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"Salem!" Caroline calls out, hurrying across the parking to the brunette as she forcefully opens the school doors, storming out after her interview.

Salem snaps her head up to the blonde before she collapses in her arms as Caroline throws her arms around Salem's neck. "Oh, you're here! You're actually here! I missed you so much!"

Salem only allows very few people to touch her, little long hug her. That list ranges from Uncle Mason, to Tyler, and ends with Care. Salem exhales, the weight suffocating her chest, the anger burning her insides... simmering, as she relaxes in her best friends arms.

"Missed you, Care."

The energetic blonde pulls back, keeping her hold on Salem's arms. "I didn't know if you'd come." She says honestly. "I hadn't heard back and-" She stops herself from saying something insensitive or dumb, something she can only seem to do around the Lockwood girl, smiling smally. "I'm just glad you're here."

Salem forces a tense smile back. She couldn't same 'me too' because that would be a lie- like that's stopped her before, but she could offer her something. "I'm glad you're here." She says honestly. "I don't know what I'd do without you these next couple days." She mutters. Probably lose her shit, or something far worse.

Caroline laughs. "Don't worry, I will have enough excitement for the both of us."

"Good." Salem nods humorously.

"Sooo, do you wanna go to The Grill for some milkshakes and catch up before we have to be back?" Caroline bubbily suggests, though both girls text daily and call, it just wasn't the same as in person conversation, at least to Caroline. Salem would prefer the ladder, and wouldn't be upset if she never had to anyone in person ever again. But for Caroline, she could manage.

"Wait, be back?" Her brows furrow, thinking maybe Caroline misspoke.

"Yeah." Caroline says slowly. "For dance rehearsal." Salem looks at her, shaking her head. "The Founders Ball dance?" Salem shrugs. "For the pageant?" Caroline looks at Salem like she's crazy. "Your mom didn't tell you?"

"I'm sure she did." Salem mutters bitterly, tongue clicking off the roof of her mouth.

"It's okay, I'll be right there with you." Caroline says gently. Right.

"Can't dance with me though."

Caroline laughs shockingly. "I think your mom would actually kill over dead." Salem smirks. "But I wouldn't mind." Caroline scrunches her nose playfully as they start walking towards the parking lot. "So, is your escort still Jeremy then?" The words hit Salem's ears turning them hot instantly, the question stopping her in her tracks.

Oh, shit.

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Not too long after arriving at The Grill, Carol calls Salem, and she honestly would've just let it go to voicemail if Caroline hadn't been sitting across from her.

On one of the last rings, Salem huffs irritatedly before answering, licking her chapped lips. "Hello." She targets her top teeth into her bottom ones, grinding them together harshly.

"Do not forget about the ballroom dance rehearsal this afternoon." Carol clips in Salem's ear. "Since you seem to disregard my texts and emails I have sent you, along with your interview clothing options."

Salem's jaw sets in place. "Is my escort Jeremy?" She asks, ignoring everything else she already knew.

A moment of silence slices through the phone line. Mmm.

"Of course he is, that's who was signed up to be your escort last year." Carol tells her.

A shake physically rolls through Salem's body as her fingers big into the booth seat. She screws her eyes shut, begging herself to remember Caroline's right in front of her.

A dark chuckle ripples from her chest. "Yes. But, a lot's changed in a year."

"Salem." Carol huffs. "Don't be difficult, don't make this difficult, hmm?" Salem's breathing grew heavier as her anger rose. "He signed up as your partner and he will remain as such. I have too much to do today with the pageant to deal with your attitude, and your lucky that little stunt you tried to pull this morning worked over well with my fellow judges. I will see you soon." The line ends and Salem's hand squeezes the phone til her knuckles turn white.

Jeremy?! Fucking Jeremy?! Out of all the other founding family members in this shitty town?!

"Salem?" Caroline's voice sounds far away in the distance, as if she were hearing her under water. "Salem, are you okay?" She could feel her chest tighten as her breath rages.

"Salem. Salem, please! We can talk about this!"

"I love you."

"I'M DONE WITH YOUR ATTITUDE!"

"I don't want to hear it! You just want the last word and you're not going to get it!"

"Salem?" Caroline places her hand on Salem's arm.

Salem shakes her head, pushing herself up out of the booth. The room spins as she storms to the back of The Grill to the bathroom, pushing herself through the door, she grabs her chest, clawing at her own skin as her nails puncture her palm as her other hand forms a fist. Her head was scrambling blindly in anger as she tries to push away the memories taunting her.

Uncle Mason. Remember what Uncle Mason said to do.

"Stop being such an ungrateful brat."

"Please, Salem, let me fix this. What can I do?"

"Breathe. The first thing you need to do to let go of your anger is breathe. Normally, not ragefully. Slowly. In and out."

Salem grips the sink, her nostrils burning as she inhales largely through her nose. In.

"You need to hold it. For three to five seconds. As if you're almost to the point your brain isn't sure it's going to be getting oxygen again so it'll focus on you needing to release and breath once again than anything you were just angry over."

Salem counts to seven in her head, feeling almost light-headed, and out. She exhales through her mouth, her lungs finally feeling relief. She repeated the process two more times, each time pulling her counts til she was at five, before allowing herself to look in the mirror. Hallow eyes stare back, familiar with miserability. The light that once peaked through when she was in Florida already vanished.

Because Mystic Falls was a toxic, hell hole for Salem Lockwood...

And she can't seem to crawl out of it.

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello, helloooo!! Welcome back to Sweet Havoc!! Whew, we got a little deep with this one huh?!

SALEM'S MISS MYSTIC FALLS PAGEANT ESCORT HAS FINALLY BEEN REVEALEDDD!! Are y'all shocked? Surprise? Not at all...??? Can't wait to hear y'all's thoughts on this chapter so please don't be afraid to share them!!

Alsooo... WHAT DO YOU MEANNN it's been 8 years since Vampire Diaries endeddd.... WDYM?! Wow, I seriously cannot even begin to express my love for this show, holy shittt... 8 years already is WILD... (cause wdym 2017 wasn't just a few years ago... no seriously, wdym!?!)

Anywaysss, hope y'all enjoyed this chapterr!! And the first taste of Salem & Caroline's friendship!! Which will be unmatched & healing bc say it with me folks.. Caroline Forbes deserves better!!

Sooo, happy 6 months to Sweet Havoc (wow, I cannot believe it's already been half a year since I published this book... wowww, time is scary lmao) & untillll next timeeee, mwah!!! <3333