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Chapter 3: Revelation/
"I know why you were mean it was because you were telling everyone that I was bipolar," Lizzie exclaims glaring at Hope while walking down the street
"I would never," Hope says indignantly stopping her walking to glare and be offended at Lizzie
"My episodes got bad after the fire and you took advantage of that and started telling everyone about me," Lizzie pushes on also stopping to reveal why she was mean to Hope
"You're what? Also, I had no idea or clue what you are talking about," Hope responds confusion evident in her tone
"Guys! There's a mummy on Main Street," Josie exclaims getting Hope and Lizzie's attention on the new monster that appeared in front of them
Once the mummy is taken care of and everyone is back in the van on the ride back to school Hope looks to resume the discussion Lizzie started before the monster showed up. Emma, Dorian, Kaleb, and Josie were all dozing while Alric drove with a soft almost fitting pop song about heartbreak playing in the background. The song is Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi (2019).
"If you thought I said all those things about you. Then you hating me all these years makes sense. But with a father and grandfather like mine, I am probably not immune to those issues myself. I don't take it lightly and I would never make fun of you for it," Hope starts the conversation trying to clear the air between herself and Lizzie
"I believe you," Lizzie responds looking deeply into Hope's eyes showing that she heard what Hope was saying to her
"What I don't get is why anyone would accuse me of that. Who did you hear it from?" Hope says confusion and honesty in her tone
Instead of Lizzie answering Hope verbally she chooses to look over at Josie's sleeping form with a frown on her face. Hope can't help but feel slightly betrayed by Josie and also confused about the whole thing. Hope knows Lizzie isn't lying when she has her face turned to look out the window, a solemn expression on her face.
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"Why lie?" Lizzie asks hurt and confusion in her tone
"I was going to ask the same thing," Hope says coming by the twin's open bedroom door
"I didn't just lie. I started the fire." Josie admits nervousness, honesty, and guilt in her voice as she turns to face Hope and not Lizzie
Hope looks hurt by the revelation that Josie was the one who burned nearly half her room 3 years ago. Lizzie looks more shocked that Josie was the one who did it and never told her about it.
"Lizzie had made some remark about me being obsessed with you. I just blurted out how could I be obsessed with someone who would say such mean things about my twin," Josie says honesty in her voice
"But I didn't," Hope responds confusion and hurt still evident in her voice
"I know. I just made it up," Josie confesses
"Why?" Hope asks still trying to figure out how this all got so messed up
"Because I didn't want Lizzie to know the truth," Josie says with a frown pausing before revealing it all
"I had a crush on you and I had slipped a note into your room that morning. I don't know, but I just immediately regretted it but I couldn't get in by then. So I did a fire spell under your door. I was only aiming for the note," Josie reveals sorrow etched into her tone
While Josie had been focused on conversing with Hope she nearly forgot that Lizzie was not too far behind her. Josie only turned to Lizzie when she heard her sister talk back.
"Why would it matter that I knew?" Lizzie asks confusion and hurt in her tone
"Because my whole life anytime I have like anyone you go for them and you always win," Josie admits turning to look at Lizzie
"You had a crush on me?" Hope says cutting off any responses that Lizzie would have had towards Josie
"Of course, I did who wouldn't," Josie says turning back to look at Hope with a small smile
Hope gives a small smile back to Josie as a way of communicating that she was forgiven for the fire incident. Lizzie frowns at the revelations and can feel it within herself her magic starting to build.
