"What do you want?" I ask, wiping down the counter.
"You." Riker says, grabbing the mop, and dragging it around the floor. My heart flutters, beating faster. I try to play it cool, hard to get.
"Cliche much?" He frowns, shugging. "Go look for my cousin, Sex Searching Stacey." He walks closer to me.
"Why? She isn't a challenge." He let's go of the mop.
"And I am? You don't know me, and you don't want to. Just assume I live a sad, boring life, and move on with your's."
"Playing hard to get, isn't that cliche?" He's only inches away from me.
"I have a reason to do so."
"And I have a reason to want you." I swear this kid will be the death of me.
"Then prove it. I dare you." He closes the gap, placing his soft lips on mine, his hand travels to the back of my head, holding me in place. I thought the only thing to do was play along. I mean, if he wants to play, then I'll play... but by my rules.
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]]