Sunlight streams through Lia's blinds, shining down on her peaceful, sleeping face. The rays kiss her skin, bringing out the naturally rosy tint on the apples of her cheeks, looking at her you would never be able to tell she spent most of the previousnight
staring at her ceiling.
All the questions in her mind were deafening, shouting at her, demanding answers. She wondered about the mysterious stranger who told her vampire blood healed her wound. What are his intentions? Had he healed her only to threaten her into helping him?How
did that make sense? Why didn't he just ask her for a favor? Or are there other vampires out there, and one of them helped her? Are all vampires as dangerous as the bright, blue-eyed man?
Not being able to handle her relentless mind, she called her boyfriend, asking if he would spend the night. Of course, he jumped at the chance to do so.
Lucas held his girlfriend in his arms knowing something was bothering her because she had been hesitant in letting him sleep over the in the past. But, pushing Lia to talk about something when she isn't ready would only fluster her. So, instead, he presseda
meaningful kiss to Lia's temple, and let her drift off into much-needed sleep.
Lucas's eyes open minutes before his early morning alarm. Waking up next to Lia meant last night wasn't a dream. He had attended a Founder's meeting with his older cousin, Logan. And then, after hours of tossing and turning due to him trying to wrap hismind
around the reality of vampires, his girlfriend did, in fact, ask him to sleep over. Everything about last night feels surreal to the star quarterback.
Logan Fell had decided it was time another Fell family member joined the Founding Family's Council. Sheriff Forbes fought the idea in the beginning but caved once more people were found dead. The second the younger fell learned about vampires he connectedthe
dots that Vicki Donovan had been attacked by one the night of the bonfire. His mind wandered to the thought that if Lia had stumbled into the forest minutes earlier, that same vampire might have attempted to drain her of blood too. Once everythingwas
explained to him, he agreed to join to keep the people he loves safe.
Adjusting to sunlight, Lucas wraps his arm around the girl laying next to him, burying his face into the crook of her neck. Her familiar vanilla scent has him smiling into her skin. Lia's eyes flutter open, her lips curling into a tired smile. There is
/no better way to awake than in the arms of the person you love.
"Thanks for sleeping over last night," Lia yawns, rolling over to face him. She brushes her hand through his untamed hair as she fights a yawn. Mornings aren't her favorite time, but fortunately, she isn't a grump when awoken.
Unlike most teenagers, Lucas is a morning person. He enjoys running as the sun rises above the horizon. "No need to thank me, babygirl. I am always herewhen you need me."
For a second he admires how her full lips still hold a tiny smile as she falls back to sleep. Two years ago, when they met, he only dreamed of something like this happening. Everyone told him he would be better off going after any other girl than,
and Tyler warned him how she hadn't been in a relationship before; letting people close to her isn't easy. Caroline is the only person she hides nothing from. And yet, here Lucas is holdingthe girl he's admiredfor two years in his
very arms.
Quietly, he slides outof her bed and gets dressed. As he leaves, he presses a chaste kiss to Lia's forehead. While he collected his things, she had fallen back asleep. Opening the door to her room, he comes face to face with a smirking Caroline;
her arms crossed smugly against her chest.
"I knew I heard a guy's voice," Caroline pushes past Lucas, "I bet you two had fun last night."
Lucas opens his mouth to explain the suspicious looking situation, but the nosy blonde shuts the door in his face before he gets the chance. She wanted to hear all the juicy details from Lia.
Caroline jumps on the bed, jolting her sleeping friend awake. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she mutters a good morning to the wide awake girl now sitting next to her.
"You guys finally did it, didn't you?" Caroline squeals. Making herself comfortable, she cuddles under the comforter.
Lia laughs at, rolling over to face her best friend, "No, all we did was sleep."
"Gah, what's holding you back? Sleep with him already!"
"I told you, when the time is right it will happen," Lia ensures, blood rising into her cheeks.
