Hey guys! Sorry for the update so late in the evening. But just because it's summer doesn't mean I am any less busy! I almost had a heart attack cause for some reason I couldn't upload this chapter the way I usually do and I was like oh shit... but here it is! Anyway, I've gotten a few reviews saying that they like Alaric/Lauren. What do you guys think? Is it a perfect match? Let me know!
Season 3 Episode 7 Ghost World
I woke up the next morning with a splitting head ache. It felt like I had been run over by a truck, twice. I really needed some aspirin, so I made my way out of my bed and over toward my door. Of course, nothing in my life is simple or without embarrassment, so when I opened the door I came face to face with a shirtless Alaric Saltzman.
My history teacher/vampire hunting, Alaric Saltzman.
I think the shock affected both of us, because we both stood there unable to utter a word. I knew that this was happening, and it was inevitable as my mother grew closer to him that he would be frequenting the house more often. But did that stop my face from heating up like a bright red tomato, no.
"H-hey Alex." Rick said, his face the same shade of red. I swallowed. "Sorry, I was just…"
"Don't worry about it." I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm just going to…"
"Yeah." Rick said, stepping aside. I hesitated, but walked by him and into the bathroom. I shut the door so fast, I thought I might give myself whip lash. The thought of Rick being my… step father… was a bit weird for me. I had never really had a real father, and Alaric was acting as Elena and Jeremy's guardian too. And we all knew how crazy that situation was…The whole situation was just bizarre, but the way I could hear my mother's laugh in the other room… well it made up for it.
I grabbed the bottle of aspirin, popping two in my mouth and swallowing. I took a second to shake out my nerves again before I went back down the hall toward my room. Another string of giggles from my mother, followed by a moan, cued me to get ready to leave. I did not want to walk around this house hearing that. I dressed in a blur, trying to be quick so I wouldn't have to hear anything else coming from mom's room. I rushed out the door and out onto the street.
I wasn't sure where I was going, because honestly what was there to do? I debated on going to Caroline's, maybe Bonnies. But both of those were shot down, because both of them had boyfriends. And so did I. I should go see my boyfriend, even though he is currently living with two crazy vampires who are not big fans of me. I pulled out my phone, calling his cell. It went straight to voice mail.
Weird.
I trudged to the boarding house, not looking forward to seeing what I thought I would. There many worst case scenarios that were running through my head. Although Stefan and I had an understanding, I didn't like him and he didn't like anything right now. Rebekah already expressed her distaste of me. If Damon wasn't home, I didn't know what she would do to me.
"Damon? You will not believe what happened this morning." I said, putting down my stuff in the foyer. "Rick walks out of my mother's bedroom like it's nothing! Like being there is completely normal. Well let me tell you it's freaking me out a bi-"
A loud scream of pain alerted me that someone was in the house, and that someone was in pain. I ran toward the sound, not believing my eyes when I got into the room. In the parlor sat Damon, chained to a chair by metal chains and an ember poker jutting from his chest. His skin was sizzling in the sun, and I could now see his ring was off and the curtain to the window was wide open.
I ran to the window, pulling the curtain closed quickly, shielding Damon from its intense light. When the curtain was closed, I launched myself to Damon's side, looking him over. He looked in bad shape, and I wondered who had done this to him. They had to have done it after I left. Was it Stefan? Rebekah?
"Damon." I said, watching his charred skin heal. "Damon, baby, what happened?"
He looked to be in very bad shape, and watching as his skin healed made me feel both disgusted and joyful at the same time. Damon had made a lot of enemies, so really it could have been anyone. But most of his enemies would have just killed him when they got the chance. This person, whoever it was, decided that they were going to torture him first. Cause him pain. But who would do that?
"Mason." Damon barked. I furrowed my brows, thinking of Tyler's uncle who hadn't crossed my mind in months.
"Mason?" I repeated. "Mason Lockwood?"
Damon nodded.
"Damon…" I said, getting his attention. "Mason's dead."
Mason was most definitely dead. Damon had made sure of it. And although I hadn't seen the older Lockwood's death for myself, Damon had told me that he ripped his heart out. It was a pretty safe bet that removal of the heart would cause death.
