Raw Love [SLOW UPDATES]

Chapter 11

"Um, what is that?" Hope stares at the giant sculpture the delivery people had brought in.

"It's from ancient Greece." Ric motions for Dorian to follow him with cart, Hope following shortly behind.

"And why is it here?" Hope follows both men all the way into the gym.

"Because we are hosting Miss Mystic Falls again." Ric tells Dorian to stop and then they unload the statue onto the middle of the floor.

"Don't you remember what happened last time?"

"I remember you won and Penelope Park left." Hope cocks her head to the side at the last part. "Oh Penelope left and Josie was upset. Should I have asked her if it was alright?"

"Don't worry, I'll talk to her about it." Ric nods and then turns to the door as more people bring decorations in, including Lizzie. "Hey, you in charge again?"

"I mean of course. It is my thing." She smiles and then walks off to yell at someone. Hope decides to go look for Josie. She finds her in the garden reading a book.

"Hey." Josie looks up at Hope and smiles as she sets her book to the side.

"Hey what's up?" Hope takes a seat next to Josie.

"So we're hosting Miss Mystic Falls and." Hope takes a deep breath. "Me and your dad were wondering how you felt about it."

"Why would I-" The realization hits Josie and she frowns. "Oh." She thinks about it for a little bit before looking back at Hope. "Do you think Penelope will ever come back?"

"I mean it's possible." Josie purses her lips and then stands from her position facing the young tribrid.

"It's fine." She smiles and then walks away, taking her book. Hope sighs and then goes back inside.

****

"You know." Landon picks at the leaves on a tree as he and Raphael stop to take a break. "I know we've done something like this before but it somehow seems harder."

"To survive? It's going to be hard Lan." Raphael starts looking through the brush for good sticks. "Hey help me find firewood."

"Yeah." Landon started looking through the brush. "So." He picks up a couple of good-looking sticks. "While we didn't remember you were interested in Hope."

"Do we really need to talk about that now?"

"Yeah, we do." Raphael stops arranging the sticks and turns to Landon.

"Fine. Let's talk." Raphael walks over to him and leans against a tree.

"Were you interested in her before?" When he doesn't answer Landon takes that as a yes. "Are you still?"

"Of course I'm not." Raphael looks away when he answers and Landon knows he's lying.

"Why are you lying to me?" Raphael tries to object but Landon scoffs. "You look away when you lie."

"I'm sorry Landon. I can't control how I feel." Landon is about to reply when a branch snaps behind them and they turn towards the sound.

"Who the hell are you and why are you on my land?" The dark-skinned man points his gun at them.

****

"So you're actually participating this year?" Hope watches as Lizzie poses in front of her mirror.

"Well, last year you went on in my place because of Dana's mother. She moved away over the summer because she was getting married." Lizzie turns to Hope with a smile on her face and sits down on the bed. "What was it like to win? I mean aside from the thing with your dad."