Stefan made me stay in bed for days, resting, healing. I was anxious to move on. I didn't want anyone to stop me but Stefan insisted. After the most noticeable wound on my neck was mostly healed, Stefan invited Elena over to come see me. It was nice seeing her. She came into my room telling me that Stefan had told her I had gotten sick. She talked about everything I was missing at school, she brought over my homework. She was genuinely nice to me and it puzzled me. I barely knew her but I found myself looking forward to her visits.
A week passed and Stefan said I was finally allowed to go to school. He gave me animal blood to increase my strength. The stuff was vial but I drank it anyway. I couldn't drink from people, not after what Damon made me do. So I figured it couldn't hurt to go on the animal diet. Of course, it slows down a regular vampire, me? I was no better than a human now. And I didn't mind. Not yet, not until I had to start running.
"Are you ready to go?" Stefan asked, walking into my room one morning. I nodded and grabbed my bag off the bed. It had been about a week since I started going back to school. I hesitated before walking to the door. Stefan looked at me, furrowing his eyebrows. "What's wrong?" My shoulders fell and I played with my backpack strap.
"I have to go Stefan. Today has to be my last day. If I stay any longer… Well, it won't be good for anyone," I admitted, looking up to meet his eyes. He gave me a sad look.
"Annie. After what my brother did to you I understand that you'd want to leave," he started. I shook my head.
"No, Damon has very little to do with this. He is rotting in a cell where he belongs. What's coming is worse and I need to be careful. I have to go Stefan. Tonight," I replied. There was a long silence between us and eventually I sighed. "I will say goodbye to everyone today. It's for the best." Stefan nodded and turned to leave the room. I looked back at the room I had called home for the past few weeks and sighed before turning to follow Stefan.
…
"Annie!" a voice called from behind me. I turned around to see Matt coming towards me. I smiled and waved.
"Do you really want to say goodbye to that Annie?" Stefan whispered in my ear as he walked passed. The smile on my face fell and I glanced over my shoulder at Stefan's retreating figure. Matt lightly punched me on the shoulder to get my attention back. I looked at him, the smile returning to my face.
"Hey, how are you?" I asked. He chuckled.
"Good, I guess. Oh by the way Caroline is looking for you. I would watch out," he informed. My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.
"What? Why? She hasn't spoken to me since the football game and too be honest I'm okay with that," I replied bitterly. Matt rolled his eyes.
"Come on, she's not that bad. She just has some minor issues," he joked. I gave him a brief half smile before looking down at my crossed arms.
"Oh there she is! Annie!" I heard a feminine voice call. I cringed but looked up. Matt noticed the uncomfortable look that crossed my face. He rested his hand on my arm. I looked up at him.
"Play nice," he whispered. I nodded as he walked away.
"Annie! Hi!" Caroline greeted coming to stand in front of me.
"What do you want?" I hissed. I heard Matt coughing loudly behind me, obviously he had heard me. Caroline looked up at him over my shoulder while I ignored him. "No, seriously blondie."
"I have a name," she snipped back. I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, Caroline. What do you want?" I asked again. She narrowed her eyes.
"I came to apologize but I think I'm going to reconsider," she said. I gave her a smile.
"Good because I'm in no mood to accept that," I replied. She crossed her arms and let out a sharp breath. I then noticed Bonnie who was standing next to her, elbowing her in the side and giving her a look. Caroline uncrossed her arms.
"Fine!" she snapped at Bonnie, "Annie, I know you aren't a cheerleader but I need you to help out at the Sexy Suds Car Wash." I looked at her shocked.
"The what?" This time Bonnie stepped into answer.
"It's a fundraiser for the teams. The football team and the cheerleaders wash cars. The cheerleaders are in bikini's, you know to bring in costumers. Anyway, we are short a few girls and Caroline wanted to know if you would fill in," she explained. I cocked my eyebrows.
"Seriously?" I asked looking between the two of them. They both nodded.
"So will you do it? Please? Elena will be there and so will Stefan and Matt. Come on," Caroline begged.
"I don't own a bikini," I admitted. Caroline smirked and Bonnie stepped in.
"You can borrow one of ours. So what do you say?" she asked. I looked between her and Caroline and groaned.
"Fine, when is it?" I asked, giving in. Bonnie's smile grew.
