Disclaimer: See prologue.
You won't ever have to worry,
You won't ever have to hide,
You've seen all my mistakes,
So look me in my eyes.
Cause if you let me, here's what I'll do,
I'll take care of you
I've loved and I lost.
It's my birthday, I'll get high if I want to,
Can't deny that I want you, but I'll lie if I have to,
Cause you don't say you love me
To your friends when they ask you
Even though we both know that you do
...
Damon had to do some really great lying to convince Stefan that Kenzie had freaked out so much she begged him to take the memory of her death away. Although he remained skeptical, Damon pointed out that there was no reason for him to remove her ring and take away the memory without her consent, she was just too hard headed for that. Not to mention, why shouldn't Kenzie know about the ring that would bring her back to life and that seemed to placate him who agreed not to speak about it and tell the others not to as well.
So Damon dropped her off the next morning at school, acting as if nothing had happened, just exactly what he had told her. He did tell her that the reason Tyler ditched her was that Katherine had compelled someone to push Tyler until they died in order to trigger the curse and not to hold it against him. She agreed not to and went into the school, noticing candles, flowers and pictures in front of a locker. She assumed that had been the girl that was compelled and was relieved that it wasn't anyone she knew. Not that it sucked for that girl, but she didn't even know her.
She went to her locker and pulled out her books, seeing Jeremy talking to Stefan at his locker so she closed the door and walked up to them with a smile on her face.
"Hey guys how are you."
"You seem awfully chipper." Jeremy noted. "Especially since you-"
"Were totally ditched by Tyler." Stefan cut in with a warning look at Jeremy.
"Well, I know why, can't blame the guy I guess. So everyone is okay from last night?"
"Have you talked to Elena?" Stefan asked, trying to act like everything was normal.
"No, I haven't, I just figured she would be with you after last night. I should go, keep me updated, okay?" She bounced off down the hall and Jeremy turned to Stefan in confusion.
"Why is she acting like she didn't die last night?" Before Stefan could explain, Jeremy's eyes widened. "He compelled her, didn't he? What a dick. What is his problem, he can't just go and-"
"Kenzie asked to be compelled last night because it was too much for her to deal with." Stefan cut him off.
"And you believe that?"
"It's true. She willingly took off her ring, you know she wouldn't let him take it otherwise and he respects her too much to do it without her consent, kind of like with Elena."
"Fine." Jeremy relented, "Speaking of my sister, we need to find her."
"You're right." Stefan replied, closing his locker.
… … …
Kenzie thought everyone was acting really weird around her. Yesterday, after Damon had dropped her off at school, her friends had been almost tiptoeing around her, like they were hiding something or walking on eggshells. Granted most everyone seemed to have disappeared because Elena was missing so she let it slide, but school was the same for her today and she was super confused. They were all staring at her like she was made of glass and ready to break and she didn't understand why. She was Mackenzie Madeline Miller, who kept a cool front at all times and never let anyone see her crack, so why were they acting like they had?
After practice, she decided to go see Damon, knowing she could count on him to be normal around her, or even a little bit mean which she would rather enjoy compared to the pitying looks and the walking on eggshells she had been getting.
When she reached the house, she didn't bother knocking but went in, taking her backpack off her back as she walked towards the living room.
"It's a lie, you know." She heard a female accented voice speaking. "There's no switch you can turn off. Sure when you're a newbie but after a couple of hundred years… you just have to pretend."
A cell phone rang and the same woman answered, but Kenzie couldn't follow the conversation as much as she tried and when the woman hung up, Kenzie stepped into the room, wanting to know who the woman was. She stopped, dropping her bag and letting out an involuntary gasp, seeing the woman, half naked, lying on top of a very naked Damon. Both looked towards her and although Damon knew Kenzie had entered, he acted surprised at the compromising situation he had been caught in.
"I- I didn't mean to interrupt." Kenzie stammered, trying to figure out why this bothered her so much. It shouldn't have because she only saw Damon as a fuck buddy, nothing more.
"Oh come on Kenzie." Damon said with a smirk, "you really didn't think you were the only one I had fun with, did you?"
Her cheeks flushed red with anger. "No, I just- whatever, I got to go."
She quickly left and Rose turned to Damon with a knowing look on her face. "It's not Elena that you love."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Damon said, rolling to his feet and looking for his clothes.
"I thought you were doing all this because you love Elena but somehow, it's that girl that was just in here, wasn't it? You just say and act like it's Elena."
"Redbird? No." Damon denied. "She's just some kid. A kid who knows how to have fun and as you just found out, I like my fun."
