"When something terrible happens to someone, everyone feels sorry for you at first, they take your hand and cry fake tears and say how 'special' you are, how strong you are. But after a while they forget...Then they don't see a person anymore they just see this terrible thing and think you're terrible because of it...It's like a little switch that goes off in people's heads: one minute everyone is your friend and they care oh-so much, then, when things die down, they become terrified of you. You'd be surprised to see what fear can make someone do."
Justin Ivanov has never led much of a normal life, but when his sister passes away, his entire world falls apart. Trapped in an abusive relationship and in a school where everyone is scared of him, Justin continues to deteriorate, pinning all his hope on his confused best friend, Ben Fulton. He struggles to keep his family together without them finding out the hidden secret of his sexuality. But the more he fails, the closer he gets to losing himself forever.
Ben Fulton doesn't understand what depression is. He doesn't understand why people have it or how to fix it. But when the sudden death of his best friend's sister leaves him feeling empty, he comes too close to comfort with just what depression can make someone do. Trying to sort out his own emotions, sexuality, and future out, Ben also has to balance trying to save Justin. But the more he tries, the more his feelings grow for his best friend, and the closer Justin gets to destroying himself.
Diego Santiago was not your average teenager.
He had a loving mother, a great best friend, a beautiful friend, an ex-boyfriend that gave him a traumatic experience, a soon-to-be stepbrother that helped along in that traumatic experience, a friend turned enemy, and finally, a messy slight crush.
It's a handful.
He was no longer a nobody but somebody with a bad name and a target on his head. He messed with the school's king, and he needed to face the consequences, or so they say and believe. Despite all these things that are making his life one big roller coaster, he still wants one thing in life, for his mother and friends to be happy.
Caden Mitchell had a hectic life of his own as well. He was the enemy at first and is trying his best to become a true brother and a true lover. He knew he needed to change, but his old habits keep crawling back. He needed to learn and grow as a person, and for the sake of his mental health, he needed to change fast.
Caden was on a mission, a mission to get back his soon-to-be stepbrother and his lover that meant more to him than he could express in words. He was growing desperate and was ready to do just about anything. Even if that meant leaving behind Victor, who he once saw was the closest thing to a brother he'd ever get.