Ch 16. Well deserved break
Damon dug his hand into the pocket of one of the lifeless drained bodies he'd left in his wake after evacuating the Salvatore Boarding House. He had to wait for sundown to get some actual blood in his system since Zach vervain lashed blood only seemed to have made his condition worst. As soon as it got dark after what seemed like years, he moved towards the cemetery where he knew a bunch of druggies frequented at night. It was almost too easy. Most of them were high, and others were…well, drunk. All were practically sitting ducks. Unfortunately for Vicki Donovan, she was the first one he came across, rendering her his first victim.When he got his hands on the phone, he immediately dialled Stefan's number. Waiting for his annoying younger brother to pick up before jumping the gun on his version of an injunction.
"Hello?", Stefan voiced
One could clearly hear, (though only the ones who knew the younger Salvatore well) that he was dreading this call.
"I want my ring", Damon demanded, before taking a gulp of the vodka he'd chipped from one of the lifeless bodies before pouring some over the dead guy he'd got to phone from.
"Where are you?", Stefan negated, making it clear that he wasn't going to give up easily. Now that Elena has found out about them, he has to be even more vigilant. To protect her.
"I'm at the sizzler", Damon said, voice laced with sarcasm as he kneeled to grab a long stick, its end on fire. "I had the buffet. Where's my ring?".
"I don't have it", Stefan responded a little too promptly for it to be true. "Where are you? What have you done? And who let you out?".
"No, what have you done?",
Damon countered, ignoring the last question, swivelling the stick as the flame at its end grew larger.
"You're the one who locked me in the basement and starved me, so whatever I've done, whoever I've sucked dry is on you, buddy", Damon proclaimed as he bends down, tapping the tip of the flame onto the small puddle of alcohol he'd left on the body, watching as it torches up.
"It was Caroline, wasn't it? Why can't you just stay away from her??? Leave her the fuck alone", Stefan yelled in frustration.
"I don't think what happens between me and MY girlfriend is any of your business, now is it, Stefan?", Damon disputed firmly. Even though they ain't like that, he wasn't going to divulge his brother with the truth. Stefan had the habit of butting into things and ruining them for him, and he didn't want him to wreck whatever he has going on with Blondie. She had come to save him even though she had no obligation to, and he was appreciative (though he wasn't ever going to say that out loud) She came in like a rainbow on a stormy day.
"Come on, Damon, enough of this drama. Who are you fooling? We both know that you don't do girlfriends", Stefan scoffed a sarcastic chuckle of disbelief. Though he didn't miss the possessive undertone in Damon's reply, nevertheless, he chose to ignore it.
"Let me rephrase myself since I don't think you got it the first time. It's none of your God damn business", he snarled rigorously.
"You're being careless. How many more animal attacks is this town gonna believe, huh?", Stefan pointed out, hoping to talk some sense in his older brother.
"I know how to cover my tracks, Stefan. Now where's my ring?", Damon demanded, what was for the 2nd time. He was growing aggravated with the side-tracking.
"I gave it to Zach to hide", Stefan fabricated, causing the older Salvatore to freeze for a moment. "Probably shouldn't have killed him".
Damon thought for a moment before a knowing smirk made its way onto his face. "...Ah, you almost got me. Where is it?".
Frustrated, Stefan let out a breath of defeat before imploring, "I'll get it back, but I need time".
"What did you FedEx it to Rome?! Where is it? I want my ring, Stefan, or my next stop's Elena's", he threatens. Damon was beyond annoyed at the moment and could no longer bear Stefan's antics.
"I already want you dead. Don't give me another reason to make it happen", Stefan threatened back. However, Damon was not intimidated one bit.
"Don't give me another reason to rip you apart", Damon warned.
"Yeah? Is that gonna be before or after you get your ring back?", Stefan sneered.
"Just get it", he ordered before hanging up.
Moving in the direction of the Donovan girl, he tipped the liquor bottle, pouring the remainder of the vodka over her. But before he could set her body on fire as well, just like he had with the rest of the bodies, she awakened with a jolt.
"You just don't wanna die, do you?"
"That's it for today guys, keep practising the move that I just taught you guys and I will you all next week", Alexis announced as she moves to grab her towel, whipping her sweat as she watched all of her pupils trying to catch up on the breaths. The ringing of her phone grabbing her attention, resulting in her excusing herself and leave the room before she could approach her girls.
"I feel like I am dying", Jessica cried out as soon as Alexis left the room, massaging her tired limps.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad", Caroline argued with a little quirk of her lips, watching her pink-haired friend dramatically fall on the foam mat.
"Care's right Jess, dramatic much?", Samantha quips in agreement, rolling her eyes at Jessica's theatrical tumble.
"Easy for you to say"-, Jessica yelled, giving them a dirty look. "You" -she exclaimed, pointing her finger at Caroline- "are like the best in this batch. This is like a walk in the park for you".
Veering her hand to point at Samantha, she accused, "And you didn't even break a sweat".
Her indictment prompting both the girls to simultaneously rolled their eyes in response once again.
Tightening the grey hoody around her waist, Caroline bends down behind her where she had her gym bag, taking out her water bottle only to find it completely empty. "Hey guys, any of you have some water left. I ran out".
"Yeah, it's in my gym bag", Jessica said, her eyes pointing in the direction of her purple bag which was laying right next to Caroline's.
"Um..., Jessica"- Caroline utters in disbelief- "is this what I think it is?".
Jessica amused, "Kind of, Yeah". While Samantha just chuckled, she had, had the exact same reaction at first.
"I have so many questions", the blonde blurted out, pulling a Hershey bottle out. Snapping the cap open, she checked if it actually contained water or her friend has just gone crazy and brought a whole ass chocolate syrup to a gym. Thankfully, it was only water. "Let me just start with, WHY???"
