Whatever We Lose

last key

It's already past lunch time when Hope woke up. They had fallen asleep earlier. In fact, Hope woke up early and watched Josie sleep with so much serenity. It made her smile. Just watching Josie like this is enough to make her happy.

'God, I am so much in love with you.' Hope says in her mind as she once again, stare at every feature of Josie's face.

She the sleeping girl's lips and she wondered if how can someone be so perfect, although for the other girl, Hope is the definition of perfect setting aside the bitchy attitude.

Her arm is already feeling numb considering as how Josie has been using it as pillow for how many hours already. But she doesn't mind. Besides, Josie is too thin and she looks so fragile. As though every part of her is supposed to be handled with care.

She gently kissed Josie's forehead and planned to drift back to sleep when someone suddenly knocked.

"Hope, it's me."

'Holy crap.' Hope cursed. Not only does she know that Alaric would only come here if the matter he wishes to discuss is something important or urgent, but his freaking daughter is sleeping on her bed so soundly.

"Hope, it's me. Open the door." Alaric's voice alarmed Hope and she didn't want to wake Josie up so she tried hard not to wake the girl as she replaced her arm with a pillow and then headed for the door.

Unlike her usual actions of stepping aside and letting Alaric inside, she actually stepped out. She never did this mainly because she doesn't like attracting other students' or people's attention and it never escaped Alaric's observation.

"This is new. You came out." the man said in an amused tone.
"Yeah, because Josie's sleeping inside and before you react violently, no. She didn't argue with Lizzie. They're not fighting whatsoever." Hope explained, making Alaric even more amused then before and this time a little bit more confused.
"What's Josie doing, sleeping inside your room then? Are you guys friends now?"
"I finally took people's advice. I am letting her in, and is actually working fine for me."
"Wow, that's really new. Are you really that Hope that I know?" Alaric teased and Hope rolled her eyes. "So, why is Josie sleeping here when she has her own room?" Alaric asked and this question made Hope chuckle, a little nervous but she tried to sound just fine.

"Well this is awkward." Hope said while looking down in a clearly embarrassed voice before facing Alaric, "Um, shouldn't we talk about why you're here first? I mean... that's got to be urgent seeing as how you-" Hope cut herself off and looked behind the man, "-brought your crossbow with you."
"Oh, yeah. Right, we've got an emergency. Apparently, I think that there's a monster that had just showed up." The man says, making Hope raise her brows.

"How do you know? What happened?"

"There's a bunch of students out back, near the old mill who have turned into stones. I was guessing that it might have been someone who slipped along with the new recruits."
"Stones? Isn't that-?" Hope cut herself off.
"Yes. It must have been Medusa." Alaric says and sighs, "And I have this crossbow because I can't look at it in the eye. Based on Dorian's research, it only affects living creatures. Meaning to say, you may be needing to assemble your super squad."
"Without Josie and Lizzie." Hope mumbled.
"Why? You may need their help." Alaric says.
"I do, but I will choose not to get them involved. Medusa only affects living creatures. Josie is a witch, so is Lizzie. I might be needing just a few of them. I'll have Caleb guarding here outside my room, and I'll take MG with me. You, Dr. Saltzman, get the other vamps to guard the other students, and I think it's looking for the urn, please guide it well."

With that Alaric walked off but then looked back only to yell, "Since when are you in charge?!" he asks which Hope heard, making her chuckle.

After she got inside, she silently pulled out clothes to change into while Josie is still sleeping and before she left, she planted a kiss on the girl's forehead and then completely walked out of her room, seeing Caleb on the way to hers in exchange.