I do not own the Vampire Diaries

Once everyone left the room besides Caroline, she went up to the girl and said, "Hey Sweetie are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Lyra said but the break in her voice said otherwise.

"Oh come here," Caroline said as she hugged her very gently as if she were a fragile doll and that was when Lucy broke down, she's never felt such a comforting hug before. "It'll all be alright I promise. Do you wanna freshen up in the bathroom then you can come back? We'll wait for as long as necessary."

"Yeah, thanks Carebear," Lucy said smiling at her.

"No problem Sweetie," Caroline said being her usual bubbly self.

"Why do you call me that?" Lucy asked her with a smile to show that she didn't mind but was just curious.

"Because you're adorable and a total sweetheart," Caroline answered and Lucy blushed a deep shade of red at that, no one had ever complimented her like that before.

"Oh," Lucy responded before she said goodbye and left the room. Lucy freshened up in the bathroom before making her way back in the room as everyone stopped conversing. She walked to her seat next to Kol not looking at anyone as she did.

"Are you alright darling?" Kol asked gently as he looked at her concerned.

"I'm fine." Lucy responded with a slight smile at him before she said, "Now let's watch," as she played the memory and they all turned back to the screen.

Elena: Great. It's the first day of school and you're stoned.

Jeremy: No, I'm not.

Elena: Where is it? Is it on you?

Jeremy: Stop, all right?! You need to chill yourself, all right?

Elena: Chill myself? What is that, stoner talk? Dude, you are so cool.

Jeremy: Look, stop! I don't have anything on me. Are you crazy?

Elena: You haven't seen crazy, Jeremy! I gave you a summer pass, but I am done watching you destroy yourself. No, no, no, you know what? Go ahead. Keep it up. But just know that I am going to be there to ruin your buzz every time, you got it? Jeremy, I know who you are. And it's not this person. So don't be this person.

Jeremy: I don't need this.

[Jeremy leaves.]

"Woah Elena!" Bonnie said shocked at her practically manhandling Jeremy.

"Yikes, and here I thought I was overbearing," Caroline said as Elena fumed in her seat.

"What would you have done in that situation?" Elena asked annoyed at them for judging her.

"I don't know Elena maybe understand the fact that he's grieving too and that drugs were his outlet instead of acting as if you're his mother and constantly threatening him with guidance counselors because they don't help at all," Lucy said to her and her input had Elena glaring at her angrily.

"I was trying to help him, to get him to stop, but you wouldn't know about that would you or your parents would still be alive and your uncle wouldn't be a drug-addicted abuser." Elena snapped before her eyes widened as she realized what she just said as did everyone else's.

Caroline, Bonnie, and Matt stared at her, shocked that someone they had considered a friend could be so cruel. Tyler and Jeremy exchanged bewildered glances, both thinking the same thing: what the hell was Elena thinking? The Mikaelsons watched in disgust and outrage, none more so than Kol, whose expression was a mix of disbelief and fury. The Salvatore brothers were equally taken aback, questioning how the sweet girl they thought they knew could utter such hurtful, callous words.

Right as she said this, her eyes rolled back in her sockets as her world turned black, apparently Lucy had knocked her out, not that they blamed her.

"Really? You only knocked her out? You could have called me and I could have done a lot more to the bitch." A familiar voice said and they all turned towards a rather handsome guy smirking in the doorway.

"Ade!" Lucy squealed with joy as she dashed over, wrapping her arms and legs around him in an exuberant hug.

"Hey, Lu! Miss me?" he replied, chuckling as he held her tightly, his arms enveloping her petite frame. Kol watched, nearly growling at the sight. The way she clung to Aiden, pressed against him, ignited a spark of irritation within him as he glared at Aiden's arms around her waist.

