"Maddie, go upstairs and lock the door." Damon says looking at me.

"I'm not leaving you two like this. One of you will get hurt." I say. I start to shake. This is just too much for one night.

"Go get Matt. We will be just fine. I'm to strong for him. Go now!" I see in his eyes that he's pleading with me. I run up the stairs and bust threw Matt's door. I hate to wake him with such force but I really have no choice.

"Matt, wake up!" I say shaking him. A load groan comes from him.

"Tomorrow's Sunday I get to sleep in." he moans.

"Not tonight it's an emergency. Unless you want Jeremy killed by Damon or the other way around. Get your lazy ass up now!" I shout. He bolts upright and looks at the worry on my face. We rush out the door and down the stairs. The boys are trying to wrestle each other. But I can see Damon has a good hold on him.

"What the hell is going on?" Matt exclaims. "Damon let him go!"

"Yeah, and have him stake me? No thanks. I'll pass. I'll let him go once he apologizes for being an over protective ass."

"Get off of me Damon! I won't hurt you. Not in front of Maddie. Looks like you two have a little crush on each other. Since you won't leave her alone ever since she got to town." I look at Jeremy and then to Damon is shock. Damon slowly lets go of Jeremy. Jeremy backs up. "You need to leave."

"Not until I look at Maddie and I know she's ok to stay here." He says looking up at me. He comes up to the stair that I'm standing on and takes my wrist Jeremy grabbed. I can see a red mark but don't think anything is broken. "Are you ok?" he asks examining it.

"I'm fine Damon. Are you?"

"You're asking a vampire if he's ok?" he looks up. "Yeah Madison, I'm fine."

"Go home. I'll talk to you soon. I'll kill him tomorrow I'm to tired right now." He nods his head and walks down the stairs. He passes Matt and stares down Jeremy.

"Touch her again and I end you." He threatens as he walks out the door.

"OK what the hell did I miss?" Matt asks.

"Ask him. I'm going to bed. If anyone cares I'm fine. Running from Klaus and walking into someone having sex, and being assaulted by my cousin. Yup, a normal day in Mystic Falls." I say walking up the rest of the stairs.

"Wait, you were running from Klaus?" Matt says

"Yeah, that's a subject for tomorrow. I really need sleep." I walk into my room and see Damon lying on the bed. I close my door and then go over to the bathroom door and close that too. "I thought you were going home?" I asked him in a whisper.

"I wanted to make sure he didn't start on you again. I'm leaving is a little bit. You sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine. I just wanna get into my pajamas and go to bed and never wake up I'm so tired. This has been the day from hell. Go home Damon." He gets up and comes to me.

"Please, be careful with him. He's getting worse." He looks down at me. It looks like he has more to say but then he's gone. I change into my pajamas and crawl into bed. I fall fast asleep.

The next morning I wake up earlier than I wanted. I go over to my dresser and see my car keys sitting on top. With a note.

Maddie, brought your car back in the middle of night. I didn't want Jeremy to see me. Your bag is hanging on your door. I added mine, and Stefan's number to your phone. Memorize them. Elena wants to talk sometime today. Call her. Damon

I gather up some clothes and go take a shower. The shower feels amazing. Washing away all the bad that happened last night and early morning. I think about Damon risking his life for a human. I thought vampires didn't care about anyone than themselves. I need to stop thinking about him. I have to get my relationship with Jeremy back before one of us turns on each other. I get out of the shower and change into sweatpants and a tank top, and head downstairs. I make a fresh pot of coffee and sit at the table nursing it. What am I gonna do? Jeremy is on a vampire killer rush, Damon is risking his life, Klaus is pissed at Stefan for something, Elena is in a 'oh woe is me' for being a vampire. Poor Matt is in the middle of this whole mess. I'm so deep in my thoughts that I don't hear or see Matt walk into the kitchen.

"Earth to Madison." He says waving his hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, lost in thoughts. Good morning Matt." I say with a smile. "Sorry about last night."

"What happened? I mean I don't mind being woken up. But that was just crazy. And that says a lot for this town." he says as he's pouring his own coffee. I relay what happened at the Boarding House and the events after.

"So it was a very eventful night. And then Jeremy going all parental on me. Like I was his daughter sneaking in after curfew. Last I checked I was older."

"This hunter thing is making him go mad. Its all he talks about, thinks about. Have you seen his room? There are maps everywhere about the town." Truth be told, I haven't been in his room since I got here. I didn't think I would have to. But with everything going on here I wouldn't be surprised if I made the trip into see what Matt was talking about. "What is going on with you and Damon?"

"Nothing. He was just looking out for me last night. I think mostly it has to do with being Elena's cousin. I don't like him." I say. But even as I say it I don't even believe myself. "Enough about this vampire crap for a day. I'm taking a day off from it. What are your plans for the day?"

"I was gonna head to the gym and then go hangout with some of the guys from the football team. Wanna tag along? You're more than welcome to."

"Yeah sounds like fun. Can I ask if Bonnie wants to come? Just so I'm not the only girl there why you boys discuss football plays." I also didn't know the team and didn't want to be left out. But staying home and looking at 4 walls was not my version of a day off either. I would have invited Elena, but I didn't wanna see anyone that can develop fangs at any given moment.

