Back to Me

Blame On You

Josie had been excited about the picnic. To be surrounded by family, friends, and the girl she liked. Full with eagerness, she spent the afternoon trying on outfits, took a long shower, and exfoliated for an extra gleam to her skin. Her hair styled in glamorous curls. Even the headache from that morning subsided, like her happiness guarded off any negativity.

At first, she thought Hope was late. Understandable, since her family was pulling her in different directions. Or maybe she was still talking herself into going -- a possibility that squeezed Josie's heart, but better than the last option... However as the late afternoon rolled around, the high of the picnic winding down, the hard truth slapped her across the face.

Hope wasn't coming.

A skull-crushing headache assaulted her then, pain like no other she had experienced. She excused herself early from the picnic, feeling as if someone was trying to read her deepest thoughts. Even if it meant ripping her head apart. And someone was... the witch inside her mind. It had never been a problem. A nuisance, maybe, but never actual pain.

And it scared Josie.

She was scared the entire walk to her room and the only person who made her feel safe was nowhere to be found. She knocked on said person's door, searching for answers. She heard scuffling inside before the door cracked open. The slightest of gaps.

Hope peeked from behind, eyes narrowed like usual. Except there was an unusual hostility to them, Josie remembered, like a wild animal caged. She didn't open the door any further.

"You missed the picnic," Josie said. Not a question, but a sharp fact.

Hope paused for a beat, her nose scrunched like she was searching her mind for an outing she was supposed to attend. Then her brow creased, the only sign of anger boiling underneath before she schooled her features, plastering a fake smile on, "My apologies, Josie. I'm afraid more important matters required my attention."

More important matters.

Josie didn't press the subject further, afraid of getting hurt. She felt like a fool, of course Hope wouldn't preoccupy herself with something as trivial as a picnic. She didn't even bother to open the door for her.

Still, Josie believed something had shifted between them, especially after the adorable way Hope had sent for her in the morning.

When she reached her room, hunched and defeated, she saw the bear sitting on her bed. The headache kept squeezing her insides, churning them. She tossed the bear aside without care and flopped down on the bed. She only wished for sleep then, for the darkness to swallow her whole.

She ignored the single tear sliding down her cheek.

====================

Silver light seeped through drawn curtains, a clear sign that Josie had been tumbling on the bed for hours. She couldn't sleep. Her mind too loud with thoughts and doubts, haunted by the warmth of blue eyes. Faint howls echoed through the halls, the occasional jingle of chains dueting. An orchestra of young wolves amassed in the basement. Lizzie mumbled from her bed, fast asleep.

Josie stared at the beams of the ceiling, tiredness long forgotten. Hunger stirred in her, the last time she had eaten being the afternoon. Students weren't supposed to wander the halls during a full moon as a safety precaution, but her stomach had joined the chorus of growls. She slipped out of bed and tossed an oversized hoodie on, careful to not wake Lizzie. She pushed the door open, wincing as the hinges creaked when she heard herself gasp.