"My regular bottle cracked. You know the anime one, so I was searching for a replacement, and then I remembered that we had an empty Hershey's bottle lying around that we didn't recycle yet, so why not just use that", Jessica explained shrugging her shoulders at the end. At Caroline's still dumbfounded expression she cracked up instantly, losing her somewhat of a poker face. Her laugh gaining the attention of a few curious folks around them. "And it saves a few bucks".
"Girl, you can literally afford a diamond-crusted bottle", Caroline deadpanned. "Couldn't you just buy a new one or even borrow one for Sam?".
"That's what I said", Samantha chimed in.
"But where is the fun in that", Jessica whined. "Where else would I get Oscar-worthy judgy looks, that are too amusing and entertaining for my own good?"
"Now that ain't wrong", chortle Samantha, remembering all the funny reactions they got in their PE class. "We had an eventful week, to say the least. You should have seen Jacob's reaction. He literally rejoiced, yelling 'Yes, finally everyone will stop saying that I am the weird one in the group'. The dude was the happiest"
"Nah, he's still the weird one", Caroline joked. "Though Jess is a close second. Together, they share a single brain cell".
"Hey", Jessica huffed, offended that she was put on the same level as Jacob of all people.
All three of them looked at each other for a second before bursting out laughing. Just then, Alexis re-entered, stuffing her phone in the left pocket of her hoodie, watching the girls laugh their asses off.
"Hey guys, what did I miss?", asked Alexis curiously, though she was thrilled to catch a glimpse of all of her girl's smiling faces. It delighted her to see her favourite folks in the whole damn world so happy. Their smiles making her forget about the million problems she was currently going through, even if only for a short while.
"We are just having a discussion about whose more weirder Jacob or Jessica", Samantha voiced trying to catch her breath, Alexis joining in with a small chuckle of her own before the laughter slowly dying down. Remembering the earlier incident she asked, "Who was that on the phone?"
"Ah, it's just Noah"-
"Ohhhhhh Noah, he can't leave you alone, can he? Awwww, couple's goals", Jessica interrupted ridiculed with a teasing smirk, causing Alexis to roll her eyes.
The Asian beauty loved teasing the only couple in their group to her heart's content. Alexis and Noah were not new at the dating game, their relationship crossed 7 years of togetherness just recently and in fact, they have known each other for 9 years now. Nonetheless, Jess would still treat them as if they are a bunch of 14 years olds in a relationship.
"Okay, my vote goes for Jessica. She takes the cake on the weirdo scale", the gym owner announced.
"Hey, not fair", Jess pouted. Her expression induced all the other 3 girls to snicker once again.
"So what was the call about", Caroline asked, inquisitive.
"Something went wrong in the restaurant, so he needs me to help out", she trailed off.
"Aww, does that mean, we have to cancel shopping today?", screeched Jessica as she stood up and faced her friends, while Caroline looked towards Alexis for an answer. She didn't mind if their plan got cancelled, though she would be a tad bit disappointed, as she was kind of looking forward to it.
All four of them would always go out after the 4-hour morning class, and this time they had agreed on a shopping trip. With the massive allowance that Caroline's dad sends her every month as compensation for forgetting about her for the rest of the year and the money she got from all the occasional part-time jobs she did throughout the summer, she had a lot of cash stacked up and was ready to go all out.
"Nah, you guys go ahead. Just don't forget to get me those mini doughnuts that I like", Alexis reminded. Even though she was pretty health-conscious being a gym owner and all, but she was obsessed with the mini doughnuts that were sold by the small bakery by the mall. And when has a little bit of sugary treats once in a while hurt anyone?
"Sure thing", Caroline answered, with both Jessica and Samantha nodding their heads in consensus.
"Should we all get going then", Samantha asked, to which everyone voiced an agreement.
As everyone moved to grab their things, Caroline, who was still holding Hershey's bottle remember why she was holding it in the first place. With all this talk, she totally had forgotten the fact that she was parched, so she snapped open the lid and took a few gulps before clasping it tightly.
That's when Alexis noticed, for what was the first time, the unconventional water bottle and yelled out in disgust with a mix of utter confusion and judgmental stare, "Is that a freaking HERSHEY'S bottle?".
Her reaction causing the trio to crack up once again, and Caroline finally got where Jessica was coming from.
"Where are you, Stefan?", Damon demanded, as he walked from the dining room to the parlour. His brother wasn't picking up his calls anymore, and a part of him thinks that he was doing that on purpose.
Moving straight towards the drinks on the table behind the couch, he continued, "I'm trapped at the house, and I'm getting really bored and really impatient, and I don't do bore and impatient."
"Bring me my ring", he firmly demanded, pouring himself a drink, before reluctantly ending the voice mail when he heard the beep sound.
"Damn it", he shrieked with frustration, picking up the glass with his left hand while he stuffed the phone back in his jean pocket.
When he notices Vicki, who was still alive by the way, bleeding on their very vintage couch he screeched,
"Aw, don't get blood on the couch!".
"Please?", he called out once again before walking over when Vicki didn't answer, sitting on the table in front of the couch she was laying on, barely conscious.
Pushing the towel that Vicki was pressing on her still bleeding wound to the side, he uttered with a proud glint in his eyes, "I got you good, didn't I?"
When she doesn't answer, he sighs, "Well, you're not gonna be any fun today".
Making a rash decision, he stood up stepping to hover behind her, kneeling as he bit his wrist before stuffing it in Vicki's mouth.
"I'm so gonna regret this", he acknowledged, watching as she stops struggling and eventually gives in, taking a few globs of his blood. "Drink up. Drink it up. Don't drip. There you go. Good girl. That's it."
"I wonder what Blondie's doing?", Damon wonder out loud, while Vicki continues to drink his blood.
