Chapter One: The Unwanted Orphan Bella trudged through the front door of her aunt's house, her backpack slumped over her shoulder. She had just finished another long day at school, where she struggled to fit in with her classmates. As an orphan living with her aunt and cousins, Bella often felt like an outsider. Her aunt, Mrs. Smith, was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen, while her cousins, Rachel and Michael, lounged on the couch, watching TV. Bella's heart sank as she saw the familiar scene. She knew she wasn't welcome here. "Bella, go start your homework," Mrs. Smith called out, not even bothering to turn around. Bella sighed and headed to her small bedroom, which was really just a converted storage closet. She dropped her backpack on the floor and began to unpack her books and papers. As she worked on her homework, Bella couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that had been following her for weeks. She felt like she didn't belong anywhere, like she was just a temporary guest in her aunt's house. Just then, Rachel and Michael burst into her room, laughing and teasing each other. "Hey, loser," Rachel said, tossing a pillow at Bella. "What's for dinner?" Bella ignored them and continued working on her homework. She knew that engaging with her cousins would only lead to more trouble. As the evening wore on, Bella's sadness turned to anger. Why did she have to live with a family that didn't want her? Why did she have to feel like an outsider all the time? Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed, Bella spotted a flyer on her desk. It was an advertisement for a prestigious scholarship competition, open to all high school students in the area. The grand prize was a full scholarship to a top university. Bella's heart skipped a beat as she read the flyer. This could be her ticket out of this miserable life. She felt a surge of determination and hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could prove to everyone that she was worth something after all. T.B.C
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NEVER GIVE UP-Chapter 1