"Tomorrow, it will be so much fun. You won't regret it. Bye Annie," Bonnie said, quickly walking away so I wouldn't change my mind.
"Yeah, bye Annie," Caroline said over her shoulder in a prissy voice. I turned and saw Bonnie elbow her in the side.
"That could have gone better," Matt said walking back up to me. I gave him a playful glare.
"I'm not one to play nice," I joked. He smiled.
"Of course not."
…
I sat with Elena and Stefan at lunch, which was awkward. It looked like they were still a little bit on the outs. I picked a piece of lettuce up with my fork before dropping it and just staring at the strange couple.
"Okay guys, you are both great and everything but grow up and talk to each other. Elena, I realize it's been hard. He's been absent but he had a good reason. Damon isn't the easiest to deal with," I said breaking the silence.
"And did you? Deal with him?" Elena asked looking at Stefan.
"Well he's gone," Stefan said with a straight face. It was a lie but it was close enough to the truth. A wave of worry rushed through me. I had to leave. I was staying to long.
"Who's gone?" Caroline asked taking a seat next to me. I slid down on the bench away from her so she wasn't so close.
"Damon," I replied popping a tomato from my salad into my mouth. I looked at her. She looked devastated. She turned to me in the blink of an eye.
"This is your fault isn't it? He left because of you!" she shouted. My eyes widened.
"Oh really? It wasn't because you followed him around like a lost puppy?" I snapped back.
"Enough! Caroline it's for the best," Elena stepped in, being the voice of reason. I let out a deep breath and looked to Caroline.
"It really is better he is gone," I whispered. She looked at me and we shared a look of sympathy. For a moment I felt her pain and she felt mine.
"I'm sorry," she whispered back. I nodded to her. The bell rang moments later and I stood up.
"I'll see you guys later?" I asked. Stefan and Elena nodded and Caroline just looked down. I looked at her for a moment and then walked off. My chest ached. She was just a human, she didn't need to be tangled up in this.
…
I sat next to Matt in my last class of the day. I was getting hungry but I didn't want to push him away. Stefan was right. I couldn't say goodbye to them. I decided I wasn't going to say goodbye. I was just going to run. I had spent my life running, I knew I didn't have to look back. I didn't have to say goodbye. I smiled at the joke Matt told but I wasn't focused on him. I watched the way his eyes glistened when he smiled. I committed everything to memory. I didn't want to forget this friendship. It meant a lot to me.
"So, what do you think? Want to go to the Grill later? Maybe shoot some pool?" He asked.
"Of course. I couldn't pass up the chance to beat you at pool," I teased. He chuckled.
"Good luck." The final bell of the day rang and he walked with me to my locker so I could get my stuff before we headed to the Grill. Elena was standing there when we got there. I smiled at her.
"Hey, do you know where Stefan went?" she asked. I looked around, surprised I didn't see him.
"Um, no actually. I haven't seen him since lunch. But it's okay. I'm sure everything is alright," I assured her. She nodded but didn't look convinced.
"Yeah, you are probably right. All I got from him was this message saying to meet him at the Grill in an hour," she said looking down at her phone. I closed my locker and looked at her.
"Well Matt and I are just on our way over there if you would like to come?" I offered. She looked up at me with a smile.
"Yeah, I would like that, thanks guys," she said. We started walking and Matt playfully wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"Look at you being all friendly. I didn't think you had it in you," he teased. I laughed and pushed his arm off of me.
"Bite me," I joked. We laughed as we walked out of the school. I looked over at Elena who was still looking down at her phone. I reached over and took it out of her hands.
"Hey!" she exclaimed reaching for it. I pulled it out of her reach.
"You can have this back in an hour. Until then," I passed it over to Matt and smiled, "just have fun. Don't worry about Stefan." She nodded and smiled in return.
"Yeah, you're right! I need to relax. I mean it's not like we are dating or anything," she said looking down sadly.
"That's the spirit," I said sarcastically, "Seriously Elena, things could be worse. Damon could still be around for one." She looked up at me.
"About that, I've been meaning to talk to you, about something Caroline said," she said looking nervous.
"Not right now," I replied quickly. I started walking faster. Matt easily caught up and Elena jogged a little to keep up.
"Annie, it's important," she tried again. I looked darkly at her.
