Chapter 3: Friday Night Bites
Caroline wakes up, after having slept with Damon, to discover bite marks on her neck. She tries to creep out of the room without waking Damon. The door knob squeaks, and she looks back at the bed to find it empty. Damon is now standing beside her. Caroline panics, and hits Damon's face with a lamp, but it doesn't hurt him. He shoves her onto the bed, and she throws her blood-stained pillow at him. He catches it, but the smell of her blood makes him thirsty, and he attacks her.
At school Bonnie tries to tell Elena to take it slow with Stefan after accidentally touching him and getting a very bad vibe. This makes Elena curious of why Bonnie is saying these things when she was the one telling Elena to go for it. Bonnie tells her she's just concerned for her friend. Elena tells Bonnie that Stefan is helping her cope with everything that's been happening.
Meanwhile, Vicki invites Jeremy to a concert as friends; however, in his frustration, he asks her if she only slept with him for drugs. She doesn't answer. Stefan joins Bonnie and Elena, telling them both "good morning." Bonnie's responds by quickly leaving.
"She doesn't like me very much," noted Stefan.
"She doesn't know you," Elena replied. "She's my best friend; she's just looking out for me. But when she does, she will love you."
Across the yard, Phoebe reads a book, while Matt tosses a football back and forth with another football player. Tyler notices Elena and Stefan together, and teases Matt.
"Look. There's Elena and her new boyfriend," he teased.
Phoebe peered over the top of her book at the couple. Matt held the football, and glanced over as well.
"Now what are they doing?" Tyler continued. "Oh, they're walking, walking, walking. Yep. Right into the sunset."
Phoebe rolled her eyes, and continued reading.
Matt threw the football again, "You're a dick."
Tyler ignored Matt's comment, "While you just stand there looking like one of those little yard trolls."
"Gnomes," Matt and Phoebe corrected in unison.
Matt glanced back at Phoebe, and smiled. Phoebe continued to stare at her book, but smiled to herself.
"You two spend way too much time together," Tyler replied. "You're starting to act like an old married couple."
"You have no idea," Matt mumbled under his breath.
Elena continued to talk about Bonnie's feelings towards Stefan, "Here's what we're gonna do. Are you free tonight?"
"Yes," Stefan answered.
"Perfect. Dinner, my house, eight o'clock. You, me, and Bonnie. I'll even invite Phoebe, so Bonnie can see even Phoebe likes you," said Elena.
"What is her approval hard to come by?" Stefan joked.
Elena giggled, "No, she's just a very shy person. She doesn't normally take to people as quickly as she's taken to you."
Stefan nodded, "In that case, I'm honored."
"You should be," she told him. "Anyway, it'll give you and Bonnie the chance to spend some quality time together, and she'll get to see what a great guy you are. Mission accomplished."
Stefan just smiled at her.
Tyler was still staring at Stefan and Elena.
"Leave it alone, Ty, it's fine," Matt sighed. "She made her choice."
"Let her know she made the wrong one," Tyler remarked. He intercepted the football, and backed up a few paces. Matt tried telling him not to do it, but he didn't listen. Tyler, drew his arm back, and sent the ball flying straight at Stefan's head.
Phoebe had taken notice of what Tyler was doing, and did her best to get Stefan's attention. She placed her thumb and index finger in her mouth, and whistled loudly. Stefan turned around in time to catch the ball, just inches from his face. He smiled, and threw it back to Tyler, using a little bit of his vampire strength to do so. Tyler caught the ball, and was surprised by the force with which Stefan had thrown it. Matt and Phoebe laughed at his surprise. In the hallway Elena suggests that Stefan join the football team in order to make friends in school. Stefan expresses his love for football though he thinks that football doesn't like him because of Tyler and Matt.
In history class Bonnie absentmindedly doodles the same numbers over and over again: 8, 14, and 22. Mr. Tanner asks the class when WWII ended. No one answered. Phoebe sat in the back of the class, next to Matt, reading a book. Without looking up from the book, she mumbled to herself, "1945."
"Anyone got anything?" Tanner asked. "Miss Juan?"
Juan shrugged and shook her head.
"1945," said Tanner, giving up on anyone being able to answer him.
Elena turned back to Stefan, "Psst. FYI, our team sucks. They could use you."
