I'll more than likely be taking November off... I might post a few chapters here since I'm already ahead in this story but I plan on taking part in NaNoWriMo again. sooo yeah :D
readers still out there? some love?
Disclaimer: See prologue. some dialogue is taken right from the episodes, cuz it's hard not to ya know?
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thanks
... ... ...
And it's happened once again
I'll turn to a friend
Someone that understands
And sees through the master plan
But everybody's gone
And I've been here for too long
To face this on my own
Well, I guess this is growing up
... ... ...
"So what the hell do I do now?" Kenzie asked, looking out through the curtains at the sun that didn't quite make it to the windows. "I can't go outside during the day. How the hell do I cheerlead?"
Katherine smirked as she stepped forward and grabbed Kenzie's hand, lifting it so she could see the ring. "No one told you about this ring, did they Red?"
"Yes, it brought me back from supernatural death and makes it so vampires can't compel me, kind of useless now, isn't it?"
"Really?" Katherine asked, moving with supernatural speed to the door and throwing it open, pushing the new baby vamp into the sun.
Kenzie didn't try to get away, if Katherine wanted her dead already, it was fine by her but as she turned her face towards the sun, she opened her eyes and looked down at her hands with a frown, noticing she was still completely whole.
"What's this?" Kenzie asked turning to look at Katherine.
"Your ring is made with Lapis Lazuli stone." Katherine explained, leaning against the doorway of their motel room. "From what Jill said, Gilbert made the ring thinking that the properties of actually making a ring with the stone would do more than protect the wearer from a supernatural death but it would protect against being compelled."
"Which has to do with me standing in the sun, how?" Kenzie asked.
The older vamp rolled her eyes. "It made turning the rings into daywalking rings that much easier. I had Emily do all three of them after I turned Jill, you know, for when they turned Cynthia when she was older. Jill was given Cynthia's ring when she was born so when she was turned, ta-da."
"great." The redhead muttered. "Just when I was thinking this was my way out."
"Nope, I still have 29 days." Katherine reminded her with a big smile. "We haven't even started yet."
… … …
Kenzie shot out a hand, grabbing someone around the throat as she opened her eyes and sat up, barely stopping herself from vamping out. She wasn't jumpy, not in the least.
She needn't have worried though, it was just Stefan, smirking down at her.
"What the fuck are you doing in my room?" She hissed.
"Seeing if you're hungry and up for a little party." He replied. "I have a bunch of chicks at my place right now, we're playing twister, they're gonna entertain me. I'm sure we can find you some guys."
She scowled. "Are you nuts? I might as well wear a flashing neon sign that says 'Hey look, I'm a vampire, surprise.'"
"Aww, come on Kenz, it'll be fun, I just want someone around to have fun with."
She got out of bed, noting that Stefan was looking at her tank top and tiny shorts with a leer as he looked her up and down.
"Switched off Stefan is a complete dick." She told him, walking by as she smacked him in the stomach and headed into her closet to find clothes to wear. "I don't want to be around while you kill all those chicks. I still have my humanity intact. I'm going to school and I'm going to finish my senior year. I'm going to kick ass at cheerleading, lead this team to the nationals and then run tCaroline for Prom Queen. Nowhere in my agenda does it have going off on a killing spree in there."
"Come on Kenz, let's rip it up."
She poked her head out of her closet to glare at him. "I'm not a Ripper. I know how to take a drink, compel them to forget and walk away, you should try it sometime."
"And why would I want to do that?"
"So you can be inconspicuous, you complete retard." She pulled out some clothes and began changing, not caring that he was watching her. She really had no modesty. "I'm going to school are you coming?"
"Do I have to?" he asked with a groan.
"You mean, you don't want to repeat your senior year for your umpteenth time? Does it ever get old?"
"It's way old. Lucky for you, I have to go keep an eye on Elena."
"How is that lucky for me?" She incredulously asked. "I don't care if you go to school or not. In fact, how about you don't? I'm sure it will make everyone's senior year better."
She left her room, noting her dad was still sleeping and Stefan followed her as she grabbed her bag and left the house.
"Why are you following me?" She asked after walking a few blocks.
"Because I want to find that switch, I bet you are tonnes of fun without your humanity. Plus, I totally told Damon and Elena we kissed last night, you should've seen their faces."
Kenzie stopped in her tracks, gritting her teeth in an attempt to control her temper and when that didn't work, she turned towards him, punching him in the face as hard as she could, noting with satisfaction that he went flying back.