Caroline read before silencing her phone and shoving it back in her backpack. All she wanted was a break from all the drama and mostly Damon Salvatore. And that's precisely what she was going to do. She had already missed last weekend since she was unwillingly roped in helping arrange the founder's party because of him. That's why she wasn't going to let anyone come in between her me-time.
After zipping her bag, she turned towards her eager friend Jessica who was in the driver's seat, busy honking and her brunette friend Samantha in the back seat who was arguing with Jess to 'stop being so impatient', while simultaneously texting Jacob. They were currently outside Liam and Jacob house, getting dirty looks from the neighbours. Both the Jones brothers lived separately from their family since Liam had planned to go to Whitmore and didn't want to continue with the family business. Jacob who decided to follow in his brother's footsteps decided to come live with him inMcKinley.
"Jacob", Jessica clamours as she continued to honk her lilac-coloured 1960 Cadillac El Dorado. It used to be her mom car and thus her favourite out of all the cars she owned, making it the only car she brought along with her to move to McKinley, Virginia. After the car accident that took the life of her parents and grandparents who were a big name in the business world, she needed a change, to get away from all of it. The pressure of being the only living heir of the Kim family at the age of 14 was getting to her. And leaving was the best decision she ever made.
When Jacob finally showed up on the front porch, she called out, "Get in loser, we are going shopping".
"Mean Girls? Seriously?", Samantha ridiculed playfully.
"Hey, it's one of the most quoted movies", Caroline quip in backing.
"See she gets it", said Jessica, turning to look at Samantha. To which Jessica just rolled her eyes.
Turning her attention back to the light brown-eyed boy, who still didn't move an inch. "What are you doing? Get in".
"I don't wanna", Jacob whined, causing the girls to look at him as if he's nuts. "What if I have other plans".
"Like you have other friends", mocked Samantha.
"Why do you all keep saying that", Jacob grumbled, looking very annoyed. "I can have other friends apart from you guys".
"Sure Boo", Jessica heckled, making a face at him.
"So, are you coming or not?", voiced Caroline when it looked like Jacob was about to throw hands with her pink-haired friend. That is what they always did. They would argue every 10 minutes and most of the time their arguments were very entertaining, at the same time too funny to stop. So, that's why everyone would just let them sort it out of their own. Most of the disagreements would disintegrate pretty quickly, and they would get right back at being the crackheads that they are. So, they all decided to let them be. But right now, they didn't have to for another one of their battles.
"What do I get in return?", he asked as folding his hands
"A new wardrobe?", Jessica teased, only getting a scoff in return.
"Free food?", Caroline proposed, looking relatively confident.
"Better fashion advice?", Samantha quipped with simple directness, causing Jacob to roll his eyes.
"Okay, you had me at food", Jacob interrupted, moving to sit in the back seat, besides Samantha, before anyone of them continues insult to his choice of clothes more. "Let's go".
"JJ, Where Liam? He isn't home?", Caroline asked intuitively, turning to look at him while Jessica started up the car.
"Oh, he had to go to Whitmore", he answered, getting comfortable.
"On a Saturday?!", Samantha shrieked with a tone of disbelief, turning her attention to her seatmate, simultaneously pushing him as he was hogging all the space.
"Yeah, some Professors named Shane and Maxfield needed him for something", answered Jacob reluctantly, moving to the side. At their still confused expression, he continued, "He didn't exactly specify what".
"What a teacher's pet", Jessica gagged, offending Jacob who immediately jumped to his brother's defence.
"Hey!".
Damon was still bored, so he decided to play some music. There was no reply from his annoying ass little brother and Barbie had decided to leave him on read, which she did a lot by the way. And the Donovan chick was in the shower. Honestly, he wished he had just made Caroline stay back. The blood would have been a problem since she didn't like him being in a 5-meter radius near her, let alone let him tap a vein, but that wasn't anything a few blood bags couldn't fix. At least then he would have not been so bored. And yes, the creative ways Caroline came up with to insult him, were far more entertaining than all the conversations he has had with Vicki to date and that was saying something.
Just then Vicki Donovan re-entered, drying her hair with a towel while still in her tank top and undies. Looking at him, she spoke, "Oh, man. That shower was so great. What did you give me?".
"Some blood", he answered like it was obvious. "You loved it".
"I did?", she repeated, pretty puzzled. "Wait. I'm confused. How did we get here?".
"We met in the woods. You were drunk. I attacked you. Then I killed all of your friends and brought you here, gave you the same blood. You loved it. And now we're gonna party till the sun goes down", Damon answered bluntly, confusing the green-eyed girl even more.
"Ok. Um, but first, can I have another hit? That blood was so good", she asked, looking hopeful.
"Only if I can", Damon shrugged, biting his wrist and offering it to Vicki to feed while he took her hand in his and began drinking from her wrist.
"What do you think?", Caroline asked as she steps out of the dressing room, looking at her friends for their opinions. They were current in their favourite thrift store after a trip to the mall. While the three of them tried on outfits, Jacob was out and about doing his own thing, since he had no interest in shopping. Though, they did pick some outfits that they knew he would like. Most of his current wardrobe was fills with clothes that they had either chosen or help him decided on. Which was okay since all three of them loved to do it.
"No to the dress, but yes to the shoes", Samantha answered as she glanced up from the graphic jean jacket she was checking out.
"Yeah, ditch the dress", Jessica asserted in agreement, unzipping the combat boots she was trying on. "The shoes are great though".
"I didn't like the dress as well", Caroline started, walking to the full-length mirror to get a better look at herself. "It did look great on the shelf, but now that I'm wearing I am not feeling it if you know what I mean".
Parading in the heels while simultaneously testing it out before confirming, "I do love the shoes."
"Those would go so well with the maroonish dress you got last month", Jessica excitedly declared, to which Samantha nodded agreeably.
