Blaze is a normal 16 year old boy. He has a mom, a dad, a baby brother, and an older sister. Blaze's parent's take a two week trip right before school is out, and leave Cierra, Blaze's older sister in charge. After being gone months, Cierra becomes an unfit guardian. She spends all her time drinking, doing drugs, or sleeping around. Blaze can't handle it anymore, and runs to the only place he can think of- his therapist's house.
Blaze and his baby brother, Danger, are warmly welcome in the house over the summer.
School starts up again, and Cierra doesn't remember anything...including her family. But once she sees Blaze at school again, she remembers the call- their parent's are dead. Cierra wants Blaze and Danger back in her life, but Blaze refuses. Being eighteen though, she can legally claim custody of Danger. If she gets him, can she raise him properly?
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]]