Rain~

forget the ink, the milk, the blood— all was washed clean with the flood we rose up from the falling waters the fallen rain's own sons and daughters and none of this, none of this matters.

~Don Paterson

There was only one person I knew with a forehead that broad.

Still, up close I could see why the girls were enamoured with the youngest Salvatore brother, seeing the air of mystery that lingered around him. The almost permanent frown on his brow gave his deep-set green eyes a quiet intensity and he wasn't even looking at me. When he saw Elena walking toward him, it was impossible not to notice his features soften.

I leaned over toward Bonnie, muttering under my breath. "Is everyone in this town photoshopped, or something?"

She sent me a bewildered, bemused smile. "That's Stefan. Him and Elena are having this... thing, right now."

"A thing?" I mumbled wryly. One way to put it. "Oh god, not a thing."

"Urgh, can we not talk about them?" Caroline's sourness leaked into her voice. "Sam." She caught my attention. "Channing Tatum, or Chad Micheal Murray?"

"Out of those two, Chad." I wanted to sit, I really wanted to sit, but Tyler being on the bench was less than ideal. "Hey, did we bring a blanket?"

"Uh, no. I had and have no plans whatsoever of sitting on the floor. On the grass." It was hard to miss the disgust in her tone. "Even with a blanket. I'm getting no grass stains on this dress."

"Ah Care, you're as prissy as ever." Tyler's mouth quirked upward sarcastically. "Nothing changed over break, huh?"

I zoned out their banter, turning my eyes subtly toward Stefan and Elena every so often. If I was right, the reason they were having this little tiff is due to Stefan's obvious secrecy, prompted by Damon of course. Does that mean he's here now? Watching? I looked around a little, not seeing any ominous shadows behind trees or buildings, biting the edge of my thumbnail. It was a struggle, to know when I was just being cautious, or when I was just paranoid, and having no one to help me only emphasised this.

"So how long does this show thing go on?" I asked Bonnie, who was watching the back and forth between Tyler and Caroline like a match of tennis.

"Until some comets show up, usually." She muttered in response, leaning over to me and still observing the two. "Or until we get bored watching it. We usually stick around for the novelty for an hour or so, socialise for a bit in the Grill, then head home."

"We could hang out a little at the grill first, then do most of the socialising at my place. Your other friend, Elena? She's welcome too." I suggested, eager to leave as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that translated into my tone, and drew Bonnie to pay more attention to me.

"Hey," she said gently. "You okay?"

"Yeah I just..." I tried to think of excuses. "I like small knit groups, not crowds."

She nodded, as understanding dawned on her face. "Mm, right. Are you more of an introvert?"

"Little bit." I admitted, and finally thought of something to say. "But I also don't want to keep my aunt up, when we drink. So the sooner we get there and start the little sleepover, the better, y'know?"

"I thought she'd be out?"

"Well yeah but not all night. She'll come home and wanna sleep at some point."

"Ah. Gotcha, don't worry. I'll handle Caroline." She gave me an easy smile, and I could feel myself relax a little.

"Thanks Bonnie."

A small chill shivered through me, so I had a small glance around. There was a short stone wall, framed by a bed of flowers on either side, only about ten feet away. I placed my candle on it, so my hands were free to untie the blue cardigan from my waist, but when I started to pick it back up again, someone's hand smoothly shot ahead of mine. I flinched and felt my heart skip a beat as I looked up, startled, and blinked at the unfamiliar face.

"Here." The man held the candle toward me, presenting it with a smile that seemed boyishly charming.

"T-thanks." I cleared my throat, taking the holder.

"Oh, shit," he tilted his head, brow knitting when he looked down at my candle. He reached into his pocket, digging around a little bit first before letting out a simple, "ah, here we are," as he pulled out a lighter, and gave me another easy smile. A silent offering. Shrugging, I held it out, eyes glancing around to check my surroundings. I could see Bonnie and Caroline in conversation, laughing.

