The Long Lost Tribrid

2. I kissed a girl

Hope's Pov:

It took Josie, Lizzie, and me nearly 20 minutes to navigate our way to Kaleb's party. The journey was filled with excitement and a touch of nervousness. Surprisingly, Lizzie is aware of the relationship between Josie and me, but she's completely accepting of it. It's incredibly liberating to be ourselves around her, without any need for pretense or secrecy. The path to the party wasn't straightforward; we had to skillfully evade various guards stationed around the school grounds. Once we managed to slip past them, we found ourselves trekking five minutes into the dense woods surrounding the school.

As we finally broke through the treeline, the party scene unfolded before us. The atmosphere was electric, with pulsating music filling the air and flickering firelight casting dancing shadows. The overall effect was mesmerizing, creating an almost magical ambiance. My eyes immediately scanned the area, quickly locating the drink station amidst the crowd. I turned to Josie, having to raise my voice to be heard over the thunderous beats.

"I'm gonna grab a drink. Do you want one?" I shouted, gesturing towards the makeshift bar.

Josie shook her head, her eyes already searching the crowd. "Not right now. I'm gonna go find Jade and Penelope. Be safe!" she replied, giving my hand a quick squeeze before disappearing into the throng of partygoers.

No sooner had Josie left than Lizzie grabbed my arm, her eyes sparkling with mischief. We burst into giggles as we raced towards the drinks table, weaving through the crowd. I poured us each a generous helping of spiked fruit punch, the sweet aroma mingling with the scent of woodsmoke. Drinks in hand, we made our way back to where we last saw the others. I spotted Josie's familiar silhouette and tugged Lizzie along, eager to rejoin her and her friends.

As we approached, Penelope's exuberant voice cut through the noise. "There she is! Hope!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in an enthusiastic greeting.

"Hey, Penelope!" I shouted back, unable to contain my laughter at her infectious energy.

Within moments, our little group - Josie, Lizzie, Jade, Penelope, and I - gravitated towards the heart of the party where the music was loudest. We let ourselves be swept up in the rhythm, our bodies moving in sync with the pulsating beats. I couldn't help but notice as Jade and Penelope started playfully grinding against each other, their laughter barely audible over the music. The sight sparked an idea in my mind, fueled by the liquid courage I'd just consumed. I quickly downed the rest of my drink, the alcohol warming my insides and lowering my inhibitions.

A mischievous plan formed in my mind - I decided to make Josie a little jealous, knowing full well she wouldn't react overtly in front of all these people. With a smirk, I sauntered over to where Jade and Penelope were dancing. In one fluid motion, I pulled Penelope away from Jade and started grinding against her, my hands finding purchase on her hips. The move was bold, calculated, and definitely attention-grabbing.

As I danced with Penelope, I made sure to catch Josie's eye over her shoulder. The look on Josie's face was priceless - a mixture of surprise, annoyance, and unmistakable jealousy. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction as I gave her a knowing smirk, fully aware of the effect my actions were having on her.

Suddenly, I felt a forceful tug on my arm, spinning me away from the dance floor. Disoriented, I found myself face-to-face with Ryan, his eyes glazed over with intoxication. Before I could react, he grabbed me by the waist and forcefully pressed his lips against mine. The acrid taste of alcohol on his breath made me recoil. With all my strength, I pushed him away, stumbling backward as I wiped my mouth in disgust.

"Hey, asshole!" Josie's voice cut through the music, sharp and protective. She stepped between Ryan and me, her body tense with anger. "Why don't you take your drunk self somewhere else before I make you regret ever coming to this party?"

Ryan swayed on his feet, his words slurring as he pointed an accusatory finger at us. "Why don't you two just make out already? We all know you want to! God, everyone saw how you were eye-fucking Hope while she was grinding against Penelope. It's so obvious, it's pathetic!" His voice grew louder with each word, drawing curious glances from nearby partygoers who began to gather around us.

I could see the fury building in Josie's eyes, her fists clenching at her sides. She was moments away from doing something drastic, something that could get us both in serious trouble. In a split-second decision, fueled by adrenaline and a desperate need to defuse the situation, I acted on impulse. Grabbing Josie's arm, I spun her around to face me. Our eyes met for a brief, electric moment before I pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

The world around us seemed to fade away as our lips met. The music, the crowd, even Ryan's drunken taunts all became background noise. I poured everything into that kiss - all my feelings for Josie, my frustration with hiding, and my relief at finally being able to express our love openly. To my surprise and delight, Josie responded with equal passion, her arms wrapping around me as she deepened the kiss.

As we finally pulled apart, breathless, I became aware of the crowd's reaction. Cheers, whistles, and applause erupted around us. Some people looked shocked, others amused, but to my immense relief, I saw no signs of disgust or anger. A wave of acceptance washed over me, and I couldn't help but smile, my forehead resting against Josie's.

"You just-" Josie began, her voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

I cut her off with a soft laugh, my eyes sparkling with a mixture of mischief and adoration. "I know, and I don't regret it for a second," I replied, my voice filled with warmth and a hint of playful defiance. Then, turning to face Ryan, who stood slack-jawed and bewildered, I couldn't resist adding a final, triumphant declaration.

"Josie is my girlfriend, you asshole," I announced, my voice ringing clear and proud over the murmur of the crowd. With a satisfied smirk, I turned back to Josie, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close. As we walked away, leaving a stunned Ryan in our wake, I caught sight of his eye roll before he stumbled off, likely in search of his next drink.y.

I released Josie's waist and stumbled back to the drink station, my heart still racing from the adrenaline rush. As the euphoria of the moment began to fade, I exhaled a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the bottles, pouring drink after drink in quick succession. The alcohol burned my throat, but I welcomed the distraction it provided from the whirlwind of thoughts spinning through my mind. It wasn't until Josie's gentle hand on my arm that I realized how many drinks I had poured.

"Hey, whoa, what's wrong?" Josie asked, her voice laced with concern as she stopped me from grabbing yet another drink. Her eyes searched mine, worry etched across her features.

I turned to face her, my eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "What did I just do?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding music. "I kissed you and called you my girlfriend in front of everyone," I continued, my words tumbling out faster as I began pacing back and forth. The reality of my actions was starting to sink in, and panic began to rise in my chest. "They're gonna take you away-" I choked out, unable to finish the thought as memories of Bloody Hollows flashed through my mind.

Josie's hands found my shoulders, her grip firm but gentle as she forced me to stop pacing and face her. "Baby, it's okay. I promise," she said, her voice steady and reassuring. Her eyes locked with mine, conveying a depth of understanding and love that momentarily calmed the storm in my mind. "This place isn't like Bloody Hollows. I know it'll take you a minute to understand that, but Hope, people here don't care about relationships like that." Her thumbs traced soothing circles on my shoulders as she spoke. "I love you, and no one is going to take me from you," Josie reassured me, her words filled with conviction. Without hesitation, she pulled me into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around me like a protective shield against my fears.

Our intimate moment was abruptly interrupted by a frantic shout from somewhere in the party crowd - "Guards! They're coming!" The words sent a jolt of adrenaline through us, and Josie and I exchanged a quick, panicked glance before springing into action. Without a word, we took off running, our feet pounding against the forest floor as we darted between trees and bushes, heading towards the relative safety of the castle.

The woods were treacherous in the dark, and I felt my heart leap into my throat as my foot caught on an exposed root. For a terrifying moment, I thought I would fall, but I managed to regain my balance and pushed on, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Josie was just ahead of me, her silhouette barely visible in the dim moonlight filtering through the canopy.