Pretty Girl Chapter 22, a vampire diaries fanfic

Hey guys! Thank you for your kind reviews. I always love to hear if I am doing well in terms of my updates. This kind of switches around a bit, but there are line breaks that break different scenes.

Season 1 Episode 15 A Few Good Men

"How is he?"

I was pacing my bedroom, my phone glued to my ear. I had called for the longest time, trying to get ahold of Damon. He hadn't picked up. I left a few voicemails but he never returned them. I thought of texting him or going to his house, but I ruled against it. If he wanted to see or talk to me he would have called me back or broke into my house.

So I went for the next best thing. Stefan.

"He's…. grieving." Stefan told me. I nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see it. "Damon has a weird way of mending a heart break."

And by mending a heartbreak, Stefan meant sleeping around, drinking alcohol, and feeding off of humans. It had me worried, the drinking from human's part. Not that I wasn't a bit hurt to hear that Damon was sleeping with any girl he could get into his bed, which was many because he was handsome and had compulsion on his side. I pushed down my feelings and focused on what I could do to help.

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked, sounding concerned. "I just feel… so awful."

"You shouldn't." Stefan said. "You have done nothing wrong Alex."

Except pushing him away and telling him to get out.

"Yeah." I replied. I didn't want to be Damon's rebound. I didn't want to be a second choice. I knew that, but I also didn't want to push him away. I wanted to help him. I wanted to be there for him in this time. But I didn't think that he wanted me there.

"Don't worry about Damon." Stefan said. "I'll handle it."

"Ok." I sighed. "Thanks Stefan."

"No problem." He said and then the phone line went dead. I slammed my phone shut and huffed, flopping down on my bed. I didn't know what to think or to feel. Damon had wanted me last night, which should have been great because of my ever nagging feelings for him. But under the circumstances, I just couldn't bring myself to let him have me. He was unstable and very depressed. He would sleep with anyone just to get any ounce of pleasure, and make his heartbreak easier to deal with.

Make it go away. Make the pain go away.

I winced as his voice rang through my head. I felt so sorry for him, because I knew that this was hurting him. To find out that he spent most of his life searching for a way to free her, and she wasn't even there… I couldn't imagine the heart break that would inflict.

But I couldn't imagine giving myself to him in this way. He would do it a couple times, making me feel special, whispering sweet nothings to me, and then he would be done with me. He would move on or get bored. But I wouldn't. I couldn't move on after that. So, I couldn't let Damon break my heart just so I can heal his.

I got ready for work, regretting agreeing to help set up for the founders fundraiser. They were having a bachelors auction and I knew a lot of single women would be there asking for drinks. It would be a very long night. I sighed as I pulled on a shirt and headed out the door.

When I arrived volunteers were already setting up. I said hello to Jenna and Alaric who were hanging up a banner outside of the Grill. I then went inside and listened to Carol Lockwood's orders as she instructed all volunteers and staff on where to put what.

I wasn't a fan of Carol Lockwood, not in the least. She was bossy and snotty. She thought she was better than everyone else. I didn't like those types of people. No one was better than anyone else, regardless of class, gender, race, or anything else. But Carol Lockwood didn't see it that way.

"You buying a ticket?" I heard behind me. I turned and there stood Caroline with a big grin on her face. I smiled back at her. I felt like I hadn't seen her in so long.

"No." I replied. "I'm not in the mood for a date."

"I heard Damon is going to be a bachelor." Caroline said. I stiffened. I then looked back at Caroline and she gave me an innocent but worried look. I knew she worried about me, considering my relationship with Damon. I couldn't blame her though. She was just a concerned friend.

"Why would I care?" I asked with a shrug. I tried to play it off, but I wasn't too successful.

"Because he was your date to the dace?" She replied, as if it was obvious.

"I told you it wasn't like that." I told her. "We're friends."

"Right." Caroline said. "I saw you dancing with him. You couldn't keep your eyes off him."

I remembered how handsome he looked, not that he ever looked bad. I shook my head at the memory.

