A Fine Line To Cross (Posie)

Chapter 8

"Wow, that's a lot to process." Hope spoke towards Josie who sat on the opposite end of the couch from her.

"Tell me about it." Josie sighed as she threw her head back against the couch in annoyance. Sitting up she continued to speak. "I mean, things with Lizzie have basically mellowed out. Penelope hasn't tried to speak to me at all though." Hope raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"I mean, do you want her to?" Hope questioned curiously.

Josie stared at Hope for a second, not even realizing she had said that out loud, and she genuinely did not know how to answer that, not knowing what she wanted.

"No? I mean, no. I mean- I don't know?" Josie was obviously confused and questioning herself as she groaned and threw her head back against the couch and covered her face with her hands. Observing this, Hope quickly adjusted herself to better face Josie.

"Okay, I mean just think about it, about all the new information you've learned. Turns out your evil ex is actually being evil, for you!" Hope gestured air quotations around evil both times. "Kind of romantic isn't it?" Hope teased and Josie gave her a dry look of annoyance.

"Not helping." Josie spoke and Hope laughed before apologizing.

"You're right, sorry. Anyway, who is your sister concerned with? Still Lizzie." Josie adjusted herself to face Hope as well.

"So you're saying you agree with Penelope?" Josie questioned with a puzzling look on her face, just trying to understand it all.

"I'm not saying I agree with anybody. I'm just saying you have to take a look at the facts." Hope explained and Josie nodded as she spoke. "We all know Penelope can be sneaky and manipulative, and the girls gets on my nerves just as much as anybody. But I do want to believe that deep down Penelope has good intentions. Just be careful. She's still better at evil meddling than anyone, and you and I both know she has power. As for Lizzie, just be more aware of her motives. I know she's your sister and you love her and she may mean well, but I'm not sure everything she does is good for you." Josie had no response, but she intently pondered Hope's words and gave an understanding nod as she continued to process everything.

Hope looked at her watch and grimaced. "Shoot, I have to meet up with Landon." Hope placed a supportive hand on Josie's shoulder. "Good luck with everything! Just take my advice and more than anything, calm down. I'm sure everything will be okay." Josie replied with a quiet 'thank you' as Hope rushed down the hallway and out of Josie's sight.

Josie just huffed another big sigh before plopping her head back against the couch again.

"Unless you want wrinkles by the time you're 30 I suggest you work on learning how to turn that frown upside down." MG caught a glimpse of Josie and starting walking to join her. "I mean I know the little lady that starts with a P can be a real witch sometime, but seriously, it just looks painful." MG threw his bag on the ground and plopped down on the couch while giving Josie that giddy smile of his.

"You know about Penelope?" Josie groaned anxiously.

"Oh, so we are saying her name again?" MG teased causing Josie to give him a blankly annoyed look. "And did you forget the other night when I walked in on the two of you about to..." He cut his sentence off but Josie knew exactly what he was insinuating and was quick to defend herself.

"We were not about to kiss! We just," Josie's sentence cut short as well, as she tried to find any possible way to explain what it looked besides the truth. She failed and MG sat there staring at her all knowingly.

"Right, well while you sit there trying to think of some lame ass excuse, let me tell you this. Penelope is-" MG started to say but Josie groaned and cut him off.