Chapter 35

It was finally weekend and the dance was looming over Hope's head like a guillotine waiting to drop. She had agreed to go with Landon, but she was yet to have a serious talk with him over their failing relationship. He himself must have sensed that something was off, however, as he had been clingier and more attentive than usual, which only further served to twist Hope's nerves into knots.

Hope, of course, had spent every waking moment that she could pining over a certain brunette witch. She kept n eye out for Josie whenever she as much as set her foot out of her bedroom, and whenever she would catch sight of those brunette locks of hair or chocolate eyes, she would feel her heart float in the girl's direction.

Hope had found herself amazed that even without her wolf, she had been thoroughly drawn to Josie around every corner. It was just so different than how things were with Landon. With the boy it was always a case of either her being angry at him, or loving him and being happy. This desire and longing that she felt now for Josie was something completely different. Hope was starting to come to the realization that there were different kinds of loves in existence, but regardless, there was none like the love connection between her and the siphon.

(…)

Josie was having a similar experience as she finally and eventually took Lizzie's advice and had a serious chat with Jade, unable to keep on lying to herself about the fact that no one but Hope would be able to work their way into her heart. She was fairly honest with Jade about a lot of it, even admitting that she had feelings for someone else.

Jade wasn't stupid, she knew it was Hope, and quickly said as much. It did not help the feelings of animosity she garnered towards the tribrid at all, but she realized that it wasn't up to Hope, but up to Josie. She herself had enough honor to know that she had to respect whatever Josie's choice was that she wanted to make. So, she did. Jade did make it very clear to Josie, however, that if ever Hope was dumb enough to let Josie slip through her fingers, she would be there within a heartbeat.

Josie had agreed to still attend the dance with Jade especially since it would have been a so-called 'casual' thing to begin with. Also, with Lizzie attending the dance with MG and Hope going with Landon, there was just no way that Josie was showing up alone. Luckily, and to make her feel more at ease, Wendy was also asked to join them so that they could go as a trio of friends. Wendy's costume would even match their theme as she would dress as Morgana La Fey. There was even playful banter with the trio as to which witch raised Lancelot and which witch he had sexual relations with. Lancelot turned out to be a bit of a dog outside of his love for Guinevere – something that highly amused Josie as she had to embody someone so different from herself.

Aside from trying to tie up the loose ends around Jade, Josie would still spend a lot of time fiddling with the loose ends surrounding Hope. In all honesty, Josie had never felt so miserable in her life as she had the week after returning from their trip. So much of what happened on their trip just made Josie so deliriously happy, and so much of it simply remained engrained into the back of her head.

She'd remember listening to music with Hope on the bus, and how they would smile shyly at each other whenever a song seemed to speak straight to them and their situation. She remembered their first night there and how Hope had taken her out on the town: she had won her that life-size panda bear that even now still occupied a chair in the corner of her room; she took her on a most romantic carriage ride around the square and cuddled close to her as they giggled at the oddly dressed entertainers strewn about; and then they had that dance to the smooth jazz music of a street corner band, every movement perfectly in-sync with the other. That night they were so magnetized to one another that they shared a dream that even now made Josie blush bright red when she thought about the details.

Hope and Josie had not actually kissed since before they found out Landon was alive. Right before, actually, and Josie had been afraid on so many levels that that was also the last time it would ever happen. If she had known there was a time limit to their relations with one another she might have felt inclined to do much more… to go much further… And the thoughts only added more of a scarlet glow to her face as she shut her eyes tightly at the unbidden images that flooded her mind.

(…)

"So that's one Romeo for Greasly and one Juliet for Lizzie Saltzman." Alyssa scribbled the details into her diary as she finalized costume orders with Lizzie. The social committee responsible for the dance had taken it upon themselves to plan every last little detail to a tee. That also meant ensuring that everyone had their costumes witch-crafted and personally delivered to their rooms in time for the dance. They had wanted to make sure that there were no duplicates attending the party, and so they kept a strict eye on every single order.

