AN: I am sure this chapter will surprise you all. And I would really like to hear your opinion about it. Thanks for the wonderful reviews guys. Here goes the story...
Chapter 28: Change Of Choice
It was the founder's cleaning day which indicated that the current timeline was of the episode 'Killed or be killed'. It also meant that I had a lot of work to do. The entire town was kind of busy with cleaning related chores. Everyone was going to gather in the park and work together in teams. I have to be there to stop Mason and Damon from killing each other. I hated this but I had no other choice. Elena and Stefan were pretending to fight in front of everyone just like they did in the show. And Caroline was keeping an eye on them and reporting everything back to Katherine. And of course me as well which Katherine didn't know about. I didn't tell Caroline yet that Stefan and Elena were just pretending to fight in front of her. God knows that the girl is the worst kind of liar alive in this world. And Katherine would catch it right away that Caroline is lying to her even before the baby vampire could speak. It was better that Caroline feels guilty for betraying her best friend rather than die in Katherine's hand once again for lying to her. And if Caroline dies this time she wouldn't be coming back to life again. On to other important news, I decided to avoid Damon until he apologizes to me for being a jerk the other night. I will not speak to him the whole day. Who cares if it pisses him off more? I was tired of his jealousy and control issues anyway. Either Damon is going to work on his issues or stay away from me. It was as clear as that.
As I had decided to join the events of the day, I started getting ready like everyone else. I thought about trying something different today. Not the regular jeans and top. I searched through my closet to find something interesting and after ten minutes of exploration, I found a perfect dress. I never noticed that dress before but it was there. The dress had different shades of baby blue color in the lower part and it stopped right above my knees. Blue? Aha, Damon's favorite color. How would he feel if I wear a dress of his favorite color and then flirt with Mason? That would be hilariously mean. The mere thought of the expression on his face made me smirk to myself. I put on the dress without wasting any more time and stood in front of the mirror to check myself out in the reflection. I did my hair as well.
"Not bad at all." I said to myself looking at my own reflection with admiration. The dress hung from my shoulders by two strings of sleeves and hugged my upped body fittingly, exposing my small curves perfectly. Then from the waist line the dress just spread out and got layers of clothes of different blue colors around. And the best thing was that it was no way a glamorous party dress and perfectly fine for the occasion. The dress just made me look really good and attractive for the day. I had curled my hair in loose spirals and kept them open. In the end I put on a pair of white high heel sandals, ones that Caroline loves to wear all the time. It was good five inches high and the sole was wide, not really a pencil heel type. It got strings with it that wrapped around my slim legs in twists. I put a little light make up too and stood in front of the mirror again. I couldn't help but send a flying kiss to my image right away.
"Perfect." I said out loud. This blue dress would leave Damon with blue balls for sure. I was looking absolutely hot and I am not lying about it. Right then I heard Jeremy's voice.
"Woah, what the hell?" I looked away from the mirror to look at the doorway and found a shocked looking Jeremy standing there with wide eyes. I shrugged my shoulders at him nonchalantly.
"What?" I questioned him. Jeremy walked straight into my room and looked at me up and down with crossed arms over his chest.
"You are not going out like this." He stated at once. My eye brows shot up immediately.
"What? Why? What's wrong?" I asked with a frown of confusion over my face. Jeremy narrowed his eyes at me.
"If you walk around the town like this, half the population of Mystic Falls would be ogling at you and who knows how many will try to hit on you. And I don't have the time to be your personal body guard today. So go and get changed, right now" commanded Jeremy but I rolled my eyes at him however felt smug and satisfied about it as well. It only confirmed that I really was looking good. Not that I had any doubt in the first place.
"No, no way in hell Jeremy. It took me half an hour to get ready like this. Besides, I will be with Caroline, so no one would dare to hit on me. Relax." I said and Jeremy shook his head hopelessly.
"Why are you dressed up like this anyway? Is something special going to happen today?" Jeremy asked wondering about it with curiosity. I shook my head though.
