Hopes
I can’t possibly live alone like this forever. Time for a change.
First – September 17th, 2017
I’m so happy I’ll be doing my first American History group project with a cute girl.
“Hi Jenna. So, it looks like we’re partners for this group project. When would you like to start working on this?”
“Hi Gary. How about we meet at the public library this Saturday at noon?”
“Sure, Saturday it is!”
…
“Nice work today, Jenna.”
“Likewise.”
“Hey, listen. Umm… Do you maybe want to grab coffee on Tuesday after class? I know a great place located only a few miles away from campus.”
“Sure. That’d be nice.”
…
“Please, allow me to get the bill.”
“Umm, okay. Thanks.”
“How was the coffee?”
“Good, I guess. It’s coffee. It can’t be bad, right?”
“Right. Also, I, umm… I had a great time today. I’m thinking, do you want to have lunch sometime next week? I mean, like a… like a date?”
“Oh… I’m sorry Gary, but I don’t think so. You seem nice, but you’re not really my type. Besides, you’re younger than me by a year. It’s not much but I really believe women can’t be older than men in relationships.”
Second – November 12th, 2017
It’s a rewarding experience to volunteer my time to help others. It’s also helpful to me since I will ultimately be reviewing the concepts myself while explaining it to someone else.
“Hi Gary. You seem to know what’s going on in this stupid course of Civilization in 19th Century. I might drop out of the course because it’s so difficult. Would you explain some concepts to me that I am having difficulties with?”
“Sure thing, Kelly. Which part of the course are you having trouble with?”
“Chapters 4 and 5.”
“Okay, let’s sit down in the school library for an hour and I will try my best to clear things up for you.”
“That would be great, thanks.”
…
“So, is it clear now?”
“Crystal clear. Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can pay you back. Maybe I can buy you a drink sometime?”
“Really?! I mean, alright, sure. It’d be nice for us to sort of hang out and talk to each other a little, right?”
…
“Well, thank you for the drinks, Kelly. You can’t imagine how happy I was when you asked me to go out for drinks.
“Of course! It was to thank you for helping me with the course.”
“So, do you think we’ll be seeing each other again?”
“Yep. Now that I understand it better, there’s no reason why I should drop this course. So I will most definitely see you in class on Monday.”
Seventh – February 2nd, 2018
Maybe if I asked someone whom I’ve known for a while, I’d have a higher chance. Friendships can turn into something more, after all.
“How are you doing, Michelle?”
“Gary! I am doing great, and you?”
“I am doing fine too, thanks for asking. I just realized that we’ve known and been friends with each other for three years. Boy, tempus fugit. I wanted to tell you that I like you and I’m so happy to have known you.”
“Same here, I mean it. You’re a very nice and a caring person, and it’s hard to find people like you to befriend these days. You know, you’re the person I always go to when I need help or when I’m sad about something. And I know you always come to me as well. That’s why I value our friendship so much.”
“Well, this could be another one of those days, then. I am feeling so lonely lately. I need to talk to someone.”
“Lonely? How come? You’re not lonely. You have me.”
“Yes, I have you. You’re a great friend. I mean, I feel lonely because I am unloved and I’ve never had a relationship before. I am 22. Getting old and dying lonely.”
“Gary, honey, you’re great. You will find someone one day. You’re 22. You’re still young. I know for a fact that you won’t die lonely. Any girl who says no to you is losing a lot. Have my word on it.”
“You really think so?”
“Of course I do. You know me. When I don’t agree with something, I say my honest opinion straight up.”
“If you really think I am good enough, will you then…go out with me? Maybe give me one chance?”
“Well, Gary… We’re friends. I see you as a friend because I know you’re a cool guy, but I’ve never looked at you that way, as something more. Besides, I like someone else. Sorry.”
Twelfth – May 28th, 2018
I will be more casual this time. I will just ask them out if I think they are nice and friendly, and if they seem like someone I could have feelings for.
“Bonjour Cynthia. Do you enjoy the français class? I find it interesting. It’s fun to learn a foreign language, isn’t it?”
“It sure is, Gary.”
“As much as I like learning French, I am also interested in French culture. In fact, I heard about a great dessert place owned by a man from Lyon. Say, would you like to check it out sometime?”
“Well, do you mean…like a date?”
“Yes, Cynthia. You seem like a genuinely nice person, and I’d like to get to know you better.”
“I am sorry, but I will be extremely busy with part-time work and family stuff in the next several weeks.
“No worries. Sorry I asked. Have a good day, Cynthia.”
