Mermaid

The Aftermath

*A tiny warning. I am pro-choice, and this chapter has implications that some will not approve of. I want to make it very clear that any nasty comments concerning this storyline will be deleted. If you'd like to discuss your views in the comments, even if they are different than mine, please do so respectfully. Thank you :)*

__________________________________________________________

Josie- 7:34 am- Hey, Hope. How are you feeling?
Josie- 7:49 am- Are you coming back to school today?
Josie- 8:23 am- Hope, I know that you're hurting. Do you want me to come over later? I can cancel with Penelope.
Josie- 8:50 am- Just let me know if you need anything.
Josie- 8:51 am- Everything will be okay, Hope.
Josie- 8:51 am- I love you.

  Josie sighed, putting her phone back in her purse. It had been a week since they had visited the clinic, 6 days since Hope began taking the pills. The doctor had warned Hope that she would feel sick for a few days after she took them, so Hope had been absent in the last few days. But, in that time, Hope had gone silent. She wasn't returning Josie's calls or texts, and when she went by to visit her, no one answered the door. It was if Hope had shut the world out, and Josie wasn't an exception to that anymore. It pained her that after everything Hope wouldn't come to her, but she understood. She didn't even know how she would feel being in Hope's position, especially when they were so young. She just wished her best friend didn't feel like she had to go through this alone. As Josie rounded the corner, she ran into Landon, who had his arm around a blonde girl in a cheerleading uniform. Josie recognized that this must be the girlfriend that Hope had told her about. Landon's eyes met hers, and she knew he could see how pissed she was at him. She bit her lip roughly to keep from speaking out, pushing past the couple to get to where she needed to go. She could hear the girl mumble something to Landon behind her, but she ignored it as she continued down the hallway. She understood now why Hope wanted to keep everything a secret. The girl was clueless, the starstruck look in her eyes when she looked at Landon making Josie feel sorry for the girl. She was helplessly in love with the guy who had cheated on her. The whole sad situation made Josie's stomach hurt. That, or it was the fact that she hadn't eaten breakfast that morning.

  Josie sat down in the seat next to her sister, giving her a slight nod before taking out her materials for class. Lizzie barely acknowledged her. Josie sighed; Lizzie had been distant for weeks, ever since her mother moved out. She was constantly with their father, refusing to speak to their mother. Josie, on the other hand, avoided speaking to her parents entirely. She knew what side Lizzie had picked, but Josie didn't want to have to choose between her parents. She still had the hope that things would work themselves out eventually. Maybe her parents just needed space to work things out. It wasn't as if they hadn't had big fights before. No, they had to make up some time, right? They were married, and they loved each other. Josie had to have faith in that. After all, love always triumphed in the end. Josie snapped out of her thoughts when a pointed nail tapped her on the shoulder. Josie turned to her sister, her eyebrow raised slightly. "Dad wants us to come home right after practice.", Lizzie explained to her, never taking her eyes off the worksheet in front of her. "He says he feels bad that we haven't spent time together since...well, you know." "I can't; Penelope and I have plans later.", she stated, causing Lizzie to roll her eyes. "Right", she scoffed. "Of course you would pick her over me and dad. Her and Hope are the only two people you've cared about lately. You're barely even home anymore Josie. I-" Lizzie's rant was cut short by the presence of their Spanish teacher looming over her, looking down in disapproval at the twins. "Ms. Saltzman, I'd advise you to keep family matters at the door. When you enter my room, it is a time for learning.", he scolded them. "You may both exit my classroom until your matters are sorted." Josie stood to object, but he simply pointed at the door silently. As her classmates snickered behind her, Josie grabbed her things and followed Lizzie out the door.