"Nope, just felt like trying something new. By the way why were you here in the first place?" I asked knowing Jeremy must have had something to ask me.
"You know Elena already told me everything about werewolves but I want to hear more from you. I don't exactly trust her that she told me everything. What did Tyler say to you about this?" asked Jeremy with seriousness. I took in a deep breath.
"If you want to know what Tyler said to me, then you better go and ask him about it. He should be at the Grill right now. Tyler doesn't really like doing cleaning up chores." I said to Jeremy and continued more. "I am sorry but I am not gonna give away his secrets, not even to you and break his trust in the process. So, if you really want to know then make him tell you and please don't get me involved, Okay." Jeremy just nodded to that and thankfully didn't say anything in protest. I went downstairs where Elena was waiting up for me already.
"Hey sis, I am ready, lets go." I said to Elena. She looked at me then her eyes went up and down over my form just like Jeremy's did earlier. However Elena didn't say anything and just nodded to me. Elena was pretending to be upset about Stefan however I knew that they just made out in her room. When Elena and I reached the park, we met up with Caroline there. Care flashed me a huge smile as soon as she saw me.
"Girl, you are looking gorgeous today" exclaimed Caroline then she gave me a bear hug.
"Thanks, after all I take my fashion tips from you." I said to her and we both laughed at that. Elena avoided our little greeting and kept looking sad. We started walking towards the park together when my eyes fell on Stefan and Mason. They were obviously having the talk where Stefan was apologizing to Mason for Damon's mistake. Trying to repair the damage his brother has done and being the good Salvatore like always. They shook their hands just like they did in the show. I remembered that vividly. Stefan's eyes flickered to Elena for a moment and then his eyes met mine. I smirked at him without any hesitation that said clearly that 'I caught you Mr'. Stefan suppressing his own smile, he looked away from me quickly. Then Mason turned around and he saw me as well.
"Jacq." He called for me. I stopped walking right away. Caroline and Elena looked at Mason too as they also heard him calling my name. However they looked at him with confused eyes. Mason walked up to us. I glanced back at Stefan and found that he was no longer standing alone but Damon was there too. He was talking to Stefan.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" asked Mason and I nodded my head. I signaled for Caroline to go ahead without me. She took Elena with her though Elena wanted to stay and know what Mason has to talk to me about. As if Mason would ever talk to me in front of her about certain things that he only wanted me to know. Once Elena and Caroline were gone, and completely out of Elena's ear shot, Mason opened up his mouth to speak. Though Caroline could still hear us if she wanted to and the other two vampires were very much capable of hearing us as well. And they were currently looking at us, one with an angry glare and another with furrowed brows. But I ignored them completely and focused on Mason and what he had to say to me.
"Is everything okay?" I asked Mason worriedly.
"I talked to Tyler yesterday and told him everything about the werewolf curse" informed Mason and I nodded to that and also sighed out in relief inwardly. I had thought that something else had happened. The way Mason looked serious, I kinda got scared.
"What did he say?" I asked him curiously.
"Nothing. He didn't say anything after I talked to him about it. That's why I need you to talk to him about it. Find out what Tyler is really thinking. What is going through his head right now. You are the only one he would talk to about this" said Mason and I nodded to that being serious about it. I was going to talk to Tyler anyway even if Mason hadn't asked me to but it's a good thing that he asked.
"Don't worry, I will take care of him. I won't let Tyler do anything stupid." I said that with assured tone of voice. I saw trust in Mason's eyes for me for the first time. And I felt my heart cringe inside my chest because sooner or later Tyler would trigger the curse and become a werewolf. And I won't stop it from happening for certain reasons.
"Anything else?" I asked to Mason and he nodded.
"I have got something for you" said the werewolf and I frowned in confusion. He pulled out something from his jeans pocket then held it in front of my eyes. It was a bracelet made of silver and a heart hanging from the joint of the two ends. The heart too was made of silver and a huge dark blue stone sitting in that heart shape. It was more like the locket from the titanic film. Only smaller in size and it was a bracelet and not a necklace. I looked confusedly at Mason, clearly not understanding why he was giving me this. Mason took my hand in his and I let him do that.
