On Purpose

New chapter

"Lizzie", Alaric said sounding surprised. "I'll have to call you back, Lizzie just showed up, goodbye Care". Alaric turned to Lizzie and Penelope, "I think you have something explaining to do dad", Lizzie said while crossing her arms. "I do, you may want to sit down".

"I'll leave the two of you alone", Penelope said while making her way towards the door, "please stay", Lizzie said grabbing her arm, "you deserve to hear this just as much as I do", she said with a sincere smile.

"Okay, I'll stay", Penelope answered back with a genuine smile. That was the first time that the former friends have looked at each other genuinely in months.

Alaric told them everything, he started by telling them about the merge because that's what started it all. Then he continued to tell them how Josie had found out about it and the real reason why Caroline left and how's Josie is currently with her in Belgium right now. And the reason that Lizzie can't longer feel her is that they aren't maniacally linked anymore because Josie decided to relinquish her magic.

After Alaric had told them all of that, the girls remained silent, they were both processing all of this information. Penelope didn't really know if she should say anything, after all, Mg had already told her about the merge, she felt a little guilty knowing this and not telling either of them or at least Lizzie.

The first one the break the silence was Lizzie, "so you're telling me that Josie is with mom right now, the one we haven't seen in years because you decided to send her away", she stood up from her chair, "oh let's not forget we are cursed, which you have been hiding from us all of our lives and one of us have to die", Lizzie practically yelled at her father.

"But you're not", Penelope said. Finally looking up at Lizzie. "Your father just said that Josie has relinquished her magic therefore there isn't magic left for you to absorb".

"That's correct. The merge isn't happening baby. Jo found a solution".

Lizzie's eyes softened, her lips began to quiver and she surged forward and launched herself in her father's arms. She began to sob. "I-I miss her so much Dad anI can't feel her anymore, I feel like I'm missing a part of me".

"Do you know if she is going to return to the school?", Penelope asked. Alaric looked up at her, "to be honest I don't know, Penelope. And I'm not going to push her to come back either. I think the best thing to do is to give her time and if I know her right, she probably also feels guilty about everything she did, you know how she is".

"You're probably right", Penelope said while sounding defeated.

"If you'll excuse me", Penelope stood up and left them alone in the office. Alaric was right, Josie needed time and Penelope was going to give her that. When she left that office, she decided that she was going to turn a new leaf, make up with her former friends and stop with poking Lizzie.

...

Penelope was currently reading, "Calling Me Home", by Julie Kibler, when she heard someone knocking on her door. Confused to who would be knocking at 1 am. She stood up and went to open the door. "Lizzie", she said surprised, "what are you doing here?".

"Can I come in?", she opened the door wider and moved to the side. Lizzie walked in, taking in her surroundings at the same time. Penelope closed the door and turned to look at her.

"I'm sorry" Lizzie started. Penelope was staring at her confused as to why she would apologize. At least she couldn't think of any reason for her to apologize. Lizzie continued, "I'm the reason she left and you're hurting because of it. If I had been more obvious to my surroundings and as to how I have been acting in general, maybe she wouldn't have left then. I know that I can't change the past, but I'll like to change my future, I don't want her sacrifice to be in vain. So for now, I'll try to stop being selfish and be more selfless starting now. And I'm only going to say this once so listen carefully Park, I'm sorry and I hope we can move past this and actually try to be friends again", Lizzie said while watching Penelope's reaction cautiously.

Penelope, on the other hand, was standing there dumbfounded, she didn't know if she heard Lizzie Saltzman apologize to her. She of course also heard all of the other things, but she really didn't know what to say.
"I-I think I'll like that" Penelope said genuinely. "It has been tiresome taking jabs at you", she said playfully.

"Oh shut up, by the way, did I make the Penelope Park stutter", Lizzie said while laughing.

"No", she answered back trying to look mad but ended laughing with Lizzie instead.

...

Alaric was sitting in his office with a glass of bourbon. He decided to dial Caroline again.

"Hello Alaric"

"Hey Care"

"So I take it that you talked with Lizzie-", "and Penelope", he interrupted.

While in Belgium, Caroline was sitting in the living room with Josie beside her while the phone is on speaker and she heard her dad say that. Her eyes widened, her mother laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed a little bit. Josie motioned for her mother to continue, but still not letting him know that she was listening to the conversation. "How did they take it?".

"Lizzie took it the hardest, but that's understandable of course and Penelope was rather calm but asked if Josie is coming back to school. I think she misses her a lot".

Josie could feel her eyes starting to get watery, but she also knew that she couldn't return back to the school, not now at least. She isn't ready to face them yet. Caroline didn't really know what to say, so Alaric continued, "but Lizzie is going to be alright and I'm going to be there for her properly and you should be there for Jo. And once she's ready to return home I would like it if you returned with her".

Now Caroline was the one with tears in her eyes, "I would like that Ric". She ended the call and turned around when she heard a sob, she instantly took Josie in her arms.
"It's okay baby, everything will be alright again, one day".