When most people leave a small town they never look back. That was my plan at first, never look back, especially with all of the terrible memories that are linked with inside it. Yet here I was heading back to my home town of Mystic Fall only a few months after I had left it. Maybe it was because my family was there, my Aunt Jenna, my little brother Jeremy, but maybe most important my twin sister Elena.
Yes I, Ember Gilbert was heading back to the small dinky town of Mystic Falls, and I couldn't help but feel excited about it. As I drove down the familiar streets I smiled, my home town hadn't changed a bit since I left it like it was frozen until I got back. But I think everybody was ready to move on I sure was.
Once I pulled into the driveway of my childhood home, I sighed happily feeling as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was once again back where I belong. The funny thing however was that nobody knew I was coming back. I sure hope they were excited to see me.
After I was out of my car I made way up the porch steps I had left my bag in my car Jeremy could go and get it for me later. Slowly I opened the front door lucky for me the front door was unlocked so I didn't have to use my key which were very noisy. When I entered I heard the sweet voice of one of my best friends talking. Hearing Bonnie's voice was like hearing an angel talk but maybe that's because I hadn't spoken to anyone since I left. Not even the people at my new school. I had sadly become the hermit who spoke to no one ever.
"You explain it! Last night I was watching nine-o, a commercial break comes on and I'm like, I bet it's that phone commercial. And sure enough, it's that guy and the girl with the bench, he flies to Paris and he flies back. They take a picture." Bonnie said and I quirked an eyebrow what on earth were those two talking about.
"Oh come on!" my voice no, my twins sweet voice rings through my ears. "That commercials on a constant loop!" Elena exclaims and I bite my lip to stop myself from laugh of course my twin would say something like that.
"Fine. Well, how about this? Today I'm obsessed with numbers. 3 numbers. I keep seeing 8, 14, and 22. How weird is that?" she asked
"Maybe we should play the lottery?" I suggested making myself known and both girls drop what they are doing and turn to look at me, with surprised faces "Surprise" I said shyly
"Ember!" Elena yells running over to me clobbering my with a bear hug.
"Elena!" I say returning the embrace for a moment before pulling away to look down at her body to see if she had been eating and I felt as though I was looking in a mirror. The only thing that was different between Elena and I on a normal day was our hair. Elena's was pin strait while mine was curly, but today I decided I would straighten it. So we looked like exact replicas of each other, even down to our clothes which was worse than normal.
"Seriously you two haven't seen each other in months and you still do that creepy twin thing" Bonnie said making both Elena and I roll our eyes before I pulled fully away so I could go and embrace my best friend.
"Oh Bonnie how I've missed you" I said and she giggled
"I've missed you more! But you could have called more or at least once" she said angrily pulling away from me.
"Sorry Bon, I was just super busy with school and everything" I lied and Bonnie rolled her eyes like she knew that I was lying.
"Anyway Bonnie have you talked to your grams?" Elena asked pulling out food from the grill out of a large paper bag and I watched her curiously.
"She's just gonna say it's because I'm a witch. I don't want to be a witch. Do you want to be a witch?" Bonnie asked and I looked over at her. I still had no idea what these two were talking about. Maybe I should have stayed in contact with people instead of shutting people out of my life completely
"I don't want to be a witch" I answered truthfully I might as well start somewhere.
"Me neither" Elena says pour the to go food into nice bowls
"And putting it in nice bowls isn't fooling anyone" Bonnie stated and I giggled
"Very true who are you trying to impress?" I asked but she ignored me
"Ok serving spoons. Where are the serving spoons" she asked herself and I furrowed my brow whoever was coming over had my sister in a tizzy.
"Middle drawer on your left" Bonnie said nonchalantly and I looked at her amazed I didn't even know where they were, and as Elena opened the drawer that Bonnie said there in all their glory were the serving spoons.
"Ok, so you've been in this kitchen like a thousand times" Elena said and I looked at her and rolled my eyes
"Yea that's it" I said sarcastically as the doorbell rang and Elena looked to Bonnie.
"Ok, he's here. Don't be nervous. Just be your normal loving self. Both of you" Elena said before going to answer the door.
"Who's here?" I asked timidly and Bonnie sighed
"You will find out soon enough" Bonnie said with a hint of resentfulness in her voice, and I looked at her confused, but she smiled "Come on Em it's time for you to meet Elena's new guy" she said grabbing my hand dragging me into the dining room.
Once I entered the dining room I was greeted with a sight that I didn't think I would see in a long time. Elena smiling up at a handsome man. I smiled drinking the sight in; I was glad the Elena was healing and that she had moved on from her rough break up with Matt. But of course Bonnie had to ruin my happiness for my twin be clearing her throat making them both look over at me. As soon as the mystery man laid eyes on me I saw him tense up and take on an almost defensive state in front of Elena. I'm not gonna lie it kind of scared my so I started recoiling back into the kitchen.
"Stefan this is my twin sister Ember" Elena said sweetly to the mystery man that I know knew as Stefan.
