Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 25: Infamy

The past few weeks have been great. Hope getting adjusted to classes, the squad hanging out more often, not too many monsters. There have been a few monster attacks on the school, but they were relatively easy to handle. Jed stopped being a jerk to Hope, and he actually started lightening up on Raf. Looks like what Hope said to him actually struck a chord.

Today is Saturday, so they didn't have classes today. Josie and Hope are walking down the hall, going to meet MG, Raf and Lizzie in the gym, since MG and Raf wanted to spar with Hope.

As they walk down the hall, they see Dr. Saltzman's door open, Alaric and Professor Vardemus step out into the hall. Hope notices a book in Vardemus' hand, Klaus Mikaelson: The Great Evil.

Alaric spots the two girls coming down the hall, looking nervous for the incoming interaction.

Hope plasters on a fake smile, "Whatcha got there?"

Vardemus holds up the book, smiling back at Hope, completely clueless, "Oh, this is just my copy of Julie Plec's book on the infamous Original Tribrid. She's a brilliant writer for the supernatural community.Plec  is having a book signing later today at Whitmore College, and she will be reading an excerpt from her unfinished memoirs as a follow-up on this book."

Alaric is making cautious glances between Vardemus and Hope the entire time they speak, unnerved by the conversation. It worries him even more when Hope continues to wear a smile, "Oh, I had no idea she'd be in town this week. I've read her book several times, I just can't seem to get enough of it." Josie gives her a questioning look. Josie told Hope on their first date that she didn't believe Klaus Mikaelson was completely evil, and Hope seemed to agree with her. Why is she all of a sudden a fan of the writer who wrote a novel detailing his damnation?

Vardemus doesn't seem to question her, "Well, if that's the case, why don't you join me this afternoon? We can meet the woman behind such a brilliant piece of work, and perhaps you'd be interested to hear her more recent thoughts on Niklaus Mikaelson?"

Josie and Alaric can sense that this is exactly the outcome Hope was wanting, "I'd love to join you."

"Fantastic, I will see you in a few hours then."

Vardemus goes to leave, but Alaric speaks up, "Uh, you know what, I think I might join you, too. I've got a copy of my own."

Vardemus nods at him, "The more the merrier."
He walks past them, Hope continuing to wear her fake smile as she follows his actions with her eyes. Josie is still looking at her, confused.

Hope turns around to look at Alaric, who is giving her a knowing look, "Hope, this isn't a good idea—"

"Why not? It'll be fun." Hope shrugs. Alaric can't say what he wants to say with Josie being around.

Josie finally asks what she's been thinking the whole time, "Hope, you don't like that book, why would you want to meet the author who wrote it?"

Hope furrows her eyebrows, "Who said I didn't like it? I think it's great—"

"You're still a horrible liar."

Hope sighs, "Look, if she's adding a reprise in her memoirs about her latest thoughts on what she wrote before, she might have changed her mind on some of the things in her book. She could say that she was wrong before."

Josie can tell that Hope is being honest, she just doesn't understand why Hope would care enough about this awful book to dedicate her afternoon to meeting the author.

Alaric raises an eyebrow, "Okay, I'll allow this little field trip, but you don't leave my sight the whole afternoon. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Hope nods, "We should probably get to the gym, everyone's waiting on us. See you in a few hours, Dr. Saltzman."