"Have you decided on the Miss Mystic Falls dress yet?", Samantha inquired curiously.
"No, not yet. I keep switching between the green dress and the maroon dress", Caroline replied, turning to look at her brunette friend.
"I think you should go in the maroon dress", Samantha suggested with a smile.
"You think?", Caroline implored, feeling indecisive.
"Don't you think that it's too risky? For a small-town pageant?"
"No way, you have the body why not flaunt it", Jessica quickly dismissed, making the blonde smile. Jess sure had a way with words.
"And since when have you let others influence your opinion", Samantha chipped in with a smile of her own.
"You're right, I don't do that anymore", Caroline replied with a confident smirk. To be real, her friends have definitely helped with her decreasing self-confidence when they first met. They boosted her confidence and taught her to love herself again. Their unbiased support and honest opinions help her so much these 3 years. Though she does revert back to her 15-year-old insecure self sometimes, just a talk with one of them made her feel so much better. Maybe this was what real friends felt like. She was so grateful that she met them and wouldn't let them go for the world. Any of them.
"Yeah, go for it", Jessica loudly encouraged as Caroline went back to the dressing room to change back into her clothes.
Her shout getting a raised eyebrow from one of the employees, causing the pink-haired girl to mumble an apology, so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear. "Sorry".
After Caroline changed into her camouflage printed denim dungaree dress that she had paired with a simple black tee and black converse sneakers, she stepped out of the dressing room, shoes in hand, walking towards her friends.
"Omg these are Christian Louboutin", she exclaimed, finally noticing the writing on the sole.
"Really, no way!", Jessica clamoured excitedly, ambling towards her, leaning in to get a better look. Jessica was the kind of person who likes to celebrate small victories. Which was so cute.
"Wow, lucky", Samantha let out with a wide smile. As she gave Caroline the backpack she was holding for her.
After collecting all their stuff and the things they liked. They began to step towards the cashier. That's when they finally caught a whiff of their brown-haired friend awkwardly flirty with the sale's woman, who evidently looked like she was enjoying the attention, finding it hilarious.
"So who had, flirting with the sale's women", Samantha asked, turning to look at the girls. They had made a little game out of this. Guess what JJ was doing. And Caroline was the one who hit on the nail most of the time.
"ME! Cash up bitches", the blonde yelled, happily taking out her hands.
"Lucky guess", Jessica mumbled, reluctantly handing Caroline the 10 dollar bill. Samantha doing the same.
Before they could stop her, Jessica strode towards Jacob and dragged him by his hand away before he could embarrass himself any further, saying, "Let's go".
"Call me", Jacob embarrassingly yelled to the uninterested girl who just pretends to smile in return, causing Jess to hit him in the head.
"Ow, what was that for?", he cried out, rubbing his head to soothe it.
"You didn't give her your number, dumb-ass", she confidently revealed, knowing him better than himself.
"Oh, shit", he shrieked, eliciting Caroline and Samantha to snicker at the whole interaction happening before them.
"Hey Alicia", the girls greeted with a smile looking at the women. Alicia was the owner of this thrift store. She is a beautiful woman for her age with her clear bronze skin along with her gorgeous curly hair and green eyes. Who was also around the same age as her mother. Her being so sweet and loving to them was one of the reasons why this store was one of their most liked ones.
"My favourite girls", Alicia greeted back. "How can I help you today?".
"You can start by giving me the new girl's number", Jacob voiced with a smirk. All of them roll their eyes at his obnoxious behaviour.
"No, absolutely not", She flat out rejected, causing his smirk to turn into a pout. Samantha patting his back with a pitiful smile, while Jessica just laughed her ass off.
While all of that was going on, Caroline's attention was diverted to this mini antique panelled Sheesham chest that laying on the counter. Something about it was just calling out to her. Curiosity getting the best of her, she placed all the items in her hands at the side, moving to open the box.
"Wow these are so beautiful", she amazed, starstruck with elegance. The box contained a diamond-shaped ruby stone pendant that was hanging from a gold chain and matching long hanging earrings that had a few diamond embellishments.
Her declaration gained the attention of everyone and successful preventing the argument that was brewing between Jessica and Jacob. Alicia secretly smiled, though no one seems to notice as they were all looking at what Caroline was admiring.
"Yeah, I felt the same way before it got returned for the 12th time", Alicia revealed, surprising all three of the girls. Jessica could tell that these were authentic, which was weird. Why would a small thrift shore have real rubies? But she quickly dismissed the thought.
"What?!", Caroline screeched, the shock clearly visible on her face. "Why???"
"Honestly, I still don't understand why", sighted the green-eyed beauty, though she knew exactly why. "Most of them would just say that they kept getting the feeling that it didn't belong to them. Which, a weird reason in itself'.
"You can keep it", she quickly added with a smile, before anyone could question what she really meant, along with a glint in her eyes that no one seemed to notice, "You don't even have to pay".
"Really?!", Caroline exclaimed jovially.
"Yeah, on the condition that you don't return it", Alicia replied, but a part of her knew that it wasn't going to happen this time around.
"I don't think she will", Samantha voice, smiling at Caroline's excitement.
"Of course she wouldn't. Look at how happy she is", Jessica quipped, grinning as well.
"Thank you", Caroline voiced, gained a nod and a smile as big as hers in return.
Seeing all the happy energy, Jacob decided to try his luck once again. "Okay, but can I please get"-
"Nope", Alicia refused, without even bothering to look up as she begins to scan all the items on the counter.
"Aww, man", Jacob pouted bummed out. Samantha and Caroline trying to sympathize with him even if this happens quite often while Jessica snickered once again gaining a stern look from both of them.
