Damage Control

Chapter Thirteen

Josie pondered asking the girl in front of her how she was feeling. Hope sat cross legged, staring off into space, eyes puffy and red, yet here she was practicing with Josie just like she promised. "It is okay to take a day or two." Hope's blue eyes looked up at her, sad smile on her lips. "This can wait."

Hope cleared her throat, Josie could see a line of tears rising in her eyes. "It is a good distraction." She held her hands out for Josie to take.

Josie grabbed onto her, Hope immediately closed her eyes. "We could talk about it instead." Josie offered. "Maybe conjure some ice cream."

Hope opened her eyes and laughed for real, but it quickly turned sour. "I just thought for once he would stay and try to fight for us." Josie could tell she was swallowing the tears. "Shocker, Landon is good at running away."

Josie shifted. "At least Rafael didn't follow him this time."

Hope gave an angry laugh. "He didn't even give him the choice, I don't know if I should find comfort in the fact I am not the only one he left behind this time."

"What about a tracking spell?" Josie offered half heartedly, knowing if Hope wanted that she would have shown up at her and Lizzie's room last night.

Hope's eyes lightened. "We need to make sure you can walk before you can run Jose."

"We could do the mimic spell." Hope laughed for real, a warming sound. "It would be fun to make the all mighty tribrid do what I want her too." Josie definitely did not mean it the way it sounded but she felt heat rise in her cheeks regardless.

Hope squeeze her hands a little bit. "Next time for sure," She leaned in a bit closer. "But you know I'd be controlling you." Josie felt even warmer.

The door opened abruptly and Lizzie sulked in. "Dad just told me that I have to do an extra credit assignment." She rolled her eyes. "Apparently my grade in History is slipping." She plopped on her bed. "And mom agreed." Lizzie took a moment to realize that Hope and Josie were sitting on the floor, still holding hands. "What's going on in here?" She clicked her tongue.

Josie and Hope shrugged. "Spell practice." Josie answered.

Lizzie examined them. "Josie doesn't have magic."

Josie dropped Hope's hands. "I've been helping her build up her magical confidence in a safe way." Hope said, almost challenging. "She needs to feel secure, so she is feeling the power through me."

"I am sure that is not all she is feeling through you." Josie heard Lizzie mutter under her breath. "So are we not going to address the elephant in the school?" Josie shot a warning look. Lizzie gave her a questioning look. "Mom said we all need to have sessions with her, she is taking over for Emma in her absence."

This made Hope look uneasy. "Everyone?" Hope was never one to talk about her feelings.

Lizzie nodded. "She said everyone has been through so much lately."

Josie saw a fresh line of tears come to Hope's eyes. "Hey why don't we do something fun." Josie suggested.

"Like what?" Lizzie asked, sounding bored.

"You'll see." Josie jumped up and raced to her closet.

Josie had Hope and Lizzie standing in the forest. Hope wanted to do nothing but hide in her bedroom and cry some more, but she promised to help Josie and it gave her a cause to get out of bed. Well that, and Alyssa Chang could walk in at any moment. She considered asking Dr. Salzman for permission to stay with the twins for a while. Or if he could find her some broom closet or something to use as her bedroom.