Alexandria Laughlin Marshall (TO)

The Start of Summer Break

(5 Months Later) **Warning Long Chapter (word count:2261)

As Josie, Lizzie, and I all exit our last class of the school year, Lizzie asks, "Are you really going away for the whole summer?"

I nod my head, and Josie then asks, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to New Orleans with Hope." I see Lizzie make a slightly disgusted facial expression. 

"Hope has been really nice to me, and this is the only chance to learn about my father's family."

Lizzie just rolls her eyes, but Josie asks, "Your father was from New Orleans?"

"Well sort of, me and Hope have matching birthmarks, and she told me that means I belong to the Crescent Wolf Pack that's in New Orleans," I say.

Lizzie just scoffs, but Josie asks, "When are you coming back?"

"July 22," I say as Lizzie face drops in disappointment.

"That's a month away," Lizzie says dragging out her words for effect.

I laugh rolling my eyes, and say, "You'll live, plus I'm not leaving till tomorrow morning. So we have the rest of the night to hang out before I leave."

Lizzie then shares the "I have an idea" look, and I start to get worried. She then says, "What if we could go into Mystic Falls, I'm sure our mom would let us." All of us share a smile, before going on the hunt to find Ms. Forbes.

After 10 minutes of walk through the main building and checking Ms. Forbes' office, we finally found her talking with Mr. Saltzman in his office. After Lizzie pleading with her parents, while Josie and I just nodded along when Lizzie made good points. Finally after 15 minutes of talking, we finally got Ms. Forbes to let us go to Mystic Falls alone for dinner at the Mystic Grill. The three of us wait to celebrate till we are out of the office and the door is close, even though we know Caroline can hear us all the same.

Later that night, Ms. Forbes drops us off in front of the Mystic Grill. But as we are about to get out of the car, she sternly says, "You are to only go to the Mystic Grill, and I will be back at 7 because Alex needs to catch an early flight." We all nod in unison, and Ms. Forbes continues, "And we will-"

But Lizzie cuts her off, "And we will not use our powers. Come on mom, we know the drill." Caroline gives us a smile, and finally unlocks the car door. The three of us climb out back seat, and make our way onto the sidewalk.

Once we see the car drive away, Lizzie complains, "I wish we had the upper class privileges." I laugh, "Well we got here, this is upper class privileges."

Lizzie rolls her eyes, "Yah, but I still had to ask my parents."

"Well, none of the other kids in our grade have done this, so I think we should take this as a victory," Josie speaks up.

Lizzie rolls her eyes again, knowing we're right, and mumbles, "Whatever."

I sarcastically roll my eyes imitating Lizzie dramatics for Josie. Josie and I laugh, while Lizzie scoffs not as amused.

As I open the door, the AC inside hits me, and I feel like I can finally breathe. We are able to get a booth near the windows. But we see some of the kids that go to Mystic Falls Middle School. I make eye contact with boy who has brown hair and eyes, and I instantly roll my eyes as he smiles my way. The three of us sit down, and start to order food. Once the waiter leaves, I ask Lizzie and Josie a question, "Have you ever been on an airplane before?"

Lizzie quickly says, "Yes, of course. We go on vacations with our mom almost every summer." I nod slightly, but Josie picks up on my worry, and she says, "You have nothing to worry about, it will be fine."