《"To rely on someone is to show weakness," I whispered, looking up at the cloudy gray sky.》
Paisley Anderson's life began to crumble days before Christmas on her 14th birthday. Years later, in the salty morning air of the Florida summer, her life shatters before her eyes.
《Blue eyes caught mine across the classroom, and I flicked my eyes back down to my empty page.》
Matthew Adams knew his family wasn't photogenic. But side by side, him and his twin dominated the soccer field. In the dark storms of the Florida night, the Dynamic Duo was split in the matter of seconds.
《A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes sparkling. "To rely on someone is to show trust," he quietly reminded me.》
The best can happen in the worst. Such is the case of Paisley and Matthew.
《"Trust me," he whispered, holding his hand out to me. Blue eyes, so different, but so similar to the first time I saw them.》
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]]