Eloise knocks softly on the door of Alaric's classroom, happy she wasn't disturbing him during a lecture. She smiles as Alaric waves her over.
"What's up?" Alaric asks as Eloise joins him by his desk.
"I was wondering if I can borrow some of your markers?" Eloise juts her lip out a little, preparing herself to plead for the damn things. She keeps forgetting to buy new ones and the markers in the pantry had already been looted, as usual.
"Markers? Lost your own markers?" Alaric teases.
"Of course not, I am extremely well organized." Eloise grins. "The students and I are busy with a visual representation of Kafka's Metamorphosis..."
Alaric raises an eyebrow.
"They are going to draw a bunch of beetles on the board." Eloise shrugs.
"Of course they are." Alaric shakes his head a little as he chuckles. He had never had the privilege to join one of Eloise's classes but it sure sounded like a hectic happening.
"I hear the sarcasm and I am not loving it." Eloise pulls a face.
Alaric bumps his shoulder into Eloise's before turning away from the desk. "Fine fine. Let me grab some of my secretstash."
Eloise giggles and turns her back demonstratively to Alaric so he could grab the markers. Her eyes roam the classroom and she smiles at the sight of Stefan and Tyler before her gaze lands on a blonde girl she had not seen before. Although Eloise and Alaric shared a good amount of the students she had never seen this girl in the hallways either, then again she wasn't too observative.
She tries her best not to look too surprised when the blonde looks up at her, a calculating look in her eyes. Eloise gives the girl a brief smile before averting her gaze not prepared to start a staring contest with a student.
"Here you go." Alaric taps Eloise's shoulder with a new packet of markers. "Aren't I such a good friend? Sharing my beloved markers with you?"
"Indeed you are, the best of the best. Thank you, Ric. I will let you get back to your teaching." Eloise gives a last wave at Alaric before quickly stepping out of the classroom, ignoring the burning gaze of the blonde.
• • •
"I'm sorry. I tried to study, I really did I just didn't have the time." Tyler whispers when Eloise had called him to her desk..
"It's alright, Tyer." Eloise smiles in a reassuring manner at Tyler. When Eloise started teaching at Mystic Falls it didn't take long for her to realize that Tyler's mother was quite an achievement-orientated person, which explained the pressure Tyler experiences. "How about you make an essay about the book instead of the pop quiz? I can write up some requirements and you have two weeks to finish it?"
"That would be great, thanks!" Tyler smiles brightly at this prospect, once again grateful for the leniency of his teacher.
"What did you think of it?" Caroline asks eagerly as she practically shoves Tyler out of the way, knowing she was next. She had been impatiently waiting for Tyler to stop blabbering so she could hear her result next.
"It was great, as always." Eloise grins, she is about to give more feedback when she hears a small knock on the door. She gives Caroline an apologetic smile before making her way over to the door, certain it was Alaric who would whine about wanting his markers back.
"Yes yes, you will get-" Eloise pauses as she sees Kol behind the door, grinning down at her.
"What it is that I am going to get, my darling?" Kol purrs playfully. He was quite happy to see the human again, not that he would admit it. His siblings had once again been dreadfully dull and predictable so he was eager to seek his human out again.
"A restraining order if you keep popping up in places like this." Eloise mutters under her breath. She glances over her shoulder, glad to see the majority of her students still busy with chatting or reading.
"Now where's the fun in that?" Kol whispers in a conspirator sort of tone. To his surprise the woman places her hand on his chest, pushing softly. He contemplates the soft touch and warmth of her hand for a second before Kol lets her push him back, allowing Eloise to join him in the hallway.
"Please tell me you didn't enroll." Eloise whispers harshly as she closes the door behind her. She quickly retracts her hand from Kol, the last thing she had intended to do was feel the vampire up and giving him the wrong idea.
"No I did not, don't worry. Wouldn't want to distract you with my roguish good looks." Kol smirks down at the woman who was standing quite close to him, not that he minded of course.
"So modest." Eloise grumbles as she tries to peek past Kol to make sure the hallway was empty.
"Watch your tongue, Eloise, or I might have to tear it out." Kol threatens with little intent.
"I'd rather you didn't, it would make my job a bit more difficult." Eloise replies calmly, knowing full well Kol would do anything he liked and her making a fuss over one of his many threats would do her no good.
"Eloise?" Alaric halts a few feet away from the two and lets his eyes rest on the young man who was towering over Eloise. He couldn't be certain but he thought he had seen the man with Niklaus earlier this week in the Grill, he certainly didn't look like a student. "This is who you went on a date with?"
"And what's that to you? Jealous?" Kol snaps, narrowing his eyes at the man. He had heard plenty of his brothers of this amateur hunter. He really should take the man down a peg or two, but not now. He wonders briefly if Eloise knew of her colleague's hobbies.
"No, no. I didn't go on a date with him, he's an... acquaintance." Eloise stammers.
"Acquaintance?" Kol turns back to Eloise, feigning a hurt expression. "You wound me, Ellie. And to hear I have competition... that stings."
Eloise's eyes widen comically at the word 'competition' and she manages to stop herself from choking on air.
"Ellie, I think-" Alaric tries, eyes looking warily at the Original vampire who was looking a little too eager at his friend for his liking.
"I think you should go back to your class." Kol snarls, not bothering to take his eyes off Eloise. He did not deem the hunter worthy of more of his time.
"It's fine, Ric." Eloise smiles kindly at Alaric, appreciating his protectiveness.
"He's quite nosy." Kol grumbles when Alaric is out of sight.
"He's my friend." Eloise states as an explanation for Alaric's involvement.
"You do not need a friend when I am here, your handsome vampire protector." Kol boasts, grinning again as he sees Eloise's exasperated expression. He teasingly brushes a strand of hair out of her face, fingers grazing over Eloise's cheek.
"I don't think I am in need of a 'handsome vampire protector'." Eloise mumbles whilst slowly taking a step back from Kol.
"And here I am, being affectionate." Kol sighs. He didn't understand why the woman wasn't swooning or batting her pretty lashes at him.
"If this is how you show affection I don't want to know what happens to those you really dislike." Eloise remarks dryly, referring to her less pleasant encounter with Kol.
"You are a clever girl, I'm sure you can imagine something suitable." Kol replies smoothly, brow furrowing slightly as he sees the woman pale a little at his words. "I am not going to hurt you, dearest."
Eloise clears her throat, she wanted to remind him that he had already harmed her and had just threatened to rip her tongue out but she manages to bite the words back. "What were you here for?"