Lizzie knew that Hope had always excluded herself from all school activities, dances, and parties which was another reason she chose Hope for Miss Mystic Falls. She wanted Hope to experience the lows and highs of a competition that she never in a million years would have even thought of joining. She wanted Hope to truly feel beautiful and to know how it is to feel like a normal teenager even if it's only for a day, and although not wanting to admit it out loud, she did also want to spend the day with Hope.
Lizzie sighed, looking around the competition with Hope by her side, "They call it rehearsal, but make no mistake the competition starts now." Lizzie said quietly to Hope, as they made eye contact with the judges who were already mentally judging everyone in the room
Lizzie and Josie made eye contact, as Josie nodded signalling she was ready to get the plan in motion. Josie stood up and began to stretch when Penelope walked up to her with a smile, "What are you doing here? Isn't your presence alone a huge win for the patriarchy." Josie said mockingly
"Mm, not if I'm your escort." Penelope said scratching the back of her neck, smiling suggestively
"Mg is my escort."
"Well, I might have convinced him to sit this one out." Penelope said casually
"And why would you do that?" Josie asked sighing defeatedly
"If you read the letter, you'd know." Penelope's entire mood changed at that, she went from playful to serious
Vera, Dana's mom, cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, "Time for rehearsal." she said as the music began to play
"Honor your partner." Vera said, as Josie curtsied and Penelope bowed
"Right hand around."
Josie and Penelope lifted their right hands up in front of each other close, but not close enough as they circled around
"Flirt with your eyes." Vera continued
Penelope lifted her eyebrows suggestively smiling at Josie as she rolled her eyes, still circling around each other
On the other side of the room Rafael and Hope were stumbling around trying to make sense of the instructions when they accidentally bumped into a contestant who was doing the choreography perfectly
Hope asked Rafael to be her escort seeing as Landon left and her and Lizzie seemed to have decided to stay friends only.
"I'm sorry." Hope said, to her fellow contestant
"With the time you spent not doing your hair, you could've at least practiced the dance a little." The girl said rudely before walking further away to continue the dance
Hope gave her a death glare as Rafael stood there stunned
"This is the death of feminism." Penelope said as her and Josie continued to do the dance now back with only their right hand up, still circling each other
"It's tradition. Don't be a hater." Josie said
Lizzie and Josie made eye contact from the other side of the room, she nodded signaling to Josie that it was go time, "I'm gonna trip now." Josie said to Penelope
"What?" Penelope asked quickly as she caught Josie right on time and dipped her, before bringing her right back up
"Ooh! Very nice. But there's no touching during this part, it's all about the simple intimacy of the near touch." Vera said as Josie and Penelope lifted both hands up and continued to dance as if nothing happened
"Don't ruin this for me."Josie whispered
"For you or for Lizzie?" Penelope replied
"For both of us. There's a plan. That plan now involves helping Hope. I already told you I don't want to win." Josie said
"But did you mean it? Or would following in your Mother's footsteps be cooler than you could ever imagine? Would winning Miss Mystic Falls bring your family history full-circle in a way that Lizzie would never appreciate?" Penelope asked seriously
"Why would you say that?" Josie asked angrily
Penelope sighed, "Let's just finish this dance." she said changing the subject as she bowed once again
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