The James family has just moved from Minnesota to Tracy, Wyoming. As they are settling into the small town vibes, the youngest child, Charlotte, ventures out to explore Tracy's main street, along the way she meets awkward, yet cute neighborhood boy, Mason Jones. In a quick encounter they exchange names but nothing more, afterwards, Charlotte can't get the boy off her mind, but she can't seem to remember his name. On the other side of the family we have Charlotte's slightly secluded but bold older brother Carter, whose storyline is just starting. With a new town and many storylines to continue, the perspective switches between the different characters. But one things for sure, the James' first summer in Tracy is proving already to not be boring.
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]]