The English Tutor

Josie wanted nothing more than to go home. Christmas was four days away and she still had not gotten the chance to find her kids a gift. Josie knew she didn't have much money to her name but she would try to get the kids something small so they would know that they are loved. Josie looked down at the little girl who was curled next to her. Elliot and Emerson had spent the night at the hospital with her. They had refused to go home and every time anyone would try to take them they would begin to cry and grip onto the nearest surface to keep themselves from being taken. Josie looked up to see Lizzie rocking a fussy Emerson. 

Josie got Lizzie's attention and reached her arms out. When Josie took Emerson she places him carefully to straddle her right thigh and lays his head on her chest. Josie was careful she did not want to wake Elliot. She knew Emerson's cry, Josie began to gently pat Emerson's back. A couple of minutes later the boy had successfully burped three times, which got him to stop crying. 

"Wow, how'd you know?" Lizzie asked, things between her and Josie have been awkward since Josie found out she was Josette a couple of days ago. Lizzie knew the news was big and that Josie needs to process everything, but Lizzie expected this big tearful reunion with endless hugs and an explanation but Josie didn't tell them anything, they didn't even get hugs. Josie had not allowed anyone to touch her unless it was the twins, Hope, or Keelin. Which everyone followed her rules due to the fact that Camille made it very clear that Josie needed to be in control of the situation since she had already had so little control in her life being a foster kid. 

"I'm his mom." Josie check on Emerson and smiled when she saw he was slowly drifting into a deep sleep. Josie's smile faded, she had been distant from Lizzie, Lizzie who she now knew was her sister, her twin sister. Her kids were always together, plotting schemes together and she could imagine how empty Lizzie must have felt when she was gone. Lizzie remembered her but Josie didn't remember Lizzie. Josie didn't even think she had a family. "When you have kids their cries become like another language you know. Emerson's cry was because he had gas, all he had to do was burp." Josie wanted to keep the conversation going even if it was over the smallest thing.

Josie noticed how Lizzie kept looking down at her phone. "Lizzie you can go." 

"No, I wanna stay here." Lizzie slipped her phone into her back pocket. "Plus I promised mom and dad I would stay until they got here." 

"Lizzie?" 

"It's just my teachers, no big deal." 

"Lizzie, go. I'll be here when you get back." Josie knew the look Lizzie was giving her. Lizzie wanted to believe her but a part of her was skeptical. "I promise, please go catch up on school so you can graduate this year." 

"Okay. Mom and dad will be here in less than two hours and Freya is on her way." 

Josie gave Lizzie and nod and wished her luck. All of Lizzie's teachers had agreed to let Lizzie catch up on what she missed when she was sick over the Christmas break but she had to go pick up the packets today if not her mother was going to have to go and talk with the principal. 

Josie sighed. She missed Hope but sadly Hope had to go to school, Josie couldn't really complain she was the one that pushed Hope to return to school and not constantly worry about her. Josie was tired of being the center of attention, she wanted out of the hospital bed and time with her kids outside of the four hospital walls.

"Hey, Freya is going to grab me some lunch would you like something?" Josie shot up giving Keelin a questioning look. Josie had been limited to only eating hospital food until her infection was under control. "Yes, you're infections gone so anything you want Freya will get you." 

"A bacon cheeseburger please." Josie's mouth watered just thinking of the bacon cheeseburger. "Ohh with a sprite please." 

"Okay, I will text her." Freya smiled, she was glad to see Josie was getting better. Freya had let her have it when she found out that Josie used duct tape to keep her incision together. Keelin wanted to stop her wife from yelling but she knew better than anyone it was better not to mess with an upset Freya. 

"Does this mean I can leave the hospital?" 

"Yes, we will talk more once Caroline, Alaric, and Camille get here." Keelin walked into the room and placed a kiss on Josie's forehead, that small gesture made Josie relax, she knew leaving meant going home with the Saltzman. "I'll see you when Freya gets here. I'm going to finish checking on my other patients and I will be back." 

Josie gave Keelin a smile and let her leave. She would get some alone time with the couple which she was really looking forward to. Josie sat in silence looking at her kids, they would be up soon and she knew they would be leaving with Freya, which she was not thrilled about. She missed having them with her, feeling the warmth of the two tiny bodies that would always manage to end up sleeping on her instead of the bed. Josie could not help but think that she would do anything for her kids and since they were born she did exactly that. Anything and everything for her kids no matter the price she had to pay.

    Josie hated that she was doing this. She was going on a date, all because Penelope kept telling her she needed to get back out there. Josie wanted nothing more than to not be on this date. She wanted to be home with her twins who were only five months. Josie had a plan. She had agreed with Penelope if she made it through this date she never had to date again and Penelope would stop pressuring her. Also, Lizzie would finally stop saying that Josie was still in love with Penelope. 

Josie sat in the cafe waiting for her date to arrive. When the girl arrived Josie found herself stun by how cute the girl was, she was in a black leather jacket with a white shirt and black jeans.

"You're Josie right?" 

"Yeah, you must be Jade." When the girl nodded in confirmation Josie asked her to sit with her so they could get their date started. Their date went well Josie found out that Jade was a year older than her and she attended the Salvatore school. She also learned that just like Lizzie's boyfriend Jade plays flag football. Jade paid for the whole date and asked Josie if they could see each other again and Josie agreed. 

