you remind me of someone i used to know

The Going Out Stage.

Probably the most awkward stage of them all.

I mean, you're not officially dating, but you're also not not together?

Speaking of awkward, Mayas mom took me to school.

In her Sheriffs car.

I sit in between Ethan and Maya, the two of them clearly liking me more than most of the Salvatore School probably ever did. Ethan playfully elbows my side as I elbow back. We send the jabs back and forth. "Can you two quit it?" Maya asks, annoyed. Ethan and I share a laugh as I lean on Maya's shoulder.

"What? You don't wanna play?" I ask playfully. Maya sends me an eye roll, but I can see the smile tugging at her lips.

"Well, well, well," Their mom hums, looking at the school. "Stallions attack, hm?" Sucking in a breath, I watch the toilet paper hanging from the roofs, spray paint all over the Mystic Falls emblem. We pull to the side, seeing only one person in the midst of it all. "This looks pretty self-explanatory, but you want to give it a shot?" Sheriff Mac hums towards the girls

"Um, toxic masculinity mixed with outdated sports pranks?" I look out Mayas window, seeing Hope.

I shake my head, "Crap," I reach over Maya, pressing down on the window button. "There's no way Hope did it. She's a Timberwolf, not a Stallion." I yell.

Hope looks towards us. "Maya? Annie? What happened?" She asks worryingly.

"Oh, don't worry." Maya waves. "She's my mom." She steps out of the car, helping me out. "We don't really like to talk about it."

Hope frowns, "We?"

Ethan steps out from the other side. "Hey, Hope." He chuckles, walking to stand next to his mom.

"Ethan?" She looks between us all "So you guys are ?"

"My kids, no matter how much it embarrasses them." Mac hums, "And Anna is Mayas friend."

I smile. "Cause who doesn't like getting dropped off to school in a cop car?" I chuckle.

"I'm on official business." Mac hums, Maya elbows me, pulling me along.

I walk between the two siblings, my hair bouncing in it's low messy bun. "I like your mom." I chirp, grinning at the two of them. They both send me slightly confused looks before turning away again.

♚

"I'll leave you my phone number. Call me anytime."

Sheriff Mac closes the door, "Did you get all that?" Alaric asks out loud.

With a wave of my hand, the invisibility spell gone. I sit in Rics chair with Hope standing next to me. "Yeah." I say.

"She's definitely into you." Hope laughs.

Alaric laughs. "What? No. No, she's just new to town, trying to make friends." He looks between the two of us. "Which is exactly what you need to be doing."

"Yeah, well, tried that last year. Didn't really work out." Hope shrugs. "So I'm gonna focus on monster slaying."

"And I made friends!" I say defensively.

Hope looks at me. "You mean a girlfriend?" She teases.

I roll my eyes, not answering her question. "Well, it sounds like there could be another monster lurking around the Salvatore School. So I'll check in with Dorian, since he has access to research we don't." Says Alaric.

"Any other ideas?" I ask Hope.

"Just one, but, uh we are all going to hate it."

♚

I hop off the bus behind Hope and Alaric, wearing a Mystic Falls High polo like Alaric's tucked into leggings. I'm the 'football manager'.

I refused to play against Josie, Lizzie, Landon, Kaleb, and MG.

"Let's just get this over with as fast as possible." Hope grumbles.

"Works for me." I say, giving Josie a side glance. Her eyes are glossy, like last time, and her lips are pursed shut. She catches sight of Maya, and then her soft gaze turns into a glare.

"I'm no more comfortable being here than you are." Alaric says to us.

Suddenly, Dorian rushes over. "Ric, There's something that you need to see."

Alaric and Dorian part ways with us, and I turn back to Hope. "You jumped into Malivore, didnt you?"

Hope frowns. "Where did you-"

"I'm a lot smarter than meets the eye." I shrug. "Did we know each other?" I ask.

The girl purses her lips. "Something like that." She says sheepishly.

I look back at Landon and Josie, and I remember the small moment Hope and Landon had staring at each other after we killed that Cyclops. I look back at her. "You were with Landon." I whisper in realization. Hope stays silent as Josie and Landon look back at us, giving us a lot of weird confusing looks that not even I can comprehend. "I get it." I pat the girls arm, "I'll be on the side lines, holding waters." I half heartedly joke, walking off.

