IN ANOTHER LIFE , josie saltzman ✔️

- 12. Surprises

I awoke with a good feeling. That feeling turned out to me feeling weird when I saw Hope getting up with a big smile on her face. "Good morning, my sister!" She exclaimed happily, still smiling. "Did you leave in the night to get your happy pills or what?" I asked while I got up from my bed. I went to my drawer and got my favorite school uniform out, based of a blue shirt with the school logo and black cardigan and a pair of dark blue jeans with my favorite boots. Hope also went to dress herself and I sighed when I now looked into the mirror while I finished putting on my boots.

"You and Josie... what's the status?" Hope asked behind me and I brushed my hair before I braided them. "Um... I don't know. We talked a few days ago when she got back but nothing major... I- I feel my magic growing stronger though." I whispered the last sentence and Hope nodded. "She can't shake it. Your mom couldn't and dad couldn't, so..." She said and we left our room.

Later Landon, Rafael and I sat downstairs together around a table when Hope approached us. She sat down next to Landon who was holding a cup of coffee and a croissant. "Morning, handsome." She said and then smiled at Rafael and me. "Handsomes. And beautiful." Last sentence directed at me I raised an eyebrow and watched her curiously. Then she took a bit of Landon's croissant. "Hmm, sweet, sweet carbs." She said and ate it. "Somebody's in a really good mood." Rafael commented and I chuckled. "Told you. The robot's broken." I said and Rafael grinned at me. "Just woke up on the right side of the bed, I guess." Hope answered and I shook my head, grinning about her positivity. "For the first time ever?" Landon asked and I snorted. Hope laughed shortly. "You're so funny. I love that about you." She said and I got up. "Hope, I love you with all my heart and I love that you're happy. But I gotta go." I said and she looked around. Then the Saltzman twins approached us. "Good morning. Rafael." Lizzie said with a smile and I raised my eyebrow again. "Apparantly Hope isn't the only one super nice here." I whispered down to Landon and Rafael and both of them merely chuckled. Then my eyes landed on Josie and I quickly got my bag and left the teenagers before walking back into my room. I used a portal to transfer a few pages of something that I had writen down until I was left with only one note. "Damn it!" I said and put the note in my pocket before I got up and left my room.

I had listened with one ear when Alaric announced that the annual talent show was scheduled for a much later. It was now when I joined my sister, her boyfriend and the werewolf when Lizzie announced it was back on for tonight. Landon and Rafael were laughing and playfully bickering eachother. "So, Lizzie's acting weird." Landon said and Rafael then looked at Hope who was walking ahead. "Well, she's not the only one." I slowly nodded to myself, agreeing with him. "Babe." Hope said and turned around. "We should do a talent." She said and I began to laugh. "Oh, that's gonna be-" "What?" Landon said confused and I kept laughing. "You and me?" He asked. "Well, I never wanted to before so because I would have to do it alone and now I have you." I glared at her. "Ahem?" I fake coughed and she also only glared at me. "Team other." Landon said, captured by Hope and when they kissed I looked away and then saw Rafael leave. "Oh, great." I mumbled to myself.

Later I found Hope by the stairs in the grand hall sitting by the witches with Josie. I took a deep breath and the note in my pocket felt a thousand times heavier now but all that was gone when I saw Penelope walking up to Josie and Hope. Josie who had hid behind Hope on the stairs looked up to her and from the entrance I heard Penelope saying, "Just make sure you read it in private." Josie took the note and said, "I'm not gonna read it all."

Then Penelope walked away and looked at me once before I walked up to my sister and other half. "Okay what do you think it says? Check this box you wanna kiss me. Check this box you want to kill me." Josie got up and gave me a quick look before turning to Hope. "I don't know and I do not want to find out." She replied and I sighed. "The she-devil has shown her heart, I'm impressed." I said. "When's your turn?" Josie asked and looked at me. I stared at her, speechless. She must've felt my magic gathering inside me because she added, "I'm sorry." She whispered quietly. "I... I need to go. Sorry." I turned around and left them.