"Hi" I said shyly and Elena smiled and I saw Stephan's face and body language soften.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I have heard so much about you" he said offering out his hand, and I took a deep breath before shaking it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well" I said in almost a whisper and I dint think he would be able to hear it but he smiled none the less.
"So when did you get back into town if I remember correctly Elena told me you were going to a specialty school?" he said and I nodded and I opened my mouth to say something but Elena's voice cut me off.
"Why don't we go sit down, before we get into too deep a conversation" Elena suggest and I nodded, and we all clambered into the dining room. Once we sat down Elena excused herself to go and get the food.
"So what were you going to specialty school for?" Stefan asked once Elena was in the kitchen
"Drama" I said quickly and Stefan quirked an eyebrow at my hurried response and I looked down at my empty plate.
"She not much of a conversationalist" Elena said bring in the food "Well until you get to know her" she said and I bit my cheek and nodded.
"I completely understand" Stefan said before Elena dished him up, and we started one of the most awkward meals of my life.
After a short while of deafening and awkward silence Elena spoke up.
"Did Tanner give you a hard time today?" Elena asked and I looked up from my plate. Another person who had a hard time with Tanner maybe we would get along after all.
"Well he let me on the team." Stefan said "So I must have done something right" he said
"You play football?" I asked not seeing this man sitting next to me as a football player at all.
"Yep!" Elena said happily "Bonnie remember how Stefan threw the ball at Tyler, and..."
"Yea I remember" Bonnie said irritably and I looked over at her in shock. Wondering what Stefan had done to get such hostility for the kindest girl I know.
"Why don't you tell Stefan about your family?" Elena suggested and I inwardly cringed what an awkward topic to choose.
"Um, divorced. No mom. Live with my dad" Bonnie said shortly and I nodded yea that about summed it up.
"No about the witches" Elena said to Bonnie before looking over to Stefan "Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool." Elena said happily and Bonnie scowled
"Cool isn't the word I'd use" Bonnie said sourly and I saw Stefan shrug
"Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed, but I do know that there's a history of Celtic druids that migrated here in the 1800s." Stefan said and Bonnie looked up at him with confused but interested.
"My family came from Salem" Bonnie said and Stefan looked surprised
"Really? Salem witches?" Stefan asked clearly interested
"Yeah" Bonnie said sadly
"I would say that's pretty cool" Stefan said and I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling. The one person that Bonnie seemed to hate was warming up to him, just like Elena wanted. Just like I wanted because from the looks of it Stefan was gonna be around for a while.
"Really? Why?" Bonnie asked now thoroughly interested.
"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity." Stefan said proudly and Bonnie smiled with a slight twinkle in her eyes.
"Yea, they are" Bonnie said as if she had just come to that realization for the first time which was probably very true. I looked up and I smiled at Elena and she smiled back just as the doorbell rang again.
"I wonder who that could be." Elena asked and I shrugged standing up
"Who knows but I'll go check it out" I said walking to the front door. As soon as I opened it my bubbly blonde friend Caroline jumped into the door frame with dessert.
"Surprise!" she yelled "Bonnie said you were doing dinner so we brought dessert" Caroline said obviously not noticing that I was Ember not Elena. Then I looked behind her to see a gorgeous man with icy blue eyes and a total bad boy look going on.
"Oh?" I said not really knowing what to say, I only played Elena well on certain days and today wasn't one of them.
"Hope you don't mind" the blue eyes hunk said and I opened my mouth to say something
"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked coldly and I froze. I didn't like when people sounded angry, and Stefan already frightened me a little bit so this was not helping the matter.
"Waiting for Elena to invite me in" the man said
"I' m not Elena" I said
"I am" Elena said from behind me and I looked to the blue eyed hottie who looked completely confused "But yea you can…" Elena started
"No, no, no. He can't, uh... he can't stay. Can you, Damon?" Stefan said cutting off Elena and Caroline grabbed the hottie or Damon's arm
"Get in here" she said playfully not even noticing my presence like I thought she would.
"Were just finishing up" Stefan said giving Damon the death eye.
"It's fine" Elena said sweetly "Just come on in" she said and Damon smirked stepping into our house looking at the entry way as if he had never seen a house before.
"You have a beautiful home Elena, and…" he said looking at me
"Ember" I said before thanking him.
Since we had a larger party then we had before we moved in to the living room. That way everyone could have a place to sit and be comfortable.
"When did you get back into town?" Caroline asked finally acknowledging my presences.
"Just a little while ago" I said, feeling slightly uncomfortable in my own skin ever since I had sat down Damon's eyes had never left my body.
"And you didn't tell me because?" Caroline asked demandingly and I tensed up
"She didn't tell anyone" Bonnie said coming to my rescue and I looked over to her and mouthed 'thank you' to which she smiled and nodded.
"Where were you at?" Damon asked and I looked over to him
"A specialty school a few towns over" I said and Damon nodded
"So why did you move back if you don't mind me asking of course" Damon said with a heart melting smile.
"I missed my friends and family but most of all my twin" I told him truthfully and I heard Elena giggle.
