A/N: Chapter three! As promised. I'm really loving writing this so I hope you enjoy reading it just as much! There might be some confusion on what is going with my OC so sorry about that. I'm trying to get all of my pieces set up for when the story gets intense. I can't wait! Let me know what you think!
I wake up a little bit before I have to get up so while lying in bed I try to figure things out. I'm supernatural; a witch of some sort but my gut feeling tells me I'm not a witch. I'm looking for my real parents and all I have to go on is the hospital where I was born. I'm in possession of Emily's grimoire, I really should start reading it before I have to hand it over. Whatever.
I check my phone and have a text from Bonnie
B: Meet me at school. I'm driving Elena so I can try to talk to her about Stefan.
Me: Ohh good luck, Bee! I'll see you there!
Me (to Care): Hey! What happened to you last night?
I get no reply but whatevs. I get up and get dressed.
"Ohh. You seem to be in a bad mood," I say as I walk up to Jeremy for our daily chill fest before class.
"I don't want to talk about it," He says as he lights up.
"So it's a girl issue… Not like I have a girl perspective to offer or anything" I say looking at him. We get in a stare off that I win.
"Find, just to get you to drop it. But you don't say this to anyone and you don't bring it up again"
"Deal, so start talking" I say happily sitting down to listen.
"There is this girl, and I really like her but she likes this douche that treats her like shit" He says.
"Ah so not only do you not like seeing your girl with him but you don't like seeing her be treated like that"
"Yeah. She doesn't know how great she is. The other day I thought she picked me. I really thought she choose me and I actually let hope and all that crap in"
"What happened?" I ask quietly.
"I saw them kissing"
"Ouch"
"So what do I do doc?" He asks looking at me for the first time since our stare off.
"You look out for you. If she's stringing you along in order to have her cake and eat it too, then it's not fair for you. So you walk away and take a breather for yourself. I know I've only known you for a short while but I feel like we get each other. You are like me. You bare the whole world on your shoulders. You take on problems that aren't yours. That makes you awesome but that will run you dry soon. It's okay to be selfish. It's okay to walk away from a sinking ship so you don't get pulled down too. If she isn't going to treat you right you have no obligation to stay for her"
"She needs me" he says defensively.
"You need you also. The only person in this world who is truly and honestly going to look out for your best interest 100% of the time is YOU. You deserve better than to be second rate to someone. If she isn't picking you then fuck her she isn't the one for you"
"So what do I do?" He asks.
"You show her what it's like to not have you. When she wants to hang out- you blow her off. She will either pick you in order not to loose you or you'll realize you are better off without her"
"What if I'm not?"
"You survive. Cuts turn to scars and scars fade. You will be happy one day, anyone who doesn't contribute to you being happy deserves to be left in the past," I say giving him a hug.
"How the hell do you always know what to say?" He asks not letting go of the hug.
"I've got my own scars, I'm walking proof that it gets easier" I say simply as we start walking toward the school.
In the hallway Bonnie runs up to me. "Okay still freaked out about the Stefan thing. I can't even stand to be around him and Elena is taking me seriously," She tells me as we fall in sync walking to class.
"Okay so what do we do about that?" I ask.
"I don't know, maybe if we sit her down together and talk to her?" She says looking at me with puppy dog eyes.
"Fine. We will steal her away for dinner. Explaining over food always makes the convo go better," I say.
"Awesome, have you seen Caroline?" Bonnie asks as we walk in to our first period realizing her spot is empty.
"No I haven't. Weird"
"Speaking of her, are you doing cheer?"
"Umm, am I allowed to even though I wasn't here for tryouts?" I ask.
"Usually no, but considering Care is the head cheerleader, I'd say it's likely you can. Have you ever done it before?"
"Oh sweetie, I've got moves," I say with my biggest smile.
In history class, Tyler was trying to get my attention. As soon as I looked over he threw a note at me. It had his number written on it. So of course I text him.
Me: What can I do for you Mr. Lockwood?
Ty: Don't call me that. It makes me sound like my dad.
Me: Yes sir. But seriously, what do you want?
Ty: I'm having a party on Friday after the game, small just close friends but you should come.
Me: Are we close friends?
Ty: Not yet, but you know how to have a good time. So I'm over looking it.
Me: Hmmm, if you can become my best friend by Friday I'll come.
Ty: Repeatedly. You're sitting with me at lunch.
I reply with a wink
Later at lunch I was walking around looking for somewhere to eat when Tyler yells my name. "Victoria, over here!" I slowly make my way over to him as he makes the guy next to him move so I can sit there.
