A/N: I want to say that I am sorry that this chapter took so long. I started grad school on Monday and I have a lot of work to do for this. So sadly, I am not going to be able to update as often.
I do promise that I am going to finish this! There are 5 chapters after this one and I have plotted them out, I just have to find the time to write them.
I want to thank everyone who is hanging in there with me and still reading. I want to give a special shout out to those of you sending me comments, you are helping to keep me extra motivated!
Chapter 12-Wonderwall By: Oasis
16 Years Old/18 Years Old
Hope's 18th Birthday
Everything had been going well for the two girls since returning from Spring Break with Hope's family. They were closer than ever before and seemed to have a new understanding of each other.
It had been six weeks since they had returned, and finals were just around the corner. However, before they could get bogged down with the never-ending studying, today was Hope's birthday. Her eighteenth birthday to be precise and Josie, true to her word, is throwing her a party.
Hope had told Josie that she didn't have to do that. She was more than happy with it being just her and Josie again, just like last year. Josie, however, would have none of that. She told her that she promised that this year she would finally have a party and she refused to let Hope talk her out of celebrating her.
"You are exceptional, and you deserve to be celebrated for everything that you are! Plus, you have never had one! I can't let that be, I refuse! You will have your birthday party and you will just have to enjoy it."
Hope shook her head thinking about her beautiful and amazing girlfriend. She had been planning this party since they returned from vacation. Josie thinks that she was being sneaky, and that Hope didn't know how much she was putting into it, but Hope knows. Hope will just keep that to herself though.
Hope had just woken up and was a little surprised to find that she was in bed alone. She was positive that when she went to bed last night, Josie was curled up in her arms and they feel asleep snuggled together. She sat up a moment and looked around to see if she was just not seeing her. What she found, was a piece of paper where Josie should be.
Hope,
Happy Birthday! If you wake up before I get back, don't move! I have a surprise to start your day with. See you soon.
-Josie
It wasn't anything super special, however, the fact that Josie had left her a note and was planning something for her, the thought alone made Hope's heart beat faster in her chest.
Before Hope could think too much on this, her door was opening, and Josie was walking in with a tray full of food. She was trying and failing to do so silently as not to wake Hope. The witch managed to make it into the room and sat the tray down on the desk so that she could silently close the door. When she turned around to grab the tray, she saw that her girlfriend was sitting up smiling at her.
"Hi baby. Happy Birthday!"
"Thank you. What is all of this?"
"This is your first present. Breakfast in bed."
Hope smiled when she saw the huge piles of food on the tray in front of her. She was so excited that she almost missed what Josie said, but not quite.
"Wait, what? First present?"
Josie looked at her like she was silly.
"Yes, your first present. You didn't think that I was only going to get you one, did you?"
"In all truth I thought that the party was my present."
Josie let out a loud laugh that caused the younger girl to double over. Hope didn't see what was so funny.
"That was a good one Hope."
Hope looked at her girlfriend and raised her eyebrow.
"Oh, you were serious! Hope, no! The party is something that you get to have because it is your birthday. That isn't a present!"
"Well, to me it is. Since I have never had one before."
Josie leaned over and pulled Hope into a quick hug. The fact that she thought that a birthday party was something special enough to be a gift, it just made the brunette's heart hurt.
"Hope listen to me, you are special, and you get this party for no other reason that you are you. You deserve to be celebrated. If I have to, I will spend the rest of forever proving that to you."
"Be careful, I'll hold you to that."
"Please do."
Hope gave a small smile to the girl in front of her and nodded her head. She would give anything to Josie, and if what she wanted was to make Hope feel special, well then damn it, she would feel special for the day.
Looking at the tray of food that the other girl had brought for her, the birthday girl couldn't help but laugh. It was a bit more of a mountain of food than a tray.
"Did you bring me one of everything that they had?"
"Two actually. I know that your wolf side makes you hungry, and I wanted to make sure that you started the day off right. I had to get to the dining hall just as the kitchen opened so that I could make sure to get everything. I am so glad that I made friends with Abigail. She let me in and let me take all of this before they opened."
"Abigail? Is she the one that is about my height with dark almost black hair? Really sweet lady?"
"Yeah, you know her?"
"She is nice to me. She knows that I don't like eating with everyone watching me, so she would always save me something and have it set aside so I could come in just after lunch."
"No wonder she was so happy to help. Also, she said to give you this cake. Apparently, when I requested to use the kitchen to make you a cake, she decided to help me out, and made you this tiny little personal cake. Said to tell you happy birthday."
"That is nice of her. She always did make me something special. Never did figure out how she learned my birthday, but she always makes me these cakes. You are going to share it with me right."
"No, it is your cake. You should eat it."
"But I want you to share it with me. It will make it better."
Josie just smiled and nodded her head. She leaned in and gave Hope a small kiss to her forehead and pushed the tray a little closer to her.
"Ok, lets feed that inner wolf of yours, and then we can get ready for your next birthday surprise."
"You are the best girlfriend in the whole history of girlfriends. I hope that you know that."
