Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 20: Absence

Josie and Hope were able to have dinner later that same week, since their original plans were ruined. Lizzie had apologized to Hope and Josie several times.

A couple of days after their late-night date, Hope left town to visit family.
Hope has been in New Orleans since then, for the past few weeks, celebrating the holidays with her family at the compound, Josie remained in Mystic Falls with her family. Her mother, Caroline, had come home for the holiday season to spend time with Josie, Lizzie, Alaric, and their other friends in Mystic Falls.

Hope and Josie texted, called, and video chatted every day. On Josie's end, her family members would pop onto the screen for brief moments. Josie found out that her mom and Hope have been on a first-name basis for years now. On Hope's end, her family avoided getting in view of the camera, avoided talking to much. Freya and Keelin's son, Nik, made an appearance often, waving excitedly when he saw Josie on the screen. He's never met her in person, but he has loved 'talking' to her on the phone.

Today is January 2nd, Hope stayed with her family through New Year's. Tomorrow, Hope has a flight back to Mystic Falls, which Josie is super excited about.

Hope is sitting in the kitchen with her family when her phone rings, Josie's contact showing on her screen, "It's Jo, I'll be right back," Her family nods at her, excusing her to go talk to her girlfriend.

Hope walks just outside of the kitchen, to one of the couches in the living room. She answers the video call, revealing Josie in her own room, "Hi love."

Josie smiles and opens her mouth to greet Hope, but Lizzie takes the phone from her hand, putting her own face up to the screen, "Hey, Hope. I need your help with something."

There's shuffling on her end, leading Hope to think that Josie is trying to get her phone back, "Seriously, Lizzie?"

Lizzie has already sprung up from Josie's bed, and is now on the other said of the room, giving Josie a scolding look, "Did your parents ever teach you to share, Jo? Geez, there's enough Hope to go around." Lizzie turns her attention back to the phone, and Hope just knows that Josie is rolling her eyes at her sister, "Anyways, I picked out 2 masks for our masquerade birthday party. Which one do you think will look best with the dress you picked out for me?" Lizzie then flips the camera to show the mask options. Hope had the dress sent to Lizzie for Christmas. She also had one sent to Josie, since she saw Josie eyeing a picture of it on her phone, along with a few other things she picked out for her.

Hope studies them for a moment, "I think the white one, what did Jo say?"

"I told her you would pick that one!" Hope hears Josie shout, most likely from the other side of their bedroom.

"Well, I had to make sure Jo. Thanks Hope, here's Josie. See you later."

Hope nods and waves as Lizzie walks over to hand Josie her phone back, Josie glares at Lizzie as she exits their bedroom, "I can't wait for you to get home, I feel like I haven't been able to talk to you alone in forever." Josie pouts.

"Well, we're sort of talking alone right now, my family is in the other room and you're—"

Suddenly, there's a small hand tugging at Hope's arm, she turns to see her little cousin, Nik. She picks him up, sitting him in her lap and he reaches to hold the phone. Josie chuckles at that, "What was that you were saying, Hope?"

Hope rolls her eyes playfully, leaving a kiss on Nik's forehead, "He's been almost as eager to see you as I have today."

Josie smiles widely at the sight of Hope through her phone, holding the child so lovingly. She thinks Hope just pretends not to like children, because she can see that Hope is really good with them. She noticed it with Pedro the night he had nightmares from the Oneiroi, but she's also seen it over facetime with Nik. "Be careful, Hope. You may have some competition, he's very quickly stealing my heart."