Chapter Text
The clatter of utensils against plates is so meticulously loud that it unnerves Josie. Usually, it doesn't bother her and she can tune it out.
But right now?
Not so much.
The noise grates in her ear and she wants to desperately spell herself so that she’s in a quiet bubble. But she refrains from doing so, not wanting to use magic for something so small. Although maybe the reason she’s so irritable right now is because of all the stress that’s piling on top of her.
She sighs.
She's eighteen, in her final year of school and graduation is in a month, not to mention the brochures lined with different post-secondary schools that lay in front of her on the table.
She sighs again.
But that’s not all.
The one major thing she’s been antsy about has been the fact that she and her twin sister are just four years away from the Merge.
No one has found a solution to stop it. At least not ones that involve both twins being alive (being Heretics is an option, but they want to exhaust all options before that… It’s a last-ditch effort).
Josie sighs for the third time.
"Josie."
The brunette jumps in her seat and turns when she recognizes the voice pulling her out of her thoughts.
Lizzie has a wide mischievous grin on her lips as she sinks into one of the seats next to Josie. She tosses her long blonde hair over her shoulder and stares at Josie.
Josie stares back, raising her brow.
"You gonna stop staring or…"
"What are you wearing to the pre-grad party next weekend?" Lizzie asks.
"The what?"
The blonde's cheerful demeanour slides off and is replaced by dramatic frustration.
"The pre-graduation party , Jo."
Josie furrows her brows.
"Why are we having a pre-graduation party? Graduation is next month."
Lizzie groans loudly.
"Who cares. There's going to be a party for our graduating class next week. What are you wearing to it?" The blonde drawls.
"I don't know, Lizzie. I'm kinda stressed with other things right now to be even thinking about a party," Josie huffs as she gestures to the college brochures on the table.
Lizzie eyes every pamphlet before taking one and analyzing it. Then she puts it down hotly as if it gave her nausea.
"C'mon, Jo. You're like, super smart and whatever. I'm sure any university will be lucky to have you."
Josie smiles sweetly at her sister before it morphs into a frown. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but college isn't the only thing I'm stressed about."
"You gestured to the pamphlets," Lizzie tuts.
"Okay, fair." She purses her lips. “It’s just–we’re eighteen, Lizzie. We don’t have that much time before the Merge.”
Lizzie’s face falls and Josie mentally kicks herself for bringing up the sore topic like this.
Her sister wraps her arms around her and Josie hugs back.
“Mom and dad will figure out a way to stop the Merge, okay?” Lizzie whispers.
“They’ve been searching for answers since we were born, Lizzie…”
Lizzie pulls away and looks Josie square in the eye. The brunette pouts as he looks back.
“Neither one of us is going to die, okay? We’ll figure it out. Together.”
Josie sighs and nods. “I know…”
They share one last reassuring look before their moment is (happily) interrupted by a familiar face.
"Morning."
Hope Mikaelson.
Despite already being twenty, she is also graduating from school with Josie and the rest of their friends. Which, Josie figures, makes sense since Hope has skipped a bunch of classes due to the Malivore monsters and that one year everyone forgot her existence after she sacrificed herself.
"Why the gloom and doom?" Hope asks as she sits down across from Josie. The brunette tries to hide a blush when Hope's eyes are on her.
"Merge talk," Lizzie responds.
"Ah, shit."
Josie can tell Hope has more to say from the way her eyes are peering at them. Her mouth is ajar and, wow, is Hope wearing lip gloss? Because they're particularly shiny–
"So, Hope, what are you wearing to the pre-grad party next week?" Lizzie's voice interrupts Josie's thirsty thoughts. Josie slouches inwards, embarrassed with herself. No one noticed, right?
Hope raises a brow. "A what?"
Lizzie lets out an exasperated groan.
"Does nobody in our grade think to be in the loop with all this? We're graduating in a month !"
Hope and Josie exchange looks. Hope is already bored by the dramatics just seconds into the conversation; Josie is more apologetic.
"Not everyone here has the whole student body frolic over to them with gossip, Lizzie," Hope muses.
Lizzie flashes a glare at the auburn.
"Ha, ha. Didn't know you could make jokes."
Hope shrugs with a smirk.
"Pre-graduation party. It's happening. Next week," Lizzie says deftly. "Josie's coming too."
Josie snaps her attention to her twin.
"What?"
"So you better come too, Mikaelson."
Josie rolls her eyes at how demanding her twin sounds, but she knows it isn't from a place of ill intent. It's just Lizzie being Lizzie. And that usually means her wanting what's best for her friends.
The two of them have come a long way.
The twins and Hope used to be acquaintances at best (with a one-sided rivalry on Lizzie's end). But after years of fighting alongside each other and getting to know one another, the three of them have become closer than ever.
Which is also bad.
Considering it also brought back Josie's raging crush on the auburn woman.