"Not now!" She stopped in her tracks. I stopped too, facing her.
"What's going on?" Matt asked, "Does this have to do with Stefan's brother? I mean I saw the way he looked at you Annie. It wasn't exactly friendly. And then you just disappeared for days."
"I got sick," I explained quickly. He looked skeptically at me.
"He's right Annie. Something happened with him didn't it?" she asked. I looked at her desperately.
"Not now, please. This was a bad idea. You guys go ahead. I've got to go. I will see you at the fundraiser tomorrow," I said sadly, turning around and walking away, ignoring their calls to me. I started running and didn't stop until I was back at the boarding house.
I walked in through the front door and heard a loud thump coming from downstairs. I ran as fast as I could and saw Damon's hand wrapped around Zach's neck. I acted quickly, baring my fangs and plunging them deeply into the skin of Damon's hand. He let out a shout and pulled back. Zach fell back gasping for breath.
"The more energy you spend, the faster you desiccate. Go ahead, do it again. Attack me. I'd love to see you turn to ash," I growled. He was back on the ground glaring up at me. I could feel his blood on my lips and I quickly brushed it off with the back of my hand. "Goodbye Damon." I gently helped Zach up and walked him up the stairs. He pushed me off when we reached the main floor and I just took a step back giving him space. I watched him rub his hand around his throat before I turned to walk up to my room.
"Thank you," I heard him call from behind me. I turned to look at him. His eyes met mine. "Without you I would be dead. I don't take something like that lightly." I nodded at him.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot Zach. But you don't have to worry about me. Tomorrow night I will be gone, for good. You will never see me again. I won't return to Mystic Falls, at least not in your lifetime. You are a good man Zach. I'm sorry you are surrounded by such evil." I gave him a small smile and turned to walk away. He didn't stop me this time, but I could feel his eyes watching my retreating figure.
…
I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail before laying down on my bed. I looked up at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to take me. I had gone hunting, and the deer was enough to fill me up. It wasn't satisfying but it was enough. My eyes closed and moments later I heard someone calling my name. The sound was faint, almost like it wasn't there at all.
"Annie." I sat up quickly and looked at the door, expecting someone to be waiting for me. "Annie." I froze.
"Damon?" I gulped. I looked carefully around the room checking every shadow filled corner. He wasn't there. I shook my head and lay back down on my was a loud caw and I looked over to see a huge bird sitting in my window. I got up quickly, waving the bird off and slamming the window shut. I jumped back onto my bed and wrapped the pillow around my head, blocking out all sound.
"Annie, help me." His voice was so loud, and it wasn't in the room. It was in my head.
"NO!" I screamed. Everything suddenly fell silent and I sat up in my bed looking around me cautiously. I stayed that way until early the next morning, staring into the blackness. Occasionally his voice rumbled through my head. I shuddered every time I heard my name. At the first sign of light I got out of bed and threw clothes on and made my way to Elena's not wasting anytime.
…
I got there relatively quickly. I knocked on the door and Jenna opened it. I smiled at the aunt and she looked at me curiously.
"Can I help you?" she asked. I nodded.
"Um, I'm here for Elena, I need to borrow a swim suit for the Sexy Suds thing," I explained. She nodded. "Oh I'm Annie, by the way." I extended my hand for her take. She shook it kindly and opened the door for me.
"Nice to meet you Annie. I'm Jenna, Elena's aunt. Come on in." I smiled and walked through the open door. "She's in her room, just upstairs there." I nodded.
"Thank you," I replied politely heading up the stairs. I knocked hesitantly on her door and she opened a few seconds later.
"Oh Annie hi!" she exclaimed.
"Hi, sorry to barge in like this. I needed to get out of the house. I was wondering if I could borrow a swim suit for the car wash. If you wouldn't mind," I asked. She nodded and allowed me into her room.
"Oh no problem. Yeah, I'm sure this is the last thing you want to be doing today. Especially for Caroline. She really is a nice girl, she is just having a hard time. I don't know what Damon did to her but he hurt her and she's acting out because of it. I don't blame her," Elena rambled as she dug through her drawer. She pulled out a swimsuit and handed it to me. I took it thankfully but I couldn't make myself smile.
