She met my gaze. Yet, it was different this time. She didn't break it.
She held it.
The corner of her mouth raised a bit. A smirk. She shook her head then began walking towards the back of the nightclub. Without thinking, I followed her. I weaved my way through the crowd, going the same direction she went.
Once I was free of the crowd, I looked for her. The crowd wasn't as think back here, yet I couldn't see her. My eyes scanned the whole back wall, until they fell upon a door. Rooftop Entrance. I quickly made my way through the crowd until I was in front of the door. Quickly, I opened the door and ran up the stairs, taking two at a time. Once I was at the top of the stairs, I was met with a metal door. I opened it and I was met with the cold midnight air of New York.
She was close to the edge of the building. She looked breathtaking. Her blond hair blew against the slight wind. Her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, showing her tattooed skin. Despite the cold weather, she was in ripped jeans and had a tank top under her flannel.
The metal door shut with a clang, making her head snap to the door. Once she saw me, her eyes widened a bit before she smirked once again.
"Didn't think you would follow me," she said, her voice laced with amusement.
"Well, I'm here," I said, awkwardly. I looked at her expectantly.
"Are you expecting a prize or..?" She said after some silence passed.
"I'm just curious, that's all."
"Aren't we all?"
"Can I at least know your name?" I said, hopefully.
This made her laugh. She began walking towards me, deviously. She stopped to where she was within arms reach. " We aren't exactly on first name basis right now." With each word, she walked closer. Each step she took forward, made me step backward. My back hit the rooftop door, leaving my trapped. She smirked once again and began closing the space between me and her. She was right in front of me. She leaned in, but not into my lips, my ear and whispered:
"For now, call my Myst."
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]]