"...and Josie said she's going to wear that really short black skirt she bought a week ago to the pre-grad party," Lizzie says.
It's clear Josie missed some part of that conversation because she never said what she was going to wear, or the fact that she said is going or not. What the fuck ?
"Lizzie!" Josie hisses, her cheeks feel much warmer than before and she's sure that they're also bright red. She quickly gathers up her things in a flurry and stands up. "I'm going to class!"
Josie dashes out of the dining hall but not before she hears her sister call after her with utter confusion.
"What? Classes aren't for another hour! We're in the same class! Josie!"
The peace and quiet in the library have always been Josie's favourite places to go when she feels overwhelmed.
It's also where she goes when she's having a pan panic about Hope.
Which, now that she thinks about it, is almost every time the two interact.
Josie slumps over the table and groans into her college pamphlets.
She didn't think her crush on Hope was going to be a big deal, but it is.
Because she's Hope Mikaelson.
The school's resident badass and literal hero.
No way Josie has a chance with her.
But also!
Hope, under that tough exterior, is the most caring person she's ever met. Hope loves with all her heart even though she tries not to show. She's also cunning and quick-witted. She's selfless and always does what's best. And she's also funny and sweet and has a beautiful smile. Like her eyes just light up anytime Hope smiles–and, don't get Josie started about Hope's eyes .
Josie loves how clear and blue her eyes are, but her favourite thing probably comes from Hope's wolf side. The way they shine gold. Josie could just stare into them for hours.
All in all, Hope's just amazing.
And Josie's…
The brunette thumps her head against the table. It sort of hurts this time as she groans in pain.
She just lays her head there. Not bothering to nurse the smallish wound on her forehead or anything.
Plus… She's used to this already.
Josie spends the next several minutes wallowing in her sad pining when her phone vibrates (her mom talked her dad into allowing phones for students. Mostly because they got Aunt Bonnie to spell all the student's phones to censor anything that could risk the supernatural world being exposed).
She lifts her head, huffing some of her hair out of her face, and reaches into her pocket for her phone. It vibrates a few more times, startling Josie a little. She quickly checks what happens and notices all the messages she's been getting are from the super squad group chat (Lizzie insisted they made one when cell phones were allowed).
Josie quickly checks the messages and her eyes widen.
"Malivore monster? Now ?" She says, already exhausted that they have to deal with the new monster of the week. Although…There haven't been any Malivore monsters for a few months now, which everyone thought was strange, but Josie appreciated the calm lull… Until now that is.
She stuffs her phone back into her pocket and books it out of the library.
Josie makes it outside to the field and can already see the fight has started. The monster is preoccupied with Maya, Kaleb, and Jed, who are giving it everything they've got. Off to the side are Rafael, Landon, MG, and Ethan who are evacuating the area.
"Josie!"
She lets out a single breath of relief at the familiar voice of her sister. Josie turns and sees Lizzie rush over to her side, frantic.
"Are you okay?" Josie asks.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. You?"
Josie nods.
She takes another quick scan around and realizes Hope isn't here yet. Which is strange, considering Hope is usually first on the scene.
"Jo, c'mon," Lizzie says as she tugs Josie closer to where the fight is at. She'll worry about Hope later, right now, she needs to focus.
The twins join hands and utter a spell, knocking the monster onto its back.
Kaleb, Maya, and Jed get their opportunity to attack. Kaleb tosses the monster up in the air while the two wolves slash it when it comes down.
But it doesn’t seem like it's enough.
The monster gets back up and roars.
Honestly, now that Josie has gotten closer, the monster seems to be some sort of construct. She isn't sure what exactly, but it's somewhere along there.
Once everyone has been hastily evacuated, Rafael joins in on the fight while MG and Ethan are immediately by the twins' side.
Josie and Lizzie grab the two boy's hands to siphon and attempt another spell, this time with Ethan's help. The three witches blast a big spell that crackles and explodes in front of the monster, careful not to hit their allies.
It does the job quickly, but it still isn't good enough.
Then…
PHHHSSHHHH .
A crossbow bolt hits the monster square in its shoulder.
Josie spins around and sees her parents. Her father lowers his crossbow and her mother vamp speeds down to where they are. But they aren't who Josie's staring at.
Because behind them is Hope, whose eyes flash that shimmering gold. Hope catches Josie's gaze and the brunette quickly turns away and trains her attention at her mother, who's currently fretting over them.
"Mom, we're fine. It's the stupid Malivore monster that's being a bitch," Lizzie says.
"Language," their mom warns, but there's no heat behind her words. She turns to take one good look at the monster and rushes in to join the others.
Their dad finally gets to where they are and hoists his crossbow again, his eyes never leaving the monster. Hope follows closely after.
"You four okay?" He asks.
"Yup," Ethan replies.
"All good, Dr. S."
"Mom already looked us over, we're fine, dad," says Lizzie.
Hope's eyes bore into Josie and the brunette fights off a blush.
