After an unsuccessful surprise party, and a public dumping, Aspen decides to take a load off and go to the beloved Nevadan city of Los Vegas. She and her best friend, Bella, drop everything and run for the earliest flight to Vegas.
Meanwhile, Duke and his slacker of a friend, Josh, are about done with their jobs at Duke's father's carpentry shop. Josh is sick of the long hours he's not lounging in some woman's bed, while Duke is tired of disappointing his dad with his unfinished works. Without thinking, Josh suggests they take a trip and get laid more times than they swipe at a piece of wood. Drunkenly, Duke is already hooked by the word 'laid'.
Everyone has hopes, but not everyone is able to achieve them. Will Aspen find a more peaceful side of herself? Will Duke finally accomplish something? Is Bella ever going to find The One? And, is someone going to tell Josh he has food on his face?
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]]