Hopeless

*Chapter seventeen*

Chapter seventeen

Hope yelped as a sharp branch scratched her forearm. Blood was starting to seep slowly out the wound but Hope kept on running. Where she was running to she didn't know. All she knew was that she couldn't stop. After Holly's "little talk" Hope was desperate to get away she just wanted to run. Away from Holly, Drew, Arin and even Rosnia. Where she really wanted to be was home. With her mom and Dad where none of this weirdness was where everything was normal and she didn't have to worry about secrets or Talents or Raids or Pairs that weren't soul mates. Her heart was beating loudly in her chest as branches and leaves tugged at her clothes as if they were trying to hold her back. As if they didn't want her to leave. Hope's throat was burning and her legs felt like led. She was in the multi-coloured forest and it was dark; the moon was only a tiny silver sliver in the sky and it didn't offer much light. Then a huge tree root came into Hope's path, she tried to jump over it but her foot still got caught and she fell to the ground with a loud thump.

'Hope?' someone called

Fearing it was some evil creature of her imagination Hope brought her knees up to her chest and stayed curled up on the ground.

'Found you,' the voice said and Hope looked up to see Drew staring down at her and not for the first time Hope wished that Drew didn't have the power of sensing.

'Leave me alone,' Hope mumbled to the ground but if she was truthful with herself she knew she never wanted Drew to leave her side.

'That's not going to happen. We need to talk Hope,'

'Why don't you go and have a talk with Holly,' Hope said childishly

'Look Hope I'm sorry,' Drew said sitting down on the forest floor next to Hope

'Yeah sorry doesn't cut it this time,' Hope answered still not getting up from her position on the floor 'I want to go home Drew. I must have left for a reason and it was a mistake coming back. I don't belong here,'

Drew said nothing as he stared down at Hope

'What about what Holly said? What about what you said? Did you mean it? I think I should just leave it'll be easier for everyone,' Hope said miserably

'No Hope you can't leave now and you do belong here. I know you're mad at me but I promise you everything I told Holly was a lie. I love you and you only. Please forgive me Hope,' Drew said touching her arm.

Hope pulled her arm away furiously.

'Drew don't touch me,'

'I won't, if you don't want me to,' he said sadly

'I can't believe you never told me about your Talent!' Hope said refusing the urge to give in and forgive him for everything.

'You're angry about my Talent?'

'Yeah I'm angry about your Talent!' Hope said sitting up to glare at him.

'Why?'

'Why?' Hope said incredulously 'because Drew you can hear my thoughts!' she yelled. Drew frowned slightly

'I didn't think it would make any difference,'

'Of course it makes all the difference! I don't want you hearing my thoughts!'

'Why not?' Drew questioned

'Just because its........I just....I,' Hope fizzled out 'thoughts are meant to be private and who know what I was thinking.....well you do but........,' Hope trailed off

'Hope I'm sorry again but I really didn't think it would matter this much to you and if it makes you feel any better you can ask me what I'm thinking at any time and I'll tell you the truth,'

'Okay what are you thinking now?'

'I'm thinking how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life and I'm hoping with all my heart you'll forgive me,'

Hope's eyes softened. How could she not forgive him? He hadn't really done anything wrong and there she was acting like the bitchy girlfriend.

'I'm sorry Drew I'm acting like a brat it just hurt me so much to see you kissing Holly and then there was the Talent thing. It just all piles up,'

'What about me Hope? You don't think I want to punch Arin's face in every time he kisses you?'

Hope stared at Drew trying to think of a way she could show him how she felt and then she put her hand on his arm and thought everything she wanted him to know. She thought about how she felt about Arin, Holly, the situation they were in and most of all she thought about how much she loved and cared about him not anyone else.

Drew said nothing and he wrapped his arms around her.

'What are you thinking now?' Hope asked

'I'm thinking that I could never leave you because without you I'm Hopeless,'

Hope laughed softly at his play on words and snuggled deeper into his chest.

'So what are you wearing to the ball?' Narissa asked Hope

'Uh whatever is in my cupboard?' Hope said

'Oh no no no dear! That is not acceptable you will have to go down to the village and get something pretty made for yourself,' Narissa chided

'The village?' Hope questioned

'Yes the villiage. Havent the others taken you there yet?'

'No I only got here two days ago but I didn't realise there was a whole viliage here,' Hope said astounded.

Hope was in the kitchen helping Narissa clean the breakfast dishes. At first Narissa had refused to let Hope help saying it wasn't done for a Royal to wash dishes but Hope hadn't listened and was helping anyway. Why should Narissa have to wash all the dishes just because she wasn't a Royal? They were talking about the upcoming annual ball that was held in the castle and apparently everyone was invited and it was a big thing in Rosnia. There was ballroom dancing and singing and an orchestra. Hope thought about how everything was so old fashioned in Rosnia but surprisingly she liked it. Hope was dreading the ball though; she could dance to save her life and she would probably trip and make a fool out of herself.

'Of course there's a whole village! Where did you think everyone lived?'

'I guess I hadn't really thought about it. So how many people are there in Rosnia exactly?'

'About two thousand,'

'Really?' Hope said surprised 'I guess I'm just really overwhelmed and I haven't had time to think about everything. So will you take me to the village to get a dress?' Hope asked Narissa

'Of course sweet pea it would be a pleasure,'

'Okay thanks. So what's the dress code is it like fancy or smart or casual or-,'

'Oh no child! This is a very posh affair! You have to wear a floor length ball gown!' Narissa exclaimed

'Oh well I guess is still have a lot to learn so let's finish up these dishes and get shopping!' Hope said brightly because there was nothing she loved more than shopping.