~Four~
-Logan Parker-
The next morning, I kept my body perfectly still. My right leg sat between Damon's with his right arm wrapped around me as my right hand and my head laid on his chest. His fingers trace shapes faintly over my hip and side. I could feel him staring but I didn't want to ruin what is to be our last moments together.
"You are the most beautiful thing I've seen in all my years."He whispers, tucking hair behind my ear as her kisses the top of my head. I sigh and pull away, wrapping her sheets around my body. He chuckles and wraps a towel around his waist. He walks over to my side of the bed and picks me up, carrying me to the bathroom. He sits me on the counter and moves to get the shower running.
"Damon."I say softly, running my fingers through my hair. He turns and looks at me with bright, cheerful eyes and a smile. I put my hand on his chest and look up at him.
"C-can we take a bath?"I ask softly. All I wanted was to feel him for as long as I could. This was one of my favorite memories. His eyes search my face and dim as his eyebrows pull inward in sorrow and worry. He cups my jaw and kisses me gently.
"Of course."He whispers, lighting small vanilla candles that sat scattered around the rather large room. He switches the water to fill up the tub and smiles at a bottle of bubbles before pouring some in. I smile faintly as the room fills with the scent of roses and vanilla.
"Go ahead and get in the tub. I'm gonna go see if Elena has anything you can wear."He smiles, kissing my forehead before leaving the room. I sloppily pull my hair up in a bun and get in, breathing a sigh of utter relief and relaxation as the warm water consumes my body. I flinch at the cold linoleum, arching my back away from the chilled surface just as Damon steps back into the room. He slides his hand over my back and climbs in behind me, wrapping his arm around me once he's in to keep me warm.
"Elena said you could pick whatever you wanted."He whispers, kissing my hair. I lie against his chest and close my eyes, determined to keep this moment alive as long as possible.
Damon strokes my arm gently, humming faintly to a song I haven't heard in years. Walk the Line by Johnny Cash. I sing softly along with him, smiling up at him. He kisses my nose and sings loudly. I laugh and hit his chest playfully at his obnoxious notes.
"I want you to meet everyone when we're done."He smiles, kissing my forehead. I sigh, knowing this will only hurt him more when I leave, but nod anyway. Why can't I make him happy while I'm here? After a few more minutes of laughing and talking, Damon helps me out of the tub. He wraps a towel around his waist and another around my body, using it to pull me into a sweet kiss before he leaves to get changed. I get dressed in my jeggings and boots and pull on Damon's shirt long enough to walk down the hall. Quickly, I pick out Elena's red tank and slip it on.
"Well well, if it isn't little Ms. Damsel-in-distress herself."I hear a low voice whisper from behind me. I ball my fist around Damon's shirt and turn.
"Poor old boy couldn't bring himself to take you out of your misery."The man smirks, his thick accent reminding me if the man in the woods as he steps into the light. It was him. My heart races with fear and anger as his dark eyes flood with blood, forcing me to step back. He steps toward me but I throw my hand out toward him, throwing him back down the stairs. He groans but ultimately gets up.
"What's going on?!"I hear Stefan and Damon call out as several others join Stefan and Elena in the hall below. Damon runs to me, tugging his white v-neck on over his dark jeans quickly.
"It's him."I growl involuntarily, though the fear and anger was slowly consuming my actions with deadly intent. I snap my fingers and watch as the man's entire body bursts into flames. He screams in pain, only barely muffled by Stefan's taunting laughter.
"Enzo!"Damon and a blonde girl call out as Dam pulls me away from the man's sight and the blonde throws a blanket over the burning vampire.
"What are you doing?! He won't hurt you!"Damon says, pain and determination in his eyes.
"He did hurt me, Damon! He's the reason I'm here!"I shout, pulling away from him. I move to walk toward Enzo and the blonde when he grips my arm, tugging me into his chest protectively.
"He found you in the woods, love. He called me from your phone before he brought you here."He says softly, smoothing my hair comfortingly. I shake my head and look at the slowly healing vampire.
"He has my phone?! Damon he beat me for my father's money! He's the reason my clothes were ripped and dirty!"I say, tears clouding my vision at the thought of his fangs ending what little chance I had at being with Damon again. He turns quickly and charges Enzo.
"She's the reason your shirt was bloody and burned?! You beat my girl?!"Damon growls, fangs bared as he throws punches. Enzo moves and hits Damon in his jaw. He massages it for a second before tackling him down the rest of the stairs. Enzo manages to get away and breaks an end table, taking it leg and warningly stalking Damon.
"No!"I call out worriedly, flicking my wrist and throwing the leg away from him. Damon grabs it and shoves it up into his stomach.
"If you touch her again, I'll kill you myself old boy."He says mockingly, obviously hearing his threat. The blonde vanishes and appears by my side.
"Hi, I'm Caroline Forbes. Are you okay?"The peppy blonde smiles, easing me down stairs toward the others. I nod, flexing my hands at my sides as we step around Enzo.
"Welcome back, sweetheart."Stefan smiles, hugging me. I giggle and hold on tight as he spins me around.
"It's nice to be back."I say happily, though my heart hurt knowing I couldn't stay. Elena smiles and hugs me, leading me toward the parlor along side Stefan and Caroline.
