Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 12: Bait

Friday Night Lights. It's a thrilling experience.

It's already the second half, and the Mystic Falls High Timberwolves are leading the Salvatore Stallions with a score of 21-7. Josie was definitely impressed with Hope's performance during the game, considering this is her first football game.

Once third quarter is over, Alaric spots something rather large moving in the woods. He tries to get Hope's attention, she's a little ways away from him, but she has werewolf hearing, so she gestures to him to let him know she can hear him.

"I think there's something in the woods, it looks like a werewolf."

Hope turns her head from her spot on the other side of the field. She gives him a confused look, and follows his gaze toward the woods. The creature does resemble a large wolf, but tonight isn't a full moon, and there are no more hybrids in Mystic Falls, at least not as far as she know.

MG and Josie notice her gaze pointed toward the woods, and as MG passes by Hope on the field, getting set, he whispers to her, "Hope? What's wrong?"

"I need you to hit me hard this time, there's something in the woods, I need an excuse to get out of the game so I can check it out."

"You sure?"

Hope gives him a nod as she gets in her place. Once the ball is in her hands, she takes a step to the side, pulling her arm back to throw the ball. Then, just as he was instructed, MG rams into her using a little of his vamp strength, a little harder than he intended. Hope definitely feels a bone crack in her arm, but no bones break the skin. She holds onto her arm, pretending to be in pain.

"I'm so sorry, I hit you harder than I meant to..."

"It's okay, I just need to get to the woods."

At this point, a medic, Hope's coach, and Alaric make their way over to her on the field. Josie, Lizzie and Maya look panicked on the field. Ethan is worried on the sideline. Raf is the same way in the stands. Lizzie's trying to keep Josie from pushing her way through to Hope when MG makes his way over to the two of them, "Jo, Hope's fine, she told me to get her out of the game." MG tries to explain to calm her down.

"What do you mean, it's her first game, why would she want out?"

"I don't know, I heard Dr. Saltzman say something about a werewolf in the woods, but I'm not really sure how Hope heard it. She was across the field."

Josie looks at him like he has three heads, completely disregarding the part about Hope's hearing, "MG, it's not a full moon, and Hope's arm definitely broke, okay? I know I heard it crack." Josie starts to get worked up again, trying to see through the few people huddled around Hope.

"I thought so too at first, but she said she was okay, Jo. No worries." Hearing that Hope had said she was okay makes Josie feel a little better. She probably wouldn't be saying that if her arm actually was broken, but Josie could've sworn she heard a crack...

Josie watches as her dad helps Hope over to the sideline. Ethan gets put into the game in Hope's place. The game continues, but Josie finds it increasingly difficult to focus. Her eyes keep looking over toward the sideline, catching glimpses of Hope. Josie notices Raf make his way over to her, Hope whispers in his ear and he looks over toward the woods. Josie assumes she told him about the wolf out there. Once Hope is sure the attention is off of her, she and Raf sneak away, headed towards the woods. That makes Josie feel more at ease, Hope has someone with her at least. But it just doesn't make any sense, her arm, a werewolf with no full moon. It's so strange.
_____________

Hope and Raf make their way into the woods, looking for what they believe to be a werewolf.
"Is your arm alright?"

"Oh, yeah. It's fine."