Chapter 7
“Session two-twenty-two. Seven-sixteen a.m. H. Mikaelson.” Dr. Saltzman reads aloud as he presses play on his tape recorder.
It was early that Saturday morning, much too early for their usual meeting, but since her new developments (however small they may be) with his daughter, Hope wanted to speed today up a bit.
“So, Hope, firstly, good morning.” He gives her a warm smile that always brings her just the tiniest bit of comfort.
He sits at his desk with the girl sitting on a brown leather couch across from him. His office has a warm feeling to it: brownwood floors, with high ceiling windows, and a good number of plants lining up against them.
“Morning,” Hope yawns. “Sorry for the early time switch. But hey, at least you’ll have the rest of your day free.” She offers.
Hope was the only client he saw on Saturdays. He kept this day reserved especially for her; no matter what time she needed him, he’d be available.
Alaric Saltzman was a father himself, and he couldn’t truly imagine the type of grief it must be like to lose not just one parent, but two at once. He couldn’t picture his own children going through it, so he makes it his priority to treat Hope like he would wish someone would treat his daughters should anything happen to him or Caroline.
“It’s no worries. You hungry?” He asks.
“Not really. I’ll probably stop at the Grill after this to grab something before I head home.” She tells him.
“Okay, good.” He smiles. “So, tell me, how have the last two weeks gone? And don’t spare any details.” He laughs.
She smiles awkwardly, trying to find the right words to summarize her two weeks. She figures she should focus on some highlights; he loved the highlights.
“Well, I got to see Cleo for a lot longer this month, and she might even come back next week for a couple of days since we have the week off.” She smiles. Cleo was always the most positive subject to bring up. The girl always emitted positivity even at the mere mention of her name.
“That’s great, Hope.” He says, writing down whatever he usually does. “Did you enjoy her visit?”
“Yeah. I always do.” She chuckles. “This time we were actually productive. I helped her study for her math exam, and she helped me finish some posters for the school.”
“What about your wrist, how’s it holding up?” He asks.
“It’s better. That stupid reporter.” She mumbles, causing Dr. Saltzman to laugh.
“It’s not funny. Freya thinks I should release a formal statement to the press about what I did.”
“And well? Are you going to?”
“Hell no.” She rolls her eyes. “He got what was coming to him.”
“Well, alright then.” He laughs, continuing to write on his notepad.
“Anything else you’d like to share?” He asks her.
“You know something, don’t you?” She lifts her brow. He has to know. He’s the twins’ father after all.
“Your car is the easiest to spot in this whole town, did you know that? Your car has been published nearly fifteen times in ‘Mystic Riders Magazine’.” He points out to her.
Hope’s car was one of her most prized possessions. It was originally her father’s. The shiny black and silver automobile was another passion her and her father bonded over, so when Hope became of driving age, Kol, who had taken care of it since Klaus’ passing, handed the keys over and she’s cherished it ever since.
Especially because of the fond memories the car holds of countless drives she would go on with her parents.
“I’m well aware. I see the photographers every other month camped outside of the school.” She responds. “Though, I’m not sure what that has to do with anything.”
“The Mikaelson Chariot. That’s what the magazine refers to it as.” He states another fact.
“What are you getting at?” She huffs, not enjoying his mind game.
“Imagine my surprise when I looked out of my bedroom window one afternoon, a very stormy afternoon at that, and spotted my daughter getting out of your car. Care to explain that?” He asks, putting his notepad down. It was clear this had been on his mind for a while.
“You know, I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to get this involved in my personal affairs.” She quips.
“I’m not interested as Josie’s father right now.” He tells her, though she knows that’s not entirely true. “I’m here as your therapist who just so happened to witness a moment that I believe needs to be talked about.” He says.
Hope had to admit: Alaric Saltzman had a way with his words.
Just like his daughter.
“I gave her a ride home.” She says simply.
“I see that.” He smiles. “I wasn’t aware you were friends with my dau— with Josie.” He cuts himself off, reminding himself of his own words.
Therapist first, concerned overprotective father second.
“We’re not.” She clarifies. She never agreed to a friendship. “I just saw her walking out in the rain. She looked like she could use the ride. That’s it.”
“That’s it?” He asks, knowing there had to have been more to the story.
“That’s it.”
—-----
That was, in fact, not ‘it’, as simply as Hope had put it. She kept thinking back to the younger girl, and she still hadn’t a clue why.
After her session with Dr. Saltzman, she did as she had told him, she went to the Grill to grab some food and head home.
