After the most awkward conversation of her life, she just wanted to go to her room. She had intended to do just that, however, Josie was suddenly coming her way. Her teeth gritted behind her lips. The girl hadn't spoken directly to her since Landon left, and now she wanted to chat?
"Hope." She smiled tightly when she reached her.
"Hey, Josie." The brunette looked nervous.
"…How are you?"
Hope raised a brow. "Fine…"
"Sorry…" She says realizing how weird she was being. "It's just…I barely see you around anymore, you or Raf for that matter. It's like you guys distanced yourself from everyone."
Hope didn't have a response for that because really, she wasn't wrong. Her friendship with Josie and the squad had sort of deteriorated and Raf, well, he really only saw Landon and Hope as his real friends here.
It was silent a moment before Josie spoke again, shifting her weight on her feet. "He's back early." She sighed internally. She should've known what this conversation was really about.
"Yeah, I know. I just saw him."
Flashes of jealously crossed her features. "Did you guys uh talk?"
Hope wanted to roll her eyes. "Briefly." If that really counted as talking.
The brunette's eyes flickered to the ground. "Oh."
Her eyes then bounced over the school lawn. "Yeah…so I'm just going to go-"
"Hope, wait," Josie grabbed her arm with pleading eyes. "Look, I…I hate that you're back to hating me."
Hope openly sighed. "Josie, I never hated you before."
Josie looked unconvinced. "And you're telling me you don't now? After everything I did?"
The tribrid paused. Did she harbor a little resentment towards the girl? She wasn't too sure. After everything that happened that year, she wasn't sure how she felt about a lot of people in her life. Well, besides maybe one person. "Landon and I…we're not- things are different now." That was the best way she could explain it. Things were different. Josie stared at her thoughtfully.
"Is it because of him?" Hope's head tilted. "I have eyes, Hope. Plus, I know what it's like to have a crush on Raf. He's a great guy."
She swears if one more person tries to "confront" her about her so called feelings for Rafael…she was going to scream. "I don't know what you're talking about."
The other girl looked disappointed with her response. "I won't tell anyone, especially not Landon." Her brow creased as a second thought occurred to her. "Or Lizzie."
"Josie, Raf and I are just friends, okay?" She didn't know how convincing it sounded anymore but at this point she didn't care. Did she and Rafael occasionally (frequently) hook up? Yes, but that didn't mean they were like in love or something. They were good friends who both happen to be single. They can't help being powerful supernaturals that are keyed up most of the time. There honestly wasn't anything to it.
The witch bit her lip, nodding reluctantly, clearing not believing her. "What about us? Are we still friends?"
She hesitated before answering. Did she want to rebuild her friendship with witch? She wasn't sure about that either. She wasn't sure she could trust her. Also, the images of seeing her and Landon together were still fresh in her mind. She really didn't blame her for the way anything went between them but… "I don't know." She said truthfully. "This thing between with Landon…I don't want to do the love triangle thing. It's honestly exhausting and-" She stopped her from saying more. Settling with, "If you work things out with Landon, or get back together. I won't be mad at you if that's what you're worried about. I just want to put this drama behind me."
Josie seemed to take some time processing her words but Hope didn't care to wait. She walked away determined to get some solitude, and thankfully this time Josie didn't try stop her.
She was working on an assignment that was due soon to take her mind off things, when a soft, recognizable knock landed against her door. She smiled to herself.
"Come in." She said softly, still writing.
"Hey." Raf said closing the door behind him, studying her. "You disappeared on me today." He walked to the middle of her room with his hands shoved in his pockets. "You okay?"
She put her pen down, turning around. "Yeah, I just…" She got up from her desk to meet him. Her arms snaked around his waist, resting her chin against his chest as she stared up at him, sighing. "Being around him right now, is just too-"
"Awkward?" Raf guessed, with a knowing look. She snorted against his chest, with a small nod.
"He wasn't supposed to be back for another three days." Rafael grumbled into her hair.
"This doesn't change anything."
He pulled back from her with a pensive expression. "You don't think he's going to wonder why we spend so much time together?"
She frowned. "Raf...Landon knows we're friends, he's not going to question that."
"Yeah, but he might question…other things." He was blushing a little, she bit her lip with a smile. Those butterflies were back. God, focus.
She cleared her throat. "Where is he?"
"In our room, I guess, settling back in. I kind of snuck away to make sure you were okay." He brushed some hair out of her face, hand lingering on her cheek.