"You're an asshole." She hissed before turning and walking away.
He rubbed his jaw, noting that she had pretty powerful punch before running to catch up to her.
"You're the only who told me to tell them." He reminded her.
"I was drunk." She exclaimed. "I didn't think you actually would."
"Don't tell me you still have feelings for my brother. He loves Elena, god knows why. I'd pick you any day."
She laughed as they reached the school and walked towards the entrance. "You're such an idiot. You'd totally pick Elena too, you just want to piss everyone off. God, you're 100 and some odd years old, grow the fuck up."
"See? You're all fiery and stuff, it's hot."
"Go away." She snapped. "I want nothing to do with you."
She stomped off, happy he finally stopped following her as she entered the school, only to walk right into Caroline, Bonnie and Elena who seemed to be waiting for her.
"Why would you kiss Stefan?" Caroline asked with wide eyes.
Kenzie rolled her eyes, throwing up her hands. "He kissed me. I didn't ask for it, nor did I want it. Him, big strong vampire, me not so much and he was only doing it because I told him about Damon and Elena." She glared at all three girls. "So stop looking at me like I committed the worst sin possible, I mean, you want to start pointing fingers, who kissed whose boyfriend first?" Elena looked down, looking decidedly guilty as the other two girls looked bad for accusing Kenzie. "That's what I thought, you're welcome."
She pushed past them and continued on to her locker sighing when someone new joined her. "I hate everyone, seriously." She muttered.
"Is it true? Stefan kissed you?"
"Yes." Kenzie snapped, turning to Rebekah with a scowl. "What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be off with your brother? Can't I just be left alone?"
"My brother left me." Rebekah replied looking completely put out. "So I decided to try school, it's much different then 90 years ago. So I'm the new girl and I know no one here."
"Except all the people who hate you."
"Yes, well, I'm not looking to make friends with them, they're all really annoying."
"And you're talking to me why?"
"You seemed annoyed by that doppelganger bitch too. I don't think I hate you as much as the others."
Kenzie actually bit back a smile at this as she came back with a sarcastic remark. "Gee, I feel blessed."
"What is there to do for fun around here?"
Kenzie shrugged. "I'm a cheerleader, so there's my fun."
"Cheerleading." Rebekah mused. "I've heard about this, I think I'll join, it sounds like fun."
"I don't think there are any opens spots right now. Ask Dana, I know she was here all summer." Kenzie pointed towards the other girl and Rebekah walked over to her.
"Are there any spots on the squad?"
Dana shook her head. "Sorry, we're all filled up but we do have spots open throughout the year if you want to try out."
"I will not try out." Rebekah snapped, looking at the other girls eyes. "I think it's time for you to try a new sport and give me your spot on the squad."
"Of course." Dana replied. "I'm going to try out for volleyball. Congrats on making the squad."
She turned and left and Rebekah turned back to Kenzie with a grin. "I'm a cheerleader."
Kenzie only rolled her eyes. "By cheating. Most girls try out. So, Vampire Barbie, you ever get anything on your own, or you compel everything for yourself."
"If I have it, why not use it?" Rebekah asked with a defiant raise of her chin.
"Sometimes, it actually feels good to earn stuff. Peace out Barbs."
She walked away, wanting to get to her locker before her first class started. For some reason, becoming a vampire had made her want to take school more seriously, go figure.
After she found her locker and dumped the stuff she didn't need in it, she made her way towards class, turning down a hallway to see Stefan holding Elena in a bruising grip as she hissed at him to let her go. Kenzie walked forward stopping beside them with a raised brow as she crossed her arms.
"Kenzie, please go get help." Elena calmly begged of her.
The redhead ignored her, turning instead to Stefan. "Stop being a dick."
"I'm just doing what I'm told." He replied, turning to her with an amused grin.
"He said watch her, not manhandle her whenever you damn well please. Now let her go."
"And what will you do for me if I do that?"
Her nostrils flared as she tried to keep her temper in check. "What do you want?"
His grin only grew. "You know what I want, Kenz."
The tiny girl only rolled her eyes, not the least bit intimidated by him. "And you know what my answer is, you jackass, so let her go, now."
"Or what?"
Luckily Alaric had shown up then and when the history teacher had distracted Stefan, Kenzie had pulled Elena's arm away before deftly stepping in between Stefan and Alaric before the vampire could push the teacher.
