H.O.P.E (hold on, pain ends)

Meeting Niall Horan

~Cassie's P.O.V~

I've never truly been happy, how could I? All the popular girls at school always make fun of me no matter what I do. People never take me seriously, they just play with my feelings and leave me heartbroken. And even worse I have no one to turn to when I'm in pain. My mother passed away from breast cancer 3 years ago, I miss her more than you can even imagine. I guess you don't realize how much you love someone until they're gone.

School has seriously became my personal hell on earth. I've tried to convince my dad to be home-schooled but we can't afford it, and my dad says I have to be strong. Believe me, i've tried but this has gone way to far. I just can't take it anymore, I'm tierd of life, somedays I just feel like I don't want to live life anymore. I let a few tears escape while staring out the window, my heart feels empty; hollow. I don't see the meaning of life anymore, I don't know who I am. The thing is, I'm not a weak person, I've just been strong for too long.

It was currently 6:45 AM, and I knew I had to get ready for school soon, I've been dreading this moment all night, while laying in bed awake. I got ready, grabbed my school bag and stumbled downstairs on my way to the kitchen table. I see my dad drinking his usual cup of coffee and reading a newspaper.

"Good Morning, dad."

"Mornin' sweetheart, what do you want for breakfast?"

"That's ok dad, I can take care of myself." I gave him a forced smile. I went to get a piece of White Bread and put it in the toaster. It popped out suddenly when I least expected it. I jumped a little. I sat down next to my dad and starting chewing, staring off at my dad's newspaper but not actually reading it. 

"Honey, aren't you going to put something on your toast, maybe like some butter?"

"Oh, umm...yeah" Slightly embarassed I went to the fridge to get a small container of butter. I started spreading it on my toast when my dad gave me a depressed look.

"Look, Cass, I know what you're going through, I know its tough for you."

I didn't like my dad knowing about my personal struggles. "What do you mean?"

"I know you get bullied by kids at school, I can hear you crying about it every night in your room."

I started blinking furiously to help avoid the tears from pouring down my cheeks. "Dad, it's hard" Tears start streaming down my face and now I don't even make an effort to hold them in.

He gives me a warm, comforting hug. "Cass, you're very strong, don't ever lose hope, things will get better trust me."

"thanks dad." I looked at the time, "We got to leave for school now."

"Alright, hun." He smiles at me and grabs the car keys.

The car ride from my house to school is about 20 minutes, it seemed awfully short today. We arrived on school grounds in the blink of an eye.

"Cassie, stay strong." I give him the most convincing smile I could pull off. "Yes, dad."

I wave him goodbye as he drives away. My stomach already feels uncomfortable looking at the school building. I just felt like turning back to run home and crawl in my bed to cry, but I knew I couldn't do that. Instead I think of what my dad said "don't ever lose hope, things will get better trust me."

I take a deep breath and walk into the halls of the school building. Unfortunately the first person I saw was Becky the meanest of the mean girls. She constantly picked on my looks, my clothes, my social life, she was so nosy always getting into my buisiness. "Oh look its cassie, what are you wearing?" She said while making a disgusting face. Her nose was squished like a tomato and it was actually pretty funny. "Why would you wear something so tight? I can totally see your boobs."

I wanted to speak up and just tell her to shut up and mind her own buisiness but I can never pull myself up to do that. Instead, as always I just try to ignore her and walk away. I can't even make my way to my locker without being interrupted 3-4 times by negative comments. That's how bad it got.

The first 4 periods of the day went by quickly, the in class lectures were as expected boring and not soon after the lunch bell rang. I packed my books into my bookbag and walked to the cafeteria. The cafeteria food at my school is absolutely disgusting. No, there's no meatloaf but that doesn't make things any better. I order my bagel toasted with butter, a cup of orange juice take my lunch tray and find an empty table to sit at. That's right, I sit ALONE.

Everybody else has their own table to sit at, nobody ever sits alone that's about the most embarassing thing you can do. But nobody would ever want to be seen with me, so I don't even bother asking. I plug my earbuds in and start eating my lunch.

"hey, uhm can i sit here?" Had I just heard this person correctly? Why would anybody want to ask to sit with ME? I took my earbuds out and looked up at the person who asked me. To my suprise I see an adorable blonde boy about my age with a babyface and the most beautiful blue eyes.

"uhh..yeah sure." He puts his tray down and sits down across from me. "Woah-that's alot of food you got there..." On his tray was, a foot long sub, a sesame bagel, 2 cups of red jello, a large salad and a carton of chocolate milk.

He smiled at me. "Yeah, I really like food." I laughed, "yes i can tell." I looked at him while he took a large bite out of his large sub. "Oh, I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Niall Horan."

"Hey Niall, I'm Cassie, Cassie Wilson." I sounded like an idiot, I blushed a bit.

"Nice to meet you Cassie."

"So, are you new here?" I blushed again, how could I have said something so stupid? Of course he was new here, I never saw him in the school."

"Yeah, I'm In 11th grade, you?"

"Me too."

I was so glad Niall decided to sit with me at lunch, he was a very friendly boy and we had a couple of classes together. He makes me feel so comfortable, he makes me forget about my struggles. Suprisingly we only spent a few hours together and I already love him.