Gilbert Twins [1 - Twins Series]

10 - After School Special

Book: Gilbert Twins
Chapter 10: After School Special
Word Count: 2718

No one's POV

It was daytime. A memorial service for Carol Lockwood was underway in the gym of the high school. The students were lighting candles in glass cups as part of the service. Liz was speaking at a podium in front of the stand.

"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 just a Mayor; she was an open-minded friend and a concerned mother, taken from us too soon by a terrible accident."

Tyler was among the students, silent but looking on edge.

"Screw this."

"What?" Caroline frowned.

"Tyler? Ty?" Ariana called after him as Tyler stood up and left the gym. Liz saw him leave, continuing her speech.

"Please join me in observing a minute of silence in her memory."

Everyone put their heads down for the minute of silence. Ariana looked over to the other side of the gym and saw Rebekah. She closed her eyes and looked over again, but found Rebekah wasn't there anymore.

"Are you okay?" Elena asked her.

"Be right back." Ariana stood up and left the gym.

---

Ariana was walking down the hallway, and stopped when she heard someone crying. She turned around the corner and found April.

"April, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." April sniffed.

"But you're crying?"

"It's just the whole mayor thing, you know. It's bringing up stuff with my dad." April muttered. Ariana nodded in understanding. "And I know you're a vampire."

Ariana looked shocked.

"Wait, what?"

"Hello, Ari."

Spinning around at the sound of the voice, Ariana came face to face with Rebekah, alive and well.

"Bekah!" Ariana grinned, rushing forward to hug Rebekah tightly, who giggled and hugged back. "I've missed you so much! I heard about Nik daggering you, and I literally wouldn't speak to him for ages after that! I'm so glad you're okay. Why are you here?"

"Well, you see... I wouldn't exactly say I'm looking for revenge from you, but Nathan helped Nik dagger me, and you're his former love, so..." Rebekah trailed off with a smirk.

"What?" Ariana whispered. "You're... not going to do that really annoying thing where you snap my neck before I even have a chance to blink, right?"

"You're my friend, Ari. I'd never intentionally hurt you..." Rebekah suddenly stabbed Ariana in the arm with a syringe of vervain, which made Ariana gasp. "But I'm afraid I have to weaken you... just until I grab the others..."

As the vervain flowed into her system, Ariana felt herself getting weaker, until she eventually passed out.

---

Ariana had awoken and was leaning against a bookshelf in the library. She looked around and then got up. April walked in.

"The assembly is over."

"What the hell is going on?" Ariana demanded.

"The school will be empty soon..." April avoided the question. "How many times did you compel me?"