"I... I'm sorry. I need to go," Lizzie says in a quite almost unheard whisper before rushing past her sister and a confused Hope
"Lizzie, wait," Josie says but it's too late Lizzie is gone
"Should we go after her?" Hope asks unsure why Lizzie ran off
"A crash will make her better, but we need to make sure no one gets hurt come on," Josie says as she rushes to go past Hope only to be stopped by Hope grabbing her wrist
"Wait, how does your sister crashing make her better?" Hope questions confusion in her tone
"Hope, Lizzie is better after she crashes she is more receptive to taking her meds meaning that her magic will be less likely to spontaneously combust every time she doesn't get her way with something. She hasn't been taking her meds since we killed our bio mom because she doesn't like how they make her feel. The shock bracelet, and unleashing her inner bitch all poor substitutes for medication that could have prevented this crash from occurring in the first place. If she were on her meds she probably wouldn't have run off as she did," Josie harshly criticized
"She can't control her brain chemistry. Also, I doubt any amount of medication would have helped her to not run from a person who lied to her for 3 years straight," Hope rebuttals confused about Josie's harsh attitude toward her sister
"You know that's not fair; I was 12 at the time I didn't know any better. Also, you don't know what it's like to have to deal with Lizzie after she crashes. Every time she says she is going to be better, and she is for a few days then she jumps ship and pulls stunts like not taking her meds. The routine gets old fast the fewer people are attached the better off they won't get heartbroken from being disappointed that Lizzie failed yet again. I love Lizzie and I want her to be happy, but she shoots herself in the foot by not taking her meds." Josie passionately argues her defense
"You're right I don't know what it's like, so I am not going to argue with you on that point. I will argue with you on the fact that you didn't say anything to me or her for the last 3 years. I mean I am glad that it was an accident and not a malicious attempt on my life but you could have told me sooner that you used to have a crush on me. If we are coming clean about things, I have a confession to make as well. Lizzie was being mean to me after the fire, and I chose to come up to you and try to make an effort to be a friend. I did this to spite Lizzie, I also did it because I had a crush on you for a week when I was 14 but I was still a bit shaken with the whole Roman Sienna debacle that I was not ready to try anything. By the time I thought maybe we could be a thing Penelope Park captured your heart. You know she likes you even though she ended things with you. I asked her why she ended things if she likes you so much and she said there is a secret that isn't her to tell. If I had to guess, whatever she wrote to you in that letter contained the secret of why she ended things despite still being very into you." Hope responds calmly with care and honesty in her tone
"You had a crush on me? Also, I am still angry that she decided to end it without giving me a clear reason other than not liking my sister. I felt and feel that if she has the words to write an apology or reasoning then she could have just told me in person, not through a stupid letter." Josie answers back getting annoyed at even thinking about her sexy ex-girlfriend
"Of course, I had a crush on you, Josie. You're a nice, kind caring, person. You deserve someone who will be patient with you and someone willing to put up with your sister. It's a tall order to ask of a future partner but you are far from Lizzie's shadow. Plus, if anyone makes you cry, they will have to go through me as your best friend and of course your sister because even though I didn't care for her short jokes about me she never stood for anyone calling you bad names. Remember she started a brawl at the flag football game because Dana called you a loser. I also remember an instance in a different class a random wolf was saying how he thought you would be a great lay in bed. I was about to say something, but Lizzie beat me to the punch, making a threat that had the guy so scared he pissed himself," Hope says with a smile at the memory
"She did that for me?" Josie asks shocked that her sister would defend her honor
"Yep, safe to say none of the wolves ever made any suggestive comments about you less word got back to Lizzie Saltzman. I did give her a questioning glance in passing and she told me she would deny it if it ever came up because she had a title to defend as a cold heartless bitch of the school," Hope recalls the tale to Josie
"She never mentioned it. Do you know if she has done anything else? Because if I didn't feel guilty about her well-being now I feel even more guilty. She trusted me with everything and I was scared that I wouldn't have the chance to have my own group of friends or that she would forget about me as I feel she sometimes does. You think if I made her favorite dessert she would forgive me?" Josie asks nervousness and worries in her voice
"Doesn't hurt to try also I guess you have never really had this bad of an argument?" Hope offers and questions
"She is usually the one apologizing since it tends to be something that she did wrong. I mean she attempts to apologize, but she denies that she ever apologizes. In truth, I think she got a lot of her tips on apologizing from MG. I just feel bad for letting things get this bad and yet I wouldn't have you as a best friend if not for the lies and the fire." Josie says tears in her eyes guilt in her voice
"You didn't need the lies or the fire. After the Hollow was extracted from me my mom suggested that I try to give you and Lizzie a fair shot at becoming friends. The only issue was the fire occurred before I got the courage to even approach either of you on the very late offers of friendship that Lizzie and you had offered years ago. You would have had me even without the lies or fire. You still do have me, and I would like to try and be, if not friends with your sister, a bit friendly instead of so confrontational." Hope offers a comforting sign of peace
"Thanks, I think I needed this conversation. As far as my sister goes, if you do become friends, I think our friends will miss the bitchy banter between the two of you," Josie says more at ease about the whole thing
"I doubt the banter will stop. Have you met your sister? She is the walking embodiment of sassy next to Penelope Park." Hope comments back lightening the mood significantly
Hope and Josie stay up late chatting about everything with Malivore, Landon, Rafael, and the rest of the super squad. At some point, both Hope and Josie fall asleep on the ground between the two beds. Lizzie finds them and puts a blanket on each of them before she crawls into her bed to catch a few hours of sleep before class.
