Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 29: Risk

After having breakfast at Hope's house, the two girls shower and get dressed to go back to the Salvatore School. Hope says a spell to repair her bed and hide the marks along Josie's neck from their rendezvous. Unfortunately, there's no spell to rid Josie of the soreness in her legs.

Hope drives them to the Salvatore School, helping Josie from the passenger side of the car when they arrive. She takes Josie's hand in her own, turning to walk them toward the school when Josie pulls her back. Hope raises her eyebrow in confusion.

Josie looks at her with pouting eyes, "Maybe we should just get back in the car...I already miss our little bubble at your house."

That brings a smile to Hope's face as places her hands on Josie's hips, "As great as that sounds, I'm sure your family wouldn't be too thrilled if I whisked you away forever."

Josie sighs as she wraps her arms around Hope's neck, "I guess you're right...but I'm gonna need one more kiss before we go inside."

"Oh, is that so?"

Josie nods as she smiles widely. Hope complies and leans in to capture her lips in a short kiss. As she pulls away, her lips are chased by Josie's, who she can feel grinning into her lips.

Josie releases her lips, pressing their foreheads together and letting out a sigh of content.

"You said 'one more,' that was two."

Josie blushes at that, "Mhm," she pulls her her head away, running fingers through the hair framing Hope's face, "I love you, Hope."

"I love you too, Jo."

Josie smiles as she reluctantly pulls away from Hope, intertwining their hands, "Okay, I guess we can go inside now."

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Caroline returned home last night to visit her daughters since their birthday is next week, and she won't be able to attend their birthday party.

She sits in her office, looking over some paperwork when she glances up to look out the window, seeing her daughter and Hope outside, wrapped in each others arms, looking at each other lovingly. It warms her heart so see her daughter so happy and in love. When she sees the two lean into each other, she peels her eyes away, not wanting to obtrude on a private moment.

After a moment, her eyebrows furrow in confusion.
I thought Lizzie said Josie was volunteering somewhere last night.
The realization hits her, and motherly concern and instinct kicks in as she assumes the two girls spent the night together.

She gets up from her chair, walking down the hall when the two of them come into the front door, hand-in-hand. They look up to see Caroline standing with her arms crossed, a brow raised in suspicion.

"Mom? When did you get home?" Josie wears an excited smile from seeing her mother there. Then Josie actually registers her body language.

"Last night. I came to your room to see you, but Lizzie said you were volunteering in town." Her tone is slightly accusatory as her eyes move between her daughter and Hope.

Josie finally understands the motherly look, "Oh, yeah. I did, but Hope picked me up this morning and took me to get breakfast." She shoots her mom an innocent look, and however false it may be, Caroline seems to buy the explanation.

Oh. Caroline uncrosses her arms and lets them fall to her sides, relieved that she doesn't have to give a lecture to her daughter about sneaking around behind her back or sleeping over at her girlfriend's house. "Well, in that case I'm glad a Malivore monster didn't join you two for breakfast. Ric told me the attacks have been occurring less frequently with your protective spells in place." Her gaze shifts to Hope, who smiles and nods in confirmation, "I also heard the the Mikaelson's have offered to host the birthday masquerade."