[we're gonna need a spotlight: season 1, episode 11]
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For some reason, the Salvatore School thought that it was a good idea to host a talent show every year. Each faction of the school would perform its own acts. And every single year, the witches did the same exact routine. Alana well she hated it, as you would expect. Having to work together with a bunch of people she hated, including the Saltzmans, to perform a stupid ass routine that they never ended up changing. It fucking sucked, and Alana wanted nothing to do with it.

        "You know what I think!" Alana exclaimed after the fourth time they had to run through the kickline part of the routine.

        Lizzie rolled her eyes at Alana's outburst. "Brooks, do not test me today," she warned.

        Alana ignored her, "I think this is fucking dumb and we don't need to rehearse it as we do the same damn thing every year!"

        Lizzie clicked her tongue, "I did not come back from Europe just to be berated by your constant stream of negativity," she told Alana.

        "Should've stayed there," Alana huffed as she blew a piece of hair out of her face.

        Lizzie's head snapped towards Alana, "What did you say, Brooks. Would you like to share with the class?"

        "Hmmm, no," Alana said simply, a vindictive smile spreading across her face. "I'll just leave it up to the imagination," she finished, earning a few giggles from the other witches.

        Josie sighed, "Come on, Brooks. Stop screwing around and just listen to Lizzie, please."

        Alana folded her arms across her chest, "And what if I don't want to," she said taking another step toward Josie.

        "You're incredibly annoying, you know that?" Josie asked as she also took a step forward. The two practically stood toe-to-toe.

        "Awww, thanks Saltzman," Alana sounded. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," she continued as she flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder.

        Alana turned her back on the other witch, getting back into the formation for the dance.

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        It was the next day and Alana was lying in the middle of her and Penelope's dorm room. "Pen, don't bother me. I am trying to cleanse myself from the awful energy that the twins brought back from Europe," she commented as she heard Penelope walk into the room.

        "You're cleansing yourself?" Penelope asked with a raised brow.

        Alana opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder at her friend. "Yes, cleansing myself, Pen," she repeated. "You should try it too since the last time you saw Josie, you made out with her." The reply sounded a lot more pointed than Alana wanted it to, but Penelope didn't seem to notice. Penelope rolled her eyes. "It's the first rule of basically everything, you do not make out with your exes."

        "Hmm, yeah. And how many times have you broken that rule?" Penelope retorted.

        Alana scoffed lightly, "Hookups don't count as ex's Pen. Everyone knows that."

        "Touché," Penelope as she took a seat next to Alana. "How exactly are you cleansing yourself?"

        "I don't actually know," Alana said with a small frown. "I'm kind of just repeating the same phrases to myself and hoping they stick," she admitted.

        Penelope opened her mouth to respond to Alana when they both heard a small cough over the loudspeaker.

        'If I could have your attention,' Alana groaned as Alaric's voice echoed throughout most of the school. 'Last Night we were able to capture a monster here on the grounds. We have everything under control.'

        Alana rolled her eyes, "As if," she commented as Alaric continued his announcement.

        'But given this potential danger, it is with a heavy heart that I must postpone the talent show. Hopefully, we'll be able to reschedule this unique event at a later date.' He paused for a split second. 'A much later date.'

        Alana's face instantly brightened. "And suddenly, I'm cleansed," she said, placing her hands back onto the floor.

        "Lana, you can't be serious. Come on, the talent show is fun," Penelope said with a small shrug.

        "Yeah, no. Pen, look. There are two things that you should know about me by now. One is that I don't do community service, ever. Well, besides that one time but we don't speak about that. And the second thing is that I'm not a team player. And that talent show has 'team player' written all over it. So, no the talent show is not fun," Alana finished. "And I'm glad it's canceled. Dr. Saltzman just freed up my night, Hooray!" she said quietly clapping her hands together. "I'm gonna go get a smoothie to celebrate," she expressed, practically skipping out of the room.

        "Alana Brooks!" Alana heard Hope Mikaelson call as soon as she exited her room. "Just the witch I wanted to see!"

        Alana had a confused expression on her face as Hope gave her a big hug. "You seem oddly cheery today," she commented.

