Ever since Bennett started college, dating has been the last thing on his mind. Besides, his friend, Mia, gave him plenty of that field with her "One-Hour-Crushes". But when he gets dragged into a brawl over someone he has no relations with, he finds himself falling a dark hole. Obsessing over how others see him, he fights back against eating disorders, anxiety, depression. One more comment, one more outburst of laughter, one more person, and he'll snap.
Theodore met him on accident, when his friend passed out in their science class. Honestly, at the time, Theo was only proud that he'd been able to show off, especially in front of the person he had been 'crushing' on, like a little kid. And then, he doesn't see him for a week. Students all around him whispering Bennett's name, snickering while pointing out into the main entrance to their building. When Bennett finally does come back to school, he wasn't the Bennett he recognized. This one held little in his heart, this one was sickly pale, this one was.... shaken. The sarcastic, snarky boy he'd come to know indirectly for months now was gone. And those dull eyes- Theo knew something bad would happen to Bennett if he doesn't step in to help soon.
But in the end, can even Theo save him from his thoughts?
Maya has spent five dreadful months in the psychiatric hospital recovering. Once she finally is released she is forced back into her boring life. But will things really be so boring still when she meets 'bad-boy' Noah Dalton?
He is annoying, rude and always around Maya for reasons she can't understand. Maya is brave, yet also afraid that her choices could lead her spiralling back into a bad place again. Will Noah be able to save her from herself? Or will he be the cause of her destruction?
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~Noah's pov~
'These,' I slowly run my finger across one of her scars, 'are fucking beautiful.'
Before she can object, I carry on.
'Maya you are beautiful beyond perfection. You are strong. You are brave. You are funny. You are sweet. You are incredible. Look at yourself,' I nod down towards the scars on her arm and she slowly glances down at them before meeting my gaze again, 'those scars are beautiful. Do you know why?' I ask her.
She wipes a tear from her already tear-stricken face before she shakes her head.
'Because every time you decided to do that to yourself, you didn't go further, you didn't end your life. You decided to carry on living even when you thought you couldn't manage it. Those scars right there,' I gesture to them again, 'show the battles you won against yourself. They are your battle-scars and you shouldn't be ashamed of them. And you know what? I am so proud of you for making it to where you are today because you are a fighter and If I can see that, anyone can.'