Seven twenty five found Cassie in her new room upstairs getting ready. Dressed in dark jeans with a few stylish holes and wearing a peasant fashioned tank top, she sat in the chair before her vanity table that held her makeup. Cassie never was much for wearing a lot of makeup, besides she didn't really need it. Her skin was soft, smooth and clear while her eyelashes were long, thick and dark of their own accord. So all she applied was light base powder, a hint of blush and some purple eye shadow to matched the purple color of her top. All that was left to do was her hair and she was debating on what to do with it when there was a knock at her door.

After calling for whomever it was to come in, Cassie saw Elena open the door, step in then close it behind her.

"Oohh it appears that you are getting ready to go somewhere." Elena grinned and playfully nudged Cassie.

Cassie couldn't contain her bright smile. "Yeah I got a date. I can't decide what to do with my hair. Should I leave it down or pull it up?"

Elena stepped behind Cassie and ran the brush through Cassie's glistening brunette locks. "You know I would pull some strands off the top and sides then pull them back while leaving the rest down."

"Sounds good." Cassie agreed and sat still while Elena did her hair.

"So…who is it?" Elena asked in a sort of sing song teasing voice that made Cassie laugh.

"Damon Salvatore."

"Damon?" Elena froze.

Cassie wondered what was wrong. "Yeah when I went to the park he showed up and asked me out on a date. He is taking me to his and Stefan's place where he is going to cook me dinner then take me for a drive around town. Why? Is something wrong?"

Elena finished Cassie's hair then sat down on the edge of Cassie's bed. Turning in her own seat, Cassie faced her and saw the concern on Elena's pretty face.

Elena nodded. "Yeah there kind of is. I had hoped to not ever have to tell you any of this but Damon is forcing my hand here. I don't know what he is up to but I'm going to try to find out. I don't want you getting hurt."

"Why would Damon hurt me? And what did you not want to have to tell me?" Cassie watched Elena quizzically.

Elena wore a serious expression and after sighing, she proceeded to tell Cassie all that she believed Cassie needed to know.

"I know it is hard to believe but Damon is a vampire. So is Stefan. They have supernatural strength, hearing, vision, mind controlling powers and speed. Both of them were turned by a vampire named Katherine who was selfish and played the brothers against one another. When she was rounded up with other vampires in Mystic Falls, it had been believed that she had been entombed in a tomb under the old church. Damon had been persistent in wanting and trying to set her free because he loved her. Both Salvatore brothers had but while Damon still sought Katherine, Stefan found me. When we finally got into the tomb, Katherine was not in there. She had never been in there and had been roaming the whole time without caring about either of the brothers. Damon then cared nothing more for Katherine and began to pursue me. However I've always been interested in Stefan so finally after a untimely and unexpected appearance of Katherine, the trouble that ensued and finally her death, Damon moved on. I don't know what he is up too but being around or with him is dangerous. He can do unpredictable things when his emotions run high, something by the way he's still trying to deal with and get use to." Elena reached out and held Cassie's hand. "I just don't want to see you hurt."

It was silent as Cassie tried to think on what she had just heard her cousin say. However she didn't think that it could be real. After all how could it be? Yet she didn't think her cousin would make up some story and lie to her either.

At that moment the doorbell rang. Looking at her clock on her nightstand, Cassie saw that it was eight o'clock on the dot. If it was Damon her mom would let him in for Cassie had told her mom about him and their date. Her mom had been happy for her and promised to watch for him.

Elena quickly stood up. "Is that him?"

Cassie stood too and nodded as she put her keys into her pocket then grabbed her jean jacket. "I'm betting it is."

Elena rushed to Cassie's bedroom door and threw it open. "He can't be invited into your house."

"Why?" Cassie started to follow Elena as she began rushing down the hallway to the stairs.

Before they had reached the stairs, they heard Cassie's mother downstairs asking Damon to come in. Elena stopped and faced Cassie with a concerned and slightly peeved look that she was too late. "Because now that he has been invited in, he can come in anytime that he wants."