        "How can I not be?" Hope responded. "It's a beautiful day out. I have the most perfect boyfriend and I got to see you, silly!"

        Alana was about to question Hope's behavior once more before she felt a wave of glee crash over her. "You're right," she said instantly as a wide smile spread across her face. Alana couldn't stop the words that were coming out of her mouth. "Today is fucking awesome!"

        'Good news, friends,' Alana heard Lizzie Saltzman announce over the loudspeaker. 'The talent show is going on as previously mentioned.'

        Alana couldn't stop herself from smiling, "I love the talent show," she expressed before she could stop herself. "This is the best news I've heard all day."

        "Oh my god, do you think I can convince Landon to do a talent with me?" Hope asked, grabbing onto Alana's hands.

        "Duh! Who wouldn't want to perform with the all mighty Tribrid?" Alana sang. "Do you wanna get a smoothie?" she asked hopefully.

        "I was wondering when you would ask!" Hope replied as the two linked arms.

        Alana didn't know how it happened, but fifteen minutes later she, Hope, and over half of the witch coven were sipping smoothies on the steps of the ballroom. Laughing and talking about who knows what, but Alana's negative mood from earlier had seemed to disappear. The only emotion she felt was happiness? It was strange. Alana didn't know why she was so positive. But she couldn't seem to stop herself.

        "This is so much fun," Hope started as she took another sip of her smoothie. "I don't know why we don't do this more often."

        "I know!" Alana responded, swirling her brightly colored straw around her mango smoothie. "This is such a cute, little bonding experience!"

        The witches began to laugh as they all looked at each other. Alana didn't know how to explain it, but the happiness that she felt almost seemed infectious?

        "Hey, do you know where they moved the stupid canes for the talent show?" Josie asked as she rushed over to the group on the stairs.

        "You seem very anti-cane," Hope commented.

        Alana nodded excitedly. "Yeah, Josette. You're kinda killing the vibe here with your negative energy," she added.

        Josie blinked, "Uh, just anti-doing the same exact thing every year," she said with a sigh. "But it's fine."

        "Yeah, it doesn't sound fine," Alana stated bluntly. "You know maybe a smoothie would help with that."

        "No, Brooks, I don't need a smoothie," Josie said instantly. "You're acting weird."

        Alana shrugged as Hope responded to Josie's prior statement. "Uh, I'll keep an eye out. But um, I think someone one has an eye out for you," she said, pointing past Josie and to Penelope who was standing a little ways away from them.

        Josie's face fell, "Oh, dear God, hide me," she mumbled.

        Alana rolled her eyes playfully. "Stop being dramatic, it's just Pen," she commented as Josie tried to hide behind Hope.

        "Hi," Hope and Alana said simultaneously.

        "Pen, the cleanse worked, I'm feeling so much better," Alana added.

        Penelope nodded slowly, "Happy to hear it," she commented as she looked down at Josie. She placed a small letter in front of the twin. "Just make sure you read it in private," she told Josie.

        "I'm not gonna read it at all," Josie said bluntly.

        Penelope pursed her lops but she didn't say anything.

        "You know, it doesn't kill you to be nice, Josette," Alana commented as she watched her best friend walk away.

        "Says the HBIC," Josie mumbled as folded up Penelope's letter.

        "Okay, what do you think it says?" Hope asked quickly. "'Check this box if you want to kiss me, check this box if you want to kill me,'" she teased.

        Josie frowned at Hope's attempts to make the situation lighter. "I don't know and I do not want to find out," she stated once more.

        "If you need me to help you smite the she-devil, I got you, girl," Hope added.

        Josie didn't respond right away. She just looked from Hope to Alana and then back to Hope once more. "Okay," she started. "Did Emma just slip you happy pills or something while we were gone?"

        "No, just having a good day," Hope replied for both Alana and herself.

        "That makes one of us," Josie said, a frown lining her face once more.

        Hope gave Josie a look, "I got to get to class, but your day is gonna get so much better Jo," she said, pulling the girl into a side hug. "I just know it!"

        "I should go to," Alana added as Hope began to walk away. "I have to attend your twin's mandatory practice. But, there's an extra smoothie waiting for you there if you decide to show!"

