CHAPTER ONE: NEW BEGINNINGS

( episode one: meet + trigger warning: brief mentions of a panic attack )

✲*'。

IT WAS THE START OF A NEW YEAR; a new beginning, a time for new opportunities, a time to better oneself, a time to reflect on the past and the time to welcome the future.

For Grace Hope-Nelson, the new year meant the second half of her school year. It was the start of a new term, the time to start afresh after a rejuvenating two weeks off, celebrating Christmas with her mum, brothers and reluctant cousins. The Hope family, as apart of the court mandated custody were required to spend a minimum of three days with their outcast of a niece.

Charlotte Hope had been a bitter disappointment, hooking up with a man ten years her senior, effectively breaking up a happy marriage, a happy family. To completely throw a spanner in the already turbulent lives of the Nelson family, Charlotte was carrying a daughter, a child she had no more interest in raising, nor her former partner.

In the end, Sarah Nelson stood up where her former husband and her daughter's biological mother and family failed. Grace Elizabeth Hope-Nelson was to be raised with her sons, her children. It was only when she was six years old did the Hope family— Charlotte herself realized her fault and tried to win custody of said child once more.

Hidden away in the shadows, Grace saw the money fees building up, saw the frustration piling up as her mother Sarah did everything in her power to fight to keep her child. So, when her Mum had been awarded custody Grace made a vow.

She would never be a burden, never give her mother a reason to abandon her. When David taunted her, cruel remarks slipping past his lips, Grace remained silent. A tight bitter resolve building up, every remark chipping slowly but surely away at her psyche.

Despite her mothers constant reassuring words, despite Nick's comforting smiles, Grace was always bitterly reminded that she was the outlier in her family. She didn't belong, she was a consistent reminder of the past, the reason her father now lived in France, little to none contact with his sons only when it suited him.

For once Grace wanted to mean something to someone; wanted to be something other than a burden to her family.

She wants to be to enough, that's her New Years resolution, her new beginning.

✲*'。

"IM!" GRACE HOPE-NELSON SHRIEKED at the top of her lungs, darting ahead to her one of her closest friends, ignorant to the narrowed glare Nick shot her. His hands wandered upwards to lightly scratch his ears, trying to regain some sort of sensation again. It was a wonder he was not deafened by his sisters loud shrieks.

"GRACIE!" Imogen Heaney beamed, charging forward opening her arms up for the bear hug Grace engulfed her in.

"How was your break?" Grace questioned, worming her way out from Imogen's grip to wave at her brother before taking off up the road to Higg's, the girls school.

"Same old, except Mum had to work the night shift Christmas Eve so I only saw her in the evening." Imogen sighed. "What about you?"

A dark glower settled on her face for just a moment, it was so brief Imogen thought she had imagined it before Grace was plastering a fake smile onto her lips once again. "It was ... it was fine. I spent the majority with Mum, Nick and David, just had to spend the mandated days with the Hope's."

Imogen nodded, quickly changing the subject to their form groups. She was no fool, it didn't take a genius to recognize the way Grace Nelson was suffocating in the current custody agreement with her family. It was a sensitive subject, one Imogen was careful not to probe at.

The first time Imogen Heaney learned of Grace's troubled relationship with her biological parents was nearly a near ago; she had noticed the way Grace was tired, almost ghost like in movement as the summer holidays neared. As everyone planned their holidays, their friends talking about their holidays. For example, Harry talking his plans to travel to America, Imogen going up to Cornwall to visit her grandmother.

Ben and Nick remained stubbornly silent. Nick a dark glower settled on his face as Ben blankly ahead, his eyes rooted to the ground, doing his best to ignore the clear disdain Nick held for him.

It took two weeks for Imogen to realise the truth. Grace breaking down in her half-brothers arms, her breathing erratic and patchy as she waited for Charlotte Hope to pick her up.

It didn't take long for Imogen to connect the dots.

But that is a subject for another time.

Once she realised the time, Grace cried out ,"I'll see you in English yeah?" to Imogen, darting away once she heard a definitive yes.

After a quick trek to her locker, leaving the books she'd need until lunch, Grace dashed up a series of stairs, intent on reaching the classroom before the bell rang. The last thing she wanted on her first day was a detention; her mother would absolutely love that. A smirk spread across her lips as she dashed into the classroom just as the warning bell sounded.

"Impeccable timing as always Ms Hope." The teacher, Miss Greenwood hummed from behind her, startling the girl.

Rightly her stance, Grace anxiously wrung her arms behind her back. "You know me Miss, I always aim to please."

"In that case you can sit yourself beside Elle Argent, she's a transfer student from Truham. And you can give her a tour afterwords."

Narrowing her eyes, Grace nodded reluctantly. She had Chemistry next, a subject she was horrible at, she needed all the class time possible if she hoped to pass, never mind show a new student around!

"Don't look at me like that Ms Hope. Ms Argent is in your next class well I believe so you won't be late at all." Her teacher hummed, an amused smile playing on her lips at the disgruntled frown playing on Grace's face.

Pushing her bag further up her shoulders, Grace advanced down the aisles of chairs sliding into her new assigned chair beside Elle Argent.

"Hiya," Grace murmured under her breath, sliding down into her chair, rummaging around in her bag to get her pencil case and notebook. "I'm Grace."

"Elle," the girl beside her smiled weakly, her hands tightly gripping her phone.

"Cool pencil case!" Grace gasped, abruptly leaning forward to closely examine the detailed, intricate flower design, ignorant to the sharp inhale of air engulfed into Elle's lips. "Where did you get it?"

"I made it..." Elle quietly answered, a hesitant smile spreading across her face.

"That's so cool!" Grace grinned. "I have the art talent of a toddler I'd love to be to draw and paint like this."

"I could design yours if you'd like?" Elle declared, her heart thundering in her chest as she took a leap of faith.

Another wide smile spread across Grace's lips as she nodded eagerly. "If you don't mind! I don't want to trouble you at all."

"Not at all, we could go over designs at lunch if you want?"

For a moment Grace cocked her head to the side, trying to remember if she had promised Imogen she would have lunch with her today. Shrugging to herself, it wouldn't be the end of the world if she missed one lunch with her close friend.

"Count me in."