Clarissa O'Connell had always been a fan of fancy dress events, so when she found out that the Salvatore school was hosting Miss Mystic Falls, she had to go and encourage Hope to enter. After all, her mother won... it only made sense for Hope to win, herself.

The blonde had found an entrance into the Salvatore school, and now she was sneaking through the corridor, finding Hope's dorm.

The O'Connell quietly entered Hope's dorm, closing the door quietly behind her. She glanced at the auburn haired girl, who was snoring lightly, still fast asleep.

Clary grinned mischievously before she found herself moving quietly towards her sister figure's bed. The blonde laid beside Hope before yelling out very loudly, "SURPRISE!!"

"Clary, what the fu—" Hope rolled over, frantically before she sat up. "What are you doing here?" She asked, as the blonde was in a fit of giggles.

"I thought you'd be more happy to see me." Clary confessed, as she pretended to be offended. "Anyway, I came here to encourage you to sign up for Miss Mystic Falls." The blonde said, before she nudged the girl.

Hope just laughed, still trying to process the events of the previous thirty seconds before she laid back in her bed. "Not going to happen."

❤︎

"So... let me wrap my head around this. You and Hope aren't just friends but you two are together?!" Lizzie blurted, as Mazikeen had finally decided she had to stop avoiding her sisters and talk.

Maze had been so nervous about it. Her family meant everything to her, and to break the news that she was technically dating her sister's frenemy in a fit of screams during an argument was certainly not what she'd expected to do.

"Mhm. We are." Mazikeen nodded reluctantly, seeming nervous. Lizzie furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance, before she sighed. "I... did not expect that." She admitted, seeming frustrated that her sister was dating her frenemy, but it was clear to her that Hope made Maze happy.

"So do you... love her?" Lizzie blurted in question, as Mazikeen just about tripped over her own feet in surprise to this question. "Love? I mean... this is very new to the both of us." Maze replied. "I just wanted to rekindle our broken friendship, I never expected to catch feelings." The Saltzman laughed nervously.

"As long... as she makes you happy." Lizzie reluctantly decided, as Mazikeen let out a sigh of relief. "Really?" She asked, as if she couldn't believe that Lizzie was accepting this. The siphon nodded, "Of course, Maze. I just want what's best for my sister." She smiled brightly, before the blonde Saltzman girls shared a much needed hug.

❤︎

Alaric stood behind the podium, Molly by his side. "I have some news. Many of you, like me, have forgotten that we are hosting this year's Miss Mystic Falls Pageant." The Saltzman announced, as students muttered and groaned.

In the crowd, Maze and Clary sat beside Hope. Students eyed the O'Connell, unsure why she was there, but she didn't even acknowledge the stares.

"Trust me, I know. But the rotation is set in stone. So, let's take the opportunity to maintain our image as a normal school for the rich and awful. As usual, anything remotely magical, enchanted, vampire, wolf or witch-related must be kept tucked away, hidden, and under lock and key. Now... with your chore assignments."

Lizzie stepped onto the stage and clapped her hands together, "Okay, so we'll split into teams." She insisted.

❤︎

After about half an hour of being split into teams and working together to set up the school for Miss Mystic Falls, a very confused Maze, Hope, Josie, Ari, Jade, Penelope and Clary were dragged into an empty classroom by Lizzie.

Tension between Maze and Josie was more than obvious, so the pair stood on opposite sides of the room. Hope sat beside Maze, and Clary sat beside Hope.

Lizzie stood in front of everyone, before she dramatically announced. "I am withdrawing from Miss Mystic Falls. Effective immediately."

"I thought you had something important to tell us." Hope said, with a frown. "Come for the underwhelming announcement, stay for the epic meltdown." Penelope said with a smirk. Maze just shot the Park a frown.

"Okay, wait, why are you quitting?" Josie asked, ignoring Hope and Penelope.

"A personal issue with one of the judges. A direct result of that bitch Dana's sabotage." Lizzie huffed, as Maze couldn't help but to laugh.

Hope eyed her girlfriend, before she turned back to Lizzie. "She's dead, Lizzie." She assured her.

