Chapter 4-Say It Again by: Frances
16 Years Old/17 Years Old
Birthday Party
It had been two weeks since the show down with Penelope and her gaggle of girls in the common room, and Hope and Josie were becoming even closer than before. They were now spending more time together, if that was even possible. There wasn't a night that they didn't spend together.
By some unspoken understanding, they naturally gravitated towards each other at every opportunity. They would cuddle more and hold each other tighter. That sat closer together, occasionally, Josie would just sit directly in Hope's lap and wrap her arms around the older girl. To all around them, it appeared that the two were finally getting together and making the move into becoming a couple.
However, also seemingly by mutual understanding, they hadn't spoken about the kiss, or what it meant that Hope would be Josie's date for her birthday. Not just who she went with.
Hope again, hadn't collected her kiss right away. Josie was hoping that she didn't wait three years like last time. She wasn't sure that she could wait that long to kiss the tribrid this time.
Everything was falling into place for the girls, and it appeared that the only thing that was missing, was for them to actually talk to each other. But they were both terrified. What if what they were feeling was one sided. Just because they were going on a date, and had shared a few kisses through the years and were best friends, that didn't mean that the other wanted to change what they had and to become the other's girlfriend.
In one of the increasingly rare moments that they weren't together, Josie was getting ready for the party with the help of her sister. Hope had told her that she would pick her up at seven so that they head to the party.
"Lizzie, how do I look?"
Josie stood there in a beautiful strapless creamy pink dress that had her looking more grown up than usual. Her makeup was light and her hair was down in soft waves, with two strains pulled back into a braid that left the hair off of her face. So much tan skin was showing from her neck to her collar bone, that the younger girl was thinking that if Hope had activated her vampire side, she would have practically been offering her a meal.
"You look amazing."
Smiling with a slight blush, Josie knew that she was as ready as she was going to be and was now just anxiously waiting for her date.
"I can't believe that your first official date, the one that counts, is with freaking Hope Mikaelson!"
"I know! I never in a million years thought that this would ever happen."
"So you guys are dating now right? Like really dating and not just pretending that you are just friends?"
Looking down and fidgeting with her fingers, Josie didn't meet her sister's eyes. How was she going to answer that? She really didn't know to be honest. She wanted to think that whatever this was happening between them was more than them being friends.
"We haven't talked about it."
"WHAT!? Josie! How could you have not talked to each other about this? You two have been even closer than before, as if that was possible.
"I don't know. We just haven't."
"What have you been doing for the last two weeks then? The way that you have been acting, you would think that you two were together. Hell, I'm pretty sure that the whole school does think you are together."
"We have been talking even more than usual. I mean, we are not only talking about our present and past like before, but we are spending more time talking about our futures and our feelings."
"Then how is it possible, that you have not talked about if you are dating!?"
Josie looked down again. In all truth, she really didn't know how they had managed to skirt this conversation for this long. She truly felt like her and Hope were dating, and just not calling it dating. However, the difference between a best friend and a girlfriend was easy to spot, if you knew what you were looking at.
There was no kissing or anything passed a hug or a cuddle. Sure, they wrapped up together every night and they have been sharing the same bed for the last two weeks. They held hands walking the halls and curled up close together at their lunch table sharing food from the same tray. But no kissing, not of any kind.
"By the end of tonight, I will know one way or another. Since today was the official start of us being allowed to actually date, I am going to ask Hope to be my girlfriend."
"Way to step up sis! I'm proud of you. Of course, I'll be prouder, if tomorrow you can say that Hope Mikaelson is your girlfriend."
The beam of a smile that was on Josie's face said it all. Tonight was going to be a make or break night for her heart.
Just then, there was a knock on the door to the twin's room. Lizzie smiled and walked over to open it, which revealed Hope decked out in a beautiful red dress that was off the shoulder with two thin straps over the shoulders. She wore her hair up in an elegant bun. This left her exposed from her neck to her collar bone.
In her hands, Hope carried a bouquet of different varieties flowers. They were bright and colorful and absolutely beautiful, just like the girl holding them.
Smiling at Lizzie, she turned her head slightly and was taken back by the sight of Josie.
"Wow, Josie, you look beautiful!"
Blushing Josie looked down for a moment to compose herself.
