You Called, I Answered (Salvatore Shield)

0.08: Recruitment

After classes that day, Josie heads toward the complex with MG, planning to meet the others there in the conference room for their meeting.
Or at least whoever decides they want to be a part of the program.

But Josie thinks that each of them truly wants this.

But she doesn't want to get her hopes up.

She enters through the side door of the building, something that's become more familiar than the main entrance, since Hope always takes her through the side doors.

MG doesn't seem to question it, seeing as he knows the girl has made visits with the auburn-haired Tribrid.

He's been trying to understand the twins' complicated dynamic with the girl over the years,
"I still don't understand why Lizzie seems to hate her so much."

Josie sighs as they walk through the foyer, "It's kind of hard to explain. Lizzie and I used to try and be friends with her all the time when we were younger, but she always seemed to push us away. I think that led to some resentment for Lizzie."

"But didn't you say she had to push you away?"

Josie nods, thinking back to when she found out Hope was a Mikaelson, "Yeah. I don't know details or anything, but dad told us that she had to change her name and move away from her family because there were people hunting her when she was little. I'm not sure why she couldn't tell us the truth though..."

"Maybe she was scared?"

Josie chuckles dryly at that, "Doubt that. She doesn't seem to be afraid of anything."

MG can agree with that.

The two enter the elevator, "Conference room."

"Granted."

Josie leans back as the elevator doors shut, and MG suddenly wears a puzzled expression,
"Wait, but if you two know who she really is now, why does Lizzie still hate her?"

Josie shrugs as if she doesn't know the answer, but she does, and it's a rather complicated one.
There's several reasons for the lasting resentment.
But Josie sure as hell isn't diving into that right now.

Luckily the elevator doors open before MG can question her dismissal, and Josie exits with MG following behind.

When they enter the conference room, Alaric, Caroline, Lizzie, and Wade are already there in their seats, so they follow suit, with MG sitting beside Lizzie, and Josie beside him, next to the head of the table opposite from her dad.

Her back faces the glass doors, and everyone else is too preoccupied by light chatting around the table to notice the person taking the seat at the head of the table, but Josie turns toward the sudden movement, eyes widening at the sight of Hope glancing back to her with a slight smirk and a raised eyebrow as she leans in to whisper,

"Welcome to the fold Agent Saltzman."

The nearness of the girl gives Josie a sudden chill up and down her spine, goosebumps rising on her skin as a light blush tints her cheeks.

Hope had also called her 'Agent Saltzman' in her wet dream last night, and if Josie wasn't already replaying the dream in her head, she definitely is now.

It doesn't help that Hope is gazing back at her like that.

She opens her mouth to respond, but she's cut off by her father at the other end of the table, "Glad you decided to join us Hope."