♚

"Dorian found the missing kid. Thank God he's okay. But we definitely have another monster wandering around these woods." Alaric explains to me and Hope. "Dorian's digging into the research, but he thinks it's a Shunka."

"What's-"

"And before you ask what that is, it's a carnivorous creature that feeds only on werewolves."

"Good thing it's not a full moon." Hope says.

My eyes widen. "Raf has been stuck in wolf form."

"Probably ever since you left." Alaric continues, glancing at Hope.

Hope looks flabbergasted. "Wait, Raf? I didn't even know that he turned."

I nod. "Happened while we were fighting Triad." I explain. "Hasn't been able to turn back since."

"Yeah, of course he can't turn back. I'm the only one that can turn him back. I'm the one that gave him that crescent moon ring." Hope explains.

My eyes widen. "That's what it was!" I say, exasperated. Pieces connect in my head, remembering the things Aunt Freya told me about those rings. "Okay, we've got to go find him before the Shunka finds him first." Lizzie looks at me, smiling wide. I give a awkward smile, waving slowly.

"I need to get out of here and find Raf." Hope says.

"Agreed." Alaric hums. "We just need to find a way to ditch this game."

"No. Rafael is my responsibility." Hope says.

I nod. "You need to stay here and keep an eye on that new headmaster."

"Why?"

"Because he already used magic to cheat." Hope says. "He's up to something."

Alaric frowns. "Caroline picked my replacement herself. There's no way that she's gonna hire a weirdo with an umbrella." We look at the strange man. Alaric takes back his statement. "Okay, I'm on it."

"Okay. Now to plot our escape." I say. "Wish us luck."

"Break a leg."

I stand on the side of the field as MG hops over. "Annie, hey."

I smile warmly. "Hey, MG."

"I know we're on opposite sides right now, but I want you to know that everyone over here still thinks you're the coolest badass we've had yet." He chuckles.

Lizzie stands from the bleachers, hoping over. "Yeah, well, I needed Alaric, not a new Headmaster. So I'm a muggle for now." I say, trying to brush him off.

As Lizzie finally approaches MG stutters. "I, uh, gotta get on the field." He says awkwardly.

As he runs off, Lizzie stands next to me. "Annie, I love you, but you look awful in that outfit."

"Thanks." I huff, watching the game begin. "How's the new Headmaster?"

"He's letting us use our magic this game, I think? I'm not a hundred percent sure." She shrugs. "I met this totally hot guy the other day, and his name is Sebastian."

I smile at Lizzie. "Really? I'm proud of you."

She nods. "Josie told me she saw you on a date with human girl over there," She points at Maya. "What's up with that?"

I shrug. "I was always this...shy, scared, lonely shadow when I went to school here. I needed something new. Even if it meant a new school, new name, and a new friend." I explain. Lizzie sends me a confused glance.

"What new name?"

"Anna Salvatore." I wink. Her eyes widen in surprise. I watch Hope slowly limp towards Dr. Saltzman. "I, uh, I have to help my teammate, I'm going to go." I say before running off.

Alaric hands Hope a bag as I jog over. "Looks like you need a new quarterback." Hope hums.

"Happy hunting." He says in a sing song voice. Hope fake limps as Josie and Landon watch us closely. Maya waves at me as I wave back. She smiles wide, jogging towards her team. Josie frowns, her eyebrows furrowing as she watches me jog off.

♚

"All we need to do is get to Landons room and do a locator spell on Raf." I explain to Hope. "Luckily I know exactly where that is," Before I can tell her where to go, Hope takes a sharp turn. "And so do you."

Hope and I quickly get to work, fiddling through boxes before finding some things of Rafaels to bring him when he changes back. Hope and I sit on the floor, and I lay out a piece of paper. She snaps open a knife, slicing her finger, letting it bleed on the paper.

"What are you doing in my room?"

We both turn to see Landon, who looks confused and concerned. "Uh look, I know that this looks bad-" Hope begins.

"No. It looks like magic."

Landon makes eye contact with me, before turning to run. I speed in front of him. "Corporis impetus!" Hope shouts, freezing my old friend in place.

"I'm starting to think you're not some ordinary girl." He says to Hope. I cross my arms over my chest, remaining in front of the doorway.