"I wouldn't go that far, but I wanted to make sure that you have the best day today. I would do anything for you Hope."
"Well, then, that's easily done. Spend the day with me. My days are always better with you in them."
Josie smile brightened at hearing her girlfriend's words. She loved the fact that she brought Hope happiness. It was all that she wanted for the older girl.
"Well, I will have to make a few arrangements and change a few plans, but I think that can be arranged. Now eat before your food gets cold."
"Wait, if this is all for me, where is your breakfast?"
Josie held up a cup of coffee with a smile.
"Breakfast of champions in a cup."
"No. You are going to eat some of this. You can't expect that I am going to let you get away with coffee as a meal."
Huffing the brunette scoots over to sit next to Hope and curl into her side.
"You never do, which is why I made sure to grab a bowl of oatmeal with some fruit."
"And you are going to eat that and this toast and some of these pastries and…"
"Hope, babe, not all of us are wolfs. I can only hold so much. This breakfast is for you, I will sit here and eat with you, and then we can get ready for your next present."
The older girls eyes light up. For all of her protesting, she really was excited about what Josie planned for her. The one thing that she knew for sure was that Josie was the best gift giver ever. Her gifts were always thoughtful and exactly what the other person wanted/needed.
"I see those sparkles in your eyes. Eat. I have such a day planned for you Hope."
The two sat together eating, mostly in silence. Sharing looks and the occasional cheek kiss. It was so warm and comfortable to be together. Neither felt the need to have to fill the space with anything other than themselves. The feeling engulfed them, that they were the only two in the whole world.
After finishing their food and getting ready for their day, Josie took Hope by the hands and started to drag her out of the school towards the woods towards the old mill.
"What are we doing out here?"
"Well, I figured that the best way to start your birthday celebration would be with a few games. Since we all know that board games could be dangerous…"
Josie was looking at her with a glint in her eyes and a mischievous smile as she pulled her through the entrance of the old mill to find Hope's next present.
There was a huge projector set up with Hope's Play Station hooked up to it. Which was amazing as Hope hadn't even noticed that it was missing. The brunette had already gotten the game loaded to where Josie and Hope had last left off in playing it just a day ago.
"I figured that since we were about to defeat the final boss, it would be nice to do it in epic proportions."
The smile on Hope's face grew even bigger than before. She couldn't believe that Josie was this amazing!
"Josie! This is awesome! The only thing missing is the cheering section!"
"Nope, got that cover too. They should be here, any second now."
"Hey girls! Sorry we're late, we stopped off to get snacks and drinks for the main event."
In walked MG and Lizzie, carrying a cooler between them with a few bags balanced on top.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Josie said that you two were about to start the final push to beat the final boss in Final Fantasy 8. We are your official cheerleaders!"
MG was just as happy and bouncy as any cheerleader that Hope had ever seen before. Lizzie on the other had looked like she would have liked to have stayed in bed for about another year.
"Thank you, guys. This is going to be awesome and ore people always make it better. I'm sure that this isn't your idea of fun."
"Nope, not at all."
Josie shot her sister a look that spoke volumes to the murderous thoughts that were currently running through her head.
"But it's your birthday and we are your friends. While I don't get the whole video game thing, I get spending time with your friends and especially on their birthday. So here we are, ready and waiting to cheer you on to victory, blah blah blah."
These words brought a smile to Hope's face and caused Josie to stop trying to murder her sister with her eyes and actually chuckle a little.
"Let's do this! I want to see you kick this bosses ass!"
They spent the next hour watching as Hope and Josie finished the last-minute level up and gathering of the magic needed to defeat the castle. Once they enter the castle, Hope explained, the fight was on.
As they made their way through the rooms and the low-level semi-bosses battels, they were finally ready to face off against the final boss.
By this point even Lizzie was getting into the action. She was jumping up and cheering just as loudly as MG when they were fighting. Screaming at the girls to watch out for their health, even if she wasn't sure what level it really needed to be at.
For Hope, this was the best ever. This is how you were supposed to play video games. With large groups of people hanging out, talking, and screaming at the screen together. This was already turning out to be the best birthday ever.
Once they had finally defeated the boss and watched the end credits that Hope instated on as it finally gave the ending of the story the whole game told, they started to clean up. Josie told Hope that she had another surprise for her for lunch.
"Ok, see you two later, you know what you need to do?"
"No worries sis, we have it all under control. I just have to get through this tour that dad set up today."
"What, he didn't mention any tour to me."
"Of course not. When he told me this morning, I told him not to tell you. It's Hope's birthday, so much more important than a tour for some new students. MG is going to help me and then we are going to do what needs to be done."
"Ok, thanks Liz."
"Always here for you sis. I'll text you as soon as were done."
Josie gave Lizzie a quick hug. When she pulled back, the blonde walked over to the shorter girl. She pulled her in for a hug.
"Hope, next time you want to start up this game, make sure you tell me. I am absolutely in to play. It was awesome."
"Me too Hope. This is one of my favorite through back games. We should have regular game nights."
