Author's Note: Okay, so I lied about waiting for your responses, but I promised a more exciting chapter, and I intend to deliver. I also managed to write it and post it within a week of the last chapter. That's a new record! I would like to take this time to thank all of you who reviewed, follow or favorited this story. I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this story as much as I am. To my ghost readers, thank you all for checking this out, and I hope you are enjoying it too. As always, I own nothing.

"Elena?"

"Did you know you're the first person who wasn't Stefan to call? You should warn her how clingy he is."

"Damon? What the hell is going on, where is Elena?"

"She's fine we're road tripping."

"You took her to Georgia!"

"Hey, don't get mad, I asked you first."

"What! Do you have any idea what's going on? My sister's car is upside down in the middle of the fucking road. Stefan came over today wondering where she is, Jenna is going nuts right now, tell me you see how wrong this picture is."

"She's fine; I found her climbing out of her car. I checked her over, she was fine."

"So you take off and leave her car in the middle of the road without telling anyone? Let me talk to her."

"Can't she's sleeping; I'll let her know you called, though."

"Damon, don't be a dick! Just turn around and bring my sister home. Jenna's going to kill you guys! Wake her the fuck up and let me talk to her."

"Kind of hard, we're already in Tennessee. It's not like I kidnapped her, she chose to come. Didn't want to talk about it, so I don't know all the gory details, probably has something to do with Stefan. A couple's first fight is usually the nastiest. Can't say I blame her, he gets on my nerves and I'm just his brother."

I sighed loudly, forcing myself to calm down. I told Jenna I would take care of it, at she's safe. Thanks to Damon. No matter how mad I was at the moment, there was that shred of light. Damon saved our ass, again. Still doesn't excuse not telling us what happened. For all we knew, she was kidnapped or dead. Who abandons an overturned vehicle in the middle of the road? For god sake, none of this is making any sense.

"I promise she's fine," He assured softly. "We're only going to be a day anyway. She and Stefan had a fight; she crashed her car and didn't want to go back so she's with me." He makes it seem so nonchalant. Oh yes, her car is flipped over, and everyone thought she went missing, but she's with me. No big deal.

"You'll be back tomorrow."

"Around then, yea."

"That wasn't a question."

"See how much easier this would have been if you just came with?" God I want to punch him in the mouth.

"Tell her to call me when she wakes up." I slammed the phone shut. Fuck, Jenna's going to be pissed.

"So, what are you going to do?" Mark asked, pushing half of his lunch in front of me. I needed someone to talk to, so Mark offered to meet up for lunch. He eats, I rant. A fair trade I believe.

"Nothing, what am I going to do? Hop on a bus and force her to explain herself while dragging her back by her hair?" I ripped into the other half of his cheese steak, attempting to rap my head around the current shit storm I was weathering. What happened to this place? It used to be so calm.

"What did Jenna say?"

"Pretty much the same as me, a little worse since she's supposed to be a guardian. How do you explain to the police that your niece is fine, she just abandoned her car and hopped a ride to Georgia, but don't worry, she'll be back soon." I rolled my eyes, tearing savagely into the sandwich, completely distraught.

"Don't you think it's a little strange? Since when does Elena do anything like that?"

"Never! Nothing to this extent anyway. She towed the line growing up. The worst thing we ever did was party."

"Do you think maybe Damon isn't telling you the full story?" I really don't want to believe that. Damon may be a dick, but he's not a complete bastard. He just doesn't seem like the type. I know I haven't known him long, but I feel like I can trust him. I'll admit, none of this looks good, but I feel it in my gut that I'm right. They will be back tomorrow.

"We'll find out tomorrow." I replied, dropping the subject, resigning myself to be calm about all of this. You better have a good reason for not calling, Elena.

"You have to stop worrying." Jeremy said, not even looking up from his sketchbook.

"I'm not."

"What are you doing then?"

"Reading."

"You haven't turned the page in fifteen minutes."

"This is a really intense page; I want to absorb every detail."

"She's going to call; it's only been a few hours. Jenna's not worried."

"Jenna's biding her time and is going to rip her a new asshole as soon as she gets home. What the hell is wrong with everyone in this town? Did they stop taking their fucking common sense pills?" I'm really still hung up on the car. I can't rap my brain around that. You get into an accident and then abandon your car? Then on top of that you decide, 'screw dealing with all of this, I'm just going to road trip my feelings away and not tell anyone I'm okay.'

"Let's get a pizza." I can't do anything, but stare incredulously. You know what, you're right. Forget it. Do what Jenna's doing. Bide your time, don't fret until you have to. This is why I love my sixteen year old brother; fuck this let's eat pizza.