"This will protect you from a werewolf, even during the full moon" saying that Mason put the bracelet on my wrist and locked the ends. It fitted my hand perfectly. I lift my hand up and brought it near my eyes level. The heart was hanging from my wrist now. I smelled it and it had a beautiful smell to it too. It must be Wolves bane, I thought to myself. But it seemed more than just that. There was something magical about it too. I felt it. I felt protected with the bracelet on. I looked back at Mason and still couldn't believe that it was actually happening. That Mason was really giving me a gift.
"Since you said to me that you want to save me for the sake of your soul, I thought that I should do something to protect you from me first. And don't think it's an effort to change your mind about being in between us. I simply don't want you to get hurt by me or Tyler or by anyone else from my kind again" said Mason but I stopped him from saying more.
"No, I wasn't thinking anything like that. It's just that, I didn't think... I am just happy...I am glad to know that you care about me like this...it really means a lot to me. Thank you." I said and I really meant it with my life which really surprised Mason. We looked intensely at each other and my voice was still quite shaken and my heart was beating faster too. I instinctively wrapped my arms around his torso and embraced him, feeling overwhelmed with emotions that moment. However it was nothing romantic. Mason returned me the hug by wrapping his own arms around me and pulling me closer to him. I felt like crying and tears threatened to come out too but I stopped them from getting out. I didn't even glance at the Salvatore brothers to see their reactions. I simply didn't want to, knowing it won't be anything good. I pulled away from Mason slowly and he looked at my face carefully.
"You look more beautiful than last time every time I see you. But today you are looking absolutely breathtaking." Mason was far away from flirting with me and he was really just phrasing me. I smiled at him.
"I think it's a side effect of a wolf's bite." I said jokingly and Mason laughed and shook his head at me.
"Then I should stop feeling guilty about biting you immediately" said Mason and I nodded to that.
"Yeah you should." I said and dared a quick glance at the Salvatore brothers this time who were standing not so far away from us. They both were glaring daggers at Mason and I. And Stefan was kind of holding Damon back. I looked away from them and looked back at Mason again.
"Anything interesting happened this morning yet?" I asked with a smirk on my lips because I knew exactly what has happened.
"Stefan Salvatore came to apologize to me and threaten me at the same time. So, I guess we are good for now" said Mason and I laughed a little at that.
"I don't believe that. You supernatural guys are too egotistical to back out so easily from a 'killing each other game'. Anyway good luck, you will need it." I said it being genuine about it. Mason simply nodded to what I said.
"Thanks. See you around Jacq" saying that he left and I started walking away too. I should go and find Caroline and Elena. However as soon as I started walking, I found my way blocked by both Damon and Stefan. They both looked extremely pissed off. Damon more than Stefan obviously.
"Affectionate gifts are being exchanged now. That's a progress" said Damon bitterly while looking at my wrist. I really wasn't in the mood to put up with either of them that moment. So, I crossed my arms over my chest and stared sternly at them.
"What is it?" I asked making my voice rude and angry.
"You don't look happy to see us. Why? Oh! I know, I know, we are not werewolves. That's why, isn't it?" Damon was acting simply crazy and immature. I stared at him with a calm expression on my face for sometime and then simply tried to walk away from there. But Damon held onto my bracelet free wrist and brought me back in front of him again. Stefan got a little tensed up immediately but didn't say anything to stop his brother.
"Let go of me Damon. Leave me alone." I yanked my hand free from his grip. Damon hissed angrily at me and tried to approach me aggressively but Stefan put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him from getting closer to me.
"Damon, let me talk to her" said Stefan. Damon glared at me for a while and then simply walked away in rage. Stefan looked back at me and asked calmly.
"Jacq, what is going on?" I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms over my chest again.