"That would be great. How about we all have lunch together tomorrow and we can figure out the details."
"Sounds good to me. Well, see you later."
With that Lizzie and MG headed off to complete a tour and their mystery task, which Hope was assuming was setting up for the party portion of Hope's birthday.
"You are actually letting Lizzie plan and decorate my party? I mean there is no question that she has taste, but still."
"What? No of course not!"
The shorter girl raised her eyebrow in question at her girlfriend. Really, did she think that "code" was secretive? It was so much fun to watch Josie get flustered though.
"Fine, I am allowing her to do the foot work. But I am the one that planned it and picked everything out and told them in specific detail what to do. I would never let anyone but me plan this… and you are totally making fun of me, aren't you?"
Hope broke out into and laugh and grabbed Josie by the waist pulling her close. She held her in a hug for a few moments before pulling back to kiss her.
It started off as a slow soft kiss, but as always with these two, they found that they couldn't get enough of each other. The kiss deepened and soon their tongues were sharing a dance. Neither battling for dominance, both understanding that this was something that they shared, not controlled.
Before they were ready for it to end, they were interrupted by a loud ringing coming from Josie's back pocket.
"Your pants are screaming."
"Yeah, and my phone is ringing too."
With a quick kiss to Hope's shocked lips, Josie grabbed her phone out of her back pocket.
"Hello. Yes. Yes. Give us five minutes. Ok. Bye."
"Who was that?
"You'll see. Come on. I only have five minutes to set everything up and I have to get us back to your room."
Hope scooped up Josie bridal style and took off at a run. Within a minute, they were standing in front of Hope's room. She gently lowered the girl in her arms so that she could open her door.
"Thanks baby. That gives me just enough time to set everything up. Can I borrow your laptop?"
"Of course you can. You know the password. What should I do?"
"You go sit on your bed and give me a few moments."
Josie typed in the password and went to work doing whatever it was to get the laptop set up for the next birthday surprise.
"Ok, Hope, close your eyes and give me a minute."
Hope did as she asked and closed her eyes, covering them with her hands for good measure. She felt the bed dip as Josie climbed on next to her.
"Ok, open your eyes."
When Hope opened her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of her whole family. They had all connected for a video chat for Hope's birthday.
"Happy Birthday Hope!"
They all started to sing to her and wish her a happy and fun day. Their presents had all arrived and Josie promised that she would get them tonight at her party. Which Josie also promised she would record the opening so that they could see her reaction.
After about an hour spent with her family, it was time for lunch. Hope promised that she would call each of them the following week to talk again. She thanked them for calling and for being there with her, even if they were all worlds apart.
"We are always here for you love. We love you, never forget that."
"I know Aunt Bex. I love you all too. We'll talk later."
Signing off, Hope turned to her girlfriend and more than ever, realized just how perfect she was. No one had ever gone to this much effort for her. To be so thoughtful and to think about what would make Hope happy.
"Josie, if we do nothing else today, I want you to know that you have made this the best birthday that I have had. I…. Thank you so much baby."
The brunette smiled and brought her in for a hug. She held her tight and poured everything that she could into that hug. She needed Hope to know that there wasn't anything in the world that she wouldn't do for her.
"I'm glad that you like your presents so far, but this day is far from over. I still have moves that you haven't seen, and surprises hidden up my sleeves. Now, we need to go, the next surprise is waiting for you."
The two headed out of the room and to the dining hall. There, in the middle of the room, covered in a white cloth and sporting a bouquet of mixed flowers, very familiar to the ones that Hope had given Josie on their first date, was a small table set for two.
"Josie, this is… this is amazing and beautiful. I can't believe that you did all of this for me."
"Hope, I would do everything for you. This is just a small portion of the world that I would give you."
Hope looked into the brown eyes that she had come to love and rely on. She fell so much more for this girl in this moment. She loved her and there was no mistaking that.
"Well, we have the whole room to ourselves for an hour. I managed to get it reserved for just us."
"How did you do that?"
"I talked to dad. It is amazing how receptive he is when you say everything in just the right way."
"You totally threatened your own father, didn't you?"
"Absolutely not! What kind of girl do you take me for? I may have simply reminded him of a few things, and then merely mentioned that I would not hesitate to let Lizzie be in charge of keeping people away."
Hope laughed so hard at the imagines of Alaric's face in that moment, and of what Lizzie would do to keep people away. Priceless, this was the best. She couldn't remember a day that she had laughed this much.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side. I have a feeling that between the two of us, you are the one that people should truly fear."
There was a glinting in Josie's eyes that told Hope that she was probably right. Then the witch leaned in and gave her girl a kiss on her cheek.
"I had the staff make all of your favorites. They should be here any second."
As the words left her mouth, food magically filled the table. All of Hope's favorite foods were there. From steak to potatoes to baked mac 'n cheese, and everything else that Hope had ever mentioned that she liked. Beignets of course with a side of ice cream and whipped cream and a dozen other desserts.