"Thanks" I say with a smile.
"Anything for my best friend" He replies with a smirk then goes on to introduce me to his friends, most of which are on the football team.
"Can you believe that new kid and Mr. Tanner?" Matt asks as he sits down with us.
"What do you mean?" Some guy asked him.
"I think I witness the first ever history battle between him and Mr. Tanner. Tanner lost when he called out one of the dates being wrong. Turns out it was actually right. It was funny but I still think it was weird how he knew all of that," Matt tells us.
"We already knew there was something up with that guy but now he's just a freak," Tyler says.
"Amen" I say raising my chocolate milk.
"I thought you liked him?" Matt asks me.
"There is something off about him. Plus he is so serious all of the time. I'm scared it's contagious so don't like being in his company"
"I got run to the gym so I'll see y'all later but you better be at the game on Friday," Tyler says looking at me.
"Sure, I'll come to watch kick ass, my new bestie" I say with a smile. He smiles back and walks off.
"Looks like Ty is lining up Vicki's replacement already," Says the keg stand douche.
"What do you mean? I'm not in to Tyler," I say confused.
"Really? What do you think you are doing here?" He says like I'm dumb.
"That's a really good question," I say standing up walking away. I can hear Matt calling him a dick as I leave.
I meet up with Bonnie for cheer practice.
"You sure Carebear is going to be okay with this?" I ask as we sit down to stretch
"Yeah I am. You know the stunts you are just missing the routine. Try to pick it up quickly and I'll help you catch up tonight and this weekend," Bonnie tells me.
"Sounds good. Thanks Bee," We hear a throat clearing behind us. We turn to see Elena.
"OMG Elena you came!" Bonnie says jumping up to hug her.
"Yepp. I can't be sad girl forever. The only way to get things back to the way things were are to do things that were" She says sitting down with us. "Oh, and you are coming to dinner tonight, you, Stefan, and me".
"Awkward" say I.
"Oh Luna and I were going to invite you to dinner with us" Bonnie says looking from me to Elena.
"So then you, Victoria, Stefan and me for dinner. My place" Elena says as Bonnie makes a face. "You have to give him a chance!"
"Have y'all seen Caroline? I haven't heard from her all day" I say to move subjects.
"Don't change the subject, you are going to be there" Elena tells Bonnie.
"Seriously though, where is Caroline?" Bonnie says.
"I don't know, this is so unlike her," Elena tells us as we start to hear music from someone's car stereo.
"Hot damn, I think I found her!" I say pointing to the blue Camaro pulling up.
"That must be the mystery guy from the grill," Bonnie says.
"That's no mystery guy, that's Damon Salvatore," Elena tells her quietly.
"Salvatore, as in Stefan?" Bonnie asks sharing a look with me as Caroline walks up.
"I got the other brother, I hope you don't mind"
I give Damon a look and he hold up his phone. I check mine and sure enough I have a text from an unknown number.
UN: Don't worry sweets, it's only because my partner in crime would play with me.
V: Why hello, Sexy Bestie. I guess you'll just have to play with yourself. Want to trade favors?
D: Depends what time you plan on sneaking in to my house for round 2.
V: Nope. Caroline is my best friend. So while you are boyfriending her there will be no round 2. The favor is you treat her well and you can call one in on me. Favor for a Favor.
D: Two favors and a free question on later plans.
V: Deal. You better be a good boyfriend.
"Okay, lets get started ladies" Caroline calls out. She turns up the music and we start doing a run through on the dance. I faired better than Elena but I still need Bonnie's help.
After school I make it home just in time to get a text from Tyler.
T: Coach let him on the fucking team.
V: Who?
T: Stefan. I'm pissed about it.
V: Well you are hiding it well. So he's on the team? It's still your team. You run this. Run him hard in practice then enjoy the beautiful win on Friday. He's sheep, helping out YOUR team. Let him be… for now.
T: Friday better be worth this shit. What are you doing tonight?
V: Sleep over with the besties. Pillow fights, tequila and whip cream.
T: Yum, can I watch?
V: Ha! In your dreams!
T: Tease.
I roll my eyes and leave my phone to take a shower. I can't wait for tonight's festivities to begin.
I run into Stefan walking up to the Gilbert house.
"Hey I didn't know you were going to be here," He says to me.
"Surprise! It's not a dinner party unless I'm there. It's kinda like how it's not a Gatsby party unless some is dead in the pool," He gives me a weird look. "Too soon?" I ask. He laughs and rings the doorbell only for it to be quickly opened by Elena. We all make our way in to the dining room. I grab the seat next to Bonnie and she smiles at me. This little witch is quickly becoming like family to me.
