Brianna Campbell doesn't know what she wants out of life. Being unemployed at 16, leaves her to wonder what her future will look like.
After an argument with her mum, Bria becomes overwhelmed with this suffocating feeling and goes on a walk to clear her mind, like she always does to soothe her troubled thoughts. When her thoughts were finally clear, and she felt like she could breathe again, she starts to walk back, stopping when an unexpected boy is sat blocking her way past. He's drunk, and staring at the waves in front, like the way Bria was only minuets ago. She wants to get home, but something deep down tells her to make sure he's okay, so taking a few steps closer she does. At first he snaps, his red eyes locked with hers as he slurs harsh words her way, but she doesn't listen, instead, she sits down next to him, the drunk boy confused and evidently emotional when he says what he says next.
A week later they meet again. Only the drunk stranger from that night is the lead guitarist and tattooed bad boy in the friend group she's just now joined.
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]]