Chapter Text
Chapter One
I'm sure you'll get along great!
"Josette. Saltzman. Are you ready for this new year to begin? To stand with me as leaders of this ancient, though aesthetically pleasing, supernatural institution we call our high school? To - "
Josie rolls her eyes as she interrupts her twin sister, "Elizabeth. Jenna. Saltzman. It is way too early for this."
"Ughhh… Josie! I was in the middle of a thing!" Lizzie throws her arms up, exasperated.
The twins stand outside the Salvatore Boarding School, staring up at the place they have called home for most of their lives, with the exception of summers spent with supernatural relatives and friends spread across the country.
"This is serious." Lizzie starts again, "We are about to embark on a whole new school year." She turns to look at her sister, grabbing her by the shoulders. "An opportunity to start fresh, Josie. To become the witches everyone looks up to and respects! To be admired not only by our fellow witches, but also by those barbaric - "
"Yes and referring to them as barbarians will definitely get us there." Josie interrupts again, gently pulling Lizzie's arms down.
"Josie." Lizzie grabs her sister by the shoulders again with a serious look in her eyes. Josie places her hands over sisters', allowing the contact, "Lizzie?"
"I'm serious. I feel it. This is our year." She continues, "It's time to put everything that happened the last couple of years behind us. The Hope debacle, all those nasty rumors, our disastrous spring break… just everything." Lizzie gets teary eyed for a moment and breathes in deeply, "Oh! And I'm pretty sure mom and dad are going to be running things together this year!" She squeals, as she finally let's go of Josie's shoulders, bringing her hand to her chest. "And with you by my side," Lizzie looks at her sister with genuine affection, "my sweet, amazing twin sister. The only person in this world I can truly trust. Nothing can go wrong." Josie flinches at this, but Lizzie doesn’t seem to notice, "I'm telling you… Best. School Year. EVER!"
Josie smiles at her sister, trying to hide the guilt about everything that had occurred in the past, "you're right Lizzie," she finally says, still smiling, "this is our year."
Lizzie squeals again and pulls her sister into a tight hug which is promptly returned.
"Okay, girls… if you're all done with whatever this is. Could you please help with all your luggage?" Alaric calls out from the trunk of the white Tahoe.
"Never mind your dad," Caroline laughs as she grabs a handful of luggage, disappears into the school, and get back to the girls in a second. "Also, I heard that barbaric comment. Not cool, Lizzie. Not cool." The blonde vampire brings her daughters in for a tight squeeze. "I didn't mean you mom." Lizzie exhales, "I'm referring to the teen vamps." Caroline raises an eyebrow at her daughter, "Like actual teens, not turned as a teen but actually old vamps."
"Okayyy…" Josie intercepts, "Let's stop now and see if we can't take that foot out of your mouth."
"Caroline." Alaric walks up with his own bags over his shoulder as Caroline releases the twins. "How am I going to teach them to be self-sufficient if you keep vamping everything for them?"
The conversation is cut short as all four turn to look at a black town car approaching the drive way.
"New recruits?" Lizzie asks curiously as she cranes her neck to look at vehicle making it's way up to the school. "Perfect opportunity…" she whispers to herself.
"Oh, I forgot!" Alaric drops his bag, suddenly remembering the new student he was expecting. "Hey Caroline," he looks over at her with a sweet smile, "would you mind, uh…"
Caroling grabs a bag, rolling her eyes. "Really, Ric?"
"Yeah, dad," Josie mirrors her mother as she grabs a bag, "how are we ever going to teach you to be self-sufficient if you keep relying on our supernatural abilities?" She laughs and extends her free hand over to her sister.
"Actually," Lizzie walks over to her father, "I think we should stick around out here." Alaric looks at her quizzically, "Isn't it time that we take on more leadership roles in the school? The school started by and run by our darling parents? That will one day be passed down to us?"
Alaric beams at his blonde daughter, "Uh… we can talk about that whole passing down thing later, but you can definitely shadow your ol' dad and learn about -"
"Cool! Thanks, dad! Ready, Josie? … Josie?"
Josie doesn’t hear her sister as all her attention has been focused on the girl stepping out of the car. The presence she commands is overwhelming. Josie watches the raven haired girl as she flips her long, wavy hair over her shoulder and reaches back into the car to grab her things. As she re-emerges Josie subconsciously scans her up and down, noticing her heels, tight black jeans, a low cut button up sitting under a fitted blazer, and a perfectly placed ribbon around her neck. Her jaw nearly drops when she notices a shimmering stone on the girl's nose.
Caroline looks at her daughter, following her line of sight before gasping in delight and smiling to herself. "Actually, Ric," she says, "how about you and Lizzie take care of the tour and I'll meet up with you back in the office? Josie and I are going to take the rest of these things up like normal humans. You know, to model self-sufficiency. Right Josie?" She elbows her daughter.
"Oh… umm. Yes, please." Josie suddenly becomes aware of her family staring at her, "I mean, that's a great idea, mom. Happy to help." Josie babbles as she grabs all the remaining bags and runs inside, her face flushed.
"What the hell, Josie!?" Lizzie yells after her, "we're supposed to be leaders of the school together! I need you! Ugh!"
Caroline shrugs and makes her way in after her daughter, leaving Ric and Lizzie in the front of the school confused as ever.
"Well kiddo," Ric says wrapping his arm around his daughter's shoulder, "I guess it’s just you and me bringing in the new recruit. Oh! She's another witch too, I'm sure you'll get a long great!"