"This is Matt Donavan, Elena and Jeremy Gilbert and our best friend Bonnie Bennett."Caroline introduces everyone. I laugh faintly and wave, stepping up to shake hands with everyone.
"We've met."Elena smiles, hugging me. Damon turns and looks at us questioningly. I smile and take Bonnie's hand, following her into the kitchen to help make breakfast. I wave my hand out toward the stereo and smile as it blasts music. Bonnie giggles, obviously happy, and waves her hand out toward the table to set up. So she was a witch too? I smile and dance along to the music, making waffles and pancakes until Damon's hands suddenly grip my hips. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck.
"It's good to see you've gotten things under control."He whispers against my skin. Faintly, I hear voices and the large front door open, but this felt too good to interrupt. Bonnie and I, along with Jeremy and Damon's help, set out plates of food.
"Look who decided to stop in finally."Caroline laughs behind Damon and I. I turn and choke on the piece of bacon I had in my mouth. I cough and take a drink of Damon's bourbon. I'd need it. In the dinning room stood a joyous Alaric with Jo standing happily next to him. Her eyes were burning holes into my very soul, though is didn't want to move. Damon looks at me and chuckles knowingly.
"Go hug your long lost sister."He whispers, kissing my hair. Elena smiles.
"They've already done that."She smiles. I glare at her and groan lowly, avoiding Damon's wondering eyes.
"She goes to school with me, Damon."She answers as Jo walks toward me, hugging me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd be here."Jo whispers softly. I nod and hug her, glaring at Elena. She can't keep secrets for shit.
"Why wouldn't you tell me you went to Whitmoore?"Damon asks as we all sit down to eat. I smile faintly and look up at Stefan.
"Because of that. You asked about Whitmoore, not that I found Jo. I know you'd find a way to endanger yourself to see me there and I couldn't risk it."I say, eating a waffle. He chuckles and kisses my cheek.
"Oh but you'll risk his life for sex."Enzo chuckles, taking a drink of his whiskey as Jo and Alaric choke on their food. I smile sheepishly up at Jo and growl at Enzo.
"I wouldn't have endangered him at all if you would've just left me in the woods where my dad sent me."I say shortly, biting into another piece of bacon. Jo growls lowly at the mention of him. I nod to her slightly as her eyes darken with anger. She knew why we were there. She sighs sadly, wishing she had her magic back.
For the rest of the time here, I try to stay as quiet as possible. Damon knew why and tried to bring my usually bubbly personality to life, but I couldn't. I couldn't sit there and be happy, even though it was so hard not to for the first time in three years, knowing I'd have to leave again soon. I watch Damon sleep soundly for what felt like forever before finally forcing myself out of bed.
"Where are you going, gorgeous?"He hums, sitting up sleepily. I sigh, tears in my eyes as I walk up next to him, and sit next to him. I kiss him, cupping his face in my hands, and pull away slowly.
"I'm going to get something to drink."I lie, forcing a smile once his eyes cloud with concern. He wipes away a tear and tilts his head knowingly. I shake my head slightly and lean into his ear.
"I love you."I whisper before whispering a short knock out spell. He falls heavily against my shoulder, his arms running limp at his sides. I shift and lie him back, kissing his temple and smoothing his hair before translocating myself home. I climb into bed, stripping off my clothes and covering myself in the thick comforter. I could smell Damon on my skin and closing my eyes made my heart hurt.
"Get up."My father suddenly growls, throwing my bedroom door open. He rips the comforter away from me and examines my half naked body with disgust.
"I know about that school. When were you going to tell me you were going there?"He says, grinding his teeth angrily.
"I wasn't."I say honestly, thinking about Jo. He chuckles disappointedly and grabs my ankle, yanking me down the bed to him.
"And about finding your sister? Don't you think as your father I deserve to know she's alive?"He growls.
"If she wanted you to know she would've told you."I answer him, earning a fiery smack across the face. I look up at him with tears in my eyes and shake my head.
"Ever since Kai killed most of our coven, you've been consumed with power. I hate you!"I growl, standing up. He smacks me again and throws me back onto the bed.
"Shut your mouth. I've done everything I can to protect you and the rest of this coven. You should thank me, and so should Josset."He sneers, storming out of the room.
"You're dropping out tomorrow."He calls as he stomps back down the stairs. I run my fingers through my hair, head dipped off the side of my bed, and bite my lip hard to keep quiet. I wasn't dropping out and I sure ass hell wasn't letting him get his hands on Jo. Through tears, I pull myself up and off the bed. I pack my things and one by one send my bags to my car just outside of Whitmoore. Finally I pull on a long sleeved black sweater, black leggings and my black ridding boots. I breathe lowly, taking a last look at my childhood, and force myself to climb out of the bathroom window for the last time. I manage to find a dorm roommate application and fill it out quickly, putting a spell over the thin paper to push it through faster, and drive toward the school.
"I'm sorry, we have no openings tonight."The secretary at the front desk smiles sadly, taking the application happily. I nod and start to walk back out to my car when I pass the empty lab room Jo was working in. A bed sat empty and if the spell took correctly I'd only need it for a night, right? I sigh and hide my bags in the adjoining closet, climbing into the empty bed for possibly the saddest nights rest in history.
