Chapter 1
“Jo, wait up!” Her best friend MG calls from down the hall.
MG was the first person in Mystic Falls to welcome the twins with open arms. He was working at the Mystic Grill at the time, and he offered to show them around. He had made them milkshakes and introduced them to his friends. He helped them have the best summer before high school, and it was then that, at just fourteen years old, MG managed to leave a lasting impression on Josie and soon became the person she trusted most besides her twin.
“Hey, MG.” She smiled at him, happy to see him after not seeing him this morning in their science class. “What’s up?”
“We’re thinking of going to the Grill this afternoon after school. Are you coming with?” He asks.
“I don’t know MG.” She says, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Josie. Come on, I thought you were cool with it.” He presses as they make a turn and walk towards her locker.
Josie knew part of Lizzie’s plan involved a perfect boyfriend; what she didn’t know was that Lizzie would end up choosing MG, practically stealing him from her.
Josie was happy for them; don’t get her wrong, she just hated how the one person she managed to get close to all on her own was no longer just hers. She had to share him with her twin.
They had gotten together over 8 months ago, but then things changed. MG started skipping some of his classes, the same classes he shared with Josie, to go hang out with Lizzie. He started spending time after school with her as well, taking her on dates or simply going off to do whatever it was they did together.
She knew MG and Lizzie didn’t leave her out on purpose. That they were just two teenagers in love, wanting to spend all their time together. She also knew they figured Josie was spending her time with her own boyfriend.
They couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I am cool with it. I just don’t want to feel like a third wheel again. I love you guys together. I just want my best friend and my sister sometimes. Not my sister and her boyfriend.” Josie quickly places her books in her locker and gives him a small smile, hoping he understands where she’s coming from.
“I understand.” He sighs. He pulls his best friend in for a hug and holds her tight. “How about this,” he starts as he pulls away from the embrace. “How about you and I go into town and head for the music and comic book store this Saturday? Afterwards, we could sit in the town square and catch up with milkshakes like we used to. What do you think?”
Josie’s eyes light up at the idea, and all of the fond memories of her and her best friend doing those exact plans over a hundred times flood through her. She smiles and brings him in for another hug.
“Yes! I would love that! I can’t wait.”
“Okay cool. I’m glad.” MG returns the bright smile, and they begin to make their way towards Josie’s art class. They fall into easy conversation until Josie realizes something.
“Wait, if you guys are going out today. Who’s going to drive me home?” She asks.
MG would pick the twins up every morning in his blue pickup truck and give them a lift home. The twins knew how to drive but couldn’t afford a car of their own, so MG was their best option.
He wasn’t Josie’s only option, though.
Whenever he and Lizzie would disappear after school, Josie would have no choice but to ask Landon for a ride. Not that he minded; he took it as his ‘job’ as Josie’s boyfriend.
Josie hated it. She would never openly admit it, but she disliked the alone time she would get with her boyfriend. It always felt a bit awkward. Sure, they had things in common and could start up a conversation easily, but it never felt natural. Nothing between them felt natural. At least not to Josie. Whenever they held hands, kissed, or even called each other different pet names, it never felt right. It just felt like what they were supposed to do. It was never what she wanted to do.
Landon was a nice guy; Josie could admit that. He had his boyish charm and was a smart and talented person. He had dark curls and beautiful eyes, and what Josie wouldn’t admit was that his eyes could never compare to those of Hope Mikaelson.
Landon was in a band. He played lead guitar and would often sing. His band would meet up three days a week after school in the music room to practice covers and original songs. They would play every Saturday in his garage or at whatever party was being held, and Josie would have to stand front and center, singing along and cheering him on.
She hated that too.
“Oh shit. You’re right.” MG shakes his head as he feels slightly embarrassed at having forgotten that detail once again. “Landon could take you home. Right?” He asks her.
They made their way in front of her class and stepped to the side to finish their conversation and wait for the bell to ring. Considering MG isn’t racing to his next class, it’s safe to assume he’ll be skipping this period as well.
“He has practice today. I’ll have to wait around for him to finish up.” Josie sighs. She takes note of MG's worried face and quickly adds, “But it’s okay. I’ll just head to the library and start on my economics project. No worries.” She assures him. Josie was always very attentive when it came to the feelings of others; she knew the boy felt bad; she’d never want to make him feel worse.
So there she was, after school, in the library waiting for Landon to finish his band practice. She had sent him a text during her class earlier to ask if he could give her a lift, and in just seconds, he agreed and claimed to be excited to see her, to which she simply replied with "same.”
She sighs and takes a look outside the window to her left and sees the grey clouds that had started to form during her lunch were darker now, and soon thunder could be heard.
