Hope just laid their on the grass looking up at the sky. She couldn't believe it worked. After spending so long trapped alone in the void that was Malivor with nothing, but Ryan for company. She'd honestly given up hope one ever getting out. Of finding her away back home. So, when she jumped into the vortex Ryan was convinced was the way out. She herself was only 20 percent sure she'd make it back and a good 80 percent sure that it'd kill her. An as she starred up at the stars above her she couldn't help, but laugh in relief. She'd done it.
Hope took in deep breath of air. She couldn't believe how much she missed something as smile as breathing in fresh air, or the sight of the stars hanging out in the night sky. She'd never really been one of those people obsessed with the environment and everything in it, but now after having spent so long surrounded by nothing but darkness and decay. She'd never take it for granted again.
She pushed herself up and onto her feet to get a better look at her surrounding. An she couldn't keep the smile off her face if she tried when she realized exactly where she was standing. She was in the middle of town square. Directly across from the Mystic Grill and only a couple miles away the school.
The Salvatore Boarding School had become something of a safe Haven over the years for her and many like her. A place for her to fit in an belong. They took her in when she was only seven years old. Right after her father and uncle died. They taught her how to channel her anger and grief into something positive and good. Something that she could be proud of. It's taken her along time to come to terms with who she was and what she was, and an even longer time to be okay with it. It wasn't until something last year that things really began to change. She began to open herself up to other people and the possibility of having real friends.
Her best friend was the most stubborn and selfish person she'd ever meet. An they both had one major thing in common. They could both hold a grudge. When they were younger and she'd first arrived at the school. They'd both hit it off life a fish in water. Sure they were offend standoffish and somethings jealous of each other, and got along great at others. Just like ever other kid at that age. Up until one little (major) misunderstanding tore them apart. It was that misunderstanding that lead them to become the bane of each others existence. That incident didn't just cost her one friend it cast her two, because where ever Lizzie Saltzman went so did her sister Josie.
It wasn't until last summer right before things all started to go to shit did things change. Lizzie went to spend sometime with her mother abroad, and Josie stayed home to help their dad around the school. She'd noticed her dad had seemed a little more off than normal and decided to stay home so he wouldn't have to be alone. An over the course of the summer they slowly, but surely began to take again. After helping around that school together along with early morning training and practicing magic. Hope feel head over heels for the brunette. An so had Jo but two things where still holding her back. The guilt over being the one that caused the misunderstanding between Hope and her sister, and said sister.
Luckily, after some yelling, crying, apologizing, and most importantly time. Things began to work themselves out. After a brink jealous rage on Josie part from seeing Hope together with Landon. They talked and worked through the rest of their problems. Before deciding to give the whole dating thing a try. An Hope could freely admit dating Josie Saltzman was the best thing that ever happen to her.
They'd been happy. Truly, happy for the first time in year. Sure they had their ups ans downs up so did ever couple, but in the end they always found their way back to each other. No matter what. Up until the day when she decided to do the stupidest thing ever. Jumping into Malivore in an attempt to save the people she loved, to save Josie.
Hope gave herself a moment to just take it all in before making herself move. She couldn't afford to stay there standing the whole night. She needed to get a moving. She knew it was a long trick back to the boarding school, and the longer she took the more trouble she'd be in with the other. Hope really couldn't wait to get back. To be yelled at for doing what she did. To be pulled into a bone crushing hug by her best friend. To see her girlfriend again after so long, and apologize for leaving her. Something she promised to never do. To finally be able to kiss her like she'd been dreaming of doing for months. To finally feel like she'd come home.
Hope couldn't help, but smile as the boarding school gates came into view. She was almost home. Just a little further. Hope paused in front of the gate and just starred up at the school. It was only them that she let herself fully believe at this was all real. An not just some part of her imagination, or a hallucination caused by Malivore. It was only squeak of the gates opening and the in coming head lights that snapped her out of the trance she'd fallen in. Hope turned her attention to the drive. She smile as she recognized who it was.
Dorian rolled down his window and pocked his head out to get a better look at the figure standing out in front of him. So, he could get a better look. She was defiantly a teen, but not anyone he recognized. An he knew all the kids at the school. There was still a change that she was still from town, but that didn't explain what she was doing her.
"Can I help you" Dorian questioned, readjusting his grip on his gun. It was better safe than sorry. They hadn't been attack in month and she didn't look like a monster, but that didn't mean anything.
"No, I'm good Dorian" Hope said, taking a step closer to him. But stopped when she caught how tense he seem. She defiantly hadn't expected such a stand off reaction to her return. It was like he didn't even recognize her. As soon as the thought enter her head she felt her stomachache drop.
"Right, and who are you? How do you know my name" Dorian demanded, flicking off the gun safely, and slowly bring it up so that it was peaking up out of the window.
"Huh, the name tag" Hope said, nodding towards the low hanging name tag in the window.
"Right" Dorian chucked, "What are you doing here?"
"A girl" Hope admitted, her eyes flickering back over to the school.
"I get it" Dorian told her relaxing, "but we've already let out for the summer."
"Oh, right. Sorry, I hadn't realized" Hope told him back peddling, her cheeks flaming from embarrassment. She couldn't help, but feel as if she'd been caught doing something wrong. Not to mention she really hadn't realize how much time had past on the out side.
"Its okay" Dorian told her. He pulled out further so that they were right next to each other. Allowing for the gates to finally close behind him.
"Do you need a lift back into town" Dorian questioned, turning around to restore the gun in the glove box, before turning back to her.
"Uh..."Hope changed a glance back towards the school, "Yeah, that be great actually." Moving to get in on the other side.
"So, what do you do" Hope asked, after a couple minutes of silence, "You know up at the school?"
"Right, I'm the librarian. Sometimes a substitute teacher if the need a raises" Dorian explained, before glancing at her. "An you? I don't think I've seen you around before."
"Well, I've been gone for a while. Just got back actually" Hope admitted, leaning her head against the wall. Watching as the woods surrounding the school gave away to concert and builds of mystic falls town.
"An the first thing you did was stop by the boarding school" Dorian stated, his eyebrow shooting up, "Must be some girl."
"She is..." Hope confessed, "probably doesn't even remember me. Not that I blame her."
A couple minutes passed neither of them knowing what to say. Both let out a breath of relief when they noticed the town square coming into view.
"Is this good" Dorian asked, as he rolled to a stop right outside the grill.
"It's perfect" Hope said, unbuckling and stepping out of the car. She couldn't help, but leaning back down so he could see her face more clearly.
"Thanks for the lift" Hope said, shooting him a smiled. Before she shut the door and made her away across the street. Her hand in her pocket her head down.
"No, problem" Dorian called, out the window after her. Waiting until she'd enter the building before pulling away. It wasn't until a couple hours later that he realized that he'd never gotten her name.
"What now" Hope muttered, as she looked around the crowded bar. For the first time in her life she was well and truly alone and she had no clue as to what to do next.