"This is exactly the same position I killed him in." He said. Chained up and a fire poker stuck through his lower chest. I winced a bit. "Whatever Bonnie did to send Vicki back, it didn't work."
"But how could it not work?" I asked. "Vicki's gone."
"She did something wrong!" Damon yelled. I cringed again. "Sorry."
I knew he was under stress, and not in the most comfortable position. My constant questions wasn't helping, so I didn't take his shouting to heart.
"Damon, this isn't possible." I said, shaking my head. He chuckled weakly.
"You say to your vampire boyfriend." He mused. I rolled my eyes. Ghosts… I guess it wasn't the most farfetched thing, considering vampires, witches, werewolves, and hybrids were walking around. Besides, Jeremy had been seeing them, so it had to be true. But how could Mason interact with humans? Jeremy had said they couldn't, so what changed?
"Ahhhh!"
Damon's sudden scream of pain knocked me out of my thoughts. The curtain was open again, and when I snapped my head to the side, I saw no one pulling them back. I dove for Damon's ring, slipping it onto his finger so he would be protected from the sun's harmful rays.
"I'm gonna kill him!" Damon shouted, as his pearly white skin healed for a second time. I let out a small laugh. "You think this is funny?"
"No." I said, still laughing a bit. "It's just… he's a ghost."
Damon furrowed his brows, his perfect skin reforming.
"He can't die." I replied. "He's already dead."
"Which makes him all the more of a threat." Damon said seriously. My smile fell. "Just, get me out of here."
I was about to start working on the chains when I stopped. A wicked grin spread across my face, one Damon didn't seem to understand. He looked utterly confused as to why I had stopped, an adorable little crease forming in his forehead.
"What?" He asked. I grinned wider, walking around him.
"Well, it's not very often that I get you…" I said, leaning in toward his ear. "Incapacitated."
"This isn't funny, Alex." Damon barked. I giggled, coming back around to face him. Most of the time, Damon was the dominant one. I let him do whatever he pleased, and although that usually worked for me, right now I had the upper hand. I never really had it before, so I was going to enjoy it.
"Oh come on." I said, gripping the poker. "Like you don't dream about this all the time."
I yanked on the poker and it came out of him in one pull. He grunted, but I knew he was happy that it was out. I threw it to the floor, watching as the bloody hole healed within seconds.
"No, usually you are the one chained up." Damon mumbled, straining against his restraints. "It's much more fun that way."
"Mmmm." I hummed, shaking my head. I trailed my fingers up his arms, goosebumps erupting on his skin. I smirked to myself, knowing that I was making him want me. It gave me a feeling of power, something I wasn't used to.
"Alex." He muttered as I moved to unbutton his shirt. My movements were slow and calculated. "Alex!"
"Patience." I said with a grin. Damon muttered something under his breath, but I didn't try to understand it. As I unbuttoned his shirt, I kissed the way down his chest. A moan erupted from his throat as I sweetly kissed his skin.
"You're a devil you know that?" He said in a low voice. I smirked, moving back up to meet his eyes. They were glazed over with that all familiar look that showed me that he wanted me. It made butterflies flutter through my stomach. "Let me out."
"Not yet." I said, still milking what time I had left. I didn't think I would ever be able to get this chance again, and although the looming knowledge that ghosts were running around was still at hand, I wanted to make this moment last.
"Please." He begged, groaning as I straddled his hips. "You're killing me."
"Don't be such a baby." I whispered into his ear as I kissed at the soft spot behind his ear. He moaned again, and I could hear him pulling against the chains. I peppered kisses all over his face, leaving his lips for last. I locked us into a heated kiss, one that was full of passion and desire. It made me dizzy, and I leaned further against him for support.
It was then that I realized my time was over. Damon had pulled so hard against those chains, that he got one of his hands free. I was in such shock, that I couldn't comprehend that he was already unhooking his other hand and setting himself free. It was a blur, his movements as he broke the other chains and he had me flush against his chest.
