Happy Monday! Thank you for your continued support and your comments! I really love to hear from you all. I have to agree I love protective Lauren! But Lauren also realizes that John is a part of Alex, and that will come in to play later. For now, let's just go on hating him.
Don't forget to review!
Season 1 Episode 19 Miss Mystic Falls
"And in other news today…" The newscaster caught my attention as I packed my bag. I shivered as I thought of Logan Fell who used to be the one on my TV screen. I guess I had Damon to thank for that. I was chomping on a granola bar, barely listening to the local stories. I hadn't realized how much the police in this town covered up, just to make sure we knew nothing about vampires. I wondered how much I had overlooked before.
"Local police have issued a statement on a man killed outside of local restaurant and tourist hot spot, The Mystic Grill, several days ago." I looked up when he said that. The picture of the victim was on the screen.
"Oh shit…." I mumbled as I recognized the guy on the screen.
"We believe that the man in question was quite intoxicated." Sherriff Forbes said at a press conference. "Looks like he tripped and fell, causing his neck to break. He died soon after. We predict there is no foul play."
I shook my head. Broken neck huh? Looked to me more deliberate then an accident. It looked like the work of a certain, possessive and angry vampire I knew. I would have to talk to him. I grabbed my bag, throwing it over my shoulder. I stomped outside, coming to find that Elena was just pulling up. She got out of her car and waved to me.
"I thought I would pick you up." Elena said. "Considering you can't come over anymore."
"Thanks." I said, hopping into the passenger seat. Just thinking about John made me gag. Especially after yesterday.
"I didn't see you at the party." Elena commented. I shrugged.
"I left early." I replied. She nodded. There was a pause of silence. I wasn't much into talking that morning.
"Did he talk to you?" Elena asked. I set my jaw.
"We danced." I said regretfully. "I don't know why I do this to myself. All I do is set myself up to hurt more and he's over there being all flirty, and I don't know how to handle-"
"I was talking about John." Elena said. I looked over to her wide eyed. "But you talked to Damon. That's good."
I furrowed my brows.
"I would never think that you would say that." I looked over to her. She gripped the steering wheel tighter.
"There's something in Damon that only comes out when you are around." Elena admitted. "I saw it when he found out you had been taken."
"His humanity." I mumbled. Elena looked over at me confused. "Stefan said the same thing."
"Maybe you're good for Damon." Elena said. I looked out the window, trying to dodge the subject. I had gotten over the initial sting of him staying away. It was replaced with bitterness and a bit of anger. I didn't want him to have this hold on me anymore. It wasn't fair to me.
"So back to John…" Elena said. "Did he talk to you?"
"Unfortunately." I replied. I didn't want to talk about John either. I just wanted to forget the party never happened.
"What did he say?" Elena asked. I sighed. She wasn't going to let it go.
"He said he wants to make things right." I said. Elena's eyes widened. "Weird huh?"
"Not necessarily." Elena said. I narrowed my eyes. "I mean… he's your father. Maybe he's had a change of heart."
"Or he's up to something." I replied. He had seventeen years to have a change of heart. What made now any different?
"That too." Elena said. "I'm not saying give him a chance. God knows he doesn't deserve it."
I nodded. I owed John nothing, and frankly I didn't want to even see him. I wished he had gone back to not claiming me.
"But he might actually be telling the truth." Elena suggested. "Maybe he wants to make up for his mistakes."
I didn't reply. I just stared out the window. If that was true… then maybe I could give it a chance. He was a part of me, as mom said. But did I really needed to know that part that bad? Would I stoop so low as to let in the man who broke my heart before I was even born? How could I live with myself if I back peddled and went against everything I ever vowed I wouldn't do?
We got to the school and I went to class. Elena stayed behind because Stefan had pulled up in his fancy little red sports car. I told them I would see them in class. Mr. Saltzman was already in there and when I went in I smiled. He nodded to me. I hadn't really thanked him for his hand in the rescue. But according to Elena he wasn't too keen on going anyway, even after he realized I was there. I could understand, who would want to get involved? I just knew that I would if I had the ability.
