𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍━︎━︎J. Saltzman

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
❝Awkward❞︎

PEACE AND QUIET, JUST HOW HARPER LIKED IT. School was out for summer, meaning ninety percent of the kids were going home with their families whilst Harper sat inside of the empty school because she didn't have a family to go home to―︎ seeing as she killed them. Being a loner is something Harper enjoyed, and even though she still had Josie to talk to and occasionally Landon (though most of the time he was with Rafael, keeping the wolf company as he searched for a way to turn Rafael back to human), Harper couldn't help but smile when she noticed the library was completely and utterly empty.

Sitting down on one of the comfortable chairs, the brunette smiled to herself as she pulled open her book and started to read silently to herself. Fourth of July was taking place, and there Harper sat, reading A Game of Thrones, whilst everyone else was enjoying sparklers and fireworks. It wasn't her cup of tea, being around a big crowd of people that was.

It seemed like there was moment of Harper's life where she had opened up, instead of constantly sitting in the corner with her nose in a book. It seemed like there had been someone that had helped her with that, and though she would like to believe it was Josie, she knew that wasn't it. Harper found herself shutting people out again, talking only when spoken to, and avoiding all direct human contact as she possibly could.

Weeks passed by, and Harper found herself doing the same thing over and over again, sitting in a corner and reading a book whilst also greeting Landon and Josie as the new couple walked through the halls, forcing the pain in her heart to be thrown away as she smiled happily for them. She had never seen Josie so happy in her life, and that's all that Harper ever wanted for the girl, even if Harper herself wasn't Josie's happiness.

When school started back, Harper found herself spending most of her free time in her room. She had yet to meet the new headmaster, and if she was being honest she didn't want to. A breath fell from the brunette's lips as she made her way through the halls, stopping for a brief moment upon seeing Josie talking to Landon. She cocked her head slightly as they awkwardly hugged before Josie turned and looked at Harper, immediately making her way towards the girl as they started down the hall.

"That was the most awkward thing that I've ever witnessed in my life, and I didn't enjoy it one bit." Harper chuckled, adjusting her grip on her book.

"We're still working things out." Josie admitted. "He's taking me out to dinner tonight."

"Good. Maybe you'll leave the awkwardness at the table while you're at it." Harper scoffed and Josie nudged her in the side. "If it's there at the assembly, I swear to god I will move and leave you to bathe in that awkwardness by yourself."

"You're my best friend, you're supposed to be doing the awkward stuff with me." Josie huffed.

When it came time for the assembly, Harper narrowed her eyes at the new headmaster, and there was something about him that the female did not like at all. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "This school has survived a difficult year. There were monsters and Triad, and frankly, the headmaster you trusted to keep you safe ended up putting you in more danger. But this year will be different. It's high time this place ran with a little discipline and order. I expect you to work harder than ever before. To be rigorous, to push yourselves. To be perfect. Because I believe every one of you is extraordinary. The students in this room have the power to literally change the world.

"To whom much is given, much is required, and I am requiring of you to be better than humans ever could. Because the day is coming when we will step out of the shadows, when you will no longer hide yourselves. Because the future is . . ." he slammed his cane on the ground, sending a wave a blue through the room, "supernatural." All of the students clapped except for Harper, Landon, and the Saltzman twins who all exchanged looks with one another. Harper then looked at Landon and Josie, watching as they silently laughed.

"To that end, I would like to award our Salvatore Medal of Freedom to the student who single-handedly defeated Malivore, Mr. Landon Kirby." Claps fell through the room again whilst Landon looked up in surprise before standing up and making his way over to the new headmaster, allowing the medal to be placed around his neck.

When the assembly was over, and classes begun, Harper barely seemed to pay attention to any of the information that was told to her, simply because she already knew everything seeing as she had read all of it. The day seemed to pass by quickly, sitting n her room with her legs crossed as it grew dark outside. She looked up when a knock came on her bedroom door, causing for her to frown. She closed her book, standing up and walking over to her door, pulling it open only to see Josie standing there.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Harper immediately asked, pulling the girl into her room and shutting the door.

"We had a bad date." Josie whispered. "I don't really want to talk about it, I just wanted some company." Harper bit back her smile as she sat on the bed. She stretched out her legs, patting the space beside of her. Josie crawled over to the empty spot, and Harper wrapped an arm around the girl as she laid her head on Harpers chest, watching as Harper opened her book and started reading.

Josie couldn't help but feel like she was in the right place. Being in Harper's arms felt right to her, but her feelings for Landon pushed away that thought. There was something between Harper and herself, Josie knew that. There's always been something there, but neither of them pursued it. And Josie realized it was because Harper wanted her to be happy, and after the incident with the kiss whilst Harper was in a relationship, Josie realized that Harper didn't want that to happen again. If she was going to have Josie, she wanted to have her the right way.

"It'll work out." Harper softly whispered to Josie, causing the brunette to look up at her. Harper met her eyes, offering her a gentle smile. "He'll be there to talk with you. To work things out. So, it'll work out. I can promise you that."

"You're a good friend, Harper." Josie whispered, and for a second she swore she saw sadness flash through Harper's eyes at the words. She sat up, squeezing Harper's hand. "Thank you."

"Always." Harper nodded. She watched as Josie stood up and went to walk out. "Let me know how it goes." Josie sent her a small smile before nodding and walking out, leaving Harper to herself. Frustrated tears filled her eyes, and she couldn't help but laugh at herself. She wanted Josie to be happy, and as long as Josie was happy she was happy. But at the same time seeing Josie happy with someone else broke her heart, and she didn't know how much more heartbreak she was going to be able to take before she fully fell apart.