Secrets (Hosie)

It was the next day and just as they had suspected, school was closed due to the storm, which thankfully, was beginning to wind down and by that afternoon, was nothing more than wind and drizzling.

Josie couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t just a tad bit disappointed with school being closed that day. She was hoping to catch Hope at lunch and maybe begin a conversation.

Since she walked through her front door yesterday, she couldn’t get the other girl out of her thoughts, and it didn’t help that she had kept her hoodie. She was lucky she and Lizzie no longer shared a room because she would be completely embarrassed by the fact that she spent the night holding the piece of clothing close to her chest.

Her night, along with the calm morning she was having, soon took a turn when Lizzie announced that their friend group would be coming over for a movie night.

Josie was fine with the idea. She even baked cookies for everyone, but what she was really dreading was having to cuddle up with her boyfriend while their friends smiled at them and called them ‘cute’ and ‘perfect for each other’.

So there she was, situated in Landon's lap while he had his arm wrapped around her.

She should have been upset with him for how he had left her yesterday, but she honestly couldn’t be happier because it had allowed her to share a moment with Hope. A moment where Hope actually spoke to her. So was she really that upset with him? No. No, she was not.

“Hey, do you want to go upstairs for a bit?” Landon whispered to her. He always did this. Whenever they had a movie night with the group, he would try to sneak away and get some ‘alone time’, which usually consisted of him shoving his tongue down her throat while he placed her hand on his hard-on, and she pretended like she didn’t feel like throwing up.

All eyes were on them so she put on her best act, as she usually did, and nodded. She led them upstairs to her room, where he did exactly what he always did. He grabbed her too roughly by the waist and kissed her too sloppily. He sat down on her bed and brought her to his lap, and she pretended she loved it.

It was moments like these that Josie would remember what she had been put through in middle school. She would remember all the names and the dirty looks she would receive. And when she remembered her time at middle school, she would be reminded of why she was doing this. Why she was pretending to be in love with Landon, and why she couldn’t be who she truly was.

But when Landon began to move his hands higher along her thighs, she stopped him. She never allowed him to go that far. She didn’t want her first time doing something intimate to be pretend. She wanted it with someone she genuinely loved and connected with. That was the one thing she refused to fake.

He sighed as he often did and said to her the same line he had said all the other times she stopped him. “Could you at least help me out a little?” He asked her, motioning to the bulge in his pants.

And she always did because she couldn’t afford Landon leaving her. She couldn’t afford to lose the thing keeping people from finding out the truth.

So that night when everyone was gone, she cried herself to sleep, as she always did when she had to do something with Landon. But tonight was different from the other nights; that night she had Hope’s hoodie to cling to, and it gave her comfort knowing that maybe one day, she wouldn’t have to hide who she really was.

—-----

The next day, Josie woke up more ecstatic than she ever had. Sure, she was always looking forward to her lunch period, but today she had high expectations. She was going to start a conversation with Hope, and she decided that today would be the start of their friendship.

So she ran to the field like she usually did, except when she reached her spot—their spot— the blue-eyed beauty was not there.

She figured it was odd, considering Hope was always there before her. So she waited. And when she continued waiting for the rest of her lunch period, she let out a big sigh when she realized the other girl was not going to join her that day.

Josie welcomed the disappointment, and the next day, when Hope didn’t show up once more, that evening she found herself with her twin and her best friend, and they could tell something was on her mind.

“Jo? Did you hear what I just said?” Lizzie tapped her with her pen. Considering all three of them share the same math class, they would often study together, but right now, Josie’s mind was far from the work in front of her.

“Something wrong, Jo?” Her best friend asked in a softer town. “Is it Landon?”

Josie has to physically fight the urge to roll her eyes at the mention of the boy. Josie knew she couldn’t open up to them about Hope—not that there was much to open about in the first place, but she knew that she could work her way around what she truly had to say.

“I met someone.” She starts, and already she notices how their facial expressions change. “Like a friend. And well, they helped me with something recently, but now I feel like they’re avoiding me. I don’t know what to do.” She lets out, hoping they can advise without pressing too many details.

“What friend?” Lizzie immediately asks, and Josie internally groans, knowing she should have expected her sister to question her.

“That’s not important.”

“But it is. You know it is.” Lizzie gives her a pointed look, which MG doesn’t catch.

“I’m glad you’re making new friends, Jo.” He smiles at her, knowing how hard it was for her to connect with others at times. “I think maybe check in on them.” He offers. “If they helped you, why would they avoid you right after? Maybe something is going on.”

“I think that clearly whoever your new ‘friend’ is, is a weirdo,” Lizzie remarks. “Maybe you should reconsider the friendship.” She says.

Josie huffs and excuses herself from the room. She knew why Lizzie was the way that she was, but it still hurt every time she saw her sister like this. Lizzie used to be so kind and loving, and not to say that she wasn’t now, but she changed and only showed that part of herself when the twins were alone, which was now almost never.

