The gym was decorated fabulously, Caroline had really put a lot of time and effort into it. Tyler had taken my arm and was walking me through the wide double doors to the gym where music was blasting and kids were dancing cliché 50's dance moves. I smiled as I looked around. It was like a weird blast from the past. Caroline saw us as soon as we walked in and ran over with Bonnie in tow.
"You guys look adorable!" She squealed. I looked down at my shoes self-consciously.
"Seriously, Annie. You look great," Bonnie added. I met her eyes and smiled. Tyler pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Of course she does. I brought the prettiest girl in school to the dance," he said proudly. I looked up at him. He was looking down at me with a strange look in his eyes. It wasn't a look I was used to seeing. I heard Caroline and Bonnie awe beside us. Suddenly Caroline gasped.
"Um, Annie. Can I talk to you real quick?" she asked. Tyler rolled his eyes jokingly. I smiled and nodded to her. I went to walk away but Tyler kept a tight grip on my waist.
"Don't be long," he whispered, before I walked off. I felt my cheeks warm before I walked off with Caroline. She took me around the corner, out of ear shot of the other party goers.
"Is that from Damon?" she asked pointing to my neck. The smile instantly fell from my face and I reached up thinking the bandage had fallen off. I was relieved to find it still in place.
"No, I fell," I replied, letting my hand fall back to my side.
"Annie, please. You can tell me you know you can," she pleaded. I nodded to her, biting my lip.
"I know I can Care, and I would but I fell. Nothing happened," I tried again. I sighed and looked back at the gym. "I should get back to Tyler." I turned to walk away from her and she didn't follow but I caught a glimpse of the disappointed look she gave me. I felt a pit form in my stomach.
Tyler smiled as I walked up to him but his face grew serious instantly.
"Are you okay?" he asked. I nodded and forced a smile on my face. "Well then, would you give me the honour of a dance with you?" The smile was no longer forced. I was beaming. I took the hand he outstretched for me with a giddy little giggle.
"Yes." He led me onto the dance floor and twirled me around once before pulling me into his chest, holding me tightly. The music slowed and we swayed in rhythm. "I'm really glad you asked me," I told him. He smiled, looking down at me.
"I'm really glad I asked you too," he said.
I met his eyes and he slowly brought his lips down onto mine. I felt my chest tighten and my body grow warm. I returned the kiss and I felt his arms pull me closer. We stayed like that until someone walked beside us, roughly bumping us to the side. Tyler's jaw clenched instantly as he turned on the jerk. I opened my eyes to see Damon glaring us down. All pleasant feelings I had disappeared. The warmth was instantly replaced with a cold chill spreading throughout me. The bite mark on my neck began to throb. I took a shaky step back from him.
"Hey, apologize!" Tyler shouted. Damon narrowed his eyes at my date before smirking.
"I don't think so. Annie, you remember why you are here don't you?" Damon asked. My mouth opened slightly as I tried to figure out what to say.
"I- I'm here with Tyler. He asked me to go the dance. I'm trying to have a good night with my date," I told him in a shaky voice. I grimaced, noticing how much I sounded like a compelled human.
"I don't think so Annie," Damon replied.
"What is he talking about?" Tyler asked, looking at me.
"I'm here with Tyler! I'm trying to have a good night with my date!" I repeated a little more fiercely. My eyes narrowed as I glared at Damon.
"I don't think so," Damon repeated. I let go of Tyler and walked up to Damon, pushing him back as roughly as I could. His cocky look switched to one of pure anger.
"Get the hell away from me," I snapped. People around us stopped dancing and were tuned into our argument.
"Why would I do that Annie?" he asked. Waves of anger rolled off of him. I tensed but stood my ground.
"Because you don't own me Damon. I'm here with someone else. Grow up and back off," I growled. His entire body tensed in anger and he lifted a hand up and hit me hard across the face. I fell to the ground. There was a collective gasp from our audience and some yelling from a chaperone. It sounded like Alaric. I lifted my hand gingerly and touched me cheek. I looked up at Damon, Alaric was restraining him, or Damon was allowing Alaric to restrain him. Tyler was up in Damon's face, yelling. Someone was helping up. I looked to see Jenna holding my arms. I allowed her to stand me up. She was leading me away from the scuffle. I couldn't take my eyes off Damon. He no longer looked angry. His face looked absolutely dismayed. I finally turned away from him and disappeared into the crowd.
Jenna sat me down and Stefan and Elena were suddenly beside me. I also saw Caroline and Bonnie make their way through the crowd.
"Are you okay? Annie! Are you okay?" Stefan asked. My skin was bruising. I could feel it bruising, every blood vessel burst, the fluid inside getting trapped under the skin. Bruising, such a strange concept. I reached up to touch my cheek again. My fingers gently brushed the skin before someone grabbed my hand and pulled it away. I looked at Tyler who had made his way over also. He was the one holding my hand.