"So Stefan I heard you got put on to the team" Caroline said making me look away from the beautiful eyes of Damon
"I did" Stefan said and Caroline giggled
"I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner put you on the team!" she said and I looked over at her in shock. I knew that Caroline had a terrible case of foot in the mouth at some points but I never thought that she would say something like that. "Tyler must be seething! But good for you! Go for it" she finished and Damon nodded
"That's what I always tell him. You have to engage. You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you. You have to go get it." Damon said and I rolled my eyes. I really didn't believe a word that just came out of that man's mouth.
"Yea, Elena wasn't so lucky today. It's only because you missed summer camp. God, I don't know how you're ever going to learn the routines. Or you for that matter Ember" she said and I bit my tongue. Of course now that I was back she would want to put me back on the squad.
"I'll work with them" Bonnie said quickly "They'll both get it" Bonnie assured Caroline.
"I guess we can put them in the back" Caroline said and I had to try really hard not to scream at her. Caroline may be one of my best friends but she insulted me and my sister one to many times.
"You know, you don't seem like the cheerleader type, Ember" Damon said and I looked over to him shocked that he had said that. Was Damon calling me fat?
"Oh, it's just 'cause her parents died. Yea, I mean, she's just totally going through a blah phase." Caroline said and I saw Elena and Bonnie both glare at her. Even though Elena had also lost our parents she was better at hiding her sadness that and she didn't lock herself away from human kind for the last few months either. "She used to be way more fun. And I say that with complete sensitivity." Caroline said and I just shook my head. Maybe I shouldn't have come back, not yet anyways.
"I'm sorry, you two." Damon said and I looked at him again in shock. "I know what it's like to lose both your parents. In fact, Stefan and I have watched almost every single person we've ever cared about die" he said and after he finished speaking I felt my heart break for the two men who I was guessing were brothers. Maybe my life wasn't as bad as I thought at least I didn't lose everyone I cared about and loved.
"We don't need to get into that right now, Damon." Stefan said harshly and Damon smirked
"Oh, you know what, you're right, Stef. I'm sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was bring her up." Damon said and I saw Stefan tense up, and I looked over to Elena totally lost and confused.
'I'll tell you later' she mouthed and I nodded, but the tension in the room was becoming too much for me.
"I'm gonna start cleaning up" I stated grabbing a few empty mugs and leaving the room before anyone could protest.
I was humming quietly while I was doing the dish, off in my own little world completely zoned out.
"You missed one" Damon said setting the mug on the counter but his voice startled me and arm bumped the glass making it fall and I cringed waiting for the glass to shatter but it never came. I looked over to see Damon with the cup in his hand.
"Nice save" I said laughing slightly as I took the cup from his hands
"I like you. You know how to laugh" Damon said and I felt my cheeks go warm. "And your sister makes Stefan smile which is something I haven't seen in very long time." He said and I nodded.
"Earlier were you talking about a woman?" I asked innocently
"Mhm" was all Damon said
"How did she die?" I asked, for some reason. I felt as though we could bond through the death of loved ones.
"In a fire. A tragic fire" he said sadly and I gnawed on my bottom lip for a moment before asking another question. A question that was more for my sister then for my knowledge.
"Recently?" I asked. I had to make sure Elena wasn't some rebound girl.
"Seems like it was yesterday" he said and I frowned but continued with my 20 questions.
"What was she like?" I asked turning to look at him and he smiled sadly
"She was beautiful. A lot like you in that department." He said and I blushed I don't think anyone but my dad ever called my beautiful. "She was also very complicated and selfish and at times not very kind, but very sexy and seductive." He finished looking as though he was picturing her right then, wishing she was here.
"So which one of you date her first" I asked I was taking a risk. Damon seemed very attached to this woman who ever she was and I didn't know how he would take it.
"Nicely deduced." Damon said with a smirk. "Ask Stefan. I'm sure his answer differs from mine. I'd quit cheerleading if I were you." He said completely changing the subject.
"Why?" I asked "Am I not good enough to be a cheerleader?" I asked and Damon smirked
"No I'm sure you amazing at it and that you look super sexy in your little outfit. But when Caroline mentioned you joining the team you looked as like you were going to die" he said and I bit my bottom lip.
"You saw that?" I asked, because if Damon saw then Caroline saw it which wouldn't be good.
"Am I wrong" Damon asked innocently and I shook my head.
"I used to love it; it used to fun, my way to relive stress… But things are different this year" I said sadly "Everything that used to matter to me doesn't anymore" I said truthfully
"So don't let it. Quit, move on. Problem solved. Ta-da." Damon said and I giggled
"Something's could matter again" I said crossing my arms and Damon shrugged
"Maybe. But... seems a little unrealistic to me." He said and I frowned at how right he was.
"I'm sorry about your girl" I said and Damon looked at me shocked "Whoever she was you lost her to" I said and for a moment Damon and I just stood there looking into each other's eyes.
"Hey you guys need some help in hear?" Bonnie asked and I looked over to see Elena and Bonnie looking suspiciously at Damon and I.
"Yea sure why not" I said with a smile, and both girls nodded and walked over to help me with the dishes that I had neglected to do while I was talking with Damon.
