Hosie~ One Shots

Separate Ways

It had been years since the halls of the Salvatore School echoed with the laughter and chatter of its former students. Now, the corridors were silent, save for the occasional creak of old wood settling and the whisper of the wind through the grand, old windows. The school reunion was a rare event, one that brought together the scattered alumni of the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. Some had gone on to live ordinary lives, while others continued to embrace the extraordinary world they had grown up in.

Hope Mikaelson stood in front of the main entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. The years had been kind to her—she had grown stronger, more confident, but the weight of her past still lingered in the back of her mind. She adjusted the strap of her bag and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The reunion invitation had sat on her desk for weeks, but she had only decided to attend at the last minute. Something—no, someone—had pulled her back to this place.

She pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside. The familiar scent of old wood and magic hit her immediately, bringing back memories she thought she had buried long ago. The grand foyer was filled with the sounds of conversation and laughter, as old friends reconnected and shared stories of their lives since they had last seen each other.

Hope scanned the crowd, her eyes searching for a familiar face. She spotted Lizzie Saltzman near the punch bowl, laughing at something MG had said. They had all kept in touch over the years, but seeing them here, back in the place where it all began, made it feel like no time had passed at all. Lizzie caught her eye and waved her over.

"Hope! You made it!" Lizzie called out, her voice filled with excitement.

Hope smiled and made her way over to Lizzie, who immediately pulled her into a hug.

"Of course, I couldn't miss this," Hope replied, pulling back to look at her friend. "How have you been, Lizzie?"

"Oh, you know, same old, same old," Lizzie said with a grin. "Traveling, running my little empire, occasionally saving the world. The usual."

Hope chuckled, but her smile faded slightly as she glanced around the room again. Lizzie noticed and followed her gaze, her expression softening.

"You're looking for her, aren't you?" Lizzie asked quietly.

Hope sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Is it that obvious?"

Lizzie smiled knowingly. "Only to me. You know, you could just ask."

Hope shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I don't even know if she'll be here."

"Trust me, she'll be here," Lizzie said, her tone filled with certainty. "And when she sees you... well, let's just say some things never change."

Hope's heart skipped a beat at Lizzie's words, but before she could respond, the doors to the ballroom opened, and more alumni began to filter in. Hope's breath caught in her throat as she saw her—Josie Saltzman, standing in the doorway, looking just as beautiful as Hope remembered.

Josie hadn't changed much over the years. Her dark hair was still long and flowing, framing her face in soft waves. She wore a simple, elegant dress that accentuated her figure, and her brown eyes sparkled with the same warmth and kindness that had always drawn Hope to her.

Hope froze, her heart pounding as she watched Josie scan the room. For a moment, it was as if time had stopped. The years melted away, and all Hope could think about was the girl she had loved—and lost.

Josie's gaze finally landed on Hope, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other across the room. The noise around them faded into the background as the two women locked eyes, old memories and emotions flooding back in an instant.