Dylan Parker was the star quarterback of Redwood High School. With his chiseled features, sandy blond hair, and piercing blue eyes, he was the epitome of the all-American athlete. His life was a whirlwind of practices, games, and social events, and he reveled in the attention that came with being the school's hero. But beneath the surface, Dylan longed for something more meaningful than the fleeting fame of high school stardom.
On the other end of the spectrum was Emily Carter, a self-proclaimed nerd with a passion for science fiction, coding, and all things academic. She wore her dark brown hair in a simple ponytail, her hazel eyes often hidden behind thick-rimmed glasses. Emily had her own circle of friends, fellow members of the debate team and the robotics club, and she was content with her life in the background.
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]]