I looked at Damon who rolled his eyes at the whole thing. He took my hand so we could find Elena and Stefan, standing near the middle with the look of awe on their faces. Elena actually looked a bit scared about the whole thing, but Stefan looked skeptical. I felt a bit antsy of the whole thing. I was just afraid of what was going to happen next; finding out that I was with Klaus and I was lying to them. I mean, it's not like I lied to them really. I just didn't tell them the person who hurt me. They straight up lied to me, and compelled me. But it was still almost the same thing. Either way, they didn't know that Klaus and I use to share the same bed together.
"That was a lame, cheap shot," Damon scoffed. His scoff made me scoff. "He's just trying to bait us."
"I know everyone here." Elena scanned the crowd to see if there was anyone she didn't know. I realized that I didn't see him either.
"Maybe he's not here," Stefan offered. Or maybe he is… He's just in disguise. Klaus had witches. Maybe there was such spell that could make you control another person. You could tell them what to do even if they protested. Not like compulsion, more like body control. Maybe he took one of the teenagers control and they were doing his bidding.
"Maybe he just wants us to believe he's here," I said.
Damon tried to make the situation lighter. "It's a party, people! Dance!"
"You're right," Bonnie agreed, and she took my brother's hand to drag him off. I smiled at the couple because I truly thought they were cute together. I'd known Bonnie my whole life and I knew Jeremy my whole life. No two people could go together better than Bonnie and Jeremy.
"There's Ric," Damon pointed over to Alaric standing awkwardly. "We're going to talk to him." I followed Damon over to my ex-history teacher.
"Special dedication, huh?" Alaric looked like he was uncomfortable. While talking to Damon, he looked at me with…loving eyes? It was like he missed me or something…? It was probably because I dropped out of school and I wasn't in his class anymore. That's all… "This guy's a little twisted."
"I'm not impressed," Damon said.
"Really?" Alaric asked, with disappointment…? There was something going on with him. It couldn't be Klaus, could it? No… Alaric was a vampire hunter. There was no way he would let himself get taken down by a vampire, even if it was an Original vampire.
"Call me if you see anything out of whack," Damon informed him before walking away. I decided that I didn't want to follow Damon around all night, so I stayed with Ric. We stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. It's not like we could dance together because that would seem really weird. Dancing with a teacher, even if he was my ex-teacher, was weird. And maybe not legal since I was still underage.
"Ric, how are you—"
"You know, Courtney," Rick said vaguely. "I know you know."
Klaus.
"What are you doing here? Why did you pick my teacher?" I asked in a hushed tone.
"You never returned my calls. When you did pick up, you didn't really say anything."
"Because you were the one who lied to me," I snarled angrily, yet quietly. "Even after I told you why I left Mystic Falls, you still lied and said nothing about hunting down my sister. And now here you are still hunting her down."
"It seems to me like you were hiding our relationship from everyone else," he guessed, making my furiousness disappear. "Look who's lying now."
With that, Ric walked away with a satisfied smile. But before he got too far, he turned around to put his finger to his lips. Keep quiet. And I had a feeling it was in my best interest I should.
I danced with random people, trying to get the whole thing off my mind. I knew that everyone was running 'round thinking and talking about Klaus, but I just wanted to forget it all. I needed to have at least one night of fun before I got back to the whole 'Save Elena's Ass' thing. It was our number one priority, but still, I deserved a little fun. While scheming with Katherine, mourning with Elena and sleeping with the Salvatores, I was worn out.
Then I was pulled right back in when Ric pulled me away from my dancing partner. He had a firm grip on my upper arm as we left the gym. "Where are we going?"
He didn't answer my question, but when we stopped in the hall, I already knew the answer. "Stay here," he instructed. "When I call for you to come out, you come out. Alright?"
He left me right where I was. I didn't even bother to walk away or text Damon or Stefan to say that I knew who Klaus was. I just stood there like Ric (I guess I should start calling him Klaus) instructed me to, like the little bitch I was. Maybe I was turning into Katherine; keeping secrets, playing for the other team. I was literally on three sides. I wanted to save Elena, free Katherine, and help Klaus get what he wanted. But maybe there was no way you could be on three sides.
