E x p r e s s i o n

They finally managed to go back to school. Bonnie, Malik and Caroline were at their lockers getting all of their stuff when they noticed Elena approaching.

Malik wasn't sure how to approach Elena. Yes she was sired but that still didn't mean he was over her attitude. As a vampire her selfish behaviour seemed to get on his nerves a lot more.

Regardless of all of that Bonnie just smiled looking at the girl and greeted her friend.

"Elena, hey. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"

" Well, Caroline told me you had to move out to stay away from Jeremy."

"Matt is at the house staying with him right now to make sure he keeps all of his hunter stuff in control. He's okay."

"But are you?" butted in Caroline. "I mean, clearly, they don't have a flat iron at hotel Salvatore."

The girls giggled, Elena realised how messy her hair was and she quickly tried to change the subject while quickly attempted to fix her hair.

"I was in a rush. I mean – look, do you guys have any plans tonight? I'm in desperate need of some girl talk... and I also want to talk to you Mal, I'm sorry for everything and just you know..."

"I'm in" volunteered Bonnie immediately. "Shane taught us some small spells we've been wanting to try."

"Oh, creepy professor guy is just Shane now" commented Caroline to which the twins just rolled their eyes and Malik responded with a small smile.

"He's not creepy."

"We're not judging" announced Elena with a smile but Caroline decided to choose violence.

"I am."

"Don't listen to her. So, girls' night? We can raid the Salvatore wine cellar."

Malik and Caroline exchanged a look, clearly both of them were slightly uncomfortable and the blonde decided to voice her concerns.

"Um, are you sure that Stefan and Damon are cool with us crashing at their place?"

"I can't go home because my brother is trying to kill me. So their place is mine now, too. I'll see you in a bit."

Elena left, leaving the trio in a surprised state, Malik just turned to Caroline and spoke quietly.

"She is acting weird... weirder than usual."

"Agreed" added Caroline. "Do you think..."

"You two need to stop" interrupted Bonnie looking at the pair. "What's going on? I'm used to having the two of you tease each other but now as allies... I'm not sure I can take it."

"Grab an umbrella Bonnie" sassed Malik and giving a quick kiss to her sister said goodbye to the girls.

Walking to class he met with Jeremy, seeing the boy both of them just grinned and once they got close they hugged each other, and Jeremy began talking quickly.

"You doing okay man?"

"Yeah I'm good... how you holding up with this whole hunter mess?"

"It's not easy but... hanging there. So is it true? You can do magic again?"

"Sort of" said Malik and looking around indicated his friend to follow him.

As they got into a room Malik looked at the windows and slowly raising his hand began to focus. Jeremy looked at him and raising his eyebrows stepped closer.

"Mal?"

"Yeah?" asked the boy surprised looking at his best friend.

"I know I have no experience in being a witch and this new magic... but you commanded powers no one else could in centuries... why are you so..."

"Nervous?" asked Malik with a smile and looked at his hands.

"Yeah... I mean if anyone could control this new power to do what they want... my money is on you."

Malik remained silent and looking at Jeremy gave him a genuine smile before he turned away and having Jeremy's words ring in his head the warlock snapped his fingers, suddenly all the blinds dropped. Malik began laughing moving his hands again all the candles lit up. Seeing all this Malik and Jeremy laughed together and Malik once again flicked his wrists and releasing more magic the blinds opened, the fire disappeared but the lights became even stronger. Before they could have popped Jeremy placed a hand on his shoulder earning Mal's attention. Turning to him the warlock seemed relieved and excited, jumping at Jeremy hugged the boy.

"Thank you... I'm not sure what I would do without you."

"Probably overreact for another month" chuckled Jeremy and returned the hug.

"I was nervous" admitted Mal. "Without the spirits I cannot just cast spells like I used to..."

"The spirits only helped you" argued Jer and pulling away looked him in the eye. "They're not the ones who made you special."