"Pearl Harbor?" asked Tanner.
Again, without looking up, Phoebe mumbled, "December 7th, 1941."
Stefan leaned forward, and whispered back, "Can't. I'm a loner."
Elena giggled.
"Miss Gilbert?" questioned Tanner, addressing Elena.
Phoebe didn't know which twin he was addressing, and looked up from her book.
Elena faced forward, "Hmm?"
"Pearl Harbor?" Tanner repeated.
Elena struggled to answer, "Um..."
"December 7th, 1941," Stefan answered.
"Thank you, Miss Gilbert," said Tanner. Everyone laughed.
"Any time," replied Stefan.
"Very well," said Tanner. "The fall of the Berlin Wall?"
"1989," Stefan answered. "I'm very good with dates, sir."
"Really? How good?" asked Tanner. "Keep it to the year. Civil Rights Act."
"1964."
"John F. Kennedy assassination," Tanner continued.
"1963."
Tanner began to get annoyed, "Martin Luther King."
"1968."
"Lincoln," Tanner challenged.
"1865."
Tanner began trying to trip him up with more complicated history dates, "Roe vs. Wade."
"1973."
"Brown vs. Board," Tanner tried again, moving closer.
"1954."
"Battle of Gettysburg," Tanner continued.
"1863."
"Korean War," Tanner said. He was certain that would do the trick. Having to remember a time span, rather than a simple year.
"1950 to 1953," Stefan answered.
"Ha!" exclaimed Tanner, gloating. "It ended in '52."
As Tanner headed back to the front of the room, Phoebe told him, "Actually, sir, it was '53."
Tanner glowered at her for a moment, before ordering, "Look it up, somebody. Quickly."
People began looking it up on their phones and in their books. One kid found it online, "It was 19...53."
The class clapped for Stefan and Phoebe, but Tanner glared at them both. The bell rang, and they were dismissed. Out in the hallway Elena asks how Stefan knew all that, which he responds that he has had years and years of crossword puzzles.
After school Elena has cheerleading practice, while Matt has football practice. Phoebe sits high up in the bleachers, like she always does. Stefan goes out to the field, because he's debating whether or not to join the team. He sees Phoebe in the bleachers, and joins her. She doesn't notice him at first, because she's so engrossed in what she's doing.
Stefan sat on the row right below her, but turned back to face her, "Homework?"
Phoebe looked up, "Hmm?" Oh! No, I usually have my homework finished before class is even over. This is just a sketching journal."
"I didn't know you could draw," Stefan replied. He gestured to the journal, "May I?"
Phoebe nodded, and handed him her sketch book. She had been sketching an image of an angry Mr. Tanner. As Stefan looked it over, Phoebe explained, "I'm not very good with words, so I fill my journals with images of what happened or how I feel."
"You're a talented artist," Stefan told her, returning her journal to her.
She smiled, "Thank you."
Across the field at the cheerleading practice, Elena convinces Bonnie to come over for dinner with her, Phoebe, and Stefan. The two wonder where Caroline is, but she is soon dropped off by Damon. Before driving away, Damon notices Phoebe in the bleachers, talking to Stefan. He tunes in with his vampire hearing, and eavesdrops.
"You know, you shouldn't let Tanner get to you," Stefan told her. "Don't let him make you feel small, just because he's the teacher. You're very smart. Smarter than him."
"But that's the problem," Phoebe replied. "If I try to tell him that I'm right, he just embarrasses me in front of everyone."
"Why don't you talk to the principal?" Stefan asked.
"I tried once. He just told me that I was being disrespectful of Mr. Tanner by correcting him. And that by pushing the matter I was throwing it in their faces that I think I'm smarter than they are," she explained. "It's just easier to keep my head down, and pretend I'm as average as the rest of my classmates."
"Well, don't worry, that'll all change when you go to college. You can be as smart as you want, and they even have teacher that like for their students to challenge them," Stefan told her.
Phoebe gave a small smile, "Can't wait."
"Well, speaking of blending in," he began. "I need to go talk to Tanner about joining the football team."
"Good luck," said Phoebe. She glanced over at the cheerleaders, and saw Damon. He waved to her, and then drove away. Phoebe watched him go, then turned to a fresh page in her journal, and began to draw.
