Josie was in the living room doing some of the schoolwork she missed from being gone for two weeks when her uncle walked into the apartment.
"Hey honey," he said kissing the top of her head.
"Hey, Uncle Kai" she looked up at him for a moment before looking back down at her work.
"Is your sister here?"
"Yeah she's in the bathroom," she said not looking up from her paper. Her Uncle sat at the kitchen table.
"Uncle kai, hey," Lizzie said walking out of the bathroom "what's up."
"I actually came to talk to you girls," he said. That got Josie's attention, the girl put her books down and looked at the man.
"About?"
He stayed silent for a moment "you probably aren't going to like this conversation but... you two are still minors... and I can't just let you live here by yourselves..."
"Uncle Kai..."
"I want you two to move back to Arizona with me," he said looking at his nieces "I came down here to help with your mom, and now that she's..." he cleared his throat, "I think it would be good to get back home, back to my wife and kids who by the way, really want to see you two."
"No" Josie shook her head.
"Josie" Kai tried to speak.
"No! please don't make me go, I'm sorry I'll go to therapy or whatever you want just don't make me leave."
"That's not the reason I want you to come with me Josie" he sighed.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Lizzie said.
"Language," Kai said in a stern tone.
"We have lived here I have a boyfriend she has a girlfriend... not the best girlfriend but you know she has her," Lizzie said and Josie pouted "we go to school here, we are seniors, all of our friends have here... Josie has her soccer! we can't leave."
"I'm sorry guys but you have to, there's no other option you are both 17 and don't have anywhere else to go, and the rent for this place is about due... you have to come back to Phoenix."
"This is so dumb" Lizzie shook her head.
Kai got up and sighed "I'll be back tomorrow to help you pack this place up and I'll give you a few days to say goodbye to your friends... we'll leave Friday," he said and walked over and gave both of the twins a hug before walking out of the apartment.
Lizzie turned to her sister "we can't let this happen, I have already lost mom I'm not losing my boyfriend too."
Josie sat there for a moment before picking up her phone and texting someone.
"Josie?" Hope said walking up to the brunette who was sitting on a park bench rubbing her arms because she was a bit cold.
"Why didn't you bring a jacket it's freezing," Hope said taking off one of her jackets and giving it to her girlfriend to put on.
"Thanks..."
"I'm glad you're not mad at me... but what's wrong? you sounded weird on the phone."
"We should run away together," Josie said.
Hope's eyebrows rose in surprise "wait what? run away? Josie what's going on" she said taking the girl's hands into her own.
"My Uncle wants Lizzie and I to move to Phoenix with him, I don't want to go I don't want to leave you."
Hope shook her head in disbelief "just say no! he can't make you go."
"He can Hope I'm a minor still... Please let's run away, we can hitchhike or something? I have a few hundred dollars saved up that can last us a bit if we budget..."
"Jo slow down we aren't running away."
"He's going to make me leave" she wrapped her arms around the girl.
"Listen to me," Hope said pulling back and holding her girlfriend's face in her hands "I will not let anyone take you anywhere you don't want to go okay? I'll figure something out I promise."
"You can't promise that."
"I can and I will, Josie Parker I will figure something out."
Josie gave her a small smile and Hope leaned down and placed a loving hi kiss on her girlfriend's lips before pulling her back in for a hug.
-
When Hope made it home after spending a few hours at the park with Josie she went to the kitchen where she saw her mom cooking dinner.
"Hey mom," the teen said and sat at the kitchen counter.
"Hey baby," the woman said before stirring the pot of chili she was cooking.
"Uh, mom can I talk to you about something?"
"Of course, you know you can honey," the woman said setting the spoon down and leaning on the counter in front of her daughter "what's up?"
"Well, you know how Josie lost her mom?"
"Yeah, poor girl... I couldn't imagine."
"Yeah... well her Uncle is trying to make her move away and I can't let that happen so can she and her sister stay with us..."
"Hope..." Hayley shook her head.
"Please don't just say no think about it okay? they don't want to leave their mom raised them here this is their home... and we have the resources to help them so just... think on it okay?"
Hayley stood there for a moment before sighing "go get cleaned up before dinner."
Hope nodded and got off the chair and walked back to her room where she changed clothes and got ready for dinner.
-
Hayley couldn't believe Hope had asked that.
Josie was a great kid, she thought she was perfect... or well as perfect as someone could be for her daughter.
But this seemed a little crazy and impossible... her daughter wants her to take in her girlfriend and sister could she handle three teen girls under one roof? she could barely handle her one.
Hayley sighed and decided she would think of a decision tomorrow. The woman walked over to her wine cabinet and pulled out a glass before pouring herself from wine.