The class began to cluster in, Elena and Stefan two of those people. I sat behind Elena, Mr. Saltzman having rearranged our seating order. I assumed he put the three of us, me, Elena, and Stefan, together so that if there was an issue, of the supernatural kind, we would all be close together.
"Okay, this week we're gonna set outside our regular curriculum for a lesson in local history as we approach Founder's day." Alaric explained. "Apparently the community leaders feels it's more important than World War 2 but hey what do I know?"
Just then, the door opened and Bonnie popped her head in. I grinned not having seen or talk to her in what felt like forever. She apologized for interrupting the class and took her seat. She smiled at Elena and waved to me, but when she looked at Stefan her smiled fell. She then looked away and ignored our presence all together. Elena and Stefan shared a look.
I didn't think too much of it. Bonnie had just lost her grandmother, the only one who could help her with her growing power. She was bound to be on edge and maybe a little moody. She just needed time. We all needed time.
The next day I was determined to confront Damon about the guy at the Grill. I had seen it again, that they were ruling it an accident. It made me feel guilty, even though I had done nothing wrong. I needed to ask him, to make sure that he did or did not do it. I was betting that he did.
I stood outside the house, taking a deep breath before I walked up the cobblestone path. I made small, slow steps. I didn't know what Damon's reaction would be to me coming by or what he would say when I accused him of murdering that guy. I figured he would be less than happy about both.
I finally made it to the door, pulling the rope that made the doorbell ring. I swallowed down my nervousness. This was Damon. I could handle Damon. This was nothing different than any other time I confronted him about something. This was just a normal-
"Hello pretty girl." He said once the door was open. I felt my resolve crack. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Just in the neighborhood." I said. What? "Can I come in?"
Damon stepped aside and I walked in. Why was I so nervous? I guess because we hadn't really spoken or hung out like we used to. I wouldn't consider it a break up, but it was a kind of break up.
"Can I offer you something?" He asked. "A drink? Some sex?"
"Seriously?" I asked with a glare. His mood swings were giving me whip lash.
"Sorry." He apologized. "What can I do for you?"
"I have to talk to you." I said. He was sitting on the couch and I was pacing. He watched me intently, his blue eyes following my every move. It made my heart pick up speed.
"Alright." Damon said, getting comfortable. "Go for it."
"Did you kill that guy?" I asked quickly. He furrowed his brows.
"I kill a lot of people." He admitted, making my stomach churn. "You're going to have to be more specific than that."
"The guy at the Grill." I said. "The one in the baseball hat."
He seemed to think about it, pursing his lips. I looked away from them and back to his eyes. A sudden realization hit him.
"Oh!" He said. "The one who was harassing you."
"Yes, that one." I said. Damon shrugged.
"Yeah." He said. "I killed him."
"You what?!" I yelled. Damon flinched at my outburst. I knew this. I had been prepared for this. But I hadn't expected him to come right out and say it. I guessed he would lie and I would have to wrangle it out of him. He wasn't remorseful at all.
"I told you he deserved it." Damon shrugged. I ran a hand through my hair. "What's the big deal?"
"You killed someone." I said. "That's always a big deal."
"Not to a vampire." Damon smirked. "Need I remind you that he slapped your ass like you were a walking sex toy?"
"I know what he did was messed up but-"
"There is no buts." Damon said and stood up. "He deserved what he got."
"He did not deserve to die." I told him. Damon huffed and crossed his arms. He was towering over me, a tall, dark, and brooding male that I couldn't get enough of.
"I did that for you." He reminded me. I sighed.
"Well… stop doing that." I replied. He seemed hurt by my words, but it was true. If Damon and I were going to put space between us, we couldn't keep doing this back and forth. It was getting us nowhere, and just hurting me in the process.
"Is that all you wanted?" He asked, slightly bitter. "To lecture me about what a terrible person I am?"
"No." I blurted out, but then caught myself. "Yeah."
"Well, which one is it?" Damon asked. I licked my lips and started heading for the door. "I think you just wanted to see me."
I turned slowly. Seeing a smug demeanor on his face. I glared.
"Why would I do that?" I asked.
"Because you miss me." He said and took a few steps forward. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
"If you have forgotten…" I said weakly. "It was you who walked away. Not me."
