querencia-
(n.) a place from which one's strength is drawn, where one feels most at home; a place where you can be your most authentic self
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"I don't need fixing! I'm not just something you can fix. I don't need a remedy. You can't try to fix me and make me new!"
"Pipes-" he starts even through he knows I'm not done.
"No! If you really want me, for me, you need to love me for me. Seizures, dramatic family, and protective best friends and all."
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We all have our own talents that make us who we are, and at Richmond Academy for the Art, they praise and appreciate them, giving kids all around the globe the opportunity to test theirs and let them have a great opportunity to make a future with their talents.
Josephine, Jay, Quinn, daughter multi-billionaires of Peter and Cassidy Quinn, owners of Quinn Magazines. Being the fourth out of eight daughter, all having different talents at Richmond Academy for the Arts, hers being drawing and painting.
Azalea Kai, Jay's best friend. After her family is taken out of South Africa with her dad being an actor and traveling, she moves to LA at age 10. After meeting Jay she finds a sudden new love with singing and performing.
Shawn Smith, son of artist and single mom, Barbara Smith. For never knowing his father, Shawn spends all of his time painting, and crushing over his best friend Azalea.
And Nathan Ryan, the new kid at Richmond. After leaving his hometown of New York City, New York and moving to LA with his mother and younger brother. With a rocky past but a bright future, he meets Shawn, Azalea and Jay.
"I can't do it" I said
"Come on baby you have to learn to fight for when I'm not here anymore, I won't be here to protect you" she said
I turned to her "Mom this is too much why can't we just go back with dad"
"Avianna! shut up and do it" she shouted
I turned around and grabbed the gun in my trembling hands remembering everything my mom taught me on how to hold it I did just that. I held it up and aimed it at the target.
"Ma I cant do it" I cried to her. Growing up hearing and seeing guns is one thing but to actually use one is a whole other thing
She rolled her eyes "Avianna Erika Vega do you want me to go call Alejandro to encourage you?"
"n-no! no ill do it" I said and turned back to the target
Come on Avianna you can do it, just one little thing. I tried to control my breathing and tame my trembling hands, I aligned the gun to the target...... and I pulled the trigger.
BOOM
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Avianna Vega has been through a lot throughout her fifteen years of life. From being taken from her dad and five brothers when she was just five years old.
To being abused and brutally trained to kill by her step dad when she was just 7 years old.
Her mom dying, causing her to runaway and change her name to not risk being found by her step dad.
To her brothers finally finding her when she's fifteen and bringing her back home.
Happy ending right? wrong.
Shortly after finding out she has a neurological disorder called epilepsy, she is now faced with the fact that she has to find and kill her step dad AKA the man who traumatized her.
yet throughout all this she still doesn't know who she is.
TW: this book has scenes that may be triggering for some readers such as ABUSE and SEIZURES