Malik's day became so much better after. Thanks to Jeremy his confidence was stronger, he could feel that the power he now began to master was truly his. He didn't have to worry.

He tried to tell Bonnie but for some reason she was adamant on following Shane's guidance and be careful, warning him in the process.

So Malik decided to remain silent on the matter.

When the night came around they went over to the Salvatore Boarding house, sitting in the parlour Malik was somewhat uncomfortable while Elena brought a wooden crate into there filled with wine bottles.

"One for you" announced Elena and handed a bottle to Bonnie who smiled and accepted it.

"On for you" Malik accepted his bottle with a small smile and Elena pulled out another bottle and handed it to Caroline.

"And one for you."

"I'm assuming this is for Caroline?" commented Bonnie and held up a blood bag.

Caroline reached out for it, but Elena snatched it before she could and spoke with a big smile on her face.

"Actually, it's for me."

The news shocked all three of them, Bonnie and Caroline exchanged a glance, their faces surprised.

"I thought –" started Malik confused but he was lost for words.

"Are you saying that –" asked Bonnie expectantly and preparing herself for some good news.

Elena drank the blood bag and took it out her mouth, showing her friends that she could now keep blood down from a blood bag down.

"Thanks to Damon, I am now a functional dysfunctional vampire."

"That's amazing" exclaimed Bonnie excitedly, but Caroline just exchanged a look with Malik before she turned to Elena.

"What do you mean "thanks to Damon?" "

"Well, he suggested that I try it again. So I did and it worked. No more snatch, eat, erase."

Caroline leaned back with a pleased expression, knowing full well she was right about Elena being sired. This just proved everything.

"So where is my least favourite Salvatore?" questioned Caroline while they all turned around to look at Elena who took a seat on the opposite couch, took out her phone and looking at the last message spoke.

""Out with Stefan for the night, don't wait up. Brother bonding." "

"Hm, so you guys check-in text now? What else do you do?"

"I know that you're not the biggest fan, but he kind of just changed my life. Would you mind laying off on all the hate?"

Malik leaned back with a smirk and holding his bottle of wine watched the events, but the moment Bonnie noticed that she just cleared her throat and spoke up.

"Ok, new rule: no boy talk, yeah?"

"Fine" sighed Malik and the other two girls nodded. "Plus, why talk when we have this?"

He pulled out the plastic bag from Bonnie's purse and everyone could see it was full of a black herb.

"Is that stoner tea?!" exclaimed Caroline and even Elena's jaw dropped.

"It's spirit tea. It opens up your chi, or whatever" commented Bonnie, but Caroline didn't look convinced. "Come on, it's not drugs! Shane is helping us do natural magic without having to access the spirits."

"Mm-hmm"

"Don't judge" countered Malik immediately.

Caroline looked at Malik who stared back at her straight-faced, as the blonde glanced behind the boy Bonnie had the exact same face on which made her give up completely.

"Okay, fine! I hereby vow not to be judgmental for the rest of the evening! Even if you three are potentially ruining your lives as I stand idly by, it's your choice."

"I'll drink to that" commented Elena and everyone grabbed their bottle of wine and held it up while Elena touched their glasses with her blood bag. "Cheers."

They actually did have a good time.

As the wine and tea began to work their magic they had music on... they were dancing and drinking while Bonnie was capturing it all on her phone.

Elena poured another glass of champagne for herself, but realized the bottle was empty. She suddenly used her super speed and went into the dining room, stood on the table and grabbed another bottle of champagne.

Caroline, Bonnie and Malik cheered for her as she super sped back into the room and popped the cork off the new champagne bottle.

She poured herself another glass and they all hugged each other and fell on the couch.

Looking at the music box Malik just snapped his fingers and the track changed and the volume went up. They all cheered while Bonnie just shook her head but hugged her brother.

Their fun went so far that they began to explore the Salvatore Boarding House.

As they went through the rooms they made their way into Damon's bathroom.