Damon's face turned to stone. All smugness had disappeared and all that was left was raw emotion. I shook my head and made to go out the door, but he caught my arm. I turned around and he seemed to be fighting with himself. It was best for me to just go, and for him to let me go. But I couldn't do that, and it seemed neither could he.
"Alex I-" He began but the doorbell rang. His face shadowed and he let go of my arm. He marched to the door and opened it.
"Hey partner."
I chilled at the sound of the voice. My eyes slowly traveled over to the man who had walked in. He seemed surprised to find me there.
"Alex." John said. "What a pleasant surprise."
"I was just leaving." I said and walked past him.
"Don't." Damon said. I looked back up at him. "Come to the ball tonight."
"No." I replied. "Not with you."
"Not with me." He repeated. "Just… come."
"Why?" I asked. My eyes flickered to John who was watching the two of us intently. "So you can play with me some more."
"That was never my intent." Damon said, eyes focused. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"Well it's too late for that now isn't it." I said and looked to John once more and then back to Damon. "Bye Damon."
With that I walked out the door. He didn't stop me but I could feel him watching me leave.
"What was she doing here?" John asked as soon as the door was closed. Damon watched her until she was out of sight. He felt an emptiness rise up inside of him.
"Nothing." Damon answered, unable to hide the bitterness that was laced in his voice.
"Are you seeing my daughter?" John asked disbelieving. Damon turned to look at John with narrowed eyes.
"No." Damon replied. "And besides, I don't think you have a say on who she dates."
"I'm her father." John said. Damon scoffed.
"Last time I checked, she doesn't see it that way." Damon said. "You're nothing to her."
"We'll see about that." John said confidently. "So. Where do we start looking for vampires?"
Damon knitted his eyebrows and gave John a look. John stood there expectantly. When Damon agreed to be John's partner in all of this, he was only doing that to not alarm Liz. He didn't want to cause attention to himself or his dislike for John Gilbert.
"What's with the act John?" Damon asked. "You obviously don't care about catching vampires, you're here talking to me."
"Actually, I care very much." John admitted.
"What Isobel say about that?" Damon asked. "I mean, considering that she is one."
John made a face. Damon was becoming hyperaware that John and Isobel, Elena's birth mother, were close. John had the same type of ring Alaric had, which brought him back to life after Damon had killed him. But John said he inherited his from Grayson, so how did Isobel get her hands on one to give to Alaric?
"Isobel and I share a mutual interest." John said eyeing Damon. "The original Jonathan Gilbert has an invention that was stolen by a vampire."
Damon raised his chin slightly. This was new information to him.
"That vampire was then burned alive in Fell's church, or so Jonathan thought and the invention was lost forever." John explained. "But then the vampires weren't killed, were they? They were trapped and now they're free, thanks to you which means the invention is retrieval."
"What is it?" Damon asked, although he was sure John wouldn't tell him.
"The only thing that matters is that I want it back and you're going to help me if you want your secret safe." John threatened.
Damon was getting really tired of this guy threatening him. Damon didn't let anyone threaten him and get away with it. He was the one who was supposed to do the threatening.
"Jonathan Gilbert was friendly with a woman who turned out to be a vampire." John continued. "Her name was Pearl. Ring a bell?"
Damon narrowed his eyes. So Pearl had this mysterious invention. Damon could ask for it, but that didn't mean she would give it to him. He definitely wasn't going to give it to John. Whatever it did, he didn't want it falling into the wrong hands.
"I'm not playing anymore." Damon said and then pointed to the door. "Get out."
"I beg your pardon?" John asked. He must not have been expecting Damon to kick him out.
"I only played along with this blackmail scheme because I thought that you would give me information." Damon said. "And now that you have… I'm done with you."
"I'll tell the entire council what you are." John warned. Damon rolled his eyes.
"Go for it! I'll kill every last one of them." Damon said. "Then I'll sever your hand, pull your ring off, and I'll kill you too. Do you understand that?"
John stood there in a defensive position. His heartbeat was frantic in his chest. John knew that Damon could kill every single one of them. It wouldn't be hard for him. Damon gestured to the door.
