Josie was in her chemistry class pretending to listen and understand the topic. She was tapping her pen on the table, leg bouncing up and down, her head resting on her hand. And just managed to think about why she was actually at this new school.

She wondered why she was suddenly shipped off to a place far away before even having to graduate back at home. Whatever happens now is that it will teach her to be more independent, she thought.

When the bell finally rang she hung out with her new group of friends in a diner that reminded her of the Mystic Grill back home. They were seated at the corner booth talking about how boring the first two days were until some college students walked in like they owned the place.

"I swear I don't know why they act like they're still in high school. You'd think they'd be more mature." Landon said while chewing on a pancake drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Josie thought about her experience the other day, about the godforsaken tour. You would think they'd be more mature.

"Gross man don't talk with your mouth full," Raf spoke, looking at the students.

Josie's other friend, Kym, saw that Raf was eyeing one of the students.

"That girl is Maya." She said pointing to the one Josie saw yesterday with Dana. All of they're attention were now on the group of students that walked in. "She's like this queen b-"

"That's still a thing?" Raf asked.

"Like I said immature," Landon answered back.

Kym smiled and shrugged "But that isn't the best part yet, there's a queen A."

"Oh so when you said queen bee, you meant to say queen B." Josie laughed

"Huh?" Landon asked with a confused look all over his face. But no one answered him and Kym continued to talk.

"Yeah basically," She looked around the restaurant to find the queen A "But I don't think she's here." She said and settled down in her seat.

"How do you know these things?" Raf wanted to know since the four of them were new students and just arrived a couple of days ago.

"That would be because of my older brother, who is also part of their group." She pointed to a guy that was talking to some girl. "Anyway, as far as I know, Maya and the queen A have been close friends ever since they met. So they're pretty much partners in crime."

It was now Josie's turn to ask a question. "So what's her name?"

"Penelope Park." They all looked up to see a tall blonde girl.

"Lizzie hey!" Josie greeted "What are you doing here?"

"I was actually going to your apartment but then I saw you here. Since I wasn't able to hang out, I just wanted to make it up to you."

"Wow, college did do a number you." Josie smiled thinking of how her sister has matured, considering that she wasn't really the type of person to "make it up to you".

"Not that much, now scooch."

But that doesn't mean everything did change and honestly, that comforts Josie, that was what she needed.

After introducing her sister to her friends, Lizzie added some information about the said queen A. "Yeah she's a total bitch so I suggest you guys stay away from her."

"Ooh, a dangerous girl...sounds hot!" Landon cooed.

"No offence, but she will actually eat you alive," Lizzie said clearly disgusted.

As they were all laughing Maya walked towards them.

"Hey Lizzie" She greeted "Party tonight at the usual." Maya looked at the others in the booth and looked back at Lizzie "And your friends are invited too. See you there." After that, she walked back to the table where her group of friends were seated.

"She seems nice." Landon shrugged

Both Josie and Lizzie looked at each other. Even without her sister saying a word, Josie already knew what Lizzie was going to say. She rose her eyebrows and shook her head. "Nope."

"Oh come on," Lizzie responded, "It's your first college party."

Josie squinted her eyes at her sister in disbelief. "It's a school night."

In return, Lizzie gave Josie a smile that only a couple people knew what it meant.

------

Hope and Josie were outside of a house that Lizzie texted where the address was. Josie was too busy thinking about whether this night will be a mistake that she'll soon regret the next morning. Because of this, she was able to tune out whatever Hope was saying until she shouted that is.

"What?" Josie asked, completely oblivious.

"I said that the only reason you dragged me here is because Lizzie managed to drag you here?"

"No, it's not like that."

Hope folded her arms and raised her eyebrow.

Giving in, Josie smiled innocently "It's because this girl Maya invited the group, and you being a part of the group means you're invited too."

Hope didn't respond, instead, she opened the door and they were both greeted with loud music.

"Where are you going?" Josie asked as Hope walked quickly into the house.

"To find booze!" She shouted.

It was a fact that Hope Mikaelson wasn't too keen on going to parties. Dancing with strangers to terrible pop songs, totally not her, but she is a good friend. A friend that will get out of her comfort zone for a little bit. Albeit that she might just need alcohol.

------

When they got tipsy enough, the two of them went to the dance floor, dancing like an insane person without getting embarrassed. But because of the loud music, loud shouts, and the extremely bright flashing lights, Josie managed to lose Hope. Or it even might be the other way around.

