Always and Forever

Chapter 23

a couple hours into the drive, Hope and Josie decided to stop by a gas station and get some snacks, plus to also refill their gas tank.

Josie stops the car by a gas pump, she turns off the engine and they both get out of the car. Hope stretches as soon as she stands up, she groans a bit and Josie laughs.

Hope looked at josie confusingly "What's so funny?"

"nothing." she says smiling as she puts the gas nozzle inside the car.

"okayy" hope says fixing her hair, "Let's go inside and get some snacks and some energy drinks so that you don't pass out during the drive." she says

"What if i do pass out. You can drive for me."

"I don't think i can." Hope says hiding her face with her hands

Josie chuckles "You don't drive?" she says putting the gas nozzle away and leaning against the car.

"I do it's just that..." Hope says

"i really suck at it." She says quietly,

"Wait so you're telling me that the almighty tribrid, can't drive." she says laughing

"I can! It's just that sometimes it's a little... scary." Hope mumbles trying to hide her smile and blush.

"Ok well after all this black magic problem goes away, I Josette Saltzman promise to teach you how to get better at driving." She says putting her hand on her heart, acting like she's saying a heart felt speech.

Hope rolls her eyes smiling, "Come on, let's gets some snacks." She says going up to Josie grabbing her arm and dragging her inside

Hope goes up to the cashier with arms full of snacks and Josie holding a couple of drinks, they place all the food onto the counter and Hope yawns.

Josie looks at her "Tired?"

Hope nods rubbing her eyes "That'll be $11.58" the cashier says.

Josie and Hope both take out a $20 dollar bill.

"I'll pay" Hope says

"No it's okay hope, i'll do it" Josie says

Hope tilts her head to the side "You paid for the gas, i'll pay for the snacks."

The cashier looks at them annoyingly waiting for them to pay.

Josie sighs in defeat

"Fine." She says putting her money in her pocket and letting hope pay.

She grabs the bags and they walk back into the car. She starts the car and Hope gets comfortable and places all the junk food on her lap while josie places the drinks in the cup holders.

"Ready?"

"Yes, let's go" Hope says opening a pack of gummy worms. They leave and continue their drive.

Half an hour later they finished all their snacks and are yawning like crazy. Hope looks at Josie worryingly.

She looks very pale and tired.

"Hey. We should stop by a motel and take a break" Hope says putting her hand on josie's.

"Are you sure? I don't want to keep your aunt waiting." josie asks

"i'm sure she won't mind. i'll look at the gps to see if there's any motels near by."

"Okay"

They stop at this small motel, it looks kind of old.

"Alright let's go in and get a room." Hope says walking in the motel with josie behind her

They enter the motel and josie feels a little sick at the smell of it.

The motel is all dirty and there's a lot of damage done to the building. "You know what. Let's just sleep in the car, it's more nicer." Josie whispers to hopes ear making sure the workers there don't hear.

hope nods, josie grabs her arm and leads her to the car.

"Let's get comfortable." She says giving hope the blanket. She takes off her hoodie and rolls it into a ball then places it behind her head, she reclines the seat and quickly gets comfortable.

She closes her eyes and falls asleep.

but hope on the other hand doesn't really know how to get comfortable.

She tries many ways to get comfortable but she just can't, it's cold and the blanket isn't helping her get warm. She takes a second to think of a way and she decides to lay on josie's shoulder. She places her head in the crook of josie's neck hoping to not wake her up

josie smiles but hope doesn't notice

she's so warm, hope thinks. She feels Josies arm wrap around her and hope blushes at the feeling.

her eyes begin to feel heavy, so she closes her eyes and falls asleep.

Some hours pass and the sun is starting to rise.
Hope is still sleeping but josie begins to wake up.

She carefully lifts hope up and places her on the other side, she gets her rolled up hoodie and places it behind hopes head and fixes the blanket so she isn't cold.

She turns on the car and starts driving to New Orleans.

Some time passes and hope finally begins to awake.

She stretches out and rubs her eyes "Good afternoon sleepyhead." Josie says. Hopes eyes widen "Afternoon?" Josie nods.

"Wow that's probably the longest i've ever slept. How long left until we get there?" She asks. Josie checks her phone and looks at the road "Like 15 minutes, we're almost there."

"How are you feeling?"

"I still feel sick and exhausted, hopefully your aunt has something that can help." Josie says taking one hand off the steering wheel to drink some water.

"Don't worry jo, you'll get through this." Hope says placing a hand on josie's shoulder

Hope takes out some chips and gummies and gives a handful of gummies to Josie.

Josie smiles widely and takes them, hope looks out the window and finally sees the "Welcome to New Orleans." sign and she smiles

They finally get to her aunt freyas place and Josie admires it.

"Wow." Is all josie can say, the place was pretty big and very nice.

"Hope!" Freya says going down the stairs with arms wide open, "Aunt freya!" hope runs towards her wrapping her arms around her aunt.

Josie smiles at the interaction between the two, they pull apart and freya looks at josie and says "You must be Josie."

"Hi." she nods and gives her a little wave

"Now girls come sit down." freya says in a serious tone, hope and josie look at each other and sit down.

"We need to have a talk."