Back to Me

A Promise of Love

"The- No, MG. MG! The other right. Your right!"

The bottom edge of the couch slipped from MG's grasp, falling to the timber floor and wrecking two twin holes with its legs.

Josie watched as Kaleb gently lowered his end of the couch, a hand resting on her cheek in second-hand embarrassment.

MG winced, quickly turning to Josie, "I'm sorry?"

She shook her head, unable to keep the smile from her face, "Don't worry about it, MG. Guess we'll just have to add the floor to the rest of things we have to replace."

It was a pretty long list. Surely her dad wouldn't notice if she added one more thing.

During the past week the school had been swarmed with construction workers rebuilding the foyer and the east wing. The basement was also absolutely in ruins, but they couldn't allow humans to find out they had dungeons in a boarding school.

Josie found it hilarious that first night. When they carried a blacked-out Hope to the school, students were filing in through the door as if there wasn't an entire wall missing right beside it. Really, they could've just crawled back in and avoided the long line.

They left Hope in the infirmary for Freya to treat her wounds. Josie was convinced she'd never get the image of a pale, nearly-dead Hope out of her head. She wanted to stay by her side, but found she was of little help as the Mikaelson witch worked deftly to prevent any more blood loss.

As if a blown up school wasn't enough, heavy clouds gathered overhead and poured relentless rain. She spent the night keeping a water-proof spell over the foyer and hoisting buckets of water out of the flooding kitchen. She didn't get a blink of sleep.

"Finally we can get rid of this forsaken hickory wood floor," Lizzie said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "I've been telling Dad for years the dark color only sucks every last bit of sunlight. It makes my skin look yellow and we can't have that."

"You always look beautiful, Lizzie," said MG, almost breathless.

The blonde seized him, though it wasn't as dismissive anymore, "I know. But imagine how much better I'd look with the right lighting."

She snapped her fingers and jutted her hip out, "It's game over for you, bitches."

Josie chuckled, though she thought it'd be better for everyone if Lizzie didn't get her way with the flooring.

Kaleb flopped down on the tilted couch. He waited until a drill masked his voice, and said, "As the vampire representative, I vote to turn the transition cells into japanese-styled motel rooms. We're past the need for chains and cold ground, let's make it comfortable. I'm sure the werewolves will agree."

He looked over his shoulder and yelled, "Right Raf?"

Rafael, busy with setting up the chandelier, nodded absentmindedly, "Right."

Still, Kaleb took the win.

A muffled groan perked Josie's ears. She looked around for the source of the sound, zeroing on the splintered floorboards holding the couch.

"Kaleb, move!"

But the vampire was too busy boasting about his ideas for the school with Lizzie and didn't hear her. The floor gave out under the weight of the couch, collapsing even further down and taking Kaleb with it.

Left-over ashes and dust flew in a cloud around the void. He peeked over the edge, holding his head like he had a headache.

Josie burst into laughter, together with Lizzie and MG. Kaleb was not so entertained, but a smile stretched his lips as he pulled himself back up.