Chapter Text
"She says 'Be careful' what she really means is...
'don't let anyone know'
Pellets of water ambushed the car. The only sounds were the rain hitting the roof and the windshield wipers furiously pushing the water away.
"Monday is a full moon," she said. Her auburn hair leaning against the car door. She was looking out the window at the tall trees for what seemed like forever. Nothing like a creepy forest to welcome you to the neighborhood.
"Perfect we can go out and work on your control," the women in the driver's seat said.
"I'm not like you mom" the girl responded turning her head. "I can't learn. I have issues..." she trails off.
"I'm your mother Hope your issues are my issues." She looked over at her daughter.
"When you said we were moving to California this... is not what I expected," Hope said drawing lines in the foggy window her stringy silver bracelet moving with her hand "But it's nice. It's a little quiet" she added.
"I'm gonna miss New Orleans" her mom began. "The people. The music. The food."
"Definitely the food. I hear they only eat healthy food in California. Like those green juices and stuff," Hope says with a taste of disgust.
"Gross!" Her mom laughed. "We're almost at the house."
They were long past the woods and were in a nice neighborhood. The houses were decently sized. But much smaller from the mansion back home. There was a local park and a fairly large supermarket. They will be staying in a two-story house with three large bedrooms and three bathrooms with a small basement. The house was one house away from the corner. The neighborhood was fairly peaceful.
"Yeah I know, we've been back and forth all fall." They have been traveling pretty often during the move. This was the final trip.
"What's the name of the town again?" Hope glanced at her mom.
"Beacon Hills." her mom responded making a left turn.
"Beacon Hills." Hope repeated.
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"I have nothing to wear... ugh" Hope groaned ruffling through her closet.
"You still haven't unpacked everything sweetheart. Ask Hayley" Rebekah said through the computer screen on Hope's desk.
The room was a decent size. Upon entering there was a wall to the right and a white desk and chair on the left further in the corner a closet.
The walls were a light eggnog shade much brighter than her previous bedroom with medium wood floors. There was a window with a window seat on the left wall. Farther down was a yellowish-brown dresser. Matching bedside tables sat on either side of the queen-sized bed against the middle wall. There were opaque purple bedsheets and a stuffed wolf on the bed, currently accompanied by a multitude of clothes.
The room was gorgeous but it's beauty disguised under an assortment of moving boxes dispersed across the room.
"But Aunty Bex we both know that you have the best style"
"I most certainly do"
"Good, so which top?" Hope said holding up a light cotton burgundy top with a v neckline next to a thicker material black top with a white flower pattern on the right.
"The red" Rebekah said pointing to the choice on the left.
"Leather jacket right," Hope said returning to her closet.
"Of course and those adorable boot cut jeans" Rebekah added.
"Perfect" Hope smiled
"Hey, I thought I heard British accent" a voice called entering the room.
"Hey mom," Hope said still going through her closet.
"Haha very funny. It's English and you know it" Rebekah directed at her.
Hope let out a snicker.
"Hey, Hayley did you do something new with your hair?" Rebekah asked.
"Yeah I cut it and got highlights," Hayley said running a hand through her brown hair.
"Mom thinks it makes her look 'younger' " Hope says using air quotes.
"Even though I don't age doesn't mean I can't switch it up a bit," Hayley says glaring at Hope.
Rebekah chuckles.
"Wow, this top will pair nicely with your black boots," Hayley says picking up the burgundy top on Hopes bed.
"The ones with the buckles right," Hope said excitedly looking through her shoes.
"Let me see!" Rebekah pleads
Hope shows her the boots.
"Perfect" Rebekah says
"First day of school outfit complete." Hope smiled with pride. She hated moving but at least this school didn't have a uniform.
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"I'm starting school in my junior year in the middle of October," Hope says folding her arms.
"Shh and sit up," Hayley ordered taping Hope on her arm. Hope straightened her posture placing her hands on either side of the chair.
They were in the Principal's office of Beacon Hills High School. Hope took in the surrounding room. Much to her mother's displeasure, she will probably be spending quite some time here. The office was a light grey with multiple bookshelves around the room. The floor was pearly white. They sat on black and grey clothed chairs, across from a shiny mahogany desk. It was extremely organized. Papers layers out, stapler and hole puncher adjacent, two solid black pencil holders in the front next to a nameplate.
"Good morning" A stern female voice called. The voice belonged to a woman in a deep blue dress that stopped below her knees with pointed black heels. The women had short pixie cut hair and wore black circular rimmed glasses. She walked in from the door on the left and continued behind her desk.
