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❝SWEET TREATS AND REALITY CHECKS❞

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Valerie hummed a tune, as they stood in the mirror and ran a brush through their purple hair. It was quite long now, at least enough to put into a ponytail.

The non-binary werewolf placed their hairbrush down once they succeeded in pulling their hair into a ponytail. The Harlowe then turned around, to see Glen slowly awakening.

Quite often, the Alpha started their day with a morning run, and every single time Glen would join them... but this morning he seemed too tired.

"Morning G." Val smiled, as Glen let out a yawn. "Good morning Val." He responded, as he sat up. Noticing the wolf in their running clothes, the Forde sighed. "Give a minute to wake up, I'll come with you." He declared. "Okay." The Harlowe responded, before they sat on the end of their own bed to wait.

A couple minutes passed and Glen was changed. He stood in their shared bathroom as he washed his face with some cold water, hoping it would wake him up.

"You look exhausted... did you have a late night?" Valerie asked as Glen chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, you could say that." He responded. "What did you get up to last night?" The Forde then asked.

"I hung out with Jed. We came back here and binge watched Fast and furious... You know, I actually quite like the films." Valerie admitted, as they'd never seen them but Jed had insisted he showed Val.

"Oh! Get this— We were going to head into the gymnasium, because I wanted to bring out the balancing bar and practice some gymnastics and he wanted to shoot some hoops..." Valerie began, as Glen exited the bathroom and faced them.

"And we got to the doorway and stopped because two people were going at it in the gym! Like, fully hooking up! So obviously we decided not to go in there but man we were surprised." Valerie confessed, seeming amused by the whole ordeal.

It was then, they noticed Glen's face had flushed red, as he remembered the events of the previous night. "Oh my god... Glen did you have sex with somebody in the gymnasium?!" The Harlowe gasped, with complete surprise.

"Maybe... That wasn't my intention. I was just going in there to do some training before bed." Glen admitted as Valerie eyed him. "Do I get to know who this person was?" They asked, eagerly.

Glen chuckled lightly at Valerie's eagerness before he gave in, "Don't tell anybody but it was Charlie."

Truthfully, Glen usually wouldn't care about hiding information like this, but Charlie had seemed really upset and the Forde didn't want anyone to potentially question the Salvatore about this.

"Oh my god!" Valerie blurted, though their lips curved into a smile. "That's so unexpected!" They added. "You're telling me." Glen laughed, as he pulled on his shoes.

Valerie had to admit, it made them happy to see Glen with somebody other than Tori. The Harlowe had watched as Glen had been in love with the Mikealson for years, and in her state of no emotions she didn't care who she would hurt.

Tori was playing with hearts like they were juggling balls. It was obvious that both Glen and Carice had a thing for her, and not only was she giving them false hope, she was hooking up with others too.

Valerie just didn't want to see anybody hurt, especially their best friend.

"Okay, let's go." Glen spoke, standing up now as he had tied his laces. Valerie flashed the boy a smile, before they exited the dorm to go on their run.

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Liv felt bittersweet about leaving the Salvatore home. On one hand, she was incredibly excited to go back to her friends and family... but in a short couple of days she had grown attached to the Salvatore family.

Elena had arranged with Caroline that she would drive the werewitch to the school on her way to work. So currently, Olivia was sitting in the backseat with her duffle bag. Lexi sat on the other window seat, as Elena was going to drop her off to school afterwards.

The drive had been practically silent, as Liv and Lexi were both a million miles away. Alexia had felt different ever since the night they'd shared a bed... she saw another side of Liv, a soft loving side that she always knew was there but hadn't seen herself. The Salvatore had realised that what she had with Liv wasn't just a bit of flirty banter, but she was crushing hard on the Auclair.

Likewise, Liv had been feeling different around Lexi too. She felt butterflies whenever they'd touch, which was a sign to her that she was falling for Lexi.

It scared her... because she'd felt similarly for Josie and had her heart broken, and the Auclair wasn't sure she was ready to open her heart up again.

"Alright, we're here. Caroline is waiting for you." Elena smiled, as she stopped driving. "Thanks Mrs Salvatore." Liv spoke softly, before she grabbed her duffle bag.

The ravenette locked eyes with Lexi, and gave her a soft, kind smile that made the heretic's heart melt. "I'll see you around, Lexi." She spoke.

