Strolling through campus alone was a pastime favorite of hers. It gave her a chance to clear her head and people watch. Yes, Hope Mikealson people watches. There's something interesting about how people behave when they think no one is paying attention. The things people do. The lingering gazes and glares. She found it equally entertaining and incredibly stupid. So many of her classmates visibly wear their hearts on their sleeves as if they're waiting for it to be crushed into pieces. She wasn't like that. She knew better. She knew what this world could give but more than anything she sure as hell knew what it could take away. So learning not to want things had practically become second nature. Learning not to let other people in was a calculated decision. Because when you let people in they eventually screw you over, whether by choice or by force. That's why she walks the halls of Salvatore School, a party of one. Friends and relationships require you to care and invest trust in people. And she's had too much disappointment in her young life to just dish that out anymore. That's why she minds her own business and sticks to herself.
But when she saw Josie Saltzman with a distressed look on her face, against all her better instincts, she couldn't help but say.
"Running to go clean up one of Lizzie's messes?"
"I'm not in the mood, Hope." Josie practically hisses at her, taking the girl back by surprise.
"Okay.." She trailed, watching her curiously. Suddenly, her brows furrowed when she caught sight of a lone tear streaking down the girl's face as she was stalking past her. Without thinking, she grabbed her arm. "Hey, are you crying?"
Josie snatched her arm away with a frown, quickly wiping away the tear. "No." she tries to say firmly but it didn't convince her.
"Really?"
"What do you care?"
"I don't."
"Good." With that the witch was about to be on her way again.
Hope closed her eyes in frustration. "Wait."
"Why are you even talking to me?" Josie questioned, suddenly turning around. "You hate me."
"I never said I hated you."
"Yeah you've just shut down any and every attempt at me trying to befriend you while practically ignoring my existence."
Hope knowing that was hundred percent true decided to focus instead on the tears still welling up in the girl's eyes. "What happened?"
Folding her arms, and looking away, Josie muttered. "Nothing."
"So..you just go around crying for fun then?" Hope asked with a sarcastic smile. "Come on. I'm trying to make amends here."
The brunette lifted her gaze to Hope at her softened tone. Realizing the girl wasn't going to let it go, she cleared her throat."I, um just saw MG and Penelope..."
"Together?" Hope finished with wide, surprised eyes. Josie could only nod, holding herself.
The auburn haired girl blinked."Wait.. I thought she was.."
"She is." Josie finished bitterly. "Well, mostly. S-she's just doing this to hurt me, as per usual. With my best friend no less" She laughs emptily, silently cursing as another tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, averting her eyes from Hope. She turned around to walk and Hope fell in step beside her.
"Why do you put up with that psychopath?" A question that had crossed her mind several times as she watched the girls exchanges from afar. Penelope was always attacking Josie unprovoked and the witch just takes it.
"I don't or at least I don't try to. It's just I try so hard to move on and pretend she doesn't exist but she won't let me. She's literally haunting me like she's intent on making my life a living hell."
Hope glanced at her frustrated frown as they continued to walk. "You know she's still in love with you, right?"
Josie stopped, causing the other girl to stop as well. "How would you know that?"
"I see the way she looks at you when you're not looking."
"Stalker much?"
Hope rolled her eyes as her arms folded. "I'm just observant."
"Yeah, well she's a horrible person." The witch grumbled, kicking at the leaves by her foot.
Hope couldn't take this anymore. "God, you make it too easy." She exasperated in wonderment.
"Excuse me?"
"You make it too easy for her to hurt you. You wear your heart on your sleeve like you're begging for it."
The brunette's eyes narrowed and her frown deepened. "I'm sorry I'm human. We can't all be emotionless loners, like you."
Hope fought the urge to leave and took a deep breath. "I'm just saying.. there's another option here."
"And what's that?"
"Revenge."
"Revenge?" Josie echoed in confusion.
"Yeah fighting her back. She's not going to stop unless you stop her. That's how mean girls work, which is what she is."
"I wouldn't even be able to stoop to her level. I don't know how to mean like her."
"You don't have to be mean.." Hope's gaze flickered around the campus in thought before she brought her attention back. "She was basically trying to hurt you and make you jealous with MG, right?" Josie nodded mutely. "So, then give her a taste of her own medicine."
"By.."
"By making her jealous. Flirt with some girl or something." She shrugged.
Josie looked disappointed by the idea, shaking her head. "That won't work."
"Why not?" The girl questioned with a bit of offense at her shooting down her idea.
"First, I'm not good at flirting. Secondly, I don't really even talk to anyone besides my sister or MG. Who am I going to flirt with?" She threw her arms up in frustration. "No, It won't even be believable. I'll just end up making a fool of myself and Penelope wins again."
Rolling her eyes, Hope ran a hand threw her hair."Okay, Penelope Park isn't the only girl on this campus."
"I know that." Josie snapped.
"Then why haven't you, I don't know, tried to date anyone else?"
"Why haven't you tried to date anyone, ever?" She suddenly blurted out in anger, tired of being questioned. Though when Hope gave her a sarcastic smile and nod as she walked away to sit on a nearby bench, guilt immediately filled. her. She walked over and hesitantly sat down next to the hybrid who was looking out towards the woods. "I'm sorry..." She began. "I just don't want to lead anyone on. I know how much it hurts getting your heart broken." She sighed when she didn't get a response. Clearly Hope Mikaelson had maxed out her word limit and that gave her a thought. She turned to her. "You know this is probably the longest conversation we've ever had in over a decade." But that musing still didn't get the girl talking so she just sighed and played with her fingers.
They sat in silence for a while until Josie suddenly had an idea that had her grinning manically at the hybrid. At first, Hope tried to ignore it but as the witch continued she couldn't stand it anymore. She turned around with an annoyed expression. "What?" When Josie only continued to stare, she began to put two and two together, considering what the subject of their previous conversation had been about. "I didn't mean me!"
"Who else is there, Hope? I mean this works out understand what I'm doing and I won't be leading you on!"
She shook her head. "No. There is no way I'm getting in between you and your exes messy drama."
"I thought you said you wanted to make amends." Josie tried with a little pout. Hope almost caves but looks away shaking her head again. "Come on, this was your idea." The witch reminded in a slight whine making the hybrid groan.
"Fine. I'll do it."
"Thank you." She went to hug her but awkwardly stopped short when the other girl immediately tensed.
"Hope cleared her throat as she rose from the bench. "But I can't be at your side all the time. I have other things to do."
Josie lifted a brow. "What like brood alone in your room?" Though she quickly winced at her natural response."Sorry."
Hope nodded humorlessly as she walked away. "This should be interesting."