"I am so over Tyler, so over him. I knew from the beginning that I was only a piece of ass to him, but I thought maybe if he got to know me better, he might see something more. But no. Now, Jeremy, on the other hand, that's all he's ever seen in me is something more, and I like that", Vicki ranted as she moves around messing up the living room. Damon rolls his eyes, sipping on yet another glass of bourbon, watching her roll around on the carpet. The girl was pretty lightweight, which was odd considering her situation.
"Jeremy, huh? Elena's brother?", He repeated, what he found was the only interesting information. What does she think he is, her therapist? If he thinks about it, he found it cute when Caroline rambled, but this was straight up annoying. Of course, no one compares with Blondie, she just had a way with words which made the whole ordeal entertaining. And her subtle way to insult him would never not be funny. Call him a masochist.
Vicki wasn't THAT bad. She did make good company for a while. I mean, they did have a decent time dancing around the house, especially trashing Stefan room to which he had purposely led her to (Oh, Stefan's going to love that) But subsequently, she started babbling about things he did not care for and it got boring again. And things were never boring with his Blondie. Now that he thinks about it, maybe he has gotten too attached to the blonde a little too rapidly for his liking, which had to stop. He can't afford a distraction, not when he is so close to achieving his goal.
"Yeah, yeah. So, Elena used to date my brother, and they were always together, so Jeremy would always be hanging around and crushing on me and…", she continued to ramble and provide input he had yet again not asked for before pausing as she inquired, "Hey, why don't you have a girlfriend? You're, like, totally cool and so hot".
"I know", he said, flashing his signature smirk.
"Wait, ain't you dating Caroline? It's been the main gossip topic for the last two weeks", she asked curious to know if they honestly were, since she had also seen the girl deny all these rumours. But she just thought that she thought Caroline was doing damage control and didn't want the news to get out that she is actually dating him since he was older than her or maybe she didn't want her mom to know. But if that's what she was doing, then she was doing a pretty bad job, cause most of the town knows by now, since they are seen together so much.
"Was it now?", Damon grinned.
"Yup and the gossip only increased when everyone found out that you and Stefan are brothers. There are even poles going around about whose boyfriend they like better, Elena's or Caroline's", Vicki revealed as she sat up straight before adding, "You are winning of course".
"Now that's interesting", Damon said before chuckling, having a good imagination of what Caroline's reaction would be to this piece of information. Oh, he can't wait to tell her.
"Have you ever want to be in love?", she asked after a few moments of silence pass by. The atmosphere doing a total 180.
"I've been in love. It's painful and pointless and overrated", he conceded with distaste, downing his drink before refilling his as well as another glass and moving towards the coach. The wound from Katherine was still fresh as if it was a recent occurrence.
"Except when it isn't", resorted Vicki, her views being entirely different.
"No more talking. Now sit", he ordered, patting his side as he sat on the couch but not before handing her the second glass.
Seems like Vicki didn't get the memo causing she began with a second rant just after a few golden moments of silence, "My mom spends most of her time in Virginia Beach with Pete. He drives trucks. I don't remember my dad, but from what I gather, he's not worth remembering".
"Your life is so pathetic", he said monotonous tone, sipping his drink, not interested in the conversation.
"Yeah. I mean, I'm the screwed-up one. Matt's got it so easy. He's the golden boy. I mean, he's gonna get a football scholarship and marry Elena and have a lawnmower and some babies, and when I think of my future, I just come up blank", she mumbled, sniffing as tears spilling out of her eyes.
"You are so damaged".
"Yep".
"I mean, you don't have one hint of self-esteem". He said. His disinterested tone, not changing a bit.
"Nope, none", she bawled, wiping her tears.
"I think I know what can help you", Damon voiced when a mischievous idea popped up in his mind.
"So what's that?", she asked, confused with what he was hinting at.
"Death", he declared, turning towards her. Hands-on her neck, ready to snap only to retract back at the last second.
"What I am doing? I do not have time for a distraction. And absolutely no energy to deal with a newly turned vampire at that. Sure, it would cause chaos and keep the attention off me. But would it be worth it? No, it wouldn't", Damon thought out loud. His hand moving from Vicki's neck to her shoulders. She, in return, looked at him, confused with what he was going on about.
But before she could voice confusion, she fainted, passing out on the brown carpet.
"Stop sulking Jacob. You wouldn't even have a chance with her. You suck at flirting", Jessica growled as she pushed open the doors of The Scull, bags in hands with Caroline, Jacob, and Samantha right on her heels.
"I do not!", Jacob snapped gruffly, offended by her opinion, following the girls to their usual table.
"I am sorry JJ, you kinda are", Caroline remarked truthfully pulling a chair for her to sit before placing her bags on the floor, her friends doing the same.
"Not you too Care", he pouted.
"I too can't help but agree dude, you are terrible at flirting", Samantha chipped in, sitting down with the rest of them with Jacob still pouting ready to argue.
As the three of them went back and forth, Caroline on the other hand was shuffling in her bag searching for her vibrating phone. Finally, getting a hold of it, she quickly answered the call.
"Hey, Care", the voice on the other end spoke, causing her to smile, immediately recognizing the individual.
"Hey, Liam", she greeted back.
"What's up?".
"Is Jacob with you guys?"
"Yup, he's right here", she answered, glancing at Jacob, who looked at her as soon as he heard his name.
"Are you guys going to take a while. I forget my keys".
"We kind of just got here", she replied.
Looking at her friends, Caroline promptly covered the phone with one hand to answer her friend's questioning gazes. "He forgot his keys".
"That's okay, I can wait".
"How about this, you come over and then all of us can have lunch together since I very well know that you haven't eaten yet. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great"
"Great! We are at the scull, obviously, at our usual table".
"Okay, see you guys in 15 minutes".
"See you soon!", she said before ending the call.
"So Liam is coming over", Caroline announced, placing her phone on the table, not before checking if she had any more messages from Damon the annoying ass.
"Great, the more, the merrier", Samantha asserted cheerfully.
