"I wanna ride the Ferris wheel," wines Elizabeth as we walk towards the concession stand.
She doesn't mean it in the childish, over demanding way she's just being Elizabeth. The angel Katherine kept locked away, hidden from the outside world, it's been a long time since she's been able to get out and do normal teenage stuff…I don't pass judgment at all.
I lean down and kiss Elizabeth gently on the cheek, "After I talk to someone, okay?"
Elizabeth looks up at me, pouting, "Fine."
I continue forward, spotting Jeremy, still waiting in line for whatever it is he is getting, "Jeremy!"
"Damon, don't do this," Izzie pleads, stepping in front of me, blocking the way.
"Don't worry. I only wanna scare him a bit," I answer, stepping around her.
Elizabeth follows behind me and I can tell she isn't pleased by my decision. "You'll listen when I say stop." she instructs.
"I promise," I answer before turning back around to call out to Jeremy. "Jeremy, so good to see you alive."
"Aren't you a little too old for a high school carnival?" question Jeremy, taking his bucket of popcorn from the kid working in the shack.
"150 years too old," I state, stealing a handful of popcorn from the container. "Izzie wanted to come though…I couldn't say no."
Elizabeth smiles up at me as I pull her into a one armed hug. "She's so cute."
Jeremy eyes Elizabeth before turning to face me, "You're pretty funny, cracking jokes when, I don't know, I could blow the whole lid off this thing by telling people what you are."
"Jeremy, please don't," whispers Elizabeth, her emerald eyes growing with fear.
"Don't worry," Jeremy says softly, "I'll keep your secret."
For Jeremy's sake he better back off now. Instead of doing so, he takes her hand, kissing it. Furious I grab Jeremy around the back of the neck, pulling him behind the concession stand.
"So please tell me that move you just pulled on my girlfriend was just you being a dick cause you hate me." I snarl.
"Maybe it was –" Jeremy shows me John Gilbert's ring – "I kinda like her, she reminds me of Anna."
Jeremy has not officially crossed the line. I fight the urge to snap Jeremy's neck; he needs to keep his eyes off of my angel. "Oh," I start, putting Jeremy in a head lock, "this is what we are not gonna do. We are not gonna walk around like we're invisible and we're most definitely not gonna hit on other guys girls, because it's too easy for me to end you."
I keep Jeremy's ring in the center of my fist. Jeremy needs to learn that just because some girls seem to be charmed by his looks and the mysterious vibe he sends off my Elizabeth is well…mine and I do not intend on sharing her.
"Damon, let him go," says Elizabeth, her eyes glued to Jeremy's face which is turning a slight purple color.
Remembering my promise I let Jeremy go, "If you wanna tell people who I am, go ahead and try, because I will shove this ring –" I show Jeremy my prize, one he hadn't noticed I had taken – "so far up your ass you'll really have something to choke on."
Elizabeth motions for me to come with her, obviously I have to be done. I'm not going to screw things up between us just because of what I have against Jeremy. Throwing his ring at him, I wrap my arm around Izzie's waist, leading her towards the Ferris wheel, only glancing over my shoulder to give Jeremy a smug look once.
"Thank you for listening," says Elizabeth.
"All part of starting over," I state. "Now, let's enjoy the Ferris wheel."
Elizabeth smiles, leaning up against my arm as the wheel sends us flying up in the air so we are able to look out over the entire carnival. Today has been good; things finally seem to be going in Elizabeth and my direction. Katherine is off our case, Stefan is walking on his tiptoes trying ever so hard to be nice to me and I have officially set Jeremy straight.
After about riding for five minutes Elizabeth and I dismount. "I saw Lockwood." I state.
"Well, you know we do need to find out what he is," says Elizabeth, with a mischievous grin on her lips.
"Let's go," I reply, pulling her forward.
Leaning up against the brick wall I watch as Tyler arm wrestles the majority of the football team, winning each time.
"Ahh," Stefan says announcing his presence, "lurking."
Elizabeth stands in front of me, "We're observing."
Stefan stays in the shadows, shaking his head at the both of us, "More like obsessing."
A cheer goes up as Tyler wins yet another match, "He's strong," I observe.
"He's a triple out of varsity athlete, of course he's strong," states Stefan.
"Stefan?" question Elizabeth sounding shocked. "Have you been doing your homework?"
