"For what we desire most, we're forbidden infinitely." Anonymous

Chapter 10

A Taste for Knowledge

When Matt was with Caroline he was practically forced to watch the movie Twilight with all of the vampires and sort. Because of that he remembered a specific part in the movie when Bella went through all of the information she could gather trying to learn more about vampires and their existence; their abilities, weaknesses. Well, she may not have been interested about knowing a vampire's weakness, but Matt was. And that's what he felt like he was doing–scouring through all the text he could get to trying to learn about whatever it was that he saw from the two brothers.

Fangs. Super strength. Lightening speed.

The only thing Matt didn't see was the part about the red veins bulging from the face of a vampire. He knew for a fact that his eyes weren't playing with his mind. He saw Stefan's face and it looked monstrous even without his fangs.

Matt had gone home stunned and afraid after he saw the events that took place in front of Caroline's home. Could there really be such a thing? A vampire? The sites he had researched never confirmed the existence of vampires, but would they really do that? Of course not; if they were proved to the world, the whole thing wouldn't be such a mystery then. But there had to be an explanation. He needed a real answer; he needed confirmation of what was so clearly in front of him.

.*

The rest of the night Stefan and Caroline stayed together just talking about anything that occurred to them. She played with his fingers as they were twined together with hers. Neither of them really did anything that night but learn new things about the other. Stefan had told her that when Lexi was alive the two of them would go to Bon Jovi concerts just to listen to one of their favorite songs Wanted Dead or Alive. Caroline could see how talking about his friend saddened Stefan so she took the opportunity to hold him in her arms for a change. It was honestly a tender moment that she would've never expected to share with the younger Salvatore; her stroking his hair as they leaned against each other sitting on the floor of the living room.

.*

Meanwhile, after Matt drove for a few miles he reached to a stop in front of Elena's house. Truth be told he didn't know exactly what he was going to ask her. Matt didn't have to be psychic to know that even if they really were vampires and Elena knew, he'd be the last one she'd tell.

The only thing stopping him from driving off was the fact that if he did, Elena would only think he was stalking her and that was the least of his intentions. No, Matt wanted answers.

Elena sat down her journal and stood smiling giving Matt a long overdue hug. He was exactly what Elena needed right now. Even though she and Stefan did leave things on a good note she still would've liked for someone to talk to. Matt had always known how to cheer her up. Little did she know, unfortunately, her dear ol' Matty wasn't there for a social call.

"Hey Elena", he said as he hugged her back.

"Oh – my gosh, Hi. H-how are you?" She greeted him with a bright smile.

"I'm good, sorry for just popping up out of the blue like this I just –",

The telephone rang from inside the house. "Oh I'm sorry, hang on for a second?" Elena ran in to answer it.

Since the front door was open he could see her jogging up the stairs.

He heaved a sigh of defeat as he realized that Elena would be the last person in the world to be honest with him about this. If she did know, she'd probably take their secret to her grave.

In that instant, Matt realized that him giving up was not an option. After seeing what he had just a few hours ago, it'd drive him to insanity without knowing the truth. Deep in his mind he knew already but if he was going to convince himself that there really are vampires, then he needed to know that it isn't just some crazy idea.

So did Matt feel guilty as he turned the pages of Elena's journal? He felt absolutely awful. His stomach churned in knots knowing that it was her personal stuff meant only for her but Matt had been pushed too far; a part of him was already thinking he was going crazy. Might as well prove the insanity.

His skin felt a cold sensation as his eyes landed on the group of words written in her journal: Stefan, Damon, vampire.

The only other thing he saw besides those words were where Elena had written about something called vervain, a weakness to vampires. There was more around that but that was all he needed to see–all his body could physically handle. Matt had already felt awful about reading her open book so he stopped and turned back the pages once he saw what he was looking for. Vampire.

Suddenly it was as if breathing didn't come natural for him anymore. He had to fight for air; his mind had to fight to function. Nothing made sense to him anymore. How could this whole world exist without him having a single clue of it? He couldn't help but let his mind wander to what else there was that he didn't know about.

Finally the stomping of Elena's feet snapped him back to reality.

Matt knew he couldn't stay. His body felt as if it was rejecting the knowledge he had just learned. He never believed it when people said that the hairs on the back of their neck stood up – until now.

Just as Matt started to walk away Elena walked back outside excitedly. "Hey did you... wanna go inside for a bit? We could talk maybe, I know we haven't really gotten to hang out in a while." Her words gradually began to sink into his drifted state of mind.

"What do you say?" She flashed her hopeful smile to him.

Guilt tugged at his heart allowing him only to say, "How about tomorrow we hang out, watch a movie, whatever you want." In the past it would've been really difficult for him to extend an offer like that to her but since everything started to clutter his mind, it just came effortlessly.

"Okay, sounds great. I'll see you here tomorrow then?" Elena was just so happy that she hadn't lost her friendship with Matt permanently.

Once they hugged for a second time and Elena went back inside Matt drove off with a million things rushing to his mind. The Salvatore brothers are vampires, and of all people – Caroline was with them.

.*

Stefan practically had to force himself out of Caroline's house when they realized her mother would be home soon. Caroline told him that even though he knew her mother as the Sheriff, she thought they should wait a little while before she introduced them on a more personal note. So for that, it'd be a little awkward for Liz Forbes to walk in her house seeing yet another attractive young male with her daughter.

.*

After Elena got ready for bed she thought to herself all of the good times she once shared with Matt. It's not unusual for a pair of very attractive vampires to take a girl's mind off of her human companions for a little while but once Elena's head started to clear itself of all things supernatural she remembered how nice it was just being with normal people – Matt. Elena had realized that a part of her forgot just how sweet and good Matt really was to her. At first she thought it would be the perfect distraction but – maybe Matt would be good for her again.

.*

As most of the residence of Mystic Falls calls it a night and retiring for the evening, Matt finds himself on the phone asking someone he knows for any information on something called – vervain.

.*

Thoughts?
My readers and reviewers are pretty much adored. So if there's a request for anything you'd like for me to add to a chapter, I'd love to see it.
Maybe a specific conversation between your favorite characters or maybe a song idea, I'm open to any suggestions. I could use quotes for the beginning of my chapters, the theme obviously is anything along the lines of "forbidden". If you know any from an author, send one in a review!
Of course I'll give credit to any idea/request used. I think it'd be fun to incorporate suggestions from my readers so please, don't hold back! :)