"So?" I asked, sounding a bit defensive. "It doesn't matter."

"It always matters." Caroline said. "Listen, I'm not lecturing you or anything. I just want you to be careful."

"I am." I replied. "Trust me."

"It's not you I don't trust." She mumbled. I furrowed my brows. "What scares me the most is how he looks at you."

"How he looks at me?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"It's… its weird." She said. "It's not like a sexual thing or a possession thing."

She paused and I took that chance to process her words. Damon looked at me? I knew he observed from time to time, but I had no idea he had been watching me during the dance.

"He's not a good guy." She said. "But when he looks at you… it makes me think he is."

I stared at her blankly for a few minutes. Out of all the people Damon messed with, my last thought was that Caroline would say something like that to me. She hated Damon and to say he was a good guy, even when he was looking at me was a big step. I felt my heart thump but I calmed myself down. I couldn't read too much into this, unless I wanted to break my heart.

"How are things with Matt?" I asked, changing the subject, my head starting to hurt.

"Their um… ok… I guess." She said unsurely. I forgot what it was like to have normal teenage conversations. It was refreshing.

"That doesn't sound good." I commented. She sighed.

"Everything was fine and good until his mom came home this morning." Caroline said.

"Why is that bad?" I asked. I had never met Kelly Donovan but she and my mom never really hung out in high school. Kelly was a partier, and although my mom partied sometimes she was still on top with school. Until she got pregnant.

"She caught us…" Caroline explained. "Making out on the couch."

"Oooo awkward." I said, imagining how my mom would react to walking in on the same thing if it were me and Damon. I figured she would pretend it never happen and let me go right ahead.

"Tell me about it!" Caroline said. "I feel like an idiot."

"It happens to the best of us Caroline." I replied. "Besides, Matt's mother isn't a saint either."

"I know but I wanted to make a good impression." She said. "And now that's all shot to hell."

"I'm sorry." I said, rubbing her arm. "She will love you. I promise."

"I hope so." Caroline said. We talked a little bit more, and I steered clear of any talk of Damon. I didn't want to hear about how awful he was or how dangerous he is. I knew this and right now Damon was hurting. He had a heart, he just didn't let people see it.

Caroline eventually left me to myself and I helped finish the set up for the fundraiser. It was evening now, and the people were just now flooding in. I saw Elena and Stefan enter, followed by Damon. I tensed when I saw him, but he hadn't seemed to see me yet or he was ignoring me. Either way, his presence made me nervous. I swallowed and looked down at my tray. I didn't want to approach him, I didn't know how he was doing. Stefan said that he was dealing with it in his own way, and I didn't know if he wanted my help or not.

"Hey." I said when Elena and Stefan approached. Elena smiled at me, although it didn't look like a real smile. It looked forced.

"Hey." Elena said. "Boy do I have stuff to tell you."

"Should I be worried?" I asked. She shook her head.

"So, you know my biological mom? Isobel?" Elena began. I nodded. "Apparently, she is Alaric's dead wife."

I felt my stomach drop.

"What?" I asked, eyebrows furrowed. That was way too weird.

"Yup." She said and popped the P. I made a sad face. If Elena's biological mom was dead then she would never know about who she truly was. Miranda and Grayson were her parents, but this Isobel woman was her blood and she had one true answer. Who was Elena's father?

"How did she… die?" I asked. Elena tensed at the word but she didn't ignore the question.

"Alaric thinks a vampire killed her." Elena said. "They never found her body."

"Wow… that's…. tough." I said. Elena nodded. "I'm sorry Elena."

"It's ok… it's not like I really knew her." Elena shrugged. Stefan gripped her shoulders, consoling her. It was sad, even if she didn't know Isobel. She was a part of Elena, and that part was gone. She had answers for Elena's endless amount of questions. In some way, John was the same. He had answers to a part of me, and I believed I would never know those answers. So, I could empathize with Elena.

