Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option. ***** Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her... Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault. [[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]

I felt the presence of his body move closer to me but only barely touch me, as if he was teasing me. His lips brushed against my skin as he traveled to the place just under the hollow of my ear. My heart fluttered in my chest. Where had he learned to kiss like this? He continued down my neck until he hit my collar bone and I felt his hot breath dance across my neck and fall down my shirt right between the swell of my breasts causing me to shiver. OH DANG! I opened my eyes and started to protest. "I want a rematch! Please!" I pleaded, stepping back. "Sorry, no can do," he teased, the crooked grin spreading across his lips. I shuddered at the thought of actually kissing him. But the part that scared me was I couldn't tell if I was shuttering in disgust or anticipation. ~~~ Stacy Hall is a tomboy: she spends most of her time hanging out with boys, she never wears dresses or makeup, and she hates the way other girls obsess over boys and gossip. But what happens when she starts having feelings for one of her closest guy friends? Someone she's known since she was little. Someone who has a tendency to flirt a little too much. Will she push him away or pull him closer? And what if he's just as confused as she is?