Soon the conversation moved on to lighter topics and fun batter such as school and everything else that was going on in her life. Caroline even talked about Damon, though not completely going into the specifics. Only saying that there is this annoying guy who won't stop irritating her and that she had to put up with him since they were working together on some project of the sort. Which wasn't a lie if you think about it.
Her friends quickly caught up about who she was talking about since they have seen him on various video calls because he keeps walking in on them. But unlike her Mystic Falls friends, they really believe her when she said that nothing was going on. Though that didn't stop Jessica from gushing about how hot he was, and maybe she should think about going there, which earned a loud scoff from Jacob and an eye roll from both her and Samantha.
Nonetheless, they did give her pretty interesting ideas about how to deal with his annoying ass, and it was a pity that she wouldn't actually be able to use them. Since she can't piss off the murderous vampire and all.
"Hey guys, what can I get you?", Olivia Parker, one of the new recruits voiced, interrupting Samantha very elaborate details of what led up to Jessica dying her hair pink, much to Jacob and Jessica's embarrassments.
Olivia or Liv was a reserved person who likes to keep public interaction to a minimum, at least from what Caroline had perceived about her. She was a year older than them along with her twin brother Luke who Caroline has met a couple of times. She goes to the same school as Samantha, Jessica, and Jacob but is a grade above them.
She is an attractive girl with long curly blonde hair and fair skin with a round face, dimpled chin, and bluish-greenish eyes. Furthermore, she was of average height, at least 5'8 (1.73 m)with dark shaded eyes and a usually serious and unhappy expression. That's how JJ describes her, and if Caroline is being honest, he hit right on the nail. She wasn't the friendliest person you will ever meet, but she was good to them, so they were no drama.
"Hey, Liv, we will just have some curly fries and our usual drinks and can you inform Alexis and Noah and let them know that we are here-", Samantha began before pausing to look behind Liv, watching as the wonder couple walked towards them. "Never mind, there they are".
"Sure thing, I'll get your order right out", Liv said with a smile before striding to the kitchen, making sure to smile at her boss as well.
"Look who it is, my fav blonde", Noah announced, his British accent pecking through with a huge smile on his face as they reached the table, moving to ruffle Caroline hair while Alexis hug and greeted the rest of them.
"Hi, to you, too Noah", Caroline smiled back, setting her hair in place as Alexis and Noah took a seat.
"We are here too, you know", Jacob commented.
"Really, I didn't even notice", Noah teased. The scowl on his face making all of them laugh.
"So, did you get them?", Alexis eagerly asked.
"Yup, here", Jessica responded, picking up the box of mini doughnuts, handing it to Alexis.
"Gimme, gimme, gimme", Alexis exclaimed excitedly, quickly opening the box and plopping the chocolate glazed doughnut into her mouth, moaning in delight. "Hmm, finally. I missed these".
"You know we get mini doughnuts here as well, right, love", Noah jested with a small smirk.
"These are the best doughnuts in the whole of McKinley, deal with it", Alexis declared openly as she plopped another doughnut in her mouth. "And the ones we get here are not that great anyway".
"Wow, Darling, you sure know how to keep a man down to earth", he quipped with a small chuckle, following by the other cracking up with him.
After a while, as their conversation went on, Liam entered rushing to their table in a huff, juggling his phone and car keys.
"Hey guys, sorry if I am late. I got stuck in traffic", Liam breathed as soon as he got to their table.
"Don't worry about it", Caroline dismissed. "Come sit".
After his brother his usual seat, Jacob decided to ask him the question that has been on his mind for a while, "Now that you are finally here, do you guys think I am bad at flirting? Brother?"
"Oh yeah, awful", Liam replied right away, causing every to cackle.
"Yup, the worst", Alexis quipped in, slapping Jessica hand away when she tried stealing one of the doughnuts. Noah nodding in agreement with the reply.
"Aww man, I expected better from you Bro", Jacob grimaced. "You guys are bullies."
Vicki's eyes slowly fluttered open. Hands going straight to her head when she felt a shape pain. Squirting her eyes while trying to assess the situation, she finally noticed Damon presence, "What happened? We were dancing, and then..."
"Then I was going to kill you. But changed my mind the last second", he confessed, as if it wasn't a big deal. "And then you fainted on your own".
"What?", she uttered, perplexed and a little bit frightened with what he was talking about.
"I said, I was going to kill you but I didn't.", he reiterated monotonously.
"I'm dead?", she shuddered In disbelief.
"Yeah not exactly, I was going to kill you but then I had a change of heart. Well not kill you exactly, more like turn you into a vampire", he revealed, walking closer to her with a glass of bourbon in hand. It was his 6th drink of the hour, but he didn't care. So what if he was a raging alcoholic. At least he doesn't feed on woodland creatures. "Well, let's not make a big deal out of it. You drank my blood, So please avoid dying for the next 24 hours, otherwise, you will be transitioning and would have to feed in order to complete the process. And trust me, you don't want to go through all that".
"You're wasted", Vicki spluttered, not believing him one bit.
"I would recommend locking yourself up. One mistake and then you are stuck as a vampire forever", Damon denoted, being somewhat helpful. Though Vicki still looked at him as if he was crazy. "You don't wanna be out there all alone. Trust me, or else things are going to get really freaky"
"Ok, I had a really good time. I just wanna go home", she stammered, backing away from him when he took a step forward.
"You will start craving blood, and until you get it, you're gonna feel very out of it. You have to be very careful", he warned caustically, blocking her way to the exit.
"Come on, move", grunted Vicki, panting as she tried to get around him, but failing to.
"See? you're already starting to fall apart", he contended. "That's why I think you should shut yourself in"
"And I'm going home now", beckoned Vicki, with what was her version of no-nonsense tone.