"This is wonderful Josie, but a lot of food for just the two of us. I know that I can eat a lot, but I think that this maybe too much, even for me, especially after breakfast and all the snacks during the game."
"I know, but I figured whatever we don't eat now, can be a left-overs picnic for us tomorrow."
Grinning Hope grabbed Josie and spun her around a few times before bring her over to the table to set her down and pull out her chair.
"This is your birthday; I should be pulling out your chair."
"I know, but since it is my birthday let me have this one thing."
"Ok. But just this once."
After sitting down next to Josie, the two started in on their lunch. When they were finished, Josie waived her hand and the food magically disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Grabbing the flowers, Josie offered Hope her hand and pulled her up. She kissed her sweetly on the cheek, handing over the flowers.
"OK, one more stop and then we get to go cuddle in your room for a while before getting ready for the party tonight."
"I like that idea."
"And I will say this, my outfit for tonight's main event was picked out specifically with you in mind."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I guess you'll have to wait until tonight to see."
Josie took Hope's hand in her own and started walking out of the dining hall. They didn't have far to go, as they stopped in front of Alaric's office.
"Why are we here?"
"Dad said that he has somethings for your birthday. He asked that I bring you here after lunch so that he could give them to you."
Hope looked nervous at what Alaric could have for her. He had never given her anything on any of her other birthdays. Why was this one so important. Was it because of what today meant for her and the school? She really didn't think that anything had to change. She knew that she would need to speak with both Alaric and Freya about that later, but she didn't want to think about it now.
Josie reached up and knocked on the door, waiting to hear her father call for them to come in. Once they entered, they saw that Alaric was sitting there behind his desk working on some papers. It seemed that he wasn't going to look up to see who had entered.
"Hey dad. We're here."
"Oh girls, hi. Hope thank you for taking some time out of your birthday festivities for me. I know that Josie has big plans for your day, but I want to have a moment."
"Of course."
Smiling Alaric shook his head. He knew what must being going through her head in this moment. As much as he knew she would remember, he also knew what her turning eighteen meant. However, this was not the time for anything related to business. There would be time enough for that in the future.
"First, I want to wish you a Happy Birthday Hope. May it grant you all of your wishes."
Alaric reaches out and pulled the girl into a hug. Holding her tight for a moment to give her time to react. And after a moment she sighs and relaxes, returning the hug to the man that has been a stand in father to her for most of her life.
This is the man that was there for her when her father couldn't be. He was also there for her after she lost her father and her mother.
Pulling back, she gave a small smile and a head nod. She knew that he wasn't going to let anything change their relationship, no matter what. They would find a way to work through it.
"Alright, and now for the second reason that we have called you here. I have been informed that adults, other than yourself of course, are banned from tonight's festivities. So, that means that you get your presents now."
"You didn't have to get me anything. I mean, you never have before."
Alaric looks thoughtful and sad for a moment. There was more to this than presents and Hope could tell just looking at his face. Apparently, Josie could as well, as she slipped her hand into Hope's and squeezed.
"I know; however, these are special gifts. Things that are not so much from us as from those who would want you to have them."
Hope took a shaky breath and nodded her head. She already had a strong sense of what was to come. Though she may not know exactly what the presents were, she knew who that were from.
"The first one I have for you Caroline sent over from France. She sent a letter with it if you would like to open that first."
Hope took the letter from Alaric with a slight shake to her hand. She couldn't do it. It didn't matter what the letter said, she knew that it was something that was going to bring up memories and heartaches. She turned to Josie handing it to her.
"You want me to read it. Do you want to read it now?"
She shot a look over to her father, knowing that she might not want to do this in front of him. Hope just nodded her head. She didn't care. She knew that he would find out about the gift from Caroline later any way, that was, if he didn't already know. In this moment, Hope saw no reason to wait.
Dearest Hope,
Happy Birthday sweet girl! I hope that this day is as special for you as you deserve.
I was in France on business and decided to stop into the Louvre to kill a little time before a meeting I had. While speaking to one of the curators of private collections I was shown some work that was said to have influenced the Renaissance most famous artisans, including Da Vinci.
When I saw the signature, I recognized it from years ago when it was first shown to me. I knew in that moment that this was something that you had to have. This belongs to you, no matter what that curator has to say about it.
Enjoy and remember with love.
Caroline
"Did your mom just admit to stealing from the Louvre?"
"She didn't admit to it, but yeah, I'm pretty sure that is exactly what she did."
Alaric handed a wrapped gift to Hope that was small and rectangular in shape. Tied up with a perfect bow.
As Hope opened the gift slowly and carefully, she could feel the anticipation and anxiety that was just below the surface. She felt that she knew what she was going to find. And she wasn't sure she was ready for it. When the wrapping fell away, she was left holding a well preserved, though ancient looking book.
Opening the book, Hope saw the first page was the sketch of a woman and a wolf. At the bottom, clearly marking the page, was her father's signature. This was a whole book filled with her father's sketches.
Flipping through the pages, Hope was shocked that Caroline would send her a book like this. The only thing that she could think, was that she hadn't gone past the first few pages. Hope could feel her face heating up.
