Josie entered the living room and Rick was relieved to see her alive and safe.
''Josie… Why did you leave like that?''
''I had to find Penelope…''
''You could have…''
''Told you dad?''
Her look made him stop talking.
''You are right… I am sorry…''
''Sorry doesn't really cover it dad… I can't explain to you how hurt and betrayed I feel.''
Lizzie had no idea what was going on. She had no idea why would Josie feel betrayed because Penelope left.
''All that just because Penelope left?''
''No Lizzie… There is more… Much more.''
''What is it?''
Caroline took her hand and pulled her down.
''Take a seat honey…''
''Mom?''
Before she started speaking Penelope came out of the bedroom and took a seat beside Josie. She smiled at Penelope and took her hand. Caroline looked at Rick and he nodded.
''It's about something called the Merge. It's something typical for Gemini coven, or your coven… On your twenty second birthday you are supposed to battle your twin for the position of the coven leader.''
''What?''
Penelope got up and got the book from her backpack. It was about the Gemini coven. She opened the book to Lizzie and gave her to read.
The Merge is a powerful ritual performed as a practiced tradition by the Gemini Coven that determined who will be their next leader. It takes place in the Gemini Coven when two twins reach their 22nd birthday. Due to the twins being the first in line for the leadership of the coven, they are required to perform Merging, through which their strength would be merged together and all of their combined magic would be absorbed by one twin. The stronger twin survives the spell and is empowered by their magic as well as the magic of their twin. The weaker twin, however, is drained of their magic and dies.
Lizzie finished reading and looked at Penelope.
''Is this some sick joke?''
''No, it's not…''
''No! NO!''
''I'm sorry honey….''
''And you tell us this now?!''
It was clear that she was close to her breaking point.
''Lizzie…''
Lizzie turned to Josie…
''You knew about this?''
''I found out three days ago… After the pageant.''
''How?''
''Penelope left me something to read.''
Lizzie turned to Penelope.
''And how did you find out?''
''In my parent's library. They have books about almost all the covens. I wanted to give it to Josie since there are books about almost every coven but yours in our library…I broke up with her so she could start fighting for herself and taking a stand… I left her hoping that some days he will grow to love herself as much as I love her and need her to fight.''
''So, you left her hoping she would fight for herself and kill me?''
''NO! I just wanted her to fight… I know that either ending is bad. If she wins, she will never be able to forgive herself…And if she dies… I will never forgive her…''
''So it comes to me…''
''Lizzie… It's not about you… I know, shocking!''
''And what is it about?''
''About me facing the possible loss of a person I love. That's what's it's all about for me. And that is why I will fight for her… I will fight to keep Josie… And in doing that, I will fight for you too because she wouldn't forgive herself if she killed you.''
''I knew you are not selfless… You have your selfish motive.''
''Look around Lizzie! We all do! Your parents want to keep both daughters. I want to keep woman I love and Josie wants to keep her sister alive… We all have some agenda…You want to live too, so don't give me the attitude. Don't play innocent. We are all in this for a selfish reason.''
She got up and went to Josie's room. She couldn't really deal with Lizzie right now. She was really shaken by the bucket list she found and it kept popping in her mind every five minutes. Josie was getting ready to die…and she had no idea what to do. She wanted to run and never come back… She wanted to leave it all behind and try to be with someone who doesn't have death sentence hanging over their head…she wanted…but couldn't. She loved Josie too much to leave. She knew that she would never forgive herself if she left Josie knowing what is going on. She curled on the bed and hugged Josie's pillow. It smelled like her and it helped Penelope calm down a bit. Josie came to the room and got to the bed. She didn't say a word to Penelope, she just got into the bed and faced the other girl. They held hands and looked at each other. Josie stroked her face and hair and Penelope closed her eyes just to soak in the moment.
''What is it P? What is bothering you?''
''Aside from you getting ready to die?''
''I am not.''
''I found the list Jojo…''
''Death is in the cards for me… I may not die that day, but there is a chance…. I want to live these next six years to the fullest and I want them with you… I want to build a life with you Penelope… And I need to know if you are willing to do the same? Are you willing to spend next six years with me?''
''Yes, I am.''
''Are you willing to accept that we might not have more than that?''
Penelope's eyes were wet.
