Land was boring. Everything was either green or brown, with the occasional color on a building or in a flower. Under the water, everything was different. The earth became blue, everything fading away with the blue ripples rolling across the surface. Under the surface of the water, you could forget about everything, even if it was only for a few seconds. That's why I'm here, under the surface.
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Jade Grey is a junior in high school, and, for as long as she can remember, she's been alone. Alone with the water. No one bothers her, and she doesn't bother anyone. That all changes one day when she runs into Asher Kennedy, and he follows her to a place no one ever goes. He forces his way into her water filled world, and soon she finds him coming dangerously close to becoming her oxygen in the pool of life.
Asher Kennedy has always been the boy who has had everything go his way, at least at school. He's captain and quarterback of the football team, always has some girl or another falling over him, and he's always had good grades. Until he runs into Jade Grey. She turns his simple life upside down, and he slowly starts to dive into her world.
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]]