Animal

Chapter 11

❁𝒥osie 𝒮altzman❁

❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀

Hope falls asleep after forty minutes of waiting for my mom to come back down. I slowly lay down onto some pillows trying not to wake her. She looks so peaceful compared to her normal guarded expression. 

"Hey" Mom makes her way down the stairs.

"Hi" I look up.

She smiles "It's nice to see you two get along, any ideas for dinner, "

"I don't know, I have a salad in the fridge."I stretch my neck to look at her.

"I was thinking about heading to the mystic grill for take out, because I don't want to cook and Lizzie is in the mood for fries." 

"I'm good with my salad," I lay my head back down.

"What do you think Hope would want to eat?" She asks trying to remember what foods Hope likes.

"She likes getting burgers and fries and she usually gets a peanut butter blast with whipped cream on the bottom.....I think" I tack on I think at the end hoping to make the statement sound less stalkerish.

"Ok, I'm going to head out, call me if you change you mind and want something." Mom grabs her keys

I nod.

After a while hope starts to stir and murmur in her sleep, I start to rub circles into her bag and she calms. 

I can't keep feeling theese things for her, it's not fair to me or her. She needs a friend, not a lover and if I can't be her friend without any alternative motives I shouldn't. I lift hope off of me and onto the couch. 

I grab my bagpack and walk upstairs so I can't be tempted to change my mind. I open the door to my shared bedroom. Lizzie is on her bed watching youtube snacking on a box of goldfish. She glances at me as I walk to my bed. 

She looks up and says mouthful of goldfish "I thought you were downstairs banging hope" 

"What" I choke on my spit.

"Wait, You and Hope aren't hooking up" Lizzie swallows the goldfish.

"No" I shriek.

"Ok  don't make me think I'm crazy for thinking you two were banging.I mean you did and maybe do still have a crush on her. Also word is she gets her fair share....if you know what I mean" Lizzie eats more goldfish.

"I wish I didn't know what you mean" I sigh pulling out my homework.

Lizzie's phone pings  "It's mom she's home with food,and even though you said you didn't want anything she got you fries." she rushes down the stairs and I quickly follow.

Lizzie quickly runs over to the take out bag and grabs her coke, burger, and fries and starts to eat them on the kitchen island. I take out my fries and grab my salad from the fridge and take a seat by lizzie.

"She still hasn't woken up yet." Mom looks over after putting Hope's shake in the fridge and her food in the microwave so she could heat it up when she woke up.

I nod before taking a bite out of my salad.

Mom digs into her lasagna and asks before taking a bite. "How was your day Josie" 

"Good" I respond dully.

"Good as in actually good or I don't want to elaborate good" She smiles taking a bite out her lasagna.

"Good in the I don't want to elaborate way." I shrug pouring myself a cup of milk

Lizzie and Mom  begin to chatter more about her day, I pay little attention engulfed by my thoughts and feelings towards hope.

My thoughts are intrupted by Hope's screams.

I turn around and she is screaming, crying, and thrashing around on the couch.

"Hope" Mom tries to wake her up rubbing her shoulder softly but hope won't wake up she starts to choke.

Sweat beads drip down her forehead and her choking turns to whimpering.

"Hope" She rubs her should practically pleading her to wake up.

She wakes up wide eyed and trying to catch her breath.

"Can I wash up" She asks breathless.

"The towels are in the upstairs bathroom under the sink." Mom responds trying to take control and access the situation.

"Thank you" She quickly walks upstairs.

❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀

I would like to stop and appreciate how many times and ways I mistype Hope, Honorable mentions in this catagory include hop4, gope, dope, mope, and my personal favorite hoe.