"Good morning Mrs. Argent." Hayley stood and gave her a firm handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Marshall"
She held out her perfectly manicured hand for Hope. "Hope Marshall I presume"
"Yes, nice to meet you, Mrs. Argent, " Hope said with a smile and light handshake.
They took their seats.
"I see the credits have successfully been transferred from... The Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted. I never heard of it but it sounds like a prestigious academy. I'm expecting great things from you Hope"
Hope smiled politely.
"I did most of the enrollment online. Is everything in order?" Hayley asked.
"Yes, everything seems to be in order," Mrs. Argent said taking one last glance at the folder in front of her.
Hope stared at the nameplate on the desk in front of her. 'Principal Victoria Argent' it read.
"Mrs. Argent, are you French?" Hope spoke up suddenly.
"Hope." Hayley chastised.
"It's fine she's very observant, My husband is of French descent, yes"
"Argent means silver in French," Hope says.
"You are familiar with the language?" Mrs. Argent asks.
"Oui" Hope replies.
"Êtes-Vous intéressé à prendre un cours de français?" Mrs. Argent asks.
"Absolument, aussi fluide que je suis, il y a toujours place à l'amélioration" Hope replies.
Hayley was a little surprised by the whole interaction. She knew for a fact hope could speak Latin and Norwegian thanks to Freya and some ancient grimoires as well as some phrases in other languages. But that's expected being raised in a household full of vampires who were alive when these languages were basically invented. Even Hayley herself has picked up some French.
"Well, all the paperwork seems in order. I want you to be in class by second period. Thank you both." Mrs. Argent said standing. "I'll show you to your first class." she directed at Hope.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Argent," Hayley smiled with gratitude.
They followed Mrs. Argent through the hallways lined with grey lockers and classroom doors. Mrs. Argent told Hope she will get her locker assigned by the end of the week. They come to a stop at the chemistry classroom.
"Off you go," Hayley says giving her daughter a hug. "Be careful" she whispers in her ear.
"I know." Hope whispers back. She knows her mother really means "don't let anyone know"
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Hope enters the classroom. Eyes turn to her.
"How may I help you?" Mr. Thomas asked the girl standing by his desk
"Good Morning, I just transferred."
"Oh yes of course." You must be Hope Marshall." Mr. Thomas greeted her.
"Yes, sir." She said
"Mr. Thomas, and you can take the empty seat by... McCall." Mr. Thomas said motioning to the empty stool behind the tall desks in the second row.
Scott looked up from his desk at the sound of his name. He saw a girl in the front of the room. She had dark ginger hair falling a little past her shoulders and from what he could tell light blue eyes. She wore black skinny jeans that hugged her curvy figure paired with a dark-colored top and a leather jacket. She was short but wore black heeled boots. She clutched her brown messenger bag with tassels on the side. She seemed anxious. He came to the conclusion she was new.
Hope walked over to the desk and placed her bag on the floor. She climbed on the stool.
"Class finish reading the assigned pages then complete the questions on the back in pairs." Mr. Thomas starts to say. Slow chatter begins. He continues a little "If you don't finish it is due first thing tomorrow. Now get to work."
Hope begins to take out her notebook and the boy next to her greets her. "Hey, I'm Scott." He says with a smile. He had short dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. He had a sweet smile with an offset jaw.
"Hope," She introduced herself with a nervous smile.
They are probably the quietest table the entire class period. They remained focused on their classwork.
"So... did you just move to Beacon Hills?" Scott asked trying to make conversation.
"Yeah, my mom and I moved here over the end of the summer," Hope replied placing a strand on hair behind her ear.
"Accent?" Scott says suddenly. It came out more like a question.
"Um pardon?" Hope asked confused written all over her face.
"Your not from around here. Like California." Scott explains.
"No down south," Hope replies.
"Alabama?" He guesses.
"No close." She says.
"Georgia!" Scott exclaimed.
"Louisiana." Hope corrected him. She turned to look at the clock. The period should be ending soon.
"Cool pendant."
She looks down at her chest to see the letter "M" crest. She holds it. 'Mikaelson'. Runs around in her mind.
She stays silent for a few seconds.
"Sorry was it personal?" Scott asks kindly.
"Um... ahem" she looks back to the clock "Just a.... family heirloom, the family name," She says nodding her head.
Scott reads her body language. He didn't mean to make her uncomfortable.
"So where in Louisiana are you from?" He asks changing the subject.
"New Orleans." She responds
"Wow. It seems cools all the food culture music.
"Yeah it's nice," she says
"So what made you move to boring old Beacon Hills," Scott asked
"Um..." she began. The bell rung.
"Nice to meet you Scott but my family moves around pretty often so I don't really do the friend thing." She lied. Hope grabs her bag and rushes out the door.