She checks her phone, hoping Landon has finished for the day so she can just get home already, but nothing. Not a single text yet.
Another thirty minutes pass and rain begins to hit against the library windows. Outside is dark now, considering the colder months bring darker evenings.
Josie had finished her homework nearly fifteen minutes ago, and the only thing keeping her in the library was her boyfriend, who, as soon as she stood up from her seat, decided to finally text her.
Landon: Hey Jo, sorry but I had to head home early. I hope you can find another ride home. See you tomorrow!
“You have got to be kidding me.” She groans as she packs her things. Landon was many things. Unreliable is the first word Josie would use to describe him at this moment.
She makes her way to the front doors of the school and pauses to take a look at the ugly weather. The rain was coming down a lot harder, and thunder and lightning spread through the dark sky.
“Unbelievable.” She groans as she pulls her hood over her head and braces herself to step outside. As soon as she steps outside, the cool air has grown vicious, and she has to steady herself as she gets drenched within seconds.
Josie makes it a total of four blocks from the school before thunder rumbles once more, scaring her into taking a pause. “This is ridiculous. I can do this. I can do this.” She urges herself.
She waits for the lightning to calm down before continuing her walk. This time she makes it five more blocks before she sees a black car slowly pull up beside her. She watches as it seems to be following her, and she feels fear spread through her when the driver honks at her.
Josie knows better. She knows to keep walking and even speed up, nearing a sprint. But the car doesn’t let up. It isn’t until she’s at the next block that the car comes to a full stop and the driver’s door swings open.
“Josie?” The driver's voice comes out low, a little hard to hear considering the tremendous amount of rain and thunder. Josie doesn’t recognize the voice, but this person knows who she is, so she turns around, and when she does, she’s taken aback.
“H-hope?” She stutters, not sure if she’s seeing things. Hope Mikaelson just spoke to her.
Hope Mikaelson knows her name.
“What are you doing out here? There’s a storm; you shouldn’t be walking in this weather.” Hope says, getting closer to the brunette.
Hope Mikaelson cares about her.
The thought alone makes Josie weak in the knees.
“Oh. Um, it’s okay. I didn’t have a ride, so I figured I’d just walk home.” She says awkwardly. “But I’m almost there.” She lies to the older girl.
Hope isn’t buying it. She makes her way around her car to the passenger seat and pulls it open. “Get in. I’ll take you home.” Is all she says.
Josie couldn’t believe it. Hope Mikaelson was offering her a ride home. She had purposely stepped out of her car and was getting drenched herself to offer Josie a ride.
“A-are you sure? I mean, it’s no problem really. I can just kee-”
“Josie. Please get in my car. I have to get home to start my homework.” Hope cuts her off.
Josie doesn’t say anything after that. She nods and makes her way into the passenger seat as Hope walks back to the driver's side.
“Here.” Hope hands her phone over. “Type in your address. You can put music on if you want. Or don’t. I don’t care.” She says.
Hope leans over and turns on the heat, which Josie is incredibly thankful for. She hadn’t realized how numb her hands and feet were until the warm air hit her.
She types her address in and hands the phone back to Hope. She decided not to put on any music as she felt herself growing a headache. Before Hope drives off, she reaches into her backseat and grabs one of her hoodies. “Put this on.” is the last thing she says to Josie before she drives off.
Josie doesn’t argue with her. She doesn’t say anything actually; she’s too caught up in her thoughts.
She would have never imagined Hope speaking to her. Sure, she had daydreamed about it, but realistically, she never thought it would happen. And not only is Hope speaking to her, Hope is driving her home. Hope gave her one of her hoodies to wear. Hope is caring for her.
They spend the car ride in silence. Each of the girls lost in their own thoughts. It isn’t until they’re in front of Josie’s house, nearly ten minutes later, that Hope speaks up once more. “We’re here.” She states the obvious.
Josie doesn’t move. She continues to look at her fingers and focus on not coming off as awkward as she knows she’s being.
“Thank you, Hope.” She whispers. She looks up, hoping to catch the auburn-haired girl's eyes, but all she’s met with is her side profile.
Hope can tell Josie is waiting for something—for anything really. She tries her best to keep her firm gaze on the road in front of her, but when she hears Josie sigh, she can’t help but speak up. “You shouldn’t have been out there.” She says in a rather harsh tone.
Josie stays silent. She nods and gets her bag from the floor. “Thanks again.” She says as she opens the door and walks to her house. She makes it to the front door and unlocks it, not once turning back. Not until she’s in the house. When she’s in the house, she looks through the small glass window of the door, and she sees Hope staring back at her.
Hope nods and slowly pulls off, leaving Josie staring at the empty street and smiling like an absolute idiot.
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