Damon was confused. Ric was in place to keep Abi safe until he could figure out how best to win her trust, and hopefully her love back. Ric told him Abi realized her house wasn't the most convenient of residences. With no electricity, no running water, no modern conveniences, it made sense. Ric had helped her move into the hotel in town.
This sounded reasonable to Damon. What confused, what frustrated him, was Ric's insistence that Abi-the woman he'd told Damon to chase, needed TIME. Time, Ric said, to come to terms with her new modern life. Time to grow accustomed to being awake and to make decisions about her life. Time without Damon.
What the hell?! He wondered why the shift from my erstwhile best friend. It had happened practically overnight. Ric no longer seemed interested in helping Damon find a path back to Abi's side. Now his focus was on keeping her safe and becoming her confidant.
Seriously? If he didn't know better, he'd think Ric was falling for HIS girl. That would be ridiculous.
Abigail sat in her room laughing as Ric, as he insisted she call him, regaled her with more travails of a high school history teacher. Her phone sat next to her on the bed as she waited to hear back from one of the many contractors she'd called for estimates. The cost of updating her house was proving more expensive than she'd expected. Even after a visit to the bank manager, a careful meeting where she learned the true value of her inheritance, she wasn't sure it was worth it. The amount that was given thus far was more than she was comfortable with giving. And why should she pay to have the house she'd been prisoner in for over a hundred years to be updated? Ric noticed when her gaze landed on the ever silent phone.
"Lost you, again." He sighed. "Tell me about your quest for renovations?" He was seated in the chair she used when using the desk.
She groaned, unladylike, but keeping with the times. "I'm sorry. It's just, I hadn't realized how incredibly expensive it would be." She sighed, thinking how overwhelming the decision was becoming. "Really expensive, for a house that doesn't feel-"
"Like home?" Ric finished, raising an eyebrow. "Then don't renovate it."
She looked at him in curiosity and shock. "But then it'll be unlivable, unless I want to live without the normal standards of living." That I've come to love and be used to having, she added in her head. "And what would I do with an unlivable house? Where would I live?"
Ric smiled, and she had to admit to herself that he was attractive, even if she only craved his friendship. "Sell it. I have it under good authority that the Mystic Falls Historical Society craves that house."
She bit her lip. She knew that he was telling the truth because the bank manager had mentioned it. If she sold the house, that still left the question of where she would live. The hotel was nice, but she wanted a more permanent home.
"I can help you look for another house," he offered, seeing her pause. "There are plenty available." Another large smile. "I'll buy lunch." He tempted.
Abi laughed. "I'll look." She agreed with a nod. "Then, I'll make a decision." She took the hand he offered when he'd stood from his seat, and helped her stand. "And I plan on holding you to your promise for lunch."
Chuckling, he waited while she grabbed her phone, shoes, and new wallet. "Your chariot awaits, Abi." He offered his arm in a gallant gesture. Shaking her head, she linked hers through it and allowed him to lead her from her suite.
She wondered if this would be the push she needed. Abi felt like she hadn't made any progress, not since waking. It was like she was in a holding pattern.
HOURS LATER
Lunch morphed into a class in billiards. Abi was enjoying the day. Her companion had proved warm and helpful. She'd found a few suitable houses, well within her means, and more centrally located. Being within walking distance of everything would be more welcome than she could verbalize.
And so, lunch at the Grille of course, had led to this. Her standing with the long thin poolstick held awkwardly in her hands. Ric was pressed against her back, leading her through her first shot. She laughed as his breath tickled her neck, and more when her shot was successful.
Ric pulled back so she could turn and hug him. Her excitement was contagious, but holding her was beyond words. Abigail Morgan was amazing. Three days into their friendship and all he could think about was making her laugh. Being in her company was fast becoming the only time of day he felt at peace.
Abi pulled away when she heard a throat clear. Turning to face the interloper, she raised an eyebrow at him. Damon Salvatore. Her living, breathing reminder of the past.
"Well, well, well." He said, walking to join them. "What have we here? Ric," he acknowledged her companion with a glare. "This seems cozy."
She almost laughed out loud. Jealousy, that's rich, she thought. Ric had moved so his body was half hiding her from Damon. She touched his arm, not noticing that Damon took note of the casual touch. She was telling him she was fine, this was fine.
"Damon," she greeted, keeping her hand on Ric's arm. "I thought I was clear before." The threat was heavy in her voice, so was the pain she kept in check. He'd broken her, more times than she wanted to count.
"And I thought I was clear," his voice full of menace, but not directed to her strangely. "Ric, why did you have your hands all over my-" he sighed and corrected himself. "On Abigail?" Abi looked between the two of them.
Confused, she had to ask. "What is this all about?" Still looking from one to the other. "Tell me." She commanded, her voice infused with the power her mother told her about.
"He asked me to make sure you were safe," RIc said, breaking eye contact with Damon. "He wanted me to help him-"
"Win you back," Damon finished. "Supposedly my best friend, but I'm starting to have my doubts."
