“MG!” Josie spotted him trying to blend in with the Salvatore students to get a free breakfast. She gripped him arms tight enough to leave marks. “I need you to sneak me into the Mikaelson Academy.”

“What’s going on?” MG was already abandoning his half-filled tray. “Who’s watching Hope?”

“What?” Josie’s face fell. Shit. She’d left Hope unattended. 

“You left her alone?” MG yanked his arm back. He was already hurrying in the direction of the cellar.

“I’m sorry, but I really have to see Penelope -”

“Josie, yes, I can sneak you into the Academy, but somebody needs to be watching Hope.” MG swung the door open, thundering down the steps. 

“What’s the worst that could’ve happened in five minutes?” Josie called after him. “It’s not like Hope’s in any state to be breaking herself …”

Her voice trailed off when she saw the empty cell, with its rusted door left open and no trace of Hope anywhere. 

MG turned, swallowing heavily. “Call your dad. Tell him to lock down the school. You and I are going to find Kaleb and head over to the Mikaelson Academy.” 

Josie just nodded. You want to be with Penelope. No matter what. Guess Hope was right about her after all. Maybe she really was willing to risk everything to make Penelope her priority, and maybe she didn’t have a pit of guilt sitting in her stomach because she didn’t regret it. 

She snuck in the protection spell behind MG and Kaleb and headed straight to Penelope’s room, knocking incessantly at the door.

“Oh my god, is it not obvious nobody’s home?” Penelope called after it went on for a long, loud minute. 

“Open the door.”

“Josie?” The annoyance left her voice, and only confusion remained. The door opened a moment later. Penelope looked more of a mess than Josie had ever seen her. Her usual, well put-together outfits were gone in favor of stained sweats and a t-shirt. Her hair was a mess, and despite the sleep attire, she looked like she hadn’t slept in a week. 

Josie pushed her way into the dorm, vibrating on high. In the back of her mind, she wondered if this was what Lizzie’s manic episodes felt like. Anything seemed possible and none of it seemed real all at the same time. “I have something to tell you.”

“That I’m evil and you hate me? Really, I got it the first time.” Penelope’s words were sarcastic, but both girls knew it was hiding something else in her chest - pain. 

“You are, but I don’t,” Josie rushed out.

Penelope wrinkled her forehead. “You’re not making any sense, Jo.”

“I don’t hate you. For as evil and obnoxious and manipulative as you are, I don’t hate you. I can’t. Even when I try.” Josie grabbed Penelope’s hands in hers. This was it. This was honesty. “I don’t care how many people you hurt, even if it’s me.”

Penelope took her hands back, face turning icy. “That’s toxic, Josie. We’re toxic.”

“And I’m telling you, I don’t care.”

“You mean you don’t care right now. And then in five minutes, you’ll change your mind again.”

“No.” Josie shook her head adamantly. “No more changing my mind. I’m being one-hundred percent honest about what I want, and what I want is you, no matter what.”

Penelope considered it for a moment. “Even when I try to kill your exes?”

“Yes.”

“Even when I make Lizzie cry?”

“Yes.”

“Even when I send the wolves to the infirmary every couple months?”

“Yes. Yes to all of it, Penelope. I’m done caring about right and wrong. I only care about you.” 

Penelope smiled, just the small curl of her mouth upwards, but she didn’t say anything. 

“I love you, with all of your flaws,” Josie continued. “And I am done trying to justify how I feel about you.” 

Penelope was still silent. Josie’s heart pounded so loud in her ears, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to hear anything Penelope did say. 

“Say something,” Josie said finally. “If you really think we’re too toxic to work, then tell me to go and I won’t come back.” 

Penelope shook her head. Josie hadn’t realized how close she was to tears until she spoke. “I can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“I can’t tell you to go.”

“Then ask me to stay.” 

That damn silence again.

Josie’s jaw tightened. “You can’t.”

“I can’t ask you to stay. I’ve been meddling and manipulating to get you to stay. I can’t ask anymore.” Penelope brushed at the tears on her cheeks. 

“Got it.” Josie took a pained step back before she turned for the door. 

Penelope caught her arm before she got any further. “I can’t ask you to stay. If you stay, it’s because you want to.”

Josie turned slowly. “I only want to stay if you want me to.”

“I want you to,” Penelope whispered. “You know I want you to.”

She tugged on the arm she was holding just hard enough to spin Josie up against her. She didn’t wait for Josie to finish gasping before she pressed her lips to hers. Josie’s eyes fluttered shut as Penelope pulled her in. 

This was it. This was her choice. And for once, Josie didn’t regret every decision she had ever made.