You'll Always Have Me~ N.M

9. New History Teacher Finally.

I was hungover again. Walking into class, first was history. I had my hood up with my sunglasses on, I took off the sunglasses but kept my hood up. I drank a bit too much yesterday after Stefan left. Family drama got a bit too much for me. I might even still be drunk. I saw Bonnie frantically running to her seat in front of me. I took out my history notes and textbook. I look out the window in boredom, but that stops the second the new history teacher walked in.

"Good morning, everyone." He states, walking in right as the bell rings. My head was resting against my desk as I heard him start writing his name on the chalkboard.
"Alaric Saltzman." Cute name. His parents didn't give him a chance.
"It's a mouthful, i know, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue." He smiles to the class and begins to tell us the origins of his name. I look over and see that Stefan wasn't in his chair.

I mouth to Elena, 'Are you and Stefan okay?' She nods her head and mouths back a 'no.' Stefan seemed okay the last time I saw him, which was yesterday. Something must've happened. I began to listen in on Mr. Saltzman teachings. "...so you can call me Ric. I'm your new history teacher."

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"Then I ended up at the remains of Old Fells Church before I woke up back in the woods." Bonnie was explaining to us the dreams she's been having. I was still kind of on and out of the loop. Being hungover was the worst. I laid my head on Bonnie's lap as she played with my hair, calming her nerves as she told us her dreams. I kept going in and out of consciousness.

"Why Emily?" Elena asks, I groan, feeling as if my mind is going to explode. "Grams said she was a...." Sleep took over my body again. I was shaken awake when Elena asked. "Mr. Saltzman wants to see you are lunch, right?" I jump up, grabbing my purse and thanking them while running to the history class.

"Mr. Saltzman, sorry I'm late. Jeremy, hey." Jeremy was just at the door, and Alaric motioned for us to come in. He clears his throat. "You know that your old teacher had a jackass file. I scoff, of course he did. Asshole. Me and Jer sat on the desk chairs nearest to the teacher desk. "No joke, it's typed on the label. It's got all the troublemakers in it, but it really just opus to you two." I look over at Jeremy, who has the same worried look on his face, I wonder what he wrote about us.

Alaric stands up laughing while putting the file in the trash. "Don't worry about it. I'm not him. Clean slate." Me and Jer smirk, and chuckle. This guy is definitely better than the last. "Now, let's talk about grades." He looks at Jeremy mostly.

"I know it's been a rough couple of months, but I've been trying to turn it around." I give him a proud smile.
"Yeah, I saw that, but the problem with it is that we are halfway through the semester, and half a fail is still pretty bleak." Jeremy just looks around, staring blankly at posters on the wall.

"This is the part where you say, 'What can I do to change that?' Well, I'm glad you asked. How do you feel about some extra credit?" Jeremy was quick to respond, "Yeah, yeah, totally, whatever." He says quickly, shaking his head up and down.

"Good then, write me a paper." Alaric states plainly. "About what?" I'm starting to question why I'm here now. "History. Pick a topic, keep it local. No Wikipedia regurgita. These old towns have a lot of rich history. So just don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Make it sing and your back on track. Deal?" Jeremy, get up and shake the teachers hand. "Cool ring." Yeah, I noticed it the second I walked in. It's huge, but I guess it's cute, kinda reminded me of the Salvatore ones. He tells Jeremy about it, and then when he walks out, Alaric turns back to me.

"Oh no, what did I do?" I don't think I did anything that bad today, I listened, kind of, did my work, and have my homework in my bag.
"Nothing, just your grades. While I was looking at Jeremy's, I looked at yours as well. Ever since early October, your grades have been degrading pretty quickly." He shows me a paper with my grades on them. The latest on is C-. "What? Oh my god, I am so dead." I say under my breath, but I think he heard it anyway.

"Look, I know it's my first day, but you can come to me about anything. School drama, friend drama, at home drama, okay. I just wanted you to know that first. How do you feel about some extra credit?" I was still looking at my grades, I was always so good at History, why now is it so low. "It sucks but I'll manage." I tell him truthfully. He laughs and smiles.

"Well, thank you for the honesty. I'll get you to do the same as Jeremy, but I want you to do it on your ancestors or any of the founding families. I know this town takes pride in its history, and you, being the major kid and one of the founding families, make it easier to find points." I nod and smile, grabbing my book bag. "Deal." I say to him, waiting for his response. I put my hand out, waiting for him to shake it, "Deal."

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I went to meet up with Bonnie after classes. I needed to go to the bathroom, and when I got back, I saw Damon right in front of her.
"Don't you think you're a little too old to be at a school, Damon." I walk up behind them. "Get away from her. Just leave her alone." I shove him away, and Bonnie quickly got into her car. "Well, if it isn't 'little miss anger issues', believe it or not, I'm actually protecting Bonnie." I walk around the car to the passenger seat. "You know, you're one to talk about anger issues, Damon. And if you really want to protect Bonnie, you'll keep to yourself and leave her alone." I scold him then get in the passenger. Bonnie drives away quickly.

"We have to pick up Elena. Do you know where she is?" Bonnie asks. I shake my head 'no', trying to calm myself down after 'my anger fit.' Well, that's what my mother calls them. "I'll text her." I pulled out my phone seeing Bonnie stressed was un-nerveing. "She over there. She's on her way." Is what I say pointing in a direction. "Yeah, I see her." She still seems out of the zone, though.

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