Callie Coastre has a busy life. She spends all of her time studying and helping out with the family business. Growing up with an Asian heritage, Callie's parents push her to be second to none. She has no time to go out with her friends and her parents wouldn't let her either. She knows all the tea and beef within her year group and with that information, she plays match-maker. Sadly, she's able to turn friends against each other and does more damage than intended.
Connor Hackling is invisible. He's popular but no one really talks to him, other than his well-known friends. They all play footy and they all are legends, but Connor is lacking. Instead of being a protegee in one sport, his skills are evenly balanced in all sports. And that sucks, he's just good. Not great, not excellent. He, unlike his friends, doesn't know how to talk to girls either. So when a girl compliments him on something he feels insecure about, he finds himself intrigued. He wants to know more about this girl but she's a year younger and in none of his classes.
Note: this is a story about toxic friendships, restrictions, salty bitches, tea, drama, beef and unrequited love aka basically my life.
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]]