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Lizzie wakes up first before her sister and Hope having unconsciously rubbed her non dominate left hand wrist against her bed stand when shutting off her cell phone alarm. Lizzie cursed herself silently for getting a little too carried away with cutting the other night knowing that this cut would take a lot longer than she wanted to heal. Many of her previous cuts on her writ were small and shallow since she was not a huge fan of pain, but she also found the pain to be a release for her anger at times. Last night was the worst because she seriously thought of skipping her wrists and going to her throat. Lizzie hated that she believes herself a coward for not being able to kill herself and a coward for resorting to cutting as a way to cope with the hurt she felt. Lizzie gets changed and cleans her wound before putting a band aid on it and concealing it with wearing a long sleeve shirt.
"Hope" Lizzie nudges Hope to wake up
"Hm, a few more minutes," Hope grumbles groggy and very much with her eyes still shut
"Hope Andrea Mikaelson you need to get up less you want to skip classes or look like trash going to said, classes. Come on Mikaelson. I still have to wake up my sister and I would rather you not be in our room when we talk," Lizzie says annoyance creeping into her voice
"Hm Lizzie? Why are you in my room? Wait, why am I on the floor?" Hope asks confusion in her voice still a bit sleepy and not aware of her surroundings
"You and Josie fell asleep on the floor in Jo and I's room. I let you sleep and now I am kicking you out so that you can go back to your room and look presentable for class," Lizzie answers with slight irritation in her tone
"Oh, um thanks also please go easy on Josie she didn't mean to hurt you," Hope says getting up off the ground and looking over to Josie's still sleeping form
"I believe you. I also believe that if I were even half the villain that everyone at this school makes me out to be I wouldn't feel this earth-shattering hurt that I do. You should get going. Hope, I need to talk to my sister in private," Lizzie responds with an uncharacteristic seriousness in her tone like she knew what the rumors at school were about her
Hope knew the rumors too that Lizzie was the evil twin that Josie had to put up with because Alaric was too much of a drunk to realize that one of his daughters was being bullied by the other. Hope also knew that the rumors were not true while Lizzie seemed on the outside narcissistic and needy, she did show some signs of compassion towards her sister. Hope was not sure whether to be surprised that Lizzie somehow knew about the rumors or to feel guilty that she sometimes bought into said rumors even though she knew them to be untrue.
"Let her know that I am free to talk to her later," Hope requests before heading to the door
"I will," Lizzie says with a nod
"I'm also free for you to talk to if you want after classes. Just think about it," Hope offers before leaving the twin's room
Lizzie watches Hope leave confused at Hope's sudden offer of friendship. Lizzie was skeptical at the offer of friendship knowing that past three years she had not been the best version of herself towards well most everyone. Lizzie does not get long to linger on what Hope meant when she hears her sister start to stir from sleep.
"Hey, beautiful. If you're looking for Hope I woke her up and told her that she should get ready for class. I gave you guys a minimum of an hour before classes start," Lizzie says coming to sit in front of Josie
"Lizzie, where did you run off to? You're not supposed to leave our room when you get," Josie says before stopping her sentence midway
"Get what Josie? Emotionally unstable? No, you, Mom, and Dad all told me to make sure no one was harmed when I got my outbursts! Hope and you were still here in this room and I don't want to harm you or anyone for that matter. I ran to the woods because I knew no one would come after me or would be in the area that I ran to!" Lizzie says defending her actions all with barely contained anger in her tone
"Lizzie I just wanted to make sure no one got hurt that is why I asked where you ran off to," Josie says trying to defend her side of the argument
"You know Josette I did some self-reflective thinking and I realized that yeah, I am needy and selfish, but codependency takes two to tango! I am not a mind reader Jo. I can't know who your crushes are if you never tell me. If you had just said something I might not have backed down, but I would give you a chance. You not telling me and then blaming me for stealing your crushes that's not fair! I tell you practically everything and you don't think that when I say something you could put your own two cents in? So, I'm not a great sister, I can't be when you don't say anything! I would have thought by now you would have learned to go for things you want having seen me every damn day chasing after things that I want," Lizzie argues annoyance in her tone
"I want something separate from you! I don't want to be suffocated by your presence anymore. I want to know that if I get a partner, you won't be a third wheel or have a crisis and I have to drop everything for you! I want to run for Miss Mystic Falls and win on my own! I want to not live in your shadow anymore. I want to not be constantly compared to you or have others wonder if I am just one bad day away from being labeled crazy like you! I am tired of picking up and cleaning up your messes, yet I also can't help but feel guilty, so I try to be there for you," Josie says anger and passion in her voice nearly matching Lizzie's