"You order, I'll start the Xbox."

Twenty minutes later found us channeling our inner rage and anxiety into blasting each other's heads off. That's when the phone rang.

"PAUSE!" I screeched, flailing over, reaching for my phone on the table. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Well, it's about damn well time. Do you have any idea how worried we are?"

"Damon told you I was fine."

"I want to hear it out of your mouth, not just his. What the hell are you thinking?"

"I don't know, I'm fine though; I should have called, I'm sorry." I sighed in defeat. She sounds like she's been through a lot.

"Care to explain why your car was upside in the middle of the road and your boyfriend came by looking guilty?"

"It's a really long story." The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of our pizza. Crossing to the door, I flung it open, smiling at the delivery guy.

"Hi there, come on in, you can set it down right there on the table, my brother's grabbing the money. Hey, Jer! Pizza guy's here!" I walked back into the living room, waiting for Jer to be done.

"Give me the abridged version."

"What are you guys doing?"

"Ordering pizza, now come on, what happened between you and Stefan? Damon said there's trouble in the love nest?"

"We had a bad fight, it turns out I look like one of his exes and that's the reason why he's with me."

"Ew, freak."

"I didn't give him a chance to explain, I just took off. I was going pretty fast and wasn't paying attention and I, almost hit someone so I jerked the car and slammed on the breaks. I'm fine though. Damon was going to take me home, but I wanted to go with him. I was too freaked out by everything to just go home. I didn't want to deal with Stefan, or a bunch of questions. I'm sorry I worried you guys." Relief washed over me. I didn't have to doubt Damon, or his motives. He was just doing what she asked. I can feel a sliver of empathy sparking at her words. I know what it feels like to get up and run from your problems. But I'm not seventeen. I don't have school to worry about. I didn't leave my car abandoned on the road, my god, who does that? I just can't get over it. That makes no sense.

"You're coming back tomorrow?

"Yea, we're leaving in the morning. How pissed is Jenna?"

"Did you call her yet?"

"Yes, just to let her know I'm fine. It was a little late for her liking, but I called."

"Pretty pissed, but at least you didn't wait a whole day to call her. Don't be surprised if she rips you a new one." At least she called Jenna. She's not a complete idiot then.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow then, tell Damon I said thanks."

"I will, see you tomorrow."

The next morning found me snoring lightly on the living room couch, waking up to Jenna pacing through the house.

"She'll be back soon. Stop pacing, I'm trying to sleep."

"Don't even start; you were right there with me, doing the same thing all day yesterday."

"Talk to Jer, he's quite the voice of reason anymore."

"This is the most irresponsible thing she's ever done—"

Groaning, I pinned my head beneath my pillow. "So ground her. Chew her out. But don't let yourself freak out until she gets here." I rolled back over, falling back to sleep instantly.

The humming of an engine lulled me out of sleep, causing me to sit up groggily. Two hours had gone by; I guess I should probably wake up. Stretching, I padded towards the window, sure enough, both 'Tweedle-Dee' and 'Tweedle-Dumbass' climbed out of the car. Neither looked scathed in anyway, so that's good. Damon's glance met mine, and I gave him a small smile and wave in return; his lip quirked up in a quick smile before focusing on Elena once more.

"They're back!" I called, and was met with the angry tromping of Jenna's heels.

Damon's face twitched, looking up at the window at me, before stepping back slightly just as Jenna opened the door. Did he hear me? I couldn't have been that loud. With another glance up at the window, Damon climbed into his car, driving off. Sighing, I followed Elena and Jenna into the kitchen. I was really hoping to at least get a cup of coffee before all of this bullshit commenced.

"Aren't you grounded?" I asked Elena slipping on my coat, following her out to Stefan's car.

"I talked Jenna into one night so Stefan and I can sort some things out. I think she knows this is going to be more painful than fun."

"That's if you two don't make up after." I smirked, wagging my eyebrows at her.

"Shut up."

"That's why you're going to his house instead."

"You can walk to the Grill."

"Just be careful, don't make me an Aunt."

"Hailey!" Elena warned futilely, her blush killing anything intimidating about her.

"What! I know you guys have this down to a science at this point, but makeup sex is a totally different ball game. Passion and common sense don't inhabit the same sphere."

"Feel free to shut up at any time now." She growled, climbing into the passenger seat.

I followed suit, laughing wickedly.

"I swear to god, Mark, this town is a living, breathing 'Degrassi" episode anymore. Apparently Stefan has a fetish for brunettes with brown eyes, so he and Elena are talking it out after having a complete meltdown. That's why she skipped town can you believe that?"