"Get out." Damon ordered again. John glared once more before moving toward the door. He suddenly stopped and turned back around.
"What?" Damon asked annoyed. John set his jaw and turned very serious.
"What do you want with Alex?" John asked. Damon could sense the slightest bit of fear in the man's voice. He didn't understand it, nor did he care to. John had no right worrying about Alex, considering he hadn't bothered to before he randomly showed up. But Damon could see that glint in his eye, that protective gaze he knew he had shown before.
"I don't mean her any harm if that's what you are worried about." Damon admitted. "She's a good… friend."
"Seemed to me like she couldn't wait to get away from you." John commented. Damon glared.
"She wasn't trying to get away from me John." Damon said and stepped right up into John's face. "She was trying to get away from you."
I was pacing. Again. Debating on going to this Founders Day ball, where they would crown the winner of the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. I had a dress. It was recycled from a previous event. I didn't have a lot of cash to be buying dresses for all of these events.
I stared at it, glaring at the dark green fabric. I didn't want to go. Every time I went to a Mystic Falls function something bad happened. Or at least someone darkened my mood. Why should I go? Not because Damon asked me to. But both Elena and Caroline were competing. Maybe I could use that as her reason to go. They did both needed the support. But I would have to face Damon.
Things were still awkward, and our interactions were far and few between. But when we did talk he always ended up making my heart flutter and I cursed him every time. He was making it very hard to stay away from him. But something told me that that's what he wanted in the first place.
I growled to myself before grabbing the dress and pulling it on. I would regret this, I knew it. And yet, as I grabbed my clutch and stuffed my phone in it, I couldn't help but be giddy. I was always giddy when I knew I would see him. I didn't think that would ever stop.
I walked, even though it was killer in my heels. I knew that Caroline and Elena would already be there getting ready. I didn't dare call Damon. I didn't mind though. It was refreshing, even though it was cold and I was getting blisters from my shoes. I got to Founders Hall and saw that there were already people arriving. I had gotten there just in time.
I walked through the doors, catching sight of Anna as I entered. She nodded to me and I nodded back to her. She and her mother had nothing to do with the whole kidnapping thing, but I still didn't trust them. I walked outside where they had tables and chairs set up. It was a beautiful scene, except when I saw John.
He looked up and waved to me, to which I glared. Jeremy looked up as well and gave me a weak smile. I couldn't expect Elena and Jeremy to ignore John just because of me. He was there uncle, even if they didn't like him. Besides, I wasn't one of those controlling girls that told my friends who they could and couldn't talk to. Even if said person was my absentee father who was hell bent on getting me back.
"If you glare any harder you will get frown lines." I heard and turned. Damon stood there with two glasses of champagne. I debated on taking the glass from his hand, but eventually took it. He looked good in a suit. I had thought so since the first time I saw him in one. Granted, he looked good all the time. Especially without any clothes on.
"Wouldn't want that." I replied bitterly, sipping the drink in my hand. He stood next to me, close enough but not enough to touch. I shifted my weight.
"You came." He noted. He wasn't looking at me, he was watching John. I licked my lips.
"For Elena and Caroline." I told him. His gaze flickered over to me before he nodded. We then fell silent. I never thought that it would come to this. Awkward silence was not something I was used to with Damon. He was always the one to break it, and I followed along. But now, he was quiet, and I didn't know what to think about it.
"Anna is here." I whispered. He nodded, as if he already knew.
"Don't worry." Damon leaned to my ear. "She's harmless."
I swallowed and took a large gulp of my drink. Why had he come to talk to me if he was just going to be silent? We could have both avoided this encounter if he would have just stayed away.
"Stefan's drinking human blood."
My head snapped to the side. Damon was still glaring out into the distance. Stefan had said he had stopped drinking it, after his crazy cravings and such.
"But he said…" I trailed off.
"Well he lied." Damon said. "He's not off the stuff."
"What are you going to do?" I asked him. Damon shrugged. I assumed that he had to get it off his chest, that was why he had his sudden outburst.
"Does Elena know?" I asked. Damon shook his head. "We have to tell her."
"Wait." Damon said, catching my arm. "I'll do it."
