Hosie~ One Shots

Bitter Rivalry, Sweet Surrender

The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted was abuzz with activity as students prepared for the upcoming Founder's Day festival. Among them were Hope Mikaelson and Josie Saltzman, two of the most talented but also most antagonistic students in the school. Their animosity towards each other was well-known, a simmering rivalry that had lasted for years.

Hope, a powerful tribrid, had always been the top student, confident and often aloof. Josie, a kind-hearted but equally strong witch, had always felt overshadowed and misunderstood by Hope. Their mutual disdain was palpable, but beneath it lay a complex web of emotions neither dared to acknowledge.

Their history went back to when Josie was twelve and Hope was fourteen. Josie had developed a crush on Hope, captivated by her strength and beauty. She had worked up the courage to confess her feelings, but on the day she planned to do so, she overheard Hope talking to some other students.

"Josie Saltzman? I could never be with someone like that," Hope had said, her voice dripping with disdain.

Heartbroken, Josie had turned her affection into hatred, vowing never to let Hope see how deeply she had been hurt. What Josie didn't know was that Hope had said those things out of fear and insecurity, trying to hide her own crush on Josie. When Josie started ignoring her, Hope had been equally hurt, and their relationship deteriorated from there.

Years later, their paths crossed once again in an unexpected way. Their magical history professor, Professor Saltzman, assigned them to work together on a project about the origins of the supernatural creatures in Mystic Falls. Both were furious but had no choice but to comply.

"Let's get one thing straight," Hope said, glaring at Josie as they sat down in the library. "I'm not thrilled about this any more than you are, but I'm not going to let your incompetence ruin my grade."

Josie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Trust me, the last thing I want is to work with you. But I don't plan on letting your arrogance get in the way of our project."

They spent the next few hours in tense silence, occasionally exchanging sharp words and icy glares. But as they delved deeper into their research, the walls between them began to crack, revealing glimpses of the pain and confusion beneath their hostility.

One evening, as they worked late in the library, Hope couldn't contain her frustration any longer. She slammed a book shut and looked at Josie, her eyes blazing. "Why do you hate me so much, Josie? What did I ever do to you?"

Josie's eyes flashed with anger. "You really don't know, do you? You said you could never be with someone like me. I heard you, Hope. I heard everything."

Hope's face paled. "You heard that? Josie, I... I didn't mean it. I was scared. I thought... I thought if I pushed you away, it would be easier."

Josie crossed her arms, her voice trembling with emotion. "Easier? Easier for who, Hope? You broke my heart. I wanted to tell you how I felt, and you crushed me."

Hope's expression softened, and she took a hesitant step towards Josie. "I had a crush on you too, Josie. But I didn't know how to handle it. I said those things because I was afraid. Afraid of being vulnerable."

Josie's eyes filled with tears. "You had a crush on me? But you acted like I was nothing."

Hope reached out, her hand trembling. "I'm so sorry, Josie. I was stupid and scared. I didn't know how to deal with my feelings, so I lashed out. But I never stopped caring about you."

Josie's resolve wavered, the anger and hurt giving way to the emotions she had buried for so long. "I hated you for so long, Hope. But deep down, I think I still... I still care about you too."

Hope stepped closer, their faces inches apart. "Can we start over? Can we try to move past the hurt and see where this goes?"

Josie took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "I'd like that, Hope. But it's going to take time. We've both been hurt, and we need to rebuild trust."

Hope nodded, her eyes filled with determination and hope. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes, Josie. You mean too much to me to let this chance slip away."

Over the next few weeks, Hope and Josie worked together not just on their project but on mending their fractured relationship. They spent long hours talking, sharing their fears, hopes, and dreams. Slowly, their animosity transformed into understanding, and understanding into affection.

One evening, as they sat by the lake, Hope turned to Josie, her heart full. "You know, I've always admired your strength, Josie. You're one of the kindest, most resilient people I know."

Josie smiled, her heart swelling with emotion. "And I've always admired your courage, Hope. You're so powerful, but you've never let that power define you. You've always fought for what you believe in."

Hope reached out, taking Josie's hand in hers. "I want to fight for us, Josie. I want to build something real, something lasting."

Josie squeezed Hope's hand, her eyes shining with tears. "I want that too, Hope. More than anything."

As the sun set over the lake, Hope and Josie leaned in, their lips meeting in a tender, heartfelt kiss. It was a kiss filled with years of unspoken words, of pain and healing, of a love that had been buried but never extinguished.