After being called to join the rest of the Salvatore Stallions in doing community service for starting a fight with the other school, Monica, Hope and the Saltzman twins followed Alaric through the library as they voiced their concerns and complaints.

"This makes no sense, Dad. Why are we being punished?" Lizzie was the first to ask, as she looked visibly annoyed. She had stuck up to her long time nemesis and didn't understand why she was being punished for it.

Alaric just gave his daughter an exasperated look, as though the answer should be obvious. "Because you started a brawl at a charity football game that risked exposing what we really do here!" He reminded the blonde.

"Oh come on Ric, I stuck up for Lizzie.. I shouldn't be punished." Monica insisted, feeling good about punching a bully, but Alaric didn't feel the same as he gave her a slight glare. Monica just responded with an angelic smile.

"Well, you weren't mad last night." Lizzie mumbled, taking her Dad's attention away from Monica. "I was mad last night! My undying love for my daughters just happened to trump my rage." He admitted, before he walked down the stairs towards one of the study tables and set the books down before turning to face his daughters and students. "I volunteered everyone in the game, so stop complaining. You're lucky that it's just community service and not actual jail time."

"Can I at least offer a rebuttal in my defense, if it pleases the court?" Lizzie asked as Alaric rolled his eyes before waiting for her to speak again. "First of all, I was provoked— my response was totally proportional considering the levels of abuse that I was forced to endure." She declared as Hope couldn't help but chuckle, which only upset Lizzie more.

"And secondly... If anyone should take the blame, it's Josie." Lizzie added, as Josie gave Lizzie a betrayed and offended look. "What?!"

Monica tried to stifle a laugh before she shrugged, "I'm happy to pin the blame on the not-so-innocent Saltzman." She decided, as Josie looked at the tall girl with offence, as she didn't understand why Monica didn't like her.

It wasn't that the Montgomery disliked Josie, but she always had to hear Penelope talk about how much she missed their relationship, and she would also complain about Lizzie and mention how Josie was such an angel... quite frankly the vampire was sick of hearing about it and refused to believe Josie was as angelic as Penelope made her out to be.

Seeing Josie's reaction, Lizzie instantly backpedaled,"I'm sorry. I totally cracked during cross, but if you had just let Kaleb catch the ball—" Josie scoffed before Lizzie could finish rambling. "Yeah okay..."

"You'd still be in trouble." Alaric announced, as Lizzie's expression fell. Hope seemed amused now and interjected, "But nice job throwing your sister under the bus!" Josie looked to Hope, surprised that she had stuck up for her, before she said, "Thank you, Hope."

"Speaking of, the bus leaves in ten minutes, and I expect all four of you on it, working together today, harmoniously and without drama. End of debate." Alaric said as Monica let out a groan, before she walked off, clicking her heels to the ground loudly, to get the point across that she was not happy.

❤︎

The grumbling students all gathered around Dorian, who was obviously in charge. "All right, listen up! It's a beautiful day. You got options— litter, weeds, graffiti! Your choice." He spoke, as everyone wore unenthusiastic expressions.

The Williams held out a tool to pick up litter, to Kaleb who looked disgusted, though reluctantly he took it. As soon as Dorian walked away, the vampire turned to the other students, "It's bad enough we get punished while the humans get a pass, but there ain't no way in hell I'm picking up their garbage."

Kaleb held out the tool to Monica who simply scoffed before shaking her head. Letting out a humourless laugh she declared, "Uh, I don't do trash either." In a grumble Hope decided, "I love trash ...As of this moment.."

The tribrid took the litter tool and rubbish bags, using them as a way to get away from all of the students. Before Hope was completely out of earshot Lizzie spoke snarkily, "Perf. It suits you."

"Looks like we're scrubbing paint today." Lizzie said once she turned back to her twin, who didn't look impressed. "Dad told us to work together, okay? Harmoniously." Josie reminded the blonde as Lizzie nodded, "Yeah, and he also said without drama, and I am feeling a rage attack coming on, so I will be remaining drama-free over by that wall of graffiti. Are you coming or not? "

Josie narrowed her eyes at Lizzie before grumbling, "I don't know, Lizzie— is there another bus you want to throw me under?"

Monica couldn't help but to smile at the twin drama, as Josie walked away from Lizzie to work with Hope."Fine, Daddy's girls." Lizzie scoffed before her eyes eventually landed on Monica, as the Saltzman hoped she would be able to work alongside the popular vampire.

❤︎

Meanwhile, in the woods were Landon, Ruby and Rafael. The trio were all seated around a campfire, as Rafael roasted a rabbit he'd caught. Landon looked at their dinner in amusement before he said, "Uh, I think it's done."

Rafael reached out and touches the roasted rabbit to see if it is cooked enough before groaning in disgust and ripping off a small piece of meat. "Oh... Next time, we gotta catch, like, a deer or something. You know, more meaty, less... rabbity." Rafael suggested as Ruby scrunched up her face with distaste, also not wanting to eat it. Landon just laughed at the twins, "It's food, man. I'm good." He said, looking at the positive side: They were going to eat tonight.

Rafael handed a stick to Landon, who grimaced as he ripped off his own piece of meat. He looked over at Rafael, then to Ruby, who both smiled at him, causing Landon's expression to change into one of gratitude.

"Thanks for sticking with me." Landon said as Ruby responded chipperly, "Nowhere else we'd rather be, Lan." Landon couldn't help but to feel guilty suddenly, for allowing the twins to leave the school they were best suited for.

"I don't know... That school was good for you guys.." The Kirby said. The twins looked up at Landon, with frowns on their faces. "Lan, you run, we run. Period." Rafael declared. Landon nods in understanding and held up his small piece of meat before eating it.

The trio begin to groan as they reluctantly took bites of their dinner, and Landon decided to change the subject. "She hates me, doesn't she?"

"Hope? Probably." Ruby admitted, not planning to sugarcoat it. "You want to explain why you kept lying to her? Why you lied to us?" Rafael then questioned the raven haired boy.

Landon sighed, "That's the problem— I can't. Every time I try to put it into words, all I can say is... Its like the knife wanted me to steal it. And then it wanted me to lie." He explained to them. "Landon.. Knives don't have conscious thoughts." Ruby replied as Landon looked to her, a little hurt that he wasn't being believed. "I know, but knives don't usually attract dragons, either."

The twins, not knowing what happened any more than Landon does, decided to drop the conversation and sit back against a log using it as a makeshift chair. "Um, well, what's done is done. It's not like you're ever gonna see her again anyway..." Rafael reminded Landon, as his smile fell.

Ruby, thought about what her twin had said, and frowned also.... She may not have known Hope for long at all but she had taken a liking to her.

Rafael then noticed how upset Landon and Ruby both looked. "Hey, hey. It's just the three of us. Living off the land. Nothing better." Rafael insisted, giving them an encouraging smile.

"A burger. A burger would be better." Ruby declared as though it was obvious. "A burger would be better..." Rafael replied, as Ruby just smiled dreamily, thinking about it.

The trio laughed as Landon stared into the fire, suddenly having an idea. "Hey, I got an idea to make some money— put your new werewolf skills to work. You in?" Landon asked, looking to Rafael. Rafael and Ruby's eyes narrowed in confusion before Rafael shrugged in agreement.