Gift
Josie was pleased with Hope, the girl managed to make it to their tutoring session on time. Josie however wished that Hope was late because when Hope walked in to greet her the girl was in spandex and a sports bra. Apparently, she had just come back from a run.
Josie knew that she would not be able to contain herself from checking the girl out. Josie told Hope she would be happy to wait for her as she took a shower and changed. Josie was relieved when Hope agreed. Before Hope left her alone she handed Josie her outline for her next paper and the extra credit her teacher had given her.
Josie took the time to go over what Hope had handed her. Her next essay was due in four days. Her extra credit paper was due before they went on Christmas break from what Josie gathered.
After going over Hope's work. Josie decided to work on her homework while she waited for her. She knew as soon as Hope enter the room her attention would only be on the blue-eyed girls' work.
The brunettes' attention was pulled away from her homework when a glass plate was placed on the table. Josie was greeted by a warm smile.
"What's this?" Josie asked.
"My Aunt Rebekah made lunch for me. She fixed a plate for you as well. You're not allergic to anything right?" Hope wanted to make sure whatever she was feeding the girl was not going to possibly kill her. Josie shook her head no.
They sat together in the study room. Josie explained to Hope how her outline for her paper was good, that she could write up a rough draft. As for the extra credit paper, Josie explained how it would take a lot more work. Hope did not just need to write a paper she had to make a three-minute video base on her paper.
Josie decided to take the couple of minutes she had whiles Hope brainstormed about her extra credit paper to eat the plate of food. Josie happily ate the grilled-cheese sandwich, she was starving. She has forgotten to eat breakfast in the morning. What got Josie more excited about the plate of fruit was that there were strawberries. Josie loved strawberries, when she was pregnant strawberries were the thing she craved most. She rarely got them but when she did her and the twins were very happy.
"How's it going?" Both girls looked up.
"I think me and Josie are about to take a break mom." Josie checked the time on her phone. They still had an hour left it made sense that Hope needed a break.
"Great. Come down and get some pizza." Hayley told them. "Your dad came home early."
Josie watched as Hope shot up and left Josie sitting in the room staring at her mother. Josie smiled and introduced herself to the woman. Josie followed Hope's mom downstairs. She could hear Hope laughing.
"Dad this is Josie. She tutors me." Hope introduced her tutor. "Josie this is my father Niklaus Mikaelson."
"Pleasure to meet you, love." Josie shook the blond man's hand. "Did you tell her already?" Josie was confused. What was Hope's father talking about? His smile was smug as if they have something planned.
"No, I was going to after our session ended," Hope answered. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, Josie. I talked with my mom and dad about your situation after I went to your place. I mentioned the conversation we had. My parent went out and got you this."
Josie had no idea what to answer when Hope placed a brand new MacBook in her hands. Josie placed the MacBook back in Hope's hands.
"I'm sorry I can't accept that." Josie looked down. She wanted nothing more than to accept the laptop but she knew she could never pay it back.
"You can." Josie was confused at Niklaus' words. "Hope explained how you don't have internet access at home. She thought getting you this would help. The computer has internet. It will work anywhere you are. Please accept the gift."
"There are no strings attached," Hope added. "Please Josie take the MacBook."
"I can't." Josie persisted.
"Josie you're helping our daughter," Hayley told her. "If you have to think of it as a work computer. We just want to help."
Josie accepted the gift. She could not help herself when she hugged Hope. She has no idea what she did to get Hope to be so nice to her but she was starting to like the girl.
The girls took fifteen minutes to relax before going back up to the study room. Josie noticed that Hope was stuck on her extra credit paper. So she began to brainstorm with the blue-eyed girl. Neither of them seemed satisfied with any of the ideas. Time for Josie to go came. Josie was walked out by Hope.
"Thank you for the computer," Josie told Hope. "This will make my life easier. Since you gave me this feel free to email me anytime and as soon as I can I'll respond. We can even video chat if you need extra help."
"I'd like that," Hope answered. "Do you need a ride?"
"Sure." Josie was too exhausted to walk so she was thrilled with Hope's offer. Josie smiled when she watched Hope rush back into the mansion. It did not take back for the auburn-haired girl to come back with car keys and a sweater.
The ride did not last long. Josie found herself saying goodbye to Hope sooner than she would have liked. Josie walked over to her job. Before entering she found herself looking back to wave at Hope Mikaelson.
Josie spends the rest of her day at work. Since Penelope moved out Josie decided she would be a waitress for the night. Considering they were a girl short. Josie would be switching to the mid-shift later in the week.
Josie was grateful that Lizzie was being a huge help. Lizzie would be spending the nights at Josie's apartment to give her a hand with the twins. Josie knew she could never repay Lizzie for what she was doing for her.