Elena was lying in the empty tub while Bonnie and Caroline were sitting next to her, Malik just watched them with a smile but sat next to the sink. The three girls were giggling and had a good time, Bonnie pulled out her phone and began showing her recordings.

"Check this out: Vamp-speed video."

"I look like Superman. Watch this" laughed Elena and paused the video at the point where she was super speeding back into the room.

The capture showed a giant blur behind her. She immediately showed it to Bonnie and Caroline with a big smile on her face.

"This year's Christmas card. Being a vampire is so weird. Oh my God, I love this bathtub. Why don't we come and hang out here more often?"

"I'll tell you why. Cooties. Think of all the germ-ridden skanks that Damon has lured into his den of inequity."

Caroline giggled but she was the only one. Malik just let out a groan, clearly expecting Elena to overreact and almost on cue the doppelgänger sat up in the bath tub and did not look amused.

Bonnie also looked unamused by Caroline's attempt at a joke, seeing both of their faces Caroline realised her mistake and holding up her hands spoke.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I've been good all night. I am stopping now."

"No, don't stop on my account. Rip away. I mean, it's only Damon, right?" came the sarcastic tone of Elena which made Malik put down his bottle and his face turned serious.

"Well, say what you want about Ripper Stefan, but at least he wasn't a man slut" continued Caroline still not fully picking up on the mood of the room.

"Come on" warned Bonnie hoping to stop the two of them but it seemed some things just had to come out.

"So, what exactly was it about him that made you jump right into bed with him as soon as you met him?" asked Elena which made Malik grab the side of the sink.

"I didn't know what a sociopathic narcissist he was" shrugged Caroline.

"He's always been there for me when I needed him" defended Elena but Caroline wasn't backing down.

"Yeah, because he's hoping you'll sleep with him."

"Well, maybe I did" announced Elena, which resulted in Caroline and Bonnie looking at her in shock.

"I knew it" sighed Malik and pushed himself off the sink.

"You did what?!" shouted Caroline still in shock, while Bonnie looked at Elena and spoke in a disappointed tone.

"You didn't."

"Yeah, I did. Look, I know you two have issues with him, but I'm happy, and I wanted to spend tonight with my best friends so that I could tell them about it."

Elena got up from the bathtub and walked away, leaving the trio in the bathroom, still in shock, while Malik just looked after Elena then back to Caroline and Bonnie.

It seemed the blonde was struggling, and Malik knew what was going through her head. She wanted to tell Elena about the sire bond.

But how do you break something like that to you best friend?

"Let's go" spoke Malik holding his hands out to Caroline and Bonnie. "It's best if you two talk to your best friend about this. Okay?"

"You're right" spoke Bonnie and they both grabbed his hands, once he helped them up, they all made their way to the parlour, there Elena was cleaning up the mess from the party.

"Elena, come on" spoke Bonnie clearly knowing her best friend was pouting and overreacting.

"Party is over. You guys need to leave."

"Don't be mad, okay? We're just looking out for you" stepped in Caroline, while Malik stood a bit behind, letting the girls handle this situation.

"Do you think it makes me happy that you guys hate him? I get it. His track record has been kind of spotty but I don't hate him. I can't. He's - I think I'm falling in love with him."

"You're not falling in love with him, Elena. You're sired to him."

Malik's eyes widened in amusement and walking closer stopped next to Bonnie who was just as much in shock as Elena. Caroline looked at Malik and the boy knew she regretted revealing the secret but it was late. Wat too late.

"What?" questioned Bonnie and looked at Caroline but noticing her look towards Malik she immediately realised her brother was in on this too. "You knew about this?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Elena confused.

Caroline kept her eyes on Malik who just nodded with a small smile, encouraging the blonde to tell her friend the truth.

"I... Look, I'm sorry that it came out like that, but it's true. Damon's blood turned you. You couldn't feed from animals or blood bags because he told you so. Then he suggested that you try again with blood bags and suddenly..."