He stepped a little closer, enough for my nose to pick up the faint smell of cigarettes and coffee. His thumb pressed down on the button, clicking it. A tiny flame flared up, and he moved it toward the wick.

"Beautiful night, don't you think?" He asked casually, simply, but there was something off about his tone, so I made the mistake of meeting his eyes.

A dusky hazel, with specs of green and brown. However, the thing that alerted me, was that his pupils suddenly started to dilate. He opened his mouth, but the holy sound of Bonnie's voice cut him off. His hand trailed away from my chin, which I didn't realise he'd lightly grabbed.

"Hey Sam?"

The two girls were walking toward me when I glanced toward them. When I looked back, he was gone.

Oh shit. What the fuck. Was that a vampire? Please don't be a vampire. Please don't be a vampire. Please don't be a vampi-

"You okay, Sam?"

"Yeah." I said, with a smile a bit too enthusiastic. "I'm great. I'm perfect. I'm ready to get drunk!" Caroline exchanged a look with Bonnie, and I found myself chuckling nervously, turning around so I could relax my face. Despite the cheerful tone, I was freaking out inside. "But let's go to the grill first, as promised."

I walked ahead of the others, and felt the cold wood of the Mystic Grill's door. For a moment, I just held onto the handle, breathing in a big heap of air. This was thee Mystic Grill, practically the hub for this shitty town, as a normal person who knew what walked in and out of this, I was on edge, but as a fan of the actual show, I couldn't squash down the small hint of excitement.

"Sam?"

"Oh, sorry, spaced out."

I pushed open the door. The warmth from inside engulfed me, brushing over my skin with ease. The sound of cutlery was quiet underneath the ambiance of music. I could see a handful of people at almost every table, and my eyes flickered over to the bar, half expecting to see the handsome monster sitting there with a glass of bourbon in his hand. Thankfully, he wasn't. The group filed in after me, and I even saw Jeremy sitting at a booth at the corner of the grill-

Holy, shit wait is that Vicki with him? She's out of hospital?

He looked up, glancing at the group whilst muttering to Vicki, but his eyes stopped for a moment on me, scrutinising for a brief second before he turned back to the girl next to him. She seemed okay, with a large gauze over her neck where she was attacked. She leaned over to Jeremy, talking to him.

I took a seat next to Bonnie in the middle of the grill at a lone table. Caroline sat on her other side, Matt also followed and sat down next to Tyler, who unfortunately joined us but sat opposite our side at least. They all spoke together, just as Elena quietly snuck in between Bonnie and I with a couple cokes. She placed them on the table, sipping her own. Bonnie reached forward and took one.

"So, you're new?" I was startled by the fact Elena started talking to me, but quickly nodded. She patiently drank her can of coke, big doe eyes looking over at me.

"Yeah, hi, I'm Sam."

She gave a tiny smile. "I know, you said outside."

"Right." I said, awkwardly, and chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm not good at socialising with this many people."

"It's okay." She replied, understanding. She placed her coke on the table gently. She pressed her lips together. "Neither am I, lately."

Tyler didn't acknowledge me at all during the little social gathering. Caroline started a rant about some girl at school attempt to compete with her for future cheerleading spots, and Matt chimed in every now and then. Bonnie muttered a few jokes toward me, bringing me out of my bubble. I looked around at them all, fidgeting with my hands on the table, mind drifting. Eventually, my eyes flickered over toward Vicki, with everyone else distracted, and I wondered, how am I supposed to save her?

She stood from her table, and I could see Jeremy look a little frustrated, as his crush started to walk over to the ladies toilets. I blinked, finding something familiar about this scene, as she halted in her footsteps and started to approach a man I didn't notice before, sitting distantly at the bar which I could just see around the corner-

Oh my god.

I only saw him from the side. A well built man with long legs propped on the barstool support, donning a leather jacket and trademark boots. Dark hair reached just above the base of his neck, hanging just over his ears, contrasting against pale skin. Even from here I could see the solid jawline.

