Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries and never will, but I do own Charlene Davis and Megan Swann and any other characters I come up with.
Author's Note: And here is the second of part of 162 Candles! I'm glad you're liking the new story and hope you continue to enjoy the reboot of Surviving in the World of Vampires! Please, please leave reviews!
Megan didn't want to go back home to be by herself because Bonnie had spent the night at Grams, so she would be all alone in her house and with everything going on, that was the last place she wanted to be.
So, here she was at Elena's house, sitting on the couch, watching some show she was barely paying attention to.
"Why is there nothing good on TV anymore?" Megan couldn't help but complain, leaning her head on Elena's shoulder. "I need something good after what's been happening in the last couple of days." Her eyes glanced up to see her best friend's sister looking down at her sympathetically. "And I miss Charlene…" She sighed. "Hate I have to go through this without her…"
"I know…I miss her too…" Elena said softly. "But at least she's still here."
Megan slowly nodded in agreement. Elena was right. Though being a vampire was horrible, at least she wasn't dead…like Vicki.
"Yeah…" Megan changed the subject, given not a happier subject. "By the way…how are you dealing with the whole vampire thing?" She quieted down her voice since Jeremy was in the room with them, doing something on the dining room table.
"Dealing as well I can be." Elena said with a shrug. "I just can't believe they actually exist…"
"Yeah…well they do…" Megan sighed again as she lifted her head up from Elena's shoulder and tried to pay attention to the TV, wanting to shift away from the vampire conversation before someone caught a listen to it. Just in time too because Jenna appeared and Megan scooted over so the adult could sit in between her and Elena.
"You're wallowing." Jenna commented, looking over at Megan, who immediately protested.
"No, I'm not…" Then seeing the look on Jenna's face, she sighed. "Fine. Yeah, I am. But don't judge Jenna, you're doing the same thing." She made sure to sound teasing to show she didn't mean anything by it.
Jenna gave a sigh. "Yeah, but my wallow is legitimate. I was dumped."
"Yeah. Well, Logan's a jerk." Elena informed her.
"Elena's right, you deserve better than that asshole." Logan needed a better insult than what Elena called him.
Jenna couldn't help but smile at the two girls. "Thanks."
Megan smiled back as she put an arm around her best friend's aunt. "Of course, Jen!"
"Still, you didn't get a brush off email that said, 'I'm leaving town. See ya.'"
"Like I said, asshole." Megan joked as Jenna and Elena shared an amused smile.
"Wanna keep it down over there?" Jeremy called, getting their attention.
Jenna and Elena turned to look over at him with matching frowns. Megan laughed to herself at how it looked.
"Why? What are you doing?" Jenna questioned curiously.
"Homework."
It was Megan's turn to look at him, but she had a look of shock on her face. "You're doing homework?!"
Both Jenna and Elena were shocked too, for good reason too. Jeremy never did homework.
"Since when do you do homework?" Elena asked, startled.
He didn't glance up at them, scribbling on paper. "I gotta finish this. I'm way behind and I have a quiz tomorrow so…"
"What do you think? Alien?" Elena shared a look with her aunt.
"Some sort of replicant?"
"No, he definitely got possessed by a ghost." Megan couldn't help but comment too.
Jeremy looked up, glaring a little. "He can hear you."
"We know." Megan quipped with a grin as she turned back around to look at the TV, but she shared a concerned look with Elena. What brought that on?
Liz sat behind her desk in the police office, dealing with paperwork. Her phone rang from beside her and she picked it to put it to her ear.
"Yeah, send him in." Liz told the person on the other in of the phone. Damon entered the office and she looked up at him. "Mr. Salvatore, come on in. Can you get the door?"
"Sure." Damon said, closing the door.
"I understand from Mrs. Lockwood that your uncle is out of town."
Damon nodded. "Yes he is." he responded as he headed over to Liz. "He filled me in and asked if I could give this you." He stopped walking once he was over to her and handed her a box.
Taking it from him, Liz opened it up and pulled out a handful of vervain. "Vervain?"
"That's all we have at the moment, I hope it's enough," Damon told her.
Liz nodded. "It's a small circle…Founding family, a few city officials."
"And your deputies, of course right?" Damon said, sitting down in the seat he was standing in front of. "Are we any closer?"
Liz shook her head. "I think our facts are wrong," she said. "We've always believed that vampires can only come in the dark. What if that's changed?"
"So, is that even possible?"
"We've exhausted every other option," Liz answered, sounding exasperated. "We have to consider the vampire may be walking around during the day. Right in front of us."
"Hm…so what's the next step?"
"We're now looking for anyone new to town, since the death began," Liz responded. "Should turn up a subject or two."
"And I, of course, will do anything to help."
Eventually, Megan went back home to an empty house. She felt of loneliness creep up on her, even though she had no reason to feel lonely. She had friends, people who cared about her. She had everything she ever needed…then why did she feel that way?
