In which a popular and an outcast try to find refuge, happiness, friendship, and perhaps even love throughout their odd adventures.
Angel Martinez is popular, he has the hottest girl in school as his girlfriend, he's best friends with all the school's football jocks, he gets away with nearly everything, he knows practically everything about everyone, and has a near perfect home life. Yet, one thing is missing from his life: happiness.
Luce Lanta is an outcast, he's never been in a relationship, his only friend is his twin brother, his home life is something nobody should ever have to endure, and to top it all off, he's mute. Luce is missing so much in life, but he'd sacrifice gaining all of it if he could have just one thing: happiness.
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]]