She hummed, unconsciously leaning into his touch. "I guess you can't sleep over anymore." She played with his fingers. That was something she definitely wasn't looking forward to. She had gotten used to falling asleep and waking up next to him. It wasn't always sexual. Sometimes, they'd fall asleep on a movie or they'd just crash in her room after an intense sparring session. He was her friend. Maybe even her best friend.
"Yeah," he agreed reluctantly, letting his hand drop. "Can't explain that one away."
She bit her lip at the conflicted look on his face. She grabbed his cheek gently. "What is it?"
He leaned into her touch this time. "I-i just… I feel like shit, doing this to him, y'know? I mean, he's done some stupid things but he's my bro. I can't believe-" He shook his head. "It was just easier when he wasn't here but now-"
Her grip tightened. "Hey." She waited till his eyes connected with hers. "You're not doing anything to him. We're not together. He left."
"I know, but Hope- he still, he probably still has feelings for you."
She didn't want to think about that. "Raf, I've made my peace with what Landon and I had."
"Are you sure?"
Her head tilted. "What's that suppose to mean?"
He gave her a knowing look. "Hope, you can barely have a conversation with him without bolting."
"Well, excuse me for not wanting to immediately speak to my ex who forgot me, dated my friend, and then left." She snarked sarcastically.
"C'mon Hope, you know that wasn't his fault." She cut her eyes at him. "Okay, the leaving part was, but- you're really telling me seeing him didn't bring back any feelings at all?"
Her frowned deepened, eyes searching his. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Just answer the question, Hope?"
"No." She tried to pull away from him but he tightened his grip. "Let me go."
"Hope-"
"I don't know, okay!" She exasperated, hands clutching his t-shirt.
He pulled her closer. "What don't you know?"
"I don't know how I feel about him." She looked away from him. "I know I'm the one who jumped into the pit. I know it wasn't his fault he forgot me and dated Josie. But I'm still angry with him…and confused."
His eyes were suddenly guarded. "So, you're still in love with him."
She shook her head slowly. "I don't know what you want me to say."
"Just the truth." He said patiently.
"I don't know. That is the truth." She looked back up at him. "But I do know these past weeks with you is…" she swallowed, "the happiest I've felt in a really long while." She hesitated before continuing, "You're my best friend, Raf. No matter what, I don't want anyone or anything to come in between that. Landon, included. Okay?"
He relented with a sighing smile. "Yeah, Okay."
She leaned up slowly to connect their lips. His hands slid fully around her waist, pressing their bodies tightly. A shudder went through her at the feel. She began walking him backwards, as his tongue slid against her. Their kissing became more urgent, as they began pulling at each other's clothes, breathing picking up heavy.
She pushed him onto her bed, quickly straddling his waist.
She hated knowing Raf felt guilty about them. That it'll probably get worse now that Landon's back, sharing a room with him. But for the moment, he clearly wasn't thinking about that and right now, she didn't want to either.
His hands began sliding down her clothed stomach to the zipper of her jeans. She arched into his touch with a breathy sigh, letting her eyes flutter close.
A loud crash sounded from outside the room, startled them, effectively breaking the haze in the room. He detached their lips, sitting them up. "What was that?"
"I don't know." She said, already jumping to her feet, crossing the floor quickly. She opened her door to see the hallway outside her room crowded with students in a circle around someone.
She grabbed a random bystander, who was pushing to look over the mob and chaos.
"What's going on?"
They glanced at her distractedly, still straining to see. "The werewolves and the vampires are trying to kill each other!"
"What?" She immediately began pushing her way through the crowd to the center, with Rafael close behind. She stopped short at the sight of Jed and some werewolves standing off against…the new kids? What the hell? She looked up just as Raf slid beside her, wearing a confused expression as well. She tore her gaze away when she saw the werewolves moving to attack. Really attack.
"Stop!" Hope yelled restraining the pack with her magic, hands outstretched. They immediately grabbed their heads with simultaneous groans, slightly crouching as well as other nearby students. She let up after a couple of seconds. A string of expletives left some of their mouths.
"What the hell is going on?" She demanded in an alarmed tone, glare bouncing between them all.
Jed shook away the pain with a deep growl and hard glare, as his chest puffed out. "New boy here and his sister are looking to become dinner." He said baring his teeth, approaching them again. She was prepared to subdue him but Raf spoke.
"Yo! Back off, Jed."
He whipped his head to him in surprise. "Back off? These assholes started with us and you want me to back off? You're supposed to be the leader of our pack, defending us." He raged, stalking over to him.
"I am."
He shoved him, with a growl. "Then act like it." The other werewolves looked at each other, unsure.
