Hosie Stories

Story 11 - 'Crush On You'

Authors note:
A happier oneshot, as promised :)

In all of Hope Mikaelson's years at the Salvatore Boarding School, not once had she gone to a party. Not once. She'd thought they were stupid, and just completely annoying. She'd much rather sit in her room and paint. The images her mind could create had always been far more intriguing than that of a party. She's never been one for socializing in such large groups. Being surrounded by a bunch of sweaty teenagers who are either drunk or high (sometimes both) is hardly her definition of fun. In fact, it's probably the complete opposite for her. Only in her worst nightmares could she imagine being in that sort of situation.

She swore to herself that she'd never go to one - safer to avoid it all. There are always whispers in the corridors in the days after of something that happened at one of them, and Hope would rather keep herself as far away from it as possible.

Yet, here she is, walking up to the Old Mill to go to a party. She hates herself for even agreeing to go. Yet she couldn't have said no, even if she wanted to. See, Josie Saltzman sat by her at breakfast and asked with such hopeful eyes, and Hope's so far gone for the girl that she agreed.

She's not just walking alone either. She met up with the twins a few minutes ago and is walking between the two as they approach the crowd. She steals the odd glance at Josie, and her eyes scan the girl's body. She looks as she always does to Hope, utterly breathtaking. Her hair is wavier than normal, and she's wearing a cute yellow dress that goes just past her knees, with simple white converse to top it off. Hope thinks maybe Josie spelled them to stop them from getting dirty. Her eyes drift to Josie's neck, where she sees the talisman she had given her, and can't ignore the warm feeling it awakens in her chest. Her eyes go higher, and when she catches Josie's gaze on her she looks away instantly. Hope's cheeks go bright pink. Luckily for her, it's dark out. She wonders if Josie knows how long she'd been staring, and she wants to slap herself for being so obvious.

In an attempt to distract herself, she checks over her own outfit. It's basic yet so very her; she has on a pair of black jeans, a white shirt, and a leather jacket to tie it all together, with her signature boots.

She doesn't even realize they've actually arrived, not until MG walks up to them with a wide smile.

"Hey, guys! Drinks over there!" He points to one corner of the room. "Snacks over there!" He points somewhere else, and the three girls can see people swarming around the two areas. He and Lizzie run off to get drinks straight away, leaving an awkward-looking Hope standing with Josie. Hope isn't really sure what to do - it's not like there are manuals or guides for this sort of stuff. So, she simply looks around: kids are dancing, many of them are drinking, and out the front, a bunch of students are sitting around a fire. She can smell the weed in the air without having to see it, the same as she gets the overpowering scent of alcohol.

"Y'know you can go off with your friends if you want, Jo. You don't have to stay with me." Hope says, feeling guilty. Josie deserves to have fun here, and Hope feels like she's holding her back.

"What?" Josie shouts. "I can't hear you." She adds. The music is blasting from the speakers which are dotted around the entire building. Hope steps closer, close enough so she can speak into Josie's ear. She kept her voice just above normal volume, not wanting to deafen her friend.

"I said that you don't have to stick with me the whole night."

"I know, but I basically dragged you here, so it only seems right. Besides, I want to stay with you." Josie shouts back. Hope doesn't need to be close to hear the girl, nor does she need her to shout, but she's hardly going to throw away a chance to be inches from her crush. Therefore, she keeps her mouth shut.