Josie leaned over and looked at the sketches to see what was causing Hope to blush so much. Upon seeing the image on the page, she let out a small yelp.
"Maybe I'll look at these later. If you speak with Caroline soon, will you tell her thank you and let her know that I am touched and grateful to her? I would write her a letter, but I wouldn't be sure where to send it to make sure that she received it, and since I am not allowed to do magic to send it to her, yet, I want her to know how much I appreciate the effort she went through to procure this and that she thought about me."
Alaric didn't miss the wording that was used. Though, he had to smile at the smirk on Hope's face. He could tell that the years to come would be fun.
"I will pass the message along for you and ensure that she knows that you like the gift."
Hope smiled and sat the letter in the sketch book and sat it down on the desk for the moment as Alaric looked as if there was still more.
"That was what Caroline wanted you to have, I also have something that I want to give you. This is something that was left with me, for save keeping, when you first started school her. It was supposed to go to you today, though, I was not the one that it was supposed to come from."
For just a moment, a blink of the eye, Hope stopped. Her entire being froze. She wasn't moving, she wasn't breathing. It was as if she was stuck in that one second, frozen in time. Un able to break free. And then the world came crashing back to her, all at once.
The one topic that was more sensitive for Hope than her father, was the one that Alaric was about to embark on. Hope felt the walls that she had carefully constructed fall into place, as if she were lifting her shield, preparing to do battle.
Once more in a matter of minutes, Josie was there by her side, holding her hand. Grounding her and letting her know that she was still with her, even when the ghost of her past come back to visit her.
"She wanted you to have these on the day that you turned eighteen. I think she always thought that she would be here when you go them, but, like every good mother, especially one in our world, she left you a letter as well."
Alaric handed over both gifts and the letter. Hope took them face stoic with no sign of emotion at all and just stared at them for a moment.
Just as before, she turned to Josie and handed her the letter. This one, from her mother and thus, even harder for her to read. With a nod of her head, Josie unfolded the letter and began to read it aloud.
Dear Hope,
Happy 18th birthday! You have finally made it to being an adult! Sorry to break it to you, it isn't any better than being a kid, and there are a ton more responsibilities.
If you are reading this, then that means that for some reason, I am not able to be there with you today. I truly hope with everything in me, it is because you are off with your friends halfway across the world parting or that I am just delayed somewhere.
However, with the life that we lead, and as much as it hurts me to think about leaving you, I have to believe it is because I am no longer there with you, and for that I am truly sorry. Know that I would do anything to be with you and that I love you more than my own life. You are the light in my dark world, and you are the reason that I fight. You are what makes my life worth living.
I want you to know, no matter what, I am proud of the woman you have become. I can say that because I know the girl that you were and who you are in your core. You are your father's daughter that is true, but you are also my daughter. You have the best of us all in you. I know that you will do great things in your life and I can wait, hopefully for a very long time, to meet you again and to hear all of your stories, starting, with the most important information, your totally epic love story.
In that matter, I want to tell you about the gifts that you are about to open. The first is a journal that I have written in, every day since I found out that I was pregnant with you I have made an entry in a journal. I have filled many of these through the years, but this was the first. I want you to know how you changed me and how you saved your family just by being, our Hope.
The second gift is rare and special, just like you. It is specific to the Crescent Clan. When you wear this, after turning 18, it will lead you to your wolf's mate. When I wore it, I was led to your Uncle Elijah. Jackson was my husband and friend and I did love him, but Elijah was my mate. I hope that it helps you to find a love as strong as the one that I still hold to this day for him.
I love you Hope. Never forget that I am always with you even if you can't see me, hear me, or feel me. I am there, and I will never leave you and will always watch over you.
Love Always and Forever,
Mom
By the time that Josie finished reading the letter, Hope felt the cracks in her walls. You could see that she was feeling the effects of this letter. The pain at the loss of her mother was something that was, even all these years later, still a fresh wound. She wanted to stay strong in the moment, though, she felt her mother's loss deeply.
Josie could see that Hope was holding it together for no other reason than the fact that she refused to fall apart and appear weak. Her girlfriend would truly never understand that showing emotions wasn't weak. She knows that she is feeling her emotions, but in Hope's mind, those were things that were to be hidden away in the dark.
"Was that everything dad?"
"Yeah, that was everything."
"Ok, we are going to go and hang out until the party tonight. And remember, no adults, other than Hope, allowed."
"I remember. I trust you… well I trust you."
Alaric turned around and walked behind his desk. Before he sat down, he looked back up at Hope and smiled, in that fatherly way that he tended to after there was any mention of the tribrid's parents.
"Happy birthday Hope. Enjoy the party and have fun."
Hope nodded to the headmaster with a small smile. She picked up her mother's journal and the necklace and her father's sketchbook.
Josie took her hand and waved a goodbye to her father and walked out the door hand and hand with her girlfriend. As much as she wanted to push her to talk, she knew that now wasn't the time. So, in silence, she led them to Hope's room and let them in.