"So, uh, what exactly are we up against?" Josie asks, looking towards her dad.
Her dad is ready to reply when Hope cuts him off.
"Just a typical rock golem, nothing we can't handle."
Her dad frowns slightly but nods. "What she said."
"Okay, let's do this." Hope puts her hands out for both Josie and Lizzie.
The blonde takes it without hesitation, but Josie struggles to keep her heart steady as she slowly reaches over to take Hope's hand. MG and Ethan step back as they back up her dad and the others.
The three of them step forward, a twin on either side of Hope, as they repeat a spell from the auburn woman. Another point on why Hope is amazing. She can come up with a spell in an instant. No second-guessing herself.
As the spell hits, the golem is knocked prone. Everyone stills as they watch and ready themselves for another attack.
It gets up again.
"Fuck," Hope hisses under her breath. "Okay, Lizzie, Josie, get that thing distracted enough so I can sneak up behind it and deal some physical blows."
The twins' nod.
Josie watches as Hope rushes around the creature, silently wishing Hope to stay safe and be careful.
"Let's hurry up and defeat this stupid thing," Lizzie says, taking Josie's hand and tugging her forward.
Their friends back off a bit as the twins' fire off spell after spell.
Some of the wolves latch onto the golem's legs and arms. Josie could faintly see Hope off in the distance waiting for her move. She looks so small but predatory, ready to pounce and take down her prey.
However, this split-second distraction causes Josie to miss her sister screaming in her ear. She doesn’t realize the golem charging in their direction with the utmost fury and thundering steps. It takes Josie everything in her power to keep herself up from how much the ground is quaking.
The golem slams into the ground, causing rocks to shoot up from the cracks and smacking into Josie right by her hip. That fucking hurt.
She sprawls backwards, hitting the ground with a thud.
"Josie!"
Woozy, she blinks up just in time to see the golem's arms up in the air, ready to pummel her into the ground. Her body doesn't move no matter how many times her brain screams at it. She hears the cries from her sister, her parents, her friends, and Hope–who is dashing over to Josie when suddenly…
" Fluctus Inpulsa !"
A burst of electricity flies over Josie's head and wraps around the golem, rendering it immobilized. Its screams are low and bassy as it struggles to move.
She looks behind her and sees a teenage boy with a mop of dirty blonde hair and soft features on his face. She's startled when he whips his head to look at her, and Josie couldn't help but furrow her brows as she looks into his dark brown eyes. Something about him seems familiar.
He frowns or maybe pouts, and even that seems familiar too.
Suddenly, Josie's wonderings are cut short when the golem breaks free from the spell and lumbers off in a hurry, disappearing within the flora around the school.
Everything slowly transitions into a lull of silence as everyone registers what just happened and checks over each other.
Josie gets up, wincing at the pain in her hip, no doubt from the hit she took earlier and smiles at the teen, who still has not moved from where he is.
"Thank you," she says.
He says nothing back, only shrugs.
Yeah, the more Josie looks, the more she can't help that there's something to him.
Before Josie could ask for his name, she gets tackled from a hug by her sister. And Hope is immediately next to Josie, fretting over her. Josie tries not to fluster and bumble her words. When the auburn is so close beside her. Josie could even smell the faint peppermint that wafts from Hope’s hair.
"I'm fine–ow!" She winces.
Hope frowns with judgement. "That doesn't seem like you're fine."
"Okay, so I'm not fine," Josie says nonchalantly, trying to act like the pain doesn't bother her as much as it really did.
That just makes Hope frown even deeper as she wraps her hand around Josie's wrist. "We're going to the infirmary."
Josie stutters.
"It's no big deal, it'll probably heal on its own or something."
"Sorry, dearest sister, but I agree with Miss Knight in Shining Armour over here." Lizzie crosses her arms.
Josie rolls her eyes at her twin.
"Fine, fine, but can I at least–" She turns around to thank the teen again but he's gone. "Where did he go?"
"That kid?" Hope asks, though her tone seems more growly than usual.
Josie nods. "Yeah."
At this point, the rest of their friends gather around. They all check over Josie but Hope shoos them away from crowding around the brunette.
"I didn't recognize him, and I know basically everyone that goes to the school," Lizzie says.
"Who are you talking about?" MG asks.
"A guy saved me from becoming a golem pancake. I wanted to thank him one more time and ask for his name," Josie explains, but her thoughts and attention keeps going back to the strange yet familiar kid that she barely notices that Hope's grip around her wrist tightens ever so slightly. Or the fact that Hope presses herself closer to Josie.
"Maybe he's from Mystic Falls High or something," says Maya. "Wouldn't be the first time a supernatural hides out amongst the humans."
Josie looks over to the werewolf and purses her lips. "Maybe…"
Eventually, they all start heading back into school, talking amongst themselves about the fight, or about what they are going to do after. Josie tries her best to engage with her peers, but she couldn't help but think about that boy.