Josie walked around the house and saw different kinds of drunk people antics. She even saw Raf chugging a drink while people around him cheered.

And that was the guy who didn't even plan on coming in the first place.

Josie actually planned on hanging out with her friends at the party, but since they were pretty smart they didn't go. Apparently being hangover and going to class the next wasn't what they want.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

And it feels like they made the right decision.

Walking around more, she went to the kitchen that was stocked with different kinds of booze. To no luck, she still didn't see Hope or at least Lizzie, but she did see a glass sliding door that leads to somewhat of a lounge at the house's garden.

Going outside, she saw that there was a white sofa accompanied by a white chair. The place was lit by hanging string lights and mason jars that had lights inside of them. The surrounding area was rather dark but Josie saw a couple of people laying down on the grass with smoke above their heads, and a joint in their hand. She then suspected that the place she stumbled upon was for stoners.

Sighing, she sat down on the couch and closed her eyes for a while. It was quiet for a couple of seconds until she heard the door open and close. She thought that a person must have gone the wrong way until she heard a guy's voice that called out her name.

"Josie?"

Opening her eyes she saw her old best friend standing there with a beer in hand. "MG?"

She stood up and they hugged each other. "I haven't seen you in ages, what are you doing here?" He said with his usual grin, the one that had a boyish charm to it.

They both sat down, with MG on the white chair adjacent to the white couch.

"I actually don't even know." Josie laughed "My mom just shipped me here. But it's so good to see you!" She said excitedly.

"You too! How long have you been here?"

"I got here since Sunday, but I didn't get a chance to roam around that much."

"It hasn't been a week and you're already at a party? Are you sure you're ok?" MG laughed with Josie.

-----

They talked for a while, catching up and exchanging stories about the different things that happened since they last saw each other.

"It feels like it's been ages but it's only been two years." He smiled and took a joint from his pocket, along with a lighter.

Josie was now convinced that this was, in fact, a stoner's lounge.

"Time flies..." Josie droned "I guess."

Before lighting the joint, the sliding door opened once again and it wasn't closed this time. The loud music that got softened by the door can be easily heard.

"Hey!" He said, slightly irritated after there were hands that took both his lighter and joint.

Josie looked at the figure that stole MG's things. When she recognized who it was the person sat down next to Josie and spoke.

"What? You owe me one." Dana said before putting the rolled up weed in her mouth and lighting it.

Blowing a puff of smoke she looked at her right and saw the familiar brunette. "Hey girl with no name."

"Hey" Josie greeted back.

"You two know each other?" MG asked.

"Not really," Josie answered.

"Isn't it a bit too early for you to get into trouble?" Dana asked Josie while blowing another puff of smoke. "Second day in and you're already at a college party?"

Josie playfully rolled her eyes at the other girl's judgemental and teasing tone. "Well mom, it's because...." She looked for an answer. She couldn't admit that Hope was right. That they were in fact here because Lizzie basically dragged Josie, which lead to a domino effect. "Um, new experiences." She shrugged.

"Hmm" Dana hummed.

"By the way, I meant to apologise for what happened, you know for all the shouting," Josie said sincerely. "Not for the complaining though, that part was justified."

The truth is after she told Hope what she did at the tour, she was embarrassed. Confronting people who were basically strangers was definitely not Josie's thing. But there was just something interesting about the girl beside her. Something about the girl's shit-eating grin that charmed and irritated her at the same time.

Dana laughed, remembering how amused she was. "No it's fine." She said waving Josie's apology off.

"Why? What did happen?" MG asked definitely curious about how a girl like Josie crossed paths with the green-eyed girl.

"Well you see Dana here-"

"Dana?" MG interrupted "That's not-" He was about to question more when the three of them heard thumping footsteps that came from the kitchen coming to where they were.

"Penelope fucking Park what the hell did you do now?!" Maya said fuming.

"Hello to you too, and you're going to need to be more specific than that." She said with a sly smile.

Wait, what's happening? Josie thought

"Don't give me that. Dana Lilien is inside, hella pissed about how she's been getting a ton of complaints about some tour that she 'allegedly' gave. Apparently, her professors are now taking a crap on her and took her off the committee."

Seeing Josie's confused expression, MG tapped on her shoulder and pointed to a blonde girl inside the house that looked very pissed taking some shots.

Josie whispered to him "That's Dana?!"

MG nodded.

She then looked at her left side to see that this girl that had long black curly hair, does not look like the real Dana at all. Least to say Josie was dumbfounded.

