When You Have A Life Crisis But You're Just a Lonely Nerd (Hosie AU)

I'm literally embarrassing

Sweat is dripping down my forehead. Am I really so scared of Josie that I can't have a simple conversation with her?! We've been "talking" for about thirty minutes or so. And by "talking", I mean her talking to me, and my monosyllabic answers.

"Uh huh."
"Yeah."
"Okay."
"Sure."

Unfortunately, while I've been mentally kicking myself in the head, Josie's noticed my absent state of mind.

"Are you okay, Hope?" Maybe I should just be completely honest with her.

"Honestly? You're kind of intimidating to me."

"Have I made you feel unwelcome in my house? I'm sorry!" Of course her kind nature causes her to jump to a conclusion where this is actually her fault.

"No, this isn't really your fault. I'm not really the type of girl to just randomly be nice to others, and you're the polar opposite of that. I don't want you to think of me as cold hearted when you get to know me better." I lower my head in shame.

Suddenly, I feel my head slightly rise. There's something on my chin. It's a...hand?! When my head's fully upright, I find myself staring into Josie's eyes. I never noticed how bright they were.

"Do you remember when we sat together in 4th grade?" As I try to answer her, I can't really recall that we were ever together. Hey face is slightly distracting.

"Not really." My reply is slightly sheepish and embarrassed at my forgetfulness.

"One day, I'd forgotten my homework. The teacher was coming to collect our papers, and I was close to sobbing. I thought my elementary career was over. But then, I saw you erase your name on your paper and write mine." Oh my gosh. How could I forget that happened?

"Hope, I asked you why you did that for me when I hadn't really spoken to you that year. You just said, 'Some people are worth a bad grade.' That was one of the nicest things anyone's ever done for me." I can't believe she remembers this from five years ago.

"I also know you're the biggest nerd in our grade, so a bad grade for you was the end of the world." We both bust out into chuckles. I know she was making a joke, but that statement has some truth to it. I'm at the top of our class this year.

I'm still laughing. Josie just has a way of
heightening my emotions and lowering my self control. And that's how I fall off of Josie's bed with a hard thud.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm physically fine. Although, my ego is slightly hurt now." She laughs at that one.

"Here, I'll help you up." Her hand slips through mine, and her surprisingly strong grip lifts me to my feet.

"You're really strong, Josie."

"I am on the varsity soccer team. We lift a lot of weights over the summer."

"If you're any indication of the benefits of soccer, maybe I should join myself."

"Hope Mikaelson, are you saying I'm hot?" Shit. That caught me off guard.

"N-No! I mean, yes, you're hot and attractive and awesome...I was just-I was trying to keep the- the, umm, conversation going, and I-I'm sorry for crossing a boundary and-like I dont want to...do anything -" Josie finally shows some mercy and cuts off my embarrassing rambling.

"Hope, it's okay. I started it. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I still feel like-"

"Nope. I won't let you apologize. You were nothing short of great today, and I like hanging out with you. Let's meet up sometime later without the premise of this project. Okay?" I'm still a little flustered from the comment, so I just nod. Then I look at my phone.

"Josie, I think I have to go soon. It's almost dinner time."

"Alright, I'll see you later then?"

"Yep. Thank you for inviting me to your home. Maybe next time we meet at my house?"

"Okay. Bye, Hope."

"Bye." I don't want to leave just yet, but my dad will kill me if I'm home late. How should I end this?

"Hope, don't you have to go?"

"Yeah, I just-" Suddenly, I find myself surging forward to meet her in a hug. She's obviously surprised, but she slowly wraps her arms around me. Her height causes my face to slightly be buried in her chest, and I want to stay here forever. We break apart after a little too long for a friendly hug. Her cheeks are blushed, and I'm glad to see her flustered in my presence for once.

"Alright, bye!" I'm out the door in a rush. I'm waking to my car, and I realize I miss our embrace