"Yo cutie." Josie groaned when she heard the customer. She really hated that the customers never bothered to show any of her girls respect.
"What can I get for you." Josie kept her distance from the table. She learned the hard way to keep her distance when she started working. Josie listened carefully to what ordered. She left to place the order and went to get the beers they ordered. Josie grabbed the beers and made her way back to the table. Josie placed the beers on the table.
Josie let out a startled yell when she felt the pull on her arm. A grunt escaped her mouth as she landed on the man's lap. Josie tried to get off the man but he was stronger than her, he held her firmly and kept her and his lap. Josie looked around to see which of the security guards she could yell at for help.
"I believe the young lady told you to let her go." Josie looked up shocked but relieved to see Keelin. Josie stepped away as soon as the man let her go. Josie was going to make her way to the bar to take a breather but she was pulled away.
Once outside Josie felt Keelin let go of her arm. Josie wanted to speak but she wasn't sure what to say. Josie mumbled a thank you but stayed quiet after that. She has no idea what Keelin was waiting for. When Josie saw two blondes approaching them she began to get a little concerned.
"Aren't you Hope's tutor?" Rebekah asked. Josie wanted to run back inside when she realized that one of the blondes was Rebekah Mikaelson. Josie did not want to lose her tutoring job she was depending on that job to buy food and pay rent.
"Yes ma'am," Josie answered quietly.
"Wait you're our niece tutor?" Keelin questioned. Josie gave them a nod. "Aren't you like 16?" Keelin added.
"17 actually," Josie answered honestly. She knew she was outnumbered and the three women would not let her back into the bar until they were satisfied with their conversation.
"What are you doing working at a bar. You should be home sleeping. It's 1am on a school night." Josie offered Rebekah a smile. She knew there was nothing she could tell Rebekah because she was right. It was a school night. She would rather be sleeping but in her situation, she could not afford to take any days off especially since Penelope left.
"I need this job. I can't afford to lose it please. I'll do anything. You can have drinks on the house for the rest of the night." Josie told the three women.
"We won't complain under one condition," Keelin told her. "Tonight is the last night you work here. Starting tomorrow you will work with one of us."
"I can't do that."
"You can and you will," Rebekah ordered. "each of us has an opening at our workplaces. You will show up tomorrow after school to whichever place you wish to work because this is not a job a kid should have. If you don't show up we will come back."
Josie had no idea what to do besides accept what they were telling her. She did not know the woman much but she could tell by the tone Rebekah was using that she was serious.
"Please don't tell them or Hope." Josie told Keelin. When Keelin gave her a nod Josie mumbled a thank you and ran back inside. She needed to keep her mind busy and not think about what she would be walking into tomorrow.
Josie was grateful the night was over. She was ready to get into her apartment and throw herself onto her bed and cuddle with her kids who she was sure were deep asleep. Josie walked into her apartment. Josie went straight to her bedroom. She smiled when she saw Lizzie deep in slumber with the twins. Josie covered them correctly to make sure that none of them would be cold for the rest of the night. Josie went to quickly change out of her outfit and carefully made her way into the bed to get some rest.
The following morning Josie was grateful she did have to rush to get the kids ready. Lizzie was helping her get them ready and Lizzie was also going to be driving the twins to daycare and her to school.
When they were finished getting ready they were out the door to get on their way to school. Josie wished every morning could be so peaceful, that she did not have to walk to her destinations or take two buses.
"Do you want to spend the night at my place tonight?" Lizzie asked.
"Aren't your parents coming back tonight?" Josie asked. She tried to avoid Lizzie's place when her parents were there. Josie loved the Saltzman but she never liked lying to them. She did not want Lizzie's parents to know she was on her own or that she didn't have parents.
"Not till tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeah, I'd love to," Josie answered. "Lizzie, why do you hate Hope?" Josie had no idea where the question came from but she knew she was too late to take it back.
"It's not that I hate her," Lizzie told her best friend. "Hope is actually family to me but she reminds me a lot of my sister. So I think my anger with Hope is that when she's around I can't help but think of my sister. I guess it's easier to be angry."
Josie understood. She did not know the full story. Lizzie had mentioned it but she never told her the full version. Lizzie just told her, her sister was dead and that she and Hope were close friends. Josie didn't know more but she knew that when Lizzie was ready she would tell her the whole story.
"Why the question?"
"I um." Josie had no idea how to answer the blonde. "I'm just tutoring her and I was wondering your opinion of her. What I've got so far is she nice."
They spend the rest of the drive talking about what they would make for dinner. Josie let Lizzie know she had to go to a new job and Lizzie assured her that as soon as school ended for her she would pick up the twins. As much as Josie did not want to go do what Hope's aunts told her to she knew she had to. She had gotten a text message from Keelin giving her the information of all three positions, along with the address of the places. She would decide what job she wanted after school.