After a while of having all of us doing dishes Damon decided that he would go see what Caroline and Stefan were up to and I just shrugged. Although I was feeling slightly sad that Damon was leaving, and not only that he was leaving me with Elena who kept looking at me in disappointment, and with Bonnie who had a smirk on her face.
(Third person POV the living room)
"That's a really nice scarf" Stefan commented on Caroline's scarf that was tightly wrapped around her neck.
"Thanks its new" Caroline said happily playing with one of the ends.
"Can I see it?" Stefan asked "I mean would you mind taking it off" he clarified and Caroline smiled and shook her head
"Oh I can't" Caroline said sweetly and Stephan furrowed his brows in mock confusion he knew very well what was going on.
"Why not?" Stefan asked "Are you ok?"
"Umm… All I know is that I can't take it off" Caroline said triumphantly at her reasoning
"What are you two kids talking about?" Damon asked reentering the room and Stefan smiled at his older brother.
"I was just commenting on her scarf" Stefan said innocently and Damon's eyes narrowed at his brother.
"Hey, you know, um, Ember, Elena and Bonnie are finishing up the dishes." Damon said to Caroline "Why don't you go see if you can help?" he suggested and Caroline scoffed
"Does it look like I do dishes" Caroline said snobbishly
"For me" Damon asked sweetly and Caroline giggles
"I don't think so" she said and Damon rolled his eyes before looking deep into the beautiful blondes eyes.
"Go see if Ember needs help in the kitchen" Damon commanded and a moment later Caroline blinks.
"You know what I'm going to see if the girls need help in the kitchen" Caroline said happily and Damon faked a smile
"Great" Damon said and as soon as she was gone the whole mood of the room changes.
"They are people, Damon. She's not a puppet. She doesn't exist for your amusement, for you to feed on whenever you want to." Stefan scolded his older sibling who just smirked
"Sure she does. They all do. They're whatever I want them to be. They're mine for the taking." Damon said seriously and Stefan rolled his eyes.
"All right, you've had your fun. You used Caroline; you got to meet Elena and Ember, good for you. Now it's time for you to go." Stefan said in threating tone and Damon scoffed at his little brothers attempt to scare him.
"That's not a problem. Because I've been invited in so I can come back and visit my little cheerleader anytime I want to. That's right Stef I've got a Gilbert to" Damon said and Stefan growled
"Leave Ember out of this" Stefan warned and Damon smirked
"I don't think I will" Damon said before heading back into the kitchen to collect Caroline. All the while Stefan was worrying about how he is going to protect Elena and her twin sister from Damon. Which he would do somehow no matter the cost.
(Ember's POV)
Once everyone left I sighed heavily, happy that everyone was gone and now I could finally relax and be with my sister. Laying down on her bed I waited for her to come in. She was saying good bye to Stefan.
"So what did you think of him?" Elena asked plopping down in bed beside me. Smiling I turned to look at her.
"I hated him" I said sarcastically a smile residing on my face "He is a complete gentleman to you, and everyone around him, he's not bad looking either." I said and she started giggling.
"I'm glad you like him" she said and I nodded before flipping on my stomach
"So what's going on between him and Damon they seem like they hate each other" I said and she sighed.
"This girl name Katherine broke them apart, they have never been the same since her death" she said sadly and I furrowed my brows
"How long ago was this?" I asked and she shrugged
"We don't really talk about" she said and I nodded. Was Elena, Stefan's rebound? Was Stefan not as good as I once thought he was? After she told me about this Katherine person, Elena explained what all she knew about the girl and I was shocked. If they were truly brothers they would have let Katherine come between them.
My thoughts were broken when I heard the front door open and close. I shot straight up in the bed.
"Jeremy's home" Elena said irritated and I looked over to her questioningly
"You don't sound happy about that" I said and she shook her head.
"No and you'll see why in a moment" she said getting up from her bed, looking as if she was on a mission. "Jer" she said coming out of her room
"What?" I heard the irritated voice of my younger brother say
"Where were you?" she questioned
"Out" he said shortly and I furrowed my brows and got up from the bed and walked to the door but still kept myself hidden.
"Out where?" she asked and I heard Jeremy groan.
"It's really none of your business Elena" Jeremy spat and that when I intervened
"Is it any of my business Jer?" I asked making myself known and Jeremy straightened up
"Ember?" he asked with a slight smirk
"Hey baby bro" I said giving him a big hug
"When did you get back?" he asked hugging me back
"Earlier tonight, and I got to say bro I was a little disappointed that my baby bro wasn't here to great me" I said and Jeremy pulled away from me
"I was out I'm sure you heard" he said coldly and I blinked a few times in shock.
"Ok?" I said timidly. Jeremy knew that I hated when people were mad at me, and that I got scared of them when they were. My whole family knew that and the reason why.
"I'm going to bed" he said pushing past me knocking me into the wall, because I was frozen in shock. Once I heard his door close shut I slide to the floor tears pricking the backs of my eyes.