He didn't speak, he just crashed his lips on mine again, and I knew that my moment was over. It was nice, even though it was short. I would have to remember that when you tease a vampire, they get stronger.
After my little… moment, with Damon, we decided that the best thing to do was to see Bonnie. Maybe it was something simple, she could send all the ghosts back and it wouldn't be a problem. What I didn't take into account was that nothing was ever easy, not in Mystic Falls, and especially not when dealing with the super natural.
"There they are." I said, pointing to where I saw Bonnie and Caroline. They were seeming to have a serious conversation, and I wondered if they already knew about the ghosts. When Damon pulled up beside them and I saw their surprise, I should have known that they had no clue.
"Greetings, blondie." Damon said, earning a glare from Caroline. "Witchy."
Both Caroline and Bonnie rolled their eyes. Damon wasn't an easy person to get along with, I knew that. His best behavior was reserved for those that he enjoyed being around, which wasn't that many people. Damon showed me sides of him that no one else ever saw. And because of that, the people I call friends didn't like him.
"I think you got your voodoo wires all crossed when you got rid of Vicki Donovan." Damon continued. Bonnie's eyebrows furrowed, while Caroline's eyes widened.
"What do you mean, why?" Bonnie asked.
"Because I'm pretty sure I just got spit-roasted by Mason Lockwood's ghost." Damon explained further. Caroline and Bonnie shared a look of disbelief.
"What?" Bonnie asked again. Damon huffed, not like having to explain things more than once.
"And why would you think that?" Caroline asked, arms crossed over her chest.
"Maybe because he chained me to a chair and shoved a hot poker in my chest." Damon said, less than happy. "Let's just say I'm having déjà vu."
The girls shared a look again.
"It's true." I said, jumping to Damon's aid. "Chained him up just like Damon did to him."
Caroline looked to Bonnie.
"I thought you said that ghosts couldn't physically interact with people." Caroline said. Bonnie nodded.
"They can't." She said. Obviously, Bonnie was just as confused as we were.
"Yeah, well, I don't have time for a vengeful Lockwood." Damon said. "When I kill someone, they're supposed to stay dead. Whatever you screwed up, fix it."
Damon didn't even stick around to see what they said, he just drove away. His tires were squealing, and I was wondering how he had never gotten a ticket with how fast he always drove. Granted, he could compel his way out of a ticket anyway. When we drove into town I narrowed my eyes.
"Where are we going?" I asked. I got my answer when we pulled up to the Grill.
"You have work." Damon reminded me. "And I have to deal with this ghost mess."
I sighed, grabbing my bag out from his back seat. Once again, I would be working while my friends risked their lives to protect the human world from the supernatural world. If we didn't need the money so bad I would quit. Keeping the evil vampires and hybrids at bay was enough work in itself.
"Don't pout." Damon said, alerting to me that I was indeed pouting. "I'd rather have you safe at the Grill then out where who knows what other ghosts are hanging about."
"I know." I said. "I just… don't like being so helpless."
There was a long beat of silence before I felt his index finger curve around my chin and make me look at him. His eyes were intense, serious, and he was so close that if I moved a few inches I could kiss him.
"You are not helpless." Damon said firmly. "You are the strongest person I know."
I stared at him for a long time, and I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face. Damon was always trying to protect me, to keep me away from danger even when I was running straight for it. For a long time, I didn't think Damon deemed me capable of taking care of myself, and that weighed heavily on me. But now he was confirming that I was strong, and he knew it.
"I know I don't say it much." Damon said, as if he was voicing my thoughts. "But you are very capable of taking care of yourself."
"Thank you." I said lightly. He smiled at me, leaning in and pressing a small kiss to my lips. He pulled back, that same breath taking smile still stretched across his face.
"Come on killer." He said, causing me to roll my eyes. We entered the Grill, the place already filled up. I sighed, taking my apron and tying it around my waist. I was definitely not in the mood for people, and with this whole ghost thing, I wasn't sure who would show up.
"There's Rick." Damon said, nodding to the man I saw leaving my mother's bedroom that same morning. "I'll see you later."
