Tabitha Long has always been shy. Past experiences in her childhood left her this way. There was only one person who knew her as well as her mom...and his name was Caleb.
Life happens for these two, and in Tab's mind, they end up in two separate worlds; Caleb in his world of football and beautiful girls, and Tab hidden alone in her own shell, now motherless and being forced to return to her old town, where things have surely changed. Lines were drawn a long time ago, but over time, they've become blurred, such as the ones she drew for her ex-tormentor Josh and his friends, the lines where she promised to never forget her mother, and most of all...the one line she promised to never cross...that line with her once best friend. Now that they're back in each others lives, they're both going to realize that lines sometimes can't be drawn...
Soon to be edited, until then, you've been warned lol
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]]