"Em?" I heard Elena say
"Can I stay with you tonight?" I whispered
"Yea" She said sadly knowing what was going on with me. "Come on let's get you ready for bed" she said gently pulling me up from my crouched position on the floor.
After Elena had washed my hair and helped me into to an extra pair of her night clothes she put me to bed. She was the one person who could help me once I was froze, the one person I would let help me.
The next morning I was woken up by my blanket being pulled off me roughly.
"Good morning sunshine!" Elena's voice sounded making my cringe
"Five more minutes" I groaned making Elena giggle
"No can do, I have already let us over sleep by 10 minutes" she said and I groaned. This was the one thing that I did not miss about my lovely twin. She was a morning person I was not. "Up!" she said pushing me to the point where I was almost off the bed.
"I am up" I groaned "Just not up, up" I said and this earned my the rest of the shove out the bed making my fall painfully to the floor.
"Now you can be up, up" Elena said happily and I slowly got myself up off the floor.
"Yea and you my dear are evil" I stated making Elena smile
"So do you want me to ask Jeremy if he will bring your bag in for you?" she asked and I cringed remembering my 'warm' welcome from him last night.
"No that's ok, I'll just where some of the clothes I left here along with some of yours and I will bring my bag in later" I stated making my way to the door.
"Ember" Elena said sadly making me turn to look at her
"What?" I asked
"Don't be afraid of Jer, he didn't mean it" she said and I took a deep breath
"I'm not afraid of Jeremy, Lena. He just needs some time to cool off that's all" I stated and Elena sighed.
"If you say so" she said and I nodded and left her room
"Be right back dear" I called in my fakest happy voice. I had to make it seem like I was ok, both to Elena and myself. Once I was in my room I went straight for my closet looking into see all the random clothing articles I had left behind. The first thing that I saw was my black lace shirt that I had been looking for since the day I had left. I shook my head and giggled. Elena must have borrowed it before I had left; I thought and pulled it off the hanger along with a red camisole to go under it. After I had my two pieces of clothing in my hand I made my way out of my room. Not paying attention to where I was walking I ran into someone.
"Oh morning Em" Jeremy said groggily and I froze. Making me mentally curse myself was I really afraid of my younger brother.
"Morning Jer" I stuttered not looking at him.
"You alright?" he asked and I nodded quickly
"Yup just going to Elena's room to borrow some clothes" I said quickly
"Do you need me to bring your bag in for you?" he asked and I shrugged
"If you want to" I said making Jeremy sigh.
"Ember" he said almost pleadingly, which made me look at him. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked again and I opened my mouth but my sisters voice spoke before I could
"She's fine Jer" Elena said harshly making Jeremy roll his eyes
"Whatever" he said and I move to the side so he could continue on to his room.
"Come on Em" Elena said and I nodded walking briskly into her room.
"This is what I have so far" I stated before Elena could ask me any questions "So all I need is some pants and shoes" I said looking at her smiling. Smiling weakly back she nodded and went to her closet
"Here you can where this dark jean skirt and these black booties" she said bringing them over to me.
"You're kidding me right?" I asked holding up the skirt and she shook her head
"Nope" she said happily and I groaned
"Do I have to?" I whined
"Yes you have to" she said exasperatedly "You look awesome in skirts, now go change" she said before I could complain any more.
Once I was again back in my room I quickly changed and fixed my hair. As I was traveling over to my bed to put the shoes on I stubbed my toes on something. Cursing under my breath I looked back to see what I had stubbed my toe on, and there in the middle of my room was my large suite case with my clothes in it from when I was gone. I smiled slightly, knowing who had done this, before going to my bed and pulling on the shoes and grabbing my empty school bag from last year, and made my way down stairs for breakfast.
"Wow look at you two being totally different people" my aunt Jenna said sarcastically, after I made my way into the kitchen where she and Elena were sipping on coffee.
"Oh I know!" I said with a smile grabbing down a mug "It's a new thing we are trying and I think so far its working" I said pouring my coffee and turning to my family with a smile.
"So you excited to go back to school Ember?" Jenna asked and I shrugged taking a sip of my drink.
"I guess" I said sadly "The only thing I'm not excited for is Tanner" I said bitterly and both Jenna and Elena laughed making me glare.
"So Ember you going to the game after school" Elena asked and I furrowed my brows
"Game?" I asked and Elena rolled her eyes
"The football game, the home coming football game" she said clarifying further then she need to.
"I guess so" I said "Might as well get right back into the school spirit" I said with fake happiness which my aunt and sister smiled at, showing that my acting had gotten so much better since I went to the specialty school. After our short conversation the three of us stood and drank our coffee in silence. That was until I heard a car horn beep.
"You wanna drive to school with me and Bonnie?" Elena asked taking her and my coffee cup and placing it in the dish washer.
"Nah I'll just take my car that way we don't have to wait for Bon to be done after the game and we can just go home" I said and Elena nodded sadly, but I gave her a reassuring smile. The only reason I wanted to drive myself is so if I got overwhelmed with school I could just leave, but Elena didn't need to know that.
