let's just finish the dance

I sit in Hopes room, due to the fact Landon and Raf have been acting weird since...I died.

It's kind of fun, saying that I've died.

At least it was in a more exciting way.

I sit at her desk, flipping through pages of a random book when I suddenly hear terrified yells. I turn to see Hope, crying in her sleep. "Hope?" I rush over. "Hope, it's okay! Hope!"

The girl yells out, turning on her side. S wave of magic bursts through the air, and I fly backwards. I slam into her easel, paint flying all over the place. Hope shoots up, eyes wide. "Oh my god! Lena, are you okay?"

Groaning, I crawl to my feet. "I did just come back from the dead, so I think I'll be fine." I say, pulling on a piece of paint in my hair.

"What happened?"

"You were having a nightmare, I think," I shrug, unsure. "And you decided to scream and turn the easel into a piñata, and I the stick." I look at my shirt. "And now I think I have paint in my bra."

♞

I sit at my breakfast table with Landon. "So, are you going for Miss Mystic Falls?"

I choke on my food, glancing up at my brother. "You're kidding, right?" Rafael eats in silence, not wanting to get involved.

"I mean, you're definitely eligible." Says Landon. "And, you have an advantage."

"Which is?"

"You know the main judge." I roll my eyes at his comment.

"Dana's mom is not going to be my easy key to the win, Lan." I snort. "Besides, I don't think it's a good idea."

"I think it's a good idea."

The three of us turn around to see Penelope Park walking her way. She sits next to me, smiling. "Listen, Lena, I get youre new here and all, but Miss Mystic Falls needs someone to defeat the misogynistic patterns it's had for so many years." The witch explains. "But, I'm making Roman be your date."

I frown. "Uh, whos Roman?" I ask, confused. "And why not Hope? She's perfectly eligible as my date."

Penelope smiles. "You'll see." The girl pats my arm. "See you later, Bestie."

The Park witch walks away, my brothers and I watching in confusion. "Did she just call you bestie?" Rafael asks me. I nod slowly, very confused.

♞

"Hey, Hope. You have any idea where these guys go?" Landon asks, holding up a cage of mice.

Hope glances up. "Yeah, anywhere but with the birds. The ravens and the finches are fine, but the rats drive the owls crazy." She explains. Landon nods, walking off.

I lean against the table next to my girlfriend. "So I've been thinking about why you've been acting so weird." I hum.

She glances up, "Suddenly everyone's got a psychology degree around here." She sighs, annoyed.

"Actually,I've come to the conclusion that you have cold feet."

Hope glances up at me. "About what?" She asks, chuckling.

I shrug, making a no big deal face. "Oh, you know, us." She turns to look at me, confused. "We're finally in a relationship where we are actually honest with each other and I'm totally indestructible." I smirk. "And you're relatively indestructible." She blushes as I wrap my arms around her. "We finally have a long, clear road ahead of us, you know, with no obstacles." I hum. She giggles, wrapping her arms around my waist. Our lips connect for just a moment. I pull away. "Except, Penelope Park wants me to run for MMF."

Hope tilts her head to the side. "What's wrong with that?" She asks.

I bite my lip. "She wants someone else to be my date? Someone named...Roman?" Hopes face falls as she looks over my shoulder. I pull away from her completely, turning to see a curly haired blond boy. "Who's that?" I ask.

"Um, Roman." Hope says. "My ex-boyfriend."

I look back at her in shock, before back at the blond. "You have got to be kidding me."

♞

"Dr. Saltzman's been a little overwhelmed, so, uh, I've been doing a little... recruiting recon for him lately. But he asked me to come in today and lend a hand." Roman looks over at me briefly. My arms are crossed, eyebrows raised.

Hope opens her mouth awkwardly. "Oh, uh, this is Lena." She hums.

Landon comes from behind me. "Her girlfriend. My sister. And a Griffin, while I'm a Phoenix." He shrugs, trying to size up the blond. "Which is, by the way, so cool." He chuckles. I look up at my brother, raising a brow as if saying seriously?

Roman nods slowly. "I heard. Penelope Park actually wanted me to be her escort." He looks back at me. "Isn't that right?"

