Hope Vanguard has never been the prettiest, smartest and definitely not the wealthiest girl. But she did possess something that most people could only dream of having.
Happiness.
Hope was happy.
Unfortunately for her, everything takes a drastic turn...
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IT ALL HAPPENED went by in a blur.
One moment I was loosing my shit in the bathroom, having a nervous breakdown about seeing Nancy again. And the next, I was standing in the middle of the LAX, trying to find someone holding up a sign that has my name on it. Weather be it her or her husband or her, I don't have the faintest idea of who's coming to pick me up.
It's so hard to wrap my head around how strange and overwhelming my simple and happy life drastically took a turn for the worse. Not so long ago... I was actually happy.
I mean, yeah, I didn't have a lot but at least I had a roof over my head, friends who I absolutely adored - well if we are being technical, I had a friend who I absolutely adored. But most importantly, I had my dad...
I am quickly snapped out of my thoughts as soon as I see her. And it's like everything goes in slow motion.
Waving me over as I walk towards her, she really hasn't aged a bit. She's sandwiched between two bodyguards with biceps the size of watermelons, but judging by the way people are staring at her the same way I stare at Harry Styles, I'm guessing that's because of her 'A-List status'.
I never paid attention whenever I saw her on magazines, social media or even on television; stumbling upon her pictures would usually be an accident and I'd barely spare a glance before finding something else to look at.
But now, standing here barely a few feet away, I really have the time to take in her beauty; chocolate colored skin that manages to still be bare from any wrinkles whatsoever. The curly dark locks I once knew like the back of my hand, now straightened to perfection, cascading down her back. Her full lips and those remarkable hazel eyes that I had taken after.
Great, now I feel like plucking my eyes out.
I never imagined seeing her again would ignite any emotion in me, but now I realize how extremely wrong I was. I feel kind of queasy actually. Dear Lord, please don't let me faint in an airport. I have no idea how or when I managed to walk over to her, but now as I stand before her, my heart can't help but beat a little faster. Finally breaking the silence, she says "Amal... I-"
I clear my throat cutting her off immediately "I actually go by Hope now." I say as my jaw goes rigid. I avert my gaze from hers and focus on a random couple passing by instead.
"Oh." She says woefully but none the less slaps on a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "In that case... hi Hope!" My head snaps up instantly locking eyes with her. She flinches a bit at my sudden movement but I pay her no mind as a deep scowl settles onto my face.
Really?! Hi Hope! Is that all I can get after all these years? Not an apology, not an explanation, not even a good old fashion "How are you?" God, she makes me so fucking angry!
I scoff in return. "Hi Nancy." I say with a sickly sweet smile.
She looks taken aback for a few moments but recovers. "Okay, I guess I deserved that one. But come on Hope, I want to make this right." She says softly as she looks into my eyes. And for a fleeting moment, probably even half a second, I forget why I hate her.
