Hope

Chapter 8

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I got into my literature class, awkwardly taking a seat beside Jace.

"Alex Anderson?"

"It's Blake," I corrected Ms Williams.

"Blake Alexandra Anderson?" She raises her eyebrows at me, she nods slightly to herself and smiled.

"You need to meet after class," she told me.

"It's only the second week, what trouble have you gotten into?" Jace mutters.

"I don't know, I haven't done anything yet." I responded in the same tone as his.

"Careful not to be framed by others, our school is famous for that." He warns me, I look at him for a few seconds and look down at my notebook.

"I can handle anything," I simply shrug.

»

I sat down next to Cameron when it was time for lunch.

"So I heard you got called to the counsellor's office by Ms Williams." Aaron says.

I look up at him, "yeah.. It's nothing big, really." I stated, looking down at my biology notes.

"How was the inside? I heard the counsellor have like a jar of eyeballs." I flash a look at Realm, he looks so eager to know the answer.

"And she have spaghetti with liver for lunch." Cameron adds in.

"You guys are ridiculous, Mrs Lively is a nice person." Eve joins in our conversation.

"Here's another thing, is she related to Blake Lively because.. Mrs Lively." I roll my eyes at Aaron, "she's obviously not related to the gorgeous Blake Lively." Eve scolded Aaron.

I simply let out a sigh and look across the cafeteria where Jace is.

I went to counseling,
because of you.

»

Anderson Family.

Shane👦🏽; greetings from France!!

Alex🎅🏽; buy gifts for me, yomo.

Dad👨🏽; yomo?

Alex🎅🏽; you owe me one

Shane👦🏽; how's basketball training, baby sis

Me; going good so far... I am trying not to kill anybody.

Alex🎅🏽; need my help? My partner in crime.

Me; yes please, pick me up.

"Blake, it's time for training." Cameron says, standing by the door.

I put my stuff into my locker and rush out to the basketball court with Cameron.

»

"This coming Friday night, will be a outing for our team." Coach announces after training is over.

"The bus is booked already. And of course, there is rules to go by. Strictly no dates!"

After a while more, we were all dismissed.

"So our plans is cancelled," Jace says as I make my way to the girls' locker room.

"It's fine, at least we're going on an outing." I say, looking at him.

"Well, I thought it would just be the two of us.. You know like when we were kids, we just wonder around." Jace pats my back and went into the boys locker room.

I step into the girls' locker room, thinking it will be empty but it's not... A room filled with girls with bodies that boys like and society so called 'perfection'. I am not okay being in this room.

»

As we all sat down for dinner, Dad brings in his most cooked yet most favorable, chicken soup.

Coming home from such a tiring training, and to be greeted by my annoying siblings is actually bliss.

"So, remember The Collins?" Dad questions.

"Who are they?" Max looks at him with his big brown eyes that he got from Mom.

"Oh yeah I remember, Jace's sister is now 22 years old. I think she works as a TV producer." Alexander says.

"Is she hot?" Max questions. "Yes." Alex gave a straight answer.

I smack the back of his head and kick Max in the shin.

"What about you, Xandra?" Dad raises his eyebrows at me.

"Well, uh... Jace is in all of my classes. He's also my teammate, so we are talking and catching up and so on." I replied.

"Do you love him?" Max turns to me.

"No...?" I replied, saying it like its a question.

"She does, ever since she was 7." Jace stated.

I sighed and smack the back of his head again, "you never learn to shut up, do you?" I scolded him.

"But it's true! You love him like crazy." Alex snaps at me.

"Oh crisps! I don't." I frown at him.

"He's the love of your life," Max rubs it in.

"Ok, enough." Dad laughs. "It will be great to have a boyfriend, Xandra. You're not getting any younger." Dad warns me.

"Please don't wind up like Shane and Alex who has absolutely no girlfriends at all." He added.

I burst out laughing at Alex, he elbows me in the ribs and I stopped laughing.

"Anyway, Blake.. Max will be joining you on the Friday outing you have this coming Friday with the basketball team. There will be other kids too, but take good care of your brother."

"Don't I always?" Max and I did our handshake which ended with a wink at the end.