Hope

Chapter One

Proverbs 23:18 (ESV) -- Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.

"Kaitlyn, I can't do it." I muttered, nervously wringing my hands. "I can't go on this date with Alex Taylor."

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and swatted my hands, which caused me to release my tight grasp. "You will be fine," she said, exasperated. "Just like the five other times I've said this, you will have fun and Alex will be very gentlemanly and you won't embarrass yourself. You will be confident and fun, like you always are, and this will blossom into a new relationship."

I gave my best friend a deadpan look, followed by saying, "I can't go on this date."

Kaitlyn opened her mouth to speak, but a loud honk sounded from outside. I laughed as Kaitlyn jumped in surprise. "What was that?"

"My neighbors' friends," I said between giggles. "They like to drive through this cul-de-sac and honk their horns at the house where my neighbor lives. Then they drive away with my neighbor, probably to go party."

Kaitlyn scrunched up her nose in disgust. "People and their need to get drunk and act like fools. I don't understand the appeal. It's never been glamorous." Kaitlyn's phone buzzed, and we both looked down at it to see Sam calling her.

"Hello?" Kaitlyn answered. There was a pause. "I'm still at Ryan's." Another pause. "I know it will be late when I get home, but she is going on a date and I'm waiting until he gets here. I'm here to make sure she won't back out." Pause. "Yes." One more pause. "I love you more." Then Kaitlyn hung up.

I smiled. "You can go home, Kaitlyn. You don't need to wait behind."

"But you cannot back out of this date."

I sighed. "I won't. You straightened my hair, which rarely happens, and I put on a nice outift. I've made it this far and there is no backing down."

"That's the right attitude," Kaitlyn muttered with a smirk. "So you are promising that you will leave this house with the Alex Taylor?"

Solemnly, I raised my right hand. "I swear."

"Good," Kaitlyn chirped with a wink. "I expect all details." Kaitlyn took a step to the door, but then suddenly faced me once more. "Ryan, I know you have been discouraged with guys lately. But you can't give up. Our Lord will send you the right one when it is time, so don't lose hope in finding your happy ending. This Alex could very well be the one, so please don't count him out right away."

I smiled with gratitude. "Thanks Kaitlyn."

"Always, my dear. I'll talk to you later. Goodbye and have fun!" And just like that, Kaitlyn was gone. I smiled, sat down at the kitchen table, and waited.

I only had to wait for ten minutes for the doorbell to ring, echoing through my house. I took a deep breath, smoothed out the wrinkles on my long-sleeved shirt, grabbed my purse, and walked to the front door.

Opening the door, I saw Alex Taylor standing there wearing a black hooded jacket, hands shoved into his pockets. He smiled when we made eye contact and I felt a slight blush creeping along. "Hi... hi there," I said after clearing my throat.

"Good to see you Ryan," he said with a smile still on his face. "You look great."

I'm just wearing plum-colored skinny jeans, a thick white shirt, and a jean jacket with Converse. It's nothing special.

I thanked him anyways.

"Shall we go?" Alex asked me, and I nodded with a slight smile. "Awesome," he said. We started the walk down the sidewalk, and he said, "I think you'll really enjoy what we are going to do."