"Let's just be happy that Damon isn't around anymore," I said quietly. I looked away from her, knowing this was a touchy subject and knowing that she could easily ask me about him. I sighed. "About yesterday, I'm sorry. It's just been hard moving to a new town and such. I hope you had a fun night with Stefan."
"It was the best. He made me supper and we talked," she revealed. I smiled to her.
"I'm glad. You could both use someone good in your lives," I said. She nodded in agreement.
"You can just go change in the bathroom, then we can leave," she offered with a small smile.
I went to the bathroom and changed into the turquoise bikini and shorts and sighed. It's all happening tonight. I'm leaving tonight. I looked at the closed door between the bathroom and Elena's room. I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes and I quickly blinked them away. I barely knew these people, there was no reason to be sad. But I was. And no matter how much I told myself it was wrong, I wanted to stay and have a life in Mystic Falls. There was a soft knock on the door.
"Almost ready?" Elena called. I rubbed the tears from my eyes quickly.
"Yes, be right out." I pulled my T-shirt over the swimsuit top and excited the room.
"Thanks for helping out by the way," she said as we descended the stairs. I shrugged.
"It's really not a problem. But I mean, Sexy Suds? Really?" I teased. She chuckled a little.
"Yeah, Caroline is all about the whole 'in your face' showing off. But it's for a good cause," she defended. I smiled at her.
"Annie." A voice whispered behind me. I turned around so fast I almost fell down the stairs. Elena grabbed my arm, holding me up. I looked up the staircase surprised to find no one there.
"Are you okay?" She asked. I couldn't pull my eyes away from the stairs. It sounded like he was right behind me. I felt like he was right behind me. Elena shook my arm trying to get my attention. "Annie! Are you alright?" I nodded and finally pulled my eyes away from the staircase to meet her eyes. I forced a small smile onto my lips.
"I'm fine," I said simply before going straight for the front door. I pulled it open and rushed outside. "Come on we are going to be late." Elena hadn't moved from where I left her. I turned to look at her. "It was nothing Elena, I'm okay." She shook her head and walked slowly toward me.
"No, Annie. I dropped the Damon thing, but you are my friend and that was weird. What happened? You looked so scared," she explained. I kept walking and she made sure she was jogging to keep up. She grabbed my arm stopping me. "Annie!" I looked at her with pleading eyes.
"It's really nothing Elena. I appreciate you caring about me and all but I would really rather not share," I said desperately.
"He hurt you didn't he? Just like Caroline. Damon hurt you and that happened because of him! Didn't it? Please don't lie to me I just want to help," she said. I shook my head.
"What do you want me to say? Yes? Yes, Damon hurt me and yes I'm freaked out by it, but Damon is gone and he is never coming back," I said harshly. Elena looked a little surprised. I had to look away from her. I started walking again and I heard her footsteps as she followed. "I'm sorry," I whispered. She didn't say anything as we walked the rest of the way to the school in silence. The moment we got there she found Stefan and I found myself standing by myself.
"There better be a bikini on under that Annie," Caroline called from behind me. I looked at her, rolling my eyes. I took the t-shirt off and tossed it on a chair at the payment table. She smiled at me and walked away.
"Well don't you look cute," Matt said walking up to me. I smirked.
"I don't know why I said yes to this," I said, glancing over to Elena. She was talking to Stefan and by the way he was looking at me, I had a pretty good idea that it was about me. I sighed. "Well I guess I will make the best of it. Just don't leave me alone okay? There aren't many people I know here." Matt smiled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders pulling me towards the area they were cleaning cars.
"Don't worry. We'll have fun!" he said grabbing a bucket and handing me a sponge.
"Oh yes, I've always wanted to clean cars," I said sarcastically as we got to work on the first one.
We talked and joked while we cleaned. Matt was hilarious, and cute. Bonnie came over and joined us after awhile and Caroline walked around 'supervising' not wanting to ruin her perfect manicure. We were halfway through the fourth car when Stefan walked up to me. He gently touched my arm and leaned close to me.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked quietly. I looked up and noticed Matt's eyes on us. I quickly looked away.
"Actually Stefan, I'm in the middle of cleaning this. Maybe later." He didn't back off. Bonnie looked at us.
"Well, we can do this by ourselves for a minute. Go ahead and take a break Annie," she offered. Stefan nodded to her while I glared.