Abi rolled her eyes, an unladylike habit she was learning to embrace. "I cannot deal with the alpha male syndrome clogging the air, so if you'll both excuse me." She walked away, ignoring the both of them.
She waved at Matt as she left the Grille, and walked back to her hotel. Honestly, she thought, letting herself into her suite. Win her back? Protect her? Men, she fumed, tossing her room key and wallet on the desk and pulling her phone from a pocket. Setting it to silent, she lay down, hoping a nap would improve her mood.
AT THE GRILLE
"Time, huh?" Damon said, eyeing Ric in a new unpleasant light. "Time to spend with you, Ric?" Time to replace me with you?"
Ric scoffed, taking a seat at the hightop table he'd shared with Abi. "She needs time to acclimate, Damon. Better with someone new, the past could serve only as a harsh reminder."
Damon had taken the seat she'd sat in, and Ric couldn't help but think he was a poor substitute for her. Irritation rolled in waves off of the both of them. Ric because this dick had ruined his perfect day with Abi.
"It seems," Damon gestured for a waitress. "That we're not on the same page, Ric."
They said nothing until the waitress returned with the bottle of bourbon and two tumblers. Pouring one for himself, Damon sat the bottle down, making Ric pour his own.
"We aren't." Ric agreed, downing his drink in one. "You want her safe, you asked me to keep her safe. That's what I'm doing."
Damon's eyes widened. "Just keeping her safe, Ric?" His voice was low, annoyance mingling with menace. "It didn't look like she was being attacked over there by the pool table."
Ric grunted. Not confirming, nor denying Damon's accusation.
"And what was with the return of Vampire Hunter Alaric standing between me and her?" Damon spit out.
"I saw a threat. I protected her." Ric said, meeting his friend's eyes across the table.
Damon glared at the very idea. Tossing back his own drink, and barely managing to not slam the glass down. "I'M a threat? To Abigail Morgan? Are you insane?"
Ric's eye contact remained unbroken. "Yeah, you. You are a threat to her, Damon." He poured more into his glass. "Even you know that. Why else would you ask me to keep her safe? You could have stalked her all by yourself."
Damon felt a flash of realization. Ric was acting almost exactly like Stefan had when he'd turned. Sitting back, he reconsidered. Actually, Stefan's interest began earlier, hadn't it? He remembered the letter that brought him back home. He and Stefan hadn't been close, not since they were children, and yet he'd written to him. Urged him to come home, for HER. And when he got back, not noticing Abi once Katherine became all he could see, didn't she complain about how difficult it was to keep Stefan compelled. At least when it came to keeping him away from HER. Hell, wasn't it Stefan that had found her after Katherine's first attempt in the garden. Hadn't he carried her like the precious cargo she was, the shock flew through him even now. Stefan's urge grew when he turned. Wasn't that part of being a vampire? Everything is amplified, and occasionally twisted. Like how protective he'd been of Abi beforehand. Shit.
Damon groaned. "I need to find Bonnie." Ric gave him a startled look at the turn in conversation. "And YOU need to keep your distance from Abi." He pointed his finger at his friend. "Think about how young she looks, maybe thinking of her like a STUDENT will keep your brain and other parts in check. You are TEACHING her about her new reality, aren't you?" He ignored Ric's glare. "Gotta go see a witch and fix THIS."
Now to get Bonnie on board, Damon stalked out considering his options. He ran smack into his brother outside.
"Damon, we need to talk." Stefan urged, making Damon slow down. He was about to tell him he wasn't interested when Stefan followed up by adding, "we know she's awake."
"We?" Damon asked, looking into his brother's face.
"Yeah, we," Elena agreed, stepping out from behind her boyfriend.
Damon rolled his eyes. Well, yippee, the gang's all here." He started to turn away, considering a detour to his car.
"We want to help." Elena offered and he found himself laughing. "We do." She sounded less certain now.
Damon glared at the two of them. "Help?" He nodded at the absurdity. "He's the reason she was trapped in her own mind in the first place, but you? You look like the bitch that killed her-TWICE." He bit out, then laughed darkly again. "And me? I'm the moron that tried to finish the damn job." He nearly roared at the impotency he felt. "You can't help, Elena. He can't help.' He pointed violently at his brother. "I'm not even sure I can."
"Tell us," Stefan pleaded. "There's something you aren't telling us." He ignored his brother's growl. "What's the real issue, Damon?"
"Not here." Damon answered, reminding them all of where they stood. He also hoped he could distract them from their moronic ideas. "I'll meet you at home, got an errand to run first."
Stefan shook his head. "Run it after we talk about this." He handed Elena his keys. "I'll ride with you."
Of all the fucking times for his brother to grow a pair, Damon thought, rolling his eyes. "Fine." He snapped. "Fine." He threw up his hands and stomped to his car. "Let's go."
