Hate me more, love me harder

Twenty-one

Hope POV

"I said will you be my girlfriend?" I asked

"How do you go from being pissed at me to wanting to be my girlfriend?" Josie asked

"Because the guy at the museum had something and it got me thinking like what if something happens to you and then I never got to be with you and I don't want to hold that over your head anymore" I admitted "I just want to be with you because I love you too, Josie." I told her as I looked right into her eyes.

She looked at me but didn't say anything and I couldn't tell if she was mad or not.

"Jo? Say something" I said

"I have nothing to say— it's just I worked so hard to get you to love me and I feel like you pick and choose when you want to love me" she says

"Josie I never stop loving you, I just tried being pissed at you and it obviously didn't work because no matter what you do or how mad you make me... I'm still in love with jo. I'm going to always love you" I said before I wiped the tear out of my eye quickly with my hand.

"Aw hope.." she says before hugging me tightly.

"Jo?" Caroline asked as she walked into the room me and Josie were in

"I'm having a moment with my girlfriend, mom give me a minute" Josie says before Caroline smiled at us.

I literally almost squealed.

She just- did she just say girl friend?

I must be dreaming.

She pulled away from the hug.

"Am I dreaming?" I asked

"It's definitely real" she smiled

"I have to go" she adds

"Already? I just- I just got here" I said sadly.

"I know but I promised my mom I would go Christmas shopping with her" she says

"Okay fine" I said

I kissed her on the cheek and pulled away but she pulled me back into a real kiss.

Like the kiss on the lips.

"PDA!" Caroline says I think she was half joking seeing as she kiss Bonnie every chance she gets

I just smiled. After Josie pulled away.

"I'll see you later" I said before kissing Josie forehead and leaving.

This actually feels great.

The reason why I really gave this whole dating thing a chance is because what Lizzie said was right and if I'm being honest with you it is the best thing she ever said.

When I got home I was in big trouble.

"Hello hope, where are you been? Considering you went to jail and then you be out all day... your card companies call and they say that you spent over 300,000 dollars in the last week and they thought someone scammed you and now you want to take a visit back home. Does your father know about this because he damn sure will find out" my mom says angrily I don't think I have ever seen her this mad.

"Mom, I have explanations for all of this" I said

"And what is this so called explanation?" She asked

"Well, the jail thing was only to make a deal with Alaric so I could keep Josie safe" I said

"I'm trying to understand why would you need to go to jail... especially for some girl" my mom says

Out of all people I thought she would understand.

"I'm surprised you didn't get a heart attack seeing as the last time you were in jail was because of the stupid football and now your playing football again and still going to jail. Hope I fear that your life could be ruined" my mom admits

Flashback:

This was my last game.

We were down by one and we needed to score cause if we don't then we can't play in next year championship.

Football is my life so I play and get all my angry out on the field.

"Hope, I want you on defense" my coach says

"But I'm the qb, I never really played defense" I said

"But you learned it and I have faith in you" the coach says

I smiled.

"Okay.. I got this" I said

We lined up and as soon as the qb called 'hut' I ran as fast as I can to the person that I saw the qb directing the play to.

Turns out I didn't run as fast as I was suppose to but I did have hops, so I jumped in the air catching the ball with one hand.

I then ran to the touchdown but before I could get fully there someone knocked me out leading with the tip of the ball getting us touch down and me with a broke arm.

I cried in Pain.

The crowd was too happy with the win to see that I felt like I was dying.

"HOPE!" Called my mom.

I got up as best as I can and I took my other arm and swung at the person who knocked me down.

End of flashback

"It wasn't my fault, if the guys didn't never hit me then I would have never broke his nose" I said

"Hope, he did it by accident and you hit him on purpose" my mom says

"So your taking sides now?" I asked

"No, I'm not taking sides but you must understand that your life is in the gutter and that Josie girl is taking you down with her.. so all I ask is you go a week without seeing her" my mom says

"But mom-" I tried to say but was cut off

"I said what I said... you can't see her for a whole week" my mom says

"This is so not fair" I said

"It is fair, I'm trying to help you and if I can see that you do better without her even for a week then that means you just cut the toxicity out of your life" my mom says

"You are one to talk seeing as you were the reason why dad and uncle Elijah don't talk like they use to, and best believe you may try and hide that story from me but I know everything.. you just don't get me, mom i love Josie "
I spat out

"And I'm happy you do, I'm happy you found someone but I'm only asking for a week so if you love her that much and you want to see her again all I'm asking is to focus on your studies which by the you are failing.." My mom said

"Fine. Whatever" I said before running up the stairs