Author's Note: I originally planned it to be shorter (in Word, it's five pages long, so...) but since it's this, then it's this! I don't know what pairing I should decide on, so until then, pairing's TBA. Enjoy, please. :)

Hope Estheim. Son of the CEO of the Estheim Fashion Co. His future seemed pretty organized if you thought about it. Since he was the only child, he was the one to continue on with his mom's fashion business.

It wasn't like his father didn't do anything. His father was the CEO of the Estheim Medical Corp., and he was the one to inherit all of his deceased parents' money, since his brothers and sister were unreliable. Most of the Estheim's money were from his grandparents.

Now, Hope was nineteen. His mother was always telling him that someday, all of the business will be his to keep.

"But, mom..."

"Your mother's right, Hope. I trust you're responsible enough to handle this?"

"Yes, dad." Hope looked down at his plate. It was steak and mashed potatoes for dinner, accompanied with vegetables.

Bartholomew smiled at his son, before taking a bite of the steak. "Nora, how was work today?"

Nora looked up, and simply replied, "work was fine. We're working on new designs. Would you like to look?"

"Of course, dear. But I'm sure your designs are beautiful. Just like you."

Hope hurried to eat the last remaining pieces of his steak so he could be excused from the dining room and outside.

"Be careful, dear. You'll choke."

Hope nodded, swallowing the steak pieces. It wasn't that his mother was a bad cook, it was just that he had to leave; he was in a group (that his friends made) that had an important meeting about a rival group.

The easiest way to describe this group rivalry is about what their rival did to them. Snow Villiers was the main reason this group was formed, and he did foolish things to them that they hated him.

"May I be excused?" Hope asked, wiping his mouth.

"Yes, you may. But, before you go, your teacher called. He said you haven't been in school for a while now. You will explain this by the time you return." And with that, Hope left.

Nora sighed as she watched her son leave, "what will we do with him?"

Bartholomew shrugged, "he's having hard time adjusting to his new school. Let's just wait."

xxxxx

Hope walked down the stairs, seeing his fellow group members.

The group headquarters was paid by the group, with help from their parents. Its floors were marble, there was a brown wooden long table with thirteen brown tall chairs. Under the chairs and table was a red carpet, and above them was two chandeliers. There were offices (Hope owned one of them) that had desks, chairs, bookcases, carpets, lamps, and computers. Any other necessary accessory was up to the owner. Hope's desk had a family portrait, and a few of his favorite things.

"There you are, Estheim," the group leader said, grinning at him. "You arrived on time."

"Thanks, Hunter. Saved me time asking one of us about what the hell you're talking about." Hope sat on one of the brown tall chairs.

"Well, let's start." Hunter was standing at a blackboard, chalk in hand. "The Villiers have a powerful ally with them now. Even if it's unknown, there's a badass in the family."

Hope, as are the others, was curious about who it was. "How?"

"Snow's dating their daughter. Right now, no one is showing (us) any clue about who it is. But, as far as I heard, she's willing to protect Snow with as much power she has."

Hope groaned. It was supposed to be only the Villiers, not another family. Great.

"That's why I'm thinking about us having a volunteer spy. You know, one that pretends to have 'forgiven' Snow and against us." When the group members chatted about it and then agreed, he continue on, "raise your hand if you want to volunteer."

Hope raised his hand, standing up. "I volunteer."

He wanted to know who the family was. If it really meant that they were protecting Snow with all they could, then they're added to the list.

"Great. You start tomorrow."

xxxxx

Hope returned at midnight, knowing his parents were already asleep.

Tomorrow, he was their spy. And he would get his revenge for what Snow did to him. It would surely be a great day, may that day come.

xxxxx

Hope had woken up, ate, took a bath, dressed up, drove to school, did classes, socialized with friends, and now, it was lunchtime. Snow was talking loudly while he was sitting at table C, his group's table. There, he saw a petite girl with pink hair, and he immediately knew who it was.

"The Farron family," he whispered, while he watched another pink-haired girl get the younger-looking one and drag her away from the table. Lucky for him, they were near his table, and he could hear VERY clear.

"Serah. You possibly can't tell me you're in love with an idiot and his group of school military resistance."

"But, sis, I love him. He's so...sexy."

The older woman didn't seem pleased with her answer. "I'd rather die than hear the fact that you're marrying him someday."

"Éclair. Will you stop being so protective?"

"I'm just trying to make you realize that Snow isn't the best choice of a boyfriend. You have ten days to decide whether you truly love him or not."

Snow also stood up and walked to the sisters, "having a sister-conference? Anyways, Light, don't you want to join us?"

"Join what? Some dumb group of yours? Leave me out of it."

'Weird,' Hope thought, 'her sister called her Éclair, but Snow called her Light. Oh, I'm such an idiot. It's her nickname!'

Snow nodded, and looked at Hope. Of all people. "Hey there, Estheim!" He was very oblivious of their little group, though he was getting hints. Small hints.