Maybe I was really on my own side.
If I was really dedicated to Elena, I would have told her about my time away from Mystic Falls, the whole story. Then I'd tell Katherine to stick it, and I'd fight harder and not try to get in as many fights with her. If I was really on Katherine's side, I would have sucked it up about her being selfish, told Elena that I loved my mother, and been there to know where that man took Katherine. If I was really on Klaus's side, I'd announce to both Katherine and Elena they were major bitches, walked away, went back to find Klaus and tell him where Elena was. Maybe I was just really the selfish one. Maybe I wanted everyone else happy so I could be happy. Was that selfish?
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard footsteps coming down the hall.
"Where's Jeremy?" It sounded like Bonnie's voice.
The footsteps stopped after the question. Ric laughed. "I just needed to get away from that dance. The sixties? Really? Who came up with that? I personally prefer the twenties much better. The style, the jazz, the women." I could just hear the puzzled expressions on their faces while Ric was talking. It was most definitely Klaus talking.
"Alaric?" Elena questioned. "Are you on vervain?"
"Why would you ask me that question?"
"He's been compelled," Elena accused. Elena, what the fuck? Are you so dumb that you can't put that together? Even if he was compelled, he wouldn't be talking about the twenties. I know Ric's old, but he isn't that old.
"Nope, try again," Ric piped, but they both said nothing. He sighed. "I'll give you a hint: I'm not Alaric."
I decided it was my turn to intervene. "He's Klaus." I came from behind the wall. Elena and Bonnie stared at me with wide eyes as I stood behind Ric.
"Surprise!" Ric said sarcastically, waving his hands around. Elena whispered something I didn't care to make out because I was too busy having a stare-down with Bonnie. "Don't worry Elena, you're not going to die tonight." His eyes shifted to Bonnie. "But you are."
Ric lurched forward towards Bonnie, but she threw him back with her awesome witch powers. I took this chance to run to Elena, so I could get her away from the whole thing. I knew Klaus wasn't going to do anything while I was there, but I still wanted to get them away from him. He was tricky and powerful and I had no right to doubt that he was planning something besides killing Bonnie. I wanted to help Bonnie, but I just couldn't. For one, he was in Alaric's body and there was no way I was hurting him. And second, he was Klaus; even though he broke my heart the first time (before Stefan did), I still had some feelings for him somewhere.
He got up laughing at Bonnie. "Did I mention I know witch? You are going to hit me a lot harder than that."
So she did. Bonnie threw Klaus far back into the trophy case, glass flying everywhere. I almost chuckled when I saw him chuckling while trying to get up…again. "Fire away. If you kill this body, I'll just get a new one. Maybe Jeremy."
"Go," Bonnie demanded. "Run." I took Elena's hand and Bonnie's so we could run out of the hall. Bonnie let go of mine, only to close the doors behind us with her super powers. We ran into a hall where Damon was.
"What happened?" he questioned, staring at the three of us panting.
"Klaus is in Ric's body," I answered simply.
"He's possessing it or something," Bonnie continued, breathing heavily. I honestly didn't think that the run was that hard, but I was a supernatural, so I guess my opinions were different then humans'.
"Run," Damon demanded to Elena. "Go! Run, now!" Elena took off running while I decided to stay behind and help Bonnie. Damon gave me eyes to run, but I shook my head. He didn't try to press on the matter anymore. "Can you kill him?"
Bonnie shook her head. "He's got some kind of protection spell. I don't know if I can."
"You have the power of a hundred witches. Break it."
"If I kill Alaric, Klaus will just possess another body. That won't work. He knows that I have my powers. He's trying to kill me because of it," Bonnie explained, which make Damon even more frustrated. I was just waiting for someone to say something about my powers. If they forgot that I was witch, they really weren't as bright as I thought them to be.
"No," Damon denied, talking to himself. "Klaus is not going to win tonight. Are you still willing to do whatever it takes?" Bonnie hesitated before nodding. What is Damon planning? "Courtney, you're the best at this."
"What are you talking about?"
"Acting."
