Chapter 8

Hope

The vacation has come to an end. I spent the whole vacation at our seaside house with mom and dad. The perks of being rich and having a father who is the mayor of the town. Usually, he is working and some days he hardly has time for us but he makes it a point that he clears all his schedule during my summer vacations so that we can take a family vacation together. I, Hope Branch, am my daddy’s girl and my mommy’s angel. The holiday was good and we had a good family time. This year Uncle Price did not accompany us. He sometimes accompanies us on our vacation. I enjoy spending time with him. He is the most entertaining person to hang out with. The jokes and the stories which he says always have me fastened to him. I love listening to the stories he says, be it anything about history, or any supernatural being. The stories always make me travel to a different world as if I am a part of the story. As a kid, I would spend a lot of time with him during vacations. But then he shifted to our town and then for some reason my parents hated him. They did not like me being anywhere close to him. I never understood why. Nobody here knows that he is my uncle and daddy’s brother. They even asked me to keep it that way and refrain from telling anyone about the relation. I always felt sorry for him. He was always so good to me and my parents. He was very helpful too. Then suddenly what happened I could never find out. My parents also won't say why do they ask me to stay away from him.

When I was a kid I was friends with 4 girls. Ray, V, Liz, and Nao. I was very fond of them and I loved them. But they would always do things which I never wanted to do and if I ask them to do something with me or play a specific game which I liked, they would straightaway say no. Ray used to come up to me and talk to me if I was sad due to any reason and I liked that the most about her. I could confide in her regarding anything without being judged. She knew everything that would be going on with me, be it about me being happy, sad, frustrated or any other emotion, she would be the first to know. But as time went by and we became teenagers, she started to be closer with V. At first I thought it may seem like that because V is her neighbor and she has got a crush on her brother Wyatt. But then I realized that is not the case, even she started looking down at me like others and I started hating her more than others for that reason. I never expected her to be like that with me. That is when Laura and Sophie moved to the neighborhood and started attending the same school. So I parted ways with them abruptly and became friends with Laura and Sophie. This is when even Balfer came and confessed his love for me and I thought I have everything now. Riches, family, friends, love. That was where I was delusional. Because after few months it seemed like Balfer was over the lovey-dovey phase and he mostly talked about those four girls and why I should reconsider being friends with them. Yeah right! So we eventually broke up. Later on, I realized that Laura and Sophie can never be friends but can only be followers. Which I enjoyed at the beginning but then I started regretting it as I started feeling lonely when I couldn't tell anyone how I was feeling. These are the times when I miss Ray the most. But she would be enjoying with her best friends at this moment.

On the first day of school, I had to run into Ray and I had to get angry. I can never explain why I get so angry even by looking at her face. Like her existence itself pisses me off. But then after I was mean to her I felt really bad. But that was short-lived as soon as V came in and started backing her up and throwing insults at me. Yeah, she had to get involved! Best friends! But before I could say anything they just dashed out, so I chose to ignore them for the rest of the day. Will get back at them later on. I have got the whole year for that. When we went to the class I got to know that there is a new student who came in from the states. He looks attractive. Someone my type. Unfortunately, he was sitting beside Ray. Can this get any worse? I guess it was too early for me to ask that question because by the time it was lunch break, Laura and Sophie found out he was Balfer’s cousin. Not good. For all we know, he might be like Balfer, or worst, Balfer might have told him to stay away from him. We did not part our ways on good terms. So it is natural. I tried to initiate a small conversation during our lunch break but by the looks he and Balfer were giving, I guess I shouldn't stoop so low. Guys should come to me and not the other way around. Balfer still chose to ignore me and Shawn was very uncomfortable, so I thought of saving my dignity and leaving the table as soon as possible. But I noticed that he was discreetly looking at Ray again and again. But he wasn't being quite discreet. I am sure even Balfer noticed it.

By the end of the first day at school, Laura found out that there is a new cafe that has opened near the school and it is awesome. So we thought about giving it a try. After getting freshened up and doing a little touch-up to our make up we were ready to leave the school. I noticed Ray and the girls were talking to Uncle Price and then they dashed out of the building and I felt weird. I crossed Uncle Price too and he said “Go back home. I don't want my students to loiter around at school and be late at home.” to which I gave a weak smile and replied, “Yes, we were just leaving.” Maybe he said the same thing to those girls that is why they ran out of the building like that, no wonder! We proceeded towards the parking lot and got into my car. We went towards the cafe and found half the school already at the cafe. This includes Balfer and his friends and then Ray and his friends also came in. I just sat at the table with Sophie and Laura brought some snacks and milkshakes for us with my card. Obviously! I felt very suffocated so we quickly had the milkshake and left from the cafe. The milkshakes are no doubt the best. But the crowd is suffocating. Will try to find out when it is less crowded and will come here at that time. We decided to go shopping as we were planning to go clubbing this weekend. Shopping took quite some time and by the time we were finished it was 5 ‘o clock and I was pretty tired so Sophie offered to drive my car which I accepted. I was just looking out of the window and listening to the music when we crossed a park which was occupied by Ray, V, Liz, and Nao. But what felt odd was there was this guy dressed in all black who was standing near the fence and looking at them. It felt eerie, but why should I bother. It is their problem, they will deal with it.

When we reached I went ahead to park the car in the garage and then went inside with the shopping bag. I met my mom who was glued in front of the TV and was simultaneously talking on the phone with someone. She looked tensed. I was headed towards my room.

“Hi, Mom! I am back” I told her. She turned around towards me and said “Good you are back. Come here I want to talk to you.” I went and sat next to her and asked “What is it?”

“Some suspicious activities is going around here in this town and some girls have got murdered. So I want you to be very careful OK?” I nodded. Then she continued “ Wherever you go, a bodyguard will accompany you. He will be coming with you to the school too, but he won't come inside the school building. I have had a word with the principal regarding this too. All other places he will accompany you. Is that clear?” I rolled my eyes and asked, “Is it necessary?” to which she replied, “very much” so I said “OK” and went to my room with my school bag and shopping bags. This is going to be a real nuisance. But as mom says ‘prevention is better than cure.’

I completed my homework and then proceeded to start looking up for all the clubs nearby and plan for the weekend. I did not realize when I fell asleep while doing all this.