Ric sighed and stuffed his hands in his Levi pockets. The sound of the heels of his shoes echoed as he walked, it sounded so very loud to him as he tried to focus on helping Jeremy.

"Look, Jer... I'm worried about you." There was that permanent frown again. "I mean, first your grades are dropping, now there was that fight... and the cannabis, Jeremy! What's going on with you, man?"

"Sure Jer, I mean, experimenting is part of being a teenager but, man... that's not the point. What the hell could be so bad... so stressful that the drugs are the only thing that make you feel better?" There was that frown again, he was sure it would just permanently be there forever if he didn't find something to stop worrying him. Yeah.... like that is ever going to happen! "Come on, Jer... talk to me; I want to help you. Is it because of Vicky?"

Alaric stopped for a moment, there was a bench near them but that wasn't why he had stopped. He and Jeremy were similar in this sense; they both blamed each other for the deaths of those close to them. Ric was startled by this revelation and his gaze softened from the hardness of the teacher to the warmth of a guardian.

"Jeremy..." He sat down. "I know what it's like; I blame myself for my wife's disappearance. I shouldn't have let her get so deeply into it all... I should have been there for her and I wasn't. Look, it's not your fault, it's no one's fault. Sometimes these things just happen an... and there's no reason why." He sighed. "Life isn't fair, Jeremy; we are all proof of that."

With his elbows propped on his knees, Ric rested his head on joined hands and looked to Jeremy. Good... alright, breathe.... listen to him; help him... you need to do this, not just for yourself, not just for Elena... but for him. He deserves a good life.

"I promise." He breathed slowly, his eyes showing his truth.

"Alright Jer...." He said softly, there was still a look of sadness in those eyes of his. Drop it now, if there's anything else... well, maybe he'll talk to you of his own accord. "Promise me you'll try and keep your grades up? I don't want you flunking because of this, man."

Alaric ran a hand over his face and back through his hair, sighing. "Yeah... I'm alright. Just tired now... I'll see you later, Jeremy." He wanted to stay on the bench for a while... or get a drink. A drink would stop him thinking about everything; Alaric Saltzman being left alone to brew over his own thoughts was never a good thing.

He decided on drink.