Mr. Tanner ungenerously agrees to let Stefan try out for the team. Tyler insists that he and Matt give Stefan a hard time. Elena has difficulty keeping up at cheerleading practice so Caroline tells her to "just observe today". Stefan impresses everyone with his football skills at practice, especially Mr. Tanner. Regretting his involvement in Tyler's plan to embarrass Stefan during practice, Matt apologizes. Stefan then takes of his gloves and reveals a dislocated pinky, which quickly heals after he relocates it.
After practice at the Salvatore House, Damon antagonizes Stefan by reading his journal and taunting him, regarding Elena. Damon then goes off on a date with Caroline. While preparing dinner, Bonnie tells Elena that she keeps seeing the numbers 8, 14, and 22. Elena mockingly says "maybe we should play the lottery". Elena then looks for serving spoons which Bonnie tells her "middle drawer on the left" and she was right. Bonnie then tests herself by saying birthday candles and opening the drawer to find birthday candles. Dinner is awkward until Stefan tells Bonnie that her family heritage of witches is something to be proud of.
The doorbell rings, and Phoebe hops up to answer it. She opens the door to find Damon and Caroline.
"Surprise!" said Caroline.
Phoebe looked at them, feeling both confused and a little jealous.
Caroline handed Phoebe a cake, "Bonnie said you guys were doing dinner, so we brought desert."
"Oh," said Phoebe, accepting the cake. "Thanks."
"Hope you don't mind," said Damon.
Phoebe forced a smile and shook her head, as Caroline stepped inside.
Stefan appeared, and addressed his brother, "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for Phoebe to invite me in," Damon answered.
"Oh, right, sorry. Com-" Phoebe began.
Stefan cut her off, "No, no, no. He can't, uh...he can't stay. Can you, Damon?"
Damon looked at his brother. Phoebe looked back and forth between the two.
"Get in here," commanded Caroline.
"We're just finishing up," pressed Stefan.
Phoebe continued to eye the brothers, suspiciously, "It's okay. Damon, you can come in."
Damon gave his brother a gloating smile, and Stefan looked concerned. Both things Phoebe took notice of.
"You have a beautiful home, Phoebe," Damon complimented.
"Thank you," Phoebe replied, gesturing for him to have a seat in the living room. She headed into the kitchen, and told Elena and Bonnie about Caroline and Damon's arrival. She made some coffee, and dished up the cake. When it was done, Stefan and Elena helped her bring it all into the living room, where they were all sitting and talking.
"I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team," Caroline told Stefan. "Oh, Tyler must be seething. But good for you. Go for it."
"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 agreed. Stefan scowled at his brother.
"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today," Caroline began. "It's only because you missed summer camp. God, I don't know how you're ever gonna learn the routines."
"I'll work with her. She'll get it," Bonnie chimed in.
Caroline began thinking out loud, "I guess we can put her in the back."
Phoebe rolled her eyes, and began stacking everyone's plates together. Damon noticed, and tried engaging her into the conversation, "So, are you a cheerleader, too, Phoebe?"
Phoebe looked up, but Caroline's laughter stopped her from answering, "Phoebe, a cheerleader?! Oh my God, no. Perky isn't in her vocabulary, even before her parents died. I mean, I know Elena doesn't exactly seem perky, either, but she used to be way more fun. She's just going through a total blah phase right now."
Bonnie, Elena, and Phoebe all glared at Caroline. She noticed this, and quickly added, "And I say that with complete sensitivity."
"I'm sorry. I know what it's like to lose both your parents. In fact, Stefan and I have watched almost every person we've ever cared about die," said Damon.
"We don't need to get into that right now, Damon," Stefan told him.
"Ah, you know what, you're right, Stef. I'm sorry," said Damon, with false sincerity. "The last thing I wanted to do was bring her up."
An awkward silence fell on the room.
Over at the Grill, Jeremy watches Vicki and Tyler from a distance. Matt takes notice, and tries to make him feel better. It doesn't work. Jeremy ends up in a shoving match with Tyler, which Matt has to break up.
Back at the Gilbert house, Caroline has broken the silence, and started talking again. Phoebe stands up, and gathers the dishes.
"Where you going?" Damon inquired.
"To do the dishes. There's only so much of Caroline I can tolerate," Phoebe answered. She put on an innocent expression, and told Caroline, "And I say that with complete sensitivity."
