Welcome to Klonai. A cold, desolate city located in the heart of Rhode Island. ...Okay, maybe it isn’t TOO desolate. It’s actually quite nice. But, they have harsh laws. HARSH, HARSH laws. Like, you can’t fall in love. Probably because they pair you with someone you’re to marry when you come of age when you’re small. I’m Stella, a 16 year old resident of Klonai. I turn 17 soon. Which is bad for the following reasons:
The button room.
Only one year left until marriage with my partner.
I hate my partner.
My best friend, Kyle, who already IS 17 and put through the button room, thinks I’ll be fine, but really he’s the only one. Because of how jumpy I am, I adore buttons. Literally EVERYONE thinks I’ll press the button. Even my parents.
The button room is a small cell (well, more of very bright room.) with a big red button in the center. Couches line all the walls. When you turn 17, the authorities force you in for 24 hours. If you press the button- you cease to exist and no one remembers you. Because, well. that button is evil.
I don’t sleep too well. Most people just fall asleep on the couches, no problem. Others press it only a few minutes after being placed. I have a bad habit of staying up late on my phone, or doing SOMETHING. My partner thinks I’m insane for it.
Sometimes I really wish Kyle was my partner. He gets me.
I feel everyday that when I turn 17, life is only going to become more of a hassle.
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.
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