Stefan puts his lips very close to Elizabeth's ear, "I go to school with the guy. I'd be willing to help if you need it though."
Smirking, I pull Elizabeth a little closer to me. Why is Stefan so willing to help her?
Elizabeth glares at Stefan before turning to me, pressing her lips momentarily to mine, "It's so nice to have you two getting along again," she comments.
Needing to call Stefan on what he had just done I quickly think of a way to get Elizabeth out of the way. She, of course, will not approve of Stefan and me fighting.
"Elizabeth, would you be ever so kind to go get me a drink?" I question, slipping a five dollar pill under the strap of her tank top.
Elizabeth smiles sweetly up at me, nodding, "Sure," she answers before walking off towards the concession stand, the earth crunching under her black converse.
"That move you just pulled wasn't cool, Stefan," I state once Elizabeth is out of hearing range.
"It's only fair, I mean you did go after my girlfriend," replies Stefan, looking at Mason Lockwood who had managed to beat Tyler.
"Do I have a taker?" Mason questions, looking around.
"Stefan will try," I announce pushing my younger brother forward.
For all I care Mason can break his arm off, maybe then he'll be suffering too much to play these games. I don't feel anything for Elena; I made a mistake in kissing her. Stefan isn't getting that obviously and now, instead of being the bigger person, he is going after Elizabeth.
Stefan walks back over to me, shaking his head, "You didn't put any effort into that at all," I state before walking away to find Izzie.
"Your drink," Elizabeth says popping up beside me, literally out of nowhere, "sorry, no alcohol."
Leaning over slightly I kiss Izzie on the cheek, taking my drink from her, "It's alright."
She's adorable…her bright, excited eyes always scanning over everything, acting as if she happens to blink she might miss something terribly important. Elizabeth isn't like other vampires, she doesn't mind living forever for some reason she finds that exhilarating. I suppose if I wanted I could embrace that too, perhaps Izzie will install a new me.
"Do you wanna just…go?" questions Elizabeth, reaching for the plastic cup holding my soda.
"Sure," I say, taking her hand in mine, leading her towards the school.
Walking hand in hand down the deserted school hallways would have probably frightened any other high school student, but Elizabeth and I are not your average high school students. In fact we don't even belong in high school. Suddenly, a noise behind me causes me to stop in my tracks, turning to look behind me.
"Oh, hey Blondie. They let you out?" I question, smiling at her before continuing down the hall with Elizabeth.
"I remember," announces Caroline, her words causing me to come to a sudden halt. She cannot possibly remember…can she?
"What do you remember?" I ask coolly, holding Elizabeth close to my side, something isn't right with Caroline.
Caroline walks slowly towards use, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor, "I remember how you manipulated me, you pushed me around, abused me, erased my memories…fed on me."
"You're crazy," I state, swallowing hard. This isn't possible.
"Well, the memories are coming back, in pieces," explains Caroline before turning towards Elizabeth. "I bet he does the same thing to you."
Elizabeth presses herself closer to me, looking up at Caroline with a look of confusion. Why do people always target Elizabeth? First it was Katherine then Jeremy and Stefan and now Caroline.
"I love Elizabeth," I reply, jaw set. "I would never hurt her…not anymore, besides, you can't remember, it's impossible. I mean unless you where becoming a…."
"Vampire," Izzie says finishing the sentence I was unable to. "Damon, she did this."
Caroline glares at us, "I have a message from Katherine… 'game on.'
"Damon," whispers Elizabeth, wrapping her arms around me.
Katherine is frightening my meaning in life and I will not just stand here and let that happen. If she wants to torture Elena fine, she is with Stefan the one Katherine wants, but why Izzie? Katherine doesn't even love me; she never did so why does she want Elizabeth. The answer should be obvious, Katherine might not love me, but that doesn't mean she wants me to not love her.
"Shh…shh…she won't touch you. She won't come between us, I promise," I whisper, pulling Elizabeth as close to my chest as I possibly can. She has every right to feel safe.
Caroline turns to leave but I am in no way done with her yet, "Wait!" I call.
Turning back towards us, Caroline pulls Izzie away from me before pushing me down the hall. I make contact with the floor, sliding back a few paces.
Elizabeth steps in front of Caroline, "You're seriously going to regret that."
"Really?" questions Caroline before pushing Elizabeth up against the lockers, looking towards me. "You suck," she says before walking away.