Caroline groans, unsatisfied by that answer. "Alright, now that we are awake, let's get ready and grab a coffee. I want to tell you all about the guy I ran into last night. Hottest guy in Mystic Falls, hotter than Stefan," Caroline rolls off the bed,bounding
back towards her room. She has too much energy for this time of the morning.
Lia brushes her hands through her hair, shaking her head. She hopes this guy will completely erase the reject, Caroline, felt over, Stefan. Maybe this guy will finally make Caroline happy.
Lia and Caroline spent their morning at the grill. In the mornings the place is quiet, smelling of freshly brewed coffee, opposite to how it is in the afternoon and evenings.
Uncle Gabe had left a note on the counter, apologizing that he had to head home early. Something about an emergency at work. He gifted his niece some spending cash and a message promising he would try his best to come back for her birthday. Lia mighthave
been upset if this wasn't normal for him. Gabe comes and goes as quick as the wind.
Holding her second cup of coffee, Lia waves at her three best guy friends. Teenagers gather in small groups across the courtyard in front of the school. Every group of people doing diverse activates. The football players in their little friend group arepracticing
throwing.
Caroline trails behind Lia, on the phone with one of the cheerleaders. Apparently, the cheer captain isn't too happy about how the new uniforms turned out. And if things aren't up to her standard, you can be sure she get's them fixed.
"Lia, Caroline, over here!" Matt yells out, throwing the football to Lucas. Lucas gives the girls a welcoming smile. His run did ease his worries a tad. Now, he's attempting to only focus on school and football for the rest of the day.
Caroline ends her phone call angrily, mumbling on about how people never listen. Tyler rolls his eyes at her, thinking it's too early in the morning for her to be already bossing people around. "Do you ever stop telling people what to do?"
Caroline narrows her eyes at the egotistical, brown-eyed boy, "If I didn't take charge, people like you would constantly screw things up."
Matt, Lia, and Lucas laugh at Caroline's comment, causing Tyler to frown and find someone else to pick on. "Look..there's Elena and her new boyfriend. Now, what are they doing? Oh, they're walking, walking, walking. Yep. Right into the sunset."
Lightly punching Tyler in the arm, Lia sends Matt a small smile. Matt is still hurt by the fact Elena has completely moved on from him, despite the fact she said she needed 'some time alone'. Elena was and is Matt's first love. Anyone would be crushedto
know the person they love doesn't reciprocate the same feelings.
"You're a dick," Matt snaps at Tyler, messing with the ball before throwing it long for Lucas.
"And you are standing there looking like one of those yard trolls," Tyler continues ignoring everyone around him. He just can't stand the fact, Stefan, waltzed right into Mystic Falls instantly gaining everyone's attention.
"Yard trolls? This just proves my point earlier; you need guidance in your life," Caroline says, rolling her eyes. It still stings a little to see Stefan with Elena, regardless of the fact she believes she's found her next boy toy.
"Gnomes, garden gnomes," Matt chuckles, shaking his head at his clueless, fellow jock. "What am I supposed to do, Ty? She made her choice."
Stepping in the way, he catches the ball instead of Matt. Lucas narrows his eyes, aware that Tyler is about to cause trouble; that's what the Lockwood kid is known for. Tyler gets ready to throw the ball in a different direction. "Let her know she made
/the wrong choice."
"Tyler, no!" Lia tries to stop him, but it's too late. He' spiraled the ball, straight for the back of Stefan's head.
All of them watch in amazement as Stefan turns around just in time to catch the ball. Tyler and Matt's jaws drop, not expecting him to be that fast. Caroline is unimpressed, starting to tug on Lia's arm so they can start walking to class. However, bothLia
and Lucas stare a minute longer. With the new knowledge they possess, they are considering the fact that Stefan Salvatore might be a vampire.