"Well, he looks fine." Elena said bitterly. I looked up following her gaze across the room. My eyes landed on Damon who was obviously flirting with Carol Lockwood. His signature smirk was on his face, and Carol was laughing at something he said. I felt my stomach heave at the sight.

"He's Damon." Stefan said. "He's unpredictable."

"He's something alright." I said and walked past them. I marched over to Damon, not going up to him. I walked past him, to the point where he could see me. I caught his eye and then nodded to the far corner. He seemed to sigh before he excused himself. He followed me to the dark corner and I looked around to make sure we weren't being watched.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"Well, hello to you too." He replied with a smirk. He looked much better than he had the night before, and I honestly liked the sad Damon better. That Damon made sense.

"She's married." I said, referring to Carol. "You can't just flirt around with whoever you want."

"Jealously is not a good look on you." He said, tapping his finger on my nose. "I'm just giving her what she desires."

"I am not jealous." I retorted. "She may not be happy in her marriage but you don't need to step in."

"You seem tense." He said, and then I felt his hand go up my arm. "I could help you… relieve some of that."

"No thank you." I said, but even I didn't believe myself when I said it. He smirked and cocked his head to the side. I shook my head and turned solemn.

"This can't be healthy." I said to him. "The way you're acting-"

"Like what?" He asked, turning defensive. "What am I acting like?"

"Like none of this bothers you." I said. "Sleeping around and drinking is not going to help Damon. It will make you feel good for a little bit, but then you are going to come back to reality and realize she isn't coming back."

Damon visibly tensed, and I felt my heart beat quicken. But I stood my ground. I couldn't let him to continue to intimidate me.

"Shut up." He ordered, in a strong voice. "You know nothing."

"I was there Damon." I said. "You came to me. And that Damon last night was in pain."

"I just wanted a quick lay." He said with a shrug. "Don't read into it."

I held back a wince.

"Damon, she broke your heart." I said and gripped his leather clad arm. "No one can blame you for being sad."

"I'm not sad!" He yelled at me. "I'm fine."

"You're not!" I replied. He grunted and turned to leave but I still gripped his arm. I flung myself in front of him.

"I don't want to fight with you." I told him. He scoffed. "I want to help you."

"Well, you can't." He said with a shrug. He then pushed past me and walked away. I huffed and watched him go, but I didn't follow or stop him. Damon needed time, and I understood. But I wasn't backing down so easily.

The raffle had begun and the bachelors started to talk about themselves. Damon stood up there, looking around and avoiding catching my gaze. I sighed, continuing to pass out drinks and such to the single women in the place.

"Moving on. Number 4, "Alaric Saltzman."" Carol said reading her card. "Wow. That's quite a mouthful. What do you do, Alaric?"

"I'm a teacher at Mystic Fall's high school." Alaric answered. I heard some comments made about how handsome he was and such. Made me uncomfortable considering he was my teacher.

"Oh, beauty and brains, ladies." Carol said animatedly. "This one's a keeper. What do you teach?"

"History." Alaric continued. He looked pretty uncomfortable there. He didn't seem like an attention whore like Damon was.

"History. Oh, well, give us a fun fact about Mystic Falls, something crazy." Carol suggested. Alaric's eyes shot to Damon who gave him a look. Alaric opened his mouth and I immediately thought he was going to say something about vampires, but he didn't.

"He's probably saving the best stories for his date." Carol suggested and then moved down the line. "And last, but not least, Damon Salvatore. We don't have much on you."

"Well, I'm tough to fit on a card." Damon replied. I rolled my eyes, holding back a scoff. That was for sure. Heartbroken psychotic vampire, who loves walks on the beach and watching reruns of friends.

"Do you have any hobbies, like to travel?" Carol asked, seeming very interested, maybe too interested.

"Oh, yeah. L.A., New York. Couple of years ago, I was in North Carolina." Damon said. "Near the Duke campus, actually. I think—I think Alaric went to school there. Didn't you, Ric?"

Damon looked to Alaric and Alaric did the same. Damon had his signature ass of a smirk on his face, and Alaric looked very unhappy at what Damon was saying. I braced myself for what Damon could say. He knew how to push people's buttons.