A few minutes after Elena left, I made my way to the school also. Once I got out of my car I got people doing a lot of double takes and whispering. I knew the reasons for both the double takes and the whispers being shared among friends so I just shrugged it off and kept walking until I saw someone I knew. Thankfully that didn't take long.
"Mattie!" I yelled happily. Seeing my childhood best guy friend just made my morning.
"Ember?" my strawberry blonde friend said turning around to face me.
"Hey stranger!" I said hugging him. At first I was afraid that he wouldn't hug me back being that him and Elena broke up so that might put a strain on our friendship. Luckily it didn't and he hugged me tightly spinning me around.
"When did you get back into town?" he asked setting me down and I smiled pulling away from him
"Last night!" I said happily "And I couldn't wait to see you!" I said with a huge smile
"Wow Em, that really hurts" I heard Tyler say and I immediately spun around
"Ty!" I said in my most excited voice, throwing my arms around his neck. Growing up I was closer to Matt and Tyler, then I was with Bonnie and Caroline. So seeing these two made my life complete again. "
"Hey Ember" he said hugging me tightly making me giggle as I pulled away.
"My god someone's been working out!" I said flirtatiously hitting his arm, and he chuckled.
"Well you know me" he said making his voice deeper than it already was, and I shook my head.
"Sadly" I said mockingly and he playfully glared
"So Ember break any hearts at your new school?" Matt asked and I turned my attention back to him.
"Oh yes ton!" I said sarcastically with an eye roll making the guys chuckle. "But it's my old school now" I said with a smirk and I started walking away.
"Your moving back!" Matt asked happily as they both ran to catch up with me.
"Yes my dear friends I have" I said linking my arms through each one of the boys as we walked into the school "And I am going to make this year epic" I said happily and I walked to me first class with the coolest and hottest guys in school.
My first day back at Mystic Falls High was pretty unmemorable. I mean don't get me wrong it was nice to see everyone, but the teachers and classes were just as boring as I remember. So when after school rolled around I was more than excited for the homecoming game. As I was walking out side I saw Elena and Stefan talking, so I went over to them to talk.
"Oh look at you" Elena said "You look hot in your jersey" she said and I nodded walked over to them
"Oh I agree you look hot" I said with a smirk and they both shook their heads at me.
"What happened to you two?" Stefan asked looking at us both "No more cheerleading?" he asked and I shook my head
"I quit. I'm a quitter" Elena said and I nodded again in agreement. It was true we both were quitters.
"No, hey, you're not a quitter. Neither of you" Stefan said looking at Elena and at the last moment looking at me "You both suffered a great loss. You two are not the same people. You both should be looking ahead. You should be starting over. Ok?" he said and I smiled. Seeing how happy Elena was, I didn't think I would see her this happy for a long time. Now here we were and she was looking happy as ever. "I hope you don't think this is too soon or too weird," Stefan said looking at Elena "but... I, uh, I wanted you to have this." He said and handed her a necklace
"Oh my god!" Elena exclaimed "It's beautiful!" she said
"It's something that I've had forever," Stefan said "and, uh, I've never wanted to give it to anyone until now. I'd very much like it if you'd wear it for me, for... good luck." He explained and I felt kind of bad for interrupting on what seemed to be a personal moment for the couple.
"Is that rose I smell?" she asked and I looked at Stefan curiously I smelt it faintly to.
"No, it's, uh, it's an herb. It's nice huh?" he asked awkwardly
"I love it" Elena said sincerely "Help me put it on?" she asked and he nodded that's when I thought it was time to turn away. This seemed to personal for me to be there, but Stefan's voice made me turn back around.
"I have one for you to Ember" he said and I turned around
"What?" I asked and he shrugged stepping towards me.
"It's almost identical to the one I gave to Elena but different. Just like the two of you" he said and I smiled and took the necklace from him, and looked at it.
"I love it" I whispered, I was so touched that Stefan had gotten or gave this to me. No boyfriend I had ever been with had ever given me jewelry, and here was my twin sister's boyfriend giving me this amazingly beautiful one.
"And you two aren't in uniform because?" the clipped voice of Caroline and I raised my arms in in mock surrender.
"In my defense I never rejoined the squad you just assumed" I said clipping the necklace on while Caroline glared at me, before she went on to Elena.
"And what is your excuse?" she spat
"I uh…." Elena stuttered
"She decided to quit for me so I wouldn't feel awkward doing it by myself" I said cutting my sister off. This ultimately saved her butt.
"Of course you two would do this to me" Caroline said angrily before stomping off and I shrugged
"Have a good game Stefan" I said before walking off to find Matt and Tyler, my sister and her boyfriend needed some alone time.
Later that night I was standing by Tyler's truck. The team was getting a 'pep' talk from Tanner. Everything seemed to be going fine, until I heard Vicky yell.
"Wait, Ty!" Vicky screamed and I turned to see what was going on and I saw Tyler charging towards Jeremy looking like he was going to kill someone and I saw Jeremy getting up to looking just as pissed.
"Oh what do you care? Don't look so down" Tyler spat "You can have her when I'm done" he said and that when I got up to got to break this up before it started, but I was too late. Jeremy had thrown the first punch.