She stands up, sighing. "Look, my name is Hope, okay? I-I'm a witch. I'm working with Dr. Saltzman and Annie. He asked me to do a locater spell to find Rafael."

"Why wouldn't he ask one of his own daughters?" Landon asks.

"Because they don't know about the Crescent Wolf Clan. Not like we do.." She looks up to me slowly, and I try to figure out how exactly I forgot her.

Landon pauses in though. "Wol I-I've read about that. Does that mean you can turn Raf back?"

I sigh, "Saeclum." I wave my hand, Landon standing normally once again.

He turns to look at Hope. "There is a monster in the woods, and it feeds on werewolves."

"Ooh. Then I'm coming with you."

"Sorry, but I fly solo." She says. I raise my brow. "We fly solo."

Landon stutters, "Uh He's my best friend." He tries to make an excuse.

"You do realize I could freeze you again, right?" Hope hums.

"Would that spell last forever?"

Hope and I share an annoyed look before I groan. "Just try to keep up." I snap.

Landon follows me out of his room, Hope behind him. "You changed a lot since we last talked, Annie."

"It was almost 3 months ago, so yeah, people change." I retort, walking down the hall.

"I just wanted to apologize, you know, for everything." He says awkwardly.

I turn to look at him, stopping in my tracks. "Landon, what's done is done. I'm just trying to save Rafael, and then I'm gone. Okay?" I turn back on my heal, storming off.

♚

"Yeah, Raf should be up ahead." Hope says, leading the way with the map.

"Cool." Landon says nervously.

"Meaning not cool?"

Landon stutters. "Sorry. It's just nothing."

"Meaning something." Hope continues.

I take a side glance towards Landon, who looks awkwardly worried. "It's stupid, but when Raf was first stuck as a wolf, he used to always hang out with me, but then he, like, he stopped." He explains. "Like, he forgot or he moved on."

"And you're worried that it's gonna be the same when he's human again?" I ask Landon softly. I feel bad for him, I do. Despite the awkwardness between the two of us, he's still my friend. And so is Raf.

Landon exhales sharply. "Told you it was stupid"

"I don't think it's stupid." Hope reassures. "It's painful to lose someone that you love."

The Phoenix nods. "Yeah. Oh, I know all about that. I grew up in the foster system. Getting bounced around from family to family made me want to shut everybody out until I realized life's a lot harder without someone watching your back." He explains.

"Trust me, Landon, you don't have to worry about anyone forgetting you." Hope says to him. Her face softens, and I wander what kind of history they had. What kinda history all of us had. What impact did Hope Marshall have on us, on this school?

"Help! Help! Somebody, help!"

Landon rushes by, running straight towards the noise. "Landon, wait, stay back." Hope yells. "You don't know what's out there!"

We stop in our tracks to see a monster sized rat thing. Landon's eyes are wide. "I have an educated guess."

It's eyes are bright red, saliva dripping off its teeth. "I said stay back," Hope snaps, "Incendia!" She shouts, fire flying at the monster, causing it to fall back a bit.

"Is there a plan "B"? Please tell me there's a plan "B"." Landon pleads.

"Turn around." Hope tells us.

I frown. "Why?"

"Because plan "B" involves me getting naked." Hope explains.

"What?" Me and Landon ask in sync, turning away.

"I have to draw it away from you two."

Landon's eyes are frantic. "Why does that require nudity?"

"Because this monster feeds on werewolves." She explains

"But you're a witch." I say, confused.

Landon adds on. "A lying witch." We look in between her feet to see a pile of her clothes. "A lying, very naked witch."

"Look, I'm more than that, and I wish I could stay and tell you all about it, but I can't." She rambles. "So when I draw this thing away from you, I need you to go find Dr. Saltzman and Raf."

"Why would it after chase you-" I ask, turning around to see a wolf where Hope once stood.

Landon and I stumble back. "Because you're a were-witch." Landon says. "Holy smokes" He looks at me. "So, you're not the only one?" He asks me.

"Apparently not." I huff.

The Shunka growls at us, "Not the droids you're looking for, so please move along." Landon says nervously.

♚

Landon and I are being dragged by the monster. To my disapproval, the monster had somehow knocked me unconscious before I could do anything.

