The Real Me ↠ Hope Mikaelson ✓

09

𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇
still, i don't feel in control sometimes.

LIZZIE SALTZMAN IS and forever will be ecstatic that Millie Moore came into her life.

Not only does she have a new sister, but also a best friend who will always be there for her, no matter what.

But unfortunately, things come to a screeching halt as she turns the corner to head into the library—her world seemingly crashing and burning to ashes around her.

There, in the middle of the library, is none other than Millie, hanging out with Hope Mikaelson; the two laughing and smiling at one another.

At the sight of the very person who has been tormenting her since her episodes first started, Lizzie's magic seems to snap as both anger and jealousy consume her.

The lights flicker, and the shelves begin to shake violently. Books start flying off the shelves, heading for the very people who hurt her—Millie and Hope.

Gasping in surprise, Millie turns around in time to see Lizzie's crying face as she takes off. She casts Hope an apologetic look before running after her sister.

"Lizzie!" She shouts, spotting the taller girl rushing into the woods. "Please talk to me. I can explain!" She comes to a slow walk as she notices Lizzie entering the Old Mill. "I'm sorry," she whispers, listening to Lizzie's heavy breathing and sniffling. "I really am, Lizzie-bear, but Hope isn't what you—"

"Why does Hope always get what I want?" Lizzie asks rhetorically, interrupting her. "And why is she always able to get away with stuff?" She runs a frustrated hand through her hair, spinning around to face her sister.

Millie slowly and cautiously approaches. "Can you explain to me more about why you hate Hope? Please, I want to understand better."

Lizzie sighs, rolling her eyes back so the tears stop flowing. "Let's see... First of all, she never puts in any effort to be nice, even though I've tried to be her friend since the moment she showed up here. Second, she burned down her own room so that Josie and I would miss a trip with our parents. And..." Her eyes start to water again. "She went around saying I was 'witch bipolar' to the whole school."

Millie gasps and slowly reaches over to grab her sister's hand. "That's awful," she whispers. "But I have to ask... did you hear her say those things? Who told you?"

Lizzie sniffs. "Josie said she overheard Hope giggling over one of my breakdowns to a bunch of girls in the library. It's just like when she read my diary and went around telling people about what was in it."

"I never did any of that," says a voice behind them, and they whirl around to face Hope.

"You were mean to me!" Lizzie insists.

Hope shakes her head. "I wasn't mean to you. You were mean to me!"

"Because you were telling people about my episode!" Lizzie exclaims. "The one I had when our trip got cancelled. You told everyone that I was 'witch bipolar'."