CHAPTER 2 - CLINGING UNTO HOPE
1212 Words
JESSICA
At the close of school that day, I sat alone on the steps outside the school building. My tears had dried, leaving faint traces on my cheeks, but the ache in my heart persisted. I hated crying in public—showing weakness only made me an easier target.
I stared down at the cracked pavement, willing myself to disappear but just then, the sound of laughter broke through the haze of my misery. Familiar, high-pitched, and far too close. My stomach twisted in dread as I looked up to see them: Layla, Hazel, and Audrey—the queen bees of Silver Moon High.
Their approach was as deliberate as it was menacing. Layla, their self-appointed leader, strutted ahead, her sleek blonde hair shining under the midday sun. Hazel, her sharp features highlighted by striking red lipstick, smirked at my appearance. Audrey, the most quiet of the bunch but no less dangerous, lingered behind them.
“Well, well,” Layla drawled, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “What do we have here? Little Jessica all by her self?”
I averted my gaze, praying they’d lose interest and move on.
“What’s wrong, Grandma?” Layla teased, stopping a few feet in front of me.
The nickname stung like a slap. It was because of the streak of white in my hair, a stubborn blemish against my otherwise dark curls. No amount of pleading with my stepmother, Linda had convinced her to let me dye It, and now it had become yet another reason for people to mock me.
“I’m not in the mood, Layla,” I muttered, hoping to sound braver than I felt.
Layla gasped theatrically, placing a hand over her chest. “Oh no! Did we upset you? Come on, tell us what’s wrong. We’re dying to know.”
Hazel leaned closer and chuckled.
“Is this about the test you missed? God, you’re such a nerd.”
My silence only encouraged them.
“Why did you miss it, Jessica?” Layla pressed, crouching down to meet my gaze. “Don’t tell me your stepmother kept you busy with chores again.”
I flinched, the truth hitting too close to home.
Layla’s grin widened. “Oh, sweetie, that’s exactly what happened, isn’t it? She made you clean up after the triplets, didn’t she?”
The other two girls burst into laughter, and my cheeks burned.
“It’s not fair,” I whispered. “I didn’t leave those dishes in the sink.”
Layla’s laughter stopped abruptly. She tilted her head, feigning confusion. “Fair? Oh, honey. Do you really think life is fair?” She stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her designer jeans.
“Of course, you had to clean up after them. Do you think Caleb, Leo, or Asher should have to wash their own plates? They’re future Alphas. You’re… well, you’re Jessica.”
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I fought back tears.
“Layla, stop,” Audrey said suddenly, stepping forward.
For a brief moment, I thought she might actually be defending me.
“She gets it,” Audrey added, her tone softer but no less condescending. “You don’t have to rub it in.”
Layla rolled her eyes but took a step back, letting Audrey take center stage.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Audrey said, her voice low. “That white streak in your hair—it’s cute in an old-lady kind of way. But if you want, I can help you cover it up. I’ve got this amazing dye that would make it disappear completely.”
I hesitated, wary of her sudden kindness. “You’d really do that for me?”
Audrey smiled, and for a fleeting moment, I saw genuine warmth in her expression. “Of course,” she said. “What are friends for?”
Relief flooded through me. Maybe, just maybe, someone was finally being kind to me.
Audrey reached into her bag, and my heart lifted in hope. But instead of pulling out dye, she retrieved a bottle of Coke.
“I think this will do the trick,” she said sweetly.
Before I could react, she popped the cap and emptied the drink over my head.
The cold, fizzy drink soaked through my hair, dripping down my face and neck. My clothes clung to my skin, turning almost transparent. Laughter erupted around me, louder and crueler than ever.
Layla doubled over, clutching her stomach. “Oh my god, Audrey, you’re a genius!”
Hazel cackled, holding her phone up to take pictures. “Smile for the camera, Jessica!”
Humiliated, I wiped at my face. I wanted to scream, to cry, to fight back, but I was frozen in place, overwhelmed by their cruelty.
“Enough.”
The voice was calm but firm, and it cut through the laughter. The trio turned to see Evans standing a few feet away, his gray eyes dark with anger.
Evans wasn’t the most popular guy around but at least he cared about me. We had been dating for about six months now and he had always come through for me whenever someone tried to bully me at school.
“What’s your problem, Evans?” Layla sneered, though her voice lacked its usual confidence.
“My problem is you,” he said, stepping closer. “Leave her alone.”
Layla crossed her arms, trying to regain her composure. “We were just having a little fun. No harm done, right, Jessica?”
His jaw tightened. “Does this look like fun to you?”
The girls exchanged glances, their laughter fading.
“Come on, Layla,” Audrey muttered, tugging on her arm. “Let’s go.”
Layla huffed, flipping her hair as she turned to leave. “Whatever. She’s not worth it.”
Hazel followed, glaring at Evans as she passed. Audrey hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on me before she walked away.
He crouched down beside me, his expression softening. “Are you okay?”
I nodded quickly, though it was a lie.
“You’re soaked,” he said, pulling off his jacket and draping it over my shoulders. “Here.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, clutching the fabric tightly.
He sat beside me, and his presence was so comforting. “They’re awful,” he said after a moment.
I shrugged, too drained to respond.
“This won’t go on forever,” he muttered, his voice low but resolute. “I promise you.”
His words stirred something deep inside me—a hope that I had not dared to dream of in years.
“I don’t know how much more I can take,” I admitted, my voice barely audible.
He turned to me, his gray eyes dark and stormy.
“We have just a few days left, remember?”
I smiled as I remembered his promise to me. Once I turned 18, we would finally be free. We would run away from the hell of a life I lived and start a new life on our own.
The thought of everything made my heart flutter in my chest and I clutched his denim jacket tighter around my body.
There was still hope for me after all.
- Writer
