Agony of Being Me

Agony of Being Me is Part One of a Two Book Set. Finding You is Book Two conclusion of Agony of Being Me

An intense teen & young adult romantic drama intended for coming of age & other readers 16+ 
For some girls, life is a romance novel; for others, a horror story. Zoe Channing has it all: beauty, brains, talent. She owns the heart of high school hottie, Jesse Sinclair. She’s the star of the school play, with love at her fingertips, but just before her sixteenth birthday, tragedy strikes, hurling her on a turbulent course back from the hell that replaced her heaven. Can a soul withstand so much torment? A mind such terror? A body such physical agony? 

Jesse's life is all planned out. Graduate high school and head to art school in the city. His mother is gone, and his dad has just suffered a near fatal heart attack, leaving Jesse to fend for himself. Older brother, Jamie, could be Jesse's twin, but only in appearance. Jesse James as they're referred to couldn't anymore different on the inside. Where Jesse is responsible, Jamie is a fly by night woman abusing man whore. Jesse's senior year of high school brings about a dramatic and delightful change in the form of a small blonde girl with big blue eyes. Jesse's never felt this way before, but fate sends him into a tailspin, and he'll spend the next few years trying not to follow in his brother's footsteps. Sometimes life doesn't leave much choices. And the choices you make can be devastating. 
*** 
Zoe is like a sudden storm that charges the air, leaving it sweet and fresh. Plain and simple, Zoe is pure energy.—Jesse 

And the moment is pure magic. I’m not Zoe. I’m someone like Claudette. I have no past. There’s just tonight. No party. No one else in the world. 
Just Jesse and me. Me and Jesse. And I’m about to be kissed like a woman. Made love to like I’m something precious. —Zoe 

The wheels in my head start spinning, I want to do so many things with her. To her. Kissing her within the next five minutes is exactly how I plan 
on starting.—Jesse 
*** 
The bathroom door squeaks shut. Now I’ll have to walk into class like a loser, with everyone’s eyes on me, is the only thought plaguing my mind. I haven’t taken two steps when I feel the ominous presence behind me. Before I can spin to confront the danger, one massive hand comes around my waist, while the other slams over my mouth. My lips are crushed against my teeth. My head is jerked up, the involuntary movement almost snapping my neck. Bite! My mind screeches. Kick! Scream! But my mouth is sealed shut, so the only sound I can manage is a grunt. I can’t turn my head which is in a vice-like grip. I can’t move my arms, as they are suddenly pinned tightly to my sides. Oh God. What’s happening to me? Help me. Someone help me! 
*** 
Warning: Contains one sexual assault scene. As in real life, some language represents the character angst. Two book set. 
Agony of Being Me is Part One of a two book set. Finding You is Part Two, the twisting, explosive conclusion.