Upon Alaric calling an assembly, he stood behind the podium as he spoke to the entire student body. "Given recent events, some students have expressed concern that I am not allowing you to have a say in the decisions that affect your future. And I agree. If you are expected to abide by this school's policies, it's only fair that you have a voice in how those rules are made. So, I am forming an honor council. One vampire, one witch and one werewolf, each elected by their peers. Along with our school counselor Emma, whose vote will represent the younger students."

There was quiet chatter for a moment. Alaric continued to speak, as the chatter stopped. "Now, I have to go off-campus. In the meantime, I expect you to make good decisions and to vote wisely. That's all. You're dismissed."

❤︎

After the assembly both Hope and Monica were making a beeline for the headmaster, both seeming annoyed. "Ric— Are you kidding me?!" Monica snapped at him. The Saltzman sighed before he faced the paid, "Am I under assault today?"

"You get to interrogate a tree nymph, and I have to run Landon's 23andMe." Hope complained, wanting to tag along with Alaric. "First of all, it's a dryad, not a nymph. Second of all, I need a witch to run the testing spells." Alaric explained to the pair. "And why can't I come?!" Monica asked impatiently. "Because I know for a fact you're going to run for honor council which means you're needed here." Alaric replied as Monica then frowned, knowing he was right.

"Get Emma to do the tests with Landon." Hope suggested. "She can supervise, but she's busy managing the school in my, I'm sure, unbearable absence. Plus, if Landon can convince you that he belongs, he can convince anybody." Alaric responded as Hope frowned, "You're enjoying this."

"I am."

Monica just rolled her eyes before turning on her heels and strutting away from the pair. "I left you instructions in my office. Try not to kill him." Alaric concluded, as Hope sighed in defeat.

❤︎

Josie, Ruby and Lizzie were in the Saltzman twins dorm room, where Lizzie was standing in front of the mirror wearing a white business suit, meanwhile Ruby and Josie were laying on the floor, as Josie worked on Lizzie's campaign posters.

Ruby turned to Josie, with an awkward smile, "When I said I wanted to hang out.. this isn't exactly what I had in mind." She spoke quietly as Josie laughed in response. Ruby really didn't want to sit around and help Lizzie choose an outfit, but she figured the faster they got it over with, the faster she and Josie could hang out properly.

"You know, you're not gonna lose the election over an outfit." Josie spoke up, hearing Lizzie grumble to herself in the mirror. "I'm not worried about losing the election—I'm worried about what I'm going to wear to my victory rally!" Lizzie declared. Ruby had her eyes fixated on poster, before she rolled her eyes, though Lizzie was too preoccupied to see it.

"The outfit makes the speech." Lizzie decided, before she magically changed her suit's color pink. She hummed, seeming to like the color scheme, before turning toward Ruby and Josie for her opinion. "How do I look?"

Josie looked up at her twin with a measured expression. Ruby opened her mouth to say her thoughts, though Josie piped up first, "Maybe you should wear something that shows your fellow witches you're gonna take this seriously. It's a big responsibility."

"I mean... she looks hot." Ruby mumbled quietly as Josie gave Ruby a surprised yet annoyed look, though she didn't say anything in response.

"That is why I am perfect for the job." Lizzie declared, as Ruby and Josie glanced at eachother for a moment, Josie wearing an evident frown before they both looked back to the blonde. "I'm a taste-maker, an influencer. People don't really know what they want until I tell them that they want it. They need me."

Not wanting to argue with Lizzie about this, Josie simply nodded and looked back down at her posters. Ruby flopped back onto the floor, as she looked up at Josie boredly while the siphon flashed her a weak smile. Ruby just smiled back weakly, hoping Lizzie would decide on an outfit soon so the pair could leave.

❤︎

Monica and Penelope sat together in the grand hall, as Penelope was chatting to some witches, who were all sipping on iced cappuccinos. "Lizzie Saltzman only cares about Lizzie Saltzman. If your interests don't line up with hers, you're witch non grata. I personally believe that you deserve a better candidate." Penelope spoke as Monica sipped on her iced cappuccino, facing the Park.

Monica seemed to have taken a liking to Lizzie, but truthfully didn't think she'd be a good candidate.

Josie, lured by the sound of Penelope's voice, walked into the grand hall, dragging Ruby with her. The Saltzman wore a scowl as she approached her ex girlfriend.

"So, you're running for honor council just to spite her?" Josie scowled. The witches sitting around Monica and Penelope could see that Penelope and Josie needed privacy, so they stood to their feet to walk away while Penelope stood up to face Josie. Monica stayed seated beside the witch, sipping on her drink as she faced the ex girlfriends, lowkey excited to watch drama unfold before her. Ruby on the other hand wore an expression of concern, as she stood beside Josie with their arms linked.

"That's low, Penelope, even for you." Josie huffed, glaring at the Park. Penelope smirked at Josie with a knowing expression. "You used to like it when I went low." She teased, as Josie looked angry and embarrassed. Penelope then looked to Ruby, with the same smirk, "I'm sure you'd like it too." She flirted, as Ruby suddenly blushed slightly before she rolls her eyes. Monica just snorted in amusement, at the sight of the flustered werewolf.

