A/N: So, I added another chapter, since so many people asked me to. I just hope this is as good as the first. PS, please, review. :)
We are broken.
What must we do to restore our innocence?
And all the promise we adored?
Give us life again.
'Cause we just wanna be whole.
We Are Broken – Paramore
Caroline stood in front of her mirror, frowning at her reflection. She still couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something. Or someone. It was an unsettling feeling.
She could still see those sapphire eyes. Such piercing eyes. It was disquieting feeling. Sighing softly, Caroline picked up her bag. She checked her reflection one last time before walking downstairs.
She walked out to her car, hoping that by the time school ended, she'd solve the mystery of this odd feeling. A loud caw, a croak, drew her attention, startling her.
She looked over her shoulder, spotting a strange looking crow. It seemed to be staring at her. Sizing her up in an almost lustful manner. Caroline felt a blush sweep her cheeks before she walked over to the crow, waving her hands, crying, "Shoo! Get out of here!"
The crow cast her a reproving look before opening its wings and fluttering away. Caroline breathed out a sigh of relief before walking to her car. She paused when she saw a man watching her from the street.
A smile tugged at her lips as she drank in his gorgeous features. She raised her hand to wave when a car passed. And he was gone. Caroline blinked, shaking her head as she muttered, "That's not creepy or anything."
She climbed into her car, shrieking when the crow flew in front of the windshield. "Stupid bird!" Caroline shouted, an angry flush painting her cheeks. Caroline drove to her school without incident.
She stopped, a faint smile coating her lips as she looked around, taking in the fact that this was her senior year. "Things are going to be changing around here soon." But she didn't realize how soon that would be.
Damon Salvatore watched her from the shadows. He realized he shouldn't be doing this. He and Stefan had an agreement. And he could practically hear Stefan's voice, "Really, Damon? You're actually letting your emotions control you?"
"Shut up, Stef." Damon hissed to himself, annoyed. The perky blonde flounced towards the school. His heart would've beaten right out of his chest. Given that his heart hasn't beaten in a hundred plus years.
Damon allowed a small, loving, smile form on his lips as he watched her prance towards Elena. The two embraced and walked into school. Arm in arm. Damon lowered his gaze, shaking his head as he stepped further into the shadows, vanishing.
"Are you sure?" Esther asked of him and Stefan one last time. Damon uttered an exaggerated sigh. Indicating his decreasing patience. "Yes. We're sure. Just turn the wolf, Blondie, and Elena back. Oh, and Alaric too."
Damon flashed a thousand kilowatt smile. "And don't test my patience again." He added dangerously. Esther raised her brows before turning back to the spell. "Damon…"
"Just tell me we're doing the right thing." "We're doing the right thing. Damon." "Good. Just so you know, if this goes wrong and anything happens to Blondie, I'll make sure you regret it."
Caroline turned to smile at Matt as he entered the hallway. "Hey!" She chirped, walking over to him, pressing her lips to his. Warm and soft as his lips were, it felt wrong. A small twinge of regret and guilt flared in her chest.
It was like she was cheating on someone. Caroline frowned deeply as Matt's brows furrowed in confusion. "Something wrong?" He asked. "No," Caroline shook her head, "Of course not." Once again, in her mind's eye, she saw the beautiful eyes.
Caroline stepped back, plastering on a falsely bright smile. "So… class?" She turned and bolted down the hallway, trying to shake the nagging feeling that she was cheating on whomever those blue eyes belonged to.
She breathed in a shaky breath as she stepped into her history class room. "Caroline," Alaric exclaimed genially, "Glad you could finally make it." "I – I'm sorry, Alaric." She stammered, and then blushed when he gaped at her and the classroom fell into a hush.
She clapped her hand over her mouth, surprised at how easily his name fell from her lips. "Take your seat then." Alaric gestured to the empty seat awkwardly; Caroline staggered to her seat, appalled with herself.
She tapped her pencil against her desk as she tried to listen to Alaric. But just as she began to allow herself to be drawn into his lecture, the dreadful crow had flown to the windowsill. It stared at her in that same lewd manner.
Caroline tried her hardest to ignore it. But its gaze made her skin crawl. She shuddered inwardly, wondering why it followed her like that. She swallowed thickly and thrust her hand into the air, calling, "Mr. Saltzman?"
Alaric's gaze flickered to her. "Yes, Caroline?" He nodded, raising his brows with polite inquiry. "May I be excused? I'm not feeling well." His expression dissolved into worry. "Of course." He said quietly.
Standing unsteadily, Caroline lifted her bag weakly and stumbled out of the classroom. Her legs trembled as she hobbled down the hallway to the nurse's office. She focused her gaze on the floor, not seeing the person standing in her path.
She lurched into what felt like a wall. "Oof!" She gasped out, and then looked up as she fell backward. A pale, long-fingered, hand flashed out, latching around her wrist. Catching her as she fell.
Her mouth fell open as she was hauled back onto her feet. "Thank you!" She gasped gratefully. A pair of laughing, blue, eyes gazed into hers. "I'm sorry," A chuckling, undeniably male, voice said as the hand smoothed over a black t-shirt.
Caroline blinked, and her hazy vision cleared, revealing the man she'd seen that morning. He stood in her path, his posture that of a lazy panther. "I didn't mean to startle or knock you over." His voice held no hint of apology.
Aggravation and embarrassment flared within Caroline. This guy stands directly in her path, knowing damn good and well she was walking this way. And knocks her over, now he's laughing at her! "Yeah. I'm sure you're real sorry, Jackass!" She hissed, elbowing past him.
The guy looked genuinely surprised at her. Caroline felt a spark of glee at his surprise. Her lips curved in a slight smirk as she continued to the nurse's station. The wave of uneasiness had faded, but she was still trembling.
Damon rubbed his chin in amusement as he watched Caroline walk away. "Well, welcome back, Blondie." A low laugh spilled from his lips as he sauntered down the hallway, walking towards the emptying History classroom.
He watched Alaric put his papers into a briefcase, before he pushed the door open, warbling, "Ric. So good to see you again." Alaric glanced up at Damon, surprised, "Do I know you?" No. But you will. Damon thought, stepping closer to the History teacher.
Caroline drove home, trying to shake off the odd day she'd had. Who was that guy? What was the deal with that crow? Who's blue eyes had she been seeing? What the hell is with this weird feeling she'd been having?
Sighing, Caroline turned into the driveway and walked towards her house. Her sanctuary. Stepping into the familiar hallway, she shrugged off her jacket and walked upstairs. A sudden weariness washing over her, she kicked off her shoes and flopped onto her bed, welcoming the sleep as it drifted over her.
Damon perched on a high branch of the oak tree in Caroline's yard. It was the perfect height for him to see into her room. He watched her collapse onto her bed sleepily.
His agreement with Stefan only covered the fact that he, himself, could not bring Caroline's memories back. But it didn't cover the part of Damon's plan, where she remembers on her own. A devious smile twisted Damon's lips. And she will remember. Blondie is mine. And I will have her back.