Hosie~ One Shots

The Birthday Present Part 4

Josie's POV:

At the airport in Japan, Josie sat near her gate, nervously fidgeting with her boarding pass. Her heart was pounding, and she kept glancing at her phone, checking the time. Only a few more minutes until boarding. Soon, she'd be on her way back to Mystic Falls—back to Hope.

The past few weeks had been a blur of meetings, work, and trying to distract herself from her feelings. She'd thought the distance would help, that being away from Hope would give her some clarity. But the truth was, being away from her had only made Josie's feelings stronger.

She was eager and anxious all at once. What would happen when she saw Hope again? Would things be the same, or would her feelings be impossible to hide any longer? Josie took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She had to play it cool, just like she always had. But deep down, she knew this time would be different.

Her flight was called, and as Josie stood up to board, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.

Hope's POV:

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, waking Hope gently. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light as a smile spread across her face. Today was the day. Josie was coming back in just a few hours.

Hope's heart fluttered with excitement, but there was also a steady determination inside her. Now that she knew how she felt—truly felt about Josie—she couldn't wait to see her again. She had spent so long pushing those feelings aside, trying to focus on other things, on other people. But now, everything was clear. Josie had always been the one.

Hope sat up in bed, swinging her legs over the side as she reached for her phone. She dialed quickly, calling the supersquad.

"Hey, guys," she said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice, though it was impossible. "I was thinking... Josie's coming home today. Do you think you could come over in an hour and help me get things ready for a little welcome home party?"

One by one, her friends agreed. MG, Lizzie, Kaleb, Cleo, and Jed. They were all eager to help, and Hope was grateful for their support. After ending the call, she got up and started pacing her bedroom, the nervous energy building inside her.

As she walked back and forth, her eyes fell on the mirror, and she stopped, staring at her reflection. She imagined Josie standing there in front of her, just as she had done so many times before, trying to find the right words.

"I love you," Hope whispered, as if she were speaking directly to Josie. "I've always loved you... I just didn't realize it until now."

She shook her head, biting her lip as she tried again, her voice a little stronger this time. "Josie, you're my best friend, but you've always been more than that to me. I— I love you."

Hope groaned softly, running a hand through her hair. It still didn't feel right. How was she supposed to say this? How could she put into words everything she was feeling? She'd rehearsed it a hundred times in her head, but now that the moment was approaching, she couldn't seem to get it right.

She turned back to the mirror, her heart pounding. "Josie, I've been blind to this for so long, but I love you. And... I hope you feel the same."

Her reflection stared back at her, silent but hopeful. Hope sighed, shaking her head. There were no perfect words for this, she realized. It didn't have to be perfect. It just had to be honest.

With a deep breath, she left her bedroom to start preparing for Josie's return. She couldn't wait any longer. Today was the day everything would change.

Hope moved through the house, tidying up here and there as she anxiously waited for her friends to arrive. Every few minutes, she glanced at the clock, counting down the hours until Josie's plane would land. Her mind raced with thoughts of what she'd say, how Josie would react, and how everything would change after today. Her heart pounded in her chest, the anticipation building as time ticked closer.