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Cheerleader's are at the top of the High School caste system. They usually ended up with male sports stars; it was the High School nature order of things. It never mattered to Matt since he and his best friend Elena both existed in the same cliques.
Matt Donovan was the football team's starting quarter back, and Elena was the schools most popular cheerleader. Life was smooth sailing, that is until his hand was crushed changing a tire. His friends treated him as if he were contagious. A few months later he was mostly alone, nobody wanted to hang out with an ex-football player with a minimum wage job.
Nobody said he couldn't sit at the football table anymore, but it was an understood thing. He understood how they felt; he was a reminder of their possible future.
The only one who stayed by his side was his best friend Elena. He was no longer in her league but she didn't care, and that meant the world to him. She was his dependable rock.
After he quit the team, she invited to him to sit with her and the cheer squad during lunch time. The more time he spent with Elena that year, the more he felt they could be more than friends. Frankly she could do worse than him giving her track record.
He was tired of her dating guys whose promises were as useful as an expired gift card. He explained that when a guy says 'he will wait for her to be ready', that 'waiting' is on a timer. He said he'd never be that kind of guy if she gave him a chance.
Their relationship began quickly after that and Matt couldn't have been happier.
A year later, their romance was going strong. He saw their relationship as a final destination; he knew he wanted her forever. She was his first love; and his last. When they finally made love on their anniversary, it was wonderful. He knew he'd found perfection.
He was 18 and this was his last year of school, he wanted to start it right. Three months later at the bonfire party he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
The look of horrified shook on her face broke his heart. He suddenly realized that asking his16 year old girl to commit to marriage without a bun in the oven was unusual.
He was sure that she wanted to marry him but was afraid. He assured her that they wouldn't do anything until she graduated. She left him instead and called her parents to drive her home.
He expected her to go home get some sleep and they could laugh about all of this tomorrow, however the world had a different plan.
He knew she didn't blame him for the accident that killed her parents. However he pushed her to come to the bonfire. His attempts to talk to her about marriage drove her away. He was supposed to be the one that drove her home.
He knew every time she saw him after that, it brought back the crash.
She broke up with him in the end. The rest of the summer was a daze of misery. He even responded to Caroline's flirtations hoping to dull the pain and maybe start over. They ended up dating. However after a month she sent him a break up text.
He found out later she traded up to the son of a paper mill owner with a pool house. He knew that Caroline only dated him because he was Elena's ex. He never understood why Caroline always chased Elena's left over's. He filed it under unsolved mysteries, and moved on.
Looking at his phone he saw that Elena called. He smiled glad that they saved their friendship in the end. She invited him over for Pizza night with her brother and Aunt Jenny.
"Hey, do I need to come back there and pour myself a scotch?"
Matt looked up and saw a tall blond man glaring at him from a bar stool. The guy looked like he preloaded before he even sat on the stool. His alcoholic aftershave was coming out of his pores.
Matt smiled at the man in apology,
"Sorry just thinking about my love life, or lack thereof." He slid the man a full shot glass.
The blond drowned the Scotch quickly.
"Usually it's the job of the bartender to be a shrink for customers not the other way around. However I'll bite, what happened?"
Matt looked around making sure they couldn't be over heard,
"At work I sold condoms to the guy taking my ex-girlfriend out. I saw them heading to the woods yesterday. Adam even took over my starting spot on the football team."
The blond man sighed,
"I can beat that, my wife was murdered and the police are useless. I spent every dime I had on private investigators. Now I'm stuck as a history teacher. That tends to happen when everyone expected me to grieve for two weeks then return to work. She was my wife not a puppy."
Stephen and Damon overheard the entire conversation from a back booth. Stephen looked at the two men at the bar sadly. "Tragic lives. I really lost my thirst after that."
Damon picked up their bottles of beer,
"Time to go brother, now I know why 'Johnny can't read', his teacher is a depressive booze hound." Damon focused his eyes briefly on the blond man slumped over the bar.
Stephen left money on the bar and followed his brother into the alley,
"Admit it you felt bad for the guys at the bar. I don't believe that kinda thing doesn't bother you."
Damon rolled his eyes,
"Next you'll start a drum circle on our lawn. It's time to go."
Damon tried to forget the dead eyes on the man drinking at the bar. Part of him wanted to turn the man into a vampire. His human life was shit anyway, being a vampire might make the poor bastard live again.
