Teen Ink

Summary: Demetrie Darsen teaches economics in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone's business. But not his. No one knows how he spent his teenager years. No one would even understand it... Except Marina Gracelan.

Only sixteen, Mari's been through it all. Her father's dead, her mother is an alcoholic who wants nothing more than to cut Mari out of her prominent life. But when things take even darker turns, will Mr. Darsen be able to give her the strength to live?