"You look amazing as well Hope."
The two girls were locked in. Their eyes not leaving each other's once they locked on. The whole world just slipped away and nothing but these two existed.
"And we all know that I look stunning."
Lizzie decided that if she didn't break the stare these two would spend the whole night just looking at each other.
Seemingly pained to do so, Hope pulled her eyes away from Josie to look at her twin. Giving her a smile.
"Yes Lizzie, you look nice too. This is for you, Happy Birthday."
Hope handed the taller girl a yellow rose. It was tall and fresh and went well with her light blue dress.
"Thank you Hope, it's pretty."
"You're welcome. Yellow means Friendship and New beginnings, as well as happiness and joy. And a Yellow Rose is Friendship and joy. "
The blonde smiled and reached out and hugged the shorter girl. It was a thoughtful gift, as the two girls were trying to become friends.
"I love it. Thank you. I'm going to head to the party. See you two there soon."
With that, Lizzie left the two girls alone to share a private moment. She would give them about ten or fifteen minutes. If they didn't show, she would have MG come check on them. There was no way that she was going to let them skip this party.
Turning to Josie, Hope nervously held out the bouquet of mixed flowers. She smiled softly with a blush coloring her cheeks.
"These are for you Josie. They each have a meaning to them too."
Josie took them smiling shyly. She brought them to her nose so that she could smell the sweet fragrance.
"Do you want to tell me what they mean?"
"Well, the Red Carnation is for love, pride and admiration. The White Carnation is innocence and pure love. The Red Rose is of course love and adding the White Rose adds the meaning of unity, so that together they represent the unity of love. The Burgundy Rose is unconscious beauty. The Tiger Lily means 'I dare you to love me'. The White Gardenia means purity of Love and the Red Gardenia is a silent 'I Love You'."
Josie looks at Hope. There was no way that she could confuse what these flowers were saying. They all held to the same message.
"I tend to have a hard time saying things, but I thought that if you wouldn't mind, I would start with the flowers, and then we could go from there?"
"I like that idea Hope. Thank you, these are the best birthday gift I have gotten."
"Oh, those aren't your birthday present. Those are your 'this is our first date and I want to let you know that I thought about this' gift."
The brunette hugged the flowers for a moment before magically making a vase of water appear to place them in. This was already shaping up to be the best birthday ever.
Pulling a box out of her purse, Hope handed it over to the younger girl.
"This is your birthday present. I hope that you like it."
Opening the box, Josie saw a beautiful silver locket with a very intricate design on the front.
"Oh Hope, it's beautiful!"
"Not nearly as beautiful as you are."
Hope blushed for a moment before coughing to cover it and looking back to Josie, trying to not blush more than she already was.
"It's a little more than meets the eye, just like the girl it is for. If you open it, you will find a picture of you and Lizzie on one side, and one of you and me on the other. Also, I added a charm to it, which also gives you access to magic if you should ever need it."
"What charm did you put on it?"
"I thought about this a lot, but in the end, I was reminded of something my mother told me about you. She said that smart and pretty girls like you, tended to be over looked unless there was someone there to listen hard enough to hear them. I want you to know, that while I will always be here to hear you, this is so that others can hear you as well. The charm allows quite things to be heard."
Josie had tears forming in her eyes. The thought that this gift was not only thoughtful for one reason, but for a multitude of them was overwhelming.
"Hope, I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. My mother was right. You should be heard, and I want to be the one that helps you with that."
"Oh Hope! As long as you hear me that is all that will ever matter. Will you help me put it on?"
The auburn haired girl took the locket and stepped behind the brunette to clasp it into place. After securing it, Hope couldn't help but to allow her hand to run down the delicate skin of Josie's shoulders. Leaning forward a bit, Hope placed a kiss first on one, then the other.
"Ready to go princess? You can't be late to your own ball."
Smiling, the taller girl took her arm and allowed the girl of her dreams to lead her to her birthday party.
The party was in full swing when the pair showed up. Looking around the room, the two girls saw that Lizzie had really out done herself this year. It looked just like Cinderella's ball.
There where twinkle lights strung all across the ceiling and on every surface that would hold them. Towards the left side of the room, propped up for pictures was a huge carriage shaped like a pumpkin. On the right side, there was a DJ booth that was designed to look like a huge clock tower, which actually had a working clock illuminating the time.