Rafael's eyes flashed orange as he stepped forward, bawling his fist-teeth bared. Hope pulled him back firmly by the arm, getting in his line of vision.
"Raf, don't. Let it go." He struggled against her. She pressed her hand against his chest, adding strength, calling his name more firmly. "Raf." He glanced down at her, eyes still blazing orange. "Let it go.." She said more softly.
He blinked away the rage. She could feel his body slowly loosening from its previous tense state.
"You're an alpha? That just makes you so much hotter." Maya breathed in an impressed tone.
Hope gave her an unimpressed look before her eyes found Jed's still angry ones. "You need to leave."
"You think I take orders from you?" Her eyes narrowed. She could easily make him take order from her.
"Jed." The werewolf's glare shot to Raf. His voice was more calm but hinted with clear warning. "Take the pack and go cool off. Now."
Jed clenched his teeth, but held his tongue. He didn't want to fight Rafael. He turned back to the guys, nodding his toward the exit. They quickly fell in line behind him as they stalked past Maya and Ethan, shooting daggers at the twins. When they rounded the corner, Rafael sent his attention onto them.
"What were you guys thinking picking a fight with my pack? Was that making friends talk just a bunch of bullshit? Cause we don't need any more bullshit in our lives."
Ethan stepped in front of his sister with his hands raised in surrender."Hey, Rafael man. you got it all wrong okay, I swear."
"Everything okay here?" Landon questioned as he suddenly appeared from around the corner, surveying the tense scene and commotion, eyes lingering on Hope's hand pressed against Rafael's chest.
Rafael backed out of her touch when he saw his line of sight, clearing his throat. "Yeah, man. Just a misunderstanding."
Landon didn't look convinced, glancing at the twins with distrust. "Are..you sure?"
Kaleb came out with his sleep clothes and hooded, annoyed eyes. "What the hell is going on out here? Can't a guy get some damn sleep?"
Hope turned back to see much of the crowd was still lingering by. "Show's over. You guys can leave now." A low, disgruntled murmuring erupted at that but they began to disburse, not partially keen to argue with the infamous tribrid.
Kaleb shook his head in irritation at not getting a response to his question and went back into his room with a door slam.
Landon frowned at Rafael. "Man, where you been? You never came to the room."
He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. "I, uh, couldn't sleep. Took a walk."
Rafael was a terrible liar but Landon had already shifted his focus on Hope. "H-hey, Hope."
She glanced at him. "Hey."
"So everything's good here..? Then?" He asked hesitantly as he remembered what he walked in on.
"Yep, we're all good. Right, Hope and Rafael?" The tribrid narrowed her eyes at the suggested way Maya said their names. Raf must of picked up on it too, suddenly shifting his weight on his feet.
"Yeah. All good."
There was a beat of silence.
Then suddenly, Kaleb's muffled voice could be heard behind the door adjacent from them. "Then do me a favor and get the hell away from my door so I can sleep in peace!"
Maya arched a brow. "Well I guess that's our cue. My brother and I still need to finish our self-tour of the campus anyway."
Ethan looked between Hope and Raf. "Look, I'll explain what happened tomorrow. But we do want to be friends with you guys." Maya, despite her charms, seemed genuine in her nod in agreement with her brother.
Landon looked between the four of them with a confused frown like wanted to say something but the twins began to walk away. Not before Maya sent a teasing wink at Hope and then a blown kiss at Raf. Hope rolled her eyes but didn't comment, just glad Landon didn't see it to question.
"They're an interesting pair." He muttered under his breath, before turning to her. "So, I guess, I'll see you tomorrow." He quickly amended that. "Um, you know, like around?"
She really didn't know what to respond with so she just said, "Uh, sure."
He nodded with an awkward laugh. "Okay." He glanced at the retreating twins once more, and then turned around to head back to his room. Though, he stopped short when he realized he wasn't being followed.
"Raf, you coming, man?"
She wanted to laugh at the cute, confused look on Rafael's face. She couldn't remember the last time he slept in his own room. She imagined he couldn't either. "Uh, Y-yeah." He glanced down at her. "Goodnight, Hope."
She really just wanted to pull him into her room and lock the door. But Rafael probably wouldn't like that considering the questions from Landon that would cause. So she settled with reluctantly saying, "Goodnight Raf." She could see his hands discreetly reaching out to her before they were firmly shoved in his pockets. Huh, guess they're both going to have a tough night's sleep.
He sent her a small smile before joining Landon down the hall. It was an odd feeling watching both boys walk away from her. An even odder feeling knowing that she was now going to be reacquainted with an empty bed. She sighed as she turned to head back to her own room. It was going to be a long night.
