Why didn't the world stop?
Chapter 1- My loneliness is killing me… slowly.
It had been a couple of months since Malivore kicked Hope out of his hellhole and she was still having trouble adjusting. She didn't understand why though, she had spent most of her teenage years alone, so why should this feel any different? Maybe it was because even though she was alone, people knew who she was, what she was. Yes, people avoided her because of it but she was trying to fix it, she was slowly starting to let people in. Or maybe it's because her only real friend had forgotten her. But whatever the reason was, she felt like she was dying and she, she didn't like that at all.
It was Thursday. Hope has spent most of the day wandering around Mystic Falls High School, occasionally attending classes, just trying to find something to occupy her time and to stop her thoughts from eating her alive. As she wandered the empty hallway, she found herself drawn to Alaric's office. (He had been fired by the student council from the Salvatore Boarding School because of his own personal, human, concern for his safety. He never really trusted his students, well what did you expect when you look after children/teenagers who are supernaturally inclined.) Hope knocked on the open door and walked in. Alaric was sat inside, it looked like he was doing some marking, hope couldn't be too sure. Hope walked over to Alaric. She took a few seconds to gather her thoughts before she said "My name isn't Hope Marshall, it's Hope Mikaelson. I'm Klaus and Hayley's daughter. And I know you don't remember this but erm, you're the closest thing I have to a father now. And the entire world has forgotten that I exist. And the boy I loved has moved on, so I have absolutely no idea what to do next." She tried to fight back the tears but it no good, she couldn't stop them, not for a lack of trying.
Alaric stood up and walked over to Hope, he looked sad, he sighed "It's okay, we'll figure it out together." Hope couldn't stop herself from hugging him. It was the first time she had proper human contact in months. She missed the familiarity of it, the just needed someone to know, and she's glad that the first person to know was Alaric. She knows deep down that he doesn't actually remember her but at least she told someone and that's all that mattered to her at this moment in time. After a few moments Hope stepped away. She made up some excuse to leave.
Later that day, Hope really wanted to wolf out, but she can't really do that anymore because there is no safe place for her to do so. When she lived at the Boarding School, she had full reign on the grounds to wolf out but since she is living in a little motel room, she has nowhere to be herself, well not completely. So, she settled on taking a walk around the town. She hadn't really gotten chance to spend much time in the town before, in all fairness she didn't want to. She knew it's history, she knew how she would be treated if people found out what she really was. She pushed that thought out of her mind and found herself heading to the coffee shop. Once inside she headed to the counter and ordered a Cappuccino, she picked it up and headed back outside and found somewhere to sit.
This little town is beautiful in so many ways. The buildings are old, but rustic, pleasing on the eyes. The centre of town looked like a massive open garden with the old town hall building perched on the edge of it. It felt peaceful. Hope just sat there staring at the open space drinking her coffee, she was lost in nothingness, her mind blank for the first time in a long time. It was a while before her thoughts returned. She decided that one day she will sit here and draw her surroundings, she's not sure when she will get the time to though. Especially not now that she told Alaric who she really was, he's probably going to want to start training her again. She groaned at the thought. 2 months without training every morning had given her some well-earned rest, she could actually have a lie-in without the thought of getting up at 5am. Not that she did much sleeping in that crappy motel. Her neighbours were always way too loud and in all honesty, she was just too lonely to sleep.
As the evening dragged on, Hope was still sat nursing her cappuccino, which had now turned cold. She finally decided it was time for her to move. Hope always liked to people watch. She secretly envied them. Not one of them really knew what was going on, they all just blindly followed along when the latest 'gas leak' happened. These people have just given up questioning what is actually happening in their quiet little town. Hope finally finished her drink, threw her cup in the bin and headed back home. Not that she could really call it that. She belonged at the Salvatore Boarding School, she knew that, but she can't be there right now. She can't surround herself with people she knows and sort of like, when they don't even remember who she is.
As she approached the motel, she fumbled around in her bag looking for the key to her room, muttering under her breath about never being able to find anything when she looks for it. After about a minute of searching she finally finds it and pulls it out of her bag just as she reaches her door. She puts the key in the lock and turns it, kicking the door open. She enters then kicks the door shut behind her and throws her bag onto the spare bed. Under her feet she notices a piece of paper that had been slipped under the door while she had been gone. She picked it up and read it. 'You need to pay your bill for this week. You have 48 hours to pay it or you will be out' was scrawled across it, clearly it was from the manager. Hope scrunched up the paper and threw it in the bin, she walked over to her bag and picked up her purse. She looked through it, she only had about $300 left. She took out $250, threw the purse back on the bed and shoved the money into her back pocket, picked up her key and exited her room.
She wasn't paying any attention when she walked out and she walked straight into someone. "Oh shit, sorry I didn't see you" She said not really paying attention to who she was actually talking to.
"Hope, watch your language and you should be more careful when you rush out of rooms." Alaric responded. His voice made Hope's head snap up quickly.
"I'm so sorry, I was just… on my way to pay my bill. What are you doing here anyways?" She sounded defeated but there was a slight curious hint to her voice.
"I was actually coming to find you. I have been to several different motels before I found this one. I didn't realise just how many we actually had in this town. How long have you been staying here?" His voice was gruff, and he looked even worse.
"Well, I've been here 2 months really. Basically, I've been staying here since I got back. I didn't have anywhere else to go. I can't go back to the Boarding School so… I'm sorry do you want to come in?" Hope asked, wishing he would say no.
"Erm no, I don't think I will. I think it would make me a bit too depressed." He laughed. "What I was going to say was, you don't have to stay here if you don't want too. Caroline always keeps the house open and well, the Twins are at school, so their bedroom is free if you want to stay there? I won't be around that much, so you'll pretty much have the place to yourself." He sounded slightly sad when he mentioned the Twins. He clearly misses them, not that he would ever admit it to Hope.
Hope tried to seem like she was contemplating the offer for a while. She didn't want to seem too eager about saying yes, but she knew she couldn't afford to stay here another week. "Erm, yeah sure I can do." Hope nodded. "Let me just pay my bill and pack my stuff then I'll be ready."
"That's fine, I'll walk down with you. How much are you paying for this place anyways?" Alaric gestured to Hope to start walking.
"I pay $250 a week." Hope shrugged, like it was no big deal and she had all the money in the world to burn. They walk the rest of the way in silence. It's only when they reach the managers desk does Alaric speak again. "I would like to pay the bill for room 24 please. She will also be checking out tonight as well." He took out his credit card and paid. The manager muttered something about losing his best just rolled his eyes, finished paying then turned to Hope. "Okay, you go and pack up your things and I'll go wait in the car. Don't take too long. I want to get something to eat before it gets too late" Hope nodded and thanked him. She turned and headed to the room.
Hope rushed and pushed everything she currently owned into 2 suitcases and her rucksack, she picked them up and carried them out to the car, placing them into the boot. Hope rushed to the office and gave the key back to the manager and took one last look at her 'home', the place where she lived for the past 2 months. She approaches the car, gets into the passenger side seat and sits there in silence while Alaric drives them to the house.