''I am scared of that moment…. I am honestly frightened that I might wake up in seven years with an empty side of the bed…''
''We both know that my side of the bed will never be empty… You will keep talking to me and telling me how your day went…Or what kids did.''
''Kids? As in plural?''
''Yes, I would love to have more than one…But one is ok too…''
''You really want children with me?''
''I do… You saw my bucket list…''
''I did…''
''So, where do we start from?''
''I vote for the part when you tell me you love me.''
''Ok… I am down with that…''
Josie pulled Penelope closer and they kissed.
''I love you Penelope Park.''
''I love you too Josette Saltzman.''
They kissed again…
''Jojo, I was thinking… When we get married… will we be Saltzman or Park family?''
''What do you want?''
''I don't know… What was on your mind Jojo?''
Penelope noticed how Josie blushed. She had a wild guess what would the answer be. She just wanted to hear Josie say it. But she was pretty sure where this might be going.
''I would love for you to be Mrs. Saltzman…''
''Because the school needs one more Saltzman…''
Josie laugher…
''I don't care what school needs… I need you…''
''I need you too Jojo…''
''So, when do we do it?''
''When do you want to?''
''I want to marry you right away…''
''Should we wait to turn eighteen…''
''That is two more years.''
''I know, but it doesn't stop us from being together.''
''I know, but I wanted to do it sooner.''
''Let's talk to your mom and dad… And my mom and dad…''
''What would your family say Penny?''
''That we are insane!''
''We are.''
''But I think that they will understand…once they know the entire story.''
''Do you want me to go with you to talk to them?''
''I don't know… I think it's the best for me to go alone… They are just few hours away by train…''
''Are you sure you want to do this?''
''I am… I want to marry you Josie… I don't want to waste a moment…If we have only six years I wat to live them with you like we have sixty six…''
Josie kissed her hair and smiled.
''Best thing Lizzie ever did was ditch that day… Showing you the school was still one of the best days of my life.''
''Mine too…''
''We should thank her. She brought us together.''
''Just don't say that to her. She will kill herself.''
''And that's the solution to our problem.''
''Stop it Penny…''
''Fine.''
They held on to each other and Josei looked at her.
''Want to talk to my mom and dad?''
''Want to show them the entire list?''
''Maybe not now.''
''Ok… Let's try to talk.''
They got up and went to the living room. Rick and Caroline were reading their books when they came.
''Mom, dad… We want to talk.''
They put their books down and Caroline smiled at them.
''Ok… We are listening.''
''We want to get married.''
''When you turn eighteen?''
''No, now.''
Rick was not sure about that.
''But…you are too young.''
''We are, but we also have time ticking away for us… Dad, if there was nothing limiting our time we would have waited to do it… But in this case… We must fit in entire life in these six years. If I die, I want to die with no regrets.''
''No! I don't agree. You are not getting married. It's ridiculious.''
He got up and went to his room. Girls sat sad on the sofa and Caroline gave them a very sad smile.
''Don't be angry at him.''
''Mom, he is acting…''
''Like parent who is scared of losing his child. It's not what you think Josie… If she says yes to you getting married, it's in his head equal to saying I accept your death Josie. He loves you so much and he thinks two of you are good fit… But letting you get married in his head is settling for death.''
''Mom, I can die… I know that it's something hanging over my head… and when the day of the merge happens, I want to know that I am walking into it knowing I lived those six years to the fullest.''
''And what do you say Penelope?''
''I understand where Dr. Saltzman is coming from, but I also want to marry her…but to me it's not accepting her death, it's forming new alliance. I want to be her wife and I want us to have life in these next six years. I want it all… Every dream to come true…so when the day comes…We are not broken by regrets and things we are sorry we never got to do.''
''It's crazy, but you do have a point….I will talk to Rick… Just give him some time.''
''Mom, time is pretty much only thing we don't have.''
With that Josie went to room and Penelope and Caroline stayed in silence.
''What do you really think about this Penelope?''
''I don't know… I am scared… I am frightened of one day not having her by my side. I want to build a life with your daughter. I love her enough to spent those six years with her waiting for the outcome. I hope we could find some solution that we can have more than six years. I'd rather spend sixty years married to her, but I will take what I get. I really love her Caroline…''
''I know.''
''I agree that we are very young… But the time is not on our side. Time is working against us.''
They looked at each other with the same thought… Countdown is starting…