i'll never give up hope

♚ JUNE ♚

"Bye Lizzie!" I cheer as I wave goodbye. Josie and I stand side by side, holding hands as Lizzie gets on the bus. Josie and I smile at one another before heading back towards the school.

Josie's ponytail bounces as she looks at me. "So, when is your uncle coming?"

I look at my phone for the time. "I'm not sure, he said he will text me when he's close." I give a warm grin to my girlfriend. "I have to go see Landon before I go, wait in the library?"

Josie smiles, nodding slowly. "Talk to you soon."

My shoes thump against the wooden floors as I make my way to Rafael and Landon's room. Rafael was stuck as a wolf for now, for reasons none of us could figure out. Landon's in his room, which is filled with boxes and books. "Doesn't this look depressing." Landon looks at my in surprise, smiling wide as I walk over. He and I hug each other tightly, laughing away before parting.

"I wish you didn't have to go." He says into my hair. "And I wish I wasn't stuck here, alone."

I shake my head. "You won't be alone." I coo. "You'll be with Josie, and she and I will help you as much  as we can with Rafael. I'll call you as often as I can." I explain. "It's not like I'm going to be dead."

"Oh, but it'll feel like it." He says before sitting on the bed. "I feel weird, you know? Like everything's just...different. But I don't know what's different."

"I know what you mean." I grumble before sitting next to him. "It's like...the world is off it's axis, you know?" Landon nods in understanding. "Maybe we're just crazy."

Landon chuckles. "Hopefully." He eyeballs my suitcases by his door. "I'm going to miss you, Annie."

"I'll miss you too." I awe as I hug him again. My phone lights up, a notification from my uncle on the screen. "Well, thats my cue."

I stand up as Landon follows me to the door. "Goodbye, Annie." He hums.

I smile, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "Goodbye, Landon."

Josie waits by the door, "I see your uncles here." She says, gesturing to the fancy car out front. "Which means, you're leaving." Her voice softens into one of sadness. I click my tongue, grabbing her hands.

"I'll be back soon, Jo." I coo, "It's only a couple months." She purses her lips, nodding as we kiss softly. "Bye, Josie."

"Bye, Stasia." Our hands slowly let go as I grab my suit cases, walking out the doors of the Salvatore Boarding school.

The fancy silver car revs it's engine as the drivers side doors open. Kol Mikaelson, my uncle, steps out of it. "Looks like someone's had an interesting school year," He says, gesturing to the door. I roll my eyes as he walks around the front of the vehicle, hugging me tightly. "It's good to have you back, Anastasia."

Suddenly, the passenger side door opens as well, Davina rushing out. "Anna!" She squeals. I laugh in excitement as the two of us hug tightly. "I've missed you tons." She tells me.

"I missed you too." I reply, hugging her again. Kol grabs my suitcases, walking towards the trunk as Davina and I continue talking. "How was Scotland?"

"Beautiful." She chimes. "But I'm excited to go visit everyone in New Orleans. Are you?"

"I think so." I hum, nodding slowly. "I guess Ive just felt weird lately. I don't know."

Davina laughs. "Haven't we all?" She replies. "Now, come on! We have a long road trip filled with catching up."

♚ JULY ♚

"So, you're not coming for fourth of July?"

I sigh at the phone, Josie's face on the screen. "I'm sorry, but with everything going on down here-"

"What could possibly be going on down there?"

I turn slowly, watching Aunt Rebekah chase Kol around the Abattoir, Freya and Davina doing random funny spells. We were having fun. Chaotic fun. "Family stuff." I shrug awkwardly. Josie scoffs, "I'm sorry-"

"No, Stasia, this is the fourth time you've cancelled since you've been up there! That's not including all the dates you cancelled before summer." She snaps. Josie sighs, running a hand through her hair. "I don't think I can do this anymore."

Blinking, "What do you mean?"

Josie shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Stasia, but I think it's time we go our different ways."

Pursing my lips, I clear my throat. So many thoughts run through my head as I think about all the times Josie and I have spent together. It felt like it was all for nothing. "I see." I say softly, looking at my fingers. Noises downstairs had quieted down, meaning they were all listening. "I, uh, I gotta go."

"Goodbye, Stasia."

"Bye." I snatch the phone, hanging up quickly. Breathing heavily, I look around my bedroom before tossing the phone on the bed, heading downstairs.

Rebekah is the first to approach me. "I'm so sorry, Anna." She coos before hugging me tightly. Tears fill in my eyes as I hug her back. Marcel approaches me as well, rubbing my back. The family all gather around, comforting me as much as possible.

Freya is the next to speak. "I told your mother your progress, she's very proud of you."

I sniffle, looking at my chest. The necklace that once laid there was no longer there. After the day Triad attacked, I hadn't put it on since. Freya and Davina have been helping the
most, along with wolves from the Crescent Moon Pack, the pack Hayley once ran. I smile softly at Freya, nodding slowly.

This summer had taken an interesting turn.

♚

Fourth of July definitely feels...sucky.

Josie and I haven't been split for long, and it just feels wrong to try to pretend I'm okay. The family and I are at Rousseau's. Vincent, a family friend, came to hang out as well, along with some other random friends of the Mikaelsons.