"Did Tanner give you a hard time today?" Elena finally asks Stefan after we have all been sitting in silence.
"Wait, I'm out of the loop. What are we talking about?" I ask.
"Tanner let me on the team. Today was tryouts and first practice all rolled in to one," He tells me.
"Ohh I bet Matty and Tyler are pissed. But good for you" I say with a bright smile.
"Yeah they were but I think it will all end well" He says confidently .
"Bonnie, you should have seen Stefan today," Elena says, "Tyler threw a ball right at him..."
"Yeah I heard," Bonnie says cutting her off. We all sit in an awkward silence until Elena tries again.
"So Victoria, what about you?"
"What do you mean?" I ask, getting slightly nervous.
"We, well I, don't know anything about you. Where are you from, when is your birthday, favorite color? You know things friends should know."
"Oh, sorry! I'm originally from a small town in Texas. My birthday is December 20th, favorite color is pink," I say with a smile. "I love roses, hate mustard and have a huge pet peeve of people chewing gum. The whole act of it gets under my skin"
"What about your family?" Stefan asks.
"It's just me. I'm an official card-carrying member of the 'Dead parents club'. I was an only child. I moved here to sort of get away from the looks, you know?" I say quickly.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Elena says quietly laying a hand on my arm. I shrug it of politely as I can. I don't like sympathy, that's mainly why I don't tell people my story. That and I'm in a fictional world and don't know my characters true backstory and I would hate to accidently say something that changes the future to the point where I don't know what is going on. But if I dwell to long on that reason it tends to start headaches.
"Divorced, no mom, live with my dad" Bonnie answers giving Elena a look and she scoffs back.
"No, about the witches" Elena says. I notice that got Stefan's attention, which makes me uneasy. I have this weird want to protect Bonnie. I'll think on it later. "Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool"
"Cool is not the word I would use" Bonnie says quietly. It makes me sad that she's so embarrassed about something that makes her more than the average person.
"Well it certainly is interesting. I know there were Celtic Druids that migrated here in the 1800's," Stefan says.
"My family came her by way of Salem" Bonnie says looking at me. I smile hoping to give her confidence.
"Salem, really?" Stefan asks. "I'd say that's pretty cool"
"Really, why?" Bonnie asks.
"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and non conformity," Stefan explains.
"Yeah they are," Bonnie says smiling at me. Then the doorbell rings and I can't help but smile broadly. This night just got a whole lot more fun.
Stefan gets up from the table and I follow him to the door. Standing there is Caroline and Damon.
"What are you doing here?" Stefan asks Damon.
"Waiting for Elena to invite me in," he replies simply.
"Oh, yeah, you can come…" Elena starts but is interrupted.
"No, no. He, uh, he can't stay," Stefan says, "Can you, Damon?"
"Get in here" Caroline says.
"Seriously. Y'all are being unusually rude. Invite the poor guy in so we can have cake," I say with a sly smile at Damon.
"We were just finishing up," Stefan tries to say.
"It's fine. Just come on in," Elena says to Damon.
Damon walks up right in front of me with a sly smile, "Hey gorgeous" He whispers before turning to Elena, "You have a beautiful home, Elena"
"Uh, thanks," She says as she takes the cake to the living room to cut and serve. I go help clean up dinner. Damon follows me.
"You are very sneaky, you know that?" He says eyeing me.
"I know. So now that you have been invited in, what's next in the plan for total world domination?" I ask with an evil smile.
"Someone's feeling feisty. Well for now, I'm going to sit back and watch Stefan squirm because I've been invited it"
"Entertaining. Hope you don't mind but I'm stealing your plaything for a sleepover with Bonnie at my place" I say as I continue to clean dinner dishes. How did I mange to be the one cleaning up at someone else's house? I'm too nice for my own good
"Ohh do I get come?" He asks doing that eye thing.
"Nope" I walk back in to the living room, there better be cake left!
"I can not believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team!" Caroline says looking at Stefan, then she leans over and whispers, "Tyler must be seething!"
"Oh I wish I could see his face!" I say in equal whisper. We both laugh at the image and everyone gives us a weird look.
"But good for you! Go for it!" Caroline says back in conversation with everyone else.
"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 and get it!" Damon says.
"Yeah Elena wasn't so lucky today. Good thing Luna was there or we would have seriously been off numbered" Caroline looks at me with a smile and Bonnie bumps my arm in an 'I-told-you' fashion. I smile at both. "It's only because you missed summer camp, I don't know how you are ever going to learn the routines"
"I'll work with her" Bonnie says in attempt to placate Caroline.
