Cassie sighed as she held her books in hand walking down the crowded halls to her third-period class.

Her mind kept bringing flashbacks of the previous day, that little talk with Anelie had been getting to her all day and Cassie has been tempted multiple times to call Elena or even Katherine and ask them to come pick her up so she can lock herself in her room and just let it all out.

Cassie was taken out of her thoughts when she felt a light tap on the shoulder, she turned her head and smiled softly only for it to vanish as she remembered last night.

"Hey Cassie, what's going on?" Kiara asked her voice surprisingly cheerily

Cassie shrugged, "Just going to Algebra, you?"

"Me too silly, we have the same classes together remember? Speaking of which you have looked nothing but sad today, is everything alright?"

"It's just family issues..."

"Ooh? Well where is Anelie; I haven't seen her at all today." Kiara asked

Cassie shook her head taking a seat at her desk, "She decided to stay home, she and I got into a fight and that's why I'm just not in a very good mood today."

"If you do not mind me asking, what was your fight about?"

"It's complicated and truth be told I'm not even certain why I picked the fight. But it happened, now I have to live with the consequences." Cassie shrugged off the conversation.

"I'm sorry to hear that…whatever this is between you and Anelie, it will pass. You guys seem close."

"You know…Anelie's aunt said the same thing." Cassie recollected.

Kiara shrugged a shoulder, "Well because it's true. I saw the way you two interacted with one another. You're like sisters."

Cassie pressed her lips into a flat line and nodded, "Yeah…" She then smiled softly, "We kind of are. Thank you, Kiara."

"Of course, and if you would ever like someone to talk to…about anything, you know where to find me." Kiara offered

Cassie frowned, "Can I ask you something?"

"Depends on what it is," Kiara smirked

Cassie sighed, "What is it between you and Anelie…your history?"

Kiara eyed the human, "Something tells me you already know."

Cassie shrugged a shoulder, "Anelie told me that her Aunt killed your sister…and that you and your family tried to murder Anelie and her Mother."

"Well, it's true, if that was what you were looking for," Kiara spoke with a casual voice, it sent shivers up Cassie's spine.

"That was part of what I was looking for…but also I'm wondering why."

"You seem like this is such a casual conversation," Kiara replied, "You've been around Vampires for a while I take it."

"Two years…"

"That's a long time for a human."

"Listen, my history with Anelisia is quite complicated; why we tried to kill her and Katerina is a story for another time. Again…it's very complicated."

It was then the bell rang and their teacher got right to work, picking up where they left off the previous day.

/

That night Anelie joined her parents and Tatia in the kitchen helping to prepare the night's dinner and a big one at Anelie's request.

She stood at one side of the Island chopping up herbs to put into Stefan's special spaghetti sauce.

Stefan was shredding fresh parmesan; Katherine and Tatia stood by the stove waiting for a big pot of water to boil for the noodles while seasoning and cooking the ground turkey and Italian sausage.

"Have you spoken to Cassie at all?"

Anelie shook her head glancing up at Stefan, "No, I actually haven't seen her at all today." She answered simply going back to chopping up fresh basil that added to the wonderful aroma lingering in the kitchen.

"This place is not that big Anelie." Katherine spoke, "You really do need to talk to her, and the tension between the two of you is unbarring. You can practically cut it with a knife."

Anelie groaned looking up at her mother, "I told you, I will talk to her. Both of us just need time. What I said was harsh, however, true, I'll speak to her after dinner...maybe we can break the ice with this dinner since we will all be sitting together."

Katherine nodded turning back to mixing up the meat making sure it was all cooked, "Good idea, the two of you need to find some common ground."

Anelie let out a sharp breath walking around the island with the chopping board in hand, she swept all the contents into the pan of sauce, "I understand, trust me I do...but, why do I have to be the one to say something first...after all Cassie is the one being unloyal."

Tatia glanced at Katherine who glanced back at her for a moment before looking back to her daughter whom now stood across the island again bagging the rest of the herbs. "Yes, I suppose that is true, but I think if you say something," Katherine paused for just a moment, "I think she will see just how much you care for her. Trust me, sweetheart, you will be glad that you did it." She looked to Tatia for confirmation, "Right?"

Tatia nodded, "Your mother is right, you will regret everything if you don't,"

Stefan, wiping off his hands with a dish towel, made eye contact with his daughter, Anelie glanced to him for help. "If you want my opinion: it is up to you Anelie, however, your mother being your mother; I would take her advice if I were you."

"Is nobody going to take my side?" their daughter demanded

"No one is taking sides, this is between the two of you, Anelisia. But to disperse the tension a little just go talk to her. For me." Katherine pleaded; Anelie gave up trying to argue with her mother, it would not do any good and she was sure by now that her mother was going to be the one winning this fight.

/

As Anelie made her way up the staircase her heart began to race. She lifted her hand up nervously and knocked lightly waiting for an answer.

"Come in," Cassie answered not bothering to ask who it may be on the other side of the door.

Anelie grasps the knob and pushed the door open, the atmosphere was so different walking into Cassie's room now. It was heavy and it only made Anelie feel worse about what she had said.

