Potential (Book Four, The Vampire Diaries)

Chapter 10__After School Special

Carol Lockwood had died, drowned in the water fountain in the Town Square 

At school, there was a memorial service for Carol Lockwood in the gym.

Sheriff was giving a speach. "Carol Lockwood always said that togetherness in times of tragedy leads to healing, that one community is stronger than a thousand of its members. But how does a community stay strong after losing its leader? And Carol was so much more than a leader; she was an open-minded friend and a concerned mother, taken from us too soon by a terrible accident." Tyler stood and left the gym. "Please join me in observing a minute of silence in her memory." Everyone put their heads down or the minute of silence. Elena stood and left the gym. "Thank you so much. In the wake of this tragedy, the town has selected an interim mayor. Many of you may already know him. Please welcome Mr. Rudy Hopkins."

Hopkins walked up to the podium. "Thank you so much, Sheriff. Carol Lockwood put this town first. . . " 

I let the rest trail off.

~~~~

After the assembly, everyone walked out into the hall. 

I called Stefan. "Hey, you just missed the mandatory school assembly."

"Well, that's because I'm at a mandatory all-day drinking party." 

 "Seriously? You decided to go on a Ripper bender now?" 

"My brother slept with Elena. It kinda puts a damper on thngs." 

"Listen, Jeremy is spiraling out of control with Hunter urges, just now getting a handle on them. Elena is sired to Damon. Damon is lying to you. Caroline is worried about Tyler. Tyler is spiraling. I am doing my best to not kill any of the really annoying vampires around here. The mayor was mysteriously killed, and it doesn't help that everyone keeps referring to her death as an accident, which is just a really polite way of saying she was drunk." 

"You think Klaus killed her?" 

"Hmm, I don't think she drowned in her martini glass. Just get it together, Stefan. I don't wannna worry about you spiraling, too."

"It's nice to see that you care, Nicola." 

"I'm sure it is. I mean, it's a rareity, I know." 

"That's not exactly what I meant." 

"I know what you meant." 

I hung up without another word.

~~~~

When Stefan got home, he told me about the day that he had had.

Rebekah had trapped them all at the school with Tyler the hybrid after driving a wedge between Elena and Stefan and exhausting all of the knowledge from them and Caroline. 

Kol was back in town.

Stefan was working with Rebekah to find the Cure. 

Which didn't make sense to me on so many levels. 

But I was glad that he was willing to keep me out of it even if I was a Potential so that I wouldn't have the desires to kill him and Damon in their sleep.