"Jamie, how long is it going to take until you let yourself be happy?"
Jamie shifts away from Tristan's gaze, knowing that if he looked at him, the tears in his eyes would escape. They both sit in silence, allowing the other one to think.
~
"How can I be able to love someone else, when I can barely love myself?"
~
"-Jamie, what are you going to do, when the waters get rough?"
{Or}
Orphan, abused, scarred, lonely, abandoned.
These are words that would describe Jamie Hunters.
All anyone knows is that he's a sophomore, and that he's the school's punching bag; but there is so much more.
Jamie is an orphan. His parents both died, leaving him with guilt. Mainly, being that he killed his father by accident in a boating trip. After that experience, he could never look at pools or oceans the same. Although Jamie has had a tough life, there will always be someone that can help him through his darkest of days.
Tristan Woods.
He's been Jamie's best friend since they were in kindergarten, and Jamie sees him as his brother that he never had. Tristan, having mutual feelings, just wants his life long friend to be happy. So, once he hears about this 'new girl' coming to their school, he's all in to help Jamie.
Jamie, however, believes that he doesn't need a girl to be happy.
Tristan, of course, doesn't listen and does his best to help Jamie out through everything.
But what started as a fun little 'game' to help cheer Jamie up, turns into something way more.
Will this new girl actually help Jamie with his happiness? Can she be the one that can put Jamie's broken parts back together? Or will she just go along with her life, leaving him to his.
"If you love me, you won't leave me."
Jessie has believed those words from her boyfriend, Josh, since senior year of high school. She loves him and doesn't want to leave him. Not even when he shouts at her and hits her. Jessie's best friend, Kolleen, can't stand seeing her in that situation.
With a bit of convincing - and the worst beating she'd ever received - Jessie agrees to move into an apartment with Kolleen. But not long after, Jessie is scared the worst of her nightmares will soon become a reality. Josh goes missing, and suddenly Jessie would swear she's being followed. One night changes everything, and one person soon changes Jessie's outlook.
A responding officer from that fateful night begins to seek her out, at first claiming it's part of his job. As she spends time with her new friend outside of his job, she starts realizing that her feelings are evolving. After being abused for over a year, Jessie is terrified she's falling in love. What's even more terrifying is that he might be, too.
She isn't ready for love. Not yet. She makes up her mind that if he is falling, and if he does love her, he'll wait for her to be ready, and if she loves him, she won't let herself hurt him.
Can the words that used to cage her in really be the key to her freedom?
---
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