Josie spent that night thinking over what MG said and realized he had a point. Hope helped her; why would she just avoid the brunette like that afterwards? It made no sense. So Josie decided that if she didn’t see Hope that Friday at lunch, she would find her, herself.

Hope didn’t show up once more. Josie didn’t share any classes with the older girl, but with popularity and her charm came a certain power, so with a few questions to a few of the younger classmen, Josie was able to find out Hope’s schedule for that day.

Now she knew she seemed like a stalker, but she didn’t care. She stood outside some of Hope’s classes, making her late to her own, but the girl wasn’t in any one of them.

Hope had art last period, and Josie knew that if the girl wasn’t there, then she wasn’t at school at all.

And she was proven right. Hope Mikaelson was not at school that Friday, and it turns out, she hadn’t been at school all week since Monday.

—-----

"MG, slow down!” Josie laughed. It was Saturday, and she was finally getting best-friend time with MG.

“Come on! They have the new Batman issue!” He runs into the store, and for the next two hours, they divide their time talking about comics, reading them, looking at the records, and having the same fun they used to have before he and Lizzie started dating.

They finally make their way to the Grill, and MG goes to the back and quickly fixes them up two milkshakes. Josie waits for him at the tables outside.

She sends Landon a quick text, letting him know that she’ll be at his band practice with their friends later on when out of the corner of her eye she catches sight of auburn hair.

What alarms her, though, is that Hope is walking out of the local clinic with her wrist in a cast.

“Here you go! Served with lots of love.” MG beams at her as he brings her the milkshake. She smiles at him, and they make their way to a park bench. Josie is trying to focus on whatever it is that MG is saying, but she can’t help but let her mind wander back to the blue-eyed beauty.

What the hell happened to her wrist?

She can’t shake the thought, but she tries her best to because this is supposed to be special time with MG. The time she never gets anymore and the time she’ll be wishing she spent more of enjoying later that night when she gets to Landon’s.

She and MG spend the rest of their afternoon catching up on the things they’ve missed (which is more of MG talking and Josie listening). One thing they spend a particular amount of time discussing is her and Landon’s relationship.

“So, have you guys taken the next step yet?” He asks her, and she can’t help the cringe that spreads through her face. “Damn! That bad, huh?” He laughs.

What she loved most about her friendship with MG was that they could talk about anything and everything and there would be zero judgment, and on top of that, MG understood things without her having to go so in-depth about them. He understood her.

"No, it’s just." She sighs. “How fucked up is it to say I just don’t want it with him?” She quickly lets out.

“Well, not that fucked up. Not everyone likes the sexual aspect of relationships, and that's okay.” He offers, assuming it was that she didn’t want to do anything sexual at all.

"Okay, but I want those things; I’m just not sure I want them... with him.” She trails off. She had to open up to someone, and MG never pressed more than what she was willing to say. He was ready with solutions no matter what.

“Do you want to break up with him?”

“No!” She answered too quickly. She knew, as much as she didn’t love him, she couldn’t lose him. Landon was the key to no one finding out.

“I think maybe you guys just aren’t at that level, and that’s cool. You won’t believe how long it took me and Lizzie to get to that step. Well, actually, it wasn’t that long.” He winks.

“Ew. Gross!” She laughs. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we just need time.”

She knew that wasn’t it. She knew she didn’t need more time with Landon, but what other choice was there?

—-----

Speaking of Landon, his band was actually pretty good— that much, Josie could admit.

That night their practice consisted of just their closest friends, and with MG and Lizzie reunited, Josie was left to fend for herself against their group.

Usually, if it was just MG and Lizzie, they would be too preoccupied with themselves to pay attention to Josie, but now once more, with the rest of the group around, Josie had to play the role of the loving and supportive girlfriend.

“Aw, look at how she looks at him!” Jed would tease her. She wanted to roll her eyes, but she knew she couldn’t. She had to smile and look down as if she were hiding her nonexistent blush.

Luckily, before the teasing could continue, Maya rushes back into the garage with her phone tight in her grasp. “Guys! Did you see? Hope Mikaelson got into a fight!” She catches everyone’s attention, and more importantly, Josie’s.

“What?” They all gasp.

“Yeah! Look!” She shines the phone at the group, and Landon and his band remove themselves from their instruments and make their way over. Josie tries to not show so much interest, but it becomes difficult when she sees a news article with Hope’s face on the cover.

“It says an interviewer was on their way to meet with her aunt when Hope punched him in the face. He tried to defend himself, but she kicked him out. It says she sprained her wrist.”

“No way!” MG gasps.

“Of course.” Lizzie rolls her eyes. “That girl has been nothing but trouble since her parents died. You would think since her family stayed in office that it would keep her in check.”

Unfortunately, the spotlight never left Hope. When her parents died, her aunt Freya took over as state Governor, and with their family’s continuous influence and wealth, it didn’t look like she would be escaping it any time soon.

