Eventually, morning arrived, and I was already outside, loading the car under the gentle glow of the early sun. As I lifted the last bag, a wave of nostalgia hit me. I was really going to miss this place—and Hope's family. But once this whole Malivore thing was over, I promised myself we'd visit more often.
"Need some help, darling?" Kol's voice sounded behind me, and I turned to see him strolling over, hands in his pockets but a friendly smile on his face.
"Thanks," I said, handing him one of the last bags.
Kol whistled, taking in the full trunk. "Wow, you girls really packed for this trip!"
"Oh, these aren't all ours," I laughed. "Most of them are Lizzie's."
"Ah, makes sense." He chuckled as we closed the trunk.
Together, we walked back into the house, where everyone was gathered, lingering in the familiar warmth of the living room. Hope and Freya were laughing about something, while Lizzie and Josie were discussing their favorite parts of yesterday's movie marathon. It felt like we were leaving a piece of ourselves behind.
I took a deep breath, finally announcing, "Alright, the car is loaded and we're ready to go!"
Everyone's laughter quieted, and an air of bittersweet farewell settled over us. Hope's family stepped forward one by one. Freya pulled me into a warm hug, whispering, "Take care of each other out there. And come back soon."
Rebekah gave me a smile, soft but sincere. "Stay safe. You know where to find us if you need anything."
Kol ruffled my hair playfully, making me roll my eyes. "Don't go getting into too much trouble" he teased, though his tone held genuine affection.
Finally, Hope squeezed my hand, her eyes brimming with the promise that we'd be back, and maybe next time, under better circumstances. "Ready?" she asked, giving me a reassuring smile that melted some of my reluctance to leave.
As we climbed into the car and waved one last time, the house and everyone in it felt like an anchor, something waiting for us at the end of whatever battles lay ahead. And as we drove away, the cityscape of New Orleans disappearing in the rearview mirror, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from a goodbye—it was more like a "see you soon."
After a car ride that felt like a trip to hell and back, we finally pulled into the driveway of the Salvatore School. It was a relief to see those familiar stone walls again, knowing we were home. As soon as we parked, Lizzie practically flew out of the car, barely waiting for it to stop before she sprinted off to find Sebastian, leaving us to haul her mountains of luggage.
Hope, Josie, and I took on the challenge. Once Lizzie's luggage was safely deposited in her room, Josie stayed behind to unpack, leaving Hope and me alone as we made our way down the hall toward our own rooms.
Just as we reached her door, Hope turned to me, her eyes softening. "Can I sleep in your room tonight?" she asked.
My heart squeezed at the simple request, and I gave her a reassuring smile. Since Hope had sacrificed herself and jumped into Malivore, causing everyone to forget she even existed, Dr. Saltzman had reassigned her room to Alyssa. Now, they were sharing the space, and I knew Hope wasn't thrilled about it.
"You don't even have to ask," I replied, squeezing her hand. "Need help unpacking?"
She shook her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Nah, I'll be quick. Plus, I really don't like the way Alyssa looks at you."
"Hey, I don't like it either! I swear she looks right into my soul," I chuckled, feigning a shudder. Alyssa had a way of staring you down like she could see through you—and not in the good way.