"What do you think is going on?" I asked instead of answering his question. Stefan sighed out heavily.
"I don't know Jacq, you tell me. Why are you getting so close to Mason? Do you have any idea how pissed off Damon is right now" said Stefan. It was unbelievable, really, these two Salvatore brothers.
"And I should care about that, why?" I asked frowning at Stefan angrily. He rolled his eyes at me this time.
"You know a pissed off and angry Damon is always a bad news. And you are the one making him mad this time. Stop it, before he hurts you or someone else" said Stefan with serious tone of voice. I stared at him with a hard face this time.
"He is your brother, it's your job to keep him in check. I can't stop living just because it pisses him off. I had enough of it already. I don't want to deal with Damon anymore" saying that I walked away from Stefan. I found Caroline and Elena in no time. They were working already. Caroline was saying to Elena about how she was a bitch to her mom earlier in the morning. I needed to talk to her about that sometime soon. I kept my eyes on Liz and Mason most of the time. I have to stop Damon from getting exposed to Liz and get ambushed later. Because that certainly wouldn't end up good. Soon Elena and Stefan started exchanging longing looks. And that was my cue to get ready to save Damon.
"I will be back." I said to Caroline who was standing close to me that moment. I walked away from under the shade before Damon could reach us. I knew Mason already talked to Liz. Soon the Sheriff would spike all the drinks with Vervain in order to find out if Damon was really a vampire. I quickly saved one glass of lemonade, so that it won't be spiked and stay fresh. I was walking around the drinks corner that time. Very soon Mason came there to get a drink and Damon followed him there too as expected. They exchanged threats in a friendly way like they did in the show. None of them noticed me thankfully. Then Stefan walked up to Damon when Mason left.
"So, please tell me that you were just bonding" asked Stefan but Damon ignored replying that and asked instead.
"So, what's up with this, um faux drama in your relationship?" asked Damon and they kept talking about it. I quickly kissed the vervain free glass of lemonade, putting a light lipstick mark on it. Then I walked up to the Salvatore brothers while Damon was taking a glass of lemonade from the little girl.
"Thank you sweetie." He said and lifted the glass up to his lips.
"Damon." I called him loudly. It stopped him from taking a sip from the glass. Damon looked at me while lowering the glass from his lips. I threw myself at him and made him catch me with his arms. Damon put the glass down on the table and I put the marked vervain free glass beside that one. Stefan was startled to say the least and so was Damon. I was holding onto Damon as if my life was depending on him. I had my arms wrapped around his neck in a strong embrace. Damon wrapped his own arms around my waist but it wasn't anything romantic like usual. He was confused that moment and so was Stefan about what the hell was going on with me.
"Hey what's wrong?" Damon asked worriedly. I leaned closer to his ear to speak up. Only Stefan would be able to hear me apart from Damon.
"Nothing, just trying to save your life." I whispered to him. Damon must be getting very confused this time and he was confused indeed.
"Listen carefully, all the drinks here are laced with vervain right now. And Sheriff Forbes is watching you closely. There is a glass on the table right now with a mark on it. It's vervain free. Drink from it to clear Liz's doubt about you." I explained to Damon. Stefan obviously heard everything and got tensed up immediately. Right then Liz walked up to us to inquire what was going on with us.
"Is everything alright, Jacq sweetie?" She asked with concern and seemed a bit tensed too that I was standing so close to a maybe vampire. I nodded to her lightly.
"Yes, Liz. I am fine. It's just that I had a fight with Elena. I just needed someone to comfort me." I tried to look very disturbed to make the act genuine. Liz nodded after a while.
"Are you sure you okay now?" asked Damon making the act more perfect. I nodded to him. Then Damon picked up the marked glass from the table and drank from it. I noticed him smirk as he saw the lipstick mark on it. Liz visibly sighed out in relief. And she even looked happy suddenly. Her face brighten up as her demeanor changed from being suspicious to being relieved. And the three of us noticed that very clearly. Liz looked at me again.
