Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 24: Enrollment

"So you're really leaving? On the second day of school?" Maya has her arms crossed, leaning on her locker.

"I know you're upset—"

"Duh! You've literally been spending all of your free time at the Salvatore School, and now your just gonna leave. Where did this idea even come from? Was it Josie?"

Hope shuts her locker, finished with cleaning out her things, "This doesn't have anything to do with Josie. It just feels like the right thing to do right now. And I never said I would be gone forever."

"So, are you moving in there?" Ethan speaks for the first time since Hope started cleaning out her locker.

"Partially, but don't worry, I made it clear that I wanted the freedom to go home whenever I feel like it. We can still have our parties and hang out after school." She tries to cheer them up, but it doesn't work too well. Hope picks up her bag.

Maya sighs, giving Hope a weak smile, "I'm gonna miss you."

Hope grabs her hand, "You can call literally anytime, I'll be right down the road."

She nods to Hope, and Ethan takes her bag from her hand, "Well, at least let us walk you to your car."

———————

Hope walks into the front door of the Salvatore School, using a spell to make her boxes of stuff float in behind her. The halls are empty so she assumes the students are in class.

As she walks through the great hall, she hears footsteps of someone coming down the stairs, Josie suddenly running towards her. She wraps Hope in a crushing hug, "I wasn't sure you were serious about enrolling." She pulls away after a moment, leaving her arms around Hope's neck.

"Well, I almost didn't make it. I had to pry Ethan and Maya off of me to get here."

"Hm," Josie runs a hand through Hope's hair, slowly leaning forward, "Now that you are here, you may not be able to pry me off of you."

Hope smiles at her, leaning forward to close the gap between them. Before their lips can touch, she hears someone clear their throat. She pulls away, turning her head to see Alaric, "Josie, why aren't you in class?"

Josie moves her hands away from Hope, blush tinting her cheeks, "I have free period, so I thought I'd help Hope unpack some of her things."

"Alright, just don't be late for your next class. Hope, here is your schedule of classes. You can settle in today and start tomorrow."

Hope takes the schedule from him, "Got it. Thank you." He nods, going back to his office.

When he's out of sight, Josie quickly pulls Hope closer, immediately bringing her into a kiss. She's confused when Hope pulls away before she can deepen the kiss. Josie wears a pout on her lips.
"Babe, as much as I would love to continue this, I do really need to get this stuff to my room before people start filling the halls."

Josie sighs, "Fine, just one more."

Hope smiles before capturing Josie's lips again, tugging her bottom lip slightly when she pulls away, causing a quiet moan to escape from Josie, "You're making it really hard to stop."

"Let me make it easier." Hope places her hand on Josie's chest, lightly pushing her away.

"Okay, fine, at least let me help you unpack."

Hope nods and they make their way upstairs, the floating boxes following behind them. Hope enters the room, she's stayed in here a few times already, so it's familiar to her. But she knows it will be different once she has some things in here to personalize it. She does a few spells to get her stuff out of boxes and into the closet and drawers. A few more spells cause decor to appear, the bed suit to change, the curtains to turn a different shade. Josie watches in awe as the room takes on a completely different look, and all of the boxes are emptied. "Looks like you didn't need my help after all."