The Years Between

Part 2

It wasn't until almost a year later that either of the twins spoke to her face again.

"Hi Hope!" Josie ran up to the older girl on the playground, sneakers kicking up wood chips as she went. "Do you want to push me on the swings?"

Hope crinkled her nose. "No." Josie had done nothing but make fun of her for the last year along with Lizzie. Why did she think she would want to push her on the swings?

"Okay!" Josie sped off back to her friends who erupted into giggles Hope was sure was about her. It was all just a joke or some stupid dare. Hope kicked at the dirt and went back inside.

…

"You talked to Hope?" Lizzie asked in disgust. She poked at Josie's leftover cookie dough absentmindedly.

"You girls are friends with Hope again?" Alaric perked up and closed the oven door, letting the cookies bake a little longer. 

“No!” Josie shook her head adamantly. She scooped an unidentifyingly-shaped cookie and held it in her hands like it was the most precious thing she’d ever sculpted. Alaric just smiled and didn't ask what it was.

“She’s mean to us.” Lizzie crossed her arms. “So why would you talk to her?”

“I just wanted someone to push me on the swings.”

“I could’ve pushed you on the swings,” Alaric interjected again. He was met with twin eye rolls and dramatic sighs. Clearly he wasn’t a viable candidate for the position anymore. 

"You're the one who told me she blew up an orphanage with her brain,” Lizzie pointed out, scowling at Josie. “You can’t be friends with someone who blew up an orphanage.”

“I don’t want to be friends with her!” Josie kicked her feet. “When is Mommy coming home?” 

Alaric set the tray of cookies on the cooling rack. “Mommy is in Europe with Aunt Bonnie and Aunt Elena. She’ll be back in a few days.”

“But I miss her.” Lizzie tried to hide her pout as she dragged a finger through the cookie she had just lovingly sculpted into a heart. 

“I know, baby.” Alaric sat down across from them. “She misses you too.”

…

“Mommy!” Josie and Lizzie ran into her arms the moment she walked in the front door.

“Babies!” Caroline scooped them into her arms as best as she could. 

“You should have taken us with you,” Josie said, wiggling back out of her grasp almost as quickly as she’d flung herself into them.

Lizzie nodded. “Yeah, because we didn’t get to go to Florida on spring break!”

“Because you were sick.” Josie poked her. 

“You were sick too!”

“Nuh-uh!” 

“You may not have gotten to go to Florida last year, but Daddy has a fun vacation planned for the three of you this year!” Caroline said brightly. 

They cheered, bouncing around the hallway as Caroline dragged in the rest of her luggage. 

…

In the days leading up to spring break, Hope found Josie trying to sit by her, trying to strike up a conversation, and trying to play with her outside. Each time, Hope was haunted by the sound of the witches laughing in her ears and kept her at arm’s length.

She and Lizzie were trouble. Hope wouldn't get involved in it again. 

…

Josie snuck down the hallway. It was recess, but while everyone else was outside, including her sister, Josie took advantage of the empty school and made it to Hope’s door without being seen by anyone. Josie was going away for spring break. She could write Hope a note to tell her how she felt and then not have to face her for another week. It was a good plan.

Until Josie changed her mind after she had slid the note under. Josie turned the handle and found the door locked. She knew an unlocking spell. She and Lizzie had learned it long ago in order to sneak into all the cool places of the school. If Hope had locked the door with a spell, Josie knew she could siphon it too. 

But Josie had a spell she preferred. “Incendia.” When smoke started to billow out from under the door, Josie smiled and walked back down the hall before anyone could catch her in the act.

…

Hope screamed and cried when she found out her room was ablaze. Caroline and Dr. Saltzman had to hold her back to stop her from running in after her paintings and her grimoires. 

“Who would do this to me?” she sobbed as Emma came running to put out the blaze with her magic. She hid her face in her hands and cried as she thought about who could hate her that much to try to burn her dorm down. She didn’t see Josie and Lizzie standing in the back of the crowd.

…

As soon as the words left Alaric’s mouth, Lizzie was sobbing hysterically. 

“I have to stay here and take care of Hope.”

“Why can’t Mom take us?” Josie asked, her eyes wide and fearful, almost guilty. Almost.

Alaric explained gently, “Your mom is still going on her vacation. She can’t cancel it.”

“What about Hope’s parents? They can’t take care of their own daughter?” Lizzie demanded.

“Hope’s parents are unavailable. We’re all she has right now.”

The sobs only got louder and harder.

…

Lizzie broke every dish in the kitchen. She shattered them all, and Alaric found her crying uncontrollably in the wreck. He carried her back to her bed, and Josie trailed behind, her eyes huge. While Alaric consoled Lizzie, she ran off to her friends to tell them what had happened.

…

Early signs of bipolar disorder. That was Emma’s best guess, but she recommended a more professional opinion. Alaric comforted Lizzie and read all the books while Caroline researched all the doctors and made the appointments. Hope cried in her smokey bed, and Josie told all the witches that her sister was witch bipolar and laughed with them about the tantrum she threw when they commented on the new plates. 

Josie couldn’t stop the rumors once they got out either. It spread to the werewolves, to the upperclassmen. Everyone heard some variation of “Lizzie Saltzman is crazy.” It eventually got back to Lizzie herself.

Instead of trying to fight the rumors, Josie went back to trying to win Hope’s favor, driven by the guilt of the fire. But the more Josie tried to make it up to Hope, the angrier Hope got. Josie only doubled down, her every waking thought on how to get Hope to be her friend. 

…

“Why are you so obsessed with Hope?” Lizzie snapped one day when it was particularly bad.
Josie’s eyes went wide and her face went pale.

“How could I be obsessed with somebody who would say such mean things about my twin?” Josie said without hesitation.

“What?” 

“Yeah. Who do you think spread the rumors about your tantrum?” 

Lizzie was outraged. Hope Mikaelson ruined her second spring break, she was stealing her whole family away, and she told everyone she was witch bipolar? Lizzie would never forgive her. Not for any of it.