Hope's P.O.V

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Hope! Happy birthday to you!" My family belched out as they entered my room at 6:30am in the morning. It was my twenty first birthday and much to my joy every time someone in my family had a birthday we all came together, so that meant I saw my two older brothers at the least, 4 times a year. Though I was now twenty-one, I still lived at home but my older brothers, the twins Ace and Carter, didn't due to having their full-time jobs and one of them being married. When I turned eighteen three years ago, Carter had just moved out with his fiancé and so we made a pact that no matter what happened or where we went every birthday this family had, we would spend it together, and so far, the boys had kept true to their word, coming back to mum and dads house every time any of our birthdays came around.

So, I sat up in bed and gladly welcomed the off-key singing and tight hugs from my overprotective older brothers and both my parents.

"Good morning little sis." Ace said as he ruffled my hair and sat on the edge of my king size bed, which took up most of my room, which I didn't mind, since I didn't spend much time at home anyway. I smiled at him.

"Morning" I said with a chuckle, as Carter sat on my other side, laying over my legs on his back. He grinned up at me.

"Little sis!" He said grinning cheekily. I rolled my eyes and pushed him off me.

"Your heavier then you look." I said with a grin. He faked hurt as he held a hand over his chest, while shaking his head a pout in place. Sometimes I really questioned how they could ever be older than me.

"Hunny, did you wanna open your presents before or after collage?" My mum asked as the boys held out wrapped gifts. I smiled brightly.

"Before, but first I'm gonna get dressed." I said as I got out of bed and the boys and my dad left the room. "Oh, and that top you bought me the other day doesn't fit, it's too big." I added looking at my mum as I pulled on a pair of skinny jeans.

"Alright, I'll take it back tomorrow." She said smiling as she left the room. I pulled a grey knitted sweater on and some socks, before I pulled on my docs and put my hair up in a messy bun, sticking a pen through it. I ran down the stairs, checking the time on my phone on the way, 7:00am. I got downstairs to find an amazing looking breakfast of, pancakes, ice-cream and fresh fruit.

"Thanks guys." I said as I sat down, already stuffing my face. After breakfast we sat in the loungeroom so I could open my presents.

"This one's from me and Sarah, she wrapped it." Carter said as he handed me a well wrapped gift, with a sticker stuck on the top that said, Happy birthday, lots of love, Carter, Sarah and baby Alice, I smiled as I looked across at Alice who was sleeping in his arms.

"I can tell, it's wrapped nicely." I said as we all laughed. I tore away the wrapping paper to find an ornate sliver photo frame. "Aww thanks." I said as I got up and gave Carter a hug, being careful not to crush poor Alice.

"It's the one you wanted, and Sarah's sorry she couldn't make it, but work called her in." He said as I sat back down, I nodded in understanding. "She'll be here tonight though." He added.

"Good" I said as I accepted the gift Ace handed me. I ripped off the wrapping paper to find a 'Cooking for Dummies' book. I laughed, as did the rest of my family.

"Cause you can do just about everything, but cook." Ace said through laughter, I got up and gave him a hug.

"Thank you." I said as I caught my breath.

"This one's from all of us." My dad said with a soft smile as he got up and hand me a small box wrapped in purple wrapping paper. I opened it to find a ring box, a smile spread across my face as I opened it to reveal a silver ring, just a silver band, but with the words, 'We love you Hope' engraved on the outside and the initials, RJ, DJ, AJ and CJ engraved on the inside. Robert, Debra, Ace and Carter Johnson. My beautiful family.

Ace held up his hand to show an identical silver band, wrapped around his thumb, with his name on it. Meanwhile Carter yanked at the top of his shirt to reveal the same silver band attached to the chain round his neck.

"It's-It's beautiful. Thanks so much you guys." I said smiling brightly as I slipped the ring onto my middle finger. I got up and gave everyone another hug, then checked my phone. "Opps, I best head off or I'll be late." I said as I noticed my phone said 7:32am. My parents place was just thirty minutes from my collage, which is why I opted for living at theirs, it certainly saved me money.

"We love you." My mum called out as I got into my car.

"Have a good day." My dad added as he waved.

"We love you little sis! Happy birthday!" Carter and Ace shouted at the same time. I smiled as I laughed and waved goodbye, backing out of our driveway and heading off down the street.

.o0O0o.
By the time I walked into my final class, I was so done with the day. I had sat playing on my laptop during my first lecture, which was on gamma radiation, which I already knew everything about and as a result, was bored out of my mind. The second lecture was interesting, it was on splicing DNA, but due to the first lecture, I really didn't feel like listen to a teacher lull on for forty minutes, luckily my next few lessons were more interactive. By the time my third and final lecture came round, aka my last lesson of the day, I was really done.

I sat down next to a friend of mine, Lilly, who I knew I could fill the time with because she never listened anyway.

"Hey Lil." I said as I sat down and pulled out my laptop and exercise book, just for show.

"Sup Hope. Happy birthday." She said as she gave me a smile and an awkward side hug due to the chairs. The lecturer started and I set my recorder up and started it, so I could do the notes at home later-on. I noticed Lilly had earphones in.

"Whatcha listening to?" I asked quietly as I fiddled with a piece of the exercise books paper, I tore it into quarters.

"Bruno Mars, Just the way you are." She whispered back. I smiled to myself.

"I love that song." I said back. Lilly handed me one of the earphones and I put it in my ear, as she started the song again. To pass the time I wrote the whole song out on a piece of the torn paper from my exercise book. Near the end of the lecture, I scrunched up the paper and shoved it in my pocket, because I couldn't be bothered to go to the bin.

.o0O0o.
I stopped by the bank on my way home to change my cards pin number. I kept forgetting what it was and mum had told me to change it to something I would remember. I'd been saying I'd do it for a couple of days now but just hadn't gotten around to it.

I walked through the revolving doors and up to a desk.

"Hello, how can I help you?" The woman behind the glass asked.

"Um, I'd like to change my cards pi-" I didn't get to finish because a gunshot rang out through the huge space. Everyone screamed and my panic rose as I turned to see, 8 men in all black outfits, with masks on and guns in their hands.

"EVERYONE ON THE GROUND NOW!" One of them shouted as another one told the workers of the bank, not to push the emergency button. The remainder men started weaving through the crowds of scared people, all huddled on the ground, demanding they hand over all their valuables. I looked down at my birthday present sitting on my middle finger. With shaking hands, I quickly slipped it off and dropped it in my bra, just incase they asked me to turn out my pockets. The men made their way around the large room as some of them collected cash from the bank workers behind the benches. One came to a stop in front of me and something strange passed through his eyes, almost recognition. I held out my wallet. The man looked from my face to the wallet in my hand, and back up to my face again. He turned around and walked up to the man who was keeping an eye on everything, presumably the leader of the group. My eyes darted around the room in worry as my heart leapt into my throat. Did they see me take off my ring? Are they gonna kill me? I don't wanna die. Especially not on my birthday.

Little did I know that within the next few months, death would be all that I would wish for.