"You look like you need a drink." Mark grinned.

"Don't tease me, like that." That shit's not cute; don't say that if I can't have any. Not cool bro.

Mark dipped a glass down, pouring an invisible bottle and coke into my glass.

"If anyone asks you, that's coke."

"Bless you, sweet Prince." I tried very hard not to make a big deal out of a glass of 'Coke' but I couldn't help it. I was handling the Hope Diamond as far as anyone was concerned. I'm not an alcoholic, but I love the taste a good mixed drink. Not to mention I'm only turning twenty in the next few months, waiting for the occasional party to drink sucks. Besides, up until now, Mark never bent any rules like that. I think I finally broke him. He blew me a kiss, before taking care of his other customers; cheeky thing that one.

I stayed until midnight, the bar had died down considerably due to it being Wednesday, so Mark was able drove me home.

"So you moved back in with Jenna."

"For now, until I can move into my apartment. I have to wait another week or so for the papers to be drawn."

"I bet you're excited, call me if you need help moving, okay?"

"Yeah, absolutely! I can't wait honestly. I never thought I would be this excited about my own apartment."

"There's a first time for everything."

"You said it, brother. Thanks a lot for the ride, I would call Elena, but I doubt she's available."

"No problem, I don't mind. It's not exactly out of the way; I'm just a few blocks down the road." Mark stalled long enough for me to hop out, slamming the door and patting the trunk, he revved off and down the street. The only lights on in the house were in the living room; looks like it's just me tonight. A small note is taped to the microwave: "Needed a drink. Damn Loan Fell. Jeremy's out with a girl, you're on your own tonight. Xx Jenna"

Poor Jenna, Logan's been standing her up for years, for some unknown reason, she keeps running back to him; tool bag. I love how excited she is that Jeremy finally decided to go out with this chick. It took the both of us nagging him to finally consider it. It's twelve thirty now, so it must be going well. The sound of footsteps echo from upstairs, causing me to jump slightly; I guess Jer's home.

"Hey, Jer? How did you're date with Anna go?" No one answered.

"Jer?" I yelled louder, climbing the stairs.

Climbing up the stairs, I check Jeremy's room, expecting him to be there, but the room was empty.

"Don't be an asshole, you're creeping me out." I pull my phone out, heading down the stairs.

"Hello?" Damon answered, sounding preoccupied.

"I need you to come get me, now. I heard something in my house and now I'm freaked out. I thought it was Jer, but he's not—" I let a piercing scream, dropping my phone on the ground. In front of me stood a man, his gaze was almost feral. I willed myself to move, but I couldn't get my brain to work. Run! Dammit! Run! Oh my god! I flew down the stairs toward the door, but he was in front of me before I could blink. I couldn't think, I was shrieking, desperately trying to outrun him. Get to the door. Get to the door. For god sakes how is he everywhere?! Get to the fucking door!

I reached for the knob about to turn it before an arm snaked around my middle and with inhuman strength snatched me away and threw me into the middle of the foyer room floor. I slammed into the floor with a thud, cracking my head. The wind knocked out of me, and my screams abruptly stopped. Oh my god, I'm going to die. He was down on top of me at inhuman speed; I don't think I even saw him move. His face was centimeters from mine as his face distorted; his eyes turning black and surrounded by pulsing veins. His canine's elongated and he grinned at me before tearing into my neck. Choking out a scream, I felt my blood gush from my neck as he sucked it out of me. I can't think. I can't breathe. I struggled against his crushing weight, screaming.

Seconds later, my attacker was ripped from my neck and thrown across the room. With a burst of speed as quick as him, I barely caught a glimpse of the jet black hair chasing my assailant. Running up the stairs, I found none other than Damon Salvatore standing in the middle of my sister's bedroom, feral eyes matching my attackers, staring out a gaping window. I stood for a moment, breathing heavily. What just happened? Who was he? How did he get in here? How did Damon get here so quickly? My neck, he—"It was as if a fuse switched in my brain. My breath hitched in my throat, as I slowly reached up to touch my neck, pulling it away to have it covered in blood; my blood. Oh my god. Damon moving forward toward me caused me to snap into action. I bolted down the hall, barricading myself inside the bathroom. Sobs escaped me as Damon banged on the door, calling my name. I backed into a corner, clutching my neck, panic overtaking me.

Author's Note: What did you think? I really built up to this point with chapter upon chapter of plot build up and character development so that this particular scene would be as powerful as it was on the show, except from the point of view of ignorant Hailey, who isn't so ignorant anymore. Please let me know what you thought in a review. What did you like? What didn't you like? Was it exciting enough? I want to know! Thank you so much!