I scream out to a stranger with dark brown curly locks, "Sir!" The tall, rugged looking man turns his attention to me. The man seems unique in a way I can't describe. I don't know what it was about him that caught my attention, nonetheless it was something and it was something huge. Within moments of me just glancing at him, a fire erupted in my heart. He's just one of those few striking souls.
Taking a step closer to the man with a vivid shirt, I prepare to tell him what's on my mind. "So I was looking around and noticed you standing there. Immediately, something inside of me burst. It's a truly indescribable feeling. I still can't get myself to look away from you. Something inside of me won't allow me to let go and just walk away." I take a short breath and whisper to myself, "Wouldn't that just be so simple?"
The handsome boy standing in front of me chuckles slightly. I squint my eyes at him, "I don't know what it was that drew my attention to you, but I plan on finding it out. Trust me."
"You're cute. Super adorable, actually. Now I'm quite curious to see what it was, myself." The boy says with a grin on his face, one that makes my insides tingle, but also makes me feel secure, like I could just snuggle with him and be completely content and safe.
I let a tiny giggle escape my lips before I say, "Shut up, I am not adorable."
He coughs while covering up the words, "You actually are."
"Wanna say that again?" I say, testing him by raising my fists.
"My name's Jake." My fists drop and my whole nervous system goes up into flames. He's special, someway and somehow. I'll be the one to find that out.
Blowing a strand of hair out of my face, I calmly say, "I go by Alaska."
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]]