Oh my god.

"Does she know what happened?" The raven-haired girl asked.

"No! that's why she spent all night ruining my happiness by suspecting and questioning me." Maya retorted. "You owe me one great party Park!"

"That I do."

"You didn't even tell me your plan! We're supposed to be in this together."

"You're right and I am sorry...but it's more of an 'I saw a chance to make Dana suffer' so I shot my shot."

"Whatever....I'm going home. No use in being here my mood is ruined." She huffed and walked towards the exit.

"Um," MG cleared his throat to at least alleviate the tension in the air.

Ignoring MG, one person decided that it was right to properly introduce herself. "We haven't officially met yet, I'm Penelope Park." Penelope smiled at the girl next to her.

But Josie didn't respond to the other girl's introduction with a usual response, instead, she blurted out an- "Are you kidding me? So you purposely gave us a shitty tour so that we can complain about it to the school, but it wasn't really you that gave the tour."

"Here's a fact about me," Penelope leaned closer "I do everything on purpose."

Josie was taken aback at the sudden movement. No, she was actually taken aback because of everything that happened. Who knew that the first person she shouted at, which she rarely does, was the head bitch in charge herself.

Penelope smirked and leaned back again. "But technically it was me that gave the tour. Although I might have made a mistake and used the wrong name." She said with the most casual tone ever, which made Josie slightly more annoyed.

"You pretended to be that poor girl who is now getting trouble because of you?" She asked not wanting to believe that these things really happened.

"To be honest, it was the most nauseating thing I had to do." Penelope said with disgust "But please don't pity her. Even MG doesn't feel bad for her."

"I- what? Don't drag me into this."

Josie was thinking about how this girl was so indifferent to what scheme she did, "Aren't you worried that you'll get into trouble yourself?"

"Not at all."

"Plus I don't think anyone, not even Dana, would mess with Peez," MG added.

Josie narrowed her eyes at Penelope questioning whether what MG said was true. The girl shrugged not really wanting to add anything to MG's comment.

"So," Penelope started "Do I have to ask people around for your name...or?"

Josie noticed the closeness between MG and Penelope. The nickname, Peez, showed that her old best friend might actually be friends with the girl next to her, because of this she gave up. She still trusted his intuition that he hasn't been hanging around with the wrong crowd. Josie sighed and decided to let the whole situation go without asking more about it.

It's not my drama.

"Sorry, it's um Josie Saltzman."

"Ah Saltzman, Lizzie is you're older sister?"

"Yep"

"Never would have guessed."

But before Josie could ask or at least try to have one decent conversation, Penelope stood up.

"Well, this has been fun."

"You're leaving already?" MG asked, "It's still early as hell."

"Exactly, it's the perfect time to go home and sleep. It's a school night."

Josie smiled at the familiar words Penelope had said.

"That's a first." MG laughed

She laughed along with MG "I suggest you guys do the same." Before she left Penelope looked at Josie. "See you around Jojo." And had the audacity to wink at her.

Who does that? She thought, face now red because of the wink and because of how easy her new nickname slid off Penelope's tongue. Like it had a sense of familiarity to it, a sense of closeness.

Of course, as timing would have it, a few seconds after Penelope left, there was Lizzie with Hope's arm slung around her shoulder.

"There you are!" Lizzie exclaimed and sat Hope on the couch. "I have been looking for you all around the house!"

"Oh my god, what happened?" Josie asked, looking at a very drunk Hope beside her.

"I meant....what.....I said, Lizzie." Hope slurred.

"The two of you need to go home now." She sighed. "I told you to come to the party, not drink the whole party!" She said to Hope.

-----

After Lizzie and MG called an uber and helped Josie with Hope, the two girls were now at their apartment's upstairs bathroom.

To say Josie was good at taking care of people was an understatement. Maybe that's what having a sibling does to you or maybe that's just what who she really is.

Josie held the drunk girl's hair, while she was sobering up by "disposing" the liquids that made her drunk.

Hope turned around, eyes closed, to face Josie. "I will kill you, Saltzman."

"I'm so sorry..." Josie had a pang of guilt seeing the current state her friend was in. But she couldn't help but to ask why Hope had drank that much, to begin with.

Opening her eyes, she answered, her voice tired but had humour in it. "I got into it too much. Hope continued "Plus Raf needed a beer pong partner."

Josie smiled a bit. "Come on let me help you up."

"You know that even if you still help me now, you'll still owe me one right?"

"Of course."