"Correction: that dead bitch Dana's sabotage." Lizzie corrected herself, "Costing me the crown from beyond the grave." She scoffed.

"The head judge is her mother. The town pharmacist. 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. So, I have studied all of the stats and advanced metrics, and I have chosen a replacement." Lizzie decided, as Maze raised an eyebrow, curious to hear who she'd decided her replacement was.

"Hope Mikaelson!"

Josie and Mazikeen's smiles falter, before Maze looked to Hope with a weak smile. She would have loved to work together with Lizzie, but she decided Hope deserved a chance too.

"I'm gonna regret this, aren't I?" Hope asked nervously. "Regret it? You are the perfect candidate." Clary admitted, nudging Hope's side as the Mikealson disagreed with her.

"You are pageant-pretty, reasonably well-spoken, and not to mention you have the added bonus of being an orphan. Classic charity case. Plus, you wanted strenuous. This is the fiercest competition in the land." Lizzie explained, keeping her eyes on Hope.

❤︎

Mazikeen was not even the slightest bit excited to meet Roman Sienna. In her opinion, he had a very punchable face. Hope assured the Saltzman that she had no bad blood with Roman anymore, but Maze still held her own personal grudge.

To find out that Roman was escorting Hope, made Mazikeen even more mad.

Currently, the Saltzman was beating the shit out of a punching bag in the gymnasium, when Landon approached her.

"Hey..." Landon awkwardly greeted, as the siphon turned around, causing the Kirby to jump in fright as she had black veins under her eyes.

The darkness faded away, before Mazikeen's expression softened. "Hey Lan." She replied with a smile, as if she wasn't just full of rage.

"Are you.. okay?" Landon asked, as Mazikeen lowered her clenched fists. "I met Hope's ex boyfriend." The Saltzman responded as Landon seemed to understand her anger now.

"Are you... entering the pageant?" Landon then asked, as Maze glanced over at her best friend. "I want to... but honestly I haven't really put much thought into it since I saw Roman's annoying face." She admitted bitterly.

Landon's lips curved up into a smile before he asked, "Do you want an escort?"

Maze raised an eyebrow, "Are you asking me to the pageant?" She asked, thinking he was a massive dork, but the gesture was sweet.

"Maybe." Landon chuckled before Maze's lips twitched up into a smile. "It could be fun."

❤︎

(Mazikeen's dress pictured above)

Landon and Mazikeen stood side by side, at the top of the stairs. Maze noticed Hope further down the stairs, beside Roman. The Mikealsom looked absolutely beautiful, and the Saltzman couldn't tear her eyes from her girlfriend.

Josie and Penelope stood on the step below Maze and Landon. Maze and Lizzie were both shocked to see their sister being escorted by one of the very people who bullied them.

Jade and Ari stood together, on the step below Josie and Penelope. Ari wore a beautiful peach flowey dress, while Jade wore a stunning black suit.

"Miss Hope Mikealson, escorted by Mr Roman Sienna!" Hope and Roman walked down the steps as Hope looked around smiling widely as people applauded. From the audience, Clarissa cheered out, encouraging her sister figure.

"Miss Ari Mae, escorted by Miss Jade Hale." The pair entered the stage, Ari looking a little overwhelmed by the stares, but she tried to hide it by smiling. Meanwhile, Jade was looking at Ari lovingly, thinking that she looked very beautiful.

Once they were on the stage, Ari turned to look at Jade, catching her loving smile. Jade's lips twitched up into a slightly smug smile, before Ari took a step forward and gently took Jade's face into her hands, before she kissed her, in front of everybody.

Hope blinked in surprise, noticing this. She glanced up at Maze, seeing the Saltzman looking just as shocked, before the blonde smiled brightly at her best friends.

Jade melted into the kiss, as she kissed Ari back, throwing her hands around the witch's waist. With that, people applauded.

The pair broke apart, but keep a loving gaze, before they stepped aside for the next couple to walk down the stairs.

Landon glanced at Maze, who still had a smile plastered on her face. "My best friends just kissed." She blurted, full of excitement, as if she was a kid in a candy store.

