Kelsie Walsh loved to wander around the forest. Actually anywhere, she never thought an adventure could not be found. She has experienced so much in life as a young teen. She faces her senior year in college when a new adventure awaits. A young man, John Cullen moves to her school. He comes off as the perfect bad boy. John is sweet, romantic, with a bad boy way to him. However, Kelsie has her eyes set on him, and sees him as a new adventure. She has dreamed of love for many years now, but hasn't every girl? She doesn't have many friends, and is the weird girl in school. Kelsie spends her time to herself, drawing, writing, singing, playing guitar, but mainly taking pictures. It is her absolute favorite thing to do.
For years she wanted a friend to go on these wild adventures with her, but no one has came until now. She doesn't feel alone in her life though... Kelsie has her great pyrenees, Lucy. They have been best friends ever since Kelsie was 5. She had lost her father when he left for war, and her mother has been suffering with depression. Yet Kelsie keeps a smile, and pushes through everything causing others to smile. Does anyone see her true pain?
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]]