As she walked away, Elena and Bonnie shared a look, and Caroline's jaw dropped a little. Damon hid a smile, as did Stefan. No one offered to help Phoebe in the kitchen, because the girls all knew that it was what Phoebe did when she wanted to get away from socializing. Since Damon didn't know this, he seized the opportunity to talk to her alone, again. He waited a few minutes, and then followed her into the kitchen.
"One more," said Damon, bringing her another glass.
Phoebe reached for it, but dropped it. Damon caught it, and gave it to her again. She smiled, "Nice save."
"I like you. You know how to smile, and have fun," he responded, helping her load the dishwasher.
Trying to deflect the conversation away from her, she asked, "Did you mean Katherine, earlier?"
"Mhmm."
"…How did she die?"
Damon looked off into the distance, "A fire. Tragic fire."
"Was it recent?"
"Seems like it was yesterday," he smiled.
"What was she like?"
Damon got serious, "She was beautiful. A lot like you in that department."
Phoebe smiled.
Damon continued, "She was just very complicated, and selfish, and at times not very kind; but very sexy and seductive."
A light bulb went off for Phoebe, "So, which one of you dated her first?"
Damon chuckled, "Nicely deduced."
Phoebe smiled, and walked over to the island.
"So why don't you have a boyfriend?" asked Damon.
"I'm the town nerd. The guys here only want to use me for my brain, or to make fun of me."
"How do they use you? If you don't mind my asking."
"They usually try to date me close to major exams, so I'll let them copy off of me. Or they'll try to sweet talk me into doing their schoolwork, while their off fooling around with other girls."
"You're kidding."
"Nope. Wish I was."
Damon sat on a stool next to her, and looked her in the eye, "I'm sorry. You deserve better."
She could tell he meant it, "Thank you."
He twitched a smile, and began folding place mats.
"I'm sorry, too."
He looked up at her confused.
"About Katherine. You lost her too."
His expression changed to surprise, then serious. He had no idea what to say to that. He was thankful when Elena and Bonnie entered the kitchen, offering their help.
In the other room, Stefan asks Caroline to take her scarf off, but she can't. She's been compelled by Damon. Damon walks in on them and asks Caroline to help Phoebe, Bonnie, and Elena with the dishes. Stefan then confirms his suspicion that Damon is feeding off of Caroline and attempts to convince him that humans are not to be used for his amusement; Damon counters by reminding him that he has been invited into Elena's house. He then taunts Stefan that he'll come every night, and will do whatever he wants to do with Elena. Later that night Damon invades one of Elena's dreams and turns it into a nightmare, which she wakes up from. The next day Elena contemplates whether or not to quit cheerleading.
At the Salvatore house, Stefan writes in his journal: "There must be a shred of humanity left inside my brother, somewhere, I keep hoping, but how do I make him see it? And how do I protect her?"
He has an idea, and walks to a nearby shelf. He takes a large box off the shelf and collects something from inside it.
At the football game, Elena tells Stefan that she quit the cheerleading squad, and he gives her a necklace with vervain in it. Prior to the game, Mr. Tanner gives a pep talk that highlights Stefan's talents, irritating Tyler. He picks a fight with a drunken Jeremy, and Stefan attempts to break it up, getting his hand is cut in the process by Jeremy. The twins' first concern is Jeremy, but he shrugs his sisters off of him and walks away. After checking on Jeremy, Elena examines Stefan's hand, which shows no sign of injury. He tells her it wasn't his blood, and he's fine. Elena believes him, but Phoebe is still confused. She swears she saw his hand get cut open.
'Bonnie was right. There's something off about him,' she thought to herself. 'Wait. Elena said Bonnie had a vision about Stefan. What did she see?'
Phoebe took off to find Bonnie, and ask her about her vision. She found her with the other cheerleaders, waiting to run out on the field.
"Hey, Bonnie," greeted Phoebe.
"Hey, Phoebe," replied Bonnie. She looked around for Elena, "Where's Elena?"
"She's coming. There was an incident with Jeremy and Tyler, it's fine now, though," replied Phoebe.
"Jeremy okay?" asked Bonnie.
"Yeah, he's fine. Elena just wanted to steal a moment with Stefan, before he got geared up for the game," Phoebe lied. "Can I ask you a question, and you give me a serious no-joke response?"