Damon kissed my temple before he walked over to Rick. I stared at my history teacher for a long moment. He had normal clothes on, not pajamas, and his hair was now neatly combed, unlike how it had been when he exited the safety of my mothers room. I shivered, walking back to the kitchen so I could clock in.
When I walked through the door, I was met with another body just nearly walking into me. I gasped, the plates of food in the servers hand just about nailed me, but he stopped just in time. I looked up, meeting his gaze, and found that I was very familiar with them.
"Hey." I said, my breathing still out of whack. Jace stood in front of me, a dark blue Mystic Grill shirt on, and his hair pointed in all different ways. It didn't look as if he got much sleep the night prior, considering his flushed skin and the dark circles under his eyes. Something didn't look right.
"Hey." He mumbled, walking past me and out into the restaurant. I furrowed my brows, but remembered that we hadn't left things on good terms the night before. Then there was the fact that I was battling with the idea that Jace may have feelings for me. This had not been confirmed, but the idea was lingering and it made a pit form in my stomach.
He returned within minutes, giving the cook another order. He didn't even look at me as he headed to the sink to wash his hands. I gulped. Why was it so hard to talk to him? He was my best friend. It shouldn't have been weird. But it was… and I hated it.
"So, have you heard?" I asked. He didn't look up. "About the gh-"
"Ghosts?" He finished my sentence, wiping off his hands. He met my gaze and I nodded. "Yeah, Elena told me."
I tried not to let it bother me that he was still talking to Elena. I shouldn't have been upset, but Elena and I were still on the outs. And Jace was my best friend.
"Good." I said with a nod. He nodded as well, once again walking past me. I racked my brain for something to say, some other form of small talk that might break the ice. But, nothing came to mind and once again he was gone. I huffed, clocking in and following him. My eyes scanned the area, Damon was still at the bar with Alaric, and they were locked in deep conversation. Jace was going around the room, smiling and getting peoples orders or refilling their drinks. Why could he be happy and smiley with them, and not me?
After a few minutes I had had enough. I weaved through the crowds of people and marched right up to Jace. He was setting down a check when I grabbed his arm. He protested, but I yanked on him until we were safely inside of the utility closet.
"What the hell?" He asked as I shut the door behind me and I flipped on the switch. He was glaring at me, and usually that probably would have bothered me. But right then I was too irritated myself to worry about what he was thinking.
"Why are you mad at me?" I asked him straight out. He huffed, trying to reach for the door. "You aren't leaving until we figure this out."
"There is nothing to figure out." He spat at me. I narrowed my eyes. "I'm not mad."
"Then what's with the cold shoulder?" I asked, referring to the way he had talked to me earlier. "Is this about yesterday?"
"No!" He yelled.
"Well the way you've been treating me says different." I said, putting my hands on my hips. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. I softened upon seeing him.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing." He replied. I shook my head.
"I know you better than that." I told him. "I'm your best friend."
"Yeah." He said, glaring at the floor. I swallowed hard.
"You can tell me if somethings wrong." I said. He shook his head. "Jace-"
"You can't help me with this." Jace said. "I'm sorry… but I just don't want to talk about it."
I stood there for what seemed like forever, just staring at him. The thought of me unable to help him or that he thought he couldn't talk to me was breaking my heart. It must have also been on my face, because he reached forward and gave an encouraging squeeze to my arm.
"Don't worry about me." He said, shifting me aside so he could open the door. I stood there, dumbstruck as I let him walk out the door. And I was alone, so alone and so… defeated. What kind of friend was I that Jace thought he couldn't talk to me? What was I doing wrong? Did this mean this was the end of our friendship? The thought physically hurt, and I felt myself crumpling. I couldn't lose him. He was too important.
Once I had collected myself, I stepped out of the closet. But when I turned around I found that the hallway I stood in was occupied.
At first, I thought that I was looking in a mirror. I thought someone had stuck a mirror there when I hadn't been looking.
"Alexandra."
It was then that I knew I wasn't looking in a mirror. I was in fact staring at a person, someone who looked identical to me. Even the beauty mark on my temple matched to the person I was staring at. I felt my stomach lurch.