I snapped up from my seat before I could stop myself, cutlery clanging when I banged my knee against the table. I let out a loud 'fuck', gained several eyes on me and sheepishly cleared my throat. "Sorry. Continue. I'm- I got to- bathroom."

My face flamed dramatically, I could feel their eyes on me for a moment, before shrugging it off and going back to their conversation.

I rubbed my knee on the way to the ladies bathroom, and accidentally stumbled into Vicki just before she could turn the corner where her inevitable doom was sipping a bourbon.

"Ow! Dude, watch where the hell you're going!"

I looked up, already giving her the guilty smile. "I'm- really sorry. I tripped, are you okay?"

Her expression was miffed, flickering with mild surprise at the accent that was probably out of place in a small town such as Mystic Falls. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... be careful, alright man?"

Vicki up close definitely had a more unique look about her, despite her slight underbite she was fairly pretty, with long, brown wavy hair and green eyes.

"Let me buy you a drink, to say sorry?" I offered. "Or some food- if they even do food at this time. I'm used to the pubs at home."

My heart raced, thumping out of my chest, and I hoped the vampire at the bar wasn't taking notice of me. I hoped fear and anxiety basically blended into one, and wouldn't give away which one I was feeling.

She shook her head, her eyes drifting toward who I assumed was Damon in the background, and I could already feel the clamminess forming on my hands.

"Look, I'm good-"

"Anything you want on the menu?" I gave her an easy smile, knowing it probably came across more of a nervous grin. "I am really sorry."

"Vick, you good?" A familiar voice called, and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine, Jer." She looked at me, and gave a sigh, then a shrug. "Alright, fine. Free shit is free shit, right?"

I felt my heart skip and beat and nodded. She inclined her head to a free table, and borrowed the menu, looking over it. Her eyes flicked up to me, before glancing over at Jeremy and she pursed her lips. "What about my friend?"

"Sure." I said.

"Sweet, Jer! C'mere a minute."

Like a lost puppy, the boy was already making his way over before she could finish her sentence. He appeared by our side, and frowned slightly when he saw me, and blinked. "Oh, you? You're the uh, new kid."

"Sam." I introduced, again. "I bumped into you in the hall, at school."

Vicki quirked an eyebrow. "You make a habit of roughhousing into people?"

"Clumsy." I said, nervously. She merely looked at me, and I switched which foot to lean on, fidgeting. Vicki snorted.

"Yeah." Jeremy huffed a little. "I'll say." He glanced at the shorter girl. "So, what'cha need?"

"I'm buying you food, or drinks." I put my hand up a little, waving it to get his attention. He looked over at me, then Vicki, baffled. "As an apology. I kinda... fell into Vicki here-"

"How'd you know my name?" She asked, startled.

Fuck.

"Um," I pointed to Jeremy, trying to steady my breath. "I heard him say Vick, a-and then you responded- sorry if uh- is that not right?"

"Oh." She said, satisfied by my excuse. I felt my shoulders relax a bit. "Yeah, that's right. Anywaay-" She put her finger onto the menu, leaning over to me to show me what she wanted, though she looked at Jeremy as she spoke. "I'm gonna get the munchies, so might as well get the jumbo fries, right? Oh god that sounds good."

"Fine by me." He glanced at me, as if trying to gauge my reaction to what Vicki mentioned. I kept my face as neutral as possible. "Extra cheese?"

"Fine by me," I mirrored, with a smile.

"Alright." Vicki gave him the menu. "Go order it with her, I need the bathroom."

He shrugged, and I slightly watched Vicki walk passed the bar, and let out a small breath, passing it off as a yawn when Jeremy gave me a strange glance.

"So! Jeremy, right?" I asked, walking him to the bar, feeling my chest squeeze at the sight of Damon fucking Salvatore sitting there. Don't look at me. I won't be able to handle it.

Jeremy, unaware of my internal freak out, shrugged with a nod. "Yeah."

Ah, the one worded responses. Typical of an edgy teenager.