Hope walked over to her nightstand and sat the books and necklace down. She would look through them later. She just needed a bit of time first.
Josie busied herself around the room. She was grabbing sweatshirts for both of them and she had turned on Hope's new giant TV and pulled up Hope's account so that they could watch something.
Josie handed Hope the oversized sweatshirt that she favored and pulled on the one that Hope so loving told her, looked like a Pride Parade threw up on. She didn't care, she loved it anyway.
"What do you want to watch? Anything you can think of?"
"I don't really care. Why don't you pick something?"
"Ok, how about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1?"
"I've never seen it before."
"Oh Hope, you have no idea what you have been missing! If you like this one, they have a Vol. 2 that we can watch later."
The shorter girl gave a small smile to the excitement that this movie brought on in her girlfriend. She loved when she got excited over the smallest things in life. It was nice to have the distraction of her girlfriend's nerd side.
The two crawled into Hope's bed and pulled the covers up around them. They curled into each other. Josie's head on Hope's shoulder and Hope's on Josie's head.
Throughout the movie, the girls talked about what was going to happen next and what had just occurred. Josie gave fun facts and general trivia about the comics that the movie was based on and got Hope fully immersed in the story. It was just what she needed. To be allowed to forget everything for a while and to be free.
"Ok, we need to get ready for the party."
"But I want to watch the next one, can't we skip the party. I mean, no one will miss us, right?"
Josie just shot the girl a look as she got out of bed, refusing to answer. She got up and went to Hope's closet where she had hung up the garment bag that contained her dress that she planned on wearing to the party. If nothing else, she was pretty sure that once Hope saw the dress, she would move. It was a stunning red mid-thigh, off the shoulder, party dress and it fit Josie perfectly, hugging her in all of the right places.
"If you want to stay here that is fine, but I am going to put on this party dress, and I am going to go to the party that I planned specifically for you, for your eighteenth birthday. But I'm sure I can find someone else to dance with me."
Hope's eyes flashed golden for a moment before she shot up and ran to Josie wrapping her arms around her waist. She pulled her close and nuzzled her neck.
"Yes, and that someone will be me. Because we all know that if anyone else laid a single finger on you, especially in that tiny piece of fabric that you call a dress, because, yes, I already know it will be little more than that, I would have to break them. And honestly, I really don't want to have to fight people or you know, tear them apart."
"Are you shaming my dress before you even see it? I thought that you would like it."
"Oh, I am sure that I will love that dress, and will love you in it even more. I am merely pointing out that, given the look that you gave me, most likely, there is not a lot to it. I'm one hundred percent sure that my Aunt Rebekah would wholly approve."
"Who do you think helped me pick it out?"
"I should have known. Don't know if I should thank her or stake her. Guess I'll decide once I see it on you."
"Oh, I think that you will want to thank her. Especially after you see it on me. Now I am going to go to the bathroom to get ready. When I get back, I expect to see you dressed, or I will leave without you."
Josie escapes Hope's arms and heads to the bathroom with her dress and make up case to get ready. Leaving Hope there staring after her.
'Well, I guess that means that I should actually figure something out to wear.'
Moving to her closet, Hope starts to look at the options. The first thing she selects is her favorite pair of skinny jeans. They were black and well-worn is the best way. After pulling those out, she went in search of a top to match it with. Her first instinct was to go with the emerald green top that set her hair perfectly, however, the one thing that she knew for sure, was that Josie's dress is red, so that may be a bit too much Christmasy. She could go with the black tank, however, that would lead to too much of the old vampire vibe and Josie like her best when she added splashes of color.
"Ah perfect!"
Hope pulled out a tank top that was the perfect shade. A nice Persian Blue that made her eyes really come alive. Yes, she knew the color. Why you may ask, because Josie and Lizzie made her buy it the last time they went shopping. She had actually never worn the tank yet.
Hope put everything on and then grabbed her most comfortable boots. She wanted to add a few inches, but knowing Josie, she would be dancing, and she didn't want her feet to be swollen by the end of the day.
As Hope was leaning back up from putting on her boots, her eye catches on something on her nightstand. She had forgotten about the gifts that were half from Alaric and Caroline and half from her parents in a way. As she walked closer, she saw the necklace that was laying on top.
It was a leather strap with a small stone in the shape of a crescent moon. The stone appeared to be made of a white stone with a hint of blue at both ends. It took her a moment to think back on the naturals class when they discussed stones and crystals.
It was a moon stone looked to be naturally shaped and was attached to the leather strap by a small sliver hook. It wasn't large or ugly. It was actually pretty. Hope remembered her mother's letter. This was to help her find her wolf's mate. She wondered how that worked.
Hope decided that at least it would go with her outfit, and it would be nice to have part of her mother with her tonight. When she slipped the necklace on, she instantly felt a zap of magic and then the stone was warm on her chest. After a moment it calmed down and just lay against her chest.
"Are you ready to go birthday girl?"