"Miss Josette Saltzman, escorted by Miss Penelope Park." The pair walked down the stairs, Josie with a bright smile. Penelope smiled lovingly at Josie, before she noticed a very angry and heartbroken Bianca from the crowd.

Suddenly Josie tripped, taking out one of Hope's competitors. Penelope scoffed, before she stomped over to Josie. "What are you gonna do when I'm not here to fight for you anymore?" She snapped, as Mazikeen gave the Park a confused looked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Josie asked. "You want to know? Read the letter." Penelope hissed, before turning on her feet and leaving.

"Miss Mazikeen Saltzman, escorted by Mr Landon Kirby." Finally, after a rollercoaster of events, Maze and Landon walked down the steps.

Maze smiled, as did Landon, the pair feeling quite overwhelmed by the looks they were receiving. Landon's eyes met Jesse's from the crowd, who was smiling at the Kirby lovingly.

The Hale then blew Landon a kiss, which Maze noticed. "You two are so fucking cute." The siphon witch said in a loud whisper, causing Landon to blush.

Maze's eyes met Lizzie's, who offered her sister a smile, before Maze locked eyes with Hope. The pair exchanged a longing, loving glance, before the dance begun.

Mazikeen and Landon danced together, the blonde's eyes meeting Hope's as she looked over Landon's shoulder from time to time.

The siphon then caught a glimpse of Lizzie and Josie fighting, as she couldn't help but wonder why, before she brought her gaze back to Landon.

"This is fun." Maze admitted, with a small smile. Landon smiled back, "You deserve a beautiful night, and better memories of Miss Mystic Falls." He replied, before Maze realised something...

Back when Mazikeen and Landon first met, Maze opened up to the Kirby and told him about the previous Miss Mystic Falls she'd entered, and how Bianca and Penelope absolutely ruined her night.

"You... you did all this for me..." Maze managed to say, tearing up slightly at the gesture. "Thank you, Lan." She managed to say, feeling endlessly grateful, before she took a step forward and hugged the boy. Landon was taken back by this, and placed his arms around the Saltzman and hugged her back, as he smiled.

Mazikeen Saltzman was Landon Kirby's best friend, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"May I have your attention please?" Vera spoke into the microphone, as everyone stopped dancing. "Without further ado, it is my honour to announce our very own Miss Mystic Falls. From the Salvatore school— Hope Mikealson."

The light shone on Hope, as tears were evident on the girl's face. "Oh no." Maze confessed, her face faltering at the sight of her girlfriend's state.

What she hadn't realised, is that Hope was wearing a dress that her father had picked out, causing her to grow emotional as she missed Klaus dearly.

The crowd applauded, as Maze excused herself from Landon and quickly rushed towards her girlfriend. "Congratulations Hope!!" The blonde chirped, before Hope practically fell in her arms.

"It's okay, let it out." Maze said quietly, as she just held Hope, ignoring any stares they may have received. With that, Hope let the tears fall, as she held onto Maze.

❤︎

After an argument with Josie, Lizzie was found outside, with a bottle of bourbon. Clary, who'd caught the Saltzman leaving the room in a hurry, rushed to see if she was okay.

"Lizzie?" Clary asked softly, as Lizzie turned to face the O'Connell girl. "You're that friend of Hope's, right?" Lizzie asked bluntly, not meaning to come off as rude, though she was angry after her argument with Josie.

"Yeah. Clary." Clarissa said, before she took a seat beside the Saltzman. "Are you okay?" She asked.

Lizzie shook her head, as her eyes filled with tears. "Josie and I had an argument.. it's nothing, I'll be fine." She dismissed, not wanting to confide in what seemed like a total stranger.

The Saltzman took a long swig of the bourbon, before she offered the bottle to Clary. The blonde smiled kindly, before she took it, and took a sip.

With a bit of liquid confidence, the two blondes got chatting for a bit, though time passed pretty quickly and they hadn't realised that they'd been talking for literal hours. One thing was for certain, Lizzie and Clary sure enjoyed eachother's company, and found that they could talk to one another with ease.