I smiled at Damon. I was starting to see what he was getting at. He wanted me or Bonnie to do something that would trick someone. It was something I had been doing all that time, so of course I would know a thing or two about lying straight to someone's face. "Tell me the plan."
"Bonnie, Klaus wants you dead. So you die. Except you don't," Damon said. Bonnie tilted her head a bit.
I cut in. "I think what he means is acting like you're dead. You show Klaus that you weren't all that powerful, drop to the floor, and pretend to be dead. Then everyone is sad and mourning over your death, we tell them you're alive and Klaus thinks there's one less witch in the way." I looked at Damon to see if I got his plan. Damon smiled at me.
"We're going to do this, and we're going to do this right," Bonnie agreed. "Even if it means scaring Elena to the point of crying. I still need to get her back from her humiliating April Fool's joke. This is the perfect way. And I think I know a spell to pretend dead. This whole thing will be my fake death. But I need one of you to take me back to the house where the witches died." She explained to us what needed to happen in order for it to work.
"We all got the plan? Bonnie, you trick Klaus, and Damon and I will trick Elena." They both nodded, and Bonnie took off back in the direction of Ric/Klaus. "Damon, to tell a lie, you have to believe the lie. To succeed in a lie, you have to live the lie. Basically, think it's real even though you know it's not."
"Shut up," Damon scoffed. "I've lied many times before."
"No, you've compelled," I corrected. "Not lied. I am a genius at lying. I am the queen. You'll just have to follow my lead."
I started walking in the direction Elena ran with Damon trailing after me. We walked the halls, avoiding the dance in the gym, before we found Stefan and Elena running. I got my game face on because I knew that lying to Elena would take a lot. Not telling her I was working with Katherine took a lot, even though I didn't show it. I was feeling like I betrayed her and lied to her the way she lied to me. And that was a good feeling. It was just that I was naturally amazing at lying and there was no way I was going to let the secret out. I was just as bad as Elena in the lying situation, but at least I wasn't going to get caught.
"Where's Bonnie?" Elena asked.
Damon sighed. "Just let her do this," he said vaguely. I looked at his face and realized that he actually could make it somewhere in the acting business. Of course he would never be as good as me (yes, I'm feeling arrogant), but he was somewhat good.
"Where is she, Damon?" Stefan demanded. Damon didn't say anything, so they both turned to me. "Where is she?"
"She wanted to do this. I couldn't stop her," I lied, sounding guilty. "She wants to save Elena, I want to save Elena, you want to save Elena. How could I stop her?" Elena looked at me with disgusted eyes, and took off running. Stefan followed her as Damon decided to stay with me. I felt horrible. "Did you see the way she looked at me?" I wondered to Damon in a sad tone. "She looked at me the way she looks at you. With disappointment."
"Courtney, it's all a part of the plan. She'll understand once we tell her," Damon reassured. I shook my head and looked at him.
"But I just lied to her. I lied to her the way she lied to me. I may be an actress, but that look…"
Damon shook his head. I knew he couldn't take it. When he shares his feelings, I'm there. I'll listen and comfort and say good things about him. I'll even fucking sleep with him to make him feel better! But when I share my feelings, it's overrated. I'm overreacting or being a baby. I'm just done with his horrible attitude about our relationship.
"Courtney, you need to suck it up. We have work to do," Damon scolded.
"Fuck you, Damon," I snarled, "I hope you don't get Elena because you truly don't deserve her. If you can't act the way you act when you're around Elena with other people, then you're not good enough."
I could tell Damon was surprised. "What?"
Instead of answering his question, I just left Damon there to think about it. I went to find Elena and Stefan, who were standing at the doors of the cafeteria, where Bonnie locked herself, with Klaus, in. Elena kept yelling at Bonnie to open the door. I knew that she wasn't going to be opening the doors until we completed the plan. And I had to say, Bonnie was a better actress than I expected. She pretended to die like a queen, she stopped breathing like a queen, and she played dead like a queen. I was starting to think I should let Bonnie in on more secrets. Not secrets as big as Katherine's side secrets, but secrets.
