Lizzie and Josie sat on a couch in the student lounge, sipping their tea and talking absentmindedly. Lizzie didn’t bring up what they were talking about before she was attacked by the gargoyle and neither did Josie. It was easier to pretend like everything was okay now that Lizzie was.
Hope watched them from the doorway. She wanted to say something to them. She wanted to ask Lizzie how she was feeling and tell Josie she was sorry for freezing during the fight. But she knew that wouldn’t go over well with either of them.
Josie turned, catching her staring. She sucked in her cheek and turned back to Lizzie. “I think Hope’s obsessed with us.”
“What?” Before Lizzie could turn, MG appeared with a plate full of brownies.
“Your favorite,” he said, passing it to her. 
Lizzie grinned. “Thanks, babe.”
“No problem.”
Penelope watched MG leave from the other side of the room and watched as Lizzie and Josie went back to talking. She narrowed her eyes at the two of them, anger rolling deep in her stomach. 
When they finally separated, Penelope got up and followed Josie.
“Jo-Jo?” 
Josie turned, the only sound in the hallway the floorboards under her feet creaking.
“How’s your sister? I guess I don’t need to make the heart of stone joke.” Penelope smirked.
Josie stepped closer, her face unreadable. “How did you know?”
“The whole school kind of knows -”
“Not about the gargoyle. How did you know Lizzie better than I did?” 
Penelope raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.
“How could you see her for who she is when I couldn’t?” Josie’s voice got louder. “She made me spend all day with her, and then me and my dad both could’ve died trying to save her.”
“I told you,” Penelope sing-songed. She cupped Josie’s face. “I’m proud of you, Jo-Jo.” She pulled her into a kiss.
Josie melted into it for a long moment before she pulled back to speak again. “And I told her about the elections.”
“Good.” Penelope smiled. “Was she upset?” 
“I think she was gonna throw one of her tantrums.” Josie smiled back and resumed their kiss, pushing down any bad feelings of guilt or anger. All she wanted to feel was happy, with Penlope, in this moment, not worrying about the rest of the day or tomorrow.