"Annie? Annie! Please say something!" he said desperately.
"I knew it Annie! You have to tell me about these things," Caroline was saying.
"Annie! I'm so sorry!" Bonnie called, helplessly. Elena put her hand on my shoulder. I flinched and she removed it immediately.
"Annie, it's all my fault. I'm sorry, we should have known Damon was up to something. I just never thought it would get to this," she admitted. Jenna suddenly returned from somewhere with ice. I gratefully took it and placed it on my cheek. I looked up at Stefan, my eyes meeting his. Suddenly the room became too loud, the humans were too close. My veins burned in anger and hurt. I needed blood and I needed it now. I couldn't even remember the last time I fed.
"Stefan, I need help," I whispered. Everyone around us, shot me a confused look. My muscles tensed and I felt my eyes grow dark as the uneven thrum of hundreds of heart beats reached my ears.
"Annie?" Tyler asked, seeming to notice the change. I turned my dark eyes on him. My fangs slowly slid from my gums.
"Oh my god," Caroline gasped. Stefan suddenly stepped in front of me. He grabbed my arm and looked at the humans.
"Tyler, come with me. I need you to help me," he said calmly. He pulled me from the room. Tyler followed behind. I smiled to myself. His blood smelled the best. Full of hormones, anger, passion. My gums ached as my fangs throbbed to dig into his flesh. That fragile human, skin so tearable, easy-flowing blood. I turned suddenly in Stefan's arms and lunged at Tyler but Stefan held me tight.
"What's wrong with her?" Tyler asked, taking a step back. Stefan looked at him.
"Come with us,you need to stay calm and quiet" he compelled, looking directly into Tyler's eyes. I felt my lips spread into a smile as Tyler nodded under Stefan's control. I pulled myself away from Stefan and wrapped myself in my human's arm. I pulled Tyler with me, kissing and gently nipping his neck. Stefan kept an eye on me. I felt him watching me, making sure I wasn't biting too hard. We left the gym and Stefan found us a free room. He let us in and stood in front of the door. "Okay, Annie. Drink from him but don't take too much. Don't hurt him, you really like him. I will heal him and erase his memory once it's done." I chuckled at Stefan.
"Or we could share him," I suggested. I ran my finger down Tyler's carotid artery and smiled feeling the blood pulse quickly under my hand. He was terrified, my human was scared of me. "We could drain him and throw his body down a well, into a ravine, I'll let you choose." I bit into Tyler's neck suddenly. I let the blood run down my throat and stain my lips before leaning back and looking at Stefan. I licked the blood from my lips and giggled. "Come join me Stefan."
"Annie, there isn't time for this! What are you doing? This isn't you!" he snapped. Suddenly Elena came running into the room. My eyes snapped to her. She looked at my human with his blood running down his neck. I licked the trail of blood to the wound and took a few more gulps of the sweet fluid.
"Stefan?" Elena asked. I chuckled again into Tyler's skin. My veins no longer burned but the blood was so good.
"It's okay Elena. She's in control," he lied. I chuckled again and bit a new hole in Tyler's neck just to prove him wrong. Elena flinched. The blood from the two wounds mixed and I moaned in pure pleasure.
"Join me Stefan," I whispered seductively. Tyler stood completely still. His body was so tense. I brought my hands to his shoulders.
"Oh my human is scared," I pouted. I bit into his neck again and drank again. Tyler groaned and suddenly Stefan was pinning me to the wall. I glared at him. I looked over his shoulder at my human. Elena was standing by him. "Let me go!" I snarled.
"You are done! This isn't you Annie!" Stefan growled at me. He brought a hand up to my cheek and I flinched as his light touch stung. My face suddenly fell.
"Damon," I whispered. He nodded. I looked over at Tyler.
"Oh my god. Did I hurt him?" I asked. Stefan nodded. A sob caught in my throat. "Help him. Now!" Stefan let go of me and I stood by the wall, my arms wrapped tightly around myself as Stefan fed Tyler his blood and compelled him. Stefan looked at me.
"Wait here! I'm going to take him back to the dance. Elena come on," Stefan said not wanting Elena alone with me. I didn't blame him. I saw the three bite marks on Tyler's skin. My stomach flipped and threatened to bring my meal back up. I wouldn't have cared if it had. I hurt Tyler! I slid down the wall, my head falling into my hands.
"What is happening to me?" I whispered to myself.
"I don't know but you are just as beautiful as you were when I first saw you," a voice spoke quietly. I looked up and saw Noah staring at me with a smile. I wiped Tyler's blood from my lips.