"Hell yeah, I did! How's uni life treating you?" Lucy asked, beaming as Aiden set her down. Unfortunately, she didn't have the chance to experience university herself, not since her uncle had cut off her inheritance when he took her in. She had always dreamed of the day she would turn eighteen, ready to reclaim her financial independence without his permission. But that dream had been shattered the night he drunkenly revealed he had gambled her inheritance away. Now, she was left with no money and a bleak future. Leaving him would mean facing the streets, a terrifying prospect that haunted her. At least under his roof, despite the beatings she endured, she had food, water, and shelter—a far cry from the uncertainty of life on the streets. She would choose her current situation over the risks of being vulnerable and preyed upon any day. Aiden had offered his help, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it; his savings were meant for his own education. She wouldn't snatch away his dream of becoming an Aeronautical Engineer just to chase her own ambition of being a Fashion Designer.

"It's stressful but fun! Not as fun as being with you, though," Aiden replied, a smile breaking through his concern. "Speaking of company, why are we surrounded by people who look like they stepped right out of that TV show you're obsessed with? What was it again? Teen Wolf? Supernatural? Vampire Diaries?" He looked between her and the others, but Lucy only nodded at the last one.

"Uh... long story?" Lucy said, attempting to evade his question.

"I have all the time in the world, Lu," Aiden replied, raising an eyebrow as he waited expectantly for her to elaborate.

"Well, about that, uh..." Lucy stammered, shifting nervously on the spot.

"And why on earth am I here?" Aiden asked, concern etched across his face. "I was about to get in my car when a light flashed in front of my eyes, and suddenly I'm here. I heard your voice, found this room, and overheard what that bitch said to you. Just so you know, I don't want her words to get to you. This was not your fault, okay?"

"But isn't it?" Lucy replied sadly, her gaze falling to the floor. "If I had tried harder to get them to stop, maybe they'd still be here, and I wouldn't be stuck with my uncle."

Aiden's heart ached at her words, and the others felt the weight of her sadness as her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Don't say that, Lu," he said gently. "Things like this happen because that's just life. Everyone dies sooner or later, and it was just their time. It had nothing to do with you. You weren't at fault, so please don't blame yourself."

"You think so?" Lucy asked, her voice hopeful. Caroline, Bonnie, and Rebekah exchanged sympathetic glances, while Kol merely glared, irritated by the scene unfolding before him.

"I know so," Aiden affirmed without hesitation. "And as for your uncle? He's a bastard who deserves a fate worse than death. You would be living with me now if that fool hadn't gambled away your inheritance like the cheapskate he is. Speaking of which, guess what I found out?"

"What?" Lucy asked, curiosity piqued.

"You have to guess," Aiden teased, smirking at her.

"I won't be able to! You know I suck at guessing. So, would you please just tell me? Pretty, pretty purple please, with icing and a cherry on top?" Lucy's eyes sparkled with hope, and everyone couldn't help but melt at her pleading expression—well, except for Elena, who was still knocked out. Kol stared at her, transfixed by the brightness of her beautiful eyes, a shade he had never seen before, complemented by her cute button nose and the adorable pout on her cherry-red lips.

"Ugh, fine! You just have to pull that face every time," Aiden groaned, unable to resist her charm. "Apparently, I have some distant family I just found out about in class. Coincidentally, we share the same last name. At first, I thought nothing of it since it's fairly common, but then he came to me later with a picture, asking if that was my dad. It was a picture of him when he was younger, and I was completely confused. When I confirmed it, he was ecstatic and introduced himself as my stepbrother. I didn't believe him at first, but he dragged me to his home, and curiosity got the better of me. His family showed me enough evidence to convince me they weren't lying. Apparently, when my dad was younger, he slept around and accidentally got a girl pregnant. She came from a wealthy family, but my father had gone back to NYC and never found out about the son he left behind. They took me in when they realized I was barely scraping by, and now I live with them in their mansion. There are so many rooms; it's incredible!"

"OMG! I'm so happy for you!" Lucy squealed, wrapping her arms around him in another enthusiastic hug.

"There's a reason I told you this, Lu," Aiden said, pulling back from the embrace.

"What reason?" Lucy asked, her brow furrowing in curiosity.

"I want you to leave your uncle and come live with me," Aiden blurted out, his eyes shining with hope.

Lucy stared at him, her mouth agape in shock, struggling to process what he had just said.