ethereal Gothic and Celtic undertones among the Symphonic Folk Rock have also been noted.In addition to her own projects, Tiffany serves as a vocalist and percussionist in the Traditional Folk Music group, Wayward Companions and often sits in as a guest vocalist with the Pittsburgh Historical Music Society Orchestra and other musical acts, ranging from Metal to Classical genres.Not limiting herself to music and writing, Tiffany has worked in theatre (favorite roles include Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Sally in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and a variety of film projects.With a passion for the past, she is also making a mark in the Living History world, serving as an executive site director at a historical landmark museum and appearing with her French Unit at French and Indian War reenactment events. Such endeavors now add to the inspiration behind the works she continues to create.When she's not writing music and stories about the distant past and other worlds, some of her outside interests include fitness, holistic health, antiquing, and making her home look like a vintage/antiquity paradise.Through music and writing, she enjoys merging the past with the present and is looking forward to releasing new music that will combine history, fantasy, and gothic elements, while serving as a backdrop for her book series, The Birthrite.You can also get five days of free music and stories by going on a five day journey through time:https://tiffanyapancelticgothicrock.mailchimpsites.com/

Book preview

Romancing Elena (A Short Story)

(Stories from Colony Drive, #3)

Tiffany Apan

Copyright 2014 Tiffany Apan, Poets Labyrinth

All rights reserved.

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Cover art by Rowen Poole, Tiffany Apan, Dreamstime

Part 1- Case of the Ex

The still quiet was golden as Elena shut the door to her studio apartment. She clicked on the end table lamp by the entrance before walking toward the sitting area. Craig and Jane had been at the poetry slam that evening, just having returned from their honeymoon in Venice.

Elena flopped onto the couch as she recalled seeing her ex-fiance and his new wife together, both beautifully suntanned and seated practically on top of one another. The two had also been in the company of Jane's former roommate, Trina, and another guy whom Elena guessed to be Trina's date.

She leaned her head back against the cushion and stared up at the ceiling. It wasn't as though their presence at the coffeehouse should be a surprise; Craig liked his poetry slams and obviously, so did Jane. And Jane did seem like a nice person (even if a little young). The relationship of Craig and Elena had also ended over two years ago. And I was the one who messed it all up...

Even now, it remained a fact difficult for her to think about and admit to. Most of the time, she had no problem with managing to bury the guilt. But sometimes instances like that evening's poetry slam would be enough for it to surface and taunt her.

Elena had met Craig during their freshman orientation as English and Writing majors at Wilkes University, though the two did not start dating until the end of second semester. After nearly three years together, Craig proposed marriage. When the formal announcement of their engagement was made to family and friends, everything seemed as it should be. Elena was even purchasing bridal magazines by the armload. That is, until the weekend she visited an old high school friend in her hometown of Allentown.

Upon her arrival, she met her friend, Paige, at a bar and of course friends were buying her drinks to celebrate her recent engagement. Among the crowd of friends was Elena's high school boyfriend, Nate.

Elena and Nate began dating during the summer prior to their sophomore year. After graduation, Nate had attended State College over two hours away, and Elena broke up with him shortly after meeting Craig.

On that fateful night two and a half years ago, Nate had offered to buy her a drink at the bar, and what started as friendly conversation suddenly took