As Maya scrolled through the article, more pictures of Hope appeared. One in particular was taken this afternoon, exactly where Josie had seen her: leaving the clinic with her wrist wrapped up

“Well, there had to be a good reason for her to hit him.” Josie spurs out subconsciously. She had meant to keep that thought inside, and when everyone goes silent and turns to her, she really wishes she kept the thought inside.

“Please.” Lizzie starts, “That girl has serious issues. What a nobody.” She scoffs.

Josie hears the group hum in agreement and fights the urge to protest once more. When she feels Landon wrap his arms around her torso, she nearly loses it.

“What kind of loser would punch the only person giving her attention?” Jade jokes.

The kind who had a good reason for doing so.

Josie thinks to herself, and it is with that thought that she makes her decision:

Tomorrow afternoon she is going to go see Hope Mikaelson.

—-----

Josie was a nervous wreck. She had spent the whole night planning how she was going to go through with this. Knowing where to go was the easy part. The Mikaelson residence was the most known place in Mystic Falls. It was the biggest house with the most land, and it was extremely private. It was grand and grey and had large black gates, with a water fountain out front and signs that said: “Ring the Buzzer for Governor.”

The hard part was actually getting up and going to the house. She figured she could use the hoodie Hope gave her as an excuse for why she was going to see her (although it saddened her to have to give the piece of clothing back to the older girl). But she was struggling most with finding the right words.

She had asked her father that night if she could borrow his car, and when he agreed, she ended up spending the night imagining scenarios of what would happen when she got there.

She had hoped that she wouldn’t look crazy, showing up to the girls' house unannounced, but she knew deep down it seemed like stalker behavior.

So when she finally mustered up enough courage to drive up to the Mikaelson residence, she froze outside of the gate, which had been left open slightly. She sees two black cars out front and one red one.

They really are rich.

She thinks to herself. And then, when she continues to scan the front, her eyes finally land on Hope’s car. The sight alone brings butterflies to her stomach as she remembers the day of the storm.

She takes a deep breath and says ‘fuck it’ and decides she’ll walk up to the house instead.

She’s careful with the gate, silently hoping there isn’t an alarm system in place, and when she makes it through, she looks back at the gate and realizes there’s no going back.

When she walks up the steps and reaches the front doors, she panics. She looks down at the hoodie in her hands, and she sees how much her hands are shaking. She counts to ten and brings her hand up to ring the bell when she hears a voice from the inside.

“Yeah! I think I left it in Freya’s car! I’ll go check!” The voice yells out, and without any warning, the front doors both swing open, revealing beautiful dark skin and a gorgeous smile.

“Oh!” The girl inside is caught off guard but still manages to send Josie a soft smile, almost as if she recognizes her…

“Hi,” Josie whispers, slightly shaken up by the unexpected face. "I'm, uh, I’m looking for H-hope. Is she, um, is she here?” She stutters.

"Well, this is where she lives.” The girl laughs. Her accent catches Josie by surprise, but she can’t help but feel herself relax slightly at the girl's tone. “Who’s asking?” She says suddenly.

“Oh, I’m Josie. Josie Saltzman. I just came to return this.” She says, showing off the sweater in her hands. “And I was just wondering if she was alright. I hadn’t seen her all week at school so you know…” She trails off, not really knowing what else to say.

“So you are Josie. Nice to put a name to a face... properly." The other girl whispers.

Josie’s confused by that but doesn’t get to ask questions before another voice comes from inside the house.

“Cleo! What’s taking so-” Hope is cut off when she sees Josie standing there at the door.

“You have a visitor.” The girl who Josie now knows as Cleo says, quickly going back inside and shutting the doors to give them space.

“What’re you doing here?” Hope asks her aggressively. “Why are you at my house?”

Josie is taken aback by the older girl's tone.

“I asked you a question.” She speaks up again.

“I wanted to return this.” Josie finally says, holding out the hoodie. “And to know if you were okay.” She whispers, looking down at Hope’s wrist.

“I forgot I even gave this to you.”

That hits Josie like a punch to the gut.

“You returned it. You can leave now.” She says taking the hoodie back.

“Wait!” Josie calls out before the girl can turn away. “Your wrist. Are you okay?”

“I said you can leave!” Hope yells. “Look, I don’t know what you thought was going to happen after I gave you a ride home last week, but whatever thoughts you had, they won’t be happening. We’re not friends. I don’t know you and I don’t care to know you.” She seethes.

Ouch.

Josie is at a loss for words, not expecting the girl to react like this at all.

“Go home before I call the cops. Don’t try this again.” Is all she’s left with as the older girl opens the doors and doesn’t turn back.

Josie feels the tears stream down her face and she mentally curses at herself as she makes her way back to her car. Once she gets in, she drives a couple of blocks away and lets herself cry.

How could I be so stupid to think that anything was going to happen?

She thinks to herself, and when she finishes crying, she texts her boyfriend. She texts him so that they can go hang out and make out and so she can get a clear reality check of who she’s supposed to be and who she’s supposed to truly want.

—---------