It had to be because of Stefan. Something she hated herself for. When was she the type to have her whole world stop just because of some boy? Then again…Stefan wasn't just any boy. He was her whole world, and she hadn't even known him for that long. And he was a vampire…he wasn't safe. She needed to stay away from him, just like she told him she was going to. It was easier said than done.
Tired of her thoughts and tired in general, Megan headed up to bed and quickly fell asleep, exhausted. She wasn't asleep for long as she was awoken by Bonnie gently shaking her shoulder.
"Bonnie…" Megan said sleepily, sitting up in bed as she ran her fingers through her hair. "You're back."
"Yeah, I am. Scoot over."
Megan did and Bonnie slid into bed beside her. The brunette turned her body so she could hug her sister.
"Why haven't you called me back?" Bonnie questioned as Megan broke the hug and smiled apologetically at her.
"I'm sorry Bon…I've just been busy…and I'm tired…tired of thinking…tired of feeling so alone…"
"You're not alone, Meg. You have me, Elena, Charlene, Caroline, and Stefan." Bonnie tried telling her.
Megan shook her head at the last part. "I don't have Stefan anymore…we broke up…"
"I'm so sorry…" Bonnie said softly as Megan sniffed and wiped her eyes while they welled up with tears. "Are you okay?" As soon as she asked the question, she knew it was the wrong one and rolled her eyes at herself. "Right stupid question. I know I've been MIA when you needed me the most. I suck."
This made Megan chuckle a little. "No, you don't." She squeezed her sister's hand. "You're the best sister I've ever had. I know we're not blood related but your still my sister and always will be."
"Me too." Bonnie said, smiling as she squeezed her hand back. Then the smile fell, and was replaced by a sad one. "I'm still sorry that I haven't been there for you."
"Well, you can make it up to me by taking my mind off of it." Megan told her with a smile.
Her sister grinned in response. "Just remember you asked for it." She literally hopped out of bed and ran to the window, closing it shut. Megan watched confused as she grabbed one of her pillows, ripping it open, causing feathers to fly everywhere and all over the bed.
"Bonnie, what are you doing?" Megan asked, so confused.
"I need to swear you to secrecy."
Slowly, Megan was starting to see where she was going with this and she bit back a grin. Finally. Her sister believed it.
"Of course, you can tell me anything." Megan swore.
"Okay. So, there's no windows open, right?"
"Right." Megan barely could keep her excitement down, but she managed it.
"There's no fan. No air conditioning."
"None."
"Grams just showed me this." Bonnie grinned. "You're gonna love it. You ready?"
Megan just nodded, now unable to stop her grin. "Yes!"
Bonnie began levitating feathers one by one in front of her. Megan's grin widened as she started to help until all the feathers were floating in front and above them. Her sister's surprised eyes met hers.
"I'm a witch too." Megan whispered with a grin. Her sister stared at her for a moment before laughing happily and she laughed too as she hugged Bonnie tightly, forgetting all about her Stefan troubles and everything else.
Stefan finally came back to the boarding house and he brought back animal blood for her, which Charlene was actually ecstatic about. She was starving so she would have eaten anything…well not human blood.
Charlene sipped her blood as she sat on one of the couches in the living room with Stefan and Lexi. It was interesting to see Stefan around someone he had known for a very long time. He acted so different around Lexi. He was more relaxed…more open.
If she didn't know that Stefan and Lexi were just friends and that Stefan was in love with Megan, Charlene definitely would have thought they were together. She finished off her blood and started on another, still hungry. Not only did the animal blood taste horrible, it wasn't very fulfilling. Charlene snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Lexi's voice.
"So, this Megan girl." The blonde started. "She'll come around. I'm sure of it. Have you had sex yet?"
Charlene nearly choked on her blood, causing them to glance at her. She caught their gaze. "What?" she protested. "I so don't want to know about my best friend and Stefan's sex life!"
"There's nothing to know." Stefan said quickly, actually blushing. "We haven't had sex yet."
"Oh geez." Charlene sat down her drink and covered her face in exasperation.
Lexi, obviously, didn't care about their embarrassment as she continued. "Sex always works. I mean, you'll rock her world so hard with your vamp sex, she'll be yours forever."
"Thanks for the mental picture, Lex." Charlene muttered, the nickname rolling off her tongue without thinking about it.
Lexi grinned in response to it. "I aim to please." She gave her a wink as Stefan spoke up.
"This isn't about sex or…or compulsion or any of our other tricks." Stefan explained softly. "She has to want to be with me on her own terms."
Charlene smiled at that as Lexi gave him a surprised look, but with her own grin.
"Wow. That sounded all mature and grown-up."
"I'm not getting any older."
Charlene chuckled in amusement as she grabbed her glass of blood, drinking from it. As she did, Lexi moved over to her suitcase and opened it before pulling out a blood bag only to take a sip from it. Charlene watched closely and couldn't help but sniff the air, catching the scent of the human blood. Her mouth couldn't help but water and she cursed herself for it as she drowned the rest of the animal blood, making a face.
"Want some?" Lexi asked Stefan, making Charlene notice he was staring at the blood bag too.
"No. Thank you."
