This isn’t a love story. It was never meant to be. It is simply me - the new girl, the bad boy, the one person who understands him and our experiences together.
He was labeled, she was labeled, but I wasn’t. Sure, he was in a gang, had drinking problems, smoked, but what if he did if just because he was expected to? So what if she was the good girl, the pretty blonde haired cheerleader, the popular one? Maybe she only did it because people expected that of her. And me? Well, I’m the invisible one, not popular, but not a loser either. I observe people. It’s my talent. But when I observe the way people act now...well, sometimes I wish that it wasn’t my talent.
This isn’t a love story, or a story about love. It’s a journey through life.
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]]