"You know what I mean. You don't even like extracurricular activities, let alone anything that involves a moral compass." Josie reminded the Park. Penelope scoffed before pointing to a poster with Lizzie's face on it. "Oh, and your one-witch ethics committee is okay with double plagiarism?" She asked as Josie mumbled, "It's not like Hope was an option."

"Mikealson gets enough power around here.. she does not need an ego boost." Monica spoke up, though her comment did annoy Ruby. The pinkette let out a humourless chuckle before she faced the Montgomery, "Says the egotistical vampire that gets everything she wants." She reminded the blonde. Monica's eyes landed on Ruby, before she smirked, "Coming from the jealous werewolf, whose only personality trait is her pink hair." Josie then frowned hearing this, and shot the vampire a glare, "Ruby is nicer than you'll ever be, ice queen."

Josie then turned back to her ex girlfriend. "Bow out now, or I will crush you." She demanded as Monica had to hold back a laugh, knowing that Josie would not follow through with her threat. "Oh, honey—you crush on me." Penelope teased, as her expression turned from mocking to serious as she pushed Josie to admit the truth. "And deep down, you know I'm right. Your sister's unfit for office."

Penelope and Monica then walked away, leaving Josie and Ruby. The Saltzman looked frustrated, as Ruby looked at her, sympathetically.

❤︎

The Salvatore School werewolf pack were in the gym, where they often hung out in small groups. Some were exercising, others were simply talking to each other.

Jed stepped into the centre of the room. "All right—I got a medieval history paper due at two o'clock. Who's on that?" He asked, as Rafael, who stood beside Ruby, raised his hand to volunteer. "I'll do it." He declared as Ruby just looked at her brother with a look of surprise. "Seriously?" She asked, believing that Jed should do his own work.

Rafael and Ruby walked towards Jed to talk privately, "But I need a favor." Rafael added as Jed scoffed incredulously at his newest recruit, "You've been in the pack for five minutes and you want a favor from your alpha?" He asked. Rafael nodded, "You're obviously gonna be elected to the honor council."

Jed rolled his eyes, already knowing where Rafael is going with this. "If it comes down to it, will you do what you can to keep Landon in?" Rafael then asked, as Jed sneered at Rafael sarcastically. "That's a great idea, foster kid. I'll bring that up at the first meeting... So I can make sure your boy gets the boot."

Ruby was quick to glare, "Asshole!" She growled in response. Despite being hurt and angry, Rafael tried to plead his case. "Why? I joined the pack! Yo, I'm following all the stupid rules that—" Rafael was cut off by Jed, "Well, consider that punishment for not respecting my authority when you got here. The rule is this—what the alpha says, goes. And I say Landon goes."

"Seriously? You're a total dick." Ruby growled, earning a surprised look from Jed. Jed then glared at Ruby, "Watch it pinky you might be next to go, from the pack. I mean, technically you're not even one of us yet." He spoke harshly. "Oh trust me— I wouldn't be too bothered not having to see your punchable face everyday." Ruby insisted, before walking away from Jed before he could respond.

"What a bitch.." Jed huffed as Rafael shot him a glare, "Don't you dare talk about my sister like that!" He growled, taking a step forward to threaten Jed. The alpha just rolled his eyes and gave Rafael a look of fake empathy before clapping him on the arm and walking away, leaving Rafael furious in the middle of the gym.

❤︎

MG vamp-sped down to the cellar, where he stopped outside of a cell, finding Kaleb and Monica both seated on the floor (Kaleb inside the cell, Monica outside the cell). The Montgomery held a piece of paper in her hands, as she was rehearsing her speech to the Hawkins.

MG tried to play it cool as he greeted his incarcerated friend. "What up, Kaleb?" Kaleb, who'd been sent into the cellar because he'd confessed to feeding off of humans, scowled at his friend. "I'm stuck in here listening to Satan's speech... what do you think?!" Kaleb snapped as Monica snorted in amusement.

"The hell you want, man?" Kaleb demanded aa MG took a step towards the cell. "I, uh... I... copped this from the kitchen..." He replied, before he held out one of the school's blood bags, passing his hand through the bars of the cell door to hand it to Kaleb. "I though you might be hungry."

Kaleb rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Not for bunny blood." MG sighed, not wanting to get into an argument with him, "It's the only blood in the school, man..." Kaleb shrugged nonchalantly, "Then hunger strike it is, I guess."

They both remained silent for a long moment. Feeling the awkward tension and not enjoying that the attention has drifted away from her, Monica got up. "I didn't come down here to listen to a lovers quarrel. Later nerds." She declared before leaving.

❤︎

AUTHORS NOTE

Please tell me out of the following pairings, which you'd love to be endgame.

Potential endgames:
Hope x Ruby
Lizzie x Monica
Monica x Ruby
Josie x Ruby
Monica x Hope
Lizzie x Ruby
Monica x Rafael
Ruby x Penelope