Something Better - Hope Mikaelson [DISCONTINUED]

17 - Hope is Not the Goal

   Eleanor didn't sleep at all that night. All night, she was awake staring at the ceiling blankly, thinking about everything she'd found out. She'd pretended to be asleep when Waverly came into the room, who tried to wake her up and chat on the boys behalf, but the Carter girl stayed in a false sleep state till she gave up. Waverly must of known the truth these past two years, and she never said a word to Eleanor. She simply kept quiet, and allowed the Carter girl to stay mad Hope, who'd took the blame to be a good person.

   As Eleanor thought about it all, she felt terrible. Mainly about Hope. 

   It was clear she owed her an apology, but she had no idea where to even start with one. Straight after breakfast, the entire school was called into the Grand Hall for an assembly, and Eleanor was grateful. It made avoiding Jacob, Ashton, and Waverly that much easier. She ended up sat next to Lizzie and Josie on the front row, who both were acting friendly with her, Lizzie even more so than Josie. Apparently, their conversation before the gargoyle attack had warmed Lizzie to Eleanor slightly, and was seemingly laying the groundwork toward a friendship. 

   "Given our influx of recent monsters, Sheriff Donovan and I have decided was need to take drastic action. Please give him your full attention." Doctor Saltzman spoke to the students, before welcoming the Sheriff to the podium. 

   "Like Dr. Saltzman was saying, local girls Dana Lilien and Sasha Stoteraux didn't come home last night." Sheriff Donovan began, holding up photos of the girls in question, before passing them along the aisles of seats. "Dana sometimes skips town for a few days to party, but this is a first for Sasha." 

   Alaric gave the Sheriff as nod as he took place at the podium once again. "Thank you, Sheriff Donovan." He then looked back at the students. "Now, while Dorian is away with the knife and things are quiet on his end, it won't hurt to assume the worst. If Dana and Sasha happened to be found by a monster..." Everyone knew what he was insinuating, making whispers go around the room. "Now, I'll need a few of you to volunteer to go to Mystic Falls High under the guise of an exchange program meant to improve relations between our schools. Which, unfortunately, is necessary, given recent events. Now, I give you permission to compel them, to gather materials for locator spells, because any information we can get will make a difference."

   Alaric's eyes flickered toward his daughters, and also onto Eleanor. While both Josie looked sceptical, a determined look appeared on Lizzie's face, buttoning her blazer as she got to her feet. "Well, I guess I can set aside my differences with Dana for a day...because that is what heroes do." With a proud smile on her face, Lizzie simply raised her hand in the air. "So, I volunteer as tribute."

   "I'm in." Everyone looked behind, to see Kaleb also now on his feet. 

   MG sprung to his feet beside him. "I'm in, too." 

   Eleanor looked back to be front, to be met with a look from Lizzie, who motioned for her to stand up. The Carter girl sighed, before also getting to her feet, raising her own hand. "I'll help." She volunteered, knowing it meant she could at least avoid her brothers and Ashton. 

   "I'd like to help." Eleanor looked over her shoulder, where Hope was now stood up a few rows behind. 

   Eleanor kept her gaze on Hope, not hearing the assembly get dismissed, only snapping out of it when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, a frown fell onto her face instantly, as she met eyes with her brother. Ashton and Waverly stood with him, all of them looking at her hopefully, a hint of guilt on theirs faces too. The second she locked eyes with her older brother, she felt anger bubbling inside of her, and she inhaled deeply to try and not lose her temper. 

   "El, we need to talk." Jacob began, after waiting a moment to see if she'd walk away. 

   Eleanor quickly shook her head. "No we don't. Not today." As he opened his mouth to argue, she turned her frown into a glare. "No, Jacob. I can't do this conversation right now, as if we have it, I'm going to say some things that you aren't going to like." The shame grew on all three of their faces, and Eleanor felt no sympathy. "Right now, I just want to try and put things right with Hope, and give her the apology she deserves. Because I abandoned her out of anger I should felt toward you."