I decided to wait until everybody was sleeping to go through with my getaway plan. I packed all of my stuff, what was left of it anyway, into a duffle bag and debated on whether or not I would use the window as my escape exit. The other option would be going through the living room and that would cause Junie to wake up. That in itself was one of few risks I wasn't willing to take. If she didn't wake up, Sierra or Sequoia would and they cause trouble I don't need. I weighed my options. If I jumped out the window from this second floor apartment, the most I'd get is a fractured ankle or a sore knee, depending on how I land. If I go through the living room, Junie would probably catch me and beat me and I'd be on lockdown until somebody finds me.
Azuri's life has always been anything but sweet. Well, at least for the last 8 years it has been. Her mother, Rhonda, went into prostitution when she was eight and as for her father, Azuri never knew him. She's not even sure if he's alive or not. Of course, like any other abandoned child, she was forced into Chicago's foster care systems After being placed in over 20 different foster homes, she decides she's had enough.
Running away through the Southside of Chicago didn't help Azuri's much until she ran into Quincy Kennedy. Quincy aka "Que" , one of "Chiraq's" most ruthless kingpins and a surprisingly successful businessman , helps Azuri find a home away from home while trying not to get attached. Circumstances lead them right into each other's arms though, as two people who thought they didn't need anyone to help them get by, meet their match.
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]]