Cassie looked at her friend speechlessly; she didn't know what to say. Anelie sent her a friendly smile which put Cassie just a little bit at ease.

"We need to talk...and to start—" Anelie was interrupted by Cassie

"Anelie stop, we do not need to have this big talk, okay? It is what it is. There is nothing we can do about it."

Anelie was stunned, "I'm trying to apologize to you Cass, why can't you just let me?"

"Because you don't mean it; what you said, you meant every word of it, and guess what, I'm going to be friends with whoever I want to and I do not care what you or any other person in this house says about it," Cassie admitted harshly.

Anelie let out a sharp breath, "Fine be friends with Kiara I honestly don't give a fuck anymore! You are beyond selfish, we took you in—an orphan and this is how you repay us?"

"You didn't have to." Cassie spat

"You're right, but we did!" Anelie finally shouted, "We did it because you were my friend and I care immensely for you and I felt horrible that your parents died. So, we took pity on you—my parents—my family welcomed you with open arms—a human! Look at what good that did."

Anelie turned on her heel and made way towards the door, she began out of the room when she stopped herself, looked over her shoulder glancing back at Cassie whom was also looking back at Anelie, "Think about that the next time you're talking to Kiara; How much of a danger you are putting my family and yourself in." She spoke harshly

With that Anelie slammed the door and stomped back downstairs to her family who awaited her.

Anelie:

I came bolting down the stairs, my blood was boiling and my heart was racing from the rage inside of me.

When I entered the kitchen, I found my mother looking over at me a hopeful glimmer in her eye that vanished instantly when she laid eyes on me.

"What happened?" She wondered setting down her glass of wine as she approached me ready to wrap her arms around me, "I just...I—ugh! All I want to do is rip out somebody's intestines and strangle them with it!" I blurted

She let out a sarcastic giggle, "Okay, baby, calm down. Now just take a deep breath, sit down and I'll get you something to drink,"

I nodded and sat down on a bar stool at the island. My fangs had descended and dark veins slithered down under my eyes. The urge to drink someone dry was slowly fading as I took in deep breaths and exhaled slowly.

I looked up to see mom set down a tall glass of red liquid and from the copper smell, I knew it was exactly what I needed to make my urge vanish completely.

I took the glass in hand and little by little I drank every drop, feeling myself changing back to normal.

"Alright, now that you have got a little blood in your system...what happened?" Daddy wondered leaning over the counter adjacent from me. I glanced at him and sighed softly, looking down for a moment to gather the words, my eyes soon met his again.

"She didn't give me a chance to apologize...when I was about to, she completely cut me off and basically told me that she will be friends with Kiara whether we like it or not," I admitted

"She's made her choice Anelie, she's chosen her side...and the consequences will come sooner or later," Tatia spoke softly but sternly I nodded as I looked over my shoulder.

"What's going to happen if—if Kiara's parents try to kill you, Mama?" My voice was trembling at the words.

Mama sat down on the stool beside me and let out a slow breath, "I don't know, but whatever happens we are going to fight until it is all over. Good or bad I will do everything to protect you. Even if—"

"Don't say it." I pleaded in a whisper, "Don't tell me that is your plan!" I demanded tears now dripping down my cheeks. I jumped off the stool and looked around at everyone, "None of you can say it, or use that as an explanation to me!" My arms dangled at my sides, hands curled into tight fists growing white from the pressure.

"If we must fight, then I will be fighting too, alongside all of you. There is nothing you can say or do to stop me. Even if you lock me up I'll find a way to be standing right beside you." I elaborated.

"Our job is to keep you safe, you're the child. It is our duty as your guardians." Elijah added quickly

"I've been sixteen years old for five hundred years Uncle Elijah, I'm more grown up and older than most of the people in this room. Compared to me they are babies in this mix. Stop trying to protect me. I'm strong enough and you know it." I defended myself.

"We know you are Anelie but even in the eyes of us "babies" you must be kept safe, no harm must come to you," Elena replied.

I looked up at my mother who was looking directly at me, tears forming in her eyes, "Let me help, mommy. I can promise you that nothing bad will happen to me if it comes down to us having to fight against Kiara and her psychotic family."

"Anelisia," She began bringing her arms around me I let my arms slither around her waist as I tilted my head and looked up at her, "When the time comes, that is when the decision will be made to chain you to a chair and lock you up, or let you come along and fight." She giggled, "But until the danger is actually upon us, let us enjoys this time, alright? With or without Cassie, surely, she will come around...I'm sure she will not want to spend the rest of her days with us locked away in her bedroom, right?"

I nodded in agreement with my mother, she brought both her hands down caressing my cheeks wiping away the tears from under my eyes, "I love you." She spoke to me in our born Bulgarian language, I smiled up and replied, "I love you too, Momma."

She kissed me on my lips. I could remember my friends back home finding it strange that I would kiss my mother on the lips, it was foreign to be judged for something like that. I kiss my Daddy on the lips too, I remember watching friends cringe when I would say goodbye to my parents or family. I did it with Tatia and Rebekah too. It was just that thing from my childhood that I never stopped doing.

Thanks for reading!

Please review with questions or comments, I would love to read them!

xoxo