Just as she was leaving the restaurant, she immediately bumped into a tall figure.
“Sorry.” They both say at once.
“You make it a habit to bump into people, Mikaelson?” The other person laughs.
“No, but I am thankful it’s you today, instead of your other half.” Hope smiles. When they finally straighten themselves out, their eye contact is intense.
It had been three days since they had last seen each other, not because of any avoidance, but because each had their own obligations to uphold.
“Same.” Josie smiles.
They both stand there, outside the restaurant, waiting for the other to say something.
“So…” They both start.
Hope laughs. “You first.”
“I was just going to ask, what are you doing here so early? It’s not even lunchtime yet.” The brown eyed girl asks, hoping her question doesn’t make Hope run away like before.
“Couldn’t sleep.” She lies. “Might as well make use of my time and get some breakfast.”
“Oh well, do you have any plans for today?” Josie asks, nervously fidgeting with her hands.
“Is this you asking me to hang out?” Hope smirks, secretly enjoying the sight of a nervous Josie Saltzman in front of her.
“Depends.” She hums. “Would that be something you’d be interested in?” She asks, trying her best for it to come out confidentially.
“Sure,” Hope says much too quickly, which surprises them both. “I mean, if that’s truly what you’re implying, of course.” She winks at the girl.
“Hmm, I think that is what I’m implying.” Josie smiles.
They move aside for an old woman and her granddaughter to make their way inside, and only then does Hope realize that the rest of the town is waking up and making their way outside.
“But uh, let’s get out of here. The town square gets really crowded at this time.” She says, thankful when Josie nods with no questions asked.
“My car is just over here, we can…” She trails off when she sees two news vans and four reporters camped out by her car. “Great.”
“Holy shit. I keep forgetting you’re like famous.” Josie laughs.
“Yeah, me too apparently.” The older girl groans, causing the younger one's laughter to continue. “Come on. Looks like we’re walking today. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” She smiles. Josie truthfully didn’t mind anything that had to do with Hope Mikaelson. This whole interaction so far has been a dream come true. “Where are we off to?”
“A place.” Hope mumbles as they weave through buildings and alleyways quickly.
“Very specific. Are you going to tell me where?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” She teases. “Don’t be worried.”
“I’m not,” Josie admits confidently, although the farther they walk, she starts to notice they’re going in the direction that leads to the woods on the other side of town. “Just want to make sure I’m not being kidnapped.”
“Not sure that applies here, Saltzman. You’re the one who wanted to hang out with me, remember?” Hope smirks at the girl as they reach the last blocks of the town square before making a left and reaching the start of the woods.
“Ah, right. So my kidnapping is my fault, then huh?”
“Not a kidnapping and well… you said it not me.” The older girl laughs. “Watch your feet. There are fallen branches everywhere.”
The two make their way through the woods in silence. Josie thinks about how she got so lucky, while also silencing her phone from endless texts from her sister and boyfriend, and Hope is too busy trying to make sure they don’t get lost.
The steady sounds of a river are faintly heard as they seem to be getting closer to their destination. “Just over here.” Hope calls over her shoulder, pointing to a small dock up ahead.
“Oh wow,” Josie says breathlessly, clearly taken aback by the scene. “This place is beautiful.”
“Peaceful too.” Hope smiles, walking over to the dock and taking a seat. “You coming, Saltzman?” She calls out to where the girl is standing, a couple of feet away.
Josie takes a deep breath and makes her way over. She sits next to the older girl, careful to keep a couple of inches from her. They both have their legs dangling over the edge of the dock and keep their hands on either side of themselves. Josie takes note of how close their hands are; how if Hope would just move hers three inches to the right, they would practically be holding hands.
Stop it. She thinks to herself. You can’t like her.
“I never knew this was here.” Josie breaks the silence first.
“Not many people do. Everyone likes to stick to the town square to hang out; I’ve always favored this place better.”
“I can see why. Do you come here often?” Josie asks, swinging her feet a bit.
“Not as often as I used to. I spend more time at home than anything.” She shrugs.
Josie tries her best to think of something to make sure the conversation stays continuous and flowing. She’s determined. She’s gotten this far with the Mikaelson girl, and she does not want to mess it up.
“I notice you sketch during our lunch,” She starts, hoping this topic isn’t too personal. “Do you do that in your free time at home?”
Hope smiles at the topic. “Yeah. I have an art studio at home. I spend most of the time there or in our gym.” She says.
“I didn’t picture you as a gym rat.”Josie jokes.
