Don't be scared.

31

                            JOSIE

Do you know the feeling when you are a still a kid and you have begged your parents days long for a toy and they always said ,,no''? You loose hope and you feel sad because you didn't get the toy you so desperately wanted. You get called later by your parents, you go to them with your sad mood and they actually give you the toy you wanted.

This is what I feel right now. I have always secretly wanted Hope to come back so I could explain her everything. To tell her about the moments that I actually wanted to call her and to the ones I didn't want to. To tell her how much I missed her but how proud I am of her for that she left.

This is what I would want to her if I see her again. I am looking at her right now so why can't I say it? I guess I am too much of a coward. ,,What are you doing here?'' My words come out quietly and my voice shaky. She looks at me and I am looking at her. I feel like the time has stopped around us, that's when I decide to take all of her appearance in front of me. She is wearing a black coat and I can see something lighter like underneath it. It is light like a light gray but I cannot guess what is she wearing exactly cause I don't have enough room on her for my eyes to wander. Her coat is slightly unbuttoned on the place between her neck and a little part of her chest and a light gray scarf around her neck.

My eyes dart lower and the only cloth I can see on her below her waist is dark suit pants. I can't tell if the suit pants are black, dark blue or dark green. A throat clearing sound comes out of Hope and this is the moment I realize that obviously the time has stopped only for me and she saw me checking her out.

A blush spreads around my face and I feel like an idiot right now. I look at her face and her eyes are watching me. There is a small smile on her lips and I return it back but once she realizes that she is smiling at me, the smile on her face falls down immediately.

She clears her throat once again and I look at her face more closely. Her face is kind of reddish, probably because it's cold outside, her lips redder than usual as well but I take it as the fact that is cold outside. I look into her eyes. The same blue eyes as I remember but there is something that catches my eye.

There is a scar on her right eyebrow causing the eyebrow to split. The next thing I realize is the color of her eyebrow, it's darker. Brown. That makes me to look at her hair. Brown as well, curlier and a lot longer.

I remember her hair being a little above her breasts the last time I saw her but now... from the look of it, I bet her hair is long till her waist. How much can person change for almost 2 years?

I hear her clearing throat again and this time I look into her eyes longer than only checking how bright blue they are.

,,Yeah?'' I ask. Her expression is unrecognizable so I decide not to read too much into it. ,,I asked you if I can come in'' She points behind me nervously.

Oh.

She puts her hands in her coat's pockets. I move aside and let her enter my apartment. I walk behind her and take my time observing how she observes my living room and from the look of it, what she can see in my bedroom since my door is opened.

,,You can sit on the coach'' She hums and heads to the couch while I go to close my bedroom door.

,,I like what you did in here'' She says as I sit down on the opposite of her. ,,Really? I mean there are some things I want to change soon but I think it's pretty cozy for an apartment for one person.'' She takes one more look around and looks at me.

She is just looking and I become slightly uncomfortable under her stare so this time I am the one who makes the clearing throat sound. ,,Do you want something to drink? Coffe won't be an option since it's a little too late now and you won't be able to sleep tonight.'' She just shrugs and smiles ,,I didn't plan on sleeping anyway''

Oh shit.

A deep dark blush covers my entire face and she sees it. ,,Oh shit. I am so sorry I didn't mean it like that I just... I wanted to talk to you about something'' She says. I can feel the tension. There is something that I cannot put my finger on it. ,,I am listening'' I know she can sense my nervousness just the way I feel hers. ,,Listen...'' She releases a breath. ,,I want to talk to you like we are two adults... which in case we are.'' I nod my head and she takes the sign to continue.

,,Can I be honest with you?'' She asks and I roll my eyes playfully at her ,,Of course you can!'' I say and she nods. ,,I... I ugh. I went... home.'' The hesitation of calling the house or to be more specific, the mansion she was raised in was something that I noticed. I thought she had some problems with her father before but I don't know if they still do.

,,I didn't see you there. I didn't need a lot of time to realize why you didn't come...so here I am. I want you to come because I will not be the only person there. I came back for my family and not for you if that makes you feel little less anxious but just for you to know... I felt the same way but I moved on, so please let's act like adults and be in the same friend group if we have to but I swear I don't have anything against you but respect.'' She leans in. She is passionate about what she thinks but sadly for her I don't have an answer yet.

I lean in to but not too much. ,,How do you know where I live?'' I ask. Her face blushes, her eyes widen slightly and she takes a little longer to answer. I... uhm- I asked Lizzie. She told me'' I nod my head a little slower because I can smell the lie but don't say anything about it. I will found out more soon, hopefully.

,,So... what do you think? Would you give me the honor by riding with me to the Mikaelsons mansion?'' She stands up from the couch and her hand reaches out for mine. I chuckle at her silliness. I reach for her hand but don't grab it. ,,Will you be sober to give me a ride back home?'' I say playfully. Her smile falls down for like 5 seconds. Her breath stops because I heard how she took a breath and doesn't release it.

I am about to apologize but a soft smile appears on her face. ,,I will'' She says and I grab her hand. The both of us blush but neither of us says anything. ,,You didn't say anything but uhm... your answer is yes, you should get dressed'' She says and I smile. ,,No need, I'm going like this.'' I show my pajamas off. ,,Okay then. Let's go'' She heads to the door. That's when I realize she is being serious. ,,Wait!'' She turns around and looks at me confused. ,,Did you really think I would go like that?'' I laugh.

,,I mean, if this is what you wanted to wear then I am okay with it. You are still beautiful'' She doesn't realize the effect of her words on me only when she sees my dumbfound expression and a blush on my face again.

,,Uhmmm.'' She looks at me but her speechless reactions makes me laugh ,,You are smooth, Mikaelson, but I should really go get dressed. Go sit down on the couch. I'll need only 30 minutes'' With that I head to my room and before I close my bedroom door, I take a quick glance at Hope.

She throws her head back and groans at the same time. I don't know where this tension is going take us and I hope it doesn't burn any of us.

I NEED OPINIONS ASAP!!!!