"Leave." Kenzie told him.
"Ooh the girls got bite." Stefan said with a smirk and a very obvious wink before walking away.
The two humans looked as though they wanted to ask Kenzie what that was all about but before they could, she quickly called out that she was going to be late dashing off down the hall in the opposite direction. Alaric only raised an eyebrow at Elena who responded with a shrug, brushing it off as her petite friend still being angry with her.
Kenzie had gone through the rest of her school day avoiding most of her friends. She had waved at Jeremy with a big grin, pretending as though she didn't know he had been off traipsing with Katherine. She spent lunch eating out by the track, not wanting to talk to anyone and when Caroline had asked her where she had been, told the other vampire she was practicing her cheers for upcoming year because she had heard Dana had quit and there was a spot for captain on the squad. This had sent Caroline off in a tizzy to figure out what was going on and Kenzie was left alone for the rest of the day.
When practice rolled around, Kenzie quickly changed and went out to the field to begin stretching amongst the other girls as one asked where Dana was. At that moment, Rebekah had walked up and announced she had seen Dana at volleyball practice leaving the other girls wondering what they would do without a captain. No one was more surprised then Kenzie when Rebekah had suggested her.
"I heard she led her last school to the Nationals." Rebekah announced.
Kenzie and Caroline both stared at the blonde, wondering just what in the hell she was doing and the redhead trying to figure out how Rebekah even knew that.
"What about Caroline?" Another girl, Ashley, suggested. "She's been part of the squad since freshman year."
"Because Caroline has never led a squad to Nationals." Rebekah argued, "If you want to go somewhere, you need the best."
At that moment, the football team dispersed from practice and Caroline walked away, leaving everyone dumbfounded and with the blonde seeming uninterested, the vote was almost unanimous to have Kenzie as the new captain. The redhead accepted, keeping one ear on the conversation between Tyler and Caroline and the other ear on the squad, cheering for her and asking what the first order of business was. That snapped her out of her reverie, deciding to ignore Caroline chastising Tyler about compelling as she turned to Rebekah.
"How did you even get to nominate without even being on the squad?" Kenzie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you do have an opening now, and I am here, so why not?" The Original Vampire asked.
"Because there is more to looking pretty." Kenzie replied with a sickly sweet smile.
Rebekah only returned the smile before walking away and turning, getting ready to do a tumble pass. She took off into a front aerial, followed by a front handspring and ending in a split with her arms raised triumphantly as the other girls cheered.
"That won't get us to Nationals." Kenzie told her. "That won't even get us to Regionals."
"Oh really? Then what will?" Rebekah challenged. "You're a captain now, so I guess you should be able to do anything."
Kenzie responded with an eye roll as she dropped her practice ponpoms and walked away from her so she would have enough room to take off into her tumble pass of a front aerial, front handspring, round off, back hand spring, back tuck before falling into a split.
"I can do that." Rebekah told her, mimicking everything she had just done.
"Not bad." Kenzie replied before launching into another combination that had Rebekah following suit.
This went back and forth for many rounds, Kenzie doing one run after another with Rebekah copying her. Kenzie knew she had always been able to do all these combinations but with her supernatural strength and speed lending the tiniest bit of help, she now made it look completely effortless. Soon a crowd had gathered including the football team, people who had been running on the track, Caroline and Tyler who had appeared to see what all the fuss was about and Elena and Stefan. The brunette having been working out with her new bodyguard following after her.
The redheads last tumbling pass ended with a standing back handspring, back handspring step-out, round off, back handspring, layout, leaving all the girls cheering like wild.
"Careful Barbie." Kenzie whispered, knowing Rebekah could hear her. "Don't wanna show up the captain do you? After all you did to get me as the captain?"
"Am I on the team or not?" Rebekah asked with a scowl.
Kenzie replied with a huge grin on her face. "Oh you were on the squad after your first tumbling pass, I just wanted to have some fun."
Rebekah's jaw dropped in shock as everyone clapped and cheered them. Kenzie only bowed before calling to everyone that practice was done for the day.
… … …
"Hey Red, I'm here to pick you up."
Kenzie gripped the door, forcing herself not to slam it in Damon's face. "For what?"
"Team meeting before the bonfire."
"I'm not going." She snapped, going to close the door this time when he reached out a hand to stop it.