Hope looked up and Josie and smiled as she saw the girl standing before her. Josie stood there in her red, form fitting dress leaning against the door frame. She looked amazing. Her dress hugged her in all the right ways and her make-up was the barely there kind so that her natural beauty still shone through. She was in flats, as was now her normal go to, and she looked amazing.
"I would go anywhere with you. You look beautiful."
Josie walked closer to Hope and wrapped her arms around her neck. Hope's arms instinctually go around the taller girl's waist. They pull each other close and share a quick, yet passionate kiss.
"Mmmm, don't you think that you can be all sweet and kiss me like that, and I'll forget about your party."
"Girl has to try, doesn't she?"
Josie let out a giggle and then grabbed Hope's hand and started to drag her out of the room and towards her party. What neither of them noticed, was how the necklace around Hope's neck started to pulse the second that Josie's skin met Hope's.
By the time that they made it to the old mill, it appeared that they were the last to arrive. Josie was pulling Hope through the door when everyone turned to see the couple entering and in unison, shouted their birthday wishes.
"Happy Birthday Hope!"
The birthday girl smiled at everyone and nodded her thanks. As she looked around, she saw that Josie had done an amazing job with the decorations. There was just enough in the way of twinkle lights and streamers that you could tell that this was a celebration, however, not so much as to be gaudy.
In the corner there were three tables set up. The first table held food of all varieties from sandwiches to chips to casseroles and pasta salads. The second table held a huge birthday cake and a ton of smaller desserts. The last table was the one that most of the people in the room were interested in at the moment. It had the drinks. There was soda and teas and other non-alcoholic beverages for anyone that wanted to stay sober, and then there was everything that could be gathered by the vamps using their compulsion. They had beer and vodka, whiskey, and bourbon, for those few who actually knew the difference. They had gotten some Mike's hard drinks along with other non-beer options for those that preferred them.
All and all it looked like Josie had gone to a lot of trouble to pull this all together. Kaleb was in charge of the music at the moment. Jed was playing bartender.
"Hey babe, do you want a drink?"
"Yeah, I want to find Lizzie and MG too. I want to thank them for helping out so much with getting all the final touches together while I was with you today."
"Ok, let's get that drink and then we can look for them."
The two girls made their way over to the drink table. Jed was dancing around like he was Tom Cruise in Cocktails. He even had the sunglasses on.
"Hey there birthday girl! What can I get for you and your lovely lady?"
"I'll have a bourbon neat. Josie, you still want vodka lemonade?"
"Yes please. Thanks."
"Coming right up ladies."
Jed proceeded to try out all of his fanciest moves, which in reality, weren't that many. He basically shuffled the bottles around and then did a long pour. After a minute he handed both girls their drinks. They thanked him and then headed off in search of Lizzie.
After a few minutes of searching, the girls were able to find the blonde twin. She was standing near the DJ booth watching as MG was talking music with Kaleb.
"Lizzie, everything looks amazing! Thank you so much for all of your help."
"Josie, I am offended that you would think that it would be anything less than amazing. Obviously, I'm amazing and so is everything that I do. And like I said before, anything for you sister dear."
Josie leaned in and hugged her sister. She was just so happy that everything turned out like she had hoped that it would. Especially after learning that Lizzie had to give a tour that day.
"Oh, I almost forgot! How did that tour go?"
"It was ok, I guess. New wolf and his brother. We don't know what the brother is, but dad said it was confirmed that he is supernatural, so they are both staying."
"If they are bothers, wouldn't he be a wolf too?"
Josie tilted her head in a confusion.
"Foster brothers. They have both been in the same home for a while now apparently. They have really bonded or whatever."
"Oh, well that great. I know that this was always easier on me for having you with me here. I'm glad that they have each other right now."
Hope was standing beside Josie, half listening to the sisters talk, drinking her bourbon, and looking around at all of the people. She was watching MG and Kaleb arguing over the music. Jed was trying to impress a few girls with his skills. She was smirking and laughing a little as she watched the show that was her friends, when suddenly she felt someone collide into her back.
"Raf man! Come on, give me a break!"
"Sorry Lan, I was just trying to help man."
Hope turned around to look at who just knocked into her. She discovered a lanky boy with a full head of curly brown hair. He looked like one of those boy that would hole up in his room talking about random fantasy or sci-fi shows for hours on end.
Next to him, laughing, stood a taller boy. He looked like he was made of pure muscle, completely built, and knew it. The smile on his face was a perfect mix of the sweet boy next door and the cocky playboy. He would be trouble for the girls at this school that was for sure and was going to give Parks a run for her money at being the local heartbreaker.
"I'm so sorry. My brother here doesn't always remember that not all of us have wolf strength and reflexes."
"It's fine. You must be the two new student. Just started today right?"
"That's us. I'm Raf and this is my brother Landon. I'm sorry about knocking him into you like that, but Landon here has been staring at you with moon eyes since you walked through the door. I thought that I would help him step up to talk to you. He is a little on the shy side."
"I'm sorry about him. He talks a lot and says thing that he shouldn't. Feel free to completely ignore everything he just said."