I open my mouth, but Hope interjects. "Actually, Im going to be her escort, whether Penelope likes it or not." She chirps, wrapping an arm around me.

Roman nods once again. "I better go find Dr. Saltzman." He says sheepishly.

The three of us watch as he walks away. "That was a little alpha female of you." I say to Hope. She shrugs, a smile on her face.

"Isn't that the 90-year-old vampire ex you may have mentioned murdered your mom?" Landon asks her.

Hope blinks. "It is. Though I don't hold him responsible for what happened anymore."She says, her eyes are glossy and her voice is shaky. A complete change of her mood. She's not completely fine with it.

Landon pats my shoulder. "I'm gonna go hide more rats." He says. I turn to watch him walk off, before looking back at Hope.

"Babe, don't worry about him." I say, rubbing her arm. "Now, Penelope is forcing me to go dress shopping, so I actually have to go."

Hope nods, kissing my cheek. "Bye," I wave before rushing past her.

♞

Stepping into the main hall, I spot Hope walking away from Lizzie. Sighing, I approach the blond. "What's going on?"

"What's going on is that you totally suck at your job." Lizzie huffs.

"Sorry, Penelope took me out for an hour to get a dress."

Lizzies eyes widen. "You're talking to that she-devil?" She growls.

"Hey, you may hate Penelope, but that doesn't mean I have to hate her." I retort. Lizzie stands back, shocked by my words.

Lizzie tosses her hair over her shoulder. "Fine then." She says sharply. Looking up, she gasps. "Lena, come with me." Grabbing my arm, she pulls me forward. I'm surprised to see Vera Lilien, Dana's mom.

Vera glances at me. "Madeline!" She chimes, hugging me tightly.

"Hi!"

She awes. "Oh, how much I've missed you," She pulls away. "Are you running this year?"

My eyes widen. "I am, actually! In honor of Dana's name, as she should've been here, getting the crown tonight." Vera nods, a warm gaze before turning to the girl next to me.

"Lizzie Saltzman?" My eyebrows raises as Vera smiles coldly, "Vera Lilien."

Lizzie fakes a surprised gasp. "Dana's mom." She chimes.

"My dearest Dana told me so much about you before she passed."

I look up at Lizzie, who's smile is clearly forced. "All good things, I hope." She chirps.

Vera laughs. "Not remotely." Vera pats my arm. "Have fun, sweetie!"

Lizzie and I watch as Ms. Lilien walks off. Lizzie frowns, her stare cold. "Gather up the girls, we have a new plan."

♞

"I am withdrawing from Miss Mystic Falls. Effective immediately."

Standing next to Lizzie, I face Hope, Penelope, and Josie. Penelope let's out a sigh. "I thought you had something important to tell us." Hope mumbles.

"Come for the underwhelming announcement, stay for the epic meltdown." Penelope whispers.

"Okay, wait, why are you quitting?" Josie asks.

I sigh. "Lizzie has personal issue with one of the judges." She explains.

"A direct result of that bitch Dana's sabotage."

I snap my head at the Saltzman. "She's dead, Lizzie." I retort.

Lizzie rolls her eyes. "Correction: that dead bitch Dana's sabotage." She snorts. "Costing me the crown from beyond the grave. The head judge is her mother. The town pharmacist." Lizzie sighs. "There is always next year for me. But that does not mean that we here at the Salvatore School shouldn't bring home the title and stick it to those townies." She smiles at all of us, nudging me. I raise my hands up, moving back towards Hope. "So, I have studied all of the stats and advanced metrics, and I have chosen a replacement." Her eyes land on me. "Lena Kirby."

Penelope's face falls. "You're kidding, right?"

Lizzie has an evil smirk as she steps towards the Park witch. "Lena is perfect for Miss Mystic Falls. Not to mention she has the advantage as being the former best friend of Dana." She looks back at Hope. "And you will be her date,"

Hope and I look at each other before she looks at her. "Why am I the replacement?" I ask.

"You're the perfect advantage of being an orphan with the sob story."

Penelope scoffs, storming off as Josie stands there awkwardly. Hope and I share confused looks. Both of us feeling awkward after earlier events.