"You sure will. Bye Princess." Lexi smiled back, as the werewitch stepped out of the car, but not before thanking Elena for having her stay.

"Anytime, sweetheart. Take care!" Elena responded before Liv closed the door and approached the school gates as the vehicle drove away.

"Hi Ms Salvatore." Liv greeted, as Caroline offered the girl a smile. "Welcome back, Liv." The blonde spoke, as Olivia followed Caroline through to the school building.

"Is Penelope around?" Liv asked, after they'd been walking in silence. "I really want to apologise to her." The Auclair added, as Caroline's face fell.

"Penelope actually... left the school. She's going to an all-witch school in Belgium." Caroline explained to the werewitch, whose face fell.

It was all her fault that Penelope left... the Auclair felt absolutely terrible for it.

"Livvy!!" A sweet voice piped up, as Myrical rushed over to the Auclair. "Ri!" Liv blurted, as she quickly put on a smile and hugged her best friend.

Caroline smiled down at the pair. "Myrical has been asking me all morning when you would return." She confessed, as Olivia smiled. "Aw!" She said, as Myrical let out an embarrassed giggle.

"Come with me. We'll drop off your things, then I got a surprise for you." The Benning chimed, as she took Liv's hand in her own and practically dragged her away.

Moments later, Myrical lead Liv to the common room, where Aphrodite, Lizzie, Niko, Hope, Laura and Charlie were waiting for her. There was a couple of balloons floating around the room, and a banner that read "Welcome back."

Liv's expression softened to a smile, as the group of students called out, "Surprise!"

On the coffee table sat an array of sweets, such as candy and macaroons that Laura had helped Aphie choose, and a fluffy looking spongecake that Amelia had made.

"Thanks guys!" Liv responded, a little embarrassed by this, before Aphrodite rushed forward to hug her. Olivia giggled, as she hugged the redhead back.

"I missed you so much, hun." The De Martel admitted as Liv smiled, "I missed you too, Mama." She responded.

Moments later, everyone sat around the table, chatting and eating sweets together. Liv told them all about her time at Mystic Falls high, as Charlie wasn't surprised that his cousin had suggested such a thing.

Hope then told them about the unicorn they'd found, which led Myrical and Lizzie to explain how slugs had infected everyone and that the entire student body had been so out of character. Aphrodite proudly spoke about how Beau sung Vigilante Shit and saved the day.

Olivia let out a laugh, as she could have pictured the entire thing in her head. She then looked over to Aphie and Lizzie, who were sitting in a very couple-like way. The Auclair smiled, as she thought they were just so cute together.

"Everyone was pretty exhausted after being de-slugged... it's tiring being somebody you're not." Hope confessed as Lizzie agreed.

"This all sounds to me like an average day at the Salvatore school." Liv admitted as Myrical nodded. "You can say that again.."

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In the cafeteria, MG sat beside Josie as the pair were eating lunch together. Josie had been visibly upset since Penelope left, so MG wanted to keep her company.

"This soup is pretty good." MG stated, as he slurped on the chicken noodle soup a little too loudly. "You're eating like a kid." Josie half scolded him, though she was laughing.

As the pair were laughing together, Josie stopped as she noticed Amelia crossing the cafeteria. "Hey, I'll be back." The Saltzman quickly said to MG before she got to her feet and made a beeline for the Mikealson.

"Hey! Mia!" Josie called, as she approached the girl. Amelia let out a sigh as she recognised the voice, before she turned to Josie. "Hi." She responded shortly.

"How are you?" Josie asked as Amelia almost scoffed. "I don't have time for this Josie, I'm running late for Liv's surprise party." She admitted.

"Wait, please. Mia, can we please go back to being friends?" Josie asked, "Everyone I love has turned their back on me... or left." She added, trying to get the point across that she was lonely.

"Are you playing the victim card right now?" The Mikealson asked as Josie was taken back by her question. "Mia, I've lost almost everyone." She reminded the girl.

"If all of these people have supposedly turned their back on you, wouldn't you stop to think that maybe you're the problem, not them?" Amelia asked genuinely as Josie let out a gasp.

"I have to go." The heretic said, before she turned on her heels and left, leaving a frazzled looking Saltzman. Josie returned to her table with MG, and slumped back into her spot beside the vampire.