Or Not
Maybe I should just give up.
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139,539 Literary Works • 672,605 Reviews
Thank you everyone for your reviews. To answer the question that many of you might be wondering, YES, it is true that I've experienced rejection countless times (haven't we all?), but I didn't keep a count. I was, at some point but then I lost count, to be honest
So, the number "12" might not be accurate but I tried my best to make the different scenarios of rejection as accurate as I could. I just like writing about heartbreak and rejection in general. Once again, thank you a thousand times for your reviews 
~mert b.
This is a very interesting story, and I can't help but wonder, is it true? There are a couple think that I believe could take a little work. I don't know where the characters are. Could you add in descriptions are, like, "I walked into class and on the ancient chalkboard, I saw that I was working with my first cute girl: Jenna." I also don't know what the characters look like. Is it possible to add time to describe the characters? At times, I have no idea who is speaking until the person's name is spoken in the dialogue. You could do something like, "'Well, do you mean...like a date?' Cynthia questioned." You could also add in how the characters are feeling. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Thanks for sharing this story.
Hey, I just loved the way you have written this script. You have great knack for writing. It's creative that you have mentioned the days and the number of girls Gary/You asked out. The script had a flow.
These following lines:
I’m so happy I’ll be doing my first American History group project with a cute girl.
“Hi Jenna. So, it looks like we’re partners for this group project. When would you like to start working on this?”
I just can picture it in my head, the conversation with yourself and that continues with a casual talk. That was realistic. We do that. LOL.
Writing something which haunts us is not an easy task, we needs to put the right words to emphasis how exactly we feel.
In that, man, you nailed it, now your story haunts me. Especially the last line.
"Or Not
Maybe I should just give up. "
The story has been carried out in an impressive way.
It is very clever of you to give the Title "Hopes.. or not". And the story in a touching way. But I personally believe it's just the beginning.'Coz, as I said about your writing skill, Girls these days dig that,which stresses the fact, you definitely gonna meet a girl and that's goin' to last. You will write a story based on that. With reference to your writing, I have FAITH in that.
I would like to quote Jim Carry's saying:
"I don't believe in hope. Hope is a beggar.Hope walks through the fire. Faith leaps over it."
Keep it casual, like your awesome writing.Things work out. Looking forward for more of your works.
P.S: Maybe God delays somethings for some people. 'Coz he is planning to give them the best. Can never come to a conclusion. You can never guess how lucky you are.
Keep up the awesome writing.
Hi there mb1221, Katja here to hopefully provide helpful feedback on your short story/narrative. Please feel free to disregard anything I say, should you find it unhelpful.
First of all, I feel the need to provide my input on the situation presented within your story/narrative. Gary struggles to find someone who will seriously consider a relationship or simply go out on a serious date with him. And if I may be so daring as to provide Gary with advice.... But again, feel free to ignore this part, as I will review the short story in a second anyway.... (I will refer to (you?) the narrator as Gary, simply to keep my opinion unbiased and objective)....
Gary is trying too hard. Simple as that. Simply my opinion, but also from experience and watching others do the same thing. Not to say that Gary shouldn't keep trying when opportunity knocks, he just shouldn't be discouraged when these girls turn him down. If he focuses less on who he can ask out on a date next and instead pays attention to how a girl acts when he is around them or whether or not she seems to reciprocate his beginning feelings and thus want to learn more about each other... He would be a lot less let down if he simply waited and kept conversation casual for awhile before asking these girls out. Most girls and guys are either taken or not interested so it isn't always easy finding someone who will be just as interested as you are. Don't immediately jump to asking them on a date. Play it out, see if they are interested too and that will make it a lot less likely that Gary will be let down anymore. But most importantly, DON'T GIVE UP ON LOVE! haha, sorry. Onto the review...
What I liked:
I like that your narrative is formatted in a way that the reader can understand the progression of time and how many attempts has been made throughout the story. It makes it easier to see why the narrator is so frustrated and feels like giving up by the end. (Ps. you/Gary should not just give up)
My Suggestions:
Perhaps provide more details about the girls and Gary's interactions with them? This would provide helpful insight into Gary's frustration and the overall situation. Since this seems to be a narrative I will not critique the same way I would a fictional short story, so that i all the feedback I have for your story.
I just want to add, it can seem like it's hopeless. Not just on this topic but it many. And we can fail at something so often we may feel like we'll never figure it out. But be patient! Life has a funny way of rewarding patience.
Keep writing,
-Katja
Hey, at least you have the bravery to ask.
I can't even work up the strength to get talking in the first place lol