"Yeah, 'cause I-I know your wife did." Damon said. My eyes widened and then they looked to Elena. She was sitting at a table with Jenna and she was staring at Damon as well. She didn't look any less shocked than me.

"I had a drink with her once. She was-she was a great girl." Damon said. "I ever tell you that? Cause she was-Delicious."

I then became aware of the situation at hand. Alaric insisted that Isobel was killed by a vampire. From Damon's taunting I came under the impression that he was that vampire. Damon had killed Elena's birth mother. And now he was rubbing it in. I saw Elena get up, moving quickly toward the door. Stefan followed and I just stood in the middle of the room, wide eyed. I looked back to Damon who had now caught my eye and I just shook my head, looking away and walking out of his sight.

I went to the bar surprising myself when I took a lone shot sitting there. I didn't know who it was meant for, but after a night like that I had to do something to calm myself down. I was a hypocrite, because I had just told Damon that drinking wouldn't solve his problems. But I was ok with being a hypocrite.

Elena and Stefan eventually came back in, her eyes brimming with tears. I rushed over to her and pulled her into a hug. She returned said hug and I felt my heart go out to her. It was different to know that a vampire had killed her birthmother, but now Elena knew who that vampire was. She knew him and she could see him.

"Elena I'm so sorry." I whispered to her. She nodded against my shoulder but said nothing. I shared a look with Stefan and he sighed. He was worried about her, and frankly so was I. I didn't know what this would do to her. She pulled back eventually and I wiped a stray tear from her face. She forced a smile and turned, running right into the very person she had no desire to see.

"Whoa. Easy there." Damon said, looking down at her. "Buy a ticket like everyone else."

"Did you enjoy that?" Elena asked angrily. "Rubbing it in to Alaric Saltzman?"

"What?" Damon asked confused.

"Just as I was starting to think that there was something redeemable about you." Elena said and stalked off. Stefan followed after her, sending a look of disappointment to his brother. Damon watched them leave and then looked to me.

"Am I missing something here?" He asked. I licked my lips nervously.

"Elena's birthmother…" I said catching Damon's gaze. "Her name was Isobel."

"Isobel… Oh shit." He said. I said nothing and shook my head, walking past him. He caught my arm. "I didn't kill her."

"What do you mean you didn't kill her?" I asked. "A vampire killed Alaric's wife and you just practically admitted to it."

"I didn't kill her." He repeated. Something in his frantic voice made me want to believe him. But I always wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that he wasn't this terrible person. But he always proved me wrong.

"But you know her?" I concluded.

"She came to me." He said. "I didn't kill her."

"Then what did you do?" I asked. He let out a breath before meeting my gaze.

"I turned her."

I sat in Dr. Aaron's office. It felt like I hadn't been to a therapy session in a long time. I had been busy lately, and I had skipped a few. She took that as a good sign of progress. If I was busy, that meant I was going out and I was with friends. I wasn't locked up in my bedroom or being alone to my own thoughts. I was out and having fun. What she didn't know was that I was doing anything but fun. I was chasing vampires and trying not to die in the process.

"What have you been doing lately Alex?" She asked. I shrugged.

"Just hanging out I guess." I replied. "Working a lot… we lost a waitress."

"Vicki Donovan." Dr. Aaron concluded. "Where did you say she went?"

I gulped, thinking about Vicki Donovan's vampire corpse.

"She never said." I replied. "She just packed up and left."

"That's odd." Dr. Aaron said. "Very weird of a young student."

"Well, Vicki was never very predictable." I replied nervously. Dr. Aaron wrote stuff down in her notebook.

"And Elena… You two are better?" She asked. I nodded. Elena and I had bonded, and honestly without this whole vampire thing I didn't believe we would have. We may have been civil, but now we were in the same mess and there was no getting out of it.

"I'm glad that you two have worked things out." Dr. Aaron said. "And you have made friends with her boyfriend yes?"

