Back To The Beginning

Chapter 3

Hope's POV: I bit my lip and slowly walked into the bathroom, flicking on the light. I tried not to look at or think about the shower as I closed my eyes and gingerly peel off the grey nightshirt, putting it on the floor. I quickly rubbed my back to double-check that I wasn't wearing another layer, then carefully pulled the underwear and pajama pants off my waist. 

Stepping into onto of the showers, I washed my face and armpits as I grabbed a bottle of Lizzie's shampoo. Keeping my eyes shut, I finished showering before feeling around for a towel. I really should have thought to grab one before I got in. Oops.

Finally finding a towel, I quickly dried off before throwing on Lizzie's rob and gingerly opening my eyes. 

Covered. 

Thank God. 

Running the towel through Lizzie's hair, I retreated back to the twins' room before my eyes settled on a chest of drawers. My skin crawled at the idea of searching through Lizzie and Josie's underwear drawers, but unless I wanted to try walking around without it, the thought of which made my common decency and my back protest, I had no choice.

Did they even share the same underwear drawer?

How will I know which one is which?

Do they share?

My cheeks reddened at the thought. 

One horrifying minute later, I had one white bra and a matching pair of underwear that wouldn't traumatize me too much to wear. Slipping on the pair of underwear, I eyed the bra, then the robe doubtfully. 

I am not looking forward to trying to do this with my eyes shut.

Squaring my shoulders, I closed my eyes and dropped the robe before simply slipping the already hooked bra over my head. Carefully opening one of my eyes, I looked into Lizzie's mirror before sagging in relief. At least she's wearing underwear. This is already torture.

I scowled unhappily into the mirror, noting just how hot that made Lizzie look when she was standing there barely dressed, before grabbing a red sweater and a pair of blue jeans to get into. Blow-drying Lizzie's hair, I pulled it back into a ponytail before standing in front of the mirror, fiddling with the sleeve of my sweater. Her sweater. I took a calming breath and looked straight into the mirror, practicing my cold, indifferent stare. 

"Lizzie Saltzman", I muttered to myself, practicing my indifferent, dismissive look. "Hi, I'm Lizzie and I'm secretly a closet nerd that loves fashion. I'm selfish, but I've been working to improve myself each day, and, for some weird reason, I think Landon looks like a Hobbit", I said, before scowling at the comment. 

I am so doomed. There's no way that I can pretend to be Lizzie. And I can't risk telling everyone, or they'll possibly think that Lizzie's having a psychotic break or something and send me to a psych ward.

"Uh, Lizzie", Josie spoke up, causing me to jump as I looked over my shoulder to find Josie sitting on her bed, with a book in her hand, watching me. "What are you doing", she questioned.

"Practicing", I answered, although it came out more of a question, causing Josie to roll her eyes halfheartedly as she set her book off to the side.

"Lizzie, we show new students around all the time. I think we can practically recite the whole tour in our sleep", she giggled, getting up from the bed to walk across the room. "Where's your uniform", she questioned, looking over my outfit with an odd look. Uniform? We haven't worn uniforms in months. When did we stop? "And why are you dressed like that? I thought you said that wearing a sweater with jeans makes you looks like a circus clown", she asked.

"Hey", I exclaimed, offended, before remembering where I am. "Hey, I-I did say that didn't I", I laughed nervously. "I was just...", I trailed off, searching of something to say.

"Lizzie, you don't need some silly speech or outfit to impress a guy. If he doesn't like you for who you are, then he's obviously not worth your time", she said, walking over to the closet as I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Here. Put this on", she said, handing me a simple button up, white collared shirt, a black jacket with the school's logo on the front, and a plaid skirt.

Cursing under my breath, I bit back a groan at having to dress again before reluctantly pulling the sweater over my head. Throwing on the white shirt, I grumbled under my breath as I fumbled with the buttons before Josie wordlessly stepped forward to help. "Thanks", I muttered, shifting on my feet as she adjusted my collar. Clearing my throat, I pulled my jeans off before slipping on the skirt, tucking my shirt in, before Josie handed over the jacket. 

Sitting down on the edge of Lizzie's bed, I pulled on a pair of socks before reaching down to pull on a pair of shoes, frowning to myself when they refused to fit. "Lizzie", Josie spoke up, as I picked up the shoe to study it in confusion. "Lizzie", Josie called.

"Where", I asked, looking up from the shoe in relief. 

Thank God. Now we can finally...

"Oh. Lizzie is me", I muttered to myself, as she sent me another odd look.

"Those are my shoes", she pointed out, causing me to look down at the shoe in my hand silently. "Are you sure you're feeling okay", she asked, moving to sit down beside me. "You can stay here if you'd like. I could do the tour by myself", she offered.

"I'm fine, Josie", I sighed, putting the shoe down before Josie handed me a pair of back converse. "I just feel a little off today", I admitted, pulling on my shoes.

"I'm just worried about you", she sighed. "I know that mom leaving has been really hard on you, but I just want you to know that I'm here if you ever need anything", she told me softly, laying a hand on my arm. 

"I know, and I really appreciate that, but I think I just want to get this tour over with", I told her honestly. 

The sooner I find Lizzie, the sooner we can figure out how how to switch back.

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Lizzie's POV: I gasped, clutching my head as a blinding pain ripped through my skull, causing me to double over with a pained cry. Squeezing my eyes shut, I was reminded of when Ken attempted to bash my skull in, as the pain spread through my body like wildfire, causing me to grit my teeth. A loud ringing filled my ears before the pain decreased to a dull throb, causing my shoulders to relax. 

"Son of a bitch", I cursed, massaging my temples. "Is the spell supposed to cause my head to explode", I asked, before opening my eyes in confusion. "Hope", I questioned, looking around the woods in bewilderment. "What the hell", I muttered, looking around in confusion before freezing as I realized a very important detail. 

"Why the hell am I naked", I mumbled, getting off the ground as my legs shook, causing me to catch myself on a tree as I groaned in frustration. "You better come out and fix whatever the hell that spell did to us, Mikaelson", I shouted, narrowing my eyes as I looked around.

Where is she?

I felt strange. In many ways, I felt good, very good. I've felt better than I've had in my entire life. But my senses seemed to be acting strangely, like someone had given me a boost without telling me. Everything was almost clearer somehow, and I could easily pick up the smell of wet moss and pine.

The sensations made me disoriented. I've never had senses this good, and I'm a heretic. Well, former heretic if the spell worked correctly. Now I'm just a plain siphoner again, which means that I still have to worry about the merge.

Where the hell did that spell send me?

And...where the hell did those come from?

Staring down at my chest, I tore my eyes away as I stumbled away from the tree in search of some clothes. Tugging a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I froze, realizing that it was the wrong color as the ringing in my ears stopped, allowing me to hear clearly. "What the hell did that spell do to me", I muttered, pausing as I heard my voice. Grabbing a stand of hair between my fingers, I stared down at the reddish brown hair before glancing down at my body once more as my cheeks reddened.

Oh shit.