"No. There's no way."

"Are you sure?" asked Bonnie looking at Caroline who turned to the witch.

"Yeah. Ask Stefan about it. He can explain it better than I can."

"I'm sorry, you talked to Stefan about this?" demanded Elena angrily.

"It's not your fault, Elena. Okay, Damon took advantage of you" continued Elena which made Malik facepalm himself.

"Okay, you need to leave" announced Elena still angry. "Now!"

Elena was about to stride past them when Malik caught her arm and looking at the blonde spoke.

"Elena listen to me, we are not saying your feelings are not real... okay?"

"That's exactly what Caroline says..."

"No... she's just bias. I know you love them both. As a vampire and with the sire bond your feelings have intensified to the point when anything bad against Damon is an insult and makes you act out!"

"Is that so?" asked Elena in anger and pushing past walked to the front door. "I said leave" announced the doppelgänger and opened the front door.

But as she did so there were two strangers standing there, two of Tyler's hybrids Aidan and Kimberley. Seeing the door open the girl gave them a fake smile and spoke up.

"Hello everyone."

Kimberley rushed into the house and knocked Elena into the wall, immediately she rushed at Caroline and grabs her by the throat.

Adrian rushed in and grabbed Elena who fought back and pushed him against another wall but eventually he got the upper hand and slammed Elena into the wall. Both of them had their hands wrapped around the others' throat.

Malik immediately raised his hand and causing Adrian to drop on his knees screaming in pain suddenly the walls began to crack however the moment Adrian's nose began to bleed Malik heard the girl behind her.

"Stop!" they both looked at her and stopped the spell, seeing Kimberley's eyes have turned yellow. "One bite from a hybrid and she's dead, remember?"

Adrian suddenly got up and threw Elena to the floor, Bonnie helped her to get up while Malik stepped closer.

"If you want to hurt anyone... take me. Klaus has a thing for me, if you really want to do a homerun, I'm your best bet."

Bonnie was about to argue but when she turned around, she saw that Kimberley and Adrian have gone, but so did Caroline and Malik.

Arriving to the cellar they threw them in and without hesitation Malik was thrown against the wall, but before he could have got up, he got kicked in the stomach, punched in the face. Punches and kicks were coming from so many ways that he could not react. Once it stopped he opened his eyes slowly. But he could only open one of them and seeing it was only him and Caroline, both in shackles he sighed. Caroline was crying and looking at Malik spoke gently.

"I'm sorry Mal, you got hurt because of me... I'll get us out of here."

Malik wanted to reassure her but he couldn't speak. He just tried to crack a smile through the pain then used his magic to numb the pain. As they stood there Kimberley came back and grabbing Caroline pressed down on the chains and the vampire shouted in pain.

"Why are you doing this?"

"To show Tyler who's in charge" Kimberley cracked Caroline's wrists and once again she screamed in pain.

Malik tried to ease her pain along with his own but it didn't seem to take much affect. His only relief was the moment when suddenly Tyler and Elena rushed into the barn and towards them.

"Stop! Stop it, Kim. Caroline and Malik are with us. We're all on the same team."

"They're on your team, not mine."

Behind Tyler and Elena, the other hybrids entered the barn. The hybrids restrained Elena and Tyler while Kimberley continued to torture the screaming Caroline and every now and then delivered a blow to Malik as well.

"Stop it! Stop!" shouted Tyler.

"Ease up, Kim. Klaus won't like this" warned Adrian in a worried tone.

"That's a very good point. Do you think he'll like this?"

Kimberley picked up a stake and showed it to Tyler and the rest of the hybrids, before she began to lowered it towards Caroline's heart.

"Kim! Don't do it. I swear to God!"

Suddenly Kimberley's smile faltered and her hands twisted back, she screamed out in pain. The next moment Malik's chains broke and the boy stood there with anger in his eyes. The moment the magic was unleashed Malik's eyes had a dangerous red colour appear, his wounds healed up almost instantly but he was still covered in blood.

