The One That Got Away - A Hosie Story

Goodbyes Sure Do Suck (part 9)

After the two snuck off of campus, they walked the shortcut going through the woods leading to townsquare. Not many words were exchanged, but lots of different looks that carried an entire conversation. There were short moments where their hands would swiftly brush against one another, but nothing ever really happened. They continued to walk silently along side each other. But then suddenly rustles were being heard in the bushes behind them. Both of them quickly turned around, but there was nothing there. Hope didn't even realised but as they were turning around, she jumped in front of Josie. She hadn't done it on purpose, it was just sort of an instinct. She turned on her super hearing, but there was no breathing or heartbeat to pick up besides the two of them. ''It's probably nothing, let's just keep moving. Nothing is gonna happen anyways.'' Hope wasn't only referring to the sound. After continuining they never heard it again. 

As they reached the square, they crossed the street and headed towards the mystic grill. Hope was in front so she choose the table that was the farthest away from everyone. She wanted to talk in private, without anyone listening in. They sat down, ordered some breakfast and sat there in quiet, just staring at each other. Hope noticed that they always did that, in pretty much every situation, good or bad. Josie scraped her throat. Hope quickly blurred out, ''Sorry, I didn't expect you to come so I don't really have a whole speech prepared or something.'' She said with her eyes rolling a bit, though she didn't mean to.

''You wanted to talk, so talk... or else I'm just wasting my time again.'' Josie had never been that commanding to anyone, let along towards Hope. 

''Why do you always do that?'' 

''What?!'' Josie's voice started to raise. 

''Get mad at me for everything I do or say. You don't do that with anyone else.''

''Because they can't get emotions out of me like you can!''

''Is that a good or bad thing?'' 

''I don't know yet....''

Josie took a deep breath and closed her eyes for just a second. ''I'm sorry, okay? It's just... I'm confused about everything that is Hope Mikaelson and I don't like feeling like that. I want everything to be clear between us.'' Neither of them knew what to say, again.

She was getting tired of the quietness around them all the time. In the beginning it felt nice to just not say anything and be there, in the moment, but after all these secrets, the quietness felt very destressing to Josie. 

''Fine, if you don't know how to start, I will. Answer me this, Why act completely two-sided with me? First you say you have feelings for me, shortly after that, saying we can't be together, than you hook up with Landon, the next morning say that you're sorry and want to explain everything and then I have to hear whispers in the hallway that Lizzie was in your room while you were naked. If you don't want me, just say so but don't make up excuses and sneak behind my back and with Lizzie of all people. You don't have to throw it in my face, it's hard enough as it is, without you sending me mixed signals every damn second.'' Josie was very bothered by all the actions Hope took regarding her feelings. She had to let it all out and Hope knew she shouldn't interrupt her.

''Josie that isn't what happened at all, you have to believe me. You know what everyone says about me behind my back, they take something out of proportion and twist everything around to their liking. After you left this morning, I was changing in my room and all of a sudden Lizzie barged in without knocking, and I was... well naked. But it wasn't my fault or anything I did, you have to know that. I would never do that behind your back. And I never meant to hurt you with anything that happened. And all the stuff with Landon, you know that's not what I want, but it was only for one night and I'm done with him, he can tell everyone what I've done, I don't care anymore. I'm not gonna let this secret stand in our way. At least if you still want to give this a chance.'' Josie stopped looking at the ground and immediatly shot her eyes up to look at Hope. That was the last thing she expected to hear in this conversation.