but I'll just let you live-

the field

Days went by with the same uncertainty and Landon's interruptions until one similar day when everything spiraled out

Hope Mikaelson stood at her locker, mechanically spinning the combination lock open and closed without much thought. The morning hustle of the school surged around her, but today it felt distant. She could feel the slight edge of unease creeping up her spine, the sense that everything was slipping out of control—slowly, but surely.

In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of Josie Saltzman making her way through the crowded hall, that familiar flutter in her chest coming alive as it always did when she saw her. Josie, with her soft smile and quiet strength, was the one thing in Hope's life that made sense. Being with Josie made her feel whole.

Hope felt her lips curve into a smile as Josie approached, her heart settling into its familiar rhythm. But that peace didn't last long. She knew something was off between them—had been off for weeks now—and the cause wasn't lost on her. The unspoken tension, the moments that should have been filled with warmth but were instead strained by unvoiced thoughts, had become hard to ignore.

"Hey," Josie greeted her, standing just close enough to Hope to brush her fingers along her arm.

"Hey yourself," Hope replied, hoping her voice didn't betray the confusion swirling inside her. She reached out, taking Josie's hand, squeezing it lightly. She wanted to believe that holding Josie would remind her girlfriend how much she meant to her, how much Hope cared about them. But even as their hands linked, Hope could feel Josie's hesitation.

Before either of them could say more, a voice interrupted their moment.

"Well, well. If it isn't the happy couple."

Hope tensed as soon as she heard Landon Kirby's voice. She turned to see him leaning casually against the lockers, grinning like he hadn't just dropped a weight into the middle of their conversation.

"Landon," Josie said, her tone betraying more annoyance than Hope had anticipated.

Hope knew what Josie thought of Landon—what everyone seemed to think. That there was something between them, something left unspoken. But the truth was, Hope had never looked at Landon like that. Not in the way people assumed. Sure, he was her friend, one of her closest, but that was it.

Yet, no matter how innocent her feelings were, the problem remained. Landon had feelings for her. And even though Hope didn't return them, his constant presence in her life was slowly eating away at her relationship with Josie. She could feel it in the way Josie's grip would tighten slightly when Landon showed up, or how her eyes would dim just a little whenever he spoke to Hope for too long.

"So, any big plans this weekend?" Landon asked, his eyes lingering on Hope as if Josie weren't even standing right beside her.

"We're going to the carnival," Josie cut in, her voice sharp enough that it caught even Hope off guard. The look in Josie's eyes told Hope everything she needed to know—this wasn't just about the carnival. It was about the unspoken battle that had been brewing between them for weeks now, one that revolved around Landon.

Landon's smile flickered for a split second before he regained his composure. "Sounds fun. Maybe I'll see you guys there."

Before Hope could respond, Landon flashed another grin and walked away, leaving an awkward silence in his wake. Hope could feel Josie's hand slip from hers, the space between them suddenly feeling too wide, too heavy with all the things they weren't saying.

"He's always there, Hope," Josie said softly, her voice carrying a quiet hurt that twisted Hope's heart.

Hope bit her lip, her mind racing. She didn't want this. She didn't want to hurt Josie. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just... Landon and I have been friends for so long. I don't think about it the way you do."