"Jeremy!" I scream in terror. No one ever started a fight with Tyler Lockwood and if they did well they would be in a world of pain. So being the stupid protective older sister I tried pulling Jeremy off of Tyler. One of the worst choices of my life, in the heat of rage just seeing someone else 'joining' the fight Tyler punched me. Making me fall to the ground with a split lip. That's when I froze, the one of the guys who I thought would never hurt me had just punched.
As I was frozen on the ground I could hear Vicky screaming at Tyler to stop, and I so badly wanted to help, but I was paralyzed with fear on the ground. The yelling and screaming not helping my current situation.
"Hey, he's down enough!" I heard Stefan yell and I cringed for the hurt that Stefan would be in the morning.
"Jeremy, no!" I then heard Elena scream and again my body went ridged, what was my stupid little brother doing now. Finally I heard the one voice who I knew could stop this whole thing.
"Tyler, knock it off!" Matt yelled "Stop and look at who is on the ground!" Matt said next. The fighting must have stopped because there was no more yelling just the sound of Elena scolding Jeremy.
"What the hell Jeremy!" she spat "Urgh put your head up your bleeding" she sighed.
"I'm fine" Jeremy growled
"Yea you smell fine" Elena spat back
"Just stop ok!" Jeremy yelled before I'm assuming stormed off. I still had no idea what was going on, I was still frozen lying on the parking lot floor. Eyes pinched shut blood leaking down my cheek.
"Elena!" Stefan called frantically
"Oh my god Ember" Elena cried running over to me putting my head in my lap. "You're ok, you're ok, every things alright" she cooed trying to get me to unfreeze. Thankfully it didn't take long, being back home has been doing wonders. "Thank god" Elena sighed I relief once I did unfreeze.
"I'm alright" I said shakily sitting up.
"Are you sure?" Stefan asked and I nodded before pushing myself up off the ground.
"Mhm" I mumbled as I felt blood dribble down my chin. Immediately my hand shot up to cover my mouth. "I'm positive" I said strongly "I just need to go cleanup" I stated and started walking away.
"Ember!" Elena called and I turned back to look at the anxiety filled faces of both Elena and Stefan.
"I'm fine really," I promised "I'm just going to go to my car clean up a little bit and then come watch the game, which you Stefan should be getting ready for, and you Elena should be getting seats for" I stated and both smiled weakly at me.
"Alright, see you both after the game" Stefan said before walking away
"I'll go get us seats" Elena said reluctantly and I smiled
"Good I won't be long" I promised and with that we both went our separate ways much to Elena's dismay.
Thankfully in my car I had a bunch of napkins and water to clean up the blood, well enough for the game. I could clean it up better when I got home, when this terrible night was over. After my lip was good enough I got out of my car and closed the door, turning to go to the stadium I ran into someone I was not expecting.
"You scared me!" I said shakily "What are you doing here anyways?" I asked
"I'm hiding from Caroline" Damon said with a smirk and I crossed my arms
"Oh really way is that?" I asked with mock curiosity. All I really wanted to do was go sit with Elena and watch our football team lose.
"I need a break" he stated and I raised an eyebrow "She talks more than I can listen" he clarified
"That could be a sign" I told him and he shook his head
"She is awfully young" he defended
"Not much younger than you" I stated in my matter of fact tone, at which he smirked to
"Well I don't see it going anywhere in the big picture" he said and I rolled my eyes for everyone who would have to deal with them as a married couple's sake I sure hope not. "She'd drive me crazy" and I shrugged.
"Caroline does have some really annoying traits," I told him truthfully "but we've been friends since the first grade and that means something to me"
"Duly noted." Damon said with a nod before stepping closer to me. "What happened to your lip?" he asked and I swallowed hard
"Got in the middle of a fight between my little brother and a varsity football player with a temper" I stated "Why do you care?" I asked and he shrugged again taking a another step towards me, which made me step back all so, but I had nowhere to go.
"I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable. That's not my intention." Damon stated cockily and I rolled my eyes. The situation I was in made me more than uncomfortable but I couldn't let Damon know that.
"Yes, it is. Otherwise you wouldn't put an alternate meaning behind everything you say." I said harshly and Damon sighed
"You're right" he stated and I rose my eyebrows in shock. I hadn't been expecting him to say that "But so do you" he stated and once again I was left in shock.
"Really?" I asked curiously and he nodded
"Mhm. You want me" he said flirtatiously playing with one of my curls
"Excuse me?" I asked slightly appalled
"I get to you. You find yourself drawn to me." He said stepping closer to be dropping my hair "You think about me even when you don't want to think about me. I bet you even dreamed about me." He whispered and I gulped as he looked deep into my eyes "And right now... You want to kiss me." He said and went to lean in but before that could happen I smacked him, and for a moment he looked shocked. Damon was downright sexy but he was dating Caroline and there was something in my gut telling me that he was bad news.