"Touch her again and I will end you wolf" warned Malik and with a simple movement dropped the girl on the ground.

As he looked over the hybrid holding Elena, the doppelgänger suddenly felt a release, turning around noticed her captor being sent back into the wall.

Kimberly was about to get up when finally Tyler managed to get himself loose from the hybrids holding him back. He grabbed Kimberley and sticked his hand in her chest, grabbing her heart. The hybrid gasped in pain, which made all the other hybrids move towards her.

"Stay back! I'll rip her heart out right now!" the hybrids didn't make any more moves towards the pair of them, so Tyler looked Kimberley dead in the eye. "Kim put you all at risk today but I'm not gonna hurt her. I'm not Klaus. I don't kill and torture my own friends to get what I want. Now, we broke the sire bond, but if you want to be free, we have to work together. No one can step out of line. Now, you're either with me or you're against me. Submit. Submit or you die."

"I'm sorry."

Tyler removed his hand from her chest, the girl gasped and caught her breath. Tyler stood up from her and looked at the other hybrids. One by one, all of the other hybrids get down on their knees, submitting to Tyler and showing him that he is the Alpha.

Seeing that they were finally safe Malik's leg finally gave up but Elena quickly caught him and holding the boy spoke gently.

"You okay?"

"I'll be fine... just lost a lot of blood. Let's go back... Now I really need that champagne."

Elena smiled at the warlock and picking him up sped away from there instantly. Once they got back to the Boarding House Bonnie immediately began tending to her brother and seeing his state she turned to Elena.

"What happened?"

"Just hybrids Bon" responded Malik and leaned on his sister a bit more. "Let's go upstairs... I need to clean off myself... Elena do you think I can borrow some clothes?"

"Yeah sure... and Mal? Thank you."

"Don't you worry" smiled the boy. "We are friends, Elena. You are a pain in my butt but still my friend."

Bonnie just smiled seeing how relieved Elena looked, the two girls helped the boy up the stairs and in one of the guest rooms he managed to get to the bathroom. Once he was alone, he started the water and slowly taking off his clothes got under the running hot water. Thanks to this new magic he was able to heal himself significantly, meaning the water did not sting.

He checked himself out and seeing the wounds completely disappear he was shocked. He had no idea magic could do things like this without immense energy being used. Moving his hands slowly the water began to bend as he instructed it and that's when he began to feel it again. The same sensation he felt every time he used magic... the temptation of letting go and not controlling it. Just more power awaited him.

No wonder spirits had no control over these actions.

But he knew his body wasn't quite as strong yet and it has been a while since he used magic like this.

Getting out of the shower he was drying himself with a towel and noticed the clothes laid out on the bed. He dressed up in the comfortable clothes and he noticed that these belonged to Stefan. Had the same scent as the vampire which surprised Malik but regardless put them on.

He walked out of there and going down the stairs the only thing he saw was Caroline jumping onto Elena and hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry!" Malik watched the two girls in silence when Carole spoke in a slightly worried tone. "Okay, if you don't start hugging me back this is gonna get really awkward really fast."

"You've got my hands pinned down."

"Oh" exclaimed Caroline and for a moment let go of the brunette allowing her hands to be free and hugged her friend once again, this time being embraced too. "I'm a jerk. I promise to never again judge ever."

"Just please don't tell Stefan about me and Damon. I promise that I'll tell him. I just - I need to figure out some stuff first."

"Of course."

"You guys friends again? Thank God" came the voice of Bonnie while Malik just smiled and joined them as well.

"Well, she saved my life. In spite of me being the nasty, bad witch."

"Thankfully we had our good witches" smiled Elena looking at Malik then at Bonnie. "You know, your hottie-creepy Professor really knows his stuff, Bonnie. The things you two have done is beyond impressing..."

"It's been baby steps but he's helping with a whole new kind of magic. He calls it: Expression."