Good girl Zella Carpenter got drunk. Very drunk. Unfortunately for her, when she got drunk, she slept with the guy she'd loved for years, school bad boy and her former neighbor, Laurence Jakes. When they realize that they've further complicated their already complicated relationship, they take a road trip.
Only problem is, they don't tell anybody about this road trip.
Join Zella and Laurence through their wild ride as runaways, where they contend with police, infidelity, drugs, alcohol, sex, and old secrets.
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]]