        "Oh, and I know that Emma definitely slipped you something because you are incapable of happiness," Josie commented, giving Alana a strange look.

        "Well, Josette, turns out I am full of surprises," Alana said, sending her a flashy smile.

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        "And a five, six, seven, eight," Lizzie called from the front of the stage, watching the witches stumble around the ground, like a pack of zombies. Alana honestly didn't remember the choreography but she didn't care. She was having a blast leaping across the stage with no rhyme or reason. The music stopped suddenly and Lizzie pursed her lips at the girls in front of her. "Looks like we haven't been practicing," she commented. "And some of your outfits must have shrunk. Or maybe there were just too many late-night visits to the ca-" Lizzie gasped and stopped talking. Alana assumed she was trying to collect her thoughts. "But it's fine. We'll adjust. From the top," she clapped her hands together. "Josie?" she called.

        "Where is Josie?" Lizzie called again, glancing around the room for her twin.

        As if exactly on cue, Josie emerged from the center curtains. "Oh?" she sounded as the witches turned to face her. She had a strawberry smoothie in her hand. "Am I late? By the way, good call on the smoothie Brooks."

        "Why thank you, Josette," Alana said with a small wink.

        Lizzie ignored their small exchange, "Where are the canes?" she asked slowly.

        "I don't know," Josie said as she made her way around the outer edge of the stage. "I actually went to go find them, right? But then I was thinking, I don't feel like stressing about it!"

        "You don't what-?" Lizzie asked. "Okay, that's fine," she continued, trying to act unbothered by Josie's actions. "Why don't you just take your usual place?"

        "Ah, about that. I was actually thinking. I really don't feel like being in the back row," Josie expressed.

        Lizzie blinked, "Uh, well, I know you haven't been practicing. But if you want to be in the front-"

        Josie cut her off quickly, "I mean. I just think we should scrap that lame routine, right? Do something totally different. It'd be super fun right?" she said, looking towards Alana for backup.

        "So, so, much fun," Alana agreed, placing her arm around Josie's shoulder.

        "But my beloved sister, and the devil incarnate," Lizzie added, glaring at Alana. "This is the routine we do every year. Because we win. Every year."

        "I think I should sing a new song!" Josie stated suddenly. "And then everybody can contribute some choreography, and it can be like a real, collaboration. Hmm? Doesn't that just sound, nice?" Josie asked Lizzie.

        "Hmm," Lizzie sounded as Josie pressed their cheeks together.

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        Alana looked over at Josie, "And why aren't you getting ready?" she asked her.

        It was later that night and it was almost time for the witches to go on stage. The Vampires were currently performing some songs that Kaleb created. Alana wished she could see it as MG was actually really excited about it, but she was stuck in the dressing rooms.

        "I don't know, I just don't feel like doing what Lizzie says today," Josie said, shooting the blonde a toothy grin.

        "You're like a whole new woman, Josette," Alana said, returning the smile. "I like it."

        "Now, that-" Josie started. "That is strange. You usually hate me."

        Alana shrugged, "I guess I turned over a new leaf today," she answered.

        "You should do that more often," Josie suggested.

        Alana would usually reply with a snarky comment, but instead, she laughed. She actually laughed at something that Josie said. "Josette, I know I never say this, but you are just full of great ideas," Alana giggled, applying another layer of mascara on her eyelashes.

        "And you, Brooks, are actually a lot of fun to hang out with," Josie responded, powdering her nose with a light layer of blush.

        "Oh, come on that's not a secret," Alana said, closing her compact mirror and looking up at the witch behind her.

        Josie rolled her eyes, "What do you say we get out of here and hang out somewhere else?" Josie asked, placing her hand on Alana's shoulder.

        "And ditch the talent show?" Alana asked instantly. "Little old Lizzie wouldn't like that very much," she pointed out.

        Josie laughed, "And who cares about Lizzie? Didn't you say I was full of good ideas? This could be another one."

        "Aw, what the hell," Alana said with a shrug. "Let's get out of here!"

        Alana and Josie found themselves skipping through the woods, and Alana only had one thing on her mind. The Urn. She wasn't sure why. But she needed to find the artifact and bring it to Malivore. And having Josie along for the ride was just an added bonus. "You know I had the strangest dream last week."