"You want ketch up?" I asked weakly before we got to the bar, avoiding looking at the vampire beside me. Jeremy nodded quietly, and I looked to the person manning the bar. "Hi. Ketch up." Jeremy gave a snort, and I quickly shook my head, trying to shake off the anxiety gripping me like a vice. "I mean, jumbo fries. Extra cheese, and ketch up."

"6 dollars and 93 cense, then, please."

"Gotcha." I dove into my purse, fumbling with the zip. God I look like an idiot- oh fuck please don't tell me I don't have the change. "H-here-" I cleared my throat nervously, putting the cash on the counter. "Um- I swear I had the c-change somewhere..."

Calm down, calm down, calm down.

There's only a vampire next to you.

"Keep the change." A pale hand put a dollar down on the counter, smoothing it over to the bartender. My breath hitched, and my eyes snapped up. Thick dark eyelashes framed piercing blue eyes, which looked into mine for a brief moment, before looking at the person serving me. Damon flashed a smile. He smoothly glanced at me in the corner of his eye, giving a brief wink before going back to his bourbon. I swallowed, and turned my vision away from him.

"Thanks!" I expressed, a little loudly, and I could feel the burning stare of the older Salvatore. I smiled widely at Jeremy, who was giving me a weird look. "Right! I'm sure the uh- lovely man-" I glanced at the server's name. "-Trevor- hi Trevor. I'm sure the lovely man Trevor will send you your shit, so uh- you can probably go sit."

He stared at me. "Okaay."

"So," I did a little shoo motion. "Go sit."

"Right," he started to back away voluntarily, and I put a hand to my forehead.

Smooth, Sam. Smooth.

I reluctantly turned my head back to the bar, and as if unable to help it, looked at Damon in the corner of my eye. His bourbon was almost out, and he was looking down at it, trailing the rim of his glass with a finger absentmindedly.

"Are you okay, kid?" Trevor, the supposedly lovely bartender, leaned down a little. "You need a water, or something?"

"I would love one, Trevor." I strained a smile, he chuckled and opened the fridge beneath the bar. "Ice, please?" He nodded, and gave me some. When I looked again toward my right, shockingly, Damon was gone. "Oh thank fuck." I sighed out loud, and gained another weird look from Trevor. Then froze. If he's gone... Vicki. "Bathroom!"

I quickly stood up and fumbled my way to the ladies toilets, but crashed into someone when I shoved open the door. A loud thud gave me pause.

Vicki cursed loudly, holding her head.

"Oh god!" I exclaimed, sincerely. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Jesus Christ, dude!" She rubbed the spot on her forehead. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I'm so, so sorry." Feeling guilty immediately, I ran the facet and put a paper towel underneath it, offering it to her face gently.

"You're lucky I just took my god damn pills." She said, and let me help her, though eventually took the cold cloth from me to apply it herself. She glanced at me from the corner of her vision. "Maybe you need some chill pills."

"Maybe." I said, slightly agreeing with her. "Orders made," I added weakly. "Trevor will bring it to you."

"Trev's a G." She nodded slowly. "Alright, before you slam into anyone else... I feel obliged to ask; do you want some chill pills?"

I was almost tempted to say yes, but shook my head. "I'm okay. Sorry again, Vicki. I really am."

She flexed her jaw, dumping the paper towel into the bin. "Look dude, it's cool. Just try not to do it again."

"I can make it up to you," I said. "Again."

"I'll drain your bank account if you made it up to me every time you barge into someone."

I gave a genuine chuckle. "True, but um, I'm having a small get together. My friends, Bonnie, Caroline and-"

"Oh. Ew. You're from that group?" She had immediate distaste on her face. "I'm good, we don't get along."

"Alcohol is being had." I added quickly. She quickly had a look of consideration in her eyes. "Whisky, wine, gin, no beer though."

She crossed her arms, and slowly raised an eyebrow. "... keep talking, clodhopper."

I'm in for a long ... long night.