Once the lights went off, the doors burst open. Elena and Stefan ran to a dead Bonnie while I just slowly walked to the entrance. "She didn't even kill him," I mumbled, trying to make it more dramatic. But the tears weren't fake. It really did hurt me to see my best friend lying dead on the floor, even if I knew she was faking. I just let them slowly fall from my eyes without even making a big deal.
Elena kept yelling at Stefan to help her revive Bonnie, but all he said was, "She's gone." Elena cried even harder from then on. I heard footsteps behind me; Damon's footsteps. He didn't give me a look or say anything as he walked past into the cafeteria where my sister and her boyfriend were crying over a dead witch.
"Stefan, get Elena out of here," was all Damon said. "I'll deal with the body." What the hell, Damon? We're acting, but you don't have to be your regular asshole self.
"What do you mean 'deal with the body'?" Elena questioned harshly.
"The Sheriff can't find out about this. We can't have another mysterious death."
"This is Bonnie!" Elena screamed at him. More tears fell down her cheeks.
"Get her out of here…now," Damon instructed to Stefan. Elena cried even more as Stefan followed Damon's instructions. Elena whined about Jeremy, and Damon replied, "I'll find him." Stefan literally had to drag her out of the cafeteria. But she didn't go without a fight.
When they passed me, she yelled in my face, "How could you? That's Bonnie! Bonnie, our best friend! I know that you were gone for a month, but how could you? You've known her for a long time." When I didn't say anything, she didn't yell in my face, she just harshly said mellow, "You're just as sick as him."
That's when Stefan dragged her farther away from the whole scene. I wiped away the tears and bent down next to Damon. He faked a smile my way, but I didn't bother to do anything friendly.
"Good job," I mumbled before getting up and walking out. Behind me, I could hear Damon pick her up and carry her out with us. Instead of trying to find Jeremy like a good sister should, I went to Damon's car and waited for him. I watched as he put Bonnie in the back and watched him break the news to Jeremy. I felt like shit.
"What did you do with her?" Elena demanded, getting up from her chair. I closed the door behind us and Damon asked Stefan to calm her down. "Don't talk like I'm not standing right in front of you. You knew! You knew that if she harnessed all that power that she would die, didn't you?"
"Yes," Damon answered simply. "I knew."
Then next thing Elena did shocked all of us. Elena slapped Damon with a satisfying smack. I almost laughed at Damon in the situation, but I didn't because I knew this wasn't the time. Elena was genuinely angry about the whole thing and I had no right to laugh in front of them. Plus I had to stay in character.
Then she turned to me. "You sick bitch. You knew it too! And you let my best friend, not only yours, but MY best friend die? How dare you? She was, IS the person you grew up with. And you just bid her off like that?"
"Elena, listen to what I'm about to say," Damon said slowly, gaining her attention. Sure it hurt a little that Elena called me a bitch, but if the roles were reversed, I'd do the same thing. It's not like I was totally innocent the in whole situation. I did lie to her, and she still didn't know I was lying, so yeah, I was a bitch. "Bonnie had to die. Klaus was using Alaric's body, he wasn't going to stop until he knew that she was dead. He had to believe it." Damon took a long pause before he started again. "She cast a spell. Bonnie's okay."
Elena's face was surprised, yet relieved and happy all in one. It was like she would scream if she could and dance with unicorns while eating a rainbow. Damon walked away before they could say something to him. I nodded then opened the door to sit outside. There was no point in staying here because Elena was just going to yell at me for letting Bonnie die without telling her, so I had to get away. Ani was the only person who came to mind when I thought of getting away. So I stood up, thought of Ani's room, and when I opened my eyes, I was an inch away from her bed.
I sat down, waiting for her, as I heard someone coming up the stairs. The door opened to Ani eating a banana. When she saw me, she jumped, making the banana fall to the floor. "Good lord, child," Ani gasped, staring at me. I laughed. "Don't just do that. I still have a beating heart unlike your friends, and it could stop at any moment."
"Sorry about that," I apologized. Ani stopped being scared, and her face changed to worry. I knew that she could tell I was upset. She knew me so well and we only knew each other for a few days. That just proves how awesome I am; so interesting that we could only know each other for a day and you'd know me.
"What happened?"
"Klaus. Klaus happened."
