The Real Me ↠ Hope Mikaelson ✓

21

𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐒
the sun came up and i was looking at you.

DAYS LATER, LANDON and Rafael have found their place within the school. They've made friends and are now seeing how everyone works as a whole.

The former has even been taking self-defence classes with Alaric, just in case push comes to shove and he needs to know how to defend himself.

It seems that the school needed these three new students in its halls—almost like it was destiny for them to be there.

Millie is smiling, per usual, as she skips down the hallway, her stomach rumbling with hunger. She turns the corner, stopping in the doorway of the kitchen upon seeing Hope and Landon talking inside.

Hope is making a cherry cheesecake—which just happens to be Millie's favourite.

Landon is smiling and flirting with Hope, who is clearly oblivious to it.

Millie watches in silence as Landon steps forward and gently tucks a strand of Hope's hair behind her ear.

Anger and jealousy suddenly rear their ugly faces within Millie at the action before slowly melting away into nothing as Hope jerks away from Landon with an incredulous expression.

Inhaling deeply, Millie enters the room and heads straight for Hope, who exhales in relief at the sight of her.

"Can I help with the cake?" She asks gently, looking Hope in the eyes and feeling her heart melt at the soft look on the girl's face.

Hope shakes her head with a smile. "No. I'm making this for you, remember? So sit down and maybe I'll let you eat some before Lizzie comes in to demand the first bite."

Millie laughs and nods, jumping up onto the counter beside the cake so that she can watch Hope work.

Landon looks between the two before nodding to himself as he realises why Hope doesn't like him back.

He may be dumb sometimes, but can still at least take a hint. Hope likes the blonde who's currently smiling at her brightly, so it's clearly reciprocated.

He shoves his hands into his front pockets, gives them both a smile and a nod before walking out of the kitchen.

Millie exhales slightly, hating the anger she feels when she has no claim over Hope. They aren't together, and maybe never will be.

But she does know one thing—she's fallen in love with a girl with a heart of gold and isn't willing to give up without trying her hardest first.

They spend a few hours in the kitchen, laughing and finishing up the cake.

Once they finish, the two—mainly Millie—immediately begin eating it.

While yes, she can't taste much of regular food without a lot of hot sauce, there's still a teeny-tiny amount of taste buds left for sweets, which she appreciates wholly.

If someone were to ask Millie what her least favourite thing about being a zombie is, her answer would surprise them. Because instead of it being eating brains, it would be having little to no taste buds.

Before her transformation, she wasn't the biggest fan of hot sauce. If anything, it was one of her least favourite things.

But now? She pretty much has to drench everything in the spiciest sauces she can find.

At one point, Hope grins and flicks a piece of cake at Millie, hitting her square between the eyes and making her gasp in surprise.

"Oh, no, you didn't." Millie giggles, plucking a cherry off the cake and flinging it at Hope, who simply uses her magic to send it back. Millie squeaks in surprise. "Hey!" she pouts. "That's cheating!"

Hope smiles, shrugging innocently. "Oops." She then swipes a finger across the cake, slowly licking the icing off her finger before she uses her magic to lift up the cake and hurl it at the zombie.

Millie yelps and catches the cake as best as she can as it flies at her face. It hits her in the chest instead, smearing her pretty pink blouse in icing and cherries.

She slowly looks up at the tribrid, grinning. "You want a hug, Hope?"

Hope's eyes widen, and she is quick to run out of the kitchen, dodging the giggling zombie who's hot on her tail.

Eventually, Millie grabs ahold of the girl and hugs her tightly, smooshing icing and squashed cherries into her clothing as well.

After, they find their way to Hope's room to clean themselves up. The two each take a turn in the shower.

Millie borrows a pair of Hope's pyjamas, which Hope definitely doesn't love the sight of. Nope. She totally doesn't feel that smug, possessive claim over Millie wearing something of hers. Not at all.

They lie down on Hope's bed, feeling exhausted now that they've cleaned up and relaxed.

Eventually, Millie rolls over, resting her head on the other girl's chest and wrapping her left arm around her waist.

Hope breathes in her scent and wraps her own arms around the blonde, not wanting to ever let her go.

Sometime during the night, Hope kisses her forehead softly, tightening her hold on the girl. "I'm not letting anything happen to you—not on my watch."