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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 TWENTY-TWO.
[22] . This Year Will Be Different.
【 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 TWO】
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❝ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ❞
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SILENCE WAS ALL THAT was heard in the room after Maya made her appearance. Alaric didn't really care much about the fact that she knew Lucas was a Nephilim. But Maya didn't know about witches, werewolves, vampires, or any other supernatural creature. And they decided to keep it like that.
Alaric huffed. "You're gonna have to—you know."
Lucas sighed. "I know."
With that the boy called MG, they were in need of his compulsion. Once the boy came to school they sent Maya out once she forgot everything that happened.
"See you, Milton," Lucas says waving the vamp goodbye.
"Thank you for coming," Alaric added
MG nodded. "Of course, you'll always be my headmaster. And bye, Lucas.—" he was about to walk out but he stopped in his place. "Oh—uh Josie wanted to know if you two were still—"
"Yeah! you can go now." Lucas said with a tight smile
Alaric glanced at Lucas. "Do I even want to know?"
Lucas shrugged
Hope cleared her throat. "So uh, why aren't you headmaster at that other school anymore."
Alaric awkwardly chuckles. "It's a uh, long story."
"Oh, ok, uh. I'll be back once school lets out so we can clean up what's probably a dead troll." Hope says
"You're really not fazed by any of this, are you?" The man said impressed
Hope hesitated. "I-I mean, I-I just think the story that you both told me, about the monsters and the scary black pit, just makes a lot of sense I guess." she paused before looking down. "Um, look. I'm really glad to hear that it stopped and stopped coming after you Lucas. I'm really sorry that it's happening again."
Lucas half-smiled. "It's not your fault. Uh, but I've got to head out to uh—Josie and check up on Raf and Landon. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Stay safe," Alaric said
Lucas nodded before making his way out the door and out the school. He began his drive towards the Salvatore school. He had a weird feeling about Hope, he felt like he knew her. He had such a weird feeling when Hope was around, and it seemed very much familiar.
Once the boy stepped foot into the school, his eyes landed on Josie. Just as he was about to walk up towards her Landon got in his way.
"Oh my, god. You have no clue how happy I am to see you." Landon said with a huge smile of relief
Lucas furrowed his brows. "What happened, bird boy?"
"Everyone here is treating me like some kind of hero. I can't take it anymore." Landon said with a hefty huff. "And they kept talking about you too. I'm sure Josie almost hurt one of the students."
"Please, Jo wouldn't even hurt a fly." Lucas snorted
"You don't know that."
"You're right," Lucas admitted. "I've got to go, though. I'll see you later."
Landon nodded and said his goodbyes.
Now, Lucas once again made his way towards Josie who noticed his presence. The Gemini witch was quick to cling onto him.
"I'm starting to reconsider allowing you to switch schools." Josie sighed
Lucas snorted. "Rough day?"
"Horrible."
"Hopefully dinner could change that for us." The Nephilim says before sticking his hand out. "Let's go."
Josie gladly took his hand and the two walked their way to a sushi diner. And to sum out the evening, it was horrible. It was the first time they had a bad date, they barely talked to each other. And Josie seemed off.
"Are you sure you don't want my jacket?" Lucas questions, noticing Josie was holding onto herself.
"I'm not cold." Josie instantly responded
Lucas's brows knitted together. "Well, are you mad at me?"
"No."
Lucas snorted. "Well, I'm not sure I believe that. You're lying to me."
Josie sighed. "Well, then, tell me what you want me to say."
"I don't need to tell you what to say, I just want you to be honest with me," Lucas replied getting with an upset tone. "You seemed miserable since we arrived."
Josie stopped in her place before turning to face the boy. "I just don't feel good, can we just talk about it tomorrow?" she says trying to walk away.
"What? No. You can't just walk away when we hit one bump in the road, Jo." Lucas huffs. "What changed?"
"Nothing," Josie said in desperation. "I'm sorry. I'm tired. Um—we had a bad date. It happens. I'm gonna go home, and I'm sure that everything is going to be fine tomorrow."
Lucas watched as the witch walked away from him. He knew something was wrong, he just couldn't remember what. The boy sat himself on the benches and let time fly by.
Before he knew it, the day had already bled into nightfall. He planned on making his way back to the school to talk to Josie. As soon as he stood up his eyes met with Hope.
"I guess you're stalking me," Lucas says catching her attention.
Hope slightly smiled. "Maybe I am."
Lucas hummed noticing her demeanor. "Rough night?"