"What the hell?" I asked angrily and pushed him back slightly "I don't know what game you're trying to play with Stefan here, or with my sister but I don't want to be part of it." I spat "And I don't know what happened in the past, but let's get one thing straight... I am not Katherine." I growled before briskly walking away towards the stadium, huffing. This night just kept getting better and better.
(third persons POV)
Stefan had just got done talking to Matt, and he was happy that Matt was ok with him being Elena.
"Well isn't that nice" Damon's cocky voice rang out making Stefan turn to look at him with a scowl. "Stefan joins a team, makes a friend. It's all so, 'rah, rah, go team, yeah!'" Damon smirked and Stefan sighed.
"Not tonight" Stefan said "I'm done with you" he stated and went to walk away.
"Nice trick with Ember." Damon said making Stefan turn back around to look at his brother "Let me guess... vervain in the necklace?" he asked, not really needing an answer "I admit, I was a bit surprised. It's been a while since anyone could resist my compulsion. Where'd you get it?"
"Does it matter?" Stefan asked crossing his arms and Damon shrugged
"I guess I could just seduce her the old fashion way" Damon thought out loud "Or… I could just eat her?" he suggested with a cocky smile on his face.
"You're not gonna hurt her Damon, either of them" Stefan stated threateningly
"No?" Damon asked
"No, because deep down inside, there is a part of you that feels for Ember." Stefan answered making Damon narrow his eyes "I was worried that you had no humanity left inside of you, that you may have actually become the monster that you pretend to be." Stefan stated and Damon smirked
"Who's pretending?" he asked looking at his brother
"Then kill me" Stefan stated easily
"Well, I'm tempted" Damon said with a smirk but Stefan shook his head
"No, you're not. You've had lifetimes to do it, and yet, here I am." Stefan countered making Damon raise his eye brows " I'm still alive. And there you are. You're still haunting me. After 145 years. Katherine is dead. And you hate me because you loved her, and you torture me because you still do. And that, my brother, is your humanity." Stefan said unfolding his arms. Knowing how true his argument was.
"Salvatore! What the hell?" barked Tanner coming from the locker rooms "We've got a game to play!", Stefan went to answer.
"If that's my humanity..." Damon stated "then what's this?" he asked rhetorically before running over in vamp speed draining Tanner of blood.
"No!" Stefan yelled taking a step toward his psychotic brother
"Any one, anytime, anyplace" Damon spat to his little brother, before rushing off with Stefan shortly behind him.
(In the locker room)
"Tanner's M.I.A. I think he had a little bit too much beer." Tyler stated coolly as if nothing had just happened
"Don't talk to me right now, all right?" Matt growled "I'm pissed at you" he stated and started walking away but Tyler grabbed his arm
"What's your problem?" Tyler asked as Matt ripped his arm away
"What's my... You're my problem, all right?" Matt said angrily "You're a bully. A freakin' 12-year-old bully, man. And I'm sick of it. I mean, what was that about tonight?" Matt growled "What's beating up the new guy going to prove? Or screwing with my sister or pummeling Ember." Matt ranted and Tyler froze
"What happened with Ember?" Tyler asked freezing not really hearing anything else
"Wow Tyler that low even for you" Matt spat and tried walking away again but was grabbed by Tyler again. This time when this happened however Matt threw a punch, luckily Tyler dodged it.
"Were you just gonna hit me?" Tyler asked in a low voice, but Matt rolled his eyes and walked away as Tyler screamed at him. "Seriously we are on the same team man!", as if that made a difference.
It was then Matt walked outside to not only cool off but to maybe find Tanner in the process.
"Oh my god" Matt whispered seeing a bloody body crumpled on the "Somebody help!" Matt screamed running over to the body. Thankfully someone heard and called the police.
(Later that night) (Ember's POV)
"What kind of animal could be doing this?" I asked Stefan and Elena as we were sitting at the kitchen counter. There was nothing better to do since the game had been canceled
"I know" Elena agreed "And why would it be coming into the middle of town to attack someone?" Elena asked and I shrugged
"I don't know" Stefan said sounding sad and I sighed. I may have not liked Tanner but no one deserved to die like that.
"I'm gonna head to bed" I said after a moment and they both looked at me curiously "I've had a long night and I just want to sleep" I told them and they nodded silently. "Besides I'm sure you two want some alone time" I winked before escaping.
It didn't take me very long to get ready for bed, and I was happy for it, I really need sleep. As I climbed into bed I glanced at my phone I had a txt of Tyler. Shuddered a little I opened it.
*Sorry about 2nite, I don't know what came over me. Hope you can forgive me* it read and I smiled and typed a reply
*nothing to be sorry about! It didn't hurt that much ;), ttyl* I replied before setting my phone on vibrate and falling into a deep sleep.
-Authors note-
So what do you think my dear and beloved readers? I hope you enjoyed reading my new story, because I enjoyed writing it. It was a little lacking in the Damon/Ember romance that I want, but believe me it will come. So please let me know about what you think, by both leaving me a review and or a privet message. I love you all and I hoped you enjoyed my new story! For those of you who are worried about my other stories, I will still update them as much as possible, just like I have been. Thanks again! Happy reading!
Love,
thefallendeath4