"Wh-…. What?" Was all I could get out. The person in front of me smiled, a sickeningly sweet smile that made my stomach flip again.
"I was hoping we could talk." She said, her voice exactly like mine, except with an English accent. It was the same tone and pitch and everything. I didn't get a chance to say anything else before she pushed me back into the closet. This time however, when the door closed, she was blocking it and I felt very much like a caged animal.
"Who…" I uttered the one word, not even sounding like a question. She wore a long Victorian dress that was a dark blue color. It showed off her white skin and complimented her light colored brown hair. My light colored brown hair.
"Don't worry." She said, her voice gentle. "I'm not Alissa."
The sentence took a second or two to process before I let out a breath.
"I'm Maria." She said, and the name registered in my mind. Maria… Katherine's guardian… the one who died to save Katherine's life. The one Katherine spoke to fondly of. The person Katherine cared about the most…
"It's… nice to meet you." I said, although my voice told her the exact opposite. She laughed, one that sounded so musical and full of grace. It reminded me too much of my own laugh.
"I know that this is not ideal." She said. "But when your witch friend opened the door to the other side… I just had to take the chance."
"The other side?" I questioned. She nodded.
"That is where us supernatural creatures go when we have unfinished business." She explained. I furrowed my brows.
"Unfinished business?" I asked. Again she nodded, her curls bouncing as she did.
"I came to warn you." She said, her voice sounding grave. "Mikel is coming."
I just stood there. This wasn't unbeknownst to me. Damon and Katherine had gone to find this Mikel guy and that successfully scared of Klaus for at least a little while. However, Katherine had seemingly fallen off the face of the Earth and never got back to Damon about if she was ever able to wake him up.
"Why is everyone so afraid of this Mikel guy?" I asked. Maria shook her head in disbelief.
"Mikel is the most powerful being alive." She said, sending a chill up my spine. "And you and all your little friends are in danger."
"What do you mean?" I asked. Maria sighed.
"I don't have time to explain all of this to you." She said, grabbing my arm. I flinched back. "Now we could do this the easy way or the hard way."
I took the sentence as a threat and was soon on the offensive. I jerked back, and a wicked smile crossed her lips. She lunged at me, successfully knocking over a shelf full of cleaning supplies. I jumped out of the way just in time, but when I made my way to the door, she had caught my leg and I went tumbling to the floor. I kicked at her, managing to get her in the stomach. She grunted, but didn't release her hold on my ankle. I fought against her harder, but it was getting more and more apparent that she was much more skilled than I, and she wasn't getting winded because she was a ghost.
"Sorry darling." She said once she had me pushed up against a wall. "I did offer to do this the easy way."
And with that everything went dark.
Jace wasn't mad. Jace was disappointed.
Seeing Alex like that, all sad and concerned, it broke his heart. He wished that he could just come right out and tell her. He wanted to tell her he loved her and then he wouldn't feel like he was lying to her all the time. But she referred to him as her best friend. That usually meant that he was permanently stuck in the friend zone.
But he couldn't just keep this charade up. His feelings for her were growing and the pain he felt when he saw her with someone else was killing him. So he decided that today would be the day. Today would be the day when he told her he loved her. He just had to actually grow a pair and do it.
"Jace?"
He turned around and who could have guessed that it would have been her.
"Hey, Alex." He said. She looked different then when he had left her. She looked… brighter, but more intense if that made any sense.
"Listen, I need you to cover for me." She said, her expression never changing. Jace sighed. "I know it's a lot to as of you, but I really need to do something."
"You know Robert is going to kill you right?" He asked. He didn't want her to go, because he didn't know if she would come back and then his newfound confidence to tell her how he felt would be gone.
"Please." She said batting her eyelashes. "For me?"
He froze. She was toying with him. She knew. The way she was looking at him right then… she had to have known that he would do anything she asked.
"Fine." He said, causing her to break out into a grin. He was shocked when she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. His face burned.
"You're the best!" She said, skipping off toward the door. He watched her quizzically. When did she start skipping? And where the hell was she going? Why did she kiss him?
Maria wasn't too fond of the modern age. Everything was different. Back in her day, she would have never dared wear trousers, and now here she was. In a tight pair of blue jeans and a top that was tight around her waist, showing off her small body. She knew her mother would die if she ever saw her in such a state.
The thought of Maria's family made her heart ache. It had been so long since they all had died, and her poor mother had to bury her own child. She had attended the funeral, in spirit of course. And so did Katherine, that selfish girl that Maria loved more than her own self.
That's where she was headed now, to save Katherine, once again. She had been attacked by Mikel, and he had left her for dead. When Vicki Donovan contacted the witch from the other side, Maria knew that this could be her chance. The witch would send her back, but with the necklace, the door would remain open. And for the last time, Maria could save Katherine.
Maria felt a little bad for attacking the current guardian. To her, Alexandra was like a little sister of sorts, but Maria had to move around without attracting attention. So, she knocked the poor girl unconscious and took her clothes. Someone would hear her and let her out eventually, but right now Maria needed to be the only guardian around.
Maria transported herself to where Mikel had been kept, finding the coffin that Mikel had hidden Katherine's body in. Maria had been watching, and knew exactly where her friend would be. With ease, she pushed off the lid, revealing the desiccating state of her friend. She was weak, very weak, but still alive. Maria sighed, looking around to find something, or in fact someone for Katherine to drink. She eventually found a middle aged woman who Maria took down easily.
"Drink Katerina." Maria said, putting the wrist of the unconscious woman near the starving vampire. She wouldn't let Katherine kill the girl, but she would get enough. As if Katherine had heard her, she sunk her teeth into the flesh of the woman and began drinking. When Maria saw Katherine's color returning she pulled the wrist away.
"Don't whine." Maria ordered. Katherine looked up and met her gaze. "It's not lady like."
Katherine stared for a long while. The clothes must have threw her, but soon her eyes widened and she seemed to realize who she was.
"Maria?" Katherine said, almost in a whisper. Maria felt her heart well up inside of her chest. Oh how she missed her friend.
"In the flesh." She said then paused. "Well, in a way."
"How?" Katherine asked. She pulled herself out of the coffin, looking Maria over. It was strange, the last time they had seen one another was so many years ago. Maria had died for her, and while Katherine was not the most loving person, she knew that Katherine had mourned over her loss.
"Well, I had unfinished business." Maria said, crossing her arms over her chest. "A guardian's work is never done."
"Even in death you are still saving me." Katherine mused. She then pulled Maria into a bone crushing hug. Neither thought they would ever see one another again, and the moment between two friends was so tender and sweet. Maria was the one to pull back.
"I don't have much time." Maria said, causing Katherine to furrow her brows. "Mikel is on his way to Mystic Falls."
"I figured." Katherine muttered. "I guess that's my cue to get lost."
"No, Katerina." Maria said. Katherine stared at her confused. "You must help them."
Katherine was silent for a long time. Maria knew he better than anyone, and Katherine was not interested in helping anymore. She tried that, and this psycho Mikel almost killed her. Why should she suffer just for them?
"They are going to need you Kat." Maria said, using the nickname that only she did. It brought back old memories. "Mikel is dangerous."
"I know that." She said. "That's why I need to stay far away."
"No more running." Maria said sternly. She reminded Katherine of her mother. "You've done enough of that."
"You saw that huh?" Katherine asked, referring to how long she ran from Klaus after she turned. It was like she was embarrassed that Maria knew how much she had run away. Maria nodded.
"I've been watching over you since my death." Maria admitted. Katherine looked down at the ground. Much like she was when she was alive, Maria was always Katherine's guardian angel, even when she had died.
"I won't see you again after this will I?" Katherine asked. Maria shook her head.
"I've protected you long enough." Maria said. "It's time for you to make your own decisions."
Katherine felt a tear prick her eye. After her family was murdered, she thought she would never have another family. Now, here stood Maria, whose selflessness had spared Katherine's life for many, many years. Katherine, the most selfish person alive, didn't deserve a friend like Maria. But Maria, she knew her job. She knew that she was supposed to die protecting Katherine. And she was ok with that.
