Hope

1

Brooke's POV

Let's start by jumping back two years shall we? January 24th 2016 to be exact. The day Liam entered my life, entirely out of nowhere, both of us completely unaware of the impact we would have on each other's lives.

It was a chilly Saturday when Effy, Frankie and I all met up to celebrate Frankie's 17th birthday at the newest restaurant in town. After we'd enjoyed our meal and had originally planned to go to Frankie's to continue the celebrations, Effy decided she wanted to meet up with an old friend of hers... an ex boyfriend I should say... Liam.

We headed towards Effy's usual hang out spot in the town centre, outside the markets.

"Liam!" Effy had yelled across the road before bounding her way over to the tall, dark and mysterious guy leaning casually against the wall. Smiling big with out stretched arms, he embraced her.

"Effy, I've missed you. How've you been?" He said as Frankie and I made our way over.

"I've been good thanks. This is Frankie and Brooke by the way. Guys this is Liam."

We exchanged 'hellos,' showing a small smile of acknowledgement to one another but it was in that moment I looked at him properly.

Jet black hair, ice blue eyes and a jaw line that could quite literally slice through you. He was gorgeous; and, as I mentioned before, he was Effy's ex. All I can say is a round of applause for Effy being able to pull him.

Now you know what they say about the girl code, do NOT go after a friend's ex and honestly I had no intentions of ever doing that. Sure he looked like he'd been sculpted by the Greek Gods themselves but I didn't think I'd ever even see him again let alone go out with the guy. It wasn't even an option. Not to mention, my incredibly low self esteem. Why would such a beautiful specimen even consider going after a below average, incredibly inexperienced person like me?

Well the truth is, he didn't. We became friends, yes and through out the rest of 2016 we remained that way. Frankie and I became apart of his and Effy's 'squad' which meant I saw him on the occasions that the 'squad' regrouped. But that's always how it was. A massive group of us, Liam and I only ever interacting occasionally, both in person and the odd Facebook message here and there.

Yet, there I was, falling for him more and more each and every time we had any form of contact. His whole badass exterior combined with his incredible good looks, mysterious past, and overwhelming gentlemanliness was enough to make any girl swoon. Everyone knew it as well, except for him. He wasn't cocky. He truly didn't realise his attractiveness and just how many girls were at his feet which, if you ask me, made him a hundred times hotter.

His eyes. God damn those eyes. As blue as the ocean and as deep too. It's definitely safe to say that the eyes are the window to the soul. They were mesmerising, so much so that I struggled to keep eye contact whenever we spoke. He made me nervous. More nervous then I'd ever been and I didn't like it. I didn't like these feelings because I knew, I just knew I had no chance. I wouldn't even consider it.

By this point it was already February, I'd known him nearly a month at this point and I still continued sitting back, hiding away in my feelings too scared to ever admit just what those feelings were, not even to Effy and Frankie. Especially since Effy and Liam were considering getting back together and better yet, lets throw Prom in to the mix of this. Oh how I dreaded Prom.

Like I said, I had low self esteem and the thought of going to prom where all my classmates would be looking absolutely stunning while me making an effort would still only result in average looking, made me feel physically sick and so I decided that was that. I wasn't going.

"Come on Brooke, you have to go to Prom!" Effy begged. "It will be so good, and we're having an after party at mine."

My ears perked at the sound of an after party. "Now that I'll go to." I smiled.

"You're only invited if you go to Prom before it." Effy smirked, a grin playing on her lips.

I rolled my eyes.

"You and Frankie both have dates, I'll look like a right fifth wheel if I go." I argued.

An average looking fifth wheel surrounded by pretty girls with their dates was not my idea of a fun night.

"No you won't! You can go with Liam! I'll talk to him. I'm taking Kyle anyway, you know he never had a Prom at his school so as his best friend I promised I'd take him to mine. And I want Liam there too so that works out great if you go with him." She'd clearly already thought this through way too much.

"Why on Earth would I want to go to Prom with your ex who you're possibly getting back together with just so you can have him and your guy best friend there too? How embarrassing for me." Although the idea of turning up with Liam the Greek God on my arm wasn't a horrible one, it would still be embarrassing when he and Effy inevitably went off with each other on the dance floor or you know, wandered off elsewhere if you catch my drift. "And besides, he'd never agree to go with me anyway."

"Wanna bet? I bet you £20 that he says yes." She held out her hand.

I thought for a moment. Either way it was a win win for me, a date with Liam if I lose or £20 if I win.

"You're on." I shook her hand.

Oh God, what was I getting myself into.