Pay Attention
Josie was exhausted, she had been up all night studying for finals but also doing some studying of her own. She needed answers about what happened between her and Hope, answers to why Hope bit her. To why there was no mark on her neck the next day when she was certain Hope punctured her skin. Why did Hope's wolf take over before that? Josie knew it meant something but she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad. If she could not find answers by tomorrow she would call her mother to ask, or ask her father. Of course, she would tell them she needed this information for her English class research report.
Josie sat on her bed, letting her thoughts of Hope consume her. She needed to get her crush for the tribrid under control. Josie knew that with Landon in the way Hope would never look her way. No one was ever truly interested in her until Penelope but she left. Josie was pulled away from going into any darker thought when Lizzie entered their room.
Josie was going to ask Lizzie if she had any plans, however, Lizzie informed her she was on her way out with MG. They were going to see a movie. The school was having a movie night, they were showing Frozen. Josie let her blonde twin know she was not going to the movie night. After a short conversation, they both said goodbye. Josie was not in the mood to be around people all she wanted was some cookies-and-cream ice cream with whip cream on it.
The siphon witch debated about getting up and going to get her craving but it looked like the universe was saving her from having to get up. Josie smiled when she saw Hope.
"I saw that you weren't at the movie, I thought you might like some company." Josie gave her a nod. "I brought ice cream with whip cream." Josie couldn't help the smile that slipped across her face. She paid close attention to the tribrid as she made her way to sit on her bed.
The two teenage girls talked about anything and everything. They avoided talking about the reason Hope was there. Hope really wanted to tell Josie. A part of Hope, however, feared that when she told the siphon witch she was pregnant she would lose her best friend. Eventually, Hope was able to build up the courage she needs to begin the conversation she really wanted.
The conversation defiantly did not go as she was planning. She was hoping to tell Josie about being pregnant without any interruption but Landon interrupted them when he came looking for Hope.
"So how'd it go?" Landon questioned with a smile. "How does Josie feel about being a godmother/aunt?"
Josie felt her heart physically break if it was possible. At this moment, it felt really possible. Hope was having a child with Landon, and she knew Hope. Hope would never bail on her child considering her past.
"You're pregnant?" Josie managed to spit out.
"Yeah, she is." Josie would be lying if she said she didn't want to smack the smile away from Landon's face. "At first she didn't want to have the baby but after a three-hour conversation I convinced her otherwise."
Josie watched silently as Hope got up from her bed and went to talk with Landon. Josie let Hope know that it was okay. That she should leave and talk with Landon. The siphon witch gave the tribrid a nob when she assures her she would be back to have a proper conversation. Josie was too tired to let her mind run free, she decided it would be best if she took a nap.
~~~~
Josie spent the following month being the supportive friend she was. She went with Hope to doctor's appointments when Landon couldn't go due to him being with Raf who was in emotional distress. Josie like always accepted when Hope asked her to tag along.
Josie chuckled when Hope complained that she looked fat in the clothes she had tired on. "Hope you look beautiful," Josie assure her, but her words fell on deaf ears. Josie watched helplessly as Hope made her way into the dressing room once again. Josie sat through seven more outfits until Hope agreed she looked good in them.
Before heading back to school they got themselves a milkshake. The milkshake was their encouragement to walk back to school. During their walk Hope broke the news to Josie, there was a good possibility she might be moving out of school and into an apartment. Hope wanted Josie to voice an opinion or let her know if she was hurt, instead, Josie just smiled and took a hold of her hand.
"You gonna be a great mom." Hope was confused at her friend's words.
"Excuse me?"
"Besides mumbling about having to possibly move out, you have voiced multiple times about being scared to fail your baby. Hope you love them and yes at first you were uncertain but I know you will love them and be a great mother." Hope smiled at the kind words. She took her free hand and took ahold of Josie's.
Hope wasn't sure of many things since se found out about her pregnancy. At some times she even doubted Landon's interest in the child. She even doubted some of her friends before she told them she was pregnant. She thought she would lose them. The one thing she was certain of was that she was not going to lose Josie Saltzman, she knew the girl would always be on her side and never abandon her.
~~~~
Josie had been to focus on herself to be paying attention to herself or her body. Josie knew that at least for today for a couple of hours she had to pay attention to herself. She needed to listen to her body, she had been feeling out of wack and didn't know why. Josie was eating everything she could get her hands on, her moods were getting a bit out of hand, and to make her feel more emotional her favorite pair of jeans did not close.
Josie could feel the tears, running down her face. She knew she should not be crying but something about not being able to squeeze into those black jeans seemed unfair to her. Josie's attention was caught when she hears the door open. She thought it was Lizzie so she did not bother to turn around.
"Josie?" The siphon witch turned around. She was surprised to see the blonde vampire. "Your father told me I could find you here."
"Jade." Josie made her way to the vampire and hugged her. She was glad to see her, "What can I help you with."
"I wanted to check up on you considering, the person you deeply care about is having a baby." Jade and Josie ran into each other multiple times when Josie snuck out for night walks. Jade would walk with her and they talked. During one of there conversations, Josie mentioned having a crush on Hope.
"I'm doing okay. I'm just sad my jeans don't fit." Josie lifted her shirt and showed Jade the unbuttoned jeans.
Josie was a bit surprised when she saw Jade used her super speed to get the door closed and stand right next to her. She was going to ask what was happening but Jade shushed her. Josie watched carefully as Jade placed her hand on her waist and pulled Josie closer until her head rested gently on her stomach.
"Jade?"
"Josie you're pregnant."
"Not possible." Josie chuckled and shook her head no.
"You are. I can hear the heartbeat. When you next to Hope you can't tell. Every vampire can hear the baby's heartbeat and you're always next to her. Your baby and hers' heart beat at the same time."
Josie focused on Jade trying to see if Jade was lying but she couldn't find anything. Josie took Jade's hand and helped her up. She trusted Jade. Yes, when they ran into each other again Jade was a bit of an asshole but the girl made up for it.
"I need to take a pregnancy test."
"I'll be back in three seconds." Josie chuckled, she did not want to cry. If she really was pregnant that meant her child and Hope's would be siblings. Not just that she would be tied to Landon for life and she did not want that. "Here." Josie thanked Jade and took the small box from her hand.
Josie walked out of her bathroom and sat next to Jade on her bed. She has to wait three minutes to find out if what Jade was already certain of. Josie sat in her thoughts, how was she going to tell Hope this. Then she remembered how open Hope had been with her concern and the times where Hope mentioned Landon barely having enough time to be there and Josie knew she could not tell them. She needed to ensure that Hope and her child were okay.
When the time was up Josie went over to her bathroom to look at the test. A part of her was happy about the result but the other part was terrified. Josie before even knowing the results knew that she was signing up to be a single mother. Josie looked over at Jade and nodded.
"So what do you want to do?"
"I want to have my baby but I can't stay here."
"Then let me take you away." Jade offered.
"To where?"
"I have some friends in California. I can have an apartment ready for us. You won't be alone. I'll be your side if you let me."
Josie gave Jade an okay. They agreed that they would leave in two days, which gave Josie little time to make an emergency go-bag. Enough time to slip a goodbye to Hope without actually telling her she was leaving.