"Of course. What is it?" asked Bonnie, mildly concerned.
Phoebe looked around, before continuing, "The bad mojo you told Elena about...the one where you touched Stefan and had that bad reaction."
"You know what, forget I said that. Elena's little dinner party plot totally won me over," replied Bonnie.
"No, Bonnie, seriously. What was it?" pressed Phoebe. "I promise, I won't judge or make fun."
Bonnie took a deep breathe, "It wasn't clear like a picture. When I touched Stefan, it was a feeling. And it vibrated through me, and it was cold, and it-."
Phoebe waited a moment for her to continue, but she didn't, "And it what?"
"It was death. It's what I imagine death to be like," answered Bonnie.
Phoebe's mind was racing with questions, but she'd bothered Bonnie enough, "Thanks, Bonnie."
Bonnie forced a small smile, and a nod.
In the parking lot, Damon attempts to compel Elena. He tries to kiss her, but she slaps him in the face and reminds him that she is Stefan's girlfriend. Elsewhere, Matt expresses his appreciation for Stefan having helped Jeremy and apologizes for his previous behavior towards him. When Matt walks inside the locker room, Damon makes his presence known.
"Isn't that nice?" Damon asked, clapping. "Stefan joins a team, makes a friend. It's all so 'Rah, rah, go team, yeah!'."
"Not tonight. I'm done with you," Stefan replied, turning away.
Damon flitted to stand in front of Stefan, "Nice trick with Elena. Let me guess, vervain in the necklace? 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.
"Guess I could just seduce her the old-fashioned way," said Damon.
Stefan began walking away again.
"Or I could just...eat her," Damon added.
Stefan stopped, and turned back, "No. You're not gonna hurt her, Damon."
"No?" questioned Damon.
"Because deep down inside, there is a part of you that feels for Phoebe. You won't hurt her sister," Stefan explained.
Damon made a face.
"I was worried that you had no humanity left inside of you; that you may have become the monster that you pretend to be," Stefan continued.
"Who's pretending?" Damon interrupted.
"Then kill me," Stefan told him.
"Well, I'm-I'm tempted," Damon began.
It was Stefan's turn to interrupt him, "No, you're not. You've had lifetimes to do it, and yet, here I am. I'm still alive. And there you are. You're still haunting me. After 145 years."
Damon seemed both amused and bored at the same time, until Stefan told him, "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."
Tanner came outside, and called, "Salvatore! What the hell? We've got a game to play!"
"If that's my humanity...then what's this?" Damon asked. He attacked Tanner, feeding on him until he was dead.
"No!" Stefan cried.
Tanner's body fell to the ground, and Damon addressed his brother, "Anyone, any time, any place."
Inside the locker room, Matt puts Tyler in his place, then leaves the locker room and discovers Tanner's body. The ambulance takes the body away, and Bonnie becomes freaked out when she sees a sign on the building that says "BLDG 8", the number 14 on a license plate, and parking space 22. Vicki finds Jeremy under the bleachers and gives him the answer from his earlier question; that she did not sleep with him just for the drugs. Elena is confused and upset by the evening's events, and Stefan assures her that they will be fine.
At the Salvatore house, Stefan writes in his journal: "I thought there was hope. That somewhere deep inside, something in Damon was still human...normal. But I was wrong. There's nothing human left in Damon. No good, no kindness, no love. Only a monster... who must be stopped."
As Stefan writes in his journal, Damon pays Phoebe a visit. He goes to her room, after she's fallen asleep. Her room was similar to Elena's, but across the hall on the other side of the house. She had a window seat, with three drawers in it, and pillows. Her walls were purple, underneath the posters and her drawings that covered them. When you enter the room (through the door) to the left is a small table with a laptop, then a bookshelf full of books, and then the window seat. On the other side of that was her dresser. The wall straight ahead had two windows, and her bed lay in between them. To the right of her bed she had a night stand with a reading lamp and an alarm clock. Along the right wall was her closet and mirror.
Damon came in through the window above the window seat. Phoebe had fallen asleep in bed, reading, like she had many times before. Damon removed her glasses, and placed them on her night stand. He placed her book on top of the stack of books on the floor next to the bed. He then switched off the light, and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, and left.
