" I don't love you, Ellie." Spencer, my soon to be ex- boyfriend said, his hypnotizing blue eyes avoiding my face.
My enitre world came crashing down in a matter of seconds. " What?" My once soft voice said flatly.
I knew he could sense that I didn't need an explanation, yet he still replied." It was a bet, the whole falling in love with you. I'm sorry it had to be you." He explained, no emotion in his voice.
I breathed out heavily, shaking lightly from the cold breezes." Was sleeping with me a bet too? Or did you take that advantage of that?" I questioned quietly. Instead of receiving an answer, he finally stared down at me." I have to say, you could be an actor. Just be happy you don't have to deal with me and my problems anymore."
"No, Ellie- " He sarted his words sounding like an explanation.
" There are millions of other girls on this planet. Why did you have to choose me? The girl that can't even handle being herself." I asked practically already knowing the answer.
" You were weak. It was..." Spencer trailed off leaving his words unanswered.
That was true. People made me out to be this easy target, because I was weak. Naive." Easy, right?" I finished for him.
" Cas,stop-" His words ended abrubtly stopped.
I snatched the charm bracelet he'd given me from my boney wrist." Don't even bother." I dropped he bracelet into his hand." Save it for the girl that deserves to know the truth."
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]]