Hopeless | lrh | au

Chapter 1

Alida's POV

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        It was a normal day. I was picking up my usual Starbucks coffee and a cake pop to start off before school. I opened up the door to my beat up 2004 Chevy and slammed it shut once my right leg tripped out of it. I caught my self before I face planted. 

        Walking up to the door, I heard someone calling my name. I snapped my head back, my blonde hair surely becoming a mess. To see no one there, I opened up the door before I could hear the voice again.

        I walked slowly up to the cashier to give my order, when fingers gripped at my jean jacket. "What?" I turned around, my voice turning harsh. 

"Sorry." Said the dark haired girl. I realised it was a petite girl from school, Gabi.

"Gabi! Oh, sorry! I didn't realise it was you. I'm very sorry." I turned to her, reaching out to calm her from my harsh action.

She laughed. "It's fine. Just was wondering if you wanted to sit together while we sip of our Starbucks." She blinked her eyes, turning away a bit, shy of me all of a sudden. 

"Yes, we can." I assured her. I walked up to the cashier, Madi, and placed my hands onto the counter. "Caramel ribbon crunch frappicino, tall, please." Madi nodded her head.

"Anything else?" Madi spoke softly. I recognised her. I was sure that she was a Sophomore, year 10, at my school. 

"Cake pop, if it's not a problem." She grabbed ahold of the frosted pink pop, and slide it into a wax bag. "You go to my school? The one down the street?" I asked her questionly.

"Uhm, yeah." Madi looked at me, to make sure she knew who I was.

"Why are you working before school?" I asked, wondering why she would have to work before school. That was...different.

"To make money. I need some saved up to visit my family in New York." She spoke, filling me in on the details. "Like, my brother and my mom. You knew my parents were divorced, I bet. For some reason, it was the talk of the school three months ago." Madi rolled her eyes at the attention of such a bad time for her family and herself.

"Oh yeah, I remember. Sorry about that. It was tough for my family too. My mom moved to Australia, and I'm finally seeing her this summer. But, I understand. It was the talk of the school for me a year ago. I know what you're going through, and if you want to talk, talk to me." When my mom had moved all the way to Australia from England, it was tough. I didn't get to see my mom as much as I wanted. I missed her. She had gotten married to a man I barley knew. She changed. She did things I never had expected and it was hard to see the evidence she left me the days after. It was a tough time." I dragged on with my story. When my mom had decided to move, I had gone through a bit of depression because I had thought I would never see her unless she had visited or payed for me to visit her. 

"It is weird, isn't it? How both of our families decided to move to a different country. Are they trying to make it for us more expensive because my dad and my brother never come out to visit me, and my mom is with a new guy every month. It sucks. So, I have to work my ass off, all the time, to pay to go see my dad and my brother. Even though, why should I bother? They don't do anything to try and come see me." Madi ranted on, and I wanted to hear her story. I wanted to help her, even though I was just getting over mine. "I just can't believe that the choice of your parents could affect your whole life. It's beyond crazy."

"I know, it is." I nodded in return to her rant. "Can I have a pen and paper? I want to write you up my phone number because it is good to talk these kind of things out and I want to know you better. You seem pretty chill." She laughed and I smiled my bright, white teeth at her.

I forgot about Gabi. I turned around to look for a petite, dark haired girl, but there was no sign of her. Madi handed me the paper, and I threw my number down and she took the paper. I walked over to a tall guy called Andy and grabbed my drink, nodding a 'thank you' look.

I grabbed out my phone and dialed in the unfamiliar digits of Gabi's. I paced around, slurping on my frappicino. The phone held a rang until she had answered.

"What?" She snapped at me, mocking my personality from before. 

"Where did you go?" I asked.

"I left. You can have your dumb drink with Madi. You seem intrigued by her story instead of talking to me anyway." Gabi said, raising her voice. I didn't know what her problem was. Why did it matter if I was talking to Madi while waiting for my drink? 

"I was waiting for my drink. I wasn't even taking that long." I informed her the truth.

"I don't care. I wanted to talk to you about something that was important to me and many people go to you, Alida. People go to you because you can talk to people and I was trying to get my point across when I told you I wanted to talk over coffee." I felt bad. I was a little caught up with Madi's story instead of actually understanding that Gabi wanted to talk.

"I'm sorry. Truly. I will make it up to you. I will bring you a Starbucks and at lunch, we can talk about you." I smiled, even though she couldn't see me.

"Whatever." Gabi lashed in a bored tone.

"Whatever good or whatever bad?" I questioned. I wanted to know if she actually wanted to waste my money or not.

"There's a difference? Well, I'm just saying, I want my fricken coffee." She laughed a bit, but I could tell she was trying to cover it up. 

"Shut up, diva. I'll bring you coffee." I said. I walked back into line, shutting off my phone. I attended Madi again telling her the same oder, without the cake pop, for Gabi.

Madi informed Andy and he whipped up the drink as I asked Madi a quick question. "Will you come over later?" Madi looked at me confused, yet shocked. She nodded her head and she welcomed the new costumer approaching the counter. I smiled, looking away. I grabbed Gabi's drink, nodded my head at Andy, and walked out of Starbuck's smiling. Not only was I learning Gabi's story, I was learning Madi's, and I was making a new friend.

Oh my God, I, Alida Rose Keisling, was making a new friend.

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A/N

guyysss, well im quite excited for this story. its starting off slow just for now just to learn about a few of the characters, and yes LUKE WILL BE INTRODUCED REALLY SOON. but im excited. please vote. and comment. i like feedback pls. thank ya guys ily already