"Ok, fine. I'm just warning you", he breathed, why was he even trying to help in the first place. Looks like Blondie was rubbing off him. Wait he could try to use this situation to his advantage. Why didn't he think of this before?. It would have saved him so much time. "Actually, you know what? You should go. In fact, if I were you, I would stop by your boyfriend Jeremy's house."
"Yeah, whatever", she breathed, mentally shrugging as she moved towards the door.
"Bye. Tell Elena I said Hi and if you see Stefan, tell him to call me", Damon chimed in optimistically, ginning as she exited the Salvatore boarding house.
Vicki drove towards the Gilbert house as she thought over what Damon was going on about. 'He's crazy' was the only conclusion she could come up with. But she can't help but think that maybe he was telling the truth, however delusional he sounder. Nah, that can't be real, can it?
Her memory was obliterated from all the liquor she had been drinking or at least that's what she thinks. As she tried to jog her memory, she realised that she was still in her underwear. The urge to get away from Damon was so much that it had completed left her mind that she was literally kinda half-naked.
She can't show up at Jeremy house looking like this. Things were already awkward between her and Elena, and she didn't want to go and embarrass herself even more.
Suddenly, she remembered that she had some backup clothes in the back of her car, as she needed to always keep an extra set of clothes when she started to part-time at the grill. Absentmindedly, she began to search for her duffel bag while simultaneously trying to drive. She was currently going through the woods so the road was pretty much empty. Therefore, she has not expected a presence of, who looked like the new girl that often frequented the grill nowadays.
What Vicki didn't expect was for the girl to suddenly appear right in front of her car, causing her to take a sharp left turn to avoid slamming into her. Deriving Vicki to slam into a tree instead. The late thing she saw was the wicked smirk on the girl's face before she lost consciousness.
"Give it up for Crimson Carnations and they're mellifluous rendition of Abba's Angeleyes", Noah announced, the crowd going bonkers, cheering loudly as they got off the stage. This is why Caroline loved karaoke night so much.
The adrenaline rush she feels after every performance was accelerating. And today was no different. The night would always start with them performing first to get the evening going. It was the 70s theme today and that's why they decided to go with Abba. But if she was being honest, Caroline had chosen Angeleyes because it reminded her of a certain blue-eyed vampire. Especially, the line 'Look into his angel eyes. One look and you're hypnotized'
"You guys were awesome out there", Liam complimented earnestly, when they reached the bar where he was serving drinks.
"Yup, unfailingly melodious", Alexis chipped in with a proud grin.
"Don't we always", Jessica quipped with a grin of her own, inducing everyone to chortle.
As their conversation directed to other subjects, Caroline couldn't shake off the creepy feeling that someone was watching her. It gave goosebumps as she nervously swabbed off the non-existent dust off the silk maroon top and blue ripped jeans she was wearing.
Samantha, who notice the anxious energy coming off Caroline, leaned over to whisper in her ears, "Are you Okay, Care? What's wrong?"
"Huh? Nothing. Just zoned out for a moment", Caroline muttered vaguely, not sounding convincing at all.
But before the brunette could pry any further, she was interrupted by Noah, "Ah the stars of the night".
"You know, maybe you should start paying us with all the free publicity we get The Scull", Jacob importuned casually.
"Sure, if you start paying for all the free food you eat here", Noah replied with a dry tone. His instant response stimulating them to cackle.
"Touché".
"That a lovely necklace, you got there Caroline. Would you mind tell me where you got it from?", Noah let out, sounding unduly curious.
Though it's was an ordinary question, there was a glint in his eyes that Caroline couldn't perceive. It was almost that he recognised the piece of jewellery which was bizarre since this was the first time she had ever worn it.
Before she could reply to his question, Samantha answers it for her, "She got it when we went thrifting today".
"It's pretty, isn't it? It suits her", Jessica appreciated.
"It's almost like it was made for her. Do you know, Alicia lets her have it for free".
"Yeah, she let her have actual authentic jewellery, but wouldn't even let me have that girls number", Jacob whined with a gloomy sigh.
"Shut up, JJ", Jessica groaned, rolling her eyes.
The name looked like it sparked a memory for Noah. His face shifting to recognition for a moment before he hid it with his prior smile. Caroline noticing the whole thing.
"Alicia...", he thought. "Why is she here?"
"Vicki?", Stefan called out, slowly approach her, when he noticed a crying curled-up figure leaning on a bark of a tree. Vicki had fled away from the Gilbert house not knowing what was happening to her. He had been searching for her all over town and he had finally found her. Happy that she hadn't feed or hurt someone.
"I'm starting to remember things, what he is, what he said. I remember you. The hospital, the...the rooftop, it's all coming back", Vicki depressingly grieved.
"I'm so sorry. Damon had no right to do this to you", Stefan consoled, rubbing her back. Though it was still unclear if Damon was responsible for her death.
"He said that I need to feed. What will happen if I don't?", she asked, tears still seeping from her green eyes.
"You'll fade quickly...And then it'll all just be over", he empathically said.
"I'll be dead", she wept.
"Hey", he slowly utters, trying to calm her down.
"I don't want this", she choked, gasping loudly.
"I know. It'll be ok. You're gonna be ok. I can help you", he said, apologetically. He can help her, he knows he can help her
"Is it better? Will I be better? I wanna go home. Will, you take me home?", she stammered.
"Ok", Stefan promised standing her about to help her up as well only to get unexpectedly shot 3 times by Logan Fell. One bullet missing his heart by an inch, "Ahh!"
"No!", Vicki froze, looking had the bleeding Stefan. Not knowing how to help him.
Logan didn't know who he was anticipating would be the vampire. But it was certainly not Zach's nephew, Stefan Salvatore. From all the people he had considered, Stefan was definitely not one of them. That's why Zach disappeared. He knew that the council would eventually find out that Zach was the trader who was housing a vampire.