"Jacq, honey, we are here to enjoy the day together, let's not fight with anyone. Okay" said Liz and I nodded to her putting up an innocent face. Damon still had one arm wrapped around me and his hand was gazing my side slowly sending ticklish feeling all over my body.
"Have a good day okay. Damon, you too" saying that Sheriff Forbes left us with a smile.
"It's true, the drinks are laced with vervain" said Stefan once Liz left. I sighed out in relief at the job accomplishment. I looked at Damon then and smiled sweetly at him. He smiled back immediately and leaned in closer to my ear. His hands gripped my waist in a seductive way this time that made my heartbeat pace up immediately.
"You are looking very beautiful today." Damon whispered to me and kissed the nerve on my neck very lightly. Making me shiver from inside. Stefan was looking confusingly at us as I was letting Damon touch me like that and moreover, in the middle of a crowded place. But I ignored everything for a moment and concentrated on Damon who was still kissing my neck and jawline. I leaned near his ear again and whispered as much sexily as possible.
"I know." I heard him groan a little but before he could make another move on me, or realize anything, I jerked his hands away from my waist in a blink and started to walk away from him. Also I threw a glare at his way. Damon stood still and looked completely startled for a moment but then he stopped me immediately when he came back to his senses and prevented me from leaving him.
"Hey where are you going?" asked Damon as he tried to wrap his arms around me again but I stepped away from him right away.
"Away from you." I replied shortly with a glare and tried to get away from him again but Damon stopped me, again as usual.
"Just listen to me okay." Damon kept his distance and pleaded with his eyes for me to give him a chance to talk. I stopped trying to get away from him but stood away from him with crossed arms over my chest. And I also refused to look at him. I would leave soon after hearing out whatever crap he has to say to me.
"Thank you, for saving me. I don't know what would have happened if we got exposed today." Damon said and he hesitated a bit then spoke up again.
"And I am sorry for hurting you that night. I lost my control, again. But I promise I won't let it happen again, ever. Let's just start over okay, please" said Damon and I sighed out heavily. Unknowingly I ran my fingers through my hair out of conflictual state of mind that Damon noticed right away and gave me a more pleading look. I guess I can start over again with him. Besides, I was incapable of holding a grudge against him for a long time. I looked at Damon this time and looked straight into his eyes. He already knew that I gave in.
"Okay, but this is the last time I am forgiving you for loosing control over stupid reasons." I said but Damon looked more than happy.
"Absolutely." He said joyfully and he wanted to pull me into his arms again but Stefan interfered the moment much to Damon's disliking.
"How did you know Liz laced the drinks with vervain?" Stefan asked with a brooding face. He was still confused about what just happened between me and Damon but didn't voice that.
"I saw her doing it." I replied simply to Stefan.
"I wonder why? What made her suspect us?" asked Stefan more to himself than to me but I answered anyway.
"Does it matter Stefan? Your safe and not exposed. Just leave it." However Damon had already figured it out.
"Mason, did this. Didn't he? I am sure of it. That bastard is threatening to expose us now. He is dead" said Damon venomously. I looked pointedly at him right away.
"Damon, you are not gonna hurt him." I said in a commanding tone of voice but Damon just ignored that and widened his eyes at me instead.
"No, I am not gonna hurt him, I am gonna kill him. Silver may not work but ripping his heart out surely will do the work." Damon said proudly as I scowled at him angrily.
"Are you really gonna make me regret saving you Damon? If I can save you from Mason, I can certainly save Mason from you as well. Hurt him and I will be the one exposing you." I said that in a dead serious tone of voice and it earned me a heated glare from Damon but I glared back more dangerously. Stefan pipped in that moment.
"Jacq, I have no idea what you are trying to accomplish here and whose side you are actually on. But Mason is a danger to us. We need to take him down" said Stefan trying to reason with me and sided with Damon on this. I sighed out heavily.