"Uh, hi, Snow." He probably looked uneasy, but he was a spy, and he had to act like he forgave him.

"How's it been, uh... Hope, right?" Snow was grinning like an idiot right now, but he probably didn't notice.

"Yeah. And it's been fine, thanks for asking."

Snow was the son of the Sentinels group leader, which was the richest group worldwide. His father was also the CEO of the Villiers Law Enforcement. Though his knowledge seemed pretty low, it was said that, in the entrance exams, he was in second place.

Hope doubted that he was smart, but then again, it could all just be an act.

"You know, my dad said that he's going to a meeting with your dad about needing medical stuff. I thought maybe I should tell you!"

"I heard," he said with a smile. He glanced at the two sisters, who were still talking to each other, possibly a different topic.

There was nothing bad about the Farrons, it was just that they were the most powerful family in all of the families, including his, of course.

Éclair Farron, the oldest of the Farron sisters, and the most scariest of all Farron family members. Though Hope knew nothing of the Farron family, he knew that she was engaged to Cid Raines, and that was not because of their family. Well, fifty-percent of it is natural love. Or so they're told.

Serah Farron, the youngest, and the nicest girl you can meet. But, there was a rumor that, if you get on her nerves, she was as scary as her sister. Has very good reputation, and is a cheerful person.

"Oh my God!" Some girl squealed from a table when a tall man with black hair was visible. "It's...it's..."

Cid Raines.

Cid walked, wearing the black school uniform (custom-made uniform, others were white) with color-matching polished shoes.

Raines? Raines was an important asset to the ruling families, though a bit curious whether it was in the good side or the bad. Raines handled supplies for both sides, anyways. This family didn't always go out except for Cid, so no one knew if he was an only child or an older/younger brother.

"Lightning," he said, walking to the older Farron. "How's it been?" He asked with a kiss on the lips, which was pretty normal for a couple.

"It's been pretty fine. What about you?"

Serah and Snow had obviously left the two, Serah giggling and resting her head on Snow's arm (she couldn't reach his shoulder).

Hope groaned at all the information he had just learned. Much more than learning about numbers and reading books. He needed a nap before lunchtime ended. He stood up from his seat, hand on head, and passed the couple with closed eyes.

-Switch POV-

"Are you friends with Hope Estheim?" Cid asked Lightning, looking at the disappearing male.

"No. I don't think we know each other to the point where I call him a friend."

"Hm. Well, his family is very successful. If you weren't engaged, maybe you'd be hisfiancée

by now."

Lightning looked uncomfortable for a bit, "Raines, I don't know if I could stand being engaged for any longer. People give me special treatment, since I'm 'marrying a hot sexy man'. I hate attention, and you know that."

"We can't stop it. I tried to talk my parents out of it yesterday, and they weren't at all pleased. They...advanced our wedding to three months."

"This isn't right, Raines."

"Please, call me by my name. You make it sound like we're military personnel."

"You're school military personnel. Honestly, though this school's pretty big, they didn't have to go that far as to making two branches for it."

"One branch can't guard most school rooms every single day, and people sneak in school at night. So, the other fills the night just in case a student wants to sneak in and get answers from the teacher's table."

"Probably," was her simple reply.

"Our subject has changed from Estheim to school military. Lightning—"

"Call me Light, Cid."

"Alright. Light, what do you think would happen if we weren't getting married?"

"Hope's not my type. I think he grew up spoiled." Lightning replied, knowing Cid's going to mention Hope somewhere alongside the lines.

"Hope seems to hate Snow," Cid added.

"Everyone can get annoyed by Snow. Duh."

Cid smiled at her, "most girls find him handsome."

"They only went to this school to find hot guys. They're not here for learning. That's why." Lightning was obviously finding a reason for Snow being annoying.

"Are you saying your baby sister is stupid because she likes him?"

Lightning glared at him, "no. She just...has a bad choice of men. What about you? Even though we're engaged (which is only for our family), you probably like someone."

Cid smiled. I'm looking at her. He cleared his throat and looked away, "no. I don't find any girl here attractive."

"Any guy?"

"I'm not gay, Farron. Are you?"

Lightning snorted, "why would I be? Sure, I'm not the most feminine woman out there, but that doesn't mean I'm gay or attracted to women."

"Of course, you aren't. Though I know you pretend, I know you like a guy who has abs."

Lightning blushed for a long moment, before returning to her original self, "I only said I want them to be fit. Not because they have abs. Are you saying I'm attracted to Snow now? First, girls, now, Snow! You sure know subjects, Raines."

Cid shrugged. "You never know who you could fall for, Lightning." He paused for a moment, "and it seems we forgot to call ourselves by our desired name or nickname. Doesn't matter. Habit, I guess."

Before Lightning could talk or open her mouth, there was a loud squeal, obviously by ALL of the girls of this school.

"Oh my God! Serah's SO lucky!"

Lightning, without hesitation, went off to find out what was happening.

"What the hell?"

End of Chapter One.