I opened my mouth to protest, but I knew it was futile. Damon got what he wanted all the time. Besides, I didn't want to break it to Elena that her boyfriend had lied to her. I would let Damon do it, even though I knew that he wouldn't do it gently.
"Why did you ask me to come here?" I asked him. His hand was still on my arm, although his grip was not tight. It was more just to keep me grounded. It was like he didn't want me to go.
"I wanted to piss off your dad." Damon said, but I knew it was more than that. I gave him a look.
"First of all, he's not my dad." I said and glared over to John's direction. "And… seriously. Why did you want me to come?"
Damon seemed to be deliberating. I waited, although every second that passed was agonizing. He finally sighed and looked down. His hand fell from my arm and I felt suddenly cold.
"I don't know." He said. "I just… I don't know."
His indecisiveness was really hurting me more then actually staying away. There was something about the way he was acting that made me think he didn't want me to stay away. That may have hurt more.
"You asked me to stay away and I've done that." I told him. "I've given you space, and I've given you time. And it seems like you are the one who won't stay away."
"I have to." Damon said looking up. "In the end you will just get hurt."
"You won't let anything hurt me." I said and reached forward. He moved his hand away from my grasp.
"You've already been hurt." He said. "Frederick took you because he wanted to get back at me. I won't let that happen again."
"That was a onetime thing." I insisted. "It won't happen again."
"You don't know how many enemies I've made." He told me. "If they have that leverage over me…."
"It makes you look weak." I came to the conclusion. He said nothing. "Is that what this is about? I make you look weak?"
"No." Damon replied growing louder. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I already told you its too late for that." I replied. I then chugged my drink and turned on my heel to leave. I knew I would regret coming to this thing.
No matter what I did I was going to end up hurt. If I stayed away, my heart would ache. If I was around him I could get hurt physically and emotionally. I wasn't in a win-win situation. I could deny my feelings for him all I wanted, it still didn't change the fact that they were there. I thought that he had been doing this out of the kindness of his heart, the fact that he didn't want me to get hurt. But now I realized that it wasn't just that. Being around me made Damon look soft, and he didn't want that. I had the sinking feeling that looking tough meant much more to him then my safety. That was like a punch to the gut.
"Ooof." I said when I ran into somebody. I looked up and saw strands of blond hair. Upon closer inspection I found that it was Amber Bradley. I didn't really know her, I just knew of her. She was another contestant in the Miss Mystic pageant, and from the looks of it, she was really nervous.
"I'm sorry!" She squeaked. "So sorry."
"Don't worry about it." I said. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
"Still… really sorry." She said and looked up at me. "You're Alex right?"
"Yup." I said, not trying to let it bother me that she didn't really know who I was. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Just because more people knew me now that I hung out with the "popular" crowd, didn't mean that everyone would magically know me and care. A lot of people still focused on the fact that I didn't have a dad. Only a few people in Mystic Falls had a single parent. Most were still married, happily or unhappily, and they looked down on anyone different.
"Amber." She said and held out her hand. I took it and found it was really sweaty. "I don't think we've really talked."
"I guess we don't hang with the same crowd." I shrugged. She nodded. "So, you ready for the pageant?"
"No." She admitted. "I'm really nervous."
"You shouldn't be." I said. "You have every chance that the others have."
"It's a founding family pageant." Amber muttered. "I'm only in the running so it doesn't look that way."
"Well, maybe you will blow their minds with your performance." I suggested. "Then it won't be a founding family thing anymore."
"What won't be a founding family thing anymore?"
Amber looked over my shoulder, wide brown eyes, and I turned to look. John stood there a wild smirk on his face. I felt my stomach lurch.
"I'm going to go." Amber said and pointed over her shoulder. "It was nice meeting you Alex."
"You too." I replied and watched her rush away. No one wanted to see this awkward encounter. Regardless of who I knew or who I was friends with, everyone still knew that John Gilbert had fathered me and then left. It was awkward and weird, and I couldn't blame them for not wanting to stick around. I wouldn't either.
"I'm surprised you came." John admitted. I shrugged, not giving him anything. I was done talking. I was done being angry. I just wanted him to leave me alone.