"This is how it's going to go. You're going to come with me, we're going to talk over a plan to trap Stefan and I'll forget that you kissed my brother."
Kenzie let out a humourless laugh. "Forget that I kissed your brother? Are you kidding me? Does everyone seem to forget that technically I can't handle a big bad vampire? That I'm too weak? How am I supposed to stop him? What's your excuse?"
"Look, Red, I'm willing to forget, why can't you?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll go with you tonight and play nice and pretend I don't want to punch you on sight, happy?"
"Extremely." Was his sarcastic reply.
"Whatever." Kenzie muttered, walking past him and out to the car. She stopped when she saw they wouldn't be alone but Elena was in the backseat, waiting for them. "I hate you so much." She whispered, knowing Damon could hear her.
"No, you don't and I'm going to prove it." He told her, walking towards the car.
"Hi Kenzie, you look nice." Elena complimented her as she got in.
"Thanks." The redhead replied, looking down at her jeans and purple top with a shrug. "So what's with the team meeting anyways?"
"We want to trap Stefan." Elena explained. "At least until Katherine wakes Mikael and he shows up and kills Klaus and breaks the compulsion."
"You're talking to Katherine now?" Kenzie asked playing dumb.
"No, I am." Damon replied. "We found the one person Klaus is afraid of and Elena has a crazy idea that keeping Stefan locked up until Klaus is dead will have him come running back to her."
Kenzie let out a snort of amusement. "And he's going to want to turn his humanity back on, why? He's killed how many people, how's he going to deal with that guilt."
"With me." Elena softly replied. "I'm going to be there for him and we'll get through it together."
The redhead turned in her seat to look at Elena, noticing the determined look on her face. "E, you live in a world full of vampires, werewolves and witches. You, of all people know that our lives aren't rainbows and sunshine. What if he's too far gone?"
"I refuse to believe it." Elena told her. "I can't lose hope Kenzie. It's Stefan, I love him."
The baby Vamp sighed before turning back around, unsure of what to say.
"Didn't expect that, huh?" Damon quietly said. "You think you'd come back and with Stefan gone there would be some new epic romance with Elena and I, huh? Well how does it feel to be wrong? She spent the whole summer trying to get Stefan back and I did help her because he is my brother, not because of her. And when I wasn't looking, I was looking for you. Where were you Kenzie?"
"I thought you said she was in California." Elena spoke up.
"She wasn't." Came Damon's short reply. "Little Miss Redbird wasn't anywhere near there."
"Maybe you just didn't look hard enough." Kenzie replied.
"Oh trust me, I met your whole family over there and all your old friends. Let me tell you those airheads are complete catty bitches."
Kenzie let out a small noise of amusement. "Yeah, they really are."
"So where were you then?" Elena asked.
"Travelling the country with Katherine of all people, sheesh." Kenzie's reply was laced heavily with sarcasm as they pulled up to the school and she got out. She had just told them the truth, nor her fault no one would believe her.
Everyone met in Alaric's classroom, Elena explaining that she was going to lure Stefan away and Ric would shoot him. Caroline had the jail cell ready and when Damon asked why Bonnie didn't just do anything, Elena said she wanted to keep her friend out of it, she didn't want Stefan killing her.
"Then why am I here?" Kenzie asked. "He'll kill me in a heartbeat."
"Or kiss you." Damon muttered.
"Can I just state for the record that I did not enjoy the kiss. At all. And really, no one should be jumping down my throat, I didn't start it."
Elena glanced away before clearing her throat and continuing. "Kenzie, you're here because for some reason, Rebekah has taken a liking to you. We need you to distract her. Damon will watch over you and make sure nothing happens."
"Sorry I'm late," Tyler said as he entered the classroom. "what's going on?"
"We need you to raid your mom's vervain supply. Enough to keep Stefan down for a while." Elena told him.
"You can't do that to Stefan," Tyler replied.
"Why not?" Caroline snapped.
"Trust me Tyler, it's in his best interest." Elena told him.
"But it's not in Klaus'"
"But Klaus is the bad guy, Tyler. You know, why are you acting like some freaky, hybrid, slave minion." Caroline snapped.
"Uh oh." Damon muttered and Ric and Kenzie turned to him.
"What?" Ric asked.
"Klaus made me who I am, Caroline. I owe him everything." Tyler explained.
"Oh boy."
