Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 73: Chilling

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Hope gets out of the shower and wraps a towel around her body just before hearing the front door of the safe house open and shut.

She quickly makes her way downstairs, alarmed at the sudden intrusion.

When she gets to the bottom of the staircase, she sees Josie standing in the entryway, looking extremely nervous.

The brunette gives her a weak, hesitant smile,
"Honey, I'm home."

Every time either of them imagined this moment, they pictured the both of them being overwhelmed with happiness, giddy and harmonious.

But now, as the two of them share an intense gaze, there's a hint of disappointment in their eyes, hurt and conflict.

Until now, Josie had never truly understood how Hope could crumble her adversaries with a simple look.

But Josie now understands, being at the receiving end of the afore mentioned look, feeling so small compared to the powerful bite of her stare.

And she has truly never felt anything as chilling as the cold glare of Hope Mikaelson.

She crumbles under the intensity, finally understanding the sheer power of a glance.

But somewhere underneath the gelid exterior, there's a vulnerability that only Josie would be able to recognize.

Hope seems defeated, tired, "What are you doing here, Josie?"

"I have a key, remember?" Josie holds it up, failing at the attempted humor to break through the tension in the air.

Hope never relents her stare, recognizing Josie's avoidance of a true answer.

Josie sighs, "I just wanted to talk."

"You've said plenty already, don't you think?" Hope starts making her way up the stairs, knowing Josie is going to follow her, but she dreads it still.

She doesn't want to feel the same way she felt during their argument at the school again.

Inevitably, she hears footsteps coming after her. She veers off into her room with Josie right behind her.

Hope shuffles through her drawers to find a t-shirt, her back facing Josie who stands in the center of the room.

"Hope, please, can we just—"

"I don't want to argue anymore tonight Josie. You should go home."

..."I am home."

Hope pauses her movements for a moment, having so many different and tumultuous emotions swarming all at once.

Josie looks down at the floor, suddenly defeated when Hope doesn't respond to her, "Do you really want me to go?"

No response.

"Do you even want me to go with you tomorrow? To New Orleans for the wedding..."

"Your whole family is going Josie. Of course you should be there."

"That's not what I asked.."

Hope sighs, dropping her towel to the ground before putting her oversized shirt on, and finally turning toward the brunette.

Josie tries to hide the fact that her focus wavers at the sight of the girl in front of her.

But what Hope says next gets her full attention, makes her ache harshly within her very core.