"Are you here to kill me? Please try. I deserve it," I whispered standing up. He gave me a mock pout as he walked up to me.
"Your little show with Tyler was impressive," he praised, running a finger down my bruised cheek. I turned my head away and he grabbed my chin. "Run." I listened. I ran out of the room as fast as I could. I started towards the gym then stopped. If I ran to the gym I would be endangering everyone all over again. I turned and headed to the cafeteria I knew would be empty. There had to be a weapon or something there. I ran as hard as I could. I knew Noah was behind me somewhere, I could feel it. My breathing came out in short pants as I ran. I pushed the doors to the cafeteria open and instantly saw the wooden handled mop sticking out of its bucket. I pulled it out and snapped it over my knee. I held the broken end up towards him as he pushed the cafeteria doors open. He smirked at me. "Oh Annie. You should know better." He ran at me, grabbing my weapon and tossing me back. I hit the wall hard and fell to the ground. The world was spinning. Noah came up to me slowly. He pulled me up by my hair and tore the bandage from my neck. "Looks like someone had the same idea." He laughed as he bent down to bite my neck. I screamed and suddenly Noah was pulled way from me. I looked up to see Stefan throw Noah to the floor.
"Hey, dickhead." I looked up to see Damon, who was holding a stake. "We just want to talk." His eyes flickered to me. "For now." I saw his jaw tighten and he looked back at the young vampire. Elena rushed in to the cafeteria at that moment and Noah smirked, rushing towards her. She screamed loudly. Damon tossed the stake to Stefan how pushed it into Noah's stomach with incredible speed.
"Now you feel like talking?" Stefan asked angrily.
"Screw you," Noah spit. Stefan plunged the stake in deeper. I put my hand to my head and slowly picked myself up off the ground. I stumbled over to where they stood. Noah looked up at me and smirked.
"Wrong answer! Why are you doing this?" Stefan asked. Noah's smirk grew.
"Because it's fun," he answered simply. Stefan pushed the stake in further.
"What do you want with them?" he growled.
"Elena looks like Katherine," he said happily. The three of them looked shocked. They shared a look. I took a step forward.
"What about me? Why are you doing this to me?" I asked. His eyes met mine.
"Oh, how could anyone resist you Annie? You are just too much fun. You aren't a normal vampire are you?" he asked. It was blatantly obvious but he was taunting me. I took the stake from Stefan and pushed it farther in.
"Tell me how to get in the tomb," Damon suddenly said, taking my spot. I glared at him.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"If he knew Katherine he would know!" Damon snapped at me.
"The grimoire," Noah answered, groaning.
"Where is it?" Damon questioned. I watched them curiously.
"Check the journal. The journal. Jonathan's journal. Jonathan Gilbert's." Noah said through gritted teeth.
"I know where that is," I said suddenly. Damon looked at me. I met his eyes and instantly looked away. Why would I tell him that? I hated him. I hated everything about him. I glared at the ground.
"Who else is working with you?" Stefan asked. Noah shook his head.
"Who else is there?" Damon asked in a harsher voice. I flinched back.
"No. You're going to have to kill me," Noah said, shaking his head one last time. Suddenly Stefan had the stake and was plunging it into Noah's chest. Elena gasped loudly. Noah fell to the floor, his skin desiccating. I looked down at his grey body and closed my eyes. He was sadistic, a murderer. He was everything I was. And he was in the same place I should be.
"He had to die Annie," Damon explained. I clenched my eyes shut even tighter. I turned to look at him, glaring, my mouth pressed into a firm line. I pushed passed him and into the hallway.
"Annie. Are you okay? We were looking for you. What happened to your neck?" Alaric said, suddenly coming around the corner. I jumped and looked at him. His eyes dropped to my cheek and suddenly everything that happened that night hit me hard. I broke down in front of him.
"I need to go home but I can't. He's there. I don't want to be near him," I admitted. I was sobbing openly. Alaric wrapped his arms around me awkwardly trying to comfort me, forgetting his questions.
"Do you have anywhere else you can go?" he asked. I shook my head and sobbed even harder.
"Do I deserve this? Did I do something to attract this kind of attention? I'm not perfect. I'm horrible actually. I've hurt people but never like this. Why me?" I asked. Alaric gently rubbed my hair trying to soothe me. I saw Jenna come around the corner and stop watching us. She looked devastated.
"No, no! Annie, no one deserves this. No matter what you've done you don't deserve this," he told me trying to comfort me.
"Murderer's got the death penalty. They deserved that. So why wouldn't I deserve this?" I asked through tears. He held me out at arms length.
"Because Annie, you have done nothing wrong. You may have made mistakes but no one has the right to hurt someone like this," he told me.
"Annie, I can call Sheriff Forbes if you would like," Jenna offered. I shook my head frantically.