Davina wears a funny fourth of July head band with Freya and Keelin. Rebekah and Marcel are laughing with some townies while Kol and I sit next to each other at a table.

"It's always weird," Kol says, looking over at me. "When your sisters and yourself are the only remaining siblings." He gives a soft smile. "Your dad would be proud of you, you know."

I frown, shrugging. "It's weird. This whole summer. I feel like I've been this shadow, all of my life. And suddenly I'm here and I'm...me."

Kol shifts in his seat. "A shadow of what?" He asks.

"I don't know." I reply. "There's just... something going on." I say finally. "Or a lack of something."

My uncle clears his throat, watching the family dance to random music. "Well, I'm not sure what it is you're missing, but it can't be too important, right?" He chuckles before patting my shoulder, walking away.

"Right," I whisper, taking a sip of my water. I pause in thought, thinking about my nickname; Annie.

Who gave me that nickname in the first place?

♚

♚

"Are you ready?"

I run down the stairs, smiling wide as Freya and Keelin are full out in their pride parade outfits. "Anna, you look so happy," Freya hums, hugging me tightly.

Davina hops over, wearing a rainbow top as she smiles wide. "Come here," She tosses open a face paint pallet, dipping her fingers in pink, yellow, and a bright blue. I smile wide, the colors now on my right cheek. "Awe, Annie, I love you," She grins.

I'm practically leaping in the air. "Let's go!" I scream, rushing out the door.

♚ AUGUST ♚

"You think that's a good idea?"

Rebekah laughs at me and Marcel. I stand on his shoulders as he holds my ankles. I reach up the wall, grabbing into a brick. "Of course it's a good idea, Aunt Beks," I say sheepishly. I pull the brick off the wall, revealing a key. "Let go, Marcel!" I cheer. He does as I say, and I do a quick flip to the ground. My hair flies as I shoot straight up, holding the key. "Now, we can go into Kol's secret food stash." I whisper.

Marcel chuckles, patting my back as I stealthily move towards the room. Bekah and Marcel are close behind as I find the small door. "I think I'm the only one big enough to fit." I say.

"Then open it up!" Bekah hisses, now fully in for food.

I giggle as I place the key in the lock, unlocking the small door. I poke my head inside, shelves beyond shelves of food and drinks galore. "Jackpot!" I say. Stumbling on my feet, I mumble a spell, causing at least three shelves full of food to come out, landing in our arms. "Okay, I love cheese puffs," I giggle.

Just as Bekah, Marcel, and I are walking out of the room, Kol wanders in. He looks between the three of us, "Where did you get all of that?"

"Run!"

♚

Marcel hands me my last suitcase. "That's it." He says.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay here." I say to the couple behind me.

Elena Salvatore smiles warmly. "Alaric is a good friend of mine. If he needs some help, Damon and I are open to anything."

Rebekah hands Damon a notebook. "Freya wrote all of her transitions and what to do if anything's to happen, along with all of our phone numbers."

Damon frowns. "What about her mother?"

"She's working with Caroline, as we've been told." Rebekah hums awkwardly. "Thank you both, for letting my niece stay with you."

"Like I said," Elena hum. "Not for you, but for her and Ric." Elena smiles as she rubs my shoulder. I look up at Rebekah and Marcel.

I wrap my arms around them both. "Thank you guys, for the best summer ever." I chirp, smiling into their bodies.

"We love you, Anna," Rebekah kisses my hair, pulling away. "Stay safe," She coos.

"I always do!"

The two get into their car, driving off. "So, let's get you registered for school, huh?" Damon chirps before patting my back.

I watch the married couple wander inside, and I smile. For the first time, I feel...like my own person. Hopping up the steps, I look across the street. A girl with reddish brown hair stares back at me, wearing a red suede jacket and a black shirt. Her eyes are wide as she watches me closely. I frown a few times. I turn towards the Salvatore house before looking back at her.

She's gone.

Elena pokes her head back outside. "You coming, Anna?"

I turn back to Elena. "Yeah, yeah. Sorry." I smile softly before heading towards the door.

♚ AUTHORS NOTE ♚

HI GUYS!

obviously i made the formatting a lot different in the story, but i thought the little crown thing was cute cause the titles 'king' now n stuff.

anyway, you guys voted for PLOT ONE to be how we start off the book.

BUT, i got a lot of people you guys asked for annie to grow relationships with. like literally someone said sebastian??? and a lot of people said maya, or raf, or mg? like A LOT OF OPTIONS HERE.

and since pansexual did "win" the voting as well, we have a lot of room. now, i have a little pre writing already done so i have a SMALL relationship growing fro annie with someone, but it's not like a thing, you know?

so, for you guys that wanted jannie (is that the ship name? idk) to stay together, i'm giving y'all the option to still keep commenting who annie should get with. it can be josie (they get back together), maya, freaking someone said landon so sure, ya know LITERALLY ANYONE HAHAHAHA.

i was kinda bummed because we never got a lot of annie and josie i feel like but i go with whatever y'all want so it's okay cause this gives annie a lot of , well, freedom for growth.

hopefully you guys enjoy this chapter, what do you think should happen next?