"Relax, I didn't kill anyone for it." She told him as she settled down on one of the chairs. "This phlebotomist I went out with a few times, he's my supplier." She took another sip and saw the expression on Stefan's face. In response, she gave him a pointed look. "Oh, don't judge, okay? Like I told Charlene, I tried the animal diet; lasted three weeks."
Stefan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Cause if I started again…I just don't know if…"
"You could stop."
Charlene looked between them both, feeling like she was missing something. Something important.
"Lexi, I'd never judge you." Stefan told her.
"I'm just jealous of your restraint. I have none." Lexi grinned, leaning back against her seat. "I delight in hedonism. Speaking of which, what are we doing tonight?"
Just then, Damon entered the room with that all too familiar smirk on his face. "Funny, you should ask." He quipped.
"We didn't ask you." Charlene snapped, glaring at Damon.
He ignored her. "There's a party at the Grill." He explained. "You'll love it. Banquettes, tacky wait staff, and all of Stefan's friends."
"Yeah, I don't want a birthday party." Stefan said dryly.
"Well, it's not for you. It's a party, party. No one's gonna know it's your birthday. Caroline's throwing it."
The mention of her friend made Charlene stand up, looking just about ready to attack Damon. "Stay away from her, Damon."
"Calm down, Charlene." The older Salvatore rolled his eyes with another smirk.
She crossed her arms. "Are you seriously telling me to calm down?"
"Yep, because you have no reason to freak out." Damon said. "We're friends, its cool."
"I don't care, you still need to stay away from her."
Damon rolled his eyes. "Fiiine. I'll stay away from her." Charlene stared at him, not believing him for a second but decided not to say anything. "Anyway, it's important for the town to see us out and about like normal folk. We need to blend." He noticed Lexi's stock of blood and scoffed. "I prefer mine at 98,6."
Lexi looked offended as Damon slandered out of the room, having the last word like always.
"Dick." Charlene mumbled, her eyes following him. Unfortunately, he was a dick with a nice ass.
"Let's go." Lexi said eagerly and Stefan stared at her with a, 'are you serious?' expression on his face. "Please?"
As much as she hated Damon, Charlene wouldn't turn down an invitation to get of the house. "Yeah, please Stefan." She added, and he looked over at her. "I really need to get out of this house."
Seeing it was two against one, Stefan sighed heavily. "Fine. We can go."
While Charlene excitedly got ready in her room, Lexi entered Stefan's room after taking a shower. A towel was wrapped around her and her hair was pulled up in a bun on top of her head.
"I'm almost ready," Lexi said to Stefan, who was sitting in a chair, happily as she threw the towel that was in her hand of to the side. She went to stand in front of a mirror as Stefan spoke up.
"I can't believe you actually think we should go to this thing," he said as he got out of the chair.
Lexi looked at him through the mirror, rolling her eyes slightly. "Sorry it's not like I'm asking you to run outside midday without your ring," she told him sarcastically. She turned to face her friend, making sure the towel wouldn't fall off of her, "I mean, seriously, it's a party."
"A party that Damon wants us to go to, you know," Stefan reminded her as he went to stand in front of her. "So my question is why? I think he's up to something."
"Who cares? What can he possibly do with all those people in a public place?"
"He knows how to keep a low profile, believe me," Stefan said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Okay, so he'll behave," Lexi said in response. "Come on. One day a year I get you, one day." She held up one finger as she continued. "That you're not brooding and existing in your own head." She said teasingly.
"It's my birthday, yeah."
"It's my day," Lexi corrected him. "And that guy that jumped naked in the Trevi fountain; and got drunk on the torch of the statue of Liberty; can stop his worrying for one night and go to a stupid party." A stern look crossed her face, "So, quit your whining and go get ready."
Stefan held his hands up in surrender. "Fine." He gave in before going into the bathroom to go get ready.
Megan left her house to go see Stefan and Charlene. Mostly the latter because she needed to see her. She parked her car in front of the house before climbing out and knocking on the door. Megan didn't know if she rather Stefan open the door or Charlene, probably Stefan since her best friend didn't have a daylight ring.
But she didn't get either as an unfamiliar voice called out, "It's open! Come on in."
Confused, Megan stepped inside and a shocked look crossed her face as a woman around her age appeared, dressed in only a towel. The woman had a shocked look on her face as well as she stared at her.
"Oh my God! How…uh…what…who?" she sputtered.
"Who are you?" Megan blurted out.
"Who are you?"
Megan crossed her arms. "I'm Megan. Now, who are you?"
The woman continued to just stare at her, freaking her out a bit. "Lexi, a friend of Stefan's."
"Is he here?" Megan asked awkwardly.
"He's in the shower." Her body stiffened at that as a glare slowly formed on her face. The woman cleared her throat nervously. "Do you want to wait?"
"No. Clearly, I shouldn't have come here. Sorry to interrupt." Megan bit out. She needed to get out of here.
"Megan?" She heard Charlene but she left before her best friend could say anything.
TBC...
In...
162 Candles, Part 3...
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review please!