JASMSINE
Every girl wants a knight in shining armour to come and sweep her off of her feet - just like what happens to the princess in every fairytale. Every girl wants that happily ever after.
Once upon a time, I used to be that girl. I searched for my prince high and low.
Then, one day I found him
Or, I thought that I did.
He turned out to be just like the rest, though.
But, there was one difference about him from the others. Unlike the rest who I had gotten over easily, he stayed stuck in my mind. He invaded all my thoughts. As cliche as it sounds, he was the last thing I thought about when I went to bed, and the first thing when I awoke.
So, if I think about him so much and he refuses to leave my mind shouldn't he be the one for me?
I may think so, but he doesn't.
So now I no longer believe about knights in shinning armor - and I definitely don't believe in happily ever afters.
Thanks, Hayden.
You've ruined me.
Forever.
HAYDEN
I'm no knight in shining armour. I'm the bandit or the thief in the fairy tales.
Once upon a time, I met a girl who needed a knight. She needed saving - badly - and I made the silly mistake in thinking that I could be the knight that she so desperately needed. But, you can't turn someone who isn't meant to be into the hero.
I ended up breaking her heart - believing that it was for the best. She deserved a real knight, not someone in drag clothes.
Not someone like me.
But, by breaking her heart I ended up breaking mine too.
Thanks, Jasmine.
You've ruined me.
Forever.
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]]