"It's ok, no harm done. I hope that you both have fun and enjoy the party."
"Wait, um, would you like to dance… with me?"
"That is really sweet, but no thank you."
Hope turned back around and rejoined Josie and Lizzie. It seemed that the blonde had been filling her sister in on their newest students.
"Raf seems like he used to be sweet boy, but whatever he has been though has changed him. Now he is exactly the kind of boy that dad always warned us about. Sweet on the outside and damaged on the inside."
"What do you mean Liz?"
"You can tell that there is some real trauma there. Prob whatever caused the curse to activate in him. You were just talking to him Hope, what do you think?"
"I think that the girls of this school are in trouble and that Parks is going to have real competition for the girls of this school."
"Oh really, you think so, should I be worried?"
Josie asked with a smirk firmly placed on her lips, as she wrapped her arms around Hope's shoulders and started to sway to the slow song that was playing.
"Nope, you have nothing to worry about. You know I have a very specific type."
"Really, tell me about this very specific type."
"Well first, brunette with deep emotional brown eyes that I can get lost in. Legs that go on for days are a plus. Someone that accepts me for who I am is a must. They would have to throw me my very first birthday party ever. Has to be a twin. Oh, and the most important think, the one thing that I have to have, HER name has to be Josie Saltzman."
"I have to give it to you, that is very specific."
"You two make me sick."
Lizzie fake gaged and then laughed at the couple as they blushed. They always seemed to forget about everyone else when they were looking at each other. Losing themselves in each other.
"Let's grab MG and we can all dance. If I hang out with you two any longer, I will end up getting a cavity.
Grabbing the boy, the four friends headed to the dance floor. They started out in a group dancing for a few songs. Then it turned in to Hope and MG taking turns showing off. The twins jumped in and started to perform an act that they had spent years perfecting.
While Hope was standing off to the side watching her girl, she felt someone come up beside her. With a slight turn of the head, she saw the boy from earlier and his mop of curly hair. Landon reached out and grabbed Hope's arm. He started to pull her closer to himself.
"Come on, just one dance. Really, I'm a nice guy. Give me a chance. I think you'll like me."
Hope's eyes turned gold from being grabbed. Before she could respond or push the boy off, he started screaming as his entire arm burst into flames. He was flailing around frantically trying to put his arm out.
Raf ran over and was dumping water on his arm and patting at the fire attempting to put it out. No matter what they did the fire wouldn't extinguish.
"I believe she said 'No'. You really should listen better."
"Who the hell are you, her keeper."
"No, I'm her girlfriend."
The tall, muscled boy turned back to Josie with a snarl on his lips.
"Oh, I see, you are so insecure with your relationship and jealous because you know you aren't enough for her. Because of that you have to set the boy on fire for even talking to your girl?"
"No, Hope can handle herself, I set him on fire because she said 'No' and trust me, my fire is a lot better for his health than what was about to happen to him."
Hope reached over and took Josie's hand in her own and turned her to face her quickly. She brought her in for a searing kiss that set fire to the is a whole different way. It was passionate and explosive. Everything and everyone else faded away and it was just them left in the world.
After several minutes, or what could have been days, they pulled apart resting their foreheads together. The look that blazed in both of their eyes spoke volumes to each other.
"I love you."
Josie blinked her eyes rapidly. Did she hear what she thinks she just heard. Did she just hear what she thought she did?
"Hope, please tell me that I just heard you say what I think I heard you say. Please tell me that you really just said that?"
"If you think you heard me say that I Hope Mikaelson, love you, Josette Saltzman, then yes, you heard me."
Josie threw herself fully back into Hope crashing their lips together. If it weren't for the tribrid's enhanced strength and reflexes, they would have ended up on the floor. As it was, they still stumbled with the force of the impact. After an eternity that was far too short, Josie pulled back and stared directly into Hope's eyes.
"I love you too! I love you so much Hope. I have loved you since I was eight years old and you first talked to me. I have loved you since you were that twelve-year-old that pinned girls to the ceiling for being mean to me. I will love you forever."
"Always and forever and longer still. You will have my love for longer than I live. Until the universe ends and still longer."
The two girls stayed wrapped in each other for the rest of the party. Lizzie having to pull them apart so that Hope could blow out her candles and open her presents. Even through this, Josie was right there with her. Always touching her, always within reach whenever Hope wanted to remind herself that she was real.
When the night finally ended, and everyone went back to their rooms, Josie and Hope went to Hope's room together. It had been a roller coaster of a day, but it was still the best birthday that Hope had ever had, and it was all thanks to this girl.
After changing for bed, they both climbed in and with practiced ease, melted into each other for the night. This was the way that they belonged.
"Good night Jo. I love you."
"Good night Hope. I love you too."
"I am never going to get tired of hearing that or saying it for that matter."
"Good, because neither am I."
The two leaned in perfectly in sync and shared a loving kiss. With Hope's arms wrapped around her, Josie snuggled further into her girlfriend. Within no time, the girls fell into a perfect and peaceful sleep.
T.B.C.