** Highest Ranking: #1 in Short Story ** Brittney Marie Claire had lacked one thing her entire life: Courage. But before entering college, she decided to show some real courage and do that one thing she had wanted to do ever since seventh grade. Telling Michael how much she loved him. So she called her longtime crush, Michael Haywood and confessed her feelings for him. The plan was perfect, she was going to walk away and never look back. However, she realized that she had dialed the wrong number. And the guy called back. Cover credit: @mellifluouswords

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]]