"No, no. Please don't!" I cried. She nodded and moved to stand by Alaric. "I need to leave town."
"But what about school and your friends? You seemed to be doing really well here," Alaric asked.
"They would be okay without me. As for school, I was failing every class but yours anyway," I admitted. He shook his head.
"We are going to take you home. I want to talk to you about this when your have a better head on your shoulders. You must be traumatized after tonight. It's understandable. Jenna will you take her to the parking lot. I will catch up," he said. She nodded and gently wrapped her arm around my shoulder.
"Don't take me home," I pleaded. She gave me a sad look and pulled me into a hug.
"You can stay with us for as long as you need," she told me.
"Thank you, thank you," I wrapped my arms around her. She was leading me out to the parking lot when she stopped suddenly.
"No. You get out of here now!" she snapped, stepping in front of me. I looked around her and saw Damon. I suddenly got extremely cold.
"I need to talk to Annie," he said. Jenna shook her head.
"No. You have no right. Get the hell away now," she fought back. He took a step forward and caught my eyes from over her shoulder.
"Please Annie," he begged.
"Jenna, just for a second?" I asked. She turned to me and once again shook her head.
"I don't think this is a good idea," she said.
"Just a few minutes? I will call you if I need you. Please?" I asked. She looked over at Damon angrily.
"I will be right over there," she said walking to her car. I nodded to her. Damon moved in front of me and I had to stop myself from taking a step back. I looked up into his eyes with all the fury I could gather.
"Annie, I'm so sorry," he started. I slapped him, forcing his head to the side. He rubbed his jaw. "I deserved that."
"You deserve so much more than that! You deserve a stake through the chest. Oh if my father was here, you would be a pile of ashes on the ground. All that would be left is your stupid leather jacket," I growled.
"I didn't like seeing him with you. That high school douche shouldn't be with you. He doesn't deserve you," he said.
"What the hell do you know? Tyler is a great guy. He was a perfect gentleman. You were the one who hit me!" I yelled. He hung his head.
"I know."
"And where the hell do you get off telling me who I should and shouldn't be with. You don't own me Damon!" I continued shouting.
"I know."
"I should have never trusted you. After all you did to me before. I thought you were different. I really thought you were different! I was so stupid!" I said, my voice breaking.
"You are right," he said.
"I'm leaving, like I should have weeks ago. And you are not going to stop me. Our deal is off, I can take care of myself! Don't you dare talk to me again, don't you dare touch me again. I'm done with you Damon," I added. He shook his head.
"Please don't leave Annie," he whispered. I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest and digging my nails into my skin.
"Why the hell not?"
"Because we need you here. You make us all better. You complete this stupid little town," he said.
"Yeah, well you don't get to tell me what to do anymore Damon. If this is goodbye, goodbye. I hope I never see you again." I turned and walked away without looking back. My brave armour fell off and I suddenly felt like jelly. I met Jenna and tears were already streaming down my cheeks.
"We just need to wait for Alaric then we can go," she explained. I nodded and smiled to her.
"Thank you so much. You are an amazing woman." She gave me a sad smile. I sat in the back of the car, my head resting against the window. I started shaking. It's over. It's all over. I will never have to see him again. I will get up tomorrow and I will leave. Goodbye Mystic Falls.
…
That was really heavy, I apologize. I mean, I really didn't intend for it to go in that direction and then it kind of did. I hope you enjoyed it still. Plus, this is by no means the end. There is so much more to come. I couldn't write an originals story without the originals coming in to it. No way would I end it here. I also really shouldn't set deadlines for myself. I just disappoint people. Sorry for taking so long. I really hope you like this. We are finally done Unpleasantville, which was beyond unpleasant for many people. But we can move on! Yay! Thank you to all of those who reviewed, read, favourited, followed. You are all great people. Keep it up! I will try to get the next one out in this next week but you know me. Sorry again.
tablekorner: Wow, thank you so so much! Once again you've made me very happy. I would hate to ruin how you feel about my story. I can't believe anyone likes it really. I've never been confident in my own writing. Thank you so much. You have no idea how much it means to me. If you have any concerns or things you don't like just let me know. Don't feel afraid to offer some friendly criticisms. Thank you again. :) You are a great person.
SomebodyWhoCares: I agree. Damon WTF mate? Thanks for reviewing!
FallenAshe: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. That means so much to me!
winxgirl1997: Sorry this took so long
everlatinglove: Thanks so much!
Amelia-bella1: Thank you! I'm sorry I took so long writing this. I struggled a bit. But thanks for reviewing!
xNikiStx: Thank you for getting on my case about this, seriously! You are probably why I picked this up. You reminded me I had to get back on this so thanks. Keep reviewing :)
Okay that's all. Love you all. Thank you so much again!