"Stefan." I said. "Yeah I guess so."

"You don't sound so convinced." Dr. Aaron commented. I shrugged.

"Stefan is nice." I said. "But we aren't close. I guess I'm closer to his brother."

"Damon Salvatore." She said. I gave her a look. "Small town, word of new folks travels fast."

"Right." I replied. We fell silent then, and I looked around her office. I didn't think I needed to come here anymore. I didn't have anything to say. If I did I talked to Elena. She was the only one who could really understand.

"I want to ask you something." She said. I nodded. "You have come a very long way."

"That's not a question." I commented. She chuckled.

"Right. Well… you've done so well in such a short amount of time." She said. "Why do you think that is?"

I opened and shut my mouth a few times. I didn't know if I could attribute it to one thing in particular. It was a whole bunch of things. And I didn't know if I was doing better per say. The nightmares of the accidents had stopped, any anger I felt toward the Gilbert's was long gone, and I held no more anxiety when it came to talking to people.

"It's a lot of things." I said with a shrug. She wrote something down again. I then sighed. She looked up and I swallowed.

"I'm ready to talk about the accident." I said. She seemed surprised by this. "I've had it bottled up for so long… I just… I need to let it out."

I climbed into the car, seeing that Elena was already in there. She gave me a look, it was confused and slightly uncomfortable. I didn't smile or speak to her, so she just looked away.

Stuck up bitch.

Grayson looked to Miranda and she nodded. He must not have been comfortable with this either. But Miranda was insistent. I regretted going to the party. I regretted agreeing to get in the car. Although at that time I hadn't known what was going to happen.

"How is your mother Alex?" Grayson asked me. I shrugged. They didn't care before why should they have cared now.

"She's fine I guess." I replied. "She works a lot. You know… lots of bills."

"Right." Grayson said. I could see him setting his jaw. The care went silent again and I could feel eyes on me. I looked to my right and Elena was looking at me. It was like she was assessing me, and I didn't like it. I gave her a glare and she looked away, but not before glaring herself.

She had no right to glare at me, not after the way her family had treated me. I didn't deserve it, and neither did my mom. Especially not my mom.

"How's my dad Grayson?" I asked suddenly. "I assume you keep in touch."

"John is fine." Grayson replied, looking very uncomfortable. I smirked to myself. See how it feels now? Not so fun is it?

I was bitter about the whole situation. John seemed like a complete and utter ass, so why even associate with him? But they were brothers, I couldn't exactly blame him. But what had I done that was so bad that they couldn't even acknowledge me? I hadn't done anything. Why should I have been punished for what my father had done? It wasn't fair.

The road was wet, and it was dark. There was a slight fog, and any of these could have attributed to the car going off the bridge. We turned, right onto Wickery Bridge and that was when Grayson lost control. He swerved and shook, trying to gain control of the vehicle, but he could not.

The car went in.

Elena and Miranda had screamed, the car filling up fast with the cold and unforgiving liquid. I didn't make a peep, I just tried my best to break my window out. I tried to open the door, to no avail. I remember grabbing something, a tire pump I believed and smashing it on the glass. It shattered, and as the car began to fill up with water, I cut my wrist in my attempted escape. The blood pooled in the water, and it was getting harder to see through it.

"And that's all you remember?" Dr. Aaron said. I nodded.

"It's like… a piece of it is missing." I said. "I don't remember getting out. I woke up on the bank and Elena was right there with me. But I don't remember getting out."

"That is so… strange." Dr. Aaron said. "Do you think it's possible that you did get out yourself?"

"I thought about it." I said but then I turned solemn. "But I don't think that happened."

"What do you think happened?" Dr. Aaron asked. I swallowed and gritted my teeth. I didn't know what had happened. Stefan made it clear that he had no idea how I had gotten out. But I couldn't have gotten out by myself. It just wasn't possible. I fell unconscious. I couldn't have pulled myself out. However… someone else could.

"I think someone pulled me out." I replied.

"Interesting theory." Dr. Aaron said. "Do you think Elena did it?"