"Where's Elena?" Damon demanded through the phone with a firm tone. I opened my eyes groggily and looked over to Ani still sleeping on the other side of the bed. When I didn't say anything, Damon demanded the question again.
"What are you talking about?" I wondered with a tired voice.
"You don't know where she is," he mumbled, more to himself than me. "Dammit…"
I knew that it should have woken me up that Damon didn't know where my sister was, but it really didn't. I wasn't in the mood to know where Elena was because I was busy having too much fun with the normal life. I planned on sleeping in and not waking up until the afternoon like what normal teenagers would do. I hoped I didn't have to deal with any supernatural things for the day, but I was obviously wrong. Because Elena had to go off and decide that she wanted to create some shit and just run off. But being the sister that I was, I had to find Elena, even when I promised myself I wouldn't get in that kind of stuff anymore.
"Sorry, Damon. I don't know where Elena is. Call back later," I said into the phone, immediately hanging up after. Damon called again three times after that, but I didn't bother picking up. There was no point in listening to something I didn't care about, as careless as it sounds. I deserved one day to myself, so I was going to take it. Ani and I were going to have a normal girls' day and no one was going to interrupt it. No one from my life was going to make me feel like I had to go back to the nightmare that was my life.
So there was one person. It was the bitch herself, Elena Gilbert. She called me saying that my aunt had now found out about the whole thing. The whole vampire thing.
Her: "Jenna knows. And she's freaking out. What do I do? She won't talk to me, she's crying… Courtney, I'm freaking out."
My reply: "I told you so."
We had a whole conversation about talking to Jenna, but I decided that I wasn't going to get caught up in that. Sure, Jenna would be mad at me too for knowing the whole thing too, but at least she'd understand that I was lied to too. But unlike Jenna, every time I found out about vampires, I'd be the one who got compelled. So let's just say when it comes to finding out about vampires, you can guess who had it worse.
Ani tried to convince me to stay a little longer with her, but I decided if there was any way to escape from my life, disappearing with Ani wasn't the way. So I had to say my goodbyes and leave for the Salvatore house to get Jenna by noon. At least I had a semi-normal morning with breakfast, girl-talk-time, and nails being painted. If was going to get yelled at by my aunt, and get hated by Damon when I ignored him, I was going to be in hell, however I still had my nails looking badass, so I guess I could get through the day.
I walked straight into the Salvatore house to find Stefan listening in on Elena and Jenna's conversation. I walked right past him without any eye contact and found Elena and Jenna hugging it out on the couch.
"Move, Elena," I demanded, pushing her out of the seat next to Jenna. Instead of protesting, Elena moved right out of the way, and Jenna curled up into my arms. Elena stared at us for a second, but it wasn't until after I gave her a harsh look when she walked out to Stefan. I listened to them talk about Jenna, and a little bit of me.
"How long did you know?" Jenna asked, causing me to lose track of what they were saying. I looked down at my crying aunt, and realized how fragile I must have seemed when I found out. Of course I was freaking out and yelling, but Jenna was just gentle and hurt. She didn't yell like I did; she didn't throw a fit like I did. She just lied there in my arms, and softly asked questions while tears were running down her face.
"Believe me, Jenna. She hid it from me too. But instead of letting me know, she had Stefan and Damon compel me into forgetting." I went into the whole spiel about vampires and compulsion. And the whole time she was quiet, and listening. She didn't interrupt once. I was in awe, how well she was handling this. She handled it in a much more mature way than I did.
"How do I do this? How can I know the secret of vampires?" She whispered more questions I didn't bother answering because I knew there was no right answer. There was no solution to knowing about vampires and all the crazy shit that was now her life. I just hoped that she could handle it all better than I did. They don't need me, I'm just the sister. But Jenna? Elena and Jeremy need Jenna in their lives. Jenna is essential.
I heard something going on outside, piquing my interest.