"Are you here because of him?" John asked and gestured to Damon. Damon, with his super hearing, looked over at John and glared. He then looked away, not sparing me a glance. I bit my bottom lip.
"I came for Elena." I replied bitterly. I knew that Damon would hear, and I wanted to hurt him like he was hurting me. But Damon didn't flinch, he barely even acknowledged I had spoken.
"Family supporting family." John said. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"You would know all about that wouldn't you." I said sarcastically and went to move. He caught my arm.
"Alex… please just hear me out." John begged. I yanked my arm from his grasp.
"No." I replied. "I will not hear you out because you don't deserve it. After everything you have done to my mother why would you ever think that I would let you into my life?"
"Your mother is not the only innocent party in this." John said. I saw red.
"Excuse me?" I asked, becoming louder. "My mother isn't the one who left. You are John. You left her to fend for herself and now, after 17 years, you want to make things right? It's too late."
"It's never too late for the truth." John said. "I did leave yes. I admit that what I did was wrong."
I rolled my eyes and tried to move again, but he blocked my path. I folded my arms over my chest.
"But you don't know the whole truth." John said. "I came back."
I stopped in my tracks. I stared into his eyes, and unfortunately saw myself in them. I swallowed the bile that rose to my throat.
"You're lying." I muttered. He had to be. He had never come back. I had never seen him.
"When you were 7 years old…" John explained. "I came back to Mystic Falls and went to your mother."
I stood there frozen, listening to his tale. It couldn't be. He couldn't have come back, because I had never known. I racked my brain for any memory of him, but I kept coming up blank. He had to be lying.
"I asked to be in your life." John continued. "Your mom said no."
"She wouldn't do that." I shook my head. "She would have told me."
"Why don't you ask her?" John challenged. "I am tired of looking like the bad guy."
"You are the bad guy." I said. "You shouldn't have abandoned her in the first place."
"Her?" John asked, his eyebrow cocked.
"I never needed you." I replied. "But she did. And you let her down."
"I told you I came back." John said. I shook my head. "And speaking of bad guys… let's talk about Damon."
I was still trying to process what he had just told me. Why would I want to talk about Damon? Especially with my illegitimate father who had just told me he tried to be in my life. Had my mother lied to me? She told me he never came back. She wouldn't lie to me. But he had a tendency to do so.
"What about Damon?" I asked suspiciously. He made a face, and I let my eyes flicker over to Damon. He was watching us with great interest. John must have known he was listening.
"I may be a bad guy…" John said low. "But at least I'm not a blood sucking parasite."
My eyes widened slightly. John knew about Damon, but when I looked over Damon didn't seem the least bit surprised. I didn't like this secret being in the wrong hands, and John's hands were definitely the wrong ones. There was no telling what he would do with that information.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to play it cool. John chuckled.
"Your lying skills are lacking." He said. "I know that you know."
I said nothing and just narrowed my eyes at him.
"And I want you to stay away from him." John said. I blinked twice before I shook my head. John stood his ground, not faltering under my glare.
"You can't order me around." I said. "You're not my dad."
"Oh, but I am." John said. "He's dangerous Alex. Can't you see that?"
"Yeah." I replied, flipping my hair. "But this is none of your concern."
"You are always my concern." John said. "I am your dad."
I felt angry tears prick my eyes, but I didn't dare let them fall. I wouldn't cry in front of him. I wouldn't let him see that side of me. He would only get the bitter and angry version of me. That was all he earned.
"A dad sticks around." I said. "A dad sends a birthday card, or a Christmas card. A dad doesn't let his child feel like the scum of the Earth just because she was born."
"Alex-"
"Just leave me alone." I said and pushed past him. I locked eyes with Damon, his blue irises full of sympathy. I had to force myself not to run into his arms and let him console me. This was too much to handle. But instead of running to him I walked away from him. I walked away from both of them.
I ran out the front doors as they began to call out the names of the girls in the pageant. I held onto the railing with shaky hands. I felt like I would fall at any second. My heartbeat was loud in my ears. Was this a panic attack? I didn't think it was, but I was feeling very unstable right then.
"Alex."
