Severity

<17>

"Super squad training!" Mg cheered, Landon and Ethan gave each other a high five.

"Better show off and try to impress Josie, show her what you got." Rafael threw his arm around Landon's shoulder and pats his chest making Landon blush.

"She said she only likes me as a friend." He frowned.

"That's why you gotta make yourself stand out." Rafael pats his back then walked into the line up formed in front of Hope.

"Let's start with drills." She gestured while everyone stretched.

"Are they allowed to join us?" Lizzie ushered to the other set of twins.

"It's only fair because Mg wants Ethan to join and Ethan wants his sister to join so this will be their tryouts." Hope explains briefly.

"Oh I so hope she fails." Lizzie whispers.

"Anyways, let's start with laps around the gym. How does 30 laps sound." Hope instructed and they lined up near the wall.

"I'm still human!" Lizzie declared.

"25 for you then." Hope huffed and took off running first causing the rest to follow suit.

She was also the first to finish by a couple of laps so she took a spot next to Josie, gulping down water while Josie sipped hers and read her story. Lizzie then finished, not shockingly since she had 5 fewer laps and Hope passed her a water bottle.

"The urge to sabotage that bitch and make her break a bone." Lizzie tells Josie making her choke on her water.

"Lizzie?!" The brunnette smacked Lizzie's arm playfully while Hope shakes her head.

"Why are you so mean to her anyways?" Hope wondered.

"I would tell you my dear best friend but I promised my dear sister that I wouldn't." Lizzie shrugs.

"Then you tell me." Hope turned to Josie.

"Conus silenti." Josie casted which caused Hope to raise an eyebrow. "The night before the attack I found Jade cheating on me with some chick and after a few minutes of thinking, I realized that chick was Maya." She explains making Hope's jaw drop.

"Is that the same night you was at my door crying?" She queried and Josie pulls a face.

"You cried? And didn't tell me?!?" Lizzie gasped.

"I'm well over it now if that counts." Josie shrugs and Lizzie rolled her eyes.

"The audacity to sleep with your ex then to go after your wife." She scoffs receiving a glare from the duo.

"Lizzie please stop with this." Hope sighs.

"It's going to happen, you can't fight fate." Lizzie giggles while they rolled their eyes.

"We are...done." Jed announces, clearly struggling to breathe.

"Great, take a five minute break." Hope directs.

"No fair, you two have been recovering for much longer." Rafael huffs.

"Landon are you okay?" Josie leaned forward to see the boy collapsed on the ground, her voice made his shoot up and straighten himself out.

"I'm—I'm cool. Good. A O Kay." He clears his throat and she rose an eyebrow.

"I think he's delirious, maybe he should take 10." Josie whispers to Hope making Hope laugh.

"While these slowpokes are taking their break, let's start our reps Dude." She ushers Lizzie.

"Ugh, I was just getting comfortable." The blonde complains but complies.

"I'm good, I'll join." Landon interjects.

"You sure?" Hope wanted to laugh at his determination, it was so obvious he is crushing on the brunette.

"Yeah...yeah." He laughed nervously and Hope shrugged.

"Let's get to lunges then." She guided and the three went to the weights.

They started their lunges then about 5 minutes in, the rest of the squad joined in. Maya was next to Hope and Hope didn't pay her any mind but the twins did. Once they finished their lunges, they moved onto arm workouts then took another break.

"Ew you're so sweaty." Josie watched as Hope sits a bleacher below and lay her head on her knees.

"Still cute though." Hope shrugged.

"Mmm." Josie hummed and sipped her water slowly.

"Wow." Hope jaw dropped offensively, in a playful manner.

"This is mild flirting." Lizzie points out catching the duo's attention.

"Way to ruin it." Hope scoffs in a playful still.

"Yeah, thanks for that." Josie joins and Lizzie places a hand dramatically over her chest.

"Don't gang up on me." She crossed her arms and the three laugh.

They continued to talk and Mg joins in after a few minutes. They were about to get ready to spar after a 15 minute break, and Rafael and Jed were setting up the sparring mats.

"Knock knock!" Alaric voice boomed across the gym and Josie and Lizzie shoot up to run and hug their father. Josie more so speed walked because the baby definitely affected her speed. He gave them a just as big hugged then pulled away to examine Josie. "You look different." He waved his finger around her.

"Mom didn't tell you?" Josie face fell.

"Tell me what?" He asked and after a few moments of silence, he laughs. "I'm just kidding, I know about everything." Alaric placed his hand on Josie's belly.

"Oh thank goodness." Josie let out a shaky breath.

"Anyways, who's this?" Hope tilts her head at the darker tone girl standing beside the older man.

"This is Cleo Sowande. She's a witch, more specifically—" He was about to finish his sentence.

"A muse, yeah...I can sense that." Hope held out her hand to Cleo.

"The almighty tribrid, I see you in a lot of my visions." Cleo admits and Hope nods slowly.

"So...could you see who the father of Josie's baby is?" Lizzie asked eagerly.

"That would spoil the fun." Cleo giggles and Alaric lets out a small laugh.

"I'll let you all get back to training while I get Cleo assorted into the school. Are you two still sharing a room?" Alaric asked his daughter and Hope.

"Yes, yes they are." Lizzie answered for him.

"I'm, excuse me. I'm Kaleb, the most handsome here." He held out his hand to Cleo's and Lizzie squinted her eyes at the boy with locs.

"Factually incorrect, I'm the most handsome." Ethan shrugged and smirked.

"Don't listen to him, don't you know that lying is a sin." Kaleb challenged.

"Hey idiots, go spar it out." Hope flashed her eyes and they jump back slightly.

They do as said without another word and Cleo giggles while the rest of the squad rejoined the training ground.