Brooklyn Johnsons, A 15-year-old girl who has dreamed of doing Pointe since she was five, but when she joins when she is nine, she realizes its torture but amazing all at once. Being the daughter of a famous lawyer has her under a lot of pressure, she has to be perfect, just like how her family acts. But is Ballet as easy as it seems?
Mrs. Brown doesn't make it any easier. She's constantly embarrassed Brooklyn for doing her moves at the wrong count. Being a shy, insecure dancer is what people call her. Brooklyn has very few friends because of this, but it'll all be worth it as long as your parents are proud, right?
Make them proud, starve yourself, you'll only be pretty if you weigh less, fake a smile, don't let them understand your pain, get straight A's, make sure not to fail, have clear skin, pimples are ugly, the thoughts only got worse and worse. Was Brooklyn really okay, or was she faking being happy?
Noah Brooks, 16 years old and quarterback of his high school's football team. Almost everyone loves him. Who wouldn't? A quarterback, with dark brown, wavy hair, blue eyes, and the perfect smile, he could be friends with almost everyone. With almost every cheerleader trying to date him, how is he still single? Would he be waiting to talk to someone before dating? He's had almost the same schedule as Brooklyn since fifth grade. Somehow, they've never talked. But will that all change when they have to be partners in a science project?
You can do so much better at the games, win the games, get a hot girl as a girlfriend, that's how you'll stay popular, everyone wants you, it's stressful, act like a jerk, it's what girls like, is what Noah is being told by his friends. He had to act fine, but his dad is abusive towards him, hitting him every time he sees him. Was Noah really okay, or was he faking being perfect?
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]