I looked up and there stood Damon. He looked concerned, and his eyebrows were knitted together as he looked at me. Usually I would have waved him off, told him I was fine and not to worry. But the pitiful look he was giving me set a fire in my gut.
"What?" I spat. He flinched slightly at my tone, but he didn't seem surprised that I used it.
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." Damon admitted. "Are you ok?"
"No I'm not ok." I replied. "I am far from ok. John just told me that he wanted to be in my life. My mother may have lied to me. And then there is this big mess with you…"
He swallowed nervously. I shook my head.
"I'm not ok." I admitted.
"What can I do?" Damon asked. I started to laugh then.
"Seriously?" I asked him. "You want to know what you can do."
He nodded and I took a step toward him. Standing on the stairs, he was even taller than me, but I gazed up into his eyes.
"Stop asking if I'm ok." I said. "Stop checking up on me and defending me. It only makes everything harder."
Damon set his jaw, and I just stared at him. He kept my gaze for what seemed like forever until he turned and walked back inside. I heard them calling Elena's name, but I couldn't bring myself to stay. I turned and went down the stairs.
I walked down the length of the long line of cars until I saw two people. As I neared, I recognized the boy to be Stefan, but the girl had be back to me. Wasn't Stefan supposed to be inside with Elena? I looked back to the hall before I pressed on.
"Stefan?" I called. He looked up and the girl turned. It was Amber Bradley. I was now close enough to see them, and felt my stomach drop as I caught sight of his face. It had changed, to his vampire face. I could see his white fangs and the veins underneath his face.
I didn't waste time, I turned and started to run. I should have screamed, maybe caught Damon's attention. But it was too late. Stefan caught me before I was even in Damon's hearing range. He shoved me against a tree, hard I might add. His face was still in its vampire form, and he was striking fear into my soul.
"Stefan stop." I ordered, but his hand crept up to my neck. I could feel my heart pounding in over drive. He probably could too.
"You shouldn't have come out here." Stefan said and met my gaze. "I can't stop."
"You can." I said to him with a shaky voice. "I know you can."
"I'm the good brother." Stefan said. I bit my bottom lip. I then looked over at Amber, who stood there patiently. She wasn't making a move to leave, she didn't even look scared. Stefan must have compelled her.
"Stefan…" I said catching his attention. He was staring at my neck. "Stefan… you can stop. Just let me and Amber go. I'll find Elena and-"
"No!" He said furiously, punching the tree above my head. Bark flew onto the ground in splinters and I winced. "She can't know."
"Stefan she has to." I replied. He narrowed his eyes at me. "You love her right?"
"Of course I do." He replied. I nodded.
"And she loves you too." I said. "No matter what."
We stared at one another for a long time. I swallowed, trying to calm myself down.
"You have to let me and Amber go." I told him. He looked over to her and I could see the sadness on his face. He didn't want to do this, but he couldn't control his hunger for human blood. He was like a drug addict trying to stop his habit.
"I can't." Stefan finally said. He then stared at my throat and licked his fangs. "I'm sorry."
I felt the blinding pain of his teeth tearing into my flesh. His hand was over my screaming mouth and I could feel him sucking the life from me. It wasn't long before I blacked out.
It was getting dark, and there was no sign of Stefan. Damon had searched the whole place, the Sherriff showing him a broken mirror in the bathroom. Damon feared the worst. He finally found Elena, and steered her into another room
"What is it, did you find him?" Elena asked worried. Damon shook his head.
"There were signs of a struggle in the upstairs bathroom." Damon told her regretfully. "There was blood and that Amber girl is missing."
"Oh my God." Elena said. "He wouldn't hurt her, he won't!"
"Let's just find him, okay?" Damon suggested. "Let's get your coat come on."
The two hurried out of the hall following the sound of a girl screaming. They found Stefan, drinking from Amber Bradley.
"Stefan!" Elena screamed, catching his attention. He looked up, mouth covered in blood.
"Stefan, come on get control." Damon said carefully. "It's okay, come on. Breath through it man."
