Cassi Cartwright is failing math, and her only hope of getting her grade up is math wiz Alex Carlson, the only problem, she hates him, he's the cocky high school jock, most popular guy in school, the kind of guy Cassi can't stand to be in the same room with, even worse he's staying with her family.
But that is the least of Cassi problems, she has a brother that hates her, her only and best friend has deserted her for a new boyfriend, and a school full of bully's that seem to think that Cassi has a bulls eye on her back.
But as life in school gets worse, Alex introduces her to his friends, and she finds herself making friends and starts to enjoy life outside of being tormented in school.
But then Alex betrays her, everything has gone bad, and she see only one way out, and she make a decision, a deadly decision. A decision that is going to effect everyone around her.
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]]