"I guess we could put her in the back" Care says to herself.
"You don't seem like the cheerleader type Elena" Damon says talking over Care.
"Oh it's just because her parents died" Caroline tells him. "Yeah, she's totally going through a blah face. She used to be way more fun!" I laugh as Caroline tries to cover, "and I say that with complete sensitivity"
"I'm sorry Elena, I know what it's like to loose both your parents" Damon says.
"See, told you. There is a club," I say trying to light the mood. Bonnie smiles at me.
"In fact, Stefan and I have watch practically every single person we care about die"
"Wow, that blows. I'm really sorry about that," I say sincerely as I lay a hand on his shoulder. He looks at my hand then looks at me and smiles.
"We don't really need to get in to that right now, Damon" Stefan says.
"You're right Stef, I'm sorry. The last thing I want to do right now is bring her up" Damon says as Bonnie and I share a look. The moral dilemma hurts down to my bones on whether or not to tell Damon that Katherine isn't in the Tomb. If I do, he will stop trying to open it –and Pearl and Anna will never reunite and Isabelle might not come in to town. By the time I shake of my mental marathon, the cake is all eaten and people are cleaning up. Elena goes to the kitchen with Damon following her, leaving Bonnie, Stefan, Caroline and I in the living room.
"So, little miss 'I'm not going to answer my phone all day when I have juicy gossip to share', how's life?" I ask giving Caroline a knowing look.
"Fantastic!"
"Good. So you're up for a sleep over, you, me and Bonnie, to catch up? We have a lot to cover," I say with a smile expecting a yes.
"YES! I'm down! We can talk about boy and cheerleading and all good things," She says excitedly.
"Sounds good, Care" Bonnie says, "I'm going to go see if Elena needs help"
"I would too but I covered dinner" I say.
"I just don't do dishes," Caroline says laughing as Bonnie walks away. "So, Stefan. Football huh?"
"Yeah, I like it but I don't think football like me," He says solemnly.
"Matt tries, but you have to understand he's having a really hard time. They were each other's first, you know? Like from the sand box" Caroline tells him.
"That's a really nice scarf," He says to her, rudely ignoring the whole conversation. No it's not a nice scarf, but we all know what he's getting at.
"Thank you, it's new"
"Can I see it?" He asks her. I'm just setting here watching this play out. I wonder what the effects of compulsion are on the brain. "I mean would you mind taking it off?"
"Oh I can't," She answers.
"Why, you okay?" He asks her. I think the damage is when they brain tries to go against it.
"Um. All I know is that I can't take it off," She tells him. I go to change the subject but someone beats me to the punch.
"What are you two kids talking about?" Damon asks walking in to the room. I give a sigh of relief.
"I was just commenting on her scarf" Stefan says.
"Hey you know, Bonnie and Elena are finishing up the dishes, why don't you go see if you can help" Damon tells her.
"Does it look like I do dishes?" She asks.
"For me?"
"I don't think so"
"Carebear, lets go stand around and watch them do the dishes," I say hoping to avoid Damon messing with her mind. Thankfully she agrees and we leave for the kitchen.
Back at my place, "Tonight was alright" I say to Bonnie as we all sit on my bed exhausted from practicing again.
"No, tonight was weird and awkward. I don't know who freaked me out more, Stefan or Damon" She says back.
"Damon's not that bad. He knows how to have fun and he's really sweet. There is just a lot of issues with his brother," Caroline tells us.
"Promise me something?" I ask Care in a serious voice.
"Sure, what?"
"You'll tell me the moment you aren't happy with him any more," I ask.
"Um sure, but why?" She looks at me puzzled.
"He seems like the guy you are going to need help getting away from. I'm happy as long as you are having a good time. I just want you to know that I'm here," I say with a smile and a quick look at Bonnie.
"Aww I love you Luna!"
"Love you too, Carebear! Now spill! What's up with you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious?" I ask.
"That ladies is my boyfriend who, btw, is amazing. I met him after the comet and we just clicked. He is super funny and totally sweet once you get past the 'rebel without a cause' shell," She says with a smirk.
"Really Caroline?" Bonnie asks rolling her eyes at our antics.
"Really. It's been tricky sneaking around my mom but thank god she does late night shifts at the station. Lulu, what's your news?"
"Tyler invited me to his party on Friday night after the game"
"Ohh lucky you! Those parties are apparently wild but only his closest friends get invited. I wonder why he invited you? I mean, I didn't know you two knew each other"
"We met at the falls party. He invited when I sat with him at lunch" I say.
