𝟙.𝟝: 𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕖

—Narrator's perspective—

"You did what? Kaleb He'll be so upset!" Arabella said while she sat on the concrete floor, leaning over the bars while on the other side, a vampire is on the brink of his thirst.

"Hey, he deserves it. Mg will get over it and I'll walk out of here by the end of the day." He spread his arms wide open in victory. "Besides, when I win, I'll convince Dr. Saltzman to let you in the council."

Arabella rolled her eyes, "I don't like politics, Hawkins," She stated. "Just because I told you I'm from the 1800's, doesn't mean I have responsibility over things."

"Yeah and Dr. Saltzman will still put you in the council. You're the oldest vamp in school and he trusts you." Kaleb replied back and scooted towards the bars. "Look, I don't even trust myself on what shirt to wear for the day. Can't as hell be responsible for everyone who's undead here. I could use the extra strength and knowledge." He bargained, hoping for some sort of acceptance on her face.

She groaned in defeat. "If the choices are tough, I'm relying on you to take the fall." She joked and her answer only made Kaleb clap his hands in victory.

"You won't regret it cap."

☘︎︎

"Why are your eyes purple?"

"Genetics."

"Were you really a witch before?"

"Yup."

"Is Klaus Mikaelson your bestfriend?"

"Was my bestfriend— Look are we going to keep doing this all day?"

Arabella teased and Hope chuckled giving up and hid the lie detector under the jacket on her arm. "I'm having fun with these, mind me."

"If you just wanted to know my entire life then you could have just asked. I'm not about to lie to you again." She smiled softly which made Hope got flustered when the ball on her hand lit up blue.

Out of the blue, "You two said you'd help me get answers." Landon came rushing in with a questionable face walking to them.

"I didn't even want to do this. Don't blame us because you're not special." She fought and Arabella looked behind her to admire the view while ignoring the feud behind her.

"I apologised for lying to you. I explained why I took the knife. Why are you still so mad at me?" Landon questioned in a frustrating tone.

"I'm not mad. I couldn't care less." Her tone was obviously well hidden and she was lying.

Landon easily caught the lie and gave her a look. "Fine. It's easier to be mad."

"Why?"

"Because it is!"

"Or maybe it's because you feel like if you stop being mad, you're letting your guard down, and the legendary Hope Mikaelson couldn't possibly do that." Landon spat in a scoff which alarmed Arabella who turned around and secretly glare at him.

Hope sighed in a split second. "When I let my guard down, people disappoint me." She explained more truthfully.

Sadly, Arabella turned around again, leaning her figure on the ledge. There it was again, the unbearable need to protect Hope Mikaelson even though she already knew that Hope doesn't need protection. Bella got lost in her thoughts, thinking of anything else of a reason on why she keeps feeling like this. Then her idea went to what Emma said to her in their session.

It couldn't be possible, right? All her years of being alive was filled with dread and emtional sorrow that she had no time to fall in love. Yes there was occasional relationships but not like anything she has ever felt towards Hope. The feelings came out of no where and it somehow scared Arabella who has relied on no one to care for her like someone on a relationship does. She was taught of the importance of family, not anything else which caused her pain from friendships and family.

"Are you okay? You've been quiet since Landon left." Hope called out, leaning on the ledge while looking over the Vampire who snapped out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, it's nothing." She answered and immediately regretted it when the ball that Hope was holding glowed red. "Didn't see that one coming." She sighed.

Hope chuckled lightly, "You know, It's all right if you don't want to tell me every part of your past with my dad. It's not my place to tell you what you can and cannot do."

"I know but I feel like I need to." She answered and they both watched the ball lighten up blue.

"Why do you feel the need to tell me?" Hope questioned and much interested now.

"Because Nik was my bestfriend? He guided me when I was in my lowest point in life. I didn't had the chance to tell him how much I appreciate on what he did." Arabella explained and they both didn't break eye contact. "The least I could do is tell his daughter how much of a great man he was. Even though he's a lunatic with anger issues." She added the last sentence making them both laugh.

Hope nodded and put the supernatural lie detector away, knowing she didn't need it anyways. "You're a great person, Bella. I don't know how you get past your problems and act unbothered by it."

"And I don't know why you have the need to put your guard up around people." Said Arabella who chose her words carefully. "Some people can disappoint you but most of them only cares. It's sometimes much more easier to confide in people rather than to push them away. Trust me, I've been there."

The Mikaelson's eyes lingered on Bella's which was much more breathtaking than what she remembered. It was too captivating. "Thank you. I feel like I needed to hear that since all I've done is push people away."

"You haven't pushed me away." Arabella lowered her voice, gripping on the ledge in front of her much more.

"Because I trust you than most people here in school." Hope confessed which earned a genuine and surprised look from the Vampire. "It's not everyday my dad's bestfriend became my roommate, you know?"

Arabella shook her head in a smile, too focused on how beautiful Hope looked right now. "I didn't see you in Freya's wedding." She changed the topic more quickly.

"You were there?" Hope asked and she nodded. "I was there since morning— how come I didn't see you?"

"Because I didn't want to go in the first place." She sighed, guilty. "I barely know Freya and Hayley was gone. I only talked to Klaus for a second in the venue and left. Kol only sent me an invitation the last minute and I dropped by a case of wine by the compound."

Hope snickered. "That was yours? I stole it from the table since I was in a mood." She confessed making Arabella laugh from her revelation.

"That was expensive." She said in defense.

"You had great taste too." Hope concluded and the two shared a moment of laughter for a few seconds. "You actually haven't told me what you're doing here. Can't be because you're a newly turned vampire who can't control herself around blood."

"Distraction, mostly." She answered in a hum and turned her head to face the lake. "Caroline had a bit of a problem and I helped her, most of the time. Forced me to come here and now I live in a world where dragons and tree nymphs exist."

Hope chuckled and shook her head slightly. There was a moment where neither talked, silence was clear but it's not awkward, more like comfortable quiet which either seems to be enjoying.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask." Hope started in a nervous state. Arabella hummed in response and looked at her, gesturing her to go on. "Since this week included monsters and creating havoc, I was wondering if you'd like to grab a milkshake or two in the Mystic grill?"

Arabella looked at her, moreover shocked but even more surprised to see Hope Mikaelson looking nervous. She then noticed the girl was about to rant making her talk, "Yes ofcourse. I was thinking I'll grab a bourbon while you stick to milkshakes."

"I'm not that young!" Hope playfully punched her arm making the Vampire hung her head aback in laughter.

"You really think Nik won't rise up from the dead and stuck a stake in my chest, when he finds out I've been serving his seventeen year old daughter bourbon and scotch?" She said jokingly and again, the two laughed feeling too happy about what was between them.

Hope on the other hand, feels some kind of connection with the girl besides her. It's probably because that Bella knows her parents, or maybe it was something more. Either way, She was not complaining about trusting Arabella because she'll know she won't regret her decision.

☘︎︎