What shocked Josie more was that when Penelope texted her asking her to go home right away because she had to leave Jade offered to drive her home. Josie against her best judgment invited Jade in. 

"Be safe," Penelope shouted as she ran out. Apparently, Penelope's girlfriend had car trouble and needed a ride. 

"I'm sorry our date got cut short." Josie sat on the couch and patted it for Jade to sit next to her.

"It's okay," Jade assured as she sat next to Josie. They continued having small talk until Josie decided she had enough. Josie leaned in mid-sentence and kissed Jade. It had been a while since Josie kissed anyone, so she was thrilled when Jade deepened the kiss. Sadly a little cry forced Josie to pull away. 

Josie sighed, she had not told Jade she was a mother, it wasn't something she thought she could reveal on a first date. Josie excused herself and made her way to the room. She looked at the white crib where her daughter and son were in. Josie picked her son up, if she didn't get him to stop crying soon her daughter would wake up as well. Josie glanced at the clock in the room and realized regardless of what was going on her daughter was going to wake up soon to eat, as if Elliot sensed her she began to cry as well. Josie picked her daughter up as well and made her way toward the living room. 

"I'm so sorry Jade." Josie was bouncing to keep the kids from crying. "I understand if you'd like to leave." 

"Of course not. Here let me help you." Josie smiled, she thought people would run the second they saw her kids. Josie sat back on the couch and lifted her shirt past her bra. She unclasped her bra from the front and fixed Elliot so she could begin to eat. After Josie talked Jade through how to position Emerson on her free boob so he could eat. Jade and Josie continued getting to know each other. 

Jade and Josie ended on good terms, they went on a couple of dates but Jade had told Josie two months later that her ex had come back into the picture and they wanted to give it a shot again which Josie of course told her it was okay. The girls would text here and there to check on the other but never went out again. 

When Josie saw Jade again she wished it was under different circumstances. Josie was desperate for money, she was behind on rent for four months and the landlord was threatening to evict them. Josie was desperate enough that she went and did the one thing she had sworn to never do. She sold her body. Josie had no idea what she got herself into but when the woman guaranteed her 8,ooo dollars in one night Josie could not resist the offer. 

After that night Josie understood why she made 8,000 dollars in on night. No one would willingly do this if they weren't into it. Josie laid on a bed of an unknown man, with a blanket covering what was her exposed naked body. He had left her there and told her someone would be in to untie her and dispose of her. Josie wasn't sure if it was in the sense of getting her out of the room or getting rid of her permanently.  Josie's back ached, every time she tried to move it stung. She wasn't sure how many cuts he made on her but she lost count after eleven. 

Josie did not bother to look up when she heard a gasp. Josie knew it was probably the person that was meant to dispose of her. Josie could feel the warm tears running down her face. 

"What did they do to you?" Josie looked up, she knew that voice. She had gone on a date with that voice. "You're okay love. I'm going to get you out of here." Jade cut her free and Josie covered her exposed body. Jade took off her hoodie and put it on the girl. "Let's get you to a doctor." 

"No," Josie shouted. "Please just take me home." 

Jade did not fight her, she took Josie home. Jade stayed two weeks to help Josie while she healed, Josie never mentioned what happened in that room, and Josie also learned that the man was Jade's uncle. The reason Jade had walked into that room because she needed her uncle to sign a permission slip for school. Jade wasn't supposed to find Josie but she did and she took her away before anyone else could.

"Josie, I promise. I'm gonna protect you. And I'll be there when you need me. Always." Jade promised, and she was determined to keep that promise until she died.

    Josie lifted her head up to stop the tears that threaten to fall. She had not thought about what she did in a long time. She had buried that memory deep in her mind, where she would never visit. Jade had kept her promise, she was always there for her when she needed it. Their friendship was however their secret, they thought it would be best that way Jade's uncle could never be near Josie again. Jade wanted Josie to press charges but Josie refused to, she didn't even bother to learn the man's name. Jade even spilled wine on Josie during the fundraiser which later that night Jade texted her apologizing and explaining that it was either her or one of the guys on the team who would try to kiss her, which Josie assure her it was okay and thanked her for looking out for her.

"I'm starving," Josie said at the sound of footsteps. Without looking down. She knew it had to be Freya with the food. 

"Well, I can go get you something." Josie looked over to see the person she had just been thinking about. Soft eyes met dull ones. 

"Jade, what are you doing here?" 

"Checking on you." Jade approached her friend. "It would have been nice to know that you were in the hospital, Josie. Remember I'm supposed to take care of you." 

Josie took Jade's hand when Jade reached for hers. Josie was relieved to see Jade. It had been a while, she missed Jade but she also knew that it was for the best that they remained far from each other. 

"How's my girl doing?" Josie was about to answer Jade when she heard a voice coming from behind Jade. 

"Not your girl." It was none other than Hope. 

"Right, how are you?" Jade corrected herself annoyed.

"I'm good just tired," Josie assured her friend. 

Josie offered Hope a smile but she could read the jealousy off her. Josie had learned that when it came to hiding her emotions, Hope was horrible. Hope's facial expressions always betrayed her. Josie couldn't help the smile when Hope walked over to the other side of her bed and gently leaned over to place a kiss on her lips. There was nothing sweet about the kiss Josie knew Hope Mikaelson was marking her territory and making sure Jade got the message.