"You know, Annie, I just want to say, if we get eaten, Im sorry for not even confronting you about my feelings for Josie." Landon confesses. "It was wrong. So incredibly wrong." He shakes his head. "I just, I was mad. You left without giving any explanation. I had nobody to help me with Rafael anymore. Josie was all that I had. And, because you just told me that you were leaving and not coming back, that you were just gone."

I look at Landon, who groans as his head his the dirt. "It's okay, Landon." I grab my friends hand, holding it tightly. "We both messed up." I smile slowly. "You're always my brother, Landon." He chuckles, both of our heads hitting a large branch. We groan in sync. "Ouch." I grumble, wincing.

"At least we're dying in an exciting way?"

Suddenly, a loud howling fills the empty sound around us. The Shunka growls, tossing me and Landon to the side. I crawl to my feet, my hybrid eyes for show as I growl. Suddenly, Wolf-Hope runs out, attacking the monster. "Hope, no!" I scream, leaping into the mix. Landon grabs a stick, watching as Hopes tosses to the ground, while I'm tossed into a tree.

Suddenly, an arrow flies into the monsters heart. I look behind the monster, seeing a human Rafael. "Raf!" I yell, smiling wide.

"Lan, it's not done!"

Landon runs towards the monster, pulling the arrow out of its chest. The arrow goes up through the monsters throat, causing it to fall to its side. Raf drops Alaric's crossbow, rushing towards Landon. "I thought you were gone."

"You can stop thinking it, bro, 'cause I'm back. Thanks to you, man."

Landon shakes his head. "No, it was, it was her, she-" He turns to gesture towards Hope, but she's gone.

"She saved us all." I say, smiling at Rafael.

"What- Who was that girl?" He asks us. I look at Landon, who shares the same look as me. I lick my lips nervously, not sure what to say. I can't help but wonder, how did I know to protect her like that? Why was that such an instinct?

♚

I sit on the bench, "Hey," I look up to see a teared up Maya. I stand from my spot, coming to her as comfort. Ethan got injured pretty bad at the game. His chances of a scholarship practically ruined now.

"It's okay," I whisper in her ear, attempting to comfort her. She cries in my shoulders as I hold her close, rubbing her back slowly.

We pull away from eachother, and she looks past me. "Hope?" I turn slowly, seeing the girl staring back at us.

"Hey." The mystery girl hums.

I frown. "What are you doing here?"

"I just, I wanted to see how Maya and Ethan were doing after the game." She says slowly.

Maya sniffles. "He worked so hard for that scholarship. And now it's over." I grip Mayas hand tight before letting her go. Hope moves to give her a hug.  I stare at Hope, just trying to remember something about her.

"We should come in hot. There could be a Jabberwocky on the other side of that door, for all we know." Says Hope, while Alaric peaks into windows.

"Nonsensical poem written by?"

"Charles Dodgson."

I snap my head at her. "Wrong. Lewis Carroll. I read all of his work."

"The pen name of Charles Dodgson." Hope remarks. "I'm crushing English, too." Suddenly, there's a sound of a man screaming on the other side of the door.

Alaric's eyes are wide as he looks at Hope. "No, no, no."

"Patere."

The door flies down, Hope storming in. I toss my arms up. "Seriously?" I follow her in, pausing at the sight. An elderly couple sits in their recliners, trays in front of them with their rather small lunches. "Oh, uh, Hi."

"Uh, uh, what-what are you watching?" Hope adds sheepishly.

Alaric steps in, "Oh-" He stammers, trying to find something to say. "I'm so sorry that we've ruined your lunch. I-I-I promise we're gonna replace your door." Alaric looks back at us. "That's some compass. We're in the wrong place."

Hope looks around, leaning down to look into their mail box on their door. She reaches in, pulling out the bracelet she had given Landon. "Someone knew we were coming."

I toss my arms up in the air. "Great, now how do you expect us to find your mysterious boyfriend?" I ask. She thinks for a moment, silence filling up between us.

"I can use the bracelet to do a locator spell. Easy enough?"

"Why didn't we just do that in the first place!?" Hope rolls her eyes at my statement, pulling me along.

I gasp, blinking a few times. I did know her. Pretty well, apparently. She was on that trip to get Landon after he went looking for his mom. The trip that took us to Triad.

What else did I know about Hope Marshall?