Gift of Hope

Chapter 3 of my crossover story, enjoy.

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Boris Yeltsin: Thanks.
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Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Holywoodunderfed: Thanks, and yeah, they are, some more interesting developments to come BTW.

Chapter 3

Mike and Jess' closeness in the cafeteria hadn't only been noticed by Emily however. Another girl was watching them, albeit with very different emotions. Biting her lip as she observed the two, Hannah Washington felt a wave of sadness overcome her.

'Just look at them...so happy together, and, and...' She thought despondently. 'The look on Jess' face after she and Mike kiss; oh...I wish it could be me, there, why couldn't it be me…?'

With a heavy sigh she left the cafeteria; deciding to head to her next class early, to try and escape the sight that was tugging at her heart. Even though leaving the cafeteria meant having to walk right past it.

She grimaced but kept her eyes straight forwards. 'Why did they have to stand by the doors of all place...oh well, once I'm out I can get away.'

Finally escaping the cafeteria she began to hurry to her next class, trying hard to keep her emotions in check. It wasn't easy; she had long held a crush on Mike, but her meek nature made it hard, if not impossible for her to approach him. Even when he started dating Emily her crush didn't die. She held on to hope, especially when their relationship started becoming strained.

'I could see, before any of the others, that things weren't right...' She noted to herself. 'I tried to talk to him; even if it made Emily mad, but...but in the end...'

When Mike and Emily finally broke up, Hannah wasn't sure what to feel. Then she found he had started dating Jess and the whole cycle started over again.

Still lost in thought, reflecting on this, she had actually found herself beginning to wonder. There was always a small part of her that seemed to be thinking differently from the rest, in regards to Mike. But she usually ignored it. Now however, she wasn't so sure.

"Hannah."

She turned, startled, then saw it was Max and Warren. They were both approaching her, looking worried.

"Are you okay?" Warren asked, his concern clear.

Max nodded. "Yeah, you seemed a little, distant at lunch and, upset. Is there, anything we can…?"

Hannah bit her lip, unsure for a moment, before finally sighing.

She pondered to herself. 'I've not known them that long but, what I have found out about them. If I can't trust Max and Warren, who can I trust?'

So she decided to tell them. "It...It's about Mike..."

That caught their attention and they shared a look, confused.

"What, what about him?" Max asked.

So Hannah began telling them about her issues, her sadness. She of course admitted that her feelings and wishes weren't exactly fair on Jess, but also that she couldn't help them. Max and Warren did their utmost to help her, yet as they did so, she found that certain part growing stronger and began to realize something.

In her dorm room at the end of the day, Hannah was standing before her mirror, getting changed, her mind was racing as she considered things.

'I never stopped to think, did I...It wasn't until I told it all to Max and Warren, while they tried to comfort me...' She reflected. 'It was only then I really thought about it, began to realize, properly realize. Just how hopeless my pursuit of Mike was. I just couldn't see it, didn't want to see it. But this whole time, I've been, blind.'

It was a startling realization to her. One she'd been in denial of the whole time, but there it was now, as plain as day to her. She couldn't deny after all that, especially compared to his time with Emily, Mike was happy with Jess. They both were happy.

'I couldn't accept that, but it's time I did. Maybe we just, aren't meant to be.' She thought sadly.

With a heavy sigh she knew, hard though it would be, she had to let go. Even as she thought that, she began to consider something else, something which worried and sacred her.

She began to fear. 'Have I...Ruined possible chances? I mean, were there others, any possible missed opportunities to be happy. That I might have had if I hadn't been so fixated on Mike?'

She wasn't sure what to think about that; but decided to focus on the here and now. She finished getting ready and went to join the others, on the recommendation of Max and the others, they were going to go into town, following the directions given and eat at the famous Two Whales Diner.

Once at the Two Whales, along with Max, the group counted themselves lucky, able to find two booths next to each other and soon they were all sat down, waiting to give their orders. As they waited Max began telling them about the diner and the times she'd spent there during her childhood. It was then one of the waitresses began approach, Max grinned upon spotting her.

"Oh, hi Joyce."

Joyce smiled warmly. "Hello there Max, goodness and what have we here, who are all these people."

Grinning Max began introducing the group, who all greeted Joyce; all of them amazed. Something about Joyce's presence made even the normally sharp tongued members of the group like Jess and Emily happy and comfortable, as if no animosity existed between them at all.

It was Ashley who noticed and queried. "You and Joyce, know each other really well Max."

Max nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I, I told you guys before about my best friend, Chloe Price."

They all nodded and Joyce then explained.

"Well, Chloe's my daughter."

It now made perfect sense and they all smiled, finally understanding. At that point the door opened and, seeing Max and Joyce react, the others all turned to look. Approaching them was a young woman who stood out a mile with her punk look, including dyed blue hair. Their suspicions were immediately confirmed when Joyce spoke.

"Ah speak of the Devil, Chloe."

Chloe grinned. "Hey mom, yo, Max, I see you...Whoa, now…?"

She looked around, eyes wide at the crowd that Max had brought with her.

Laughing Max quickly began making introductions; as she did so however, one name stood out to Chloe, as much as the person in question did.

'Beth Washington, wow, okay...' Chloe noted, eyes wide. 'She's, whoa, she is...'

She almost couldn't believe she was even thinking it; but there it was; once she actually saw the young woman, Chloe couldn't deny it, or even the instant feelings that stirred within her as her thoughts took shape.

'She's hot.'

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.

Well, just to clarify, Hannah isn't actually over Mike, but is beginning to realize the truth and so is starting the process. I needed to have this set up as Hannah is going to be part of one of the three cross-fandom pairings. While on the subject of that, as the last part shows, looks like Chloe's formed a crush and a case of instant attraction to Beth :)