"Is everything okay?" MG asked the ravenette, as she couldn't bring herself to look at him. "Amelia just told me that... I'm the problem." She exhaled, in one breath. "Essentially, that it's my fault that most of my friendships are foiled."

MG scrunched his face up in annoyance. "That's so rude! How can she say something like that?" He demanded, ready to go and confront the Claire-Mikealson.

Josie kept her eyes fixated on a spot on the table, "What is Mia is right about me?" She asked, "Maybe... I am the problem."

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Landon was standing beside Rafael, who was leaning against the brick wall. The brothers were talking, as Rafael told Landon about this beef he was having with Aaron, one of the Bennett twins from Mystic Falls High.

They hadn't gotten along upon first meeting at the football game, but after bumping into Aaron in town, while the witch was hanging out with Casper, Wylan and Ethan, they had started an argument.

As Rafael complained, Landon was only half listening as his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about Lucas.

The Saltzman had been pretty avoidant over the past few days, and Landon didn't understand why. One minute they had been honest with eachother and nearly kissed... and the next, Landon was receiving the cold shoulder.

As if on cue, Lucas was walking by with Charlie, as the Salvatore was eager to play some football and well Luca couldn't say no to him.

"Lucas!" Landon suddenly blurted out, stepping away from his foster brother for a moment to approach the siphon witch.

Rafael looked taken back by the Kirby's action before he asked, "Have you not been listening to me this entire time?"

Upon hearing Landon's voice, Luca's breath hitched in his throat, before he shared a look with Charlie. The vampire knew about the arranged marriage and gave the Saltzman a sympathetic look.

"Hey, Landon." Lucas said, stepping away from Charlie now to approach the raven haired boy. "Hey, I haven't seen you around much. How have you been?" Landon asked Lucas, with a soft smile.

"Great. Just great, I'm being forced to marry Satan incarnate so that the school receives more funding." Is what Lucas wanted to say, but didn't.

"Could we talk, in private?" Lucas asked, as Landon nodded. "I'll meet you down at the field." Charlie said to his brother before he left. Rafael said goodbye to the pair and headed off to find Valerie or Glen to hang out with.

With that, Landon and Lucas moved somewhere more quiet to talk. "Have I done something to upset you?" Landon asked, as they walked. "Because a few days ago we seemed to be on great terms and now we're not."

Lucas sighed, as he looked to the boy guiltily. "It's not you. You're perfect." He confessed, "But whatever this is, between us... it has to stop."

Landon's face, which had been a smile, faltered now. "Oh." Was all he managed to say, hoping that Lucas would elaborate.

"Rachel and I are getting married." Lucas exhaled, as Landon blinked in surprise. "You... and Rachel?? An arranged marriage?? This isn't the 1800s." He confessed bitterly.

"I know... it's ridiculous but, this is the only way to keep the school open with the right funding, because Rachel's Mum donates a lot of money." Lucas explained as Landon scoffed, "It's not a donation if you expect something in return."

Lucas sighed, understanding completely because he felt the same way...

"Why does it have to be you... you're not even straight." Landon added as Lucas sighed, "It is what it is." He decided, sounding so defeated.

He'd been crying himself to sleep for days about this... he didn't care about keeping Alaric happy or funding the school, but what he did care about was providing the supernatural with a home.

Without a home, where were all of these students going to go? It wasn't as though there was another supernatural school in town anymore.

Lucas didn't say anything more to Landon, and stepped away to head over to the football field. Landon watched as the siphon witch left, as he was left completely lost for words.

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Night had fallen, and most students were preparing to get ready for bed. A taxi came to a halt at the gates of the Salvatore school, and out stepped two figures who had travelled all the way from New Orleans.

The first, was Veronica Mikealson-Malraux. Daughter of Freya Mikealson and Keelin Mikealson-Malraux, and cousin of Hope, Tori and Amelia.

The second, was Corentin Claire. He was a member of the Claire family, though he was of French descent. He was the cousin of Davina Claire, making him the cousin of Amelia.

The pair had been eager to visit their family members, especially with Halloween approaching.

"Have you got everything? You don't want to leave anything in the cab... we'll never get it back." Veronica laughed, as Corentin nodded. "Yep! I have all my things." He responded chipperly.

The pair then looked up at the school, and took hold of their suitcases before heading through the main gates.

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AUTHORS NOTE

I didn't expect to write some sort of filler before the Halloween chapter, oops.