"No… not Elena." I said and looked up into her stormy gray eyes. "I think someone else did."

"So, someone pulled you out and left Miranda and Grayson in the lake?" She concluded. I nodded.

"Miranda was dead on impact, and Grayson couldn't have lasted much longer." I said. "Besides, they probably didn't want to be found out."

"Do you think it was a stranger?" She asked.

"I guess so… I don't know." I said. "I really don't know."

Suddenly I heard the timer, our session was up. I stood and she followed suit. She then led me out to the lobby. I felt as if a large weight had been lifted off my chest. I needed to talk about it, and I didn't think I could talk about it with Elena. She would insist that I did it myself, considering Stefan did not get me. But there was no way that I pulled myself out of that car. I just… couldn't remember.

"Thank you Alex." Dr. Aaron said as I went to the door. "Thank you for opening up to me."

I nodded and she smiled. I was getting better at it, opening up. I had opened up way more than I thought I could ever do. I had opened my mind, and my heart. I had opened my soul. And I was honestly happier now that I had done it.

I started walking, but I stopped soon after I started. Something wasn't adding up. Sure, maybe I just passed out and that was the reason for my lost memory, but after everything that I had learned over the last month, I couldn't imagine that to be true.

Stefan didn't pull me out. That much was obvious. But someone did, I was sure of that. Without a second thought I pulled out my phone and dialed the desired number, waiting for someone to pick up the phone. It rang a few times before I heard a voice.

"Alex?" Stefan's voice echoed in my ear. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes. No…." I began. "It will be. I need your help."

"What can I do for you?" He asked. I paused for a second, trying to decide if I really wanted to do this. But I had to. I had to remember. I told Stefan to come over to my house, not giving him any details for fear that he wouldn't come if he knew why I needed to talk to him. He was over in a few minutes.

"Is everything ok?" He asked, looking around my house as if he was looking for danger. I took a deep breath, nodding. "What did you need Alex?"

"I need you to help me remember something." I told him. He furrowed his brows. "I need you to help me remember the accident."

Stefan stood there for a few minutes, staring at me, not saying a word. He just stared. I shifted awkwardly under his gaze.

"Alex… I don't know if that's such a good idea." Stefan replied. "What if it messes with your head?"

"Then you can make me forget again." I said. "Please Stefan. I have to know."

Stefan sighed, running a hand over his head. I could have asked Damon, but in his state I wasn't sure if I should even ask him for a favor. Stefan, although on animal blood, could still do the job of bringing my memories back. I had to know.

"Ok." Stefan said with a nod. I slipped my bracelet off my hand, my wrist feeling naked without it. I handed it to Stefan, and he made sure not to touch the oval with the herb inside. He slipped it into his pocket before he placed his hands on my shoulders. His forest green eyes met my darker ones and I could see his eyes start to dilate.

"I need you to remember the accident." Stefan said. "Remember what happened after you fell unconscious. Remember what someone took away."

I blinked a few times, and at first I thought that it didn't work. But in a second, the memories came back. The memory of that night came back like a dam had just broken in my mind. I swallowed as it played in my mind.

However, I had seen someone. They went to Grayson's door first, but then Grayson waved them to the back. This young person, was Stefan I now knew. He wrenched the door open off it's hinges, grabbing Elena and swimming to the top. I waited, and waited for him to come back. With the lack of blood and oxygen, I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness.

This was the end. This was how I was going to die.

However, I felt a glimmer of hope when I saw something else swimming in my direction. My eyes were drooping, though and I thought I just might be hallucinating. My eyes closed, before I could see who or what it was coming my way.

When my eyes opened again, I was coughing up the water I had swallowed, onto the bank that I was laid upon. Next to me, was Elena, still unconscious. Only the rise and fall of her chest told me that she was still alive. I was panting, the air not filling my lungs quick enough. I rolled back onto my back in just enough time to see someone. I gasped, lurching back. They turned and stared at me.