"Huh, sounds like he's making plans to replace Vicki already, sucks for her" She says with a smirk my way.
"You are the second person to say that. What do you mean?" I ask.
"Tyler goes through girls like I go through shoes. I have a favorite for the week, I get bored, then get new ones" She tells me looking slightly concerned.
"Don't worry doll, I don't play those games. I love to have fun, but I won't be someone's toy on a string. If Tyler is trying to chase tail, he can do it while respecting me as a person" I say with a smile.
"Good because we don't want you to be hurt," Bonnie says
Friday Night before the Game Tanner is giving his rally speech before the game. I'm in uniform standing with Caroline and Bonnie. The crowd starts getting distracted by what is going on behind us.
"Don't worry about what is going on ladies, we need to get ready for the game!" Care yells as we head to the field.
"Do you think we should tell Caroline about what is going on?" Bonnie whispers to me.
"Yes I do but only when we have a chance to sit down with her. I don't want to bring it up unless we can explain everything in one sitting," I whisper back.
"Yeah that's probably smart"
"Hey, Tiki, It's all wobbly. Can you stand straight please? Can someone help Tiki?" Caroline yells, taking charge. I go over to follow commands while Bonnie is pulled aside by Elena.
Caroline comes over and whispers in my ear, "It's really annoying that she just up and quit. Like, why bother in the first place? It just messes up everything and I'm left to fix it"
"I know, Carebear. But at least Bee and I are here to have your back" I say with a smile.
"Seriously! I don't know what I would do without you two!" She says as we get in formation to start cheering at kick off. Which of course, doesn't happen.
We are standing around as Animal Control and the Police try to figure out what happened to Tanner. Bonnie runs up to me practically crying.
"Omg, omg, omg, Victoria"
"Shh, sweetie it's okay. It's going to be okay. I've got you. You're safe," I say trying to sooth her as she cries in my arms.
"No it's not. I predicted this. Those numbers that I've been seeing all day. It's where he died. Outside the building in the parking spot, I predicted his death!" She's now completely crying.
"Okay, I'm going to drive you to your Gram's and you are staying there tonight. I'll come over tomorrow and we are going to get answers to our questions and make a plan for our safety. Okay?" She nods so I lead her towards my car.
After dropping Bonnie off I make a quick stop at a friends.
"What are you doing here, Elphaba?" Damon asks from where he is laying on his bed.
"Wicked, I like it. I'm here wondering how I scored" I say as I climbed up on the bed with him.
"Ahh, let's test it. How did you see it go down?"
"Hmm, how I saw it happen… Stefan made some outrageous claim about you having humanity. It was practically a dare. So of course you rose to the challenge and bye-bye coachy" I said with a smirk.
"Batting a thousand," He said with a thoughtful look.
"No" I say quickly, "Whatever scheme you are thinking of it's not going to happen!"
He rolls his eyes, "and I thought you were fun"
"I am fun. I'm just headed to a party and have no time for Damon fun," I say with a smirk.
"A party huh?"
"Ohh you sound jealous… You have your playthings and I have mine. Bye Damon!"
I make it to Tyler's a little before midnight.
"I'm surprise this is still happening even though the game was canceled," I say as he answers the door.
"Rain or shine, win or loose, we booze," he tells me as he leads me through the house towards his backyard.
"My kind of guy!"
"Keg stand princess!" some guy yells for me.
"Hey random guy! Hand me a drink, I'm playing catch-up!"
A couple drinks later, Tyler and I are walking around the edge of his property.
"I'm not trying to use you," he says randomly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I know what people have told you. All of it is probably true, but that's not what I'm doing with you" He says stopping to look at me.
"Then what are we doing?" I ask.
"I don't know. There is something about you. When you're around I just feel… peaceful. That's rare in my life. I don't even know why I'm telling you this. It's probably the alcohol talking. But I feel like I can trust you"
"Do you feel like you can't when I leave?" I ask confused.
"No, I know I can trust you. Like down to my bones, I know. When you are with me in-person, I feel calmer. Plus you get me without being serious. So that's why you aren't just another girl to me. I really do want to be friends" he says looking at me.
"Friends sound good. I like that" I said giving him a hug.
…Later that night, as the party dies down it's moved into the house…
Everyone is pairing up and I haven't met anyone worth my time so I'm wondering around the house and find my way into Tyler's dad's office. While I'm here I might as well make the most of it. Cheers to leverage, I have the moonstone.