"Lizzie really went all out with this party."
"Yeah. She said that we only turn sixteen once and that she wanted to make sure that it was special and perfect. There is apparently a surprise at midnight that she wouldn't even tell me about."
"I'm sure with it being Lizzie, you should only worry a little bit."
The two looked at each other a moment before bursting out in laughter. Both knowing that this was the truth.
"Well, maybe I should hire her to plan my eighteenth birthday. I've never had a party before."
Josie looked at Hope with an expression mixed of astonishment and sorrow. That couldn't be right. Hope had to have had parties at least when she was younger.
"You mean you haven't had one since you were little right?"
"Nope, never had one. When I was young we were always on the move. By the time I was eight, mom enrolled me here. My birthday is before the school year ends and I had no friends to celebrate with when I was younger. Then the last two years, you and I spent my birthday together."
"We didn't spend you birthday together. I would have done something special for you."
"You would have if you knew when my birthday was. This last year we hung out and ate chocolate beignets that my Aunt Freya sent and you helped me set up the new paint supplies that my Aunt Bex sent and the new laptop that Uncle Kol sent."
The taller girl stood there with wide eyes. She remembered that day very clearly. Her father had let Hope have the day off of classes and had called her to his office to pick up the packages. Hope had asked Josie to hang out and when she was about to decline, her father had told her to have fun. She had thought that it was curious at the time.
"I can't believe that you didn't tell me that it was your birthday! I would have done something for you!"
"You did. You spent the whole day with me. You even slept over that night. It was the first time in years that I didn't spend my birthday alone."
"Well, now that I know when your birthday is, you better believe that you are getting a party this year!"
Hope smiled and leaned over to kiss Josie on the cheek.
"Well speaking of parties, let's get on the floor and enjoy yours."
The two girls spent hours dancing and hanging out with Josie's friend. They were having a great time and it was a magical experience. They had taken their picture in the pumpkin coach and with the help of magic, the photos would come out just like those moving ones from Harry Potter.
The only dark spot on the whole night, was when Penelope showed up and tried to talk to Josie. The brunette placed her hand on Hope's shoulder before she could do anything about it.
"I don't want to talk to you. You made your choice and I have made mine. You weren't invited. Please leave."
Turning her back on the shorter witch, Josie linked her hand with Hope's to lead her to the dance floor.
"Whatever. I hope the bitch gives you fleas!"
That stopped the brunette in her tracks. She turned around so fast you would think that she had vampire speed and slapped Penelope so hard that she stumbled back and almost fell over.
"The only bitch that I see here is you! Now leave or you will regret it."
The raven haired witch looked stunned. She couldn't believe that sweet innocent Josie just hit her. But she couldn't back down. She stood up to Mikaelson, she would be damned if she backed down from a Saltzman.
"Oh, and what are you going to do if I don't?"
Before Josie could respond, Hope placed her hand on her shoulder to calm her down. The smile that instantly graced Josie's face brought one to Hope's as well.
"Let me handle this, you go enjoy your birthday."
The taller girl nodded and leaned over to kiss Hope sweetly on the cheek before turning to walk to her sister.
Turning back to Penelope, the look on Hope's face was one that truly sent a wave of icy fear into the younger girl.
"Now, I told you what would happen to you if you didn't leave Josie alone. Apparently you thought that I was bluffing. Something that you should know, Mikaelson's NEVER bluff."
The witch started to back away from the tribrid. She was thinking of what she could do to get away and wondering if there was an escape that wouldn't make it look like she was running away.
Hope raised her hand and froze her still. She was incapable of moving or speaking.
"Now, you and I are going to go outside and have a little chat. Then, because I don't want to get my outfit dirty, or make my DATE wait on me, I'll put you on ice and then we can talk at length tomorrow."
With that, the tribrid walked out of the ball with Penelope in tow. Five minute later she returned, not a hair out of place, and walked over to Josie.
"Is she still alive?"
"For now, but we can deal with that later. Let's dance!"
The rest of the night was perfect. Josie couldn't have asked for a better Sweet Sixteen. She was surround by all of her friends, and the party was amazing, and she had her dream date.
