"Really? So Aunt Elena, Stefan, Caroline, and that guy Kol are all vampires? And Klaus is a hybrid?" I just nodded in confirmation. "Does Mom know about any of this?"
"No, Paige, she doesn't."
"Okay, so I feel a bit better, but why did you have to keep this from me?" She whimpered.
"Paige, I didn't want anyone to get caught up in all of this drama. Especially you. I learned about all of this when I was slightly older than you and it practically ruined my childhood. Trust me, this isn't in your best interest to know." I explained.
"That makes sense, but were you ever going to tell me?"
"I was only going to tell you if absolutely necessary."
"One last question, is the car wash off now?" I laughed at her lightening the mood.
"I think it might be a little too late for that, but on a more serious note, stay away from Klaus. He's far more dangerous than you could imagine." I took off the Gilbert ring and handed it to her. "This is the ring that saved me from dying like ten times, will you please wear it so I feel like you're slightly better protected?"
Paige pulled out a chain and put the ring on it, fastening it around her neck.
The next day at the car wash:
"Hey Paige, I'm sorry about everything that happened yesterday. Are you afraid of me?" Caroline tried to smile.
"It's fine, Caroline. None of that was your fault except for allowing Klaus anywhere near my dad and me. It's okay though, I already forgive you and could never be afraid of you." She gave me a huge hug.
"You're the best, Paige! If I ever had a daughter I wish she could be like you. If I wasn't completely in love with Klaus I'd get rid of him right now, but don't worry, I'll make him work for my forgiveness!" She let go of me. "Now let's go wash some cars for charity!"
Caroline and I grabbed some soapy buckets and rags and walked over to a black impala. I started washing it as Care walked up to the driver's window.
"Eight dollars please." I laughed at her smiling.
"Sure thing." The man reached into his wallet and pulled out a ten, handing it to Care.
"Paige, can you run to the cash box and grab two bucks please?" I rolled my eyes, but went.
"Here you go, sir, have a good day." I gave the man his change.
"Thank you, sweetheart." By then, his car was all done and he drove off.
"Paige, don't interact with the customers." Dad complained as I walked over to him.
"I was just giving him change, don't freak out."
"I'm sorry, the whole ordeal last night still has me on edge." I wrapped my arms around his waist and whispered in his ear.
"It's okay, daddy, I'm not a little girl anymore. How about tomorrow you teach me some of your hunter moves to help ease your worries. Would that make you feel better?"
"Not completely, but there's nothing better I can do for now, so let's do it!" He smiled.
"Jer! Pai! You're not getting paid to stand around talking. Get your lazy asses over here!" Dad's friend Justin yelled waving a rag at us.
"Hey Jus, why don't you lay off." Dad yelled back while walking over.
"Relax dude, it was just a joke. Anyway, I think you should introduce me to that sexy blonde over there." He smirked pointing at Caroline.
"That's Caroline, but she has a boyfriend. He's a bastard, but she seems to care about him." Dad sneered.
"You seem kind of pissed at the guy, what happened?" Justin tried to be a good friend.
"He threatened Paige the other day."
"What an ass! This guy needs to be taught a lesson! Are you okay, Pai?" He leaned down to me.
"Yeah, I'm just a little shaken up, but I'll be fine." I smiled. Justin mussed my hair and smiled back.
"That's good, kiddo. You know where to find me if you ever need anything." I nodded and we all went back to washing the cars.
All of a sudden, my phone started ringing. I grabbed it out of my bag and clicked the button. "Hello."
"Hi Paige, it's your mother." The familiar voice came through.
"Oh, hi Mom, what's up?"
"I just wanted to check in with you. How is everything?" Confusion hit me from her sudden concern.
"Did Dad tell you what happened? Is that why you suddenly care about me again? Well, don't waste your breath because I'm fine. I don't need you trying to be a good parent after you decided to ruin our family. I don't need you." Tears were threatening to fall. I was getting sick of everyone treating me like I couldn't take care of myself.
"Paige, what are you talking about? I have not spoken with your father. Also, I didn't ruin the family, it would have ended eventually. Things don't always work out." My anger overtook me and I just exploded.
"You are such a bitch! Dad loved you and look at how you repaid him. Did you know that for the first few weeks after you left I found him staring at a picture of you and crying!? He blames himself for you leaving and we both know that it was all your fault. So do us both a favor and stay out of our lives! I never want to see you again!" My body shook with rapid tears.
"Shut the hell up Paige Gilbert! We both know that Jeremy is a self-centered bastard and is undeserving of me. I never thought that I was raising such a disrespectful brat, so I'm glad that I don't have you weighing down my life anymore. You would be nothing without me! So, have a good life, or a bad one, I really don't care. Goodbye Paige." I just hung up on her and was completely taken over by my sorrow and anger. At some point, someone embraced me and I just continued to bawl my eyes out.
"What happened, Pai? I'm gonna get your dad. I'm not really good at this kind of stuff." Justin cooed.
"No, I'm fine, just give me a minute please." I let out in a scratchy voice halting his movement.
"Paige, I've never seen you upset like this, so either tell me what's going on or I'll tell your dad who will just coddle you to death. What'll it be?" I sighed at his ultimatum and pulled myself together.
"It was my mom, she called me and she started beating on my dad and blaming him and me for everything. Dad really doesn't deserve this."
Justin visibly softened. "Oh, I get it. My parents separated when I was five. That had been much better because neither of them cared when my dad left, but it did hurt me. The only advice I can give you is to protect yourself. Don't let anyone hurt you no matter who they are."
"Thank you, Justin, you really are a great person." I smiled.
"Just don't go around telling people that." He smirked and we laughed. "Now let's just go back to the car wash. By the way, you should put a shirt on over your bikini, don't want all the dicks around trying to get into your pants!" I laughed at his acting like my dad.
"I would, but Caroline would yell at me for it. Watch and learn." I joked, grabbing my t-shirt and pulling it on over my head.
"Paige! What are you doing?" Caroline ran over as expected. "This is a sexy suds car wash, so the t-shirt has to go!" Caroline's shrieking was interrupted by Justin cracking up. "And what is so funny if I may ask?"
"Why does it matter if a fourteen year old girl is covered up? Her dad would not like the sound of this." Justin rolled his eyes.
"I've known Jeremy since he was born, he knows my rules for this kind of thing, so give it up." She grabbed my shoulders.
"Well excuse me for not promoting child prostitution."
"Hey, hey why don't we all calm down now and go our separate ways." I tried to intervene.
"Not now, Paige." They both yelled.
"Why the hell do you think that is prostitution?" Caroline glared.
"Because you're admonishing the poor girl for having the least bit of modesty! No need to be a psychotic bitch!"
"Oh really! I'm a psychotic bitch? Go to hell you ass!" Caroline flipped her hair and strutted away.
"Don't associate yourself with people like that, it never ends well." Justin patted my back and walked away. I just went back over to wash some cars.
An hour or so later, Dad found me so we could leave. We said our goodbyes and left. "So that was all pretty dramatic..." I trailed off in the car.
"Why was Justin so pissed off at Caroline?" He questioned.
"He and Care got into a screaming match after Caroline yelled at me for covering up." Through the corner of my eye, I witnessed a look of relief displayed across his face.
"I'm glad that there is someone else who will protect you, even if it is just from Caroline. Speaking of, are you wearing the ring I gave you yesterday?"
"No, I didn't want it to get ruined from the soap or lose it." I sighed.
"Do me a favor and always wear that ring. Never take it off, not even if you take a shower. This is really important, so just never take off that ring, Paige." I thought that he was going a little overboard, but agreed anyways. I'd keep the ring on for safety precautions.