"Kill Mikel." Maria said. "Kill Klaus. Kill them all."
Katherine nodded. Maria pulled her in for one last hug, whispering a quiet goodbye before she disappeared for the last time.
Jace was pacing out front of the Grill. His shift had ended hours ago, and he was still waiting for Alex to show up. He tried to call her but it went straight to voicemail. He cussed, kicking at the brick building in front of him. What if something had happened? He would bet she probably went off with Damon and got herself killed. Some boyfriend, always bringing her into danger.
But Damon was right. Alex could make her own decisions, but shouldn't he stop her from making the bad ones? He was her friend, and he loved her more than anyone. Shouldn't he be there to stop her from making those dangerous decisions? Damon didn't seem to think so. Jace kicked the wall again, thinking of the vampire who had his claws clenched right around Alex's heart.
The sound of footsteps approaching alerted Jace that someone was coming. He looked up and saw Alex walking toward him. He let out a breath of relief. She looked fine, no different then before. And the best thing was that she was alone.
"Thank God." Jace said, scooping her up in a hug. Her back went rigid, but he ignored it. "I thought you died or something."
"I'm fine." She replied lamely. Jace didn't ask where she had gone. He had been practicing what he wanted to say to her for hours. If he got off topic he would never tell her.
"Listen… I've got to talk to you." He said. She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off. "Just hear me out ok?"
"Jace-"
"We've been friends for a while now…" He said, making her shut up. "And I've loved every second of it."
She said nothing.
"Your friendship… it means the world to me." He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But… there has been something that I have been wanting to tell you for a while now."
She didn't move, she didn't look like she was even breathing. Jace took a deep breath, taking her hands in his before he met her gaze.
"I love you." He said, the words feeling like fire as they left his lips. "I'm in love with you."
Again she said nothing, she just stared at him with an emotionless face. Jace felt his hands start to sweat. Why wasn't she saying anything? Was she freaked out? Had he made the right decision?
"That was a very nice speech." Alex said, but she said it with a English accent. "But, I'm afraid I'm not the girl you are looking for."
"Wh-"
"I'm not Alexandra." She said, taking her hands away. "My name is Maria."
Jace froze, his jaw going slack. After everything he had done, all that practice and preparation. He had built up his courage all day… and he hadn't even told the right girl.
"I am very sorry." Maria said, her voice genuine. "But… I am sure that if you do that the same she will be much more emotional than I."
Jace couldn't speak, and he could feel himself becoming dizzy. He wasn't breathing, and his lungs cried out for oxygen. He choked as he took a big breath.
"Alexandra is in the closet." Maria admitted. Jace stared at her with wide eyes. "Tell her that I am deeply sorry."
Jace nodded, still unable to speak.
"You should tell them that Mikel is coming." Maria said. "And watch Alexandra. Mikel will not spare her because she is human or…. Because of who she resembles."
With that Maria disappeared into thin air. Jace had to stand there for a bit, process what had just happened. He had finally gotten the courage to tell the girl of his dreams he loved her. The girl he told was not that girl. Mikel, the crazy vampire hunting vampire that Klaus, the most powerful being on this Earth, was coming for them. And he wasn't giving any mercy.
He had to find Alex, the real Alex. Jace bolted into the Grill, moving quickly down the hall and toward the closet where he had last seen her. He grabbed the key, unlocking the door before he wrenched it open. What he found was not something he would ever thought he would see.
Alex stood there, in only a bra and underwear, trying desperately to cover herself. Jace's eyes widened and he tried to look everywhere but her semi naked form. There were many ways he imagined this moment, and this was not anything like he dreamed.
"Don't say a word." Alex ordered through her teeth. Jace shimmied out of his jacket, giving it to her, in which she pulled it on gratefully. He would lie if he said that, while she was distracted, he didn't observe her perfect body. When she looked up he looked up to her eyes.
"Maria-"
"I know." He said. Alex nodded. "Mikel's coming."
"I know." She mumbled. There was a pause of silence. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife.
"Will you drive me home?"
"Of course."