When it was five minutes until midnight, Lizzie walked over to the DJ booth and took the microphone, silencing the music.
"Hello everyone, thank you so much for coming to our birthday party."
There was a cheer from the crowd.
"So I have planned something special for my sister. As she always gives the best gifts, and always goes above and beyond for everyone else, this year, I decided that it was her turn to be treated like a princess! Josie, please come up here."
The brunette turned to Hope and gave a shy smile. The shorter girl smiled back and encouraged her to walk up to the booth.
When she stepped onto the platform, a throne appeared. Lizzie took her hand and led her over to sit there and then placed a tiara on her head.
"So growing up, Cinderella was one of Josie's favorite stories. So, for your present, I have taken and created a little twist on this classic."
With a wave of her hand, Josie's shoes disappeared and she was left wearing a glass slipper and a bare foot.
"Instead of the Prince looking all over for the right foot to fit the shoe, each person who wants to, will come up and take a glass slipper out of this bag, don't worry there are more than enough for everyone in the room to take one. The one that fits Josie, will be her prince or princess charming and will have the honor of leading her in the last dance at midnight."
There were a lot of excited responses to this. It appeared that a lot of people wanted the chance to dance with Josie.
Hope could understand that, Josie was beautiful and kind and everyone who knew her craved to be closer to her. She radiated warmth.
Hope didn't know if she wanted to get in line. On one hand she really wanted to get that dance with Josie, however, on the other, she felt shy and exposed.
She was debating what she should do when MG walked up to push her into the line. He was standing behind her to make sure that she didn't run.
"MG, what are you doing?"
"I am under strict instructions to make sure that you are in this line and that you don't leave. You HAVE to participate."
"Who's instructions?"
Hope asked and all she got in return was a raised eyebrow and pointed look. Turning her head, she saw a smirking Lizzie standing next to the bag. Hope suddenly had a feeling that she couldn't place and she got closer to the bag and blonde.
When it was her turn to stick her hand in the bag, she noticed that there was only one shoe in the bag for her to pick from and she looked up, again to be met with a smirk firmly placed on the blonde's face. When she pulled her hand out holding a beautiful glass slipper, Lizzie winked at her and sent her on her way.
When it was her turn to try on the slipper, there was a minute left until midnight. She looked up at the brunette as she approached to have her turn.
"Finally! I really hope that you have the magic touch, because I am over all of these people touching my foot. It is kind of creepy."
Smirking, Hope knelt down on one knee and slipped the glass slipper onto Josie's foot. Perfect fit.
"And we have our Princess Charming!"
Hope held out her hand to Josie to help her stand and led her out to the middle of the dance floor. As the clock struck midnight, the music started for their dance. The taller girl pulled Hope closer and laid her head on her shoulder. She was very thankful that Hope's heels gave her those few extra inches to make this less awkward.
You run with the sun in your eyes
Arms open to whatever you find
Then there's me
Hopelessly trying to find a way
Of hearing three little words from your mouth
And not filling this heaven with doubt
Humor me, I know you've said it but
Say it again
I wanna know that you mean it, this time
Say it again
I know that I should believe it
But I
Never thought someone would love me like you say you do
So say it again, and I'll say it back to you
You're holding my heart in your hands
And it's the safest feeling I've had, it can't be true
Someone like you, feels this way for me
I hear three little words from your mouth
And my heart can't figure it out
So humor me, I know you've said it but
Just say it again
I wanna know that you mean it, this time
Say it again
I know that I should believe it
But I
Never thought someone would love me like you say you do
So say it again, and I'll say it back to you
I know you've said it but just say it again
I wanna know that you mean it, this time
Say it again
I know that I should believe it
But I
Never thought someone would love me like you say you do
So say it again, and I'll say it back to you
"I'm so glad that it was you. I really wanted it to be you."
"I'm really glad it was me too. I have to confess, I couldn't have promised to not hurt anyone else if they tried to hold you like this."
"No one else would have held me like this."
Josie looked up at Hope, and stared into her eyes. She was saying what she had no words for yet with that look. She needed Hope to hear her. She needed her to know what she wanted to say, even if she couldn't say the words just yet. She needed her to be able to hear her heart.
"I hear you Jo."
T.B.C.