Rose shook her head as she pulled on a shirt. "Now that, really is denial." She left the house and quickly caught up with the tiny redhead.
"Excuse me, Kenzie?" She hesitantly called.
The redhead spun around to face her, an angry look on her face. "what?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize there was something going on with you and him. I just arrived yesterday, so I really didn't know."
Kenzie shot her a puzzled look. "There is nothing going on with Damon and I. We're friends, with benefits. I just needed to talk to, someone who wasn't looking at me like I'm made of glass I just didn't realize he'd be entertaining someone and be such a dick about it."
"And that's all?" Rose pushed, having a feeling there was something more.
"Of course." Came Kenzie's confused answer. "I don't know what he told you but I'm not really into the whole joining in thing, I was planning on waiting until my college experimentation stage. Hey, so are you like… him?"
"A Vampire?"
"No, a nympho."
Off of Rose's scandalized look Kenzie laughed. "I'm kidding, yes, vampire, which I'm guessing, yes and where did you come from exactly?"
"I was the one who kidnapped Elena." Rose hesitantly replied. "I wanted to save Trevor by handing over the doppelganger."
Kenzie let a small smile shine through. "You kidnapped Elena and you're still alive? Do they know you did that? Those brothers are head over heels for that chick."
"So you don't know the whole story?"
The redhead shook her head. "I'm out of the loop and like I said, everyone's walking on eggshells around me, no idea why."
"Oh, well, I guess I should go back. Are you okay getting home on your own? It's after dark and I heard this wasn't a great town for after dark."
Kenzie only shrugged, "I'm fine. Thanks for explaining even though you didn't have to, I'm sure I'll see you around."
She spun around and walked away as fast as possible, not liking the other woman. No reason really but something about her just really bugged the hell out of Kenzie.
… … …
Kenzie opened the door to see Elena on the other side, looking extremely nervous. She momentarily paused, wondering if Katherine had gotten out but she could easily tell it was Elena. Katherine wasn't this good at acting and she didn't think Bonnie's spell would've already failed. But still, Kenzie stepped back anyways, letting her cross over the threshold herself. Elena did and she turned on Kenzie, nervously wringing her hands.
"I need your help."
"With what?"
"Distracting Damon and Stefan."
Kenzie cocked her head to the side. "Explain."
Elena sighed as she began to pace. "I'm going to do something that I know they won't approve of so I need your help distracting them. I mean, I have this feeling they already will be distracted but I need you to make sure they don't go looking for me."
"Where are you going?"
"To get more information on Klaus."
"I'm out of the loop, who is that?"
"you haven't spoken to Damon?" A surprised Elena asked.
"No, not since the day after the ball when he dropped me off at school. I heard a rumor that you had been kidnapped but everyone is acting really weird around me, do you know why?"
The tall brunette averted her eyes and Kenzie narrowed her eyes, once again getting the feeling that everyone was hiding something.
"I don't." Elena hesitantly told her before quickly catching her up on everything that had happened, including her kidnapping, her being rescued, speaking with Katherine, Damon and Rose going to speak with someone named Slater about the moonstone and how she wanted to go back to talk to Slater. Rose was even waiting in the tinted car for Elena.
After making a face over the Rose part Kenzie asked what she needed to do.
"I have a feeling Stefan, Damon and Bonnie are going to be together, coming up with a plan to get the guys in to get the moonstone. Just make sure they stay occupied without actually going for the moonstone and if they ask about me, I'm at school."
"Why me? Why not get Caroline? She's more likely to hang out with them."
"Because you're a great liar. Caroline can't lie to save her life, that's how Stefan found out I had gone to see Katherine in the first place. Please?"
"How do you know I won't tell them that you went off with the vampire that kidnapped you to go see another vampire?"
"Because you won't. What's in it for you by telling them?" Elena asked.
"what's in it for me if I don't tell them?" Kenzie shot back, crossing her arms under her chest.
Elena tiredly rubbed her forehead. "Kenzie, I honest to goodness want to be your friend, not to get ahead, not because I want something but because I like you and I hope you feel the same, so please let's not manipulate each other and please do this for me, as a favor."
The shorter girl let out a small sigh, maybe Elena was right. She wasn't dealing in cheerleader or popular kids politics and despite her being almost too nice for Kenzie, maybe it's what she needed, a real honest to goodness girlfriend, someone who was really nice, someone like…. Her sister. Kenzie started, briefly wondering where that had come from. She tried to not think about her sister if she could help it but the truth was, Elena and Mads were a lot alike and maybe that was why she had such an issue with Elena and how nice she was because it was too much like her sister. They would both do anything to protect the ones they love, even if it meant something happening to them.