"Fine," I said, tossing my sponge into the bucket of soapy water. We walked away from everyone, where no human would be able to hear us. I could feel people staring though, curious about the two new comers. I also caught Elena staring at us from the corner of my eye.
"Do you want to talk about what happened this morning?" he asked. I scoffed and crossed my arms.
"If I wanted to talk about it, I would have come up to you and been like 'Hey Stefan, I want to talk to you about an entirely personal matter that doesn't at all affect you.'" I bit.
"Hey, this does affect me. If Damon is contacting you that means he is still more powerful than I thought and he could hurt someone. Don't you understand that?" he asked, a little angrily. I looked down at my feet.
"I'm sorry. I get it. Yes, I've been hearing him call my name. It started yesterday but that's all I know," I said softly. He nodded in understanding. "Do you think you could cover for me if you see Caroline. I think I'm going to take the rest of the day off. Maybe pack some things up."
"This is the last time you are going to see these people. Are you okay with that?" he asked. I looked back at Matt and Bonnie, who were smiling at each other and laughing. I looked at Elena, who was still watching us curiously. I nodded.
"I have to be okay," I whispered.
"Fine. But at least let me say goodbye before you go," he replied. I looked at him sadly.
"Okay." He turned to walk away and a twinge of fear ran through me. Once again, I would be on my own. I shook my head, forcing the thought to leave my head before I turned to go to the boarding house. I didn't look back.
…
I was headed up the drive to the boarding house when I noticed the front door wide open. My eyes widened and I started running as fast as I could. I looked around the front entry and nothing seemed out of place. I turned to close the door and as soon as the light surrounding me was gone I was pushed roughly against the wall. A loud scream left my throat before my assailant pressed his hand over my mouth.
"Thought you got rid of me did you?" Damon snarled in my face. I struggled to get away from him but it was no use. He removed his hand from my mouth, moving it to pin my arms to the wall.
"How did you escape?" I asked breathlessly.
"With no help from you my loyal little sidekick," he snapped. I let out a cry as he ran the back of his hand down the side of my face. I tried turning away but he grabbed my chin, roughly forcing me to look at him. "Where is my ring?" His eyes were dark with pure rage.
"I don't know, Stefan took it, he didn't tell me where he his it," I whispered. His hand lowered to around my neck. I let out a gasp as he tightened it and my free hand flew up to claw at his.
"You tried to kill me Annie, it's only fair I repay the favour." His grip tightened.
"I can get it for you," I choked. His grip loosened and I gasped in a few breaths before he slapped me hard across the face. I landed roughly on the ground with a cry. I reached up to gently touch my throbbing cheek.
"Don't lie to me!" he shouted, standing menacingly over me.
"I'm not, I swear! I will try. I will try to get you your ring!" I cried. He knelt down beside me and I flinched away from him. He gently brushed his knuckles down my already bruising skin.
"You really are some kind of special aren't you? Fine. I'll let you try but you have until sundown then I am coming to find you, and my ring and we will make it rain blood," he warned. I stood up quickly nodding. I moved to the door but he cut me off. Tears ran down my cheeks. "And if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will make your life a living hell, do you understand me?" I nodded, looking away from him, afraid to speak. He patted my head twice. "Good girl, run along now." And I did. I ran faster than I ever had before out of the house.
…
"Stefan!" I called running up to him. He turned to look at me. His expression became surprised and worried. He grabbed my cheeks gently in his hands.
"Oh my god, Annie what happened?" he asked. My eyes widened. I forgot about the bruise.
"Nothing, Stefan I need your help," I tried but he was too focused on the bruise.
"Why isn't this healing? It's getting worse. Who did this to you?" he asked concern flooding his eyes. I pushed his hands away.
"Not right now Stefan. I need to know where you hid Damon's ring," I begged. His eyebrows furrowed.
"Did Damon do this to you? Your neck too. Annie tell me what happened!" he demanded. I shook my head. "Annie!" He took a step toward me and I flinched back.
"Please, not now. Where is it?" I asked, pleading desperately with my eyes. He paused for a minute and sighed.
"The old cemetery," he whispered. I nodded.
"Thank you." I ran off instantly. I needed to find the ring and I needed to find it fast.
Hello lovely readers! So sorry this took so long, anyway, any questions?
