Being Hope

He Has a Name

Ever since when? I couldn't help but think about what cashier guy had said at the birthday party. I wondered why I cared so much about someone I know will never love me. I snapped out my daze. "Ms. Radley, would you like to explain to the class about how your fifteen minute day dream relates to solving algebraic expressions?" "Um, no mam, I'm sorry." Mrs. Litnus carried on with her lesson. What a bitch! I thought that didn't kick in until the second week of school.

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In the cafeteria I sat with Shane and Finley, my only true friends...at least that's what I thought. Athena started sitting with Holly and the cheerleaders.
"So I heard you went to Trent's party over the weekend."

What? I snapped out of my daze.

"Uh, yeah. It was okay."

Was his name really Trent? That's hilarious. Shane turned and faced me.

"So Hope, what's your story? I know Finley's, we've been friends since second grade."

Shit, why did he pick now of all times to question me? Do I tell him the truth? I asked myself several questions, then told him.

"Um, well I guess I start from the very beginning I was born October 18, 1999, in sunny California. When I was eight, my dad moved us to lakeview, for some unknown reason. All my life I went to a variety of private schools. Except for this year, and freshman year. About seven months ago, my mom was ----." I cut myself off, I could feel the hot tears streaming down my face. Am I really crying at school? I quickly wiped away my tears. I couldn't risk Holly seeing me. Shane looked at me with worry. There was that soft grey color in his eyes again. I could tell he really cared.
"It's okay Hope. It's okay." He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight. Finley sat there in awe. What good friends I had. Holly happened to walk past Shane hugging me earlier in the cafeteria, she hadn't said anything, she just looked at me with a look of jealousy and sorrow. Between switching classes I went to bathroom. There was The Wall. My wall, a wall filled with rumors about me, and there seemed to be a new one. One of a new handwriting I had never seen before.