It was Summer break, the time where students would go home to their families, and spent a lot of time with them... but for those without families, they could remain at the Salvatore school.

It was night time. The crescent moon was shining in the sky dimly, as the stars shone brightly.

Ruby laid sprawled out on the outside lounge at the Old Mill, as she wore Rafael's black and white checkered hoodie, and black sweatpants. Basically, her outfit screamed comfortable.

The Waithe girl had once been spectacularly happy and loved life, but one day it suddenly changed. The pinkette felt empty and helpless, and the truth was she didn't really know why.

It didn't help that her twin, her literal other half was stuck in his wolf form... that as well nobody understood why.

A low bark was heard which caused Ruby to look up, as her eyes landed on a dark coloured wolf, resembling Rafael. "Rafi." She smiled, before she patted the empty half of the couch beside her, motioning for him to sit with her.

The wolf jumped onto the lounge and got comfortable before he looked to Ruby. "I wish I knew how to change you back.." Ruby sighed, as she patted the wolf gently on the head. The wolf wined, before he nuzzled his head into her palm. "I feel so helpless Rafi... I want to help you but I don't know how.. I'm sorry."

The wolf licked her cheek as a dog would to humans it trusted, as he tried to be comforting. He was trying to let Ruby know that he was okay. She then hugged her brother as she buried her face in his fur.

Ruby wanted this emptiness to go away. This feeling of unexplainable dread that she felt every morning when she opened her eyes, to disappear. It felt like a constant storm cloud was looming over her, and it wouldn't go away.

"Ruby.."

The pinkette looked up, to see Josie, Jordan and Landon approaching her and Rafael. Josie held a collection of DVDs in her arms, whilst Jordan held many different bags of snacks in his arms, as he was focusing on not dropping them. Landon on the other hand, held a tray of raw meat to feed to Rafael.

"Hey guys... what are you doing?" Ruby asked them as Josie gave her friend a sympathetic look, "We want to keep you company.. you've barely left the Old Mill in two weeks." She spoke softly.

"I'm alright guys." Ruby quickly lied. She didn't want to tell them how she really felt, because she didn't know why she was feeling this way. But the pinkette didn't need to say anything, it was clear that she looked and seemed miserable.

"It's okay not to be okay." Jordan assured her, as he took a seat beside her. "The thing is... I don't know why I don't feel okay." The werewolf blurted out. "I feel so.. lost.." She mumbled, as she felt pathetic.

Those she were closest too, Hope, Monica and Rafael had practically been ripped away from her... She didn't have her support network anymore. Sure, she was close to Josie and Landon, and she liked Jordan too.. but the bonds she shared with Rafael, Monica and Hope were unbreakable. Without them she felt so empty.

"We were thinking of watching movies together." Landon suggested, before Rafael snapped a piece of red meat from his hand. "How?" Ruby asked, amusedly. "We got my Dad to put this white screen out here, so we can watch movies with Rafael." Josie explained to the group.

Putting on Tim Burton's movie Corpse Bride, Josie sat beside Jordan and Ruby, leaning her head onto the Montgomery's shoulder as he munched on popcorn happily. The group watched the movie together, simply happy to be spending time with one another.

❤︎

A few days later Ruby walked through the hallway of the school with Josie by her side. They stopped upon seeing Alaric. "Dr Saltzman!" Ruby greeted excitedly as Josie smiled, "Hey Dad." The older Saltzman faced them, "Girls! Hi." Alaric smiled back.

The blood fountain had been placed in the school by Alaric. Due to the mistrust the students had in the headmaster, he had now been demoted and a new headmaster was taking over next semester.

"You're back?" Ruby asked seeming hopeful. Alaric shook his head, "Not for good Ruby, I just came to get some stuff from my office." He admitted as Ruby nodded though she seemed disappointed. Josie on the other hand stayed quiet.

"Oh.. hey any luck finding a spell to turn Rafi back?" The pinkette asked as Alaric sighed as he shook his head. "We're working on it." Josie assured the Waithe, before she linked her arm with Ruby's.

"Any luck figuring out how Landon and I don't remember destroying the Malivore pit?" The werewolf then asked also as Alaric shook his head yet again, "We're working on it." He assured her.

Ruby's phone suddenly rang, and she stepped aside to answer it, as Josie and Alaric walked into the office leaving the Waithe alone. "Hello?"

"Ruby!! Hey!"

It was Lizzie.

Lizzie was currently in Europe with Caroline, but upon finding out about Ruby's downward spiralling mental health, the Saltzman had been checking in with the Waithe with every chance she had. The two girls actually spoke over the phone to eachother every day now, whenever the time zones worked out.

"How are you? How's Europe?" The Waithe asked as Lizzie sounded pleased, "I'm good and it's so beautiful here!" She admitted, visibly happy. This caused Ruby to smile.

