I Hate the Way...

Part 7: "We're Getting Married."

She observes as Josie picks up a broken doorknob, putting it into the door and turning it to open the door, before placing the knob back to the side.

Lizzie doesn't even notice, as she's too busy picking up the mail left outside, "What's this?"

"Don't open that."

Lizzie ignores her sister as they enter the apartment, and she opens up the envelope to see what's inside, "Josie, you haven't been paying your rent?!"

Josie scoffs as she takes the notice from her sister, "I told you not to open that."

"Jo! You have to pay your rent!"

"I have been paying it...I've just been paying it late. I've been a little preoccupied lately and lawyers aren't exactly cheap."

"What about your inheritance? Why haven't you gotten that money yet?"

"Because dad changed the terms. I have to turn 30 or get married."

"What?! Josie, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you don't need to worry about it, I'm handling it. Soon we'll get all of this behind us, and we'll be able to breathe again."

Lizzie sighs, before giving her sister a weary nod.

"Okay, so you can have the bedroom, and I'll stay on the couch. Since I'll be coming in late each night after work, I don't want to wake you."

"Jo—"

"Lizzie, please, just let me take care of you, okay?"

Lizzie reluctantly nods, "Okay."

Josie notices Hope reenter the apartment with more bags, and Lizzie moves to help her,
"Oh Hope, you don't have to do all of that. I'll take those."

Hope watches Lizzie retreat into the bedroom, "I like her."

Josie scoffs.

Hope turns to the brunette, "What?"

Josie shoots her a stern look, "Don't even think about it."

Hope chuckles softly, "Why, are you jealous?"

Josie glares at the Tribrid, who just throws her hands up in defense.

"You just need to focus on coming up with a believable story for us to tell people we're together."

"Okay, okay. I'll think of something tonight. Why don't you come over after work, and I'll fill you in."

"Fine..." Curiosity finally takes over, and Josie asks Hope more directly, "So how do you actually know Dr. Davis? Because he clearly knows you."

Hope finally relents a bit, knowing Josie isn't going to let it go, "I wasn't his patient, but he did recommend a treatment plan for me to my family."

"What happened?"

Hope is never exactly the most open person in the world. She's always got her walls up.
But she becomes even more guarded at the question.
Her usually annoyingly playful and flirtatious persona turns more serious.

"It's gonna take a lot more than getting on your knees in a diner to get me to talk about that."

There's a pain to her tone that Josie picks up on.
So she doesn't push it any further.

"I'll get the last of the bags."

Josie nods slowly as Hope exits the apartment, and Lizzie comes back into the living room, whispering to her sister when she notices Hope isn't in the room, "She's hot, right? I think I've found my post-imprisonment hookup."

..."Lizzie."

"Yeah?"

"Hope's my fiancé."

Lizzie's eyes widen, "What?"

"We're getting married."

Lizzie quickly puts it all together, "Is this the solution you were talking about earlier?"

Josie nods.

"And you really think this could work?"

"Yeah, I do."

Lizzie slumps down on the couch, mumbling under her breath, "You're crazy as hell."

Josie narrows her eyes at her sister as Hope comes in with the last couple of bags, "Josie, don't you have work?"

"Oh shit, yeah. Wait, Lizzie, will you be—"

"I'll be fine Jo. Tell MG 'hi' for me."

Josie hesitantly agrees, grabbing her car keys, "Okay, I love you."

"You too."

"Hope—"
The auburn haired girl stops in her tracks, turning to face the brunette.
"Thank you."

Hope nods with that same charming smile that Josie can't stand before mockingly responding, "So does this mean I earned another point?"

"Point?" Lizzie furrows her eyebrows in confusion at her sister.

Josie just glares at the Tribrid, "You're such an ass."

Hope smirks as she continues making her way into the bedroom to drop off the last bags.

She responds sarcastically to Josie, "Have a great time at work babe! See you tonight!"

And though Josie would never admit it, she's relieved that Hope is messing with her. It's a sign that the Tribrid wasn't too upset by her inquisition.