The Real Me ↠ Hope Mikaelson ✓

13

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄
you have me. remember it.

TO SAY THINGS aren't going as smoothly as they were before is an understatement.

Since Josie revealed how she felt about Lizzie, things are more than a little tense between the twins.

Not only that, but Hope seems to be keeping some distance from Millie—not that the blonde zombie notices.

One good thing has come out of all of this though—Penelope Park is finally out of their lives.

That one fact is somehow pushing but pulling the twins closer together at the same time.

They still have plenty of fights that revolve around the past actions of Penelope, but they're also trying not to be so dependent on one another—which, funnily enough, is making their dynamic all the better.

Millie has been a ray of sunshine around the school. Anyone that Penelope had been a bitch to, she declares herself their friend.

She gives out flowers and candy to everyone, unbothered by whether or not they accept them. Kindness goes a long way.

Hope, on the other hand, has been slowly distancing herself from everyone again—but mostly Millie. She can see herself falling head over heels for the blonde, and that absolutely scares her.

The last time she truly cared for someone, they betrayed her trust, and it resulted in her losing both her parents and an uncle.

The difference this time is that she knows she can trust Millie—it's just the fact that anyone she loves or touches ends up dead.

She is so, so tired of losing people. She wouldn't be able to survive if Millie died because of knowing her.

That is why, at night time, Millie finds her in the library crying over a book.

The tiny blonde instantly rushes over to the tribrid, frowning, her eyes showing concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Hope looks up at the blonde, staring at those beautiful blue eyes that keep drawing her in. She chews on the inside of her cheek, fiddling with the book in her lap. "My dad was one of the Earth's original vampires."

Millie frowns and kneels beside Hope, her hands going to her knee, rubbing it comfortingly. She knows that her father died, but not the context, so she lets the girl continue.

Nodding to herself, Hope flips the book to a certain page. She turns the book around in her lap so that the words face Millie's direction. "Turns out even immortal beings can find a way to die eventually."

Millie whispers, "Klaus Mikaelson: The Great Evil." She looks up into Hope's teary blue eyes. "Hope... you don't—"

The auburn-haired girl shakes her head. "No. No... I need to." She takes in a small breath, chewing on her bottom lip before saying, "My father wasn't very popular around here. And my mother was a werewolf Alpha."

Millie swallows thickly and reaches upwards, gently taking Hope's hand in hers, rubbing her thumb over the pulse point on her wrist.

Hope takes in Millie's features slowly. "The people I care about tend to die on me." She tightens her grip on the girl's hand. "I try not to get close to people anymore. But then you happened, Millie."

Millie's heartbeat speeds up, her eyes widening. "Hope..."

"You've been my friend, my person. You didn't give up until I gave in to your kindness and friendship. With that kindness, my issues with Lizzie have been fixed and she's my friend now, too. It's still a little weird to wrap my head around, but I'm happy with the changes. And that scares me. So much." Hope gazes down at their joined hands, her eyebrows furrowing. "I was trying so hard to stay away from everyone, to be alone and hate myself in silence. But you—this ray of sunshine—appeared and now..." She looks into Millie's eyes, which are lightening up at every word. "Now I don't want to lose you."

"And you won't," Millie says firmly, moving closer—as if that's possible since she's already squished up against the seat. "I'm a zombie, remember? I'm pretty much immortal—I'll forever be this age until I'm shot in the head. That's the only way I can die, Hope, okay? You won't lose me anytime soon." She reaches forward and gently grasps Hope's face, making sure to keep eye contact. "I'm not leaving you, Hope."

They are staring into one another's eyes, their chests aching, bodies tingling—their breaths pretty much becoming one.

A sudden cough has the two jumping to their feet, distancing themselves from each other and facing a grinning Lizzie.

The tall blonde sends a wink to Hope before grasping Millie's hand and pulling her out of the room.

Hope falls back down into the seat, hands going to her chest, breathing out loudly to herself.