Our Hope

13 - Hope

One Week Later

Cole, Skye, Maria, and Hope returned home after another tough day at school. She smelled her pumpkin spice latte that Maria made Marcus stop for because Skye and Maria loved them, but they only served them starting today. They bought four, one for each.

Hope tasted the pumpkin and ginger which reminded her of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. She sipped the piping hot coffee that burned her tongue and the top of her mouth. It was very sweet combined with the caffeine made her want to drink more.

It was brisk and windy outside and began to rain when they pulled into Skye's driveway. They had tracked an approaching storm after they left school. Raindrops hit the roof of the car and sounded like bullets.

"I'm glad we missed this storm," Skye said. Then she ran inside through the garage door, holding Cole's hand.

Maria called to Hope, "Hey wait, let's go talk." She nodded toward Skye's front porch. "I would like to speak to you alone."

"OK." She followed her outside in the rain. The cold rain went through the top of her jacket, by her neck. It sent a freezing chill through her body. The cold sleet pelted them until they reached their destination. She drank more coffee to warmup. Steam rose from the top of the cup.

"I have to get back to studying. We still have to catch up to Ansh; and Skye and Cole keep getting closer."

"They can't last that much longer. They have nothing in common," Maria said.

"Yes. I agree, although I don't think it's enough. I am slowly closing the gap, but Cole barely helps because he disappears with Skye."

She did not feel comfortable discussing this with the boss's daughter's best friend. She was essentially the enemy. Even though they were amicable, Hope understood the unbreakable bonds best friends maintained. "You know more than anyone. How do we get her to stop seeing him? "

Maria considered her question for a few seconds then said, "The last thing you do is to tell her not to do it. Then, Skye will work double time to prove you wrong. We could contact some of her exes to return or set her up with new guys."

Maria drank a sip of her coffee then continued, "I think, the best thing to do is wait and she'll get bored and move on to somebody else. It's kind of her thing."

"Fine. I'll wait a little while, but I'm really close to calling her dad and telling him this is not working."

"Don't, please. I know you're freaking out, but it will not last forever. Once she's done with him, your world will go back to normal."

That did not seem like a good idea, either. "I hate waiting, but after talking to you. I will postpone telling her dad."

They had a minute of tense silence.

"I still can't explain how Ansh became so smart," stated Hope, trying to change the subject.

"Me either. They rarely had him on the show because he wasn't very good. It was always about you, Cole, and Sai. His cousin must be helping him with the answers."

She took a deep breath to clear her mind. "I need to go home and check in with my mom."

"I'll go with you. I can't stand seeing those two kiss anymore."

Maria and Hope put on their rain jackets.

"Wait!" Maria held up her hand and grabbed Skye's crimson umbrella.

"Good idea." It was still raining very hard.

Maria opened the umbrella and SKYE was on the outside in big bold white letters.