Drifting Apart

Chapter 1

They, being the ambitious redhead and level-headed brunette, were at the Mystic Grill sharing a peanut butter blast with whipped cream on the bottom, despite the risk of Alaric Saltzman finding out.

"I'm so gonna get grounded after this..." Josie sighed, knowing that although it may have seemed like it right now, she didn't get away with skipping classes to hang out with her girlfriend all day.

"Only if you get caught. And even if you do I mean it's not like the alternative is better - sleeping through economics or MG explaining to us the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book."

"Yeah, I know. I mean- trust me, I know-"
Hope was a sucker for Josie's adorably soft side, which was the only side she showed most of the time, apart from the brief moments she could catch with her alone after 5th period; and she was about to be quite satisfied with the clarification she had been waiting for all day.
"This is definitely worth it, and a much better alternative." Josie blushed behind her smile.

She knew she had some sort of effect on Hope; that the short but sweet things she said made the closed-off Mikaelson more vulnerable than other people knew she could be, and that strangely affected Josie right back. It's cliché, but Hope definitely gave her butterflies, especially when she grinned back in the way that she always did. God, her smile was so captivating. Although Josie knew that grin was just a dig at her for being so cheesy, she lost time within it, and suddenly that time caught up with her again.

"Josie?" Hope flicked her a concerned look, not that they hadn't been looking directly at each other this whole time.

"Oh um- yeah uh- what?" She prayed Hope couldn't see the pink blazing through her cheeks.

"Nothing you just blanked out or something. Are you okay? The air is kind of thin out here...we can go inside," She gestured by standing up halfway.

"No it's okay. I'm fine. Actually can we go on a walk? I think the whipped cream is getting to me." Followed up by a short, airy laugh, Hope stood up in agreement to the walk.

The day soon ended but not without several stops at petite antique stores, laced fingers, and newfound inside jokes. Unfortunately, with the sun setting, it was back to reality and back to an angrily protective father/headmaster.

—

The Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted

The sign glared at the unaware lovebirds, conspicuously making out in the driveway. Yes, Hope had just spent an entire day with her, but there was something so alluring about this one particular brunette.

Hope could not get enough.

She was sure Josie thought the same as she allowed the redhead to almost leave a noticeable mark on the openness of her neck. Keyword: almost.

"Hope," she let out somewhat of a breathy plea that wonderfully rang in Hope's ears. Unfortunately, Josie's message did not come across as a plea for her to stop (although it was); not because she was uncomfortable or wanted this to ever come to an end, but because of the tall, cross-armed silhouette glaring at them from the garden.

Basic human instinct and accidental arousal led Hope no where near stopping until the brunette used a different method.

A slight shove gave way for a few inches between the two and left Hope very confused. Then a thought flickered in her head. Oh god. Did she want me to stop? Was I going too far or- no I mean we do this all the time. Was she out of breath? What if- was I doing something she didn't want?

Hope's expression went from quite puzzled to genuinely apologetic in a matter of milliseconds.

"Josie, oh my god, I'm so sorry- I thought-"