"Say, Chang, could I see that list for a moment? I might have… a change of heart." Lizzie tried her luck.

"You'd need a heart first to change it, Saltzman." Alyssa smiled at Lizzie in that tight and fake way she had mastered by now, clutching her notebook close to her chest. "Now what do you really want?"

"Okay, fine. I just want to… help true love a little bit." Lizzie smiled innocently in return. When the smile didn't work, Lizzie switched to glaring. "Name your price, witch."

"Will it cause a certain level of scandal?" Alyssa arched a brow.

Lizzie thought for a moment, then shrugged. "It might."

"Fine, all I want is a front row seat to a good show. This better be worth it." Alyssa sighed but smirked a little bit in delight that not even she could hide.

She handed the notebook over to Lizzie.

(…)

"Jo! Our outfits have arrived!" Lizzie called into the room excitedly when she entered that Saturday afternoon with two boxes, one addressed to each twin. "I can't wait to see my dress and wings!" Lizzie exclaimed excitedly as she and MG had opted to go as Romeo and Juliet from the Baz Luhrmann movie version.

Josie sat down on her bed and watched with a broad smile as Lizzie tore into her box for her outfit for that evening. The dress was snow white and flowing and beautifully encrusted with crystals on the bodice. There was also a pair of small cupid-like wings made from real feathers that Lizzie would wear on her back with the dress. She would most definitely look like an angel. MG was going to have a heart attack, that was for sure!

"Lizzie Saltzman: Juliet. Partner: Milton Greasly as Romeo" Lizzie read the card inside the box that mapped out the details. The students had also been made aware of how they had to enter the dance with their partners due to the photos being taken upon entry, therefore the correct character couplings had to arrive together.

The details were so redundant.

"Now you! Let's see!" Lizzie grinned at Josie, eager to see the contents of Josie's box as well. Josie smiled and reached for the box addressed to her, expecting some fake chainmail and plates of armor in a certain fantasy style. What she found however, was a beautiful ball-gown of blue and gold seemed to style to fit royalty. In fact, instead of a sword, she found a tiara.

Utterly confused at what must have clearly been some mix-up, she reached for the card that contained the details and read it aloud for Lizzie to hear as well. "Josie Saltzman: Lady Guinevere. Partner: … Hope Mikaelson… as Sir Lancelot…" Josie's eyes shot towards Lizzie and the self-satisfactory grin she was wearing. "This is your doing, isn't?!" Josie shrieked her accusation.

"Sorry, sis. If you two can't get it together yourselves…" Lizzie shrugged confidently and went back to admiring her dress. She had an arrangement with Alyssa that no matter how much they tried to harass her about the wrong orders for outfits, she'd keep swinging and batting them.

(…)

Hope was in her room, busy studying the realistic-looking prop sword in her hands in confusion, and perhaps with just a little bit of excitement. She definitely had a thing for swords. She swung it around with her wrist about once or twice before there was a knock on the door of her room. She put the sword back in the box and moved to open the door.

Standing there, the perfect picture of anger and confusion, Landon waved his card at Hope – the same one everyone received with their outfits to finalize details. "Dear Muppet, King Arthur is dead. Here's your backup – Landon Kirby: Athos. Partner(s): Rafael Waithe as Porthos; Kaleb Smith as Aramis; Jed Doe as D'Artagnan." He read Hope the card.

She waved him to enter her room so that she could show him what came in her box and also let him read the card of how she is meant to be Lancelot and would be escorting Josie as Guinevere. "Look there's still time, just let me talk to Alyssa and…"

"It won't work, I tried already. The committee refuses to solve any costume issues past an hour ago as they have shifted their focus to the venue." Landon grumbled in annoyance. "But I'll get you there and we can make a pretty handsome musketeer and knight couple on the dancefloor, right?"

Hope sighed and smiled sincerely at Landon.

Her heart ached as it sped up.

This was it.

"We need to talk about something…"