"Look I am not on anyone's side. I just want everyone to be safe. How hard it is to understand?" I said to both of them. Where Stefan tried to understand me, Damon simply rolled his eyes at me. I took in a deep breath to calm myself down.
"Don't hurt Mason okay. And I promise I will make sure that he is not causing you any problem." I hoped that they would get it and stay away from him. But that was just nothing but a wishful thinking. And I knew it very well.
"You can't control Mason." Stefan desperately tried to reason with me.
"Who said anything about controlling anyone? It's about keeping everyone safe and staying alive. Both of you just stay away from Mason." I said to the Salvatore brothers and walked away from there but managed to hear Stefan saying-
"I will never understand her."
I came across Mason on my way back to Elena and Caroline. He obviously heard most of the conversation between me, Damon and Stefan. Thankfully he didn't seem angry with me at all for failing his plan so miserably. I walked up to him fearlessly.
"You do realize that they are gonna come after you no matter what I say. Just stay away from them. I can handle one side but I can't deal with both of you at once. I promised you that I'll keep you safe. And you don't need to trust me for that. I have my own reasons, my own benefit. So, just please stay away from them and be the mature one, okay." Mason just nodded and thankfully didn't argue back to me. Suddenly I got a call from Tyler while walking away from Mason.
"Hey Tyler, everything okay?" I asked wondering why Tyler called me when he was supposed to be drinking and having fun with Sarah and Amy along with Jeremy.
"I need to talk to you right now." Tyler sounded desperate. It made me worried right away.
"What's wrong Tyler?" I asked with concern in my voice.
"Nothing's wrong, I just need to talk to you" said Tyler with impatient tone of voice. Okay that sounded really important.
"Okay Tyler, where to?" I asked him.
"Meet me at the old cemetery house" said Tyler. It kind of surprised me to hear that. Why would Tyler want to meet me at the cemetery. But I said I will be there anyway without asking further questions. I quickly searched for Caroline and found her sitting with Elena and talking with her. I called for her from far away but she heard me anyway for having vampire hearing power. She came over to me fast. Caroline knew something was going on wrong right away when she saw my face.
"Jacq is everything alright?" Caroline asked with concerned tone of voice.
"Caroline I need your help." I told her and she nodded right away while looking worriedly at me.
"Listen, Tyler called and he wants to talk to me about something, that seemed very important. I have to go and meet him." I told Caroline and she nodded however not understanding how she can help me with that so I explained more. "While I am gone, I want you to keep Mason safe for me. Don't let Damon or Stefan go anywhere near him. They will kill him the first chance they will get. Do whatever it takes but don't let that happen. Can I count on you Care?" Caroline nodded at first but then hesitated a bit.
"But Damon is a lot stronger than me. I won't be able to take both of them down" said Caroline with worried tone of voice. I got her point and she was right after all.
"You don't need to engage in a fight with them to keep Mason safe, Caroline. Just keep Mason in the crowd. They won't be able to hurt him then." I suggested and Caroline nodded to that. After that I took off from the park and reached the old cemetery house within half an hour. Tyler was already there. He was restlessly waiting up for me.
"Tyler are you okay? What's going on?" I asked him worriedly. He seemed very bothered and looked torn from inside.
"Mason told me everything about being a werewolf. He said it's a curse. He also told me how to trigger the curse. You have to kill someone to make it happen" explained Tyler and I sighed out loudly.
"And you don't want anything to do with it." I stated confidently knowing that's what he is going to say next. But Tyler shook his head much to my shock and disbelief.
"No, Jacq, even if it's a curse, I want it. I want to be a part of this supernatural world. And I need your help for that." I openly started gaping at Tyler without any hesitation as he said that. Did I hear it right? Did he really say that he wants to become a werewolf? How the hell did that happen? Because Tyler certainly wasn't supposed to feel this way about being a werewolf. Things are really getting messed up eventually or at least getting changed. For better or worse, I had no idea.
AN: I would really like to know what do you think about these changes. Please continue reviewing they are wonderful. Love you all.
