Secret Admirer | Hosie {finished}

7. Secret party

"Off you go, Mikaelson. Back to your game."

Hope returned to the game finding the score of her team still higher than the other team which only meant her plan worked. Through out the game everyone felt exhausted mainly because of the heat, and when the last final whistle was blown they took their celebrations to the river, as they ran towards it and splashed in the water. Everyone shortly joined Hope's team to freshen up and Josie approached Hope throwing a bit on water on the girl who was already drenched from head to toe.

"You were really good out there. If my sister didn't hate you, she does now."

"She will have to suck it up either way. And you have to be more subtle too."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw you cheering for me, especially when Penelope tackled me your face was priceless."

Josie threw more water at Hope who was now laughing sweetly and trying to swat the water away. Then out of nowhere the two guys tackled Hope into the water and her team gathered around cheering making Josie walk away to give them space.

"Is that the thank you I get guys??"

Hope said spitting some water out of her mouth and looked at the group who was smiling, feeling proud of their win.

"I have an idea. How about we celebrate tonight in my tent? I will try to sneak some more alcohol in and we can steal one of the stereos for music." Caleb suggested.

"Isn't this gonna get us in trouble?"

"Well, if you don't break the rules once in a while you miss all the fun." Hope said while walking off the river. "I'm in.."

---

That night after everyone had freshen up and rested for a few hours Hope started getting ready and putting make up on on the mirror. Josie who was sitting on her bed reading a book stole glances of the girl and wondered where she was going.

"Is there an event I don't know about?"

"Actually, there is. But I'm not supposed to tell you."

"I thought we should stay in tonight because we have rafting tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, well. We are having a secret party to celebrate our win today.." Hope plopped down on Josie's bed and the girl looked up at her. "But if you promise not to tell anyone else, you can come with me."

Josie smiled at Hope's suggestion, she felt as if Hope wanted to spend time with her as much as she did with Hope and that could mean something, right? She set her book down and shook Hope's hand.

"That's a deal. Just give me a minute to put some make up on too."

"You don't need make up to look nice you know."

Josie bumped into Hope and gently shoved her away from the mirror, with the auburn pulling an offended face but Josie secretly enjoyed it.

"Look who's talking. Are you trying to impress anyone tonight?"

"Not really, more like they have to impress me."

"Lord, you are so cocky sometimes."

Hope gave off one of her attractive smiles as she sat on her phone going through her messages.

"Everyone is gathered in Caleb's tent. We should get going now."

The girls walked to another tent which only took a short while and spotted a lot of people gathered at the porch drinking beers and messing about.

"I thought this was a small gathering?"

"I guess the word got out."

Hope grabbed a beer for her and another one for Josie, using her teeth to open the lid and then offered it to the girl.

"I don't really like beer."

"Oh, come on..there is nothing better to drink anyway."

"Hey Hope, you made it. And what is she doing here??" Caleb said.

"She's with me, it's not like you haven't invited your friends Caleb." Hope said with a bossy look.

"She better not go running to her sister and give us away. The other team will surely blow up our cover."

"She won't."

"Hope, thanks but I can speak for myself. I'm not my sister's little puppy. And you should seriously stop making assumptions about people you don't know."

Josie walked off but felt Hope grabbed her hand stopping her.

"Where are you going now?"

"Back to our tent. It looks like I'm not welcomed here. I shouldn't have come in the first place."

"Josie.." Hope exhaled. "I want you here..and this is also your chance to prove that you are nothing like your sister. Don't blow this. And me."

"Uh, fine..I will stay. But only because you asked me."

As the night went on the usual games kept the group busy, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Josie was sitting on Hope's lap and the auburn had her arms wrapped around the girl's stomach protectively ready to defend her against any teasing that the group made about her. And truth is, no one dared to go against the auburn.

"Is anyone excited about rafting tomorrow?"

"Yeah, but I heard that last year six campers got lost and the river dragged them away. Is that true?"

"Yeah, that's true.." Hope explained. "I was here last year and we had to organise a search party for them."

"Did you find them? Was anyone injured?" A worried Josie asked, looking back at Hope's eyes.

"Yeah we found them after several hours. They were fine just really hungry I guess." Hope laughed to lighten the atmosphere.

"Josie don't worry, Penelope won't let anything like that happen to you. She will give you the kiss of life if she has to."

The group laughed but Josie just frowned.

"Enough with this joke guys. Penelope and I are not a thing.."

Hope lightly squeezed the girl's hips, making her feel ticklish and squirm away.

"Yeah but you could be. Are you not interested in her?"

"What if I am? It's nobody's business."

"Well, I am not nobody." Hope whispered in Josie's ear and the girl in her lap froze.

"Fine, I'll tell you but not here."

"Shit guys! Pack it up. The guard is coming around to check what the noise is." MG said while running towards the tent.

Josie grabbed Hope and everyone ran off back to their tents leaving Caleb deal with the guard. The girls made it back just in time and their roommates looks at them curiously.

"Where the hell have you two been?"

"Uh, nowhere?" Hope said with an innocent smile and winked at Josie who got the cue.

After removing their make up and changing into their pyjamas they got into bed and looked at each other across the small space."

"So you never told me about Penelope.."

"She invited me on a date at the lake tomorrow." Josie whispered and watched how Hope's expression changed.

"Oh.." Hope paused and tried her best to sound excited. "The lake's a romantic place for a date."

"I thought you weren't into romance and relationships."

"Yeah, I'm not. But you are. You read books, and all good stories involve the main character falling for someone."

"You have me figured out, Hope Mikaelson."

"Let's hope Penelope does too."