Stephen was about to retort when he felt his knees give way in a violent pop. Before Damon could respond he found himself dangling in the air by his neck.
A 20 something looking vampire with spiky blond hair was grinning up at him. "Damon Salvador I heard you were a good fighter. Glad to see like most rumors in our world their false."
Beside him was a slightly older vampire with similar features. His passive face felt more threatening than his growling companion.
"KoL put him down; I told you I only wanted to talk to them, not maim them."
The younger vampire shrugged,
"Well I'm very sure you have their undivided attention now."
Damon tried to avoid passing out from the iron grip. Thankfully the blond quickly dropped him onto the alley's ground as requested. While gasping he noticed his brother staring at the older man's hand.
Damon helped his brother rise as the leader turned to address Stephen.
"Stephen I was told you are the level headed brother so I'll address you. I seek information. My family has a home here, our vampire servant is missing, a day after he vanished, a human was found in the woods drained of blood."
Stephen paled when he saw the family crest on the man's finger.
"A Mikaelson, I always wondered if we'd meet any of you. I would bow but you have us at a disadvantage. My bones haven't fully healed from your companions greeting."
The man smiled slightly, at Stephen
"My name is Elijah Mikaelson, and this is my brother KoL. You know my family and what we do to those who harm us. I'm trying to ascertain if you're responsible for recent events that put our kind at risk. We also need to find out if our servant is a victim, or worse the perpetrator. "
Stephen stopped leaning on Damon as his bones quickly healed,
"We've done nothing to offend your family. We haven't lived in this town for over 80 years. We haven't killed anyone recently or harmed your servant."
Damon glared at KoL as he rubbed his sore neck,
"The local human population is safe from my brother. As for me I believe in a sustainable food supply, I practice catch and release. A small town and dead bodies everywhere tend to get notice. If you need our help you could've just asked."
KoL smirked as he wiped blood from his hand,
"Violence tends to be more effective than pretty please."
Elijah ignored his brother and handed Stephen as file,
"This is all the information we have. If you help us our family will owe you a debt. We are a family that honored our obligations. We're also a family who remember those who refuse to be helpful. All vampires are obligated to help keep the secret of our existence."
Stephen held out his hand for Elijah which the older man took,
"You have the complete cooperation of my family and everyone attached to us."
Damon glared at Stephen,
"I'm the older brother so it's my job to make agreements for our family. I somehow doubt that file is complete, but they still demand our help."
KoL stood in front of Damon when he started walking towards Elijah.
"Behave and stay put, my brother is trying to be civilized, I have no such inclinations."
Elijah shook Stephen's hand,
"Thank you Stephen I 'll be in touch." With that Elijah and KoL walked out of the alley leaving the Salvatore brothers alone.
Stephen and Damon quickly walked to their car as fast as a human can move. Once they sped out of the parking lot Stephen tried quietly to reason with Damon.
"I know it looked like I kissed their ring but I was only trying to save our lives. His brother Klaus has a heart of darkness. Trust me that was the only move to make."
Damon rubbed the bridge of his nose,
"I hope so brother, because I have a feeling that Elijah see's us as the new Mikaelson Mules."
Stephen kept his eyes on the road but he looked trouble.
"Better a deal with Elijah then Klaus, as long as it's his families interest Elijah plays fair."
"Hopefully we can get them out of town and back to their swamp ASAP." Damon turned on NIN's "Happiness in Slavery" in case Stephen missed the message.
As Stephen drove their car home he grumbled at the music choice,
"I'm as worried as you are, however we help them or spend our lives running."
Damon grinned and switched the station to 70's rock,
"I know we're no match for them, but don't expect me to kiss their ass publically."
Stephen closed his mouth, but his eyes looked worried.
"Glad to hear it, because if you want to go "Charge of the Light Brigade" you're riding alone."
Damon smile didn't reach his eyes,
"Glad to see you have my back brother, as you always have."
Stephen suddenly slammed on the brakes tossing Damon forward as both their seat belts strained to hold them. "Damon what the HELL is that. It's headed toward us."
Damon within seconds moved his brother to the passenger seat. He took over the wheel and sped the car around,
"Seriously Stephen NEVER STOP DRIVING WHEN CRAZY SHIT HAPPENS ON A ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT."