How is any of this possible? I killed Jonathan Gilbert and then not even twenty minutes later he comes strutting back into the room like nothing ever happened. How the hell does that happen? These rings are proving to be a bit of nuisance. How many of them are floating around? There is at least two but who the hell knows how many others were made and who has them. Is John going to tell Liz? Will the council really believe him if he does say something? I can't compel that many people and not have someone notice.
On top of everything Jeremy decides he needs to stir up trouble with the whole Vicky Donovan thing. Why I buried her I'll never know. Why do I do half the shit I do? Did I care about her? No, that's a dumb thought. Vicky was a pathetic excuse for a human and an even more pathetic vampire. Even if I wanted to put in the effort to teach her I don't think she had enough brain capacity to learn anything.
And then there is Diana. What is she really doing back in Mystic Falls? She's not just here cause she "missed home". She always has some kind of ulterior motive. I just wish I could figure out what it is. Why does she have to be so flirty? I've got will power but if she keeps throwing herself at me and batting those ridiculously long eye lashes at me I'm only going to be able to say no for too much longer.
A knock on the door pulls me out of a long string of thoughts. It's a wonder my brain hasn't exploded yet. "Yes."
The wooden door is pushed open and Diana stands in a grey t-shirt holding out a cream colored mug. Her blonde hair is piled into a bun with a few strands falling down around her face. Her smile reaches her eyes as she walks towards me, "Coffee Mr. Salvatore?"
"Is that my shirt?" I question taking the mug from her as she sits down on the edge of my bed.
"Guilty. It was just lying there in the hallway."
"So you thought you'd just pick it up and wear it? You're a freak," I respond giving Diana a light smile to let her know I'm joking. I do kind of like that she's back…no use denying something we both know.
"You like it," she answers before reaching out and taking my coffee from me. She leaves behind a red lipstick mark before setting the cup down. "Where's Stefan?"
"School probably. I don't really keep tabs on him. Why do you care anyway?"
"Is a school full of humans really a good place for Stefan to be right now?"
"Again, not understanding why you care."
"Well, I happen to care about Stefan and I also want to stay in Mystic Falls for a while. Him going on a killing spree would kind of ruin my plans. Plus we both know how miserable it is to clean up after your little brother."
"I'm sure he'll be fine. Elena is there. He won't let himself do anything too stupid in front of her."
For a while we both sit in a comfortable silence.
"Can I lay with you for a little Damon?"
Diana's green eyes meet mine. Her teeth pull her bottom lip between them. The shoulder of my shirt slips down her arm, a dozen white scars criss cross her collar bone; a reminder of her days as a human. Without pants on I can see the very bottom of the flower tattoo that goes up her side.
"Come here," I sign, sliding over in bed so Diana can sit next to me. As she curls into my side I move my arm and drape it over he shoulder, my fingers gently resting on the side of her breast. Diana's fingertips run up and down my bare stomach. I swallow hard willing my self-control to hold out just a little bit longer. I'm not going to give into her tricks.
"We used to do this all the time. You're father would get so angry when he couldn't find you. He'd search the entire house and we would sit and talk and laugh at him yelling. What happened to us Damon?"
"You turned into an evil bitch who only cared about herself…" I offer up. It's the truth. Diana used to be so sweet and then she got involved in Katherine's politics. Whither it was for self-preservation or just because she got bored of being the good one doesn't matter to me…not anymore. Diana made her choice and it wasn't me, it wasn't even Stefan who she always considered a brother. It was like we didn't even matter.
"Damon," Diana sits up, holding my face between her hands. I'm forced to make eye contact with her; to watch tears well up in her eyes, "I wouldn't have left you if I had a choice. If Katherine didn't put me in the position she did I would have staid with you. It would've been you and me and Stefan against the whole world just liked we talked about."
I lean forward so that our noses touch. I can smell the coffee on Diana's breath. I place my hand on her cheek, wiping away the tears with my thumb. As she moves to close the gab between our lips I pull away. Springing off the bed to stand behind her.
"I'm not that easy Di. Go get dressed. We have stuff to do today."
My hand rests between her shoulder blades as I lead her out, shutting the door behind her. I can hear her crying through the house. Turning I grab the coffee mug and throw it against the wall. Cream colored ceramic falls to the ground as the little bit of liquid left trails down the wall. I don't want to feel this way. She has no right to make me feel this way.
Diana refuses to look at me as we drive to Founders Hall. She won't even make eye contact with me. Was I too harsh with her earlier? She was trying to open up to me but maybe that's all part of the game she's playing. There is a part of me that questions if she isn't playing any games and if she just genuinely wants to come back to Mystic Falls and start over, not just with Stefan and I but with everything. I shove this thought into the depths of my brain. Thinking like that was what got me hurt the last time. Girls like Diana don't change. They twist and pry and dig their claws in until you give a shit and then they run away with your heart in their back pockets.
"That one's the one you tried to kill last night right?" Diana finally says motioning to John as we enter the hall.
"Yeah, the one with the magic ring."
She nods as we join Liz and John who are already talking. They look as if there is another crisis going on. Why am I not surprised? This town loves it's drama.
"There was a disturbance at the hospital blood bank last night," Liz jumps right in as soon as Diana and I are within earshot. Her eyes look frantic, like this is the biggest disaster in the entire world. "Some of the supply was compromised."
"Compromised?" I question, faking shock. I'm really going to have to do something about this whole Stefan situation. He's going to blow our cover just as I'm starting to like it here in Mystic Falls. No way that is happening.
"You mean stolen?" Diana says. Her eyes are gentle. She looks like she genuinely cares that this situation is upsetting the dear Sheriff. She always has been a good actor. I almost believe her act.
Liz frowns, nodding her head, "We almost missed it. The inventory records were altered but when the night manager was questioned he had no recollection of changing them."
Sloppy job Stefan.
"That means that the vampire who stole the blood used mind control to hide the theft," John says, looking directly at me. I wish he would've staid dead. Every word that comes out of his mouth just makes me want to snap his neck over and over again. Maybe if I did it enough his ring would eventually lose it's power.
"I know what you meant."
Sensing the tension in the room Liz steps in, "We wouldn't have noticed if John hadn't alerted us to recent discrepancies in other hospital blood banks in the county."
Well isn't John just a saint, "How lucky for us, we have John."
Diana obviously not impressed by my behavior tries to reconcile the situation by getting everyone back on track. "What are we doing to get this under control?"
"We're stepping up security at the hospital, giving the guards vervain to prevent this from happening again."
Diana nods, chewing her bottom lip as if she's thinking hard about anything further we could do to stop the blood stealing. For a few minutes all of us stand there; all eyes on the blonde vampire as if she's magically going to solve all this towns problems.
"Sheriff," John breaks the silence, "may I offer a suggestion? Why don't Damon, Diana and I put our heads together? We can track down whoever is doing this."
"Truthfully, I can use the extra hands. Is that something you would be willing to do?" Liz says with a smile, her eyes shifting from John to me.
I could think of a billion other things I would rather do than have to work side by side with Jonathan Gilbert. Amongst them is getting a stake through the heart and being trapped in the vampire tomb for all eternity. Diana elbows me in the ribs before stepping in and answering for me. I guess I was taking to long.
"Of course, we'd love to," she says with a genuine smile.
"I mean if it'll help," I offer up, trying to act like I actually give a shit about my little brother stealing all the blood reserves in Mystic Falls and the surrounding towns.
"I think we could make a good team, don't you think Damon?" John jeers, a snake like smile sliding across his rat face.
"It's settled then," Liz says quickly before disappearing out the door.
"John, whatever I can do to help keep this town safe; even if it means spending time with you," I respond forcing a smile before grabbing hold of Diana's shoulder and leading her towards the door.
"I look forward to getting to know you better Diana," John calls after us.
She doesn't stop to respond.
"Does he have any other stick up his butt besides the fact you tried to kill him?" Diana asks as we turn into the drive of the mansion. She's been brushing off any of my attempts for conversation thus far.