        Josie shook her head, "Oh my god, you did not just start a conversation with 'I had the strangest dream last week.'"

        Alana scoffed lightly, "Uh, yes I did, because it's true, Josette. I had a really weird dream. Actually, I think that it was actually the product of a dream demon. I don't know, Hope is probably better at explaining it than I am. But you were in my dreams."

        Josie bit her lip, "You have got to be kidding," she expressed lightly. "I was in your dreams?"

        "Yes! I even told Raf cause he had some freaky dream about-" Alana started but she shook her head. "Actually, I shouldn't say. He would kill me if this got out."

        "Come on, we've bonded over the last hour or so, you can tell me," Josie said, punching her in the shoulder lightly.

        But Alana stood her ground, "I'm serious, Raf would have my head," she repeated.

        Josie rolled her eyes, "Well let's just come here to do what we need to do."

        "Get the urn," Alana said as she looked over at Josie. The witch's eyes had turned a bright green.

        "Yes, get the urn," Josie said once more in a monotone voice. Josie siphoned some of the magic from the plant in front of her to help the two witches step over the wooden fence that was keeping them from entering the room where the key to Malivore was hidden. 

        The two made their way into the treehouse in front of them. "It's there," Josie said pointing to the cabinet in front of them. "Ladies first," she said, gesturing for Alana to cut in front of her.

        "Why thank you Joset- AHH!"

        Alana felt a jolt of electricity pump through her veins as looked back and saw Landon standing behind her, a small taser in his hands.

        "OH MY FUCKING GOD!" Alana shrieked as the slug flew out her nose. "That thing was inside me?"

        "Yeah, they're like slugs but they make you happy," Landon informed her. "They were also the lastest Malivore monster. It's a parasite that lives in your mind. It makes you all positive until you eventually give in and does whatever it asks of you. Which is why you are here, looking for the other key to unlock Malivore"

        "Well I figured that out by myself as I went all coo-coo for that urn," Alana stated as she stomped on the slug repeatedly. "But thanks for the tidbit, Rando."

        Landon blinked, "Well, it's Landon, but at least we know you're back to your normal self."

        "I know your name's, Landon," Alana retorted, rolling her eyes slightly. "I'm not stupid."

        "Yep, you definitely killed that slug," Landon decided with a small nod.

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        "So," Josie started as she appeared behind Alana in the mirror. "We were both possessed by parasitic slugs that make you happy," she explained.

        Alana took a deep breath in, "I know, Landon gave me the run down," she said simply, putting a paint of hoop earrings in her piercing holes. "So why are you telling me this?" she asked.

        "The slugs lower your inhabitation, make you susceptible to their control-" Josie started.

        "Yeah, Landon told me all of this," Alana said cutting her off. "Is that all you wanted to tell me, Saltzman? Because we have to go on for this talent show redo."

        "They don't make you lie, Brooks," Josie pointed out. "So did you actually have a dream about me, or was that just the slugs playing tricks on you?"       

        Alana huffed, finally turning to look at the brunette. "Dream about you? As if," she lied. "Of course, it was the slugs talking. You said all that shit about me being fun to hang out with, right? And coming out of your mouth, that's an obvious lie. So guess you have your answer."

        "I guess I do," Josie said rolling her eyes. "I hate you Brooks, and that's the authentic me saying that."

        "I hate you too, Saltzman."

I don't wanna make you feel bad,
But I've been trying hard not to act a fool
Sunflower ✽

Grace talks ig: so I kind of hate this chapter LMAOOO. It's really not my fault, this episode just didn't make any sense and the whole urn thing kind of threw me for a loop. But we got Jalana moments so I hope that made up for the kinda shitty plot. Anyways, sorry for not updating for like a month. I ended up being super busy so writing kind of fell to the wayside, hehhe. But most of the big things that I was supposed to do irl already happened, so I should have more time to write! YAY! And I promise the next chapter will actually be better because I know how I want the episode to go and I have things planned. So I guess I'll see you then. BYEEE

ALSO ALSO, DO Y'ALL LIKE THE SEGGSY NEW COVER BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE IT. OKAY BYE NOWW <33333