Lucas snaps out of it; convinced paranoia has the better of him. Slinging his arm over Lia's shoulder, the couple follows behind Caroline. Lia's not entirely sure what to think. She can do mysterious things, yesterday she found vampires exist. It's nota
long stretch to consider there might be another vamp in town. One who is attempting to court Elena Gilbert.
Letting out a frustrated groan, Lia dials Caroline's number for the third time. As team captain, Caroline is against tardiness, and if anyone dares to appear late, she gives them a snarky lecture on the importance of practice. Today the cheer captainis
almost a half an hour late.
Lia sits back down in her seat next to Bonnie. The two girls had told everyone to stretch while they wait, but the other cheerleaders are starting to grow impatient. Not all the cheerleaders are down to earth such as the two assistant co-captains whoare
trying to keep the calm. Getting more anxious by the minute, Lia dials Caroline's number for the fourth try.
An unexpected person walks up to Bonnie and Lia, smiling big. "Oh my god. You're here!" Bonnie jumps up, wrapping her arms around Elena Gilbert.
The slim brunette hadn't attended a practice since her parent's tragic accident. Cheerleading had become more of a task than a sport she enjoyed. But, now, she is ready to move on, and get back to normalcy.
"Yep. I can't be sad girl forever. The only way to get things back to the way they were are to do things that were," Elena takes a seat on the grass, "By the way, you and Lia are coming to dinner tonight."
Lia, who had been caught up leaving Caroline a voice message, whips her head around. "Dinner sounds fun!"
"Yeah, I'm in," Bonnie agrees, going back to stretching.
"Good! Stefan will be happy to know you guys are coming." Elena exclaims, smiling to herself.
Now her friends would have to get to know and start to like Stefan. She had picked up on the fact both girls were leery of him. Bonnie straight out warned her to be careful, and Lia is not warming up to him like she normally would with new people by now.
"Shoot, you know what, tonight's no good," Bonnie shifts her glance to Lia, "Has Caroline gotten back to you?"
"No! Every call makes me more worried about her," Lia checks her phone, "you know, maybe tonight isn't the best night for dinner. Lucas and I barely got any sleep last night."
"Wait, what?" Bonnie practically shoots, causing the people around them to stare.
Realizing how risqué that sounded, Lia chokes on her words. "No! No, I -it's not what you are thinking!"
"Why don't we discuss this while preparing dinner, tonight," Elena meddles, narrowing her eyes at her reluctant friends. They were going to accept Stefan, even if it meant Elena forcing them to.
Bonnie and Lia look at each other, neither of them able to come up with a good enough excuse to bail. "Fine."
A beautiful, old-fashioned mustang pulls up to the field. Caroline hops out, but now before leaning over to give the driver a kiss on the cheek. All three girls stand up, trying to get a better look at who brought the late cheer captain to practice. Oncethe
driver slides his sunglasses down, they all hesitate for a moment, each for different reasons.
"Who's that?" Bonnie asks, staring at him. She admires how the color of his eyes matched the color of his car.
"Uh...that's Damon Salvatore," Elena explains, putting her hands on her hips. "Stefan's older brother."
Damon Salvatore, Lia finally had a name to associate with the piercing blue eyes. Tightening her ponytail, she questions if this adds to her proof Stefan might be a vampire. Or is it a coincidence, and they just happen to be related. Either way, the factDamon's
seemingly dating Caroline makes Lia feel sick to her stomach. He was doing this to keep a closer eye on Lia, to make sure she doesn't open her mouth about him being a vampire. And with Caroline in his hold, he has made sure Lia will do whatever
/it takes to make him happy.
"So, he came over, in the middle of the night, because you couldn't sleep," Bonnie questions Lia. She wasn't asking condescendingly, more of a tone of pure curiosity.
The subject of Lucas spending the night was quick to be brought up when the three girls made it to Elena's house. Lia's slip up at practice left Elena and Bonnie wanting to hear more. Interest had gotten the better of the two.
