Hosie~ One Shots

You Are The Colour

Hope Mikaelson woke up on her 18th birthday to the same muted shades of grey that had filled her world for as long as she could remember. She blinked at the ceiling, the familiar wash of black and white greeting her as she rolled out of bed. Today was supposed to be the day everything changed—the day she would see the world in color, the moment her soulmate would be revealed to her.

But as she walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face, all she saw was the dull reflection of herself in the mirror. She sighed, brushing her hair back, her thoughts swirling. It was still early, and she had a long day ahead of her. Maybe, she thought, she just hadn't seen her soulmate yet.

As she dressed, pulling on her usual black jeans and a dark shirt, she felt the weight of the day pressing down on her. She knew Landon had planned something special for her birthday. He had been excited about it all week, and Hope had forced herself to smile and act enthusiastic for his sake. But deep down, she felt a gnawing emptiness—a certainty that whatever he had planned wasn't going to bring her the happiness he hoped it would.

Hope and Landon had been together for a while now, and on the surface, they seemed like the perfect couple. He was sweet, kind, and always there for her, and she cared about him deeply. But Hope knew the truth she could never admit, even to herself: she wasn't in love with Landon. Not in the way she should be.

She was with him because he was safe. He was someone she didn't have to worry about losing because him being a phoenix, someone she could protect. And if she was honest, she was with him because it helped her keep her feelings for someone else buried deep inside—someone she had loved for years, but who she had convinced herself could never feel the same way.

Josie Saltzman.

She had tried to convince herself that maybe the whole "seeing colors" thing didn't really matter. Maybe she could be happy with Landon, even if the world stayed grey. She had pushed down her feelings, her hopes, the little spark that flared whenever Josie Saltzman entered the room.

Landon was sitting across from her at breakfast,
talking something he had planned for Hope but she didn't really listen to him.
Hope looked up as the doors to the dining hall opened, her heart skipping a beat. Lizzie and Josie walked in, laughing about something. And then, as Josie stepped into the room, it happened. The world exploded into colours.

The muted greys were replaced by a cascade of vibrant hues. The rich blues of the sky outside, the lush greens of the plants in the corner, the deep brown of the wooden tables—all of it was so vivid, so beautiful, that Hope felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

And then there was Josie. She was bathed in sunlight, her dark hair gleaming with hints of chestnut, her brown eyes sparkling like chocolate. She was the most beautiful thing Hope had ever seen, and in that moment, Hope knew—without a doubt—that Josie was her soulmate.

Josie's laughter faded as she noticed Hope staring at her. She tilted her head in concern, a soft smile playing on her lips as she made her way over. "Hey, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Hope shook her head, a smile tugging at her own lips. "Not a ghost. Just... the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

Josie's smile widened, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Hope blushes. "Nothing." She takes a sip from her water and turns around so Josie doesn't see her blush.

Josie didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press. Instead, she sat down beside Hope, a warm presence at her side. Hope was acutely aware of how close they were, the way Josie's hand brushed against hers as she reached for a piece of fruit.