"Sorry I'm late guys, what did I miss?" The new voice zones me back in. I look up, and I see a guy that's about 5'10, and as muscular as can be. My jaw must've been to the floor because the next thing I knew, Aria's hand was snapping my mouth shut.
"Ahem," Aria cleared her throat. "Uh, Taylor. Please meet my best friend Remi Johnson." Now it was my turn to elbow her. I really didn't need her to do that.
"Hey, mind if I sit there?" He asks, his eyes shining, making it impossible to think.
"Um, yeah sure! Go ahead." I move my bag off the desk beside me just as he slides the chair back. I could feel his broad shoulder nudging me while he got situated in his seat. Maybe I might grow to like this book club.
Remi-Marie doesn't have much luck when it comes to love, But when her best friend Aria forces her to join her when she goes to one of her book club meetings, the name Tyler Allen Smith is stuck in her head. When her dreams even involve him, she knows there's no way to get over him or his eyes. She throws all caution out the window when it comes to him. Besides, he's just too nice to be bad, right?
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]]