I Guess You're Not THAT Bad | HIZZIE

Chapter 6 - Taken

Lizzie POV
It was a normal Friday afternoon, & I was prepping for a party at the old mill. That is, until Josie comes dashing into the room, crying, a complete mess. She collapses on her bed, & starts simultaneously suffocating herself with her pillow while also managing to continue crying. I swear, she's even better than me at having a panic attack. Wait, she's having a panic attack! What am I even doing? I rush over to her and hold her close, (and upright so she doesn't drown from mucus)
"Josie, who the hell hurt you?" I ask. Most would ask if she's okay first, but I'm the vengeful type, so that'll have to wait. She hesitates, why? Who is she protecting? Then, it comes to me. I was right all along, that sneaky bitch Penelope did set something up! I always warned her that something like this would happen, right as shed let her guard down. Part of me, most of me admittedly wants to rub that in, but if spending time with Hope has taught me anything, it's when to choose your battles. And clearly, this was not time for war. So, I swallow the 'I told you so' that was already halfway out of my mouth, & wait. For a response, for more tears, for anything really.
It doesn't come for a while. I grow slightly impatient, almost commenting on how one of us might die before she tells me what's going on, but it wont sound nearly as loving as I'd mean it to. From our bond, I know she's close to telling me, I just have to wait... a little... longer...
"Penelope... she, we're... not together anymore. Or I guess we never were... that's, that's what she said." Josie chokes out, attempting, and failing in refusing to let anymore of her precious tears go to waste due to Penelope's death grip, (or former death grip) on her heart. While Josie kept the air around her moody, I was now filled with sizzling rage. Even if I'd expected it, I'd never imagined she-devil doing anything THIS catastrophic to Josie. Hell, I didn't think she'd care enough to crush her as completely as she made sure to. That just pisses me off more.
"I'll kill her!" I grumble, standing up, preparing to go on a warpath to end the life of a certain nobody, but as I start to stomp off, I feel a light pull on my sleeve. I turn around and its Josie, of course. She's looking at the ground, slightly embarrassed, but still asks, "Could you please stay, for now? And we'll figure out the rest later... together?" Hearing her voice so raspy hurts, and it reminds me about what I should really be focusing on, Josie's health.
And as much as I want to do that, even the way I cope with this is considered toxic, with all the pushing down till you have a panic attack . I'm probably not the best person to help with a breakup, also probably not the best person to break up with. Even so, I offer my considerably harmful advice, "How'd you feel about going to a party?"
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It started out great. We arrived 30 minutes late (fashionably so, of course) and started off with a quick round of shots to loosen us up, after my insistence. Once that did the trick, and I'd grabbed us a few drinks to bring with us, we headed to the dance floor, or more specifically, the place where everyone WAS dancing, as this was much too much a causal event for something as grandeur as a dance floor. Much more house party-y than that. Josie seems to be in a much better mood, dancing, singing and talking to our friends around us. I do a quick sweeping glance over the room, and slightly frown when I don't see Hope. It's not like I'd expected her to come or anything, but I would have appreciated it if she had, knowing I'd be here too.
Yes, everything was fine until Penelope walks in, and starts mingling, mischief clearly in her eyes. Oh, this bitch. What the hell does she think she's gonna do? I tell Josie I'm off to grab another drink and then start making my way through the crowd, weaving through people with icy stares to get even groups of dancing friends to make way. If the situation wasn't so serious, I'd be relishing in the power I felt in this moment. Even though the dancing, the music and the laughing didn't stop, I couldn't hear it anymore. All I had was one clear thought. FUCK. THAT. BITCH. UP.
My plan however, is swiftly sidetracked when I see Penelope start moving in Josies direction, & like a guard dog I start closing in, ,making sure I'm the midpoint in between the two. Everythings going the way I want it, Josies having fun, Penelopes being taken care of (by yours truly) and the nights going off as an incredible success. Everythings great until, Penelope turns as says in a non sarcastic voice "Mikaelson! There you are! Life of the party!" At first I'm confused, then, I'm really confused. Hope comes into my field of vision, smiling. Something's wrong. Hope NEVER smiles at parties. Sure, she may have fun, but she's a true introvert, through and through. She gets tired quickly, and almost as quickly as she gets there, she looks like she'd rather be killing a horde of monsters, or facing up against Malivoire.
Something's not right.
      Then, my assumption is all but confirmed when they start swapping spit.
               WHAT. THE ACTUAL. FUCK.