"Well he's a Gilbert so I think they just all naturally have sticks up their butts," I smirk hoping to get a grin out of her. I get nothing.
"Be serious Damon."
"He knows I'm a vampire. Historically the Gilbert men have hated vampires and wanted all of them dead. One can only assume John is the same way. I'm sure he's going to have some motive…do this our I'll expose you bullshit."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"Hold up," I say pinning Di against the door that divides the house from the garage. "There is no 'I' anymore. You're in town now that makes everything a 'we'. Even if John couldn't prove you're a vampire, which he can, they'd call you a sympathizer and kill you too. So, I think you mean what are we going to do about it. That answer is...I don't know. He's got a protection ring so my plan of killing him is out. I didn't really make it much past there."
"Well then we should think about it," Di mocks before turning the knob and walking into the house backwards.
Just as I'm about to respond the doorbell rings. Diana gives me a quizzical look. I shrug before going to answer it. For a split second I almost think about slamming it closed but then reconsider, "I suppose I should be grateful, you learned to use the bell."
"I'm here on behalf of my mother."
"On behalf of or in spite of?"
"Who is it?" Diana asks, walking across the living room, holding a blood bag in one hand.
"Diana, this is Anna. I'm sure you two remember each other. Her vampire friends are the reason why Stefan had people blood again."
Diana goes to speak but Anna cuts her off, "I'm sorry about what the other vampires did to Stefan. It wasn't supposed to go down like that."
"You're playing house with half a tomb of really pissed off vampires. What did you think was going to happen? "
"My mom is devastated; they tried to over-throw her."
"Why isn't she here telling me this?"
"If I remember correctly apology isn't really Pearl's strong suit," Diana speaks up, eye still set on Anna. I can only imagine what this moment is like for her. Seeing someone from her past who she probably never thought she'd see again.
"Well, it's a coincidence," I answer, "'cause I don't do forgiveness. Let's just roll along."
Anna continues to stand in the doorway. Her eyes are locked on Diana looking right through me.
"Hey Anna," Di finally says, "if you're going to continue housing these vampire pets you might wanna stop robbing the blood bank dry because they're onto it."
"I haven't been to the local blood bank in at least a week."
Diana's brows crease together in a look of confusion. I probably shouldn't have lied to her about the severity of Stefan's blood issue but I really don't think it's any of her business. He'll get in under control eventually. "Well, then it's one of the others."
"The other's are gone, Diana."
"Where did they do?" I jump in, genuinely curious.
"They were cut off in this town. After what happening with your brother my mom kicked them out and they took off. It's just us and Harper now."
Diana nods as Anna turns to leave. I can see the confusion in her emerald eyes, "Have you been keeping something from me?"
"Why would I have any reason to do that?"
"Hmm," Diana starts coming to stand over me as I sit down on the couch, "I don't know Damon. Maybe because you think I'm some bitch who's out to ruin your life all over again? Maybe it's because you don't trust me? Maybe you just feel like being your normal asshole of a self? Maybe you think it's none of my business?"
"I do think all of those things."
I glance up to see if Diana is smirking. She's not. We used to banter like this all the time. Neither of us really meant what we were saying; it was usually used to let off steam when Katherine got too far under our skin. She always used to think that it was funny and we'd end up rolling around on the bed shooting insults at each other in between kisses. I guess nothing I've done recently would lead her to believe that this is just friendly back and forth between old lovers.
"I think you're full of shit Damon Salvatore."
"If you're really concerned about Stefan why don't you ask him how he's doing when he gets home. You two have barely talked. I'm sure he's missed you a lot more than I have."
"Stop lying to yourself Damon."
"The only one telling any lies here is you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wash the day off."
"It's only noon!" Diana calls after me. I can hear the smirk in her voice.
Author's Note: I know I changed who said some of the dialogue but I feel like it makes more sense this way. I'm really enjoying writing this so I hope you all are enjoying reading it. Shout out to everyone who has favorited and followed this story. Keep it up! Don't forget to review because seeing those emails makes my day. Love you all XOXO :)