// Khalid is a prince in Saudi Arabia. He's 23 years old, and considered, by many, very beautiful. His parents want him to marry a beautiful woman, someday; but, that's not really something Khalid wants. He wants a husband, not a wife. The only person he's told is Anwar, who is one of their servants. Anwar is so kind and caring, unlike some other servants who just do their job so they can get it over with, and just get their payment.
Anwar is 19, almost 20, and one of the servants for Khalid and his family. He's only been working for them for about a year, so he's fairly new. But a year is plenty of time for Anwar to fall for the Prince. But, that'll never happen... The Prince? With some lower class servant? As if! Or so he thought.
But one day, Khalid's father tells him that he has found a woman to be his wife. Khalid is devastated, but he just plays along and pretends to be happy. After he decides to tell his trust-worthy servant, Anwar, that he doesn't like girls, Anwar starts acting even more caring, kind, and helpful. Is this because Anwar likes the Prince? Does that mean he likes boys, too? Or, maybe, he just feels bad, and wants to be nice? //
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]]