This is my first fic, i was inspired to wrote one after reading some pretty awesome pieces on here. This starts at season 1 but will move forward to incorporate some of my other favorite characters from season 3 & 4.
Hope anyone who reads this enjoys the first chapter and if you have any questions just ask.
The dark gravel crunched underneath my feet as I slowly walked up the pathway that led, eventually to the house. It wasn't one I'd ever visited before; I'd never had the need or the want too. This house was rather far out from the rest of town, secluded and private with the vast amount of trees surrounding the grounds. The driveway to the house didn't look welcoming, like the house itself the whole area was dark and dreary and not very visitor friendly. The idea of walking up to the door and knocking, asking to use the phone had my stomach in knots. I knew who lived here of course but that didn't help ease my worry any. I soon stepped onto a much more even path way leading up to the house, thankful not to have to listen to the noisy gravel with each step I took anymore. The lights were on, that was always a good sign.
Heavy rain had started to pelt from the sky as I finally reached the door, I was grateful not to be caught out in it, even if my only protection from the onslaught was a doorway. Pulling in a final calming deep breath I raised my fist to the wood and knocked twice, taking two very small steps back from the entrance. I waited and then I waited some more, patience wasn't one of my strengths but I still didn't want to wake anyone up, it was late after all. And of course, a school night.
"This may be known as the boarding house but we don't accept any…boarders..no rooms" a dark voice said quietly from behind me. I couldn't contain the gasp that escaped my throat as I whirled round, surprised not to have heard anyone approach.
"I don't want a room.." I replied, confused by the sudden appearance. "I..is Stefan here?" I asked quickly, the air rushing out form my lungs along with the question.
"That depends, who wants to know?" I couldn't make out the person asking the questions, given the already poorly lit area we were standing in, that coupled with the fact that I'd left my glasses in the car. Don't get me wrong I wasn't completely blind or anything, my eyesight wasn't that bad. I just had to squint sometimes to see things clearly. Like the words on a page, so wearing them for driving and school was a must. My eyes worked okay for me and done what I needed them to in the daylight.
"Is he here or not?" Again, my patience not so good and this guy seemed to have a little bit of attitude for no reason. Some people don't like visitors, I get it but no need to be a complete douche about it or not. Add to that the vague replies. Please.
"You're awfully pushy" he said dryly, stepping forward so I could finally make out some of his features as he got closer. And what lovely features they were. Handsome was definitely an understatement. Incredibly chiselled jawline, the bluest eyes I'd ever had the pleasure of looking upon and a full head of dark black locks to boot. "What do you want with my brother?" he asked demandingly as he took another step forward, his attitude very no nonsense.
"I..umm didn't know Stefan had a brother." He'd never mentioned he had a brother, but then again we'd only really spoken a couple of times. For all I know Stefan Salvatore had 23 brothers hidden at the boarding house.
"Hmm" he regarded me carefully for a moment, not adding anything further to the noncommittal sound. Walking around me at a leisurely pace the man walked up to the door and opened it casually, stepping into the house and holding the door open, gesturing for me to follow suit. I waited for a more vocal invitation inside, not too sure I wanted to follow him in. I needed to call my mom sure but I didn't know him, or anything about him. If only the brother I was actually looking for was here. "Are you going to come inside or just stare at me like a confused kid for the rest of the night?"
"Can I use your phone?" I asked quickly, not wanting to delay the question anymore than I needed to, no point in pretending I'd popped over for a friendly chit chat with the new guy.
"Sure, come on in" he tapped at the back of the door impatiently as I slowly stepped in through the large, rather heavy looking door frame. Everything about the Salvatore boarding house screamed old and dated.
"Wow" I sighed quietly as I slowly took in my surroundings.
"I know right" he walked in front of me, never stopping to look back and check that I was following him. "It's like a damn museum"
"It's impressive" I admitted as I followed behind him.
"What are you doing?" Stefan appeared from a doorway which led into another hallway and I wondered silently just how many different rooms and passages there was in this building. I'd really hate to be in charge of sweeping all of these floors, they must have someone who does that for them? Maybe if they still accepted guests here then they'd have several people but I didn't think the boarding house had been operational in many years, I could always remember my mom saying something about it being shut down after another animal attack. The family didn't want the reputation or the publicity.
"I'm here to…" I started to explain, a little thrown off by Stefan's cold and distant tone.
"I think he was talking to me" his brother smiled back at me as he pointed towards a landline, sitting on top a very old looking table, everything in here was most likely period and very antique looking, well except the landline. Cordless. "Relax brother" he laughed a she took off the dark jacket he was wearing and threw it onto a chair "Your friend here showed up on the doorstep wanting to use the phone, being the gentleman that I am I was hardly going to refuse now, maybe if you'd have answered the door you would have beaten me to it"
"I was busy" Stefan's tone was still rigid, his eyes never moving from his brother as I picked up the handset and dialled my home number, hoping to get my mom.