Stefan then grabbed Damon and threw him against a tree. Elena screamed at him to stop it. Stefan was much stronger on human blood and would actually stand in a fight with Damon. Damon stood up, prepared to take on his brother when Stefan crippled over in pain. He was holding his head, like he suddenly got a headache. Damon looked to his right to see Bonnie, who was casting a spell on Stefan, to stop him. It didn't last long, for Bonnie let up on her magic after about a minute.
Stefan looked up at all of them, snapping out of his previous state. Damon inched toward him, hoping to calm him down. Stefan looked over to Elena, who looked absolutely terrified. He let out a breath.
"Alex." Stefan said and then looked to his brother. "I left her…"
"Where is she?" Bonnie ordered. Stefan continued to stare at his brother. Damon swallowed.
"I'm sorry." Stefan said and took off. Damon watched him go and sighed. He then looked to the two girls.
"You get the sheriff." He said. "I'll find Alex."
Damon found Alex lying out in the parking lot. Stefan had bit her, and she lost a lot of blood. She was still alive, but her pulse was weak. Damon bit his wrist and forced it into her mouth. She drank obediently from him, but didn't open her eyes. Once Damon assumed she had had enough he picked her up and carried her to where the ambulance and police cars were.
"Oh God!" Elena shrieked upon seeing Alex limp in Damon's arms. Her wound was already healing.
"She's ok." Damon said, adjusting her so the sheriff couldn't see her healing wound. Liz gave Damon a look and he nodded.
"I'll call her mother." Liz said but Damon stopped her.
"It's ok." Damon said. "I got her. Lauren shouldn't worry."
Liz gave him a curt nod. Elena shared a look with him before she and Bonnie walked away. Alex stirred in his arms, but soon cuddled back into his embrace. He breathed in the scent of her, memorizing every single thing about her.
He placed her in his car, driving carefully, so as to not wake her. Once he was back at the boarding house, he sped over to her side of the car. He then picked her up again, letting her nestle into the crook of his neck. She was so soft, so light in his arms. He never wanted this to end, but he knew it would have to.
"Hello Damon."
Damon looked up and there stood Anna. He gripped Alex tighter.
"All right now, this is getting weird." Damon said.
"We're here to talk." Anna said. Pearl stepped out of the house and in front of Damon. She looked at Alex who was breathing onto Damon's neck. She then looked back up to Damon.
"Is she alright?" Pearl asked, although Damon thought she was only asking to get on his good side.
"She will be." Damon replied. "What do you want?"
"Annabelle tells me you're looking for something I took from Jonathan Gilbert." Pearl explained. Damon's eyes flickered between the women.
"I'm listening." He said, adjusting Alex.
"Jonathan was passionate about his inventions." Pearl said, handing him the device. "He confided in me that he had created a detection device meant to track down the town's vampire element."
"It was a pocket watch." Damon said as he flipped the thing over in his hand.
"That's what it turned out to be yes. But that's not what I stole." Pearl explained. "I discovered my mistake when I saw the watch in Jonathan's hand, the night they took us, its stile pointed at me."
"So, what is it?" Damon asked.
"I have no idea." Pearl replied. "But it's yours now."
"What's the catch?" Damon narrowed his eyes.
"There is no catch. My daughter wants to stay here. I want to stay here." Pearl said. "You refused to trust us and for good reason. Consider this an apology."
Damon looked between the two of them before he pocketed the device. He then shifted Alex back into both arms and took her inside. He looked back to Pearl and Anna for a millisecond before he shut the door.
Damon carried her upstairs, setting her down on his bed. She cuddled into his sheets, looking very innocent and slightly adorable. He brushed a piece of hair out of her face, lingering in her cheek. He then grabbed her bag, pulling her phone out to send a text to Lauren. He told her that she would be at Elena's and to not wait up.
He debated on getting her out of her dress and into something more comfortable, but he stopped himself. She wouldn't appreciate it. He would ask Elena to do it later. He pulled the blankets up over her body and turned to go but then he stopped when he heard his name.
"Damon." She mumbled. He turned but found she was still asleep. He smiled to himself as he thought about her dreaming about him. He then frowned and shook his head. He was dangerous, and he was going to get her killed. He set his jaw and left the room, stewing in his own self-pity.