He wore all black, and his hair was the same color. His skin was pale in contrast to his clothes and hair. But his eyes are what captivated me. An icy blue, a pair of eyes I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life.

He said nothing to me, as he bent down. He looked as if he was making sure I was alright, those blue orbs careful and calculating. His eyes landed on my cut wrist and he swallowed visibly. It was as if he was fighting himself on something. He met my gaze again.

"You're going to be ok." He told me. I said nothing. "I want you to forget this. Forget that I ever rescued you. Forget me."

I didn't reply, not able to find my voice, but I found my head nodding in response. He leaned forward and pushed a stray lock of hair out of my face before he disappeared. I blinked a few times before pulling myself up and going to find help.

I stared at Stefan with a blank expression. It all made sense, why Damon had picked me out of everyone in this town. He already knew me. He had saved me. It was Damon all along.

"Alex…" Stefan said, his hands still on my shoulders. "Alex, what did you see?"

I shook my head, pushing away from him. Stefan didn't stop me, but he did follow me as I went up to his house and through the door. Not to my surprise, I found Damon in his living room, music all the way up, shirt open, and several girls who were half dressed all over the place. He was drinking from one of them, and when I entered he looked up. I was too focused on my memory to be disgusted by his actions.

"Damon." I said. I could feel Stefan standing behind me. "I need to talk to you."

Damon pulled away from the girl, the red blood streaking down his mouth. I could see his fangs, and although it still frightened me to see him this way, I stood my ground.

"I'm a little busy Alex." Damon said, sounding like a scolding father. I shook my head.

"I have to talk to you." I repeated, more forcefully this time. Damon huffed, shooing the girl away and wiping his mouth. I couldn't hold back the shiver that erupted from my spine as he stepped closer. He gestured for Stefan to go, and the younger Salvatore looked at me for confirmation. I nodded, and Stefan left the room.

I didn't speak right away. I had a billion things running through my mind, and I wasn't sure how I wanted to word what I wanted to say. Damon stared at me, his expression impatient, but he said nothing.

"I… I asked Stefan to do something for me." I said. Damon furrowed his brows. "I remember Damon…"

"Remember what?" He asked. Sounding a little concerned. I swallowed hard again.

"The accident." I answered. Damon's face leveled out. "It was you… you saved me."

Damon said nothing. Instead he just stared at me, his expression blank. We stood there for what seemed like forever before he opened his mouth.

"You don't have to explain." I said, cutting him off. His jaw relaxed. "I just… wanted to thank you."

He stared at me for a long while before he nodded. Again, he said nothing. His expression showed no emotion, and the longer he stared the more uncomfortable I felt. I shifted, looking at the girls in the parlor.

"I didn't mean to bother you." I said. "I'll just… leave you to… it."

Damon looked over his shoulder before he looked back at me. I turned and rushed to the door, not daring to look back at him.

Damon watched her go, and something in his chest was telling him to stop her. Why didn't he say anything? He should have said something. Now she knew his little secret. He wondered if things would change.

"It's an interesting strategy." Damon heard Stefan say. He turned to look at his brother. "It all makes sense actually."

"What makes sense?" Damon asked. Stefan was smiling. "What do you think you have figured out, dear brother?"

"You saved her life." Stefan explained, as if Damon didn't know that information already. "Then, in a desperate attempt to keep up this evil act, you picked her to feed on. It all makes sense now."

Damon set his jaw. Ever since he had saved Alex from the car, he had been watching her. In a creepy way, it could have been considered stalking, but in another he was just trying to figure things out. What had made him go and pull her out of that car? He had watched from afar as Stefan saved Elena, and after that Stefan ran. When he left, something inside of Damon pulled him into that water.

Was it his humanity? Or was it something else? Either way, he had tried to figure it out, and Stefan wasn't wrong. When Damon thought that he was losing the vampirism side to him, he began to drink from her, hurt her even.

"You have fun Damon." Stefan said with a grin. "Have a nice night."

Damon watched Stefan walk up the steps and grumbled to himself before he stepped back into the parlor to drink the pain away.