Hosie~ One Shots

The Midnight Swim

The air was warm, thick with the lingering heat of the day, as Josie Saltzman tiptoed down the dimly lit hallways of the Salvatore School. The summer night was quiet, the only sounds the occasional rustle of leaves outside and the soft creak of old floorboards beneath her feet. Her heart pounded with a mix of nervousness and excitement as she clutched a towel in one hand, a smile tugging at her lips.

When she reached the pool door, she paused, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting someone to catch her. But the hallway was empty, and the school was asleep. She slipped inside, the faint scent of chlorine filling her senses, and let the door close softly behind her.

Hope was already there, sitting on the edge of the pool with her legs dangling in the water. The moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting a silvery glow over the surface of the pool, and highlighting the pale blue of Hope's swimsuit. Her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, and her usually guarded expression was relaxed, almost serene.

Josie's breath caught in her throat at the sight. There was something about seeing Hope like this, so unguarded, that made her heart swell with affection. She had always admired Hope's strength, her fierce determination, but it was in these quieter moments that Josie felt closest to her.

"Hey," Hope greeted softly, looking up with a smile that was just for her.

"Hey," Josie replied, walking over to join her. She sat down beside Hope, dipping her toes into the cool water. "I can't believe we're doing this."

Hope chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Breaking curfew? Living dangerously?"

Josie grinned, nudging Hope with her shoulder. "Yeah. You're such a bad influence, Mikaelson."

Hope feigned offense, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, please. You were the one who suggested this midnight swim."

"Because you looked like you needed a break," Josie said, her tone softening. "You've been pushing yourself so hard lately."

Hope sighed, her gaze drifting to the water, watching the way it rippled around their feet. "I guess I have. It's just... there's always something, you know? Something to fight, something to fix."

"I know," Josie said quietly. "But you don't have to carry it all alone."

There was a silence between them, the kind that was heavy with unspoken words, with feelings too deep to easily express. Finally, Hope looked at her, vulnerability shining in her eyes. "Sometimes it feels like if I don't keep going, if I stop even for a second, everything will fall apart."

Josie reached out, her hand covering Hope's. "You're not alone, Hope. You don't have to be the only one fighting. You have people who care about you, who want to help. Who want to be there for you."

Hope's breath hitched, and for a moment, Josie worried she had said too much. But then Hope turned her hand over, intertwining their fingers, her grip tight as if she were holding on to Josie like a lifeline.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Josie," Hope whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the water.

Josie's heart fluttered, and she squeezed Hope's hand in return. "You won't have to find out."

They sat there for a while, just holding hands, the silence between them comfortable now, filled with the unspoken promise of support, of understanding. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, Hope gave Josie's hand a tug, pulling her to her feet.

"Come on," Hope said, a playful smile spreading across her face. "We didn't come here just to talk."

Josie laughed, letting herself be pulled to the edge of the pool. Together, they jumped into the water, the coolness a sharp contrast to the warm air. They surfaced, laughing as they wiped the water from their faces, the sound echoing off the walls of the empty pool.