"You're being rude Stefan, it's not helping your so called normal fit in high school life" I could tell from the tension in the room that there was some on-going family drama between these two but it was best to just ignore it, hell it happens in all families. No exceptions.
"Shut up Damon" Stefan's jaw barely moved as he bit the words out from behind his clenched teeth. The dialler reached voicemail for the second time as the pair continued to stare each other down.
"Okay" I sighed as I placed the handset back in its cradle and moved away from the two of them. "I'm just going to walk back into town and head home. Thanks" I nodded towards the phone as I started to retreat from the awkward silence that had engulfed the room.
"Wait" Stefan moved towards me slowly, still trying to keep an eye trained on his brother. "Let me drive you"
"It's okay Stefan…"I began to protest, not wanting to put him out. Or sit in a car with a broody and silent Stefan. I'd never seen this side before, not that I knew him well of course but it wasn't what I was used too.
"You can't walk back to town at this time, it's dark Caitlyn" Stefan grabbed a set of keys from a bowl on top of a shelf and moved towards the door, holding it open for me to walk through and back out into the large entry way.
"Sure Stefan" Damon shouted as we walked out "You can borrow my car" I was about to protest once more when Stefan interrupted me.
"It's fine" he grabbed my elbow and steered me towards a Chevy Camaro parked in the long driveway, well if you call that parking – it was more abandoned than anything.
The drive back from the Salvatore boarding house didn't drag as much as I expected it to, not that it was an especially long drive, the house was only a mere 10 minutes' drive from the centre of our small town, I just didn't expect Stefan's mood to lighten so dramatically when he left his house and more importantly his brothers company.
"Thanks Stefan" I mumbled quietly as he parked in front of my house "I owe you one"
"Don't mention it" he shrugged, relaxing back into the leather seat.
I walked quickly up the path, resisting the temptation to run. I didn't want to look to eager to get away from him, after all he did just do me a massive favour, it's just everything about tonight's interaction was little weird. I'd have to ask around about the brother, he must be new here as well. I'd remember seeing him around town.
I finally reached the front door and was relieved to see the lights on, turning the door handle quickly I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding, thankfully it was open. I'd stupidly left my house keys in the car, along with my mobile. It was dead anyway so it didn't really matter that much, no one could get into it. Not that anyone would want to break into the hunk of crap car anyway. I was pretty confident that they were safe for the night. I could hear my mom's loud voice the minute I stepped into the hall. She was chattering away with someone in the kitchen, her tone wasn't light and jovial but serious, almost as if she was in the middle of a heated discussion or debate with someone. I shut the door loudly behind me, just to let her know that I'd walked in. Whatever she was arguing about, I really didn't want to know.
"Hey honey" she shouted through from the kitchen and I walked quickly towards the sound, eager to chew her ear for being completely unreachable.
"Oh so you are alive then?" I noted with attitude as I walked into the kitchen and pulled my hoody over my head, depositing it onto the counter as I walked over to the cupboard and pulled out a highball glass and filled it with soda from the fridge.
"Of course I'm alive" she laughed as she stirred at whatever she was cooking on the stove.
"Well why don't you answer the damn house phone?" I knew I was crossing the line but I really didn't care, I could have had an accident or anything and she'd never know because she'd be too busy chatting on her mobile with the landline unplugged or the ringer turned down. I made a mental note at that exact moment to change my emergency contact details at the school and the doctors. If I ever needed someone, she wouldn't be who I would call that's for sure. You'd still be waiting for her to show a week later.
"Watch it Cait" I could hear the lecturing tone in my uncle's voice before I'd had a chance to explain "Don't talk to your mother like that."
"Butt out uncle Logan" I shot back. "My car broke down on my way back from Georgia's, my phone had completely died and I couldn't get a hold of her" I pointed in my mom's direction, I could see the frown crease on her forehead as I continued. "Thank god there were people home at the boarding house or I would've been stuck walking home."
"Did Zach bring you home?" My mom asked with concern as she walked towards me and rubbed my shoulder, that was she done every time I got angry or sad. It worked when I was little; it had always calmed me down, now though…not so much.
"No" I shrugged out from under her grasp "His nephew did"
"Elena Gilbert's boyfriend" My uncle Logan asked with curiosity.
"Yeah" I nodded in confirmation.
"Nice kid" he nodded back "I met him the other night when I stopped over at the Gilbert's"
"Have you met his brother?" I couldn't help myself, I just had to ask.
"No" he shook his head slowly "Didn't know he had one, sorry"
"It's okay" I shrugged "Just curious"
"Do you want something to eat honey?" My mom asked cheerily as she returned to the stuff and the smell of pasta sauce wafted through the room.
"No thanks" I moved into the hall and headed for the stairs "I just want a shower" I shouted back to her as I started the small climb up.