"Okay." Kenzie quietly replied. "I'll go see what's going on and I will cover for you."
Elena breathed a sigh of relief, pulling her into a hug. "Thank you Kenzie."
"So I'm seeing what they're up to and stopping them from going for the moonstone?"
"Yes."
"Just call me the moment you get back, alright? And if there's any trouble, call Stefan and maybe when you get back you can tell me the real reason everyone is acting weird around me."
"I- I don't-"
Kenzie held up a hand to stop her. "you do know, just go and I'll do what I have to."
Elena nodded, quickly leaving for her trip to Richmond and Kenzie picked up her phone, calling Damon. He didn't answer and she sent a text, waiting exactly one minute before calling again. Still no answer and she kept calling until finally after the ninth call he answered.
"You better be in mortal peril." He said by way of greeting.
"Shut up." She told him. "Where are you?"
"At home." He replied.
"Good, I'm coming over."
"No, you're not."
Kenzie sighed as she looked for her backpack before finally realizing where it was. "I have to, I left my bag there yesterday when I walked in on your sexfest. And I gotta say, I'm impressed, you're doing the vamp that kidnapped Elena, she must be ecstatic about that. You're really trying to get under Elena's skin, aren't you?"
"No." Came his petulant reply. "And go to school, I'll drop it off."
"Too late, I'm halfway there." She sang.
"Kenzie, you're lying, you're still at home, now go to school."
"Why are you trying to keep me away from your place?" She asked. "I'd ask if you were busy getting it on but I'm guessing no because you really don't care what I see. So what are you hiding Damon?"
"Nothing. But you need to go to school, graduate and all that crap that high school students do."
She sighed. "Fine, whatever Damon."
She hung up the phone and left her house, briefly wishing she could drive but she didn't drive, there was no way in hell she was getting behind the wheel of any vehicle so she would be stuck walking because she was going to see Damon. She wasn't going to listen to him and go to school. Come on, who was he kidding?
She made it to the Salvatore house is record time and entered, again without knocking.
"Oh great." She heard Damon sigh and she knew he sensed her.
"What?" she heard Jeremy say.
"What will this do?" Damon asked, instead of answering Jeremy
"I can turn the metal into ash, blow the ashes on her and it will incapacitate her for a minute or two. Long enough for you to get the stone and get out." Bonnie explained as Kenzie appeared in the entrance of the living room where Damon, Stefan, Bonnie and Jeremy were all gathered.
"You're bleeding." Kenzie told Bonnie, who had a trickle of blood coming out of her nose.
The witch quickly wiped it away with a glare at the redhead as Jeremy turned to Bonnie, a look of concern on his face.
"Why are you bleeding?"
"It's nothing." Bonnie told him, still glaring at Kenzie.
The little redhead held her hands up in defeat. "I'm sorry, no idea you didn't want them to know, though it was kind of obvious. So, are we having a party? Where's my invite?"
Damon stomped over to grab her bag and thrust it into her hands before pushing her towards the door. "Now you got it, have fun at school."
She spun out of his reach with a small smirk on her face. "you know with everyone acting so completely nutters lately I think I'm going to skip school today and hang out with my bestie."
He looked at her with horror. "You better not have just called me-"
"My bestie?" She asked, fluttering her big long lashes at him. "Of course I did. So, whatcha doing?"
"Kenzie." He groaned. "Please, you don't need to be involved in this, just go."
Her eyes narrowed as he called her Kenzie, yet again. He never used her actual name if he could help it and it only cemented the fact that she was completely out of the loop on something.
"I'm either staying or I will follow you anyways, I'm not going anywhere."
He let out a sigh but didn't say anything as she marched past him and back into the living room.
"I'm here to help." She announced.
"There's nothing to help with." Bonnie informed her, in an almost nasty tone. "so you can go back to school."
Kenzie held the witches gaze as she walked further into the room and plopped herself down on the couch. "no thanks, I'm staying."
Bonnie turned to the brothers with a scowl. "Can you not make her leave? I'll even look the other way this time."
Jeremy looked at her in surprise. "Bonnie?"
"I'm sorry." The witch cried. "But she hates me and it might be easier to have this done-"
"I don't hate you." Kenzie quietly cut in, causing everyone to look at her. The little redhead stood up and moved a bit closer to the witch. "You assume I hate you but I don't, I just think you reacted wrong to this whole vampire thing. I mean, I walked into this, after someone tried to bite me and I accepted it a lot easier then you did. When your best friend was turned into a vampire, you were a downright bitch about it even though it wasn't her fault. How could her newest friend accept her so much easier than one of her oldest friends? The hate you think you see in me Bonnie, is just a reflection of what you feel for yourself."
