1 Chapter 1: Hopeless

Today was the day she was going to start her fourth year in senior high school. Ana looked at her reflection in the mirror which was staring back at her. Her jet black thick hair had overgrown and reached her waist. She tied it back roughly to a low ponytail and now her facial features could be seen properly. She looked more like a beautiful young woman compared to a teenage girl. With no makeup on her face, she looked rather ordinary compared to the teenage girls back in school. That was fine, she liked the way she looked. She tried smiling to give herself a bright complexion but utterly failed, it looked forced and so out of place. She sighed instead.

"Ana! You gonna be late!" A middle-aged woman's voice sounded.

She gave herself a final look, a baggy dark green sweater covered her maturing body, with jeans and sneakers, and a black backpack, "I guess this will do" she hummed.

"Good morning Christina." She hugged the woman and started helping to pack little many snacks which were being packed in food containers.

"Good morning, also, I've got this, you stay here a little longer and you'll definitely be late." She urged.

"Sorry I woke up late today, tomorrow I'll make sure to get back to my school schedule."

The woman smiled, "I'm sure you will, now shoo"

She laughed. "Say hi to the kids for me!" She shouted on her way out.

Christina was like a mother to her and the kids that lived in the Miracle orphanage. She had known her for as long as she could remember, with madam Mirabelle who was also, like her grandma. She, together with the all children that lived there was the only family she knew. Once in a while, some younger children were adopted and she was happy for them. Before, when no one adopted her, it hurt and made her wonder if there was something wrong with her, but, as she grew older, she didn't care anymore. Her plan was to study hard, earn a scholarship for college, and one day, have a family of her own with her dream man.

Brightgate school was not very far from where she lived, It took her only half an hour to get there on foot. Because she was unusually late today, the parking lot was already filled with the student's cars and chit chats of students happy to see each other again for the new year. Although it was a public school, the school was known for its excellent academic standards and was also found in the city, hence all classes of financial statuses of kids could be found there. It was so obvious how kids used school to show off their cars, clothes, mobile phones, new hair, and so on.

Ana took in a huge breath and made her first step toward the entrance hall, only to abruptly stop. Something, more like someone caught her attention. A tall, perfectly sculptured handsome man with the right proportion of muscle in every right place, stood in the far right corner from her in the parking lot. He was typing something on his phone before a guy a few inches shorter with blonde hair joined him. His well-cut dark hair slightly swirled as he nodded to the blonde guy and made their way to the entrance hall. Of course, they caught everyone's attention on their way inside.

Luke Hades. Her dream man. Though she knew how much different they were in every way that her mind could imagine, and there was no way a guy like him knew she existed, still in her eyes, he was the one. He was in fact, every girl's dream guy.

Without realizing it, her feet carried her slowly following his every movement. He went to the school secretary's reception window and she assumed he was there to take the semester's timetable and school locker keys. There was a line, of course, so she hurriedly stood behind him. This year, she was going to try her luck and finally confess her feelings for him that she kept hidden for three years.

Her life growing up was tough, after going through many disappointments in her life for not being adopted, and working extra hard to provide for herself, she became realistic and did not believe in such things as faith and hope. She believed in working hard for everything and that is how she survived so far. But maybe just maybe this year, she could try hoping this one time. Maybe, Luke would like her back and live happily ever after...

"Well, here goes nothing," she breathed out, "Hi Lu-" It came out more of a whisper than she intended before the blonde guy interrupted.

"Is that Scarlette?" He scoffed to Luke, "She's blonde now? Wow someone's trying too hard" He chuckled.

Luke only stared at the girl, Ana did not fail to see him checking Scarlette out and smirking. Unlike her, Scarlette was skinny, she wore clothes that defined her curves well, her small boobs were pressed up, and she wondered if she could even breathe, her face was filled with makeup that made her look like a barbie enhanced with the now blonde hair she had, and the blue eye contact lenses. She looked perfect. Ana looked at Luke, he was still staring at the girl, only now, Scarlette was staring back at him.

She bit her bottom lip, "Hope? More like hopeless."