Lia doesn't make the first move, and yet she invited Lucas to spend the night. Anyone who is familiar with the innocent girl's ways will know something has to be a little out of the normal for her to do that.
"I think he might have fallen out of the pages of a romance novel. He's starting to beat Stefan, don't you think Bonnie," Elena interjects while pouring the catered pasta into a proper serving bowl. She had hoped using words Bonnie said about the manwinning
her affection would help ease him into the conversation.
"Putting it in a nice bowl isn't fooling anyone," Bonnie says, ignoring Elena's comment, focusing on finding napkins.
Lia grabs the silverware and walks towards the kitchen table, but she doesn't make it far when Elena stops her, clearing her throat. "Okay, what going on? You are the nicest person I know. What is keeping you from giving Stefan a chance? This is reallyunlike
you. And you too, Bonnie!"
Elena's has a point. Lia is the shy friend at first, but after you become familiar with her, she blossoms into this whole other person. Stefan is in her first class, sits with Elena and the girls at lunch, and he talks to them before school on
has kept her wall up this whole time.
Biting her lower lip, Lia chooses her words carefully. Damon approaching her, and admitting to being a once thought to be a tall tale, set her on edge. Feeling guilty for letting that affect her possible friendship with Stefan, she tries to ease her
her ways due to one incident would be unfair to the other Salvatore.
"I am not purposely avoiding him. We only have one class together, and other than school I don't see him." Walking past Elena, she goes to set the table. "I promise tonight I will give him a chance."
Right on time, the doorbell chimes. Elena rings her hands, nervous about how two of her closest friends will act tonight. Bonnie may be a tad off because of her whole witch debacle, but she can't fathom what has gotten into Lia.
A moment later Stefan, Bonnie, Lia, and Elena are eating in an awkward silence. Scraping of forks against plate is the only noise, and it's irritating Elena. Dinner is not off to the best start.
Noticing this, Elena is quick to get a conversation going. "Did Tanner give you a hard time today?"
Stefan had decided to join the football team, with convincing from his favorite brunette of course. Tanner gave him a chance, but the other jocks were not satisfied by his addition to the varsity team. Well, other than Lucas. He cares more about the teamas
a whole than being the bestplayer. He agreed Stefan's talent is much needed.
"Well, he let me on the team, so I must have done something right," Stefan answers, giving Elena a small smile.
"Bonnie, you should have seen Stefan today. Tyler threw a ball right at him, and..."
"Yeah, I heard," Bonnie interrupts, not looking up from her plate. Swirling her pasta around with her fork, she avoids eye contact with everyone.
Fidgeting in her seat, Lia decided to make the conversation less painful. "Lucas was impressed, and he's pretty hard on the team when it comes to how they play, so you must be good."
Stefan glances at Lia, she's so very different from Aurora, just as Elena is the opposite of Katherine. Except, he isn't fond of Aurora and Camellia's dissimilarities. Aurora was aware of her capabilities, able to protect herself and anyone around
one in the family took the role of informing Lia who she is when her mother passed. He wanted to tell her all he knew, but Stefan's afraid it might be too much for her. And who is he to explain things to her, especially since he doesn't know thewhole
story?
Elena realizes Stefan's attention is somewhere else. Setting her glass to the table, she again tries to rouse up a conversation. "Bonnie, why don't you tell Stefan about your family?"
"Um, divorced. No, mom. Live with my dad," Bonnie mutters, barely lifting her head to meet Stefan's eyes.
Annoyed, Elena harshens her voice, "No, about the witches. Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool."
"Cool isn't the word I'd use."
"Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed, but I do know there's a history of Celtic Druids that migrated here in the 1800's," Stefan voices, trying to gain Bonnie's full attention.
Celtic Druids? Lia repeats the words in her mind. Is that where her strange abilities stem from? She mentally reminds herself to look into Celtic Druids when she has time. Any answers to who she is would help. Maybe even get her out of her little dealwith
Damon faster.