"Yeah, actually, uh, relationship trouble," Hope admitted.
Lucas huffed. "Must be contagious."
"Why? You, too?"
"Yeah," The boy says taking a seat beside her. "I'm with this really amazing girl, but all of a sudden everything's super complicated."
Hope hummed
"You?" Lucas asked
Hope chuckled a little with a sad face. "Uh, old story, I guess, uh—Fell for a guy who doesn't even know that I exist."
Lucas snorted. "That's a classic."
"Yeah."
"She is really great, but I just feel like I want it to be perfect," Lucas said referring to Josie. "I feel like I owe it to someone. A part of me is missing, and she's been there for me. Especially after my dad left-back to uh Hell."
"Y-your dad left?" Hope stuttered out.
Lucas nodded
"I'm so sorry," Hope said with a frown
"It's not your fault. It's not like you would've known. We just met." Lucas chuckled. "I just feel—empty and she's been there trying to be a perfect girlfriend. And at first, it was effortless but now it's—off. Sorry."
Hope shook her head. "No, um, you know. A very smart boy once taught me that sometimes you have to be brave enough to be imperfect with people even if it's scary."
Lucas chuckled. "yeah. That's uh, easier said than done. My entire life I've been trying to be better. But I don't know." he paused before rubbing his temples. "Of course you're going to have to take your own advice, and tell that boy of yours that you exist."
"Uh—" Hope said wiping her tears. "Oh—I don't know about that." she sniffled
Lucas frowned at the sight. "I hope your night gets better."
"Thanks."
Lucas glanced at his beverage. "That'll help. Peanut butter blast, whipped cream on the bottom," he says handing her the beverage. "I don't even know why I ordered it. I don't even like whip cream nor did I want a shake. It just seemed—I'm not sure. Thanks for listening, I'll see you tomorrow, Hope."
"B-bye."
Walking away from Hope seemed wrong, he felt like he should be there making her night better. But he hardly knew her. But his heart ached more than ever missing something that he wasn't sure he needed.
The walk back to the school was quiet, he was now in front of Josie's dorm, hoping she was awake.
"Come in," Josie said in a low tone, once she heard the knocks.
Lucas opened up the door and his eyes landed on the witch who was curled up in a blanket. He slowly closed the door behind him before taking a seat next to her.
"I'm sorry." Lucas immediately said. "I-I completely forgot sushi messed you up. M-my minds all over the place, Jo. I don't know what's going on. I just wanted to have one good day with you, and I was being a bad person and forgot you were allergic to seaweed. Why didn't you remind me?"
"You seemed like you really wanted sushi. And I didn't want to be a problem." Josie replied.
"Why would that be a problem?"
Josie shrugged nervously. "Um, because I'm always the caretaker. And today just really freaked me out because you didn't need me at all. And if I'm not fixing problems, I have no idea where I belong in your life. So I was stupid, and I was jealous because I'm just afraid that there's no place for me. And that's just how I am with boys, girls. Apparently, I'm just always codependent and ridiculous."
Lucas sighed before taking her hand. "Or you've just never been in a relationship where what you want matters. Jo, you've been taking care of me all summer. Since the day of Malivore. It's my turn to take care of you. Besides, you're not the only ridiculous one. Pretty sure I'm a fraud. I mean, everyone says Lan and I stopped Malivore, but all we did was wake up next to an empty pit and with my gracefully in me. I have no idea what happened, only that I'm not that hero they think I am. And honestly, the only reason why I tried to control myself was that I wanted to impress you."
Josie smiled widely before letting out a laugh.
"Oh come on, don't laugh at me," Lucas said chuckling. "I mean—you're this all-powerful witch, and I wanted you to think that even though I'm the devil's son, I could be the kind of guy that could take care of you. Jojo, you're the kind of girl that deserves to be taken care of. Every once in awhile, at least."
Josie chuckled. "Well, I don't want to be codependent. I really don't. But you should know that it's gonna take some time for me to change."
"Yeah, you should know that I'm gonna do way too much and go over the top with big speeches and boyfriend strides and try to make everything perfect and—" Lucas explained
"Did you just say 'boyfriend?'" Josie questioned with a smile.
Lucas nodded. "Yeah, I think I did."
"Okay."
At that moment, Josie took ahold of Lucas and pulled him in for a kiss.
Josie felt at peace with him, but even she knew she wasn't who he needed.
She just wanted to be there until he found that happiness to fulfill him.