(PROLOGUE)
OPTIMISM.

oo. | A HOT PARTY.

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PERNILLE GREY SMILED AS SHE PUT ON HER DRESS. Jason Grey and his best friend Alec would escort her to the unity day masquerade dance. It was the biggest party of the year and was for teenagers only.

"Angel are you ready?" Jason walked to her with a big smile.

"Almost." She said as she checked her hair in their tiny mirror.

Jason and Alec watched her running around with her hair brush. Their mouths curved into smiles and their eyes filled with a sparkle as they watched her prepping, they were proud of Pernille.

"Now I'm ready." She said winking.

Alec tucked some hair behind her ear, "you are definitely the Belle of the ball."

"Thank you Alec, but you look handsome as hell too." She stated as she pulled him in a hug.

"Remember, don't drink alcohol, don't do drugs and don't talk to boys." Jason joked.

Pernille rolled her eyes playfully as she muttered, "Yes sir." They started laughing.

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THEY WALKED THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. You could hear the hard music playing everywhere. The Ark was fully decorated for the party. You could feel the happiness in the atmosphere. Unity day was Pernille's favourite day of the year. She loved it even more than her own birthday.

Jason saw a familiar face and waved friendly.

"Hey Blake!" He shouted.

A brown haired boy turned around. He had a lot freckles and was fairly tall. Pernille smiled to the boy.

"Hey guys." The boy said. His hazel eyes bored into hers, giving her a strange, yet beautiful feeling. Pernille smiled friendly.

"Bellamy meet our friend Pernille." Alec spoke as he put his hand on her shoulder.

Bellamy inspected her from head to toe. A smug grin appeared on his face.

"Go to the party, we'll see you soon." Jason stated, being protective as always.

Pernille gave Jason a deadly stare as she walked away, "bye!"

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PERNILLE WAS LOOKING FOR HER FRIENDS. She dragged herself over the crowded dance floor, pushing other kids aside. There were blue lights and lots of drinks. Then a boy with green goggles and a Asian boy with a grey mask caught her eye. She tapped them on the shoulder at the same time and ducked away.

The boys turned around. They stared confused, asking each other who it was. But then she jumped up, "surprise dorks!"

"Pernille!" Monty yelled, pretending to be angry.

Jasper laughed as she hugged him, "good one P."

Pernille smirked, "I know I am."

The three of them started laughing again. Then Pernille hugged Monty too. Jasper and Monty were like her brothers. She grew up with them in farm station. Jasper and Monty were a good duo- but when Pernille was with them, it was way more fun. She was the only female group member and friend of theirs. She was like their mother, but younger, smarter, funnier and with more sarcasm.

"You guys look so cute." She said. Their mouths curved into smiles.

"You too." Monty replied. Pernille smiled and blushed- she was always got awkward when people complimented her, so she just smiled and got red.

"Who's that?" Jasper asked. He lifted his goggles up, looking at lonely girl in a grey dress.

Pernille saw the girl dancing on her own, "another girl who won't notice us." Monty stated with a frown.

"Why don't you ask it yourself?" She asked with a smirk.

"Nah." Jasper stated shortly as he kept on dancing.

Pernille smiled at her foolish friend, "oh come on! I know you want to talk to her."

"Oh, well-" Jasper stuttered hesitantly.

"Just go." Pernille said as she pushed him over. When she did, she saw Bellamy staring at the girl with a smile. He looked very protective of her and Pernille thought it was cute.

She wanted to get a drink, but she fell over someone.

"Hey, need some help?" A smirking boy offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her up.

"Thanks, I'm Pernille." She said with a little smile. She had turned redder because she fell, but the boy made her blush too.

He shook her hand, "Murphy, John Murphy."

"May I have this dance?" He asked, adding to the sentence.

Pernille smiled flattered, "If you want to. But I have to tell you that I can't dance."

He laughed, "Everyone can dance. Just do this," he placed his arms around her hips. She putted her hands around his neck. They danced slowly. The corners of his lips turned up.

"Do you know that you are very pretty?" He asked.

"I do now." She replied sarcastically.

He chuckled, but looked intrigued, "No but really."

"No actually not." She said shyly. She could've just said a simple 'thank you', but one thing Pernille hates is lying. She just can't do it. She doesn't like what she looks like? She just says it.

"You should." He said. He placed his warm, rough hands on her cheeks and pulled her to his mouth. She could feel his soft lips against hers and decided to kiss him back. She ran her hands slowly through his hair.

He stopped, "Let's go somewhere else. You and me. Screw everybody else." He whispered.

She glared at Monty and Jasper, who were just dancing and talking. Her small smile grew wider.

"What are we waiting for?" She asked smirking.

They went to the corridor. There were some guards who were talking and there were some couples kissing. Murphy pushed her with her back against the wall. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer.

"I like you." He whispered in her ear. His lips almost touched her face. Each word tickled her skin. Pernille's breathing quickened, her senses were sharp. Every moment felt like slow motion. Adrenaline filled her veins, "I like you too."

Then she kissed him. It felt like fireworks exploded. And her stomach filled with a million butterflies. He answered with passion- his hands searched for her mask. He pulled it off, then smiled as he stared at her.

It was one of the best days of her life. Until that other thing happened.