Hope

Chapter 1

"Hope, come on! It's your 17th Birthday, you can't just let that slide by with us eating pizza at your house watching a movie on the couch!"

"And why not? We could rent The Princess Bride."

Janie's bedroom had not grown up with the owner of the room. A bright yellow polka-dotted comforter lay draped over the ginormous princess bed in the middle of the room, covered in all sorts of fluffy teddy bears. I remember the first day I'd walked in and seen a Pikachu fluffy and lost my shit. Over by her bookshelf, she has a whole cabinet dedicated to her POP! Figures, including, just to list a few: Mercy, Harry Potter, Rainbow Dash, Harley Quinn, etc. She even had some rare edition ones that I don't even care to mention. One whole wall in her room were french double doors that led out onto a balcony facing the ocean, covered by matching polka dotted curtains right now. And here the three of us lay, spread out over her bed wearing matching striped purple pyjamas flipping through party planning magazines Lillian's mother brought home every day.

Lillian's mother was an official party planner and her boss printed out copies everyday for every employee, she made enough to be financially comfortable and to live in Papamoa. Janie's parents owned their own real estate business, and were officially LOADED. They lived at the famous Mount Maunganui, not one road over from the ocean, however still owned a swimming pool and a spa. So we usually had our group meetings at hers.

"I'm telling you, we are throwing a party for you at this exact house, this weekend, when my parents are flying over to Australia. Trust me, you'll regret it if we don't do it."

"Janie, why can't we just plan to go clubbing for my 18th? Or for Lillian's 18th? That's coming up soon!"

"Hey! Don't rub it in my face that I wasn't smart enough to pass this year," Lillian grumbled, her cheeks turning dusty pink. That statement she'd just said, was not true. She was indeed a year older than us, but missed out on passing last year because she had a massive back injury from horse riding, and couldn't go to school for half a year. Easy to say, she hasn't hopped back on one since.

"We're not rubbing it in, Lil, just saying a fact," Janie turned to me, sitting up straight with a stern look on her face. "However, we are holding a party for your 17th, Hope, and that's final. I'm going to invite everyone I know and have there be a +1 extended invite so that you can meet someone! The one true love of your dreams..."

"Quit it!" I yelled indignantly as they both cracked up in laughter. "I don't need to meet the 'one true love of my dreams', I'm in the process of making Oliver treat me like a girl, rather than one of his rugby buddies."

"Oh, you poor, poor child... Oliver will only ever see you as a friend!" Janie pouted her lips and batted her lashes in a false sad face. "What will you ever do?"

Lillian giggled. "She might just have to say it straight to his face, 'will you go out on a date with me?'" she said in an exaggerated impression of me. "'Please, Oliver! I'll do whatever it takes if you'll just look at me with love in your eyes!'"

"Or in something lower?" Jamie waggled her eyebrows.

"Stop! You immature children!" I grabbed one of Jamie's many cushions and threw it at her head. She managed to duck it before throwing one at Lillian to catch. Almost immediately, a pillow fight was initiated, with the two of them ganging up on me. The laughter was contagious, and soon the three of us couldn't stop, as we collapsed over with our heads all touching in the middle of the bed.

"So tell me, Lillian. Anyone you like?" I say with a hint of humour in my voice.

"Cedric Diggory today. You know Hufflepuffs are becoming more popular what with Fantastic Beasts out."