The witch's mouth opened before snapping shut with an audible snap as she glared at Kenzie.
"are we ready?" Damon asked, interrupting them.
"Still gotta get the torches." Stefan said.
"Alaric's stake gun is in my trunk."
"Go ahead, I'm almost done." The witch said, turning back to her work.
Damon grabbed Kenzie's hand, pulling her out with him and his brother.
"geez, man handle much?" She asked, yanking her arm away from him.
"Why are you here?" Damon asked, turning on her.
"Because I'm tired of being frozen out." She said, putting her hands on her hips as she glared at me. "I'm tired of everyone acting like I'm made of glass and no one telling me anything anymore."
"You don't need to be involved in this." He hissed.
"Stop deciding things for me." She cried, stomping her foot in anger. "besides, I'm just coming with you guys, I'm not playing superhero or anything. I just don't want to go to school, okay?"
Damon rolled his eyes. "Just stay back." He snapped, only wanting to keep her away from Katherine, lest the bitch said something to her about the night of the masquerade.
Kenzie shrugged and scrambled into the backseat of his car, remaining quiet while they finished everything up and went to the tomb. She used her quiet time to figure out a reason to stop them from going after the moonstone like Elena asked. Maybe she could somehow mess up Bonnie's plan, or maybe she could finally learn everything going on so she would know if she was even doing the right thing or not.
"Sorry I'm late, I had to get the grimoire from home." The witch explained.
"Jeremy couldn't take the pressure, huh?" Damon asked with a smirk.
Bonnie frowned, glancing around before following Stefan into the tomb. "He said he'd be here."
Damon's phone rang and Kenzie stayed behind with him as he answered.
"It's not a good time Rose."
Kenzie's hand shot out and grabbed the phone, actually taking him by surprise, he turned to her with a scowl and went to grab the phone back as she danced out of reach of his arms.
"Did something happen?"
"Kenzie?" Rose hesitantly said. "I'm sorry I was even a part of this, if I had any idea-"
"Did something happen?" she interrupted.
"Not yet but Damon needs to get here right now. Did you know she was planning to turn herself over to Klaus?"
"Oh for the love of-" he yanked the phone away from Kenzie and grabbed her arm. "Where are you?"
"Richmond at Slater's, he's-"
"I'll be there as soon as possible." He hung up the phone and turned on Kenzie, his eyes blazing. "You're coming with me."
Before she could protest, she was swept over his shoulder and back at his car before she could even blink. He threw her into the car and she scowled at his manhandling as he got in and started the car, screeching out onto the road.
"What is it with you and manhandling me today?" she griped.
"Is that why you showed up today?" He sneered. "Keep us busy so Elena could go off on some suicide mission?"
Her scowl deepened. "I didn't know it was a suicide mission so cool your jets. She told me she was getting more information on Klaus and I figured she would be fine with your new girlfriend."
Damon made a noise of disgust. "There is no new information on Klaus, Slater already told us everything. What the hell were you thinking?"
"And how was I supposed to know?" She snapped. "I don't know anything going on with anyone. She just asked me for help, so I helped."
"Why would Elena ask you? What's in it for you?"
She glared at him, even though he had a point, she rarely did something unless there was something in it for her, and he knew that. "Because I'm a great liar so if you had asked me where she was, you never would've known."
"Of course." He muttered, returning her glare. "But you don't do anything without a reason."
"Maybe I got tired of being out of the loop." She yelled. "Maybe I got tired of having no friends, of having no one to talk to." Her voice lowered as she looked down at her hands in her lap. "Elena is- well she's a lot like Mads and as much as I want to hate Elena for reminding me of her, it's nice that she is, it makes everything hurt a little less. So she asked and I helped."
"But she's turning herself over to Klaus, the very person we're trying to save her from."
"Don't you think I know that now?" She hissed. "And if I had known she planned this, I actually would have told you about it. So don't blame me for the love of your life's idiocy."
Damon briefly turned away, trying to keep his temper in check because if he didn't, he would lose it on her and everything he made her forget would come tumbling out and he couldn't have that. He was Damon Salvatore, he didn't care. "If something happens to Elena before we get there, I'll-"
"What? Kill me? Knock yourself out." She crossed her arms under her chest and turned to look out the window, not noticing the pained look on his face at her words.
... ... ...