Elle Parks has made it her goal to play professional soccer since her father gave her little 3 year old hands her first soccer ball.
Since then she had played nonstop, constantly pushing herself to rise above the rest. When she saw another player do something she didn't know how to, she immediately practices until she can do it just as well, if not better.
But suddenly, her dreams of playing soccer for the United States Olympic Women's soccer team are put on hold when her father dies in a car crash. Her head coach, her number one fan, her support, her tether just disappears just before she graduates high school.
Not only is her rock gone, but she's forced to live with her mother. A mother that left her husband and daughter 14 years prior. Elle doesn't consider her mother her family, and she most definitely does not want to live with her, especially since she lives across the seas in England forcing Elle to leave all her friends behind when she needs them most.
After one accident, Elle's life is flipped and turned upside down, leaving her feeling alone and confused.
All she has left is soccer.
But will soccer be enough to comfort her, or will she need something more?
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]]