"I'll just be a moment," I told Jenna, pushing her out of my arms. (Unlike something I would do) Jenna nodded slowly, wrapped her arms around herself, and curled up on the couch herself. I checked on Jenna at the doorway before heading in the hallway to find Damon holding onto Elena, holding onto Stefan, who had his hand on Damon's arm. I previously heard them arguing about letting Elena go. Obviously things escalated quickly. But that didn't stop me from ruining the whole cliché moment. (Seriously, I can't stand clichés. You know that.) "Let him go, Stefan," I ordered, walking closer towards them. Everyone's eyes were on me. Including the whore standing behind Damon.
"Courtney, you're not in this. Just—"
I interrupted Stefan by saying, "Just shut the fuck up, and let your brother go. And Damon, last time I checked you're not the fucking boss, so let my sister go before I have to whoop your ass."
Like a miracle (seriously, I did not expect them to listen to me that quickly), they all let go of each other. Elena smiled at me briefly before running out the door to go back to Elijah, I think. Stefan gave me questioning look. I tried to avoid his eyes. But that didn't work out so much because he grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. Right to the place I dragged him to yell at him for breaking me apart.
"What the hell was that?" Stefan demanded.
"That was me telling you that you need to stop putting your hands on everyone who doesn't give you what you want," I answered smugly. "Seriously though, violence is never the answer. Except when you play Call of Duty. Then it's war."
"This is not a game," Stefan snapped at me. "Courtney, you need to stop acting like life is a little board game, and that it's not really serious. You know what happens in games? Someone wins and many lose."
I put on a smile and called him out. My finger was in his face as I said, "But that doesn't matter. Only if you have fun. Then you're the real winner."
Stefan snatched my hands and held them to our chests. "Be serious for once. Elena's life is on the line."
I faked a serious expression, but I still had evidence of sarcasm traced in my voice. "Sorry, I forgot again. Everything is about Elena." Stefan's expression turned even angrier, but the next sentence I said made him a little softer. "But let's not forget: my life is tied to Elena's so if she dies, I die."
There was silence between for several seconds.
"I'm sorry," he finally said, this time avoiding my eyes. "I did forget about that."
"It's okay," I chirped, "Elena's life will always be more important than mine." Stefan stared into my eyes intently after I said this, making me sober up from my playful attitude.
"Why do you always say that?" he inquired truthfully. "Why do you always think you're second best?"
"Because that's how you, Damon, and everyone else in this fucking town act. I'm never going to be equal or superior to Elena. I never have. Her opinion matters more to you than mine. Her words will have more of an impact than my actions. And I've been telling you all that since the fucking day I knew! …No! Before that. Since the time I decided to take a day off because my best friend was brutally murdered by my other friend. Elena may have a shitty life, but I have a shittier one. I bet she couldn't go an hour feeling how I feel every time you guys ignore me or tell me that Elena is going to be put first. Because her life is on the line. Well wake the fuck up because my life is linked to hers! I wish someone would just listen for once to what I have to say. The one person who did is now dead! And the one who is alive is crying on the couch because ELENA lied to her."
"I'm sorry," was all he had to say.
I'm fucking sorry is all he has to fucking say? Bullshit.
I pulled my hands from his angrily, and tried to walk past him, but Stefan wouldn't let me. Every time I went right, he would go the same way as me, blocking my path. "Would you fucking move?"
"I love you."
He…fucking… What? He says… bullshit… Not funny. Not fucking funny at all.
"Stefan, I'm about this close to slapping you." I hold up my pointer and thumb to show the small distance of time there is before some slap action.
"I love you both," Stefan admitted, not caring about my warning. "I heard somewhere that if you're in love with two people, you should pick the second one because you never would have fallen in love with the second if you really loved the first. I really love you, and not Elena. So kiss me. Kiss me and you'll see."
My cliché meter is above one thousand. But I'll fucking kiss him anyway.
And that's what I did.
Hey guys! So I'm trying to decide if I should end this book here (end of season 2 of The Vampire Diaries), or if I should keep going? What do you think? Maybe I could end this one so I could start another, and when I end that one I could just pick back up on this series. Or should I make this a really long book with many chapters? Just leave your opinion in the reviews. Thanks!
Katherineismikaelson
P.S. I sorry I didn't update for a while. I was gone on a trip to Florida and I didn't get time to update. So sorry. But I hope to update more. Okay, now bye.