* A/N I do not own or claim to own anyone other than my own OC and scenarios I make up. I will try to stick to the story timeline as much as I can. *

*Recap*

"What about you?" Jenna asks me. "What have you been up to since I last saw you?"

"Oh, you know," I state. "Just working on my thesis and finishing that up in New Orleans.

"Oh no," Jenna jokes back at me, "you don't get to just brush it off. You were there for several years. You must have done or seen something or someone interesting."

"I mean yes," I say with a sly smile. "Of course, I did fun things and I met some incredible people."

We spend the next hour talking about all the things I saw in New Orleans, like the shop that sold 'witchy' things and places that sold heavenly beignets. I told her about the friends I made around the town in cafes and bars. She also was very keen on asking about anyone special in my life. I mentioned there was one person years ago, but I hadn't seen them in ages. We then started discussing Jenna's dating life these past years. She tells me about Logan Fell and mentions he disappeared from her life twice these past months. I mention I am glad for that cause he was a waste of space in her life. She talks about Rick and how she feels things feel more serious and how she is afraid he isn't as serious about them as she is. We talk about his ex-wife and how that could be affecting their relationship.

After a while, Jenna decides to head home and get some dinner for Jeremy if he wants it and Elena when she got home. I decided to order some chicken and mac and cheese for my take-out dinner. I grabbed a stool at the bar while I waited for my food to be ready. I scanned the crowd which seemed to be more high schoolers now that it was dark. It seemed they had gone up to the lake like we used to. It was good they were inside now that it was dark. I learned from New Orleans that nighttime is when the bad things go bump in the night, which just meant the crazy people came out more during that time and did terrible things.

My food came out and I thanked the waiter and headed out to my car. I passed Caroline as I left. It was good to see her up and about. I could only imagine how her mom felt after the accident. Once at my car, my phone buzzed with a message. I got in and placed my food on the passenger's seat. After reading the test, I smiled a bit and messaged them back. It was great to hear from my friend from New Orleans and I was really hoping that they would keep their promise of visiting me soon.

I drove home and thought about what to do now that I was home again. I figured I could work on my research some more and work on the book I was writing about all the paranormal I learned about these past few years. Maybe I would introduce my friend to Carol Lockwood. I know that she would love to have some positive publicity for the town after everything and my friend was thinking about writing as well. Maybe they would be willing to come and write about our town.

I shot them a text asking about my idea while eating my dinner. I looked around the kitchen and was happy to see that it had been cleaned and since it was the last room on my list, it meant the rest of the house was done as well. I would go to the grocery store tomorrow and send the money to the cleaning service as well. With a plan in mind for the next day, I crawled into bed and fell asleep.

When I woke up, I grabbed a cup of coffee from the coffee maker I had brought in. After my coffee, I grabbed my keys and headed out to the grocery store. Once I arrived at the store, I received a message from Jenna. Apparently, she was having people over for a barbeque. I messaged back of course I would be there and that I would bring some chips since I was at the store. Since I wouldn't be going home straight away now, I decided to get all the non-perishable foods first.

I grabbed a couple bags of chips and headed over to Jenna's early. I wanted to help set up if I could. I knew that she might be feeling overwhelmed having all the people at her house.

"You're early Aria," Jenna greeted me from the door.

"Well you know me," I said holding up the chips. "I always like to help out."

"Thanks," she says motioning me in the house. "Everything is still the same as before."

"It looks amazing," I say going through to the kitchen. "What can I help with first." We start setting up and soon more people arrive.

"How did I know you would be the first one here," Mason says opening the door.

"You know me," I say with a chuckle and giving him a hug. "I like to arrive early."

"That's the truth," her laughs. "Let me help too." He heads off looking for something in the cupboards.

Jenna and Elena are talking about someone named Damon when Mason comes back in the room.

"Aha, good new. I found the shot glasses." He says with a broad smile holding shot glasses in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other.

"That would be my exit," Elena says as she leaves the kitchen and heads outside.

"I'm here 10 minutes and I'm back under the bleachers at the pep rally," Jenna says to Mason.

"Just like old times, huh?" Mason says giving her a side hug and a laugh. "Only I didn't swipe this bottle from my old man."

"And I can actually drink it this time," I say from across the island.

"Oh, the expensive stuff." Rick says coming in from the back door. "I like you already."

"Just happy to be invite." Mason says and seems like he doesn't get invited to things as much and I make a note to invite him to lunch more now that he is in town.

"Me too," I chime in.

"Thank Ric," Jenna says. "It was his idea."

"Really?" Mason and I ask curiously at the same time. We give each other a look and look back at Ric.

"Yeah," he says looking between us. "I thought it'd be nice to meet some more of Jenna's old high school friends."

"Old," I say with a scoff and Jenna laughs at me.

"Dig up a little dirt," he says looking at her in the eyes.

"Oh, I've got dirt." Mason says pouring out some shots. "I've got dirt."

"I have no secrets," she says.

"I mean you won't after today," I joke with her.

"Only dirty shame," she says taking one of the shot glasses.

"To dirty shame," Mason, Jenna and Ric say. They take their shots with a laugh and Mason goes to pour more shots when they are finished.

"Hey," someone says coming around the corner.

"Damon," Jenna says and instantly her mood seems to sour.

"We're just doing shots," Ric says trying to ease the tension. "Let me get you a shot glass, buddy." Damon holds out the box in his hands seemingly like a peace offering.

"No here," Jenna says downing her shot and giving it to him. She walks out of the room and Ric follows shortly after.

"She doesn't like me very much," he says handing the glass to Mason and giving me a stare.

"We haven't met. Mason Lockwood," Mason says extending his hand to Damon, who shakes his hand.

"Aria Lennox," I say with a wave, but seem to go unnoticed by Damon as he talks to Mason.

"Oh, sure, hey. Damon Salvatore," he says with a small smile to each of us and then focusing on Mason.

"I know." Mason says. "I've heard great things about you."

"Really? That's weird." Damon says getting a weird look on his face. "Because I am a dick." I scoff into my shot before downing it quickly.

We have a couple more shots before finishing up the food. Jenna sends Ric out to get Elena and Caroline who have disappeared out to the porch. Honestly, I couldn't blame them. My phone buzzed and I checked the message. My friend replied to my idea and seemed excited about coming to visit our town. I shot a text to Carol Lockwood and asked to meet her tomorrow around lunchtime. I put my phone in my pocket and looked up to see Jenna looking at me with a smile on her face. Oh the 3rd degree I would be getting later.