Suddenly Kenzie caught on to what Damon was muttering about. Tyler had a sire bond. Katherine had told her all about it over the summer and had even checked to make sure she wasn't bonded to Damon in such a way. Which she wasn't. Thank god. That vampire was already enough of a pompous ass. But now Tyler was sired and to Klaus of all people.
"Ok, can we cool it on the commentary, please." Caroline griped.
"What's going on?" Elena asked.
Damon took out a vervain dart and rushed Tyler, stabbing him in the neck.
"What are you doing?" Caroline cried.
"He's been sired." Damon explained.
"What?" Ric asked, in confusion.
"He has a sire bond." Kenzie jumped in. "He's team Klaus for the moment."
"Oh god." Caroline whispered.
Damon gave Kenzie a weird look, wondering how she could possibly know that. "She's right, he feels loyal to Klaus because Klaus made him."
"Loyal how?" Elena asked.
"He'll seek acceptance from his master. It's really rare. But maybe not so much in hybrids."
"How do I fix him?" Asked Caroline.
Damon shrugged, his eyes still on Kenzie. "Get a new boyfriend."
Caroline shook her head. "I refuse to believe that, he can be saved."
"Maybe you should take him home." Kenzie said. "Talk to him, who knows."
Caroline nodded, easily picking up her boyfriend and leaving.
Damon continued staring at Kenzie who lifted an eyebrow at him before exiting the classroom.
She had a bonfire to get to.
… … …
When she got to the bonfire, Kenzie mingled with some people, before heading to grab a beer.
"Having fun?" Stefan asked, sidling up beside her.
"Very much so." Kenzie replied, after she finished pouring her beer.
"Wanna get out of here?"
"Can you be any more creepier? Piss off."
"You're not very nice to the guy who holds your little secret in the palm of his hands." He held out his cupped hands as if to prove a point.
Kenzie turned and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him down to her level. "Listen, you asshole, I'm not going to let you stand there holding it over me, thinking you can make me do whatever you damn well please. I'm not your little sock puppet, nor will I ever be."
"And if I say I'm going to tell everyone?" He asked, looking highly amused.
"I. Don't. Care." She hissed.
Stefan laughed as he pulled away from her. "You highly amuse me."
"Fuck off before I rip out your ribcage and wear it as a hat." She threatened him, pushing him away as she stomped past him towards the fire. She spotted Rebekah there and moved to sit beside the Original Sister.
"You and Stefan look to be at odds." She noted, looking at the marshmallow at the end of her stick.
Kenzie glanced over at the blonde with a look of disgust. "Gross, you're hung up on him too? He was a pansy with his humanity and now he's an asshole without it. There's like no middle ground."
"I liked him when I met him in the20's. He was a lot of fun. Course, my brother decided to dagger me after."
"And he went all. 'oh woe is me.' Not long after, I'm sure." Kenzie replied and the two girls actually smiled at each other.
"Why are you here Kenzie?" Rebekah asked.
"Because it's the bonfire?" She asked, slightly confused.
"No, I meant here, talking to me. You have friends here and I know for a fact all of them hate me. Even now, that other Salvatore hovers near us."
"I don't hate you yet." Kenzie replied. "You got me Captain, so there's that. Besides, I'm just here to distract you."
The redhead saw Damon freeze across the bonfire, wondering what the hell she was up to. Kenzie only smiled and sent him a small wave.
"Distract me?" Rebekah asked, her turn to look confused. "Whatever for? And why tell me about it?"
"Honesty is the best policy or whatever, right?"
"I guess." The blonde replied uncertainly.
"Here's the sitch then. They have a plan to help Stefan and they wanted me to distract you. Damon is over there making sure you don't kill me but even if you do, I have a nifty little trick that keeps me popping back to life."
"Why are you telling me this?" Rebekah asked, "I could rip your heart out right now and go save Stefan."
"I know but you won't."
"And why wouldn't I?"
Kenzie smiled at her. "Because I just told you the truth, something I guess not a lot of people do, huh? Stefan has already left with Elena and the plan is already in motion. You don't want to save Stefan all that much because he's been an asshole to you as well, I'm sure. And after all that, you don't hate me as much as you hate everyone else. How close am I?"
"Fairly close." Rebekah replied with an amused expression.
Kenzie glance up again at Damon not at all surprised to see he was walking towards them.
"Ladies, may I borrow Red for a moment."
"No." Rebekah replied. "I like her."
"I'll return her in a second."
"Do I get any say