The older girl snorts, and Josie smiles victoriously at being able to make her laugh. “Not that kind of gym. I do mixed martial arts training. So we have some of that equipment in there.”
“So, is that how you injured your wrist? You were ‘unleashing the fury’ too much?” She smirks at the girl.
“You got jokes, huh, Saltzman?” Hope chuckles and shakes her head. “No, actually.” She looks down at her wrapped wrist. “There was an incident with a reporter a couple of weeks ago.”
Josie nods, remembering her friends showing her the news article.
“Yeah, well, he came to interview Freya at her home office, but he overstepped.” She mutters. “His questions were disrespectful and unprofessional. He kept asking about her and Keelins' relationship and other personal information, which wasn’t what he said he was coming over for.” Hope explains, clearly still upset from the incident.
“She tried to be polite. Freya is always too polite to people. I always tell her that’s her issue.” Hope stresses, causing the younger girl to laugh.
“Anyway, long story short, he wouldn’t leave. My Uncle Kol wasn’t home, and neither was Marcel, and well, Freya isn’t one to get physical, so I stepped in. I even warned him before I did anything. He was free to leave on his own accord, but he wouldn’t budge, so I forced him out.” She smirks slightly, cradling her wrist with her other hand.
“I got him out of the house but soon realized the bastard's face sprained my wrist.” She says as Josie laughs.
“His stupid face.” She says, to which Hope nods.
“We went to the clinic, and as you saw from earlier, the paparazzi won't quit with us. And the cherry on top of it all,” She sighs, rolling her eyes. “He spun it on me and made it seem like I did it unprovoked. Safe to say Freya got some pushback that day in the office.” She finishes.
“That must be hell, having to be in the spotlight like that.” Josie sympathizes. “Was she upset with you?”
Hope nods. “Yeah. She understood I was just trying to protect her, but this state already has more people against her than supporting her. She just doesn’t need any more bad press for our family, especially for me, considering I’m next in line.” She says.
“Next in line?” Josie asks curiously.
“Yeah. The Governor’s role here is passed down through the family. From my father, it was supposed to go to me, but well, you know.” Hope looks away at the mention of her father. “So then Freya took it up, and since I’m the next generation of the Mikaelson family, I’m supposed to become the next Governor.” She explains with a huff and an eye roll.
“You don’t seem too thrilled at the idea,” Josie notes, silently thanking whatever higher power that Hope is opening up to her without lashing out at her and running away.
“It’s not the most exciting thing in the world.” She points out. “I don’t want to be stuck in an office all day for a state that doesn’t even respect me.”
“What about the money, huh? That has to be a bonus.” Josie laughs lightly, and she’s glad when Hope returns the same laugh.
“Yeah, you’d think so. Our wealth is from our businesses around the world, not because we’re a political family in a small state.” She says. “That’s what I’d rather do, honestly. I love the business side of everything. I’d get to travel the world like my aunt and uncles do, and I’d even get to focus on my art and turn it into a business of my own.” She smiles, thinking about the dream she’s had since she was a little girl.
“You’ve really got it all figured out then, do you, Mikaelson?” She smiles softly.
Hope looks at the younger girl and takes in her soft features, slowly realizing she’s opened up too much again. She takes a breath and tries her best to relax and not panic.
“Yeah.” She looks down at her hands, hoping to remain calm enough to continue this conversation with the Saltzman girl. She finds herself enjoying the conversation and how easy it is to talk to the girl; she doesn’t want to ruin this.
Not yet anyway.
“What about you?” She asks Josie quickly before her thoughts can get any louder. “What’re your plans for the future?”
Josie looks off to the river before them and thinks. “I’m not too sure.” She answers honestly.
“Nothing? Really?” Hope chuckles.
“Yeah.” She laughs. “I used to want to become a teacher, but Lizzie doesn’t think it’s practical. She wants to be a fashion designer and travel the world, so I’d probably have to find something that suits her lifestyle.”
Hope looks at her with a skeptical expression, kind of confused as to why the other girl's life plans would have to affect Josie’s so much. “Why does it matter what she does? It’s your life.” She shrugs. “Do what you want.”
Josie sighs and looks down at the water. “It’s more complicated than that, unfortunately.” She says. Hope can sense there's a deeper meaning behind it, but decides not to pry.
“Well, for what it’s worth, Saltzman, I think you’d be a great teacher.” The blue-eyed girl smiles sincerely.
Josie returns the smile and loses herself in the moment.
Gosh, I’m so screwed.
—-----