Written in a calm, slice-of-life style, this story will follow a young girl's life as she first enters her high school years and embarks on a journey of discovery. Quiet, reserved, and mature for her age, Lotus always thinks of herself as a 'pastel person', fading quietly into the background; nothing more than a backdrop for the brighter, bolder people in the world. However, Lotus is completely content going unnoticed by all, as a major introvert with a dash (ok, maybe more than a dash) of social anxiety. Photography is her solace, her comfort, and her safety line, and she doesn't need anything else, right?
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.
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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]]