Chapter Text
Hope Mikaelson had every reason to be nervous; it was her first day of school. After the family vacation during those two months, she had completely forgotten that she would have to go back to school. Now in her freshman year, she didn’t know what to expect.
She tossed her auburn hair back as a nervous act, her hands were bathed in sweat as she entered the classroom. There were many boys and girls she didn't recognize, she was beginning to feel uneasy, really.
That is, until she caught a glimpse of a dark hair in the crowd and practically jumped up and down, screaming.
"Cleo!" she called out to her, excitedly.
As she approached the brown skinned girl, she seemed to recognize her and rushed to hug her. Her friend was much taller than her and was always smiling, her eyes were dark brown and her voice was huskier than Hope's. They were quite the opposite.
"Hope Mikaelson, thank God! I thought I'd be alone. " She smiled and they went to sit together.
"Did you see anyone else? I swore I was alone enrolled in this school," she remarked, crossing her legs. Hope leaned back against the table.
"So far it's just you, but its better this way," she confessed with a playful smile.
The students were entering the classroom and the blue-eyed girl didn't recognize anyone, they seemed to be in different worlds. Hope was a relaxed girl. She could last all day drawing or listening to music. She also wore comfortable clothes: black jeans, a blue T-shirt, sneakers and a leather jacket.
She didn't have many friends, but at the moment she was happy with Cleo. They had almost always been friends and now they wouldn't be alone. The girls spent some time chatting about their vacation, until Hope heard some laughter.
Through the classroom door came one girl and a boy, both of whom were brunettes and tall, they looked like siblings. But the one who caught the attention of the auburn haired girl was the girl. She managed to emanate joy as she laughed at one of the jokes. Their gazes met for a few seconds and Hope lost herself in chocolate eyes as deep as the ocean.
As soon as it started, it was all over. She looked away and the other girl did the same as she walked away with her friend to the seats in front of the blackboard.
"What happened? Did you see someone you know?" asked Cleo, raising her face to look through the people. Hope denied.
"It was nothing" she smiled at her friend and when the teacher came in, the class began.
He introduced himself to the students and began to give a short speech. He indicated that in table order they should go to the center of the room and introduce themselves. Hope didn't want to, she was always nervous about speaking in public.
Luckily, she was in the fourth row and it would take them a little while to get to her. The boys were passing by and the blue-eyed girl was surprised when Cleo went smoothly and when she came back she smiled at her, amused. That's why she liked Cleo, she had always admired her self-confidence.
Hope started doodling in her notebook, to distract herself. It was going very fine, when a girl was called. She saw the same tall brunette. She looked very cute in her dark jeans and a blouse.
She was walking confidently as she flashed a flirtatious smile on her pink lips. She stood in front of everyone, without looking at no one in particular. She was very feminine, or so Hope thought, because of her thin eyebrows and the way she walked.
"Josie Saltzman, nice to meet you" she smiled, blinking, and sure enough, half the room already thought she was cute.
Hope averted her eyes from the beautiful brunette and went back to doodling. She didn't care.
After a while it was her turn. She stood up surely with a pale face and went to the front, some people were murmuring and others were laughing quietly. Hope ignored them. Ever since she had always been the center of teasing, but over the years she had learned not to make a big deal out of it.
Josie watched her with interest, resting her chin on her hand and biting one of her fingers. Even with that gesture, she looked incredibly beautiful. Hope tried her best not to stare and when she finished she went to sit down in her seat.
She let out a sigh and watched as her friend gave a thumbs up, in a sign of encouragement. After two hours they had to change classes. Hope hurriedly picked up her books as her friend hurried her along.
"Hope, move your ass" Cleo urged her at the door.
"Wait, Cleo" she said, following her, because the other girl had gone into the hallway.
She felt someone push her by the shoulder and she dropped all her books. There was a dark-skinned, black-haired boy in front of her, laughing.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't see you," he said with mocking eyes, Hope gave him a dirty look and began to pick up her books. Next to her passed another boy, who kicked one of the books on the floor. It was another of Josie's friends, the taller brunette who walked in with her.
"You were in my way," he excused himself and burst out laughing with the other boy. Hope frowned and looked at Josie, who appeared next to them.
"Kaleb, Ethan, don't be so mean," she said jokingly, but also smiled and looked at the other girl. Josie was making fun of her and, in spite of that, Hope still thought she was beautiful. She tried to figure out why, but she couldn't. She managed to come to her senses as the group went down the hallway.
Cleo approached her, apologizing for leaving her alone. Hope downplayed it, but kept wondering if Josie Saltzman and her friends would be the idiots who would make her life miserable for the rest of the year.
Maybe she was right.