After experiencing the loss of her mother, 15 year old Graciela Hansen, a strong-willed, kind (maybe a little shy) and creative girl moves into her grandparents house along with her 11 year old sister, Lily Hansen and her father, James Hansen.
Being new in town and in school, she hopes that she will have a successful fresh start that can help her emotionally and physically. However, her determination is challenged when she faces the cruelty of ending up at the bottom of the school's social ladder, getting bullied by the school barbies and possibly revolting the school's heart-throb, Will Everett.
Though it may seem like she has it bad, Graciela finds comfort when she works in her grandmother's famous Ambury Cafe. Being greeted by wonderful costumers, walking around in the sweet aroma of the Cafe and working with her crush, Eric Fields. She is happy with living two different situations in her life, but what would happen if those situations had morphed into one huge situation? Like Will Everett working in the same cafe? A lot can happen in cafe hours.
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]]