Hope Hopkins.

You don't know who I am. Unfortunately, I can't help you with that because I don't know either.

Surprised?

That's just a start.

Well, there are other things I know and can confidently say about myself. I'm fifteen and a half years old

the half means a lot to me

, and I am lost in a world of my own, a word of impossibilities I must say. People say I'm quirky, I can't tell exactly why they think that. You don't want to know what I think!

It's the start of a new school year and all I could think of, all I dreamt of last night, was trouble.

Yeah, trouble.

Of course, I don't make trouble, but I attract them. My best friend told me once that I would not stop attracting trouble until I dyed my hair. It has a natural flame of red, very rare, and you know the thing with high school kids, they pick on every single unique thing on you. I spent my three years in junior high from one fight to another and…

I'm a weakling. At the end of the day, I get beaten up and disgraced by my mates and also get a punishment from my FBI mum.

Last night, I thought a lot about how to improve this year, and I got a perfect plan…

A hand nudges me from behind, I knew it could only be one person-- my best friend, Alicia.

“Oh my Goodness, Hope!” She shrieked as I turned to her. I expected that anyway.

I, Hope Hopkins, had a new look. A blush of make up, and I styled my hair and I changed my quirky style of dressing. Trust me, I got this little wisdom from the internet.

“What?” I blushed while pretending like I didn't understand why she was so awed.

“Your skirt! Your face!”

I wore a short pleated skirt and transparent pop socks. I never wore a skirt to school. It's either a sweater or blouse on a jean or pants.

“We are seniors now, aren't we?” I winked at her and took her hands. “We better get going.”

She grumbled. “Now you make me feel less.”

Too bad. I've always felt less, and right now, I still do. I wished I could explain to her that I might just have an emotional breakdown if my silly plan doesn't work out today.

Getting new friends isn't and might never be a part of my plans. I never got a friend in school. Well, Alicia? I didn't meet her in school.

Alicia and I have been together since we were babies. My mum and her Dad are partners in the FBI. Even most time I get conclude that if not for our parents, Alicia wouldn't be with me. She's more of the social type, and she has thousands of friends. So, when she said I was making her feel less, I knew it was a total lie. Alicia had all she needed to be a better human. I don't.

But I will. I'm tired of being a low life.

_Sighs_

Alicia was wrong about me having to dye my hair to avoid trouble. On getting to the school premises, all eyes were gazing at me, i was the center of attraction, very about me was new. The self-confidence, my mode of dressing was brand new.

“Wow!! Is that Hope Hopkins?? She looks different! Everyone was mumbling among themselves”. I was thrilled that my cheeks started turning red. I must confess I haven't felt this good in a while now.

“Hope! Alicia shrugged me off my thoughts. Hope, you've managed to get the attention of the entire school by simply change your dress sense and your hairstyle, if you keep ongoing like this you will become a celebrity in school.” Before I could reply to her, we heard the sound of the bell, indicating the first period will start in two minutes.

We increased our pace, so we won't get to our class late.

The new class wasn't too different, just a few science charts to show that we were really doing science. I scanned the faces of everyone in the room, the same people. That goes well with my plan. Most of the seats were already occupied and for the first time in the history of our schooling we had to seat separately.

Not bad. I said to myself, my plans smiling at me.

I looked at my wristwatch I noticed that ten minutes had already gone by, yet we haven't seen our new class teacher, i was still talking to myself when a young lady, probably in her twenties walked in. I'm not the best at guessing ages but this woman, her charisma, and charm, speaks twenty. Of course, she would be older than that. She had one other…

Let me guess…

One other teachers?

“Hello everyone!” She said with a smile that made my stomach sing. She's beautiful. I immediately wanted to be like her.

“Hello Miss.” We echoed.

“I'm Miss Silver. I'm your class teacher. “

The class clapped, I didn't. It was too sudden, and I didn't see a reason why they should interrupt her so noisily.“

“We have two transfer students in our midst…”

I swallowed. Bad omen. The last time we had a transfer student, he was a pain in the neck. Louis never washes his pants, and he stinks as holy hell. And Hope, the unfortunate one, was his seat partner.

“And they are international students. I'll allow them to introduce themselves.”

Maybe I hadn't allowed myself a look at this new guy because when he opened his mouth to speak it felt like I was seeing him again for the first time. How can someone be so…

Guys can be cute but devilish inside. This one… I can't say.

“I'm Phil son…”

Philson… Hillson and Hope. I played with our names in my head. Five minutes crush. I know he won't ever notice me and if he does then possibly in some kind of trouble. Or a phobia attack on my hair if he is one of those guys.

“I'm glad to be here.” He ended his introductory speech.

She said two transfer students. I knew I wasn't the only one thinking that. But before we could ask, the second student entered and …

Let's just say, the class turned upside down. And the only persons who were still sane, were Philson, Miss Silver and my lost. Everyone was asking for an autograph, even my best friend. It took all our young teacher's muscles to calm the class.

“Come guys! She your new classmate!”

“Shaira Watson?!” They echoed.

It seems like a celebrity. She dressed just like one. She looked wonderful. I liked her immediately. Of course, she's a rich kid and everyone likes her.

“But Shakira is Indian? She can't be here!” Another round of argument.

“We should let her speak for herself!”

“Hey guys, I'm Shaira Watson. I see I have loyal fans to her in Vietnam. I'm so proud of you all. But yeah, she's right. I was learning here. I had to move from India. I hope I'd be accepted here.”

“Of course.” They yelled.

My watery eyes scanned the room, my loneliness overwhelming me once again.

This isn't good…

I suddenly forgot my plans.