Give Me Hope ~ Stefanie Salvatore

~chapter 27~

"Ric?" I say as I walk towards Ric and Dorian.

It's the middle of a class period, so the halls are pretty empty. I was heading to the bathroom when I looked down the hall and saw them both talking.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, and then my eyes look down at the map he is holding, which is clear a locator spell was used, as there is a blood trail along the map.

"MG hasn't been in school the last three days." Dorian quickly explains, and grabs the map from Ric, examining it. He looks at the map and shakes his head disapprovingly.

I skipped the last three days of school, with everything that went on, so I never even realised MG had been MIA. I am a horrible friend.

"I don't like that look." Ric sighs at Dorians facial expressions.

"Old habits die hard, so, I keep up with any reports of animal attacks in the area." Dorian says quickly.

"Welcome to Mystic Falls... Keeping a look out for Malivore monsters is a daily chore" I say sarcastically.

"Except, a hiker was found dead in Grove Hill last night, which is suspiciously close to right where MG is now..." Dorian says hesitantly.

"Wait, do you think something happened to him?" I say, immediately concerned for MG's wellbeing.

"I'm more worried about what he's already done" Dorian admits. "I'll get my bag" Dorian starts to walk away.

"MG wouldn't do anything irrational, right?" I ask Ric, hesitantly.

"Dorian and I will find out soon enough..." Ric sighs.

"I'm going with you" I nod, determined to help them find MG.

Ric, however, puts a hand up to stop me.

"No. If MG is out there and on a ripper rampage...." Ric pauses for a moment, nervous to say the next thing. "He has already almost fed on you once. Without Sebastian's help that one time it could have been way worse. I am not allowing that to happen again." Ric says, leaving no room for debate.

I look at him, hoping my glare will change his mind. But he is set in his ways.

"Okay, fine" I sigh.

"All ready to go" Dorian comes back over with a bag that I assume are full of weapons. Ric nods, and gives me one last look, before walking out of the school.

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As I walk out of school at the end of last period, I see Jo, standing at my car. It was a half day today, so we got out pretty early.

"Miss me already?" I smile at Jo.

"Of course" Jo smirks. "I just wanted to see how you were doing... ya know with me being gone and all, I wanted to make sure you had company" She smiles.

Jo basically telling me she's concerned for my social life... ouch.

My smile fades for a moment, and a look of confusion/offended fills my face.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I ask.

"Well, I know that Hope and you haven't talked things out yet..." Jo begins, and waits a moment when she sees my reaction to the mention of Hope. "I know you were upset with how things were, I just wanted to be... supportive" She smiles.

"Maybe I'm a little upset with how things with Hope and I ended. But, it's nobody's problem but mine" I smile tightly and open my car door. However, I didn't realise how aggressively I opened the car door... until the handle fell off. Stupid, old, car.