"There it is. I never asked to be labeled the bad twin, the evil twin, the twin no one wanted! Yeah I know about the rumors and so do you lets not kid our selves. One of our favorite games when we were younger was hide and seek and we used the invisibility cloaking spell to make it twice as hard. You want the crown for Miss Mystic Falls okay fine let the best witch win. As for cleaning up my messes I never asked you to. As far as the guilt I can't say I am unhappy to hear it. Your lies made me believe that Hope was the enemy and that everyone at the school was out to mock me and make me feel like nothing. I don't like feeling worthless but that isn't even the biggest issue. The crux of it all is that you betrayed me. Someone who claims to love me and yet you hurt me just so I wouldn't go after a trivial childhood crush! Instead of airing your concerns with me, you used my insecurities about my mental health to make me believe everyone at this school is the enemy. You know when my mental health diagnoses was aired public to the school it was rumored that you started it all but I ignored that rumor because how could my sweet loving caring flesh and blood sister do such a thing. I trusted you the most in this world and you lied to me for 3 years straight to my face day in and day out!" Lizzie says hurt and anger in her tone
"I was 12 Lizzie and you kept teasing me about being obsessed with Hope. I didn't mean for it to get this bad!" Josie fires back trying to pin the blame back on Lizzie
"I was 12 as well and thought the world of you! How could I not think the world of you my twin sister who everyone loves because you are the epitome of a good girl. The one who always follows the rules and never gets in trouble. The kind one the one everyone believes couldn't harm a fly because you just care so damn much. Yeah, I am hurt and kind of still mad at you, but I also forgive you because you were just trying to have something of your own. Plus, as you said we were kids it would be pretty shitty of me to not forgive you over it since you always seem to find it in yourself to forgive me. Then again, all the stupid shit I pulled was never done with any malicious intent nor was it a long con on your emotions! But I am trying to be a better person, so I propose a clean slate. You tell me what you want, and I will try not to fuck it up. I am trying to be better person, but you not believing in me or thinking that I am just going through a phase doesn't help me be better," Lizzie says trying to go for an olive branch of peace
"You take your pills, and I will accept a clean slate. I want to have separate things from you, and I want to not have to worry that someone or thing will set you off," Josie counteroffers to Lizzie as a deal-breaker
Lizzie thinks hard on what Josie was asking of her knowing that the pills would only make her suicidal thoughts stronger. Lizzie never told Joise about the cutting or the suicidal ideation since she thought it was her cross to bear alone. Lizzie was able to hide her scars with the school uniform or a simple concealing charm if needed.
"I told you why I stopped taking them. I don't like the way they make me feel, but if that is what it takes to get forgiveness then I'll do it. Please just don't leave me. You're my sister, the only one I got," Lizzie says her eyes glassy and ready to spill tears
"I won't leave you and if I do it won't be for long okay? Like you said you are my sister," Josie says her eyes also glassy with emotion as she moves to hug Lizzie who reciprocated the hug
Josie is the first to end the hug saying they should get ready for class. Lizzie agrees and leaves the room to go down to breakfast before classes so that Josie can get ready. Josie feels more at ease having had those hard conversations done. Josie really hopes that this time Lizzie puts in the work to get better and be better. Josie is also happy that she didn't lose Hope as a best friend and even considers looking into the letter that her sexy ex-girlfriend handed to her before the talent show.
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Author's Note: I wanted to dive a bit deeper into the dynamic between the three main girls on the Legacies tv series. The brief conversation about the reveal that Josie started the fire just didn't do it for me in the show. Both Josie and Lizzie were acting and behaving the only way they thought they could. I would fault Alaric and Caroline for the codependency issue between the twins. I mean in Legacies alone the show seems to push that Caroline is never home and Alaric is hyper-focused on training Hope, running the school, or drinking his worries away. It's kind of a wonder that Josie feels the pressure to keep an eye on Lizzie and be more of a peacekeeper when Alaric or Caroline are not around. As for Lizzie, she is super insecure and fearful of being abandoned because she feels that both Alaric and Caroline have left her in some form or another, be it physical or emotional. I also wanted to highlight the tough dynamic that one has when dealing with someone who has mental health and is on pills or refuses to take said pills. I hope I gave Josie's struggle some much needed light along with Lizzie's struggle with her mental health. Next up we will focus a bit more on Hope's perspective.