"My family came of way by Salem," Bonnie opens up, becoming more interested in the conversation. Elena grins to herself; if Bonnie is giving in to Stefan's charm, surely Lia will follow right behind.
"Really? Salem witches?"
"Yeah."
"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity."
Bonnie smiles are this information, "Yeah, they are." One point for Stefan winning over Bonnie.
When the doorbell rings, they everyone glances at each other. Jenna and Jeremy were out for the night; not to mention they wouldn't ring the doorbell. Cocking her head to the side, Elena goes to excuse herself, but Lia politely offers to get the doorinstead.
The conversation between Bonnie and Stefan is going great, and she doesn't want it to turn awkward with Elena leaving them to alone.
When she opens the door, her eyes widen. A mixture of worry and fear turn her blood to ice, freezing her in place. Damon and Caroline stand inthe doorway, and Lia deduces the idea for them to drop bycame from a vampire able to persuade
people into doing ashe says.
"Surprise! I decided to bring a dessert to your guy's dinner," Caroline says with a large smile, holding acake for Lia to take. Lia doesn't move a muscle, still frozen.
Earlier when Lia told Caroline about the dinner, the busy blonde insisted she didn't have the time to come by after dinner to say hi. She claimed there was too much to do before the big game Friday night. In fact, since the uniform crisis, Caroline'sphonehadn't
left her hand, and she had a few cheerleaders running around to ensure nothing else would go wrong.
"Care, I thought you were busy tonight, and Damon pleasure seeing you again," Lia says, barely above a whisper. It's not hard to tell her words are less than sincere.
Elena heard Caroline's voice and came to stand beside Lia. Seeing Damon with his arm looped around her bossy friend doesn't sit right with her. Them being together happened so quickly, almost out of nowhere. And adjusting to the new change felt strange.
Sure, Damon is Caroline's type, but Elena did not like them together. Elena didn't have to ask to know Lia felt the same.
"What are you doing here?" Stefan wedges himself between Elena and Lia, shielding them from his older brother.
"Waiting for Elena to invite me in," Damon smirks, finally looking at someone other than Lia. The annoyance written all over Stefan's face only makeshis brother feel better about his choice to crash the dinner party. Intimidating Lia, making Stefan
angry,and possibly making Elena uneasy about her and Stefan's relationship, that would be a great night for him.
"Oh, yeah, you can..." Elena slides out of the way, allowing Caroline to push right through. The blonde heads for the kitchen to put up the dessert she brought since Lia didn't take it from her.
"No, no, no. He can't uh..he can't stay. Can you, Damon?" Stefan struggles not to sound conspicuous, but Lia's scowls at his words.
Putting pieces together, she gathers vampires can't come in without being invited. Damon brought Caroline with him, and it's not a long shot to guess she had allowed him into the Forbes's home. Damon Salvatore now has access to Lia's home whenever hepleases.
Lia slowly backs away, watching the brothers bicker. Stefan seems well aware of the rules of vampirism, leading Lia to further agree with the fact the younger brother is probably a vampire too.
"It's fine. Just come on in." Elena rolls her eyes. Well, her plan for the night is ruined, so why not just go with things now?
When Elena and Stefan turn back to the living room, Damon grabs hold of Lia's hand, a wicked grin aimed at her. "Tonight's going to be fun, my little flower."
A/N: I am going to be changing the details of Caroline's forced relationship with Damon. There will be no compelled physical intimacy between the two. Basically, he is just coercing her to believe they are dating, that way he can be around Lia more. This will change a couple of things, but no worry I have a plan! :)
Guest: Here is the next chapter! Thanks for your comment.
Arianna Le Fay: Yes, Lia is a doppelganger with powers! More information on that will be divulged in later chapters. I don't want to ruin things, but I will say this: Lucas and Lia love each other, however, Lucas is not endgame. A character from the show and she will find epic love. It will be a slow burn!