Find My Way Back
Josie paced up and down her room, unable to shake off the nervousness that was eating her up as the time for Hope to pick her up approached. She was a little grateful that Lizzie wasn't there to watch her collapse.
As much as she had downplayed it in front of Lizzie when she told her about her plans for today over breakfast, she couldn't deny how excited she was. Hope was the first person to suggest celebrating the fact that she had been chosen by the witches to represent them on the honour council. Not that she didn't know enough people or didn't have friends, but after her break up with Penelope she had isolated herself from people and now ...
There was no one.
Her mother, after texting her about this new achievement, returned her call three days later with a brief congratulation. Her father had only given her a smile and a little pat on the shoulder and then ran to do god knows what. And then there was Lizzie.
Sighing, she sat on the bed, the excitement fading at the thought of her sister. At first she didn't say anything, but after a few days, she was looking at her in a strange way that she couldn't understand.
"Ready for your surprise, Josie?" Hope asked, opening the door without knocking. Her smile faded when she found her sitting on the bed with her head bowed. Without thinking, she leaned in front of her and took her hands, rubbing them with her thumbs. "you're good?"
Surprised by her sudden appearance, Josie looked down at her hands, wondering why just the touch of her skin on hers felt so comforting. Then she shook her head and stepped back to her feet.
"Nothing, I guess I was lost in my thoughts"
Hope frowned as she got up, knowing there was more to it than that. But she reminded herself that she still had no right to pressure the brunette. Instead, it reminded her of her plans for the day.
"so. Are you ready to go? "
Josie nodded, the excitement coming back to her.
"Yes, just let me take my jacket"
They walked through the crowded hallways of the school, it was Saturday and all the students were outside, they went through the crowd in the hallways to Bentley parked in front of the entrance. Hope surprised her once more by opening the door for her.
She smiled as she got into the car.
"So what exactly does this celebration you have planned entail?"
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you," Hope commented as she closed the door.
Josie watched her walk to the other side and slide behind the wheel, a smile on her face.
" and why not?"
“Because that would ruin the surprise. then I guess you'll have to wait and see "
Josie made a small groan and leaned back against the seat, but a small smile pulled from her lips. It was the first time anyone had done something like this for her and the fact that Hope was the first made her feel special.
They drove away from Mystic Falls, Josie had no idea where Hope was taking her until an hour later she could see the beach.
"Did you bring me to the beach?"
Hope laughed as she paid for the engine.
"I think it's pretty obvious, but yeah" joked the auburn girl.
Josie gave her a smile as she unbuckled her seat belt and ran out to sea.
Hope smiled as she saw the brunette take off her shoes to put her feet in the water. she takes the picnic basket from the car and walk over to the brunette, who returned to her.
The tribrid took out a blanket and spread it while Josie took out the food.
"So a picnic on the beach?"
"I think the event deserved better than the old mill or the woods near the school," she shrugged, dismissing it.
Her words took her by surprise, the brunette looked at her for a few moments before looking for a distraction from this new side of Hope Mikaelson. She quickly scooped the rest of the food out of the basket, grabbed the last of it, and frowned as it crumpled under her fingers.
"what is this?" asked the brunette looking at a small rolled paper tied with a yellow ribbon.
Hope handed her a plate with a vegetarian sandwich in front of the brunette.
"Your congratulations’ gift"
Josie had thought the trip to the beach and the picnic was her gift. It couldn't weigh on better than this day.
"So what does all this mean?" she asked as she pointed around her confused.
"An excuse to spend time with you" Josie saw the warring emotions in the tribrid’s blue eyes, she poured them both a glass of orange juice and nodded towards her gift " let's open it”
Josie impatiently undid the ribbon knot, to reveal a highly detailed drawing of her at a school assembly.
Stunned, her fingers ran over her perfectly drawn face.
"Hope ..."
"I hope you like it"
"I don't know what to say, thank you"
Then she notices, the words at the bottom. Just the beginning.
"The drawing is from your first assembly as a representative of the witches" Hope explained in a low voice "you did great and I know that this will only be the beginning, because I know you will achieve even better things"
Josie tilted her head, her hair obscuring her face. Josie said nothing and Hope walked over to her thinking that maybe she had made a mistake.
"Josie?" A drop fell on the drawing and she used her finger to lift the brunette's chin. Her eyes were shining with tears "hey I'm sorry I ..."
The brunette shook her head, stopping her words. She pursed her lips, trying to control the tears that still wanted to flow, needing the tribrid to know what this meant to her. "thanks for believing in me"
Hope brushed her hair out of her face and stroked her cheek with her fingers.
"Trust me, the world is going to remember Josie Saltzman"
There was so much more she wanted to tell her, how special she knew she was and how, if she left her, she would spend the rest of her life making sure she never doubted it again. But she didn't want to push, so she stepped back, giving her a way out.
"I guess we should start eating, before the ants take it away"
Josie smiled, her eyes still wet, and nodded.
They were both careful to keep the conversation easy, and the rest of the picnic passed quickly as they talked. When they finished, the twilight was erasing the last traces of the setting sun. Together they packed everything and Hope carried the basket back to the car, while Josie hugged herself.
Later Hope parked her car in the school garage and they went out. They walked towards the school. Josie was still looking at her and Hope could tell she was getting ready to say something to her. She hoped she hadn't gone too far today and that Josie didn't walk away from her.
Josie stopped in front of her room door. She took a deep breath and turned to the girl who was waiting beside her.
“Hope, today was amazing. The trip to the beach, the picnic and the drawing. Well, not just today. You're a good friend, probably the best I've ever had, but all this feels like… more than friendship"
A part of Josie couldn't really believe what she'd said, that she could ever get to this point with Hope Mikaelson of all people. But, standing in the empty corridor, she was nothing like the girl she had met years before and more like the girl she spent with today. And it was hard to admit, even to herself, how easy she could fall in love with the girl in front of her if she wasn't careful.
Her face was anxious, but Hope couldn't tell what response she expected. She realized that this was her chance. She took a step closer.
"it is"
Josie tried to swallow, her heart pounding so hard she was sure Hope could hear it under her skin.
"Hope the last few weeks have been unexpected" She looks away and she reached out to touch the tribrid's arm "and great, but I've never been good with triangles, even if it's with a memory"
A frustrated Hope ran a hand through her hair.
“Josie, Landon has nothing to do with this, I swear. It's about me and you "
The brunette's smile was sad and incredulous.
"I know what you think, Hope, but ..."
"No" she interrupted. She wouldn't lose her to the ghost of a relationship that had ended long before she could admit it “that's what I know it is. Give me a chance to prove it to you so that you’ll know it, too "
Josie leaned against the wall, wanting to believe her.
"how?"
The tribrid smiled.
"Well, we could start by going to the festival in town together"
Josie wrinkled her nose.
"I don’t know"
Hope put her hand against the wall beside her head and watched her eyes widen as she leaned in until their bodies were almost touching.
"Come on, it'll be fun" she said quietly.
Josie tried to ignore the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
"okay. I’ll go with you"
Hope smiled, taking a few steps back, ready to go back to her room.
"Hope!" called Josie.
She look at her.
Josie held up the drawing.
"It's a great drawing" she said with a shy smile on her lips.
"Well, I had an incredible muse" she smiled back at her. "Good night, Josie"
"Good night, Hope"
Josie watched her go, as she bit her lip and looked back at the drawing.