"Yeah you can invite her. I'm gonna head to the gym now and then when I get back I'll shower and we can go." He gets up puts his mug in the sink and walks upstairs. I hear my phone going off in the hallway and go to retrieve it. There's a text from Elena

How are you feeling? I heard you had a fight with Jer last night-Elena

Of course she knew already. Damon probably couldn't wait to tell her when she got up this morning

I'm fine. Hanging out with Matt for the day. I need a day off from the craziness. Tell Damon I said thanks again. I'll call you tonight.-Maddie

I put my phone down and relax. What am I gonna do while I wait for Matt to get back from the gym. I head upstairs and take out my notebook. I used to write when I was a kid but grew out of it. Now I write once in a blue moon, and it's mostly song lyrics. My friend Nicole from New York plays the guitar and she would write the music to it. But I just didn't know what to write about. I guess I could write a song about my friends and family that have passed on. Give me the closure I need. After about 10 minutes of fiddling around I get bored and head into the living room. Jeremy is in the kitchen talking to Matt. I leave them in there. I don't want to see my cousin right now. I'm still mad at him on how he handled the whole situation. I hear someone coming into the living room.

"Hey Maddie, I'm heading to the gym now. I'll be back in about an hour and a half. Need anything from the store?" I shake my head no and wave him a goodbye. He walks out the door and the silence is too loud for me. I go into the kitchen to get a quick snack. I walk past Jeremy and head to the fridge.

"Not talking to me?" he asks. I don't answer him and keep looking for something to eat. "I will take that as a no?"

"Go to hell Jeremy." I say and slam the refrigerator door closed. "What you pulled last night was something a father would do. Damon was watching out for me. Yes, he's a vampire. And yes I don't like them. But he was being nice. I'm your cousin not your daughter. Stop treating me like a kid. Last I checked I was older than you."

"I'm sorry I hurt you. I never wanted to. But for someone who came in here 2 days ago and was all 'I hate vampires' you do a real crappy job of it."

"Your sister, my cousin, is one. I will stand by her. That's what families do Jeremy. Or did you forget that? So to stand by her I got to be nice to people. Caroline was my friend growing up. If Matt and Bonnie can hang around her, why is so bad? They aren't hurting me. And they won't. I drink vervain I always have a stake on me. But you are so wrapped up in your hunter mentality to see that Elena wants your relationship back. Who was there to hold each other up when your parents died? And Jenna? You guys have lost so much and you turn your back on her when she needs you most." I remember what Stefan said the first night here, after I found out what they were. 'Madison, this isn't her fault. She didn't ask for this. She needs her family right now.' I just walked away. I walked away from my cousin when she needed me the most. Her own brother turned his back on her. I won't do it to her. My new mission was to help Jeremy over come this hunter thing, and be there for both of them. But how do you get a hunter to stop hunting? No Madison, I think Day off remember. Tomorrow you will work on this tomorrow. "Look Jeremy," I continue, "I don't want to fight. I love you. But you need to stop worrying about me hanging out with them. Elena gave her word that they can't hurt me. I will keep drinking vervain and carrying my stake if that makes you feel better. But she needs someone from this family that won't turn their back on her."

"I turned my back on her because she has hurt people. Did you know she used to bite Matt for blood? Now she doesn't she drinks from a blood bag. Damon had her drink from the vein. I don't trust her. I probably will never trust her again."

"Well, then you're the ass. She's been there for you threw everything. She has to work out her own demons with being a vampire her own way. But I'm going to be there to support her." I slam my hand on the counter and storm out of the kitchen. There was really no reason to try to talk any sense into him. I walk up the stairs with my phone in hand. I flop down on the bed and go to text Bonnie

Going to watch Matt play football. Wanna join me?-Maddie

While I wait for her to respond I go threw my phone and see my friends from New York. I wonder what they are doing. I know I can't call them. I would want to vent to them about the horror I have dealt with the last few days and want to come home. I keep scrolling and find Matt's number

Meet me at the Square when ur ready to go. Got into fight with Jer again. Can't stand looking at 4 walls.-Maddie

I find some jeans and a tank, throw my shoes on and I go out the door. I decide to walk to the Square. It's a nice day out and I need to clear head. I think about how I can help Jeremy get over this hunter thing. What if we do find another hunter to talk away his hunter instincts? Will that really work? I find a bench at the Square and I can see everywhere. I left my notebook at home, so I just people watch. I hear my phone go off. I look down and it's from Bonnie

I'm practicing my magic today. Why don't u ask Elena?-Bonnie

How do I respond to that without sounding like a bitch? I don't want to hang out with a vampire today I had my fair share already. So I just text back

Was hoping to catch up with u. haven't seen enough of u.-Maddie

I look up from my phone and look across the street. Right in front of Uncle Grayson's old office I see Damon talking to a blonde. Who is that? I ask myself. Why do you care Madison? It looks like they are arguing. I have never seen this girl in my life. Damon pulls out his phone and looks down at it. Just then mine goes off too.

I hear your heartbeat. Its sounds like thunder. Turn around-Damon

Ok, that's creepy. I want to reply but I don't, I get up and find another bench. Apparently this is not something he wants anyone to see. And I'm ok with that. My phone beeps again. This time it's from Matt.

The guys canceled but we can go do something if you want. Be another hour or so-Matt

Well, there goes that. What is there to do in Mystic Falls besides the Grill? And hanging out with vampires? Maybe a movie? Go out to a nice café for lunch. So I respond.

Anything that doesn't include blood, people wanting to kill someone, oh and no vampires!-Maddie

I put my phone in my bag and think about what I can do for an hour. Go back home or just stay where I am. I look to my left and I see some kids playing around a statue, when a shadow falls over me.

"Hello, Mr. Gilbert, so lovely to see you again." I hear the accent and I know who it is.