Surprise
"Is mom in New York?" Lizzie asked excitedly.
"Yes and she wants you to join her this week," Alaric explained to his daughters.
"all week?" Josie asked, she was dying to see her mother, but it felt a little bad to be separated from Hope.
"Come on, sister, I think you can be away from your puppy for a few days" the blonde smiled sweetly towards her sister.
"Lizzie ..." Josie warned with red cheeks.
"I already booked your tickets, it'll be out in a few hours so get ready," Alaric said without paying attention to Lizzie's teasing.
Both girls left their father's office, Lizzie practically ran towards some witches to show off her next trip to New York, leaving the brunette to walk alone to her room.
She felt like Lizzie was mad at her, but she still didn't know why, deep inside her she hoped this trip to see her mother would help with that.
When she got to her room she took out her suitcase and started packing, then she heard the sound of the door opening.
"Hey, I saw you come in so I decided to stop by and say hi ..." Hope stopped when she saw her pack. She tries to mask the unease with a joke. "I didn't know the idea of going out with me was scary enough to make you run away"
Josie smiled at her, it was a small smile, but it eased the agitation on her face and the worry inside her tribrid.
"Very funny, Hope"
She walked over to the brunette who was still putting clothes in the suitcase.
"Or is it just the idea of the festival that makes you run?"
"none. Mom is in New York and wants to see Lizzie and me” She explains.
"Oh, so it means the festival idea is cancelled"
Josie stopped packing and stood in front of the tribrid.
"If you think you're going to get out of this just because I'm going out of town for a few days, you're wrong"
A big smile appeared on Hope's face.
"So, are you going to return in time?"
The brunette nodded and bit her lip shyly.
" Will you miss me?"
Hope's eyes look into Josie's brown ones, she knew she should give her the light answer that the brunette expected, but she couldn't help but answer honestly.
"always"
Nervous, Josie looked back into those blue eyes and a shy smile appeared on her lips.
"I'll miss you too, Hope"
They looked at each other for a moment, until Josie's phone snapped them out of their trance. The brunette checked her phone.
"Dad saying that the car is in the entrance so that we can put the suitcases inside" She looks at Hope's sad smile "the sooner I go; the sooner I'll be back" she said closing the suitcase.
Josie was going to take her suitcase, but Hope stepped forward and took the suitcase for her. The brunette was surprised and then smiled at her.
"thanks"
They both left the room meeting the blonde at the door.
"Tell dad I'm coming down in a few secs, I'll pack quickly" the blonde said running inside.
"We'll wait at least an hour," Josie said to Hope, smiling.
The auburn girl carried the brunette's suitcase to the car and put it in the trunk.
"So, can I talk to you later?" Hope asked.
"I'll be waiting for it"
"I'm here, let's go" Lizzie said running with a suitcase.
“I thought it would take you longer to pack,” Josie said.
"We have magic sister, I used it" Lizzie said as if it were the obvious thing to do.
Josie looked at Hope and before she could convince herself otherwise, she leaned over to the tribrid and quickly kissed her cheek. Then she got in the car and waved goodbye.
Hope returned her goodbye, watching her leave and sighed hoping the days without Josie would pass quickly.
"I don't like New York," Josie's voice said over the phone.
"I'm sure it's not that bad, Jo" Hope could almost imagine the pout that the brunette was making "I thought you liked the city"
"I like Mystic Falls better"
"Broadway, Central Park, the metropolitan museum, the museum of modern art ... none of that compares to the Grill and the waterfalls" joked the tribrid.
"I know" the brunette continued the joke "so, how was your day?"
"I've had better," Hope said as she watched Maya argue with some wolves.
"What happens?"
Hope mentally went over the list of problems related to Maya.
"Maya decided that belonging to the school pack wasn’t for her, that submit to a man is very from the last century and it wouldn’t be very feminist of her and apparently she likes MG"
Josie couldn't stop the outburst of laughter.
"Josie, it's not funny."
"I'm sorry, Hope" she apologized, then ruined the effect by laughing again "I'll have to tell Lizzie to be alert"
When her only response was silence, she swallowed the rest of her laugh.
"She doesn't want to belong to the school pack, I don't see what the problem is?"
"Do you remember what happened to Rafael?" Hope reminded her.
"Oh right" Josie recalled "but now Rafa is in charge, I don't think he wants to hit Maya until she agrees to submit"
"True, but the other wolves could push," Hope said.
"Let's hope everything goes well" said Josie "so did all this happen in the 3 days I've been away?"
“This all happened in the morning” Hope corrected and sighed “just tell me you're going to be back in time for the festival. Maya's life may depend on it "
Josie's laugh filled her phone.
"If I have my way, I'll be back sooner than you think"
"Well, I guess I can keep dealing with Maya until you get back." She knew everything would be better if Josie were there. "I can't wait to see you again"
The tribrid heard Josie's voice soften.
"I can't wait to see you either, bye, Hope"
"Bye, Josie"
"Hey, I heard you complaining about me to your girlfriend" Maya said approaching Hope.
"I wasn't complaining," Hope said defensively. "And I'll go for a run, so don't get in trouble"
"Sure, boss"
Hope just rolled her eyes and walked toward the school exit, when she froze in the middle of the hall. Landon was entering the school, followed by Dr. Saltzman.
"Landon?"
He was standing in front of her, wearing a plaid shirt and his messy black hair looked more like a ghost from her past than the boy she had met. The tribrid shook its head, pulling away as she tried to understand what was happening. She had buried his body, he was dead.
Landon could see the confusion in her eyes and took a careful step forward, placing a hand gently against her face. It felt like a long time since he'd been this close to Hope.
Stunned, Hope could only stand there, feeling his touch against her skin, warm and real. He was alive. She spread her arms and hugged him.
Landon wrapped his arms around the auburn girl, feeling relieved. She still loved him, he could see it in her eyes. He had been so afraid that something would change during the time he was gone, but now he knew he didn't have to worry. They could finally be together.
Hope closed her eyes with a smile on her face. Fate had given her a second chance, erasing one of the marks on her soul. Landon wasn't dead, she no longer had to bear the blame for not saving him.
He hugged her tighter.
"I've waited for this for so long"
Josie walked briskly down the sidewalk, rushing her sister and mother.
“We already know you're in a hurry to see your dog, Jo. But you would mind walking slower. The plane isn't going to leave for a couple of hours more” Lizzie complained.
“Your sister is right, Josie. We can still check in and get something to eat at the airport” Caroline said.
The brunette just wanted to go home and surprise a beautiful tribrid who was waiting for her.