It's A Family Thing.
That's what I always say to people when they ask why my family is so weird. Anything remotely strange, its always 'A Family Thing.'
I was an only child, well actually, I have 3 half brothers, all older than me. The two oldest were my dads and the youngest was my moms. My name is Chris Love Vaillancourt. And this is my story.
When I was living alone with no siblings, going from one house to another, moms to dads and back again, it was normal. Well normal for me anyways, it was a family thing.
Suddenly having a step-brother, a boy i treated like a brother and two adoptive brothers shoved into my live wasn't easy. Especially when issues started to arise between them, and me. Growing up as an only child was ok, but I've always wanted someone to look to in times of pain or happiness. Now, having seven brothers, was a little more than I bargained for. But what could I do? It was a family thing.
Love blossoms and hate burns hot. Between an abusive stepbrother, a loving adoptive brother and an emotionless one, 3 distant half brothers and a boy i considered a little brother, how was I ever going to survive unharmed? The truth was, I wasn't.
Bruises and cuts, scars and heart break, all because of the people that were closest to me. They say blood is thicker than water, but what if the blood is so thick, you start to drown in it? What if family was the only thing that mattered to you anymore, the only thing that consumed your thoughts, your life? Is it possible to love and hate someone at the same time? With a family like mine, anything was possible.
Like I said,
It's A Family Thing.
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.
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