He had pressed the trigger as soon as the compass's arrow pointed at him. Thinking that it was finally over when Stefan plopped on the ground. Oh, how he couldn't be more wrong.
What he didn't foresee was Damon Salvatore appearing out of nowhere are biting down his neck. The shock made him drop the one self-defence weapon he was carrying along with the Gilbert watch.
When Damon felt Logan's heartbeat slow down, he let go of him rendering him to collapse on the ground, too weak to retaliate, instantly rushing to his brother's aid.
Quickly he pulled out all three of the bullets before examining it as he revealed, "It's wood. They know. If anyone's gonna kill you, it's gonna be me. My ring."
Grabbing the daylight ring, he stood up. Finally noticing Vicki who was now drinking from Logan. He had very confused when Little Miss Gilbert blandly started to accuse him of killing Vicki when he had clearly taken the high road and had let her go.
Now he understood. Vicki had been transitioning. But the real question was, how or who was responsible for her death when it wasn't him?
Stefan finally noticing Vicki, yelled, "No! No! Vicki!"
"I'm sorry", Vicki wept apologetically, before going right back to draining Logan dry.
"Oops", Damon taunted as he picking up the Gilbert watch, flashing out of there, leaving Stefan to deal with the Donovan situation. He had a blond to see.
"What Damon? Why do you keep calling me?", Caroline groaned angrily, moving her phone from one ear to another. The constant calls had gotten so unbearable that she finally had to excuse herself, striding out of the bar answering the call.
"Where are you Blondie?", Damon asked as he moved around her room. After he had finally gotten his ring, he decided to go to Caroline, since he had nothing else to do. Imagine his disappointment when he found out that Barbie wasn't at home.
"What do you mean where am I?", she asked offhandedly.
"I mean, why aren't you home?", he implored, without sounding unduly curious, even if he was.
"Why aren't I home?", she repeated confused with what he was babbling about. When she got what he meant, she yelled out, "Oh my god Damon, did you break into my house again. How many times do I have to keep telling you to stop doing that? Please stop for Christ sake"
"Don't you have any hobbies", she grumbled with a sigh of irritation.
"I like pulling out hearts", he replied with a smirk.
"Let's skip that one".
"Yeah yeah, now tell me, where are you?", he asked once again as he stopped pacing around, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"I'm at Duke, visiting my Dad and his boyfriend", Caroline answered with a sigh. Her initial thought was to say what she always tells him, None of your business. But that would just unnecessary drag the conversation even more. So she decided to skip it as just tell him the same lie she had been telling everyone in Mystic Falls.
"But Why?"
"What do you mean why? I do this every weekend Damon",
"You didn't last time"
"Yeah and who's fault is that", she snapped, annoyed with his childish behaviour.
"Oh", Damon awkwardly let out, not knowing what to say.
"Now that you are already there, go open the first drawer of my wooden dresser", she ordered.
"Why?"
"Don't ask too many questions. Just do it!", she informed sassily.
"Yes Ma'am", the blue-eyed vampire mocked, moving to her dresser and opening the drawer.
"This is quite a collection you got here Blondie. Ohhh, I like the black one", he smirked, looking at her colour coordinated inner-wear.
"Oh God, not the second one Dumbass, I said the FIRST drawer", Caroline yelled out embarrassed at the fact that he saw that.
"Okay okay, stop being so Bossy", he beseeched, closing the second drawer before opening the first one. That was when he saw it. Emily's crystal. He had completely forgotten about it. What was it doing here?
"The crystal! What is it doing with you?", he asked, suspiciously.
"I honestly have no idea how. But since it was already there. I thought I'll safeguard it until and unless I hand it back to you", Caroline answer. And Damon didn't know why, he immediately believed her. The fact that she kept it save for him instead of throwing it away or give it to Stefan spoke wonders.
"Thank you", he said after a few seconds of utter silence.
"Omg, you have manners. Who would have thought", she said with mock astonishment.
"Come on Barbie, I am not that bad", Damon quipped.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that", she mocked with a small smile on her face.
"I will talk to you later, okay? I need to get back to my Dad"
"Yeah, okay", he replied, slightly disappointed before remembering something, "Wait Blondie! There is something you need to know"
"Yeah?"
"Vicki Donovan is now a vampire", Damon declared, before hanging up.
"WHAT?!", Caroline exclaimed. "Hello? Damon? Are you there?"
When she checked her phone, she realised that Damon has hung up on her. The audacity!
How dare he drop such a bomb on her and then leave her hanging. Oh, she can't wait to get back and give him a piece of her mind.
When she was about to get back to her friends she noticed a lady who looked like she was in her 60s tumble on the sidewalk. Quickly rushed to her help, bending downwards, to help the lady up.
As soon as their hands touched, Caroline felt a burst of energy out of nowhere. Confused she looked at the lady, who in turn looked straight into her eyes before announcing, "Finally. It's time".
"Caro, what are you doing? Come on! It's our favourite song", Jessica yelled peeking her head through the door.
Her voice bringing Caroline out of the trance she was in as she turned to look at her Pink-haired friend.
"I was just helping this lady...?", she traded off when she noticed that the lady had disappeared.
"What?", Jessica called out, not understanding what she had said because of the loud music.
"Nothing. I am coming", Caroline replies, moving towards her. Her mind still replaying the bizarre encounter.
"What the hell was that?"
A/N: That finally marks the end of chapter 16.
I apologise for the late update. I had an extremely busy week with my exams coming up. Had to catch up on a year of French since I skipped most of the classes.
But I hope this super long chapter makes a good compensation for the lack of updates.
So how did you like this chapter ?
Whose favourite OC character ?
Pulled an all-nighter again since this took way longer than planned. So I am off to sleep .
Do vote and comment. I love reading all of them
Until next time