Figures
Hope was lying on the bed, her eyes showed no emotion, she didn't see the ceiling, but a hospital room, hearing the warning in her head over and over again.
To overcome this, you must avoid stress at all costs. Your pregnancy is very fragile at the moment and anything can happen.
Her heart contracted at the memory, she exhaled hard. No matter how long she lived, she knew she would remember that day until the end of time. How could you forget the day someone told you that your baby was unlikely to live long enough to hold it?
She had to talk to Josie, she had to take her to Freya, but she also knew that she had to wait until Josie was stronger to receive any news that her aunt could give them. She just needed to rest first, she repeated it to herself over and over again since they had left the hospital.
She had wanted to believe it, and she supposed Josie did too, but she didn't stop the fear that clouded them both.
She stood up and went to her closet to find what she would wear for the day. She left her room with a sad smile, she looked at the corridors decorated for the Valentine's party that would be held tomorrow. Lizzie's voice reminded her all the reasons why she should go.
You have to show the Hobbit that you’ve move on and what is most important to yourself.
It seemed as if everyone she loved was destined to abandon her at some point and she would be left alone with the memories of happier times.
After a particularly rough day, running into Landon in various classes hadn't been easy, much less seeing one of the witches flirt with him.
She walked down the hall when she saw Josie walking into her room.
"Hey" she greet the brunette.
"Hi, I thought you forgot about me. I mean, I haven't heard from you all day” Josie joked, letting her into her room.
Hope found herself smiling at the witch. They had reached a new understanding in their friendship. She had gotten so used to talking every night. At first it was just to see her and make sure she was okay. But she began to enjoy their conversations, which soon began to change. She would tell her what she had done that day and Josie would just listen to her carefully. The brunette in turn commented on how she felt or whatever Lizzie tried to include her in.
"Oh yeah, my incredibly interesting day," Hope teased, as she flopped into the chair next to Josie's bed.
"What can I say, it's been boring lately" Josie laughed "Really, how are you?"
"I've been better, how are you?"
"Lizzie caught me throwing up today," she said softly.
"What did you say to her?"
"Something about dinner had made me sick, I don't know if she believed it"
"Wait, isn't that what you said to MG days ago?" Hope asked.
Josie winced as she realized her mistake.
"Yeah, let's hope they don't share that information or Lizzie will tell dad"
Silence stretched between them, uncomfortable for the first time.
"are you going to the party?" Hope asked, remembering the valentine's party.
"No, with everything that happened yesterday, I just want to rest," said the brunette lying on her bed.
Her words fuelled fear within Hope.
"Josie, how do you really feel?"
Josie gave a big sigh.
"I'm following the orders my aunt Elena gave me, Hope" her voice softened "we'll get through this and everything will be fine"
She just needs to rest, Hope repeated inside her.
"Plus I'm sure what happens at that party will guarantee that anyone will throw up, and now I'm more susceptible than most, so I pass" Josie joked.
"I’m going; Lizzie says it would be good to show that I’m over Landon" commented the tribrid.
"You know, my sister isn’t always right and you have nothing to prove"
Hope wanted to tell her all the reasons that it was good and healthy for her to go to the party, but she couldn't remember any.
"Well if you want to talk or not talk tomorrow, you know where to find me," Josie offered.
"Thanks, Jo"
"Anytime, Hope"
"Well, Lizzie will be here any minute, so I better get out of here."
"Okay, I'll talk to you tomorrow"
"Good night Josie"
"Good night Hope"
The tribrid left the room with a smile, which faded when she looked at Landon talking to the witch.
She just wanted to get to her room and sleep until this was all over.
The next day Hope was walking into the dining room when she was approached by Rafael.
"You need to talk to Landon" said the wolf.
"I don't think it's a good idea, Raf" Hope commented, continuing on her way.
"that's it?"
"what do you want me to do?" Hope asked confused, Landon had broken up with her, not the other way around. "Landon made it very clear that he no longer wanted to have anything to do with me, I'm not going to beg him"
There was more to consider now, she couldn't leave out Josie and the baby.
"Hope ..."
“Look Raf, I did what I could to protect Landon, I won't apologize for that. Lying to Landon was one of the most difficult things I had to do, but I did it for him, so he would not suffer” she clarified
There were only two memories that hurt more than the breakup with Landon: the death of his parents and the moment when Elena had told her that it was possible that neither Josie nor the baby would live. They were things she couldn't stop, but Landon was different. It was not something that could change, he had made the choice. He broke up with her and considering that he hadn't approached her since then, he was happy with his decision.
Unable to take any longer, she left the wolf alone in the hall.
Later she walks into Josie's room and knock on the door.
"Josie? Are you there?" she asks.
The brunette opened the door dressed in pyjamas.
"Were you asleep? It's 2 in the afternoon"
"I know what time it is Hope" she said hoarsely "Lizzie is gone, as well as her horrible perfume, which means I can sleep more without interruptions of sickness"
"I need to talk to you" commented the tribrid.
"Sure"
Josie stepped aside and let her pass. The brunette walked to the bed tiredly.
"you're good?"
Josie nodded wearily. She sat on the edge of the bed.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the party?"
"I’m not going"
"I thought you would take Lizzie's advice"
"I don't think it's a good idea" her words were tired as she looked down at the floor. Josie wanted to get close to her, but didn't know how. The tribrid had been for her in the doctor's office when she needed someone and now that she was the one who was suffering, she had no way of helping her.
"fair enough" said Josie
"I need you to come with me," Hope asked.
"Okay, just give me time to get ready"
"No hurry"
It was almost two hours after Josie was ready. Her movements felt slow and she was so tired that it was an effort to keep her eyes open. She saw the concern in Hope's eyes as she watched her every move.
"I'm fine Hope" she tries to reassure the auburn girl.
But Hope's concern grew when she noticed that she was paler than the last time she saw her. She took each step cautiously, as if she was in pain. She'd thought two days off would have made Josie a little stronger, but it hadn't. Now she was weaker than before.
"Josie, you're getting worse"
Josie sat next to her on the bed and sighed softly.
"I know, but aunt Elena warned that it wouldn’t be easy"
"When is your next appointment?" Hope asked when Josie got up to grab her jacket.
"Tuesday"
"I want to go with you"
"ok" Josie hid her relief at not having to go to the date alone, feeling more courageous at the thought of facing her test results with Hope there.
Hope was relieved that Josie let her accompany her, she opened the bedroom door and they went downstairs.
They passed through the main hall of the school, where the party was taking place. Hope paused for a moment watching Landon with Rafael and the girl she had seen her talk to him the last few days.
She saw Landon smile at the witch. Hope looked at Josie and took her hand, lacing her fingers with the younger girl.
This was the moment Josie wanted to avoid, to see her suffer and not be able to do anything to stop it. But she had chosen her side, and if that meant being there for her, then she would not prefer to be anywhere else.
"You know, you can go there and talk to him"
"No, I don't think I can do that" said Hope "the betrayals of the people we love, intentional or not, are the worst"
"who?"
"My father" Hope smiled sadly.
They both watched as Landon approached the girl and kissed her.
"Sorry, Hope. I know how much this hurts "
"It feels like my heart is breaking, but I guess it's my fault," she admitted with a sad laugh.
"love is difficult"
"It doesn't matter anymore, the only thing that matters now is you and the baby" said Hope.
"Hope, you’re part of this family and I want you to be happy," Josie tried to reason.
"I know, but Landon already made his choice and now I'm making mine" she looked into her friend's eyes "I think it's time to go"
"ok"
Hope took one last look at Landon and then left without looking back.