"So have you planted any flowers yet?" The blonde asked as Ruby bit her lip as she awkwardly remembered what she told Lizzie.

The werewolf promised to take up a hobby to occupy her over the summer, so she'd started gardening. Jordan, Josie and Landon helped to build some wooden raised garden beds by the Old Mill so Ruby could plant flowers in them, but she hadn't gotten to it yet.

"Not yet.. I'm thinking of planting some sunflowers." Ruby said as Lizzie replied with, "Sunflowers are beautiful! You'll have to send me some pics!" Ruby smiled at Lizzie's encouragement. Even though they weren't in eachother's presence, Ruby felt like they were becoming close over the summer.

Ruby then noticed Josie and Jordan rushing over to her. "Hey I gotta go, I'll talk to you later okay?" The Waithe said. "Yeah of course! Keep in touch!" Lizzie demanded before their call ended.

Ruby looked up at the pair, "Hey guys." She chimee. "Hey Ruby, we're going to the Grill tonight with Landon, we were wondering if you want to come." Josie asked her friend. "We're probably not going to take no for an answer though. You haven't left the school in weeks." Jordan reminded the pinkette. Ruby just rolled her eyes playfully before she nodded, "Sure."

❤︎

Now at the Mystic Grill, Landon and Ruby walked up to the bar leaving Josie and Jordan alone at their table. Ruby glanced back at the pair before she grinned. "They are so into eachother." She said as Landon chuckled, "Yeah... it's pretty obvious." He replied.

Over the break, Josie and Jordan had been spending a lot of time together... Landon and Ruby noticed the bond they had and knew it was only a matter of time until they'd be dating, though it seemed the pair didn't realise it yet for themselves.

"You have been complaining about your.. single-ness... why don't I be your wingwoman?" The werewolf asked proudly as Landon frowned, "How?" He then asked. "Well.. look around the bar. Point out one pretty girl or guy to me." She ordered.

Landon looked around the bar, his eyes catching a handsome red haired guy. "That guy." He quickly blurted out. Before he could say anything else, Ruby linked her arm with Landon's and dragged him over to the guy.

Hi!" Ruby chimed as the stranger smiled at them, "Hey there." Ruby then took no time to waste and asked, "Have you met Landon?"

Before any objections could be made, Landon was shoved in the guy's direction and Ruby was gone. Landon grew embarrassed as he faced the stranger. "Uh hi, I'm Landon."

Ruby snickered as she watched from afar, not before sensing a presence beside her. Quickly, she turned to see a boy with light brown hair. "Hi." She said before he smiled, "Hi. I just wanted to tell you that you're... really beautiful." He admitted as Ruby blinked in surprise, before she blurted out, "I'm gay."

The boy chuckled in surprise, "Well lucky for you I have a sister... she's into girls." The boy said before he pointed over to the bar, where a pretty girl with long dark hair sat. "I'm Ethan, by the way. I'm new to Mystic falls." Ethan said as Ruby gave him a smile, "I'm Ruby, welcome. Now if you don't mind me, I'm going to go introduce myself to your sister." She decided, liking what she saw of this stranger.

The pinkette approached the bar and sat on the stool next to this girl, before she looked over to her. "Hi, I'm Ruby. I just met your wingman brother, Ethan." She introduced herself as the girls laughed in realisation, "I'm Maya."

With that, the two began chatting, Ruby bought them drinks. As the night went on it seemed for Ruby like it was the beginning of a new friendship... or more.

About three hours passed, and Josie, Landon and Jordan looked over at the bar, as he saw that Ruby was still talking to Maya. "Can we leave... it's nearly midnight." Josie mumbled as Landon agreed with her. "You guys go on ahead, I'll wait here for Ruby." Jordan decided as Josie faced him, with slight disappointment. "Are you sure?" Landon asked the witch as the Montgomery nodded, "I think this is the most I've seen Ruby socialise all summer. I'm happy to stay back and wait for her."

Josie and Landon soon left although Josie was hesitant to leave Jordan. This caused Landon to ask the Saltzman all about her feelings for Jordan on the walk home, which she completely denied.

❤︎

Meanwhile in Phoenix, Arizona, Cynthia Monroe was keeping to herself as she watched tv. She left her phone on the counter, as it had been buzzing. Ever since she had moved Jordan away, the Luna covens elders and current leader were demanding to know where he was.

The dark haired woman groaned, eventually getting off her couch to grab her phone as she clearer all of the notifications on her lockscreen.

She again looked at the lockscreen wallpaper of her son Jordan who wore a suit as he stood beside a tall girl with long blonde hair, in a stunning dress... she couldn't help but ask yet again the million dollar question that she had been asking herself all summer.

Who's the girl in the photograph?