Cassie didn't say anything for she didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure she believed any of it because it sounded so bizarre but she didn't want to think that her cousin was crazy or telling her lies just for the sake of a story.

Elena was able to tell this and she sighed. "You are not sure that you believe me are you? I guess I can understand. If I hadn't seen all I had which helped me figure it out about Stefan, I probably wouldn't have believed it either."

"Cassie! Your date is here!" Cassie's mother's voice rang from downstairs.

Cassie started down the stairs with Elena following. Reaching the lower part of the stairs to where she could see the entry way and the living room, Cassie spied Damon standing there dressed in dark jeans and a black button up long sleeved shirt. He looked very attractive and handsome as he stood there, with a pleased smile, watching her descend. Cassie gave him her own smile as she reached the landing.

"Very beautiful." Damon commented with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Thanks. You're very handsome yourself." Cassie smiled sweetly.

Elena stepped closer towards Damon and gave him a stern look. "I don't know what you are up to Damon but don't drag her into any of this. I don't want her getting hurt."

Cassie was glad that her mother had already returned to the kitchen so she wouldn't have asked what Elena meant or what was going on. Apparently Elena was serious about the story she had told Cassie but Cassie wasn't ready to believe it.

"Come on Elena. You trust me." Damon stated.

"Yes but I know you better. She doesn't." Elena replied showing that she had learned a way to stand her own against him and that the two of them had some kind of understanding friendship.

Damon looked past Elena to Cassie with a gleam in his eyes. "A fact that will soon change."

Cassie recognized the importance in that statement. Damon had announced that he intended to become close with her, closer than the deep friendship with Elena. Cassie felt a mixed feeling of excitement to become close with Damon but also there was that twinge of wariness and hesitation at the odd sense of danger it somehow seemed to present.

Damon stepped around Elena and held out his hand toward Cassie. "Ready to go?"

Cassie placed her hand in his and nodded. She walked with him to her front door where he played the gentleman and opened the door to allow her out first. Cassie cast a glance back at Elena who now stood in the open doorway as Damon and Cassie strode down the sidewalk to Damon's blue vintage classic convertible. He opened up the car door for her and waited for her to climb inside before shutting it and began his walk around the car to the driver's side.

Just as Damon reached the driver's side, Stefan was walking down the sidewalk. When Stefan noticed that Elena was standing in the front door of Cassie's house and that Cassie was in Damon's car, he stopped. Cassie could see that Stefan was shooting warning glares at Damon but Damon paid him no heed as he slid into the car. Cassie watched as Stefan went down the sidewalk to met Elena who was walking from Cassie's house to her own.

Damon started the car and was pulling away when Cassie saw the young couple talking and casting glances their way. When they were out of sight, Cassie turned around to look at Damon.

"So where do you and your brother live?" Cassie wanted to think on something other than the odd story that Elena had told her.

"A house that sits near the edge of the woods." Damon replied as he flawlessly sped down the darkening roads.

"My turn to ask a question," Damon looked away from the road to look at her. "you and your family moved here to be closer to relatives. How well do you know Elena?"

"Well I've known her since we both were young but haven't been together in years and years. At times we would write or email each other so we are good friends. I don't know everything about her though if that is what you are asking. Why?" Cassie had been watching the scenery go past but now she looked back to Damon who still was looking at her and not the road.

"The two of you trust each other then?" Damon questioned while still watching her.

His attention being on her and not the road made her nervous. He needed to watch where he was driving! "Yes we trust each other. Now can you watch the road? I don't want to end up wrapped around some tree or crumpled in one of the ditches."

Damon issued a small amused smile. "Believe me that won't happen."

"Why? You that good of a driver?" Cassie teased.

Damon's gaze met hers firmly and relentlessly. "Yes."

Cassie laughed and wondered if there was anything he would admit that he couldn't do.

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