She's Mine

Chapter Four

Hope POV-

I slowly open my eyes to see Josie's head laying down on my bed and her hand is in my hand. "Jo," my voice is hoarse and raspy. "Hope, oh my gosh, you're awake, thank god," Josie lifted her head up to look at me and had tears in her eyes. I look down at her, "How long have I been here? How long have you stayed with me?" Josie looks exhausted I feel bad, she probably hasn't gotten that much sleep lately seeing those bags under her eyes.

"You got burned really bad by the chimera and," she choked up a little. "You've been asleep for about two days. They put you under for the first 24 hours to help your pain then they stopped and it took another 24 hours for your body to wake up." I looked down forgetting that Josie's hand was holding mine. She saw me look down and tried to pull away but I wouldn't let her. She looked up at me and relaxed her hand again. "Thank you for staying with me, Jo," the nickname rolled off my tongue easier than I expected it to and she didn't seem to care that I called her Jo. We sat there for a few more seconds in silence. I gave her hand a quick squeeze.

"You should go to your room to get some sleep," I looked into her brown eyes and could see fear shoot across them. "But I want to stay here with you," she trailed off. She looked down at our hands "It can't be that comfortable to sit in the chair and sleep with your head on my bed," I chuckled to hopefully lighten the mood. "But," Josie locked eyes with me again. She looked so tired and I wanted her to be able to sleep. "Well, I can't let you sleep in the chair so either go upstairs to your room or I'll scoot over and you can sleep up here." I patted at the space next to me on the bed. Josie instantly stood up and moved to lay down next to me. I was laying on my back and she carefully laid her head into my shoulder. "I'm not hurting you right?" She looked so nervous. "No Jo, everything is okay," I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and she slowly curled into me more. Before long, I heard her heart rate slow down. She was gorgeous. She looked so peaceful curled up next to me. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep as well.

Josie POV-

I woke up to see Hope's eyes looking down at me. "Hey Jo, how did you sleep?" I can see the concern in her eyes even though she is the one in the hospital. "I slept better than I have in the past couple of weeks." I feel so calm around Hope. The nightmares stay away when I am with her. "How long have you been up?" I look up at Hope, her arm still wrapped around my shoulders and my arm draped across her stomach. "Long enough, to watch you sleep," she smirks at me. "Stalker," I lightly shove her and she makes a pained expression. "Oh god, I am so sorry Hope!" She starts to laugh, "I'm kidding, I am pretty much good as new." I make a pouty face at her. "Not cool."

The doctor comes in to clear Hope so she can leave the infirmary. "Want to go get food?" I ask Hope as the nurse comes in to remove the IV. "Sure, I am starving." Hope slides off the bed, and we walk towards the cafeteria. We run into Lizzie who was bringing me breakfast in the infirmary. "Hope! You're up and moving!" Lizzie engulfs Hope in a hug. I had never seen them hug let alone talk for extended periods of time. "Hey Lizzie," Hope laughed at how forward Lizzie was. "We were just headed to get some food, want to come?" She doesn't even hesitate before saying, "I'm right behind you." I take the tray from Lizzie, and we all three walk to the cafeteria.

Hope POV-

I head back to my room to shower after eating with Josie and Lizzie. Alaric said I don't have to return to classes or do training for the rest of the week, so I put on a movie to pass the time. I grab my phone and decide to text Josie. "Hey Jo, want to swing by later and watch a movie? Come over at 7?" I stare at the text for a couple of seconds before finally hitting send. Why do I feel all flustered just texting her? She spent the past two days with me worried sick. She definitely has feelings, right? Josie still hasn't texted me back. I am overthinking this. Its only been a couple of minutes. I grab my phone again, "Alaric, can I go run?" he responds almost immediately. "Back woods, be careful." I walk out the back doors of the school, take off my clothes and fold them leaving them under a bush, and just run.

Josie POV-

Class is so boring and I can't stop thinking about Hope, again. I pull my phone out to check for messages during lunch and find a text message from Hope. "Hey Jo, want to swing by later and watch a movie?" My heart flutters as I look to see what time she sent the text message. 11:00. Dang, it's 12:30. I text back, "Sure! I'll bring snacks. See you later!"

I finish up the rest of my afternoon classes and grab dinner before heading back to my room. I walk in and see Lizzie sitting on her bed. "Hey Jo, how were classes?" I can't hold it in any longer, and Lizzie can tell something is running through my mind. "Hope asked me to come over and watch a movie and I don't know what to wear and I said I'd bring snacks and," I am rambling and Lizzie can tell. "Jo, look at me," Lizzie grabs my hands and makes me look her in the eyes.

Lizzie POV-

I grab Jo's hands. "Hope clearly likes you, she has protected you from satan and from the chimera. She even took care of you when you were drunk, and she was a wolf!" Josie chuckles. "And you are going to show up looking cute as hell and blow that girl away. You guys are cute together. You really care about each other." Josie got teary hearing my motivational speech. "Now let's pick you out an outfit and you can go grab snacks from the kitchen."

Josie POV-

I got changed and grabbed some popcorn, candy, and soda from the kitchen before showing up at Hope's door at 6:58. I stood in front of the door nervously waiting to knock. I stood there another minute before finally knocking. No answer. That's when dad showed up around the corner.