Surreptitious

Chapter 48: Interlude To A Night Well Spent

“So, which one do you think should be the flavor of the weekend?” Lizzie smiled salaciously as she eyed the abundance of boys surrounding them from her seat on a soft patch of grass next to her sister.

Josie stared at Lizzie, dumbstruck. “Who ARE you?”

“Oh, come on Jo!” Lizzie whined and grabbed her twin by the arm. “Ever since you and Hope have been doing it doggy-style – ew, I might add – I’ve been all alone! So, what’s the harm in wanting someone to make this atrocious idea of hiking and camping worth it?”

“Lizzie, you’re supposed to be dating MG. If you don’t pay him some attention this weekend, I’m afraid he might explode into a puffy cloud of feathers.” Josie’s eyes scanned the crowd until they settled on MG, who had been watching them just as closely from across the field. He had managed to gain some serious ground with Lizzie, and her behavior towards his romantic feelings for her had come a long way, but Josie was still afraid that Lizzie simply didn’t consider him as a serious paramour. She hated to see his sad puppy eyes drag after her blonde twin.

“MG knows that things are just casual between us. He should know better than to get his hopes up.” Lizzie waved off the notion as if it was nothing, before letting her gaze wander the people who were busy with all sorts of various tasks.

Some were setting up their tents and camping areas, while others were busy building fir pits all around. Some of the wolves couldn’t stand the allure of the waterfall and the pool in the hot afternoon sun anymore and were already diving from the lower cliffs and showing off their athletic skills by seeing who could do the most impressive summersaults into the water. Some of the wolves had even found a tree with sturdy branches set close to the deeper side of the pool and were busy tying a rope to it. The hounds were clearly out to have a good time over the weekend.

“You know he has already got his hopes up, Lizzie!” Josie sighed in frustration, but her sister would inevitably follow her own whims and she knew there was little she could do to stop the steam-rolling blonde.

“Don’t worry, I’ll let him down easy.” Lizzie uttered through her teeth as she grinned over to MG and gave him a small wave. The simple action seemed to send the poor vampire into the clouds. Lizzie’s gaze then travelled over to where Jeremy was helping some of the boys with their tents, his shirt removed and tucked into the back of his pants and hanging from where it was hooked into the waistband. Lizzie found herself having to make an effort to stop from drooling as she observed the solid mass of rippling muscle that the man was.

“Hmmm what about mysterious hunter man.” Lizzie uttered slowly before biting down on her bottom lip.

“Jeremy Gilbert? Lizzie! He’s like, almost as old as mom!” Josie’s eyes widened at her sister.

“And? What’s your point?” Lizzie asked, confused, though Josie knew the confusion wasn’t genuine.

“He was in a relationship with Bonnie Bennet. You know? Mom’s best friend?” Josie tried to further emphasize the ways in which this idea of her sister’s was a bad one.

“I thought Elena Gilbert was mom’s best friend.” Lizzie muttered offhandedly as she craned her neck to follow Jeremy’s movements.

“Yeah, her too, whose brother that is… LIZZIE ARE YOU LISTENING?!” Josie raised her voice harshly in her sister’s ear.

“Calm down Jo, geez! Any more of your shouting and you’ll start a howling party.” Lizzie paused then and glanced to her sister next to her with surprise written all over her face.

“Did you just crack a wolf joke at your own twin?” Josie narrowed her eyes at Lizzie.

“Oh my god I’m so sorry Jo. Maybe it’s just because I can practically smell Hope Mikaelson all over you.” Lizzie blinked, not sure if she just managed to remove her foot from her mouth, or rather insert it further.