The Young and Gifted

22. domino effect

When Hope arrived, she was surprised to see Landon there. He was early and she watched him frantically try to straighten the picnic cloth on the floor. The Old Mill was old, the floorboards creaked and the glass stained with old mud. Hope suspected that there were rats and crawling insects somewhere.

She stepped fully in, her footsteps creaking the floorboards. Landon glanced up, blushing deeply. "Oh, I didn't think you would be here already. I was thinking that maybe we should sit near the window but the bugs would have eaten all the food by the time you arrived. And then I started to panic because there's cheese and dairy and I didn't know if you were lactose intolerant—are you lactose intolerant?"

"This is beautiful, Landon," she glanced around. Even though it was dirty, she still saw something appealing about the place. A couple of candles and flowers were placed around the room to bring some essence to the room. There was a dark brown basket and Hope now noticed the outdoor theatre screen. "You didn't have to do all of this."

"I wanted to make our first special." Hope froze and turned to him. Landon noticed and quickly corrected, "Date, our first date. Not what Kaleb said on the bus. Definitely just a date."

Hope chuckled at his flusterness and sat on the picnic sheet. Landon quickly followed suit, cursing himself for being so awkward. She noticed the guitar sitting a couple of inches from the basket and said, "Do you play?"

"A little. Raf says I suck but he doesn't even like music," he shrugged shyly and grabbed the instrument.

"Play something," Hope offered, crossing her legs. Landon shrugged and began to strum the strings delicately. In seconds, a sweet melody carolled in the room, as if adding the last nail to make the place even more alluring. The piece was over before she knew it and Hope clapped. "That was amazing."

"A bit crusty, I haven't played since summer," he chuckled, placing the guitar aside and turned to her. "So. Tell me about yourself."

"I am a Virgo, I actually like pineapple of pizza, my favourite song is Tears of Gold by Faouzia, I don't have a favourite colour--" Hope listed.

"I think you're forgetting to add the fact that you're a tribrid?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "I don't really consider myself that yet. I haven't activated my other heritages."

"How would that even happen?"

"If I ever die, I'll come back as a vampire and to complete the transition I need to feed and kill a human. And that would, in turn, trigger my werewolf curse."

"So it's a domino effect?"

"I guess so," Hope shrugged as she picked up a grape and placed it on her tongue. "I've always been so afraid to activate my werewolf and vampire side."

Landon leaned forwards and grabbed a cracker and cheese. "Would you mind explaining?"

"It would mean never opening my family tree. And no matter how soon it is, I really want a family of my own. Especially after my parents... you know. I want to extend the Mikaelson family in a way my parents, uncles and aunts couldn't. To pay tribute to their memories."

Hope realized they were so close and when she turned to face him even more, his nose brushed hers. She blushed when his gaze dropped to her lips and she slowly inched forwards. Landon was leaning in too and before they knew it, their lips attached. It was brief and Hope pulled away. Landon chuckled with a timid smile and nodded with full understanding. "I completely understand. Even though I never met my parents." Hope cocked her head to the side with curiosity. Landon dived into a tale about how he was left at the doorstep of a police officer.

~

Kaleb toyed with the ball, constantly catching it in the air after throwing it. He was laying back on the couch while MG frantically scribbled to try and catch up on the assignment due in an hour. An assignment that was assigned 2 weeks ago. 

"Did you see the way Josie dragged Lizzie at the party yesterday? I did not know that bunny had it in her to go up against the komodo dragon," Kaleb mused, genuinely impressed and proud for Josie. Character development right there.

"I feel bad for Lizzie. She was probably embarrassed to be pulled away so publicly," MG sympathized. 

"Of course you feel bad for Lizzie," Kaleb rolled his eyes and straightened on the couch. "But everyone hates her right now."

"How does the school even know about what happened? I thought Penelope only told Josie," MG narrowed his eyes with question. Somehow, everyone was putting their input in a situation that didn't even involve them.

"News travels fast around here. Things for Lizzie ain't going good. At this rate, her popularity is sinking."

MG dropped his pen, an idea brightening in his mind. "This is actually perfect. This could be my chance to show Lizzie that I want her for her, not her popularity. This could be my chance to catch her eye, just in time for the Halloween party."

Kaleb clicked his tongue. "Not a good idea man. Lizzie without Josie? That's like ying without yang. Sun without moon. Sky without stars, sentence without period--"

"That's not the point. Lizzie needs someone there for her right now, a knight in shining armour, you know? She's probably sad somewhere, waiting for comfort from somebody."

Kaleb shook his head at his best friend. "You're weird. But go for it. And when she breaks your heart again, remember that my doors are open from 9:30 to 10:00 strictly." MG shook his head and returned to his books. The moment didn't last long when Kaleb said, "Dude. Not funny, give it back."

MG glanced at his friend with a confused expression. "What? What are you talking about?"

He had his hand out and Kaleb looked annoyed as he waited patiently. "My watch. I know how much you liked it but stealing ain't cool."

"I don't know'--"

"Do you know how much it cost me? I had to wash Dave's socks for a week so he didn't snitch to Caroline that I compelled a human."

MG adjusted himself on his seat, baffled that Kaleb was hardcore accusing him. "Look, I might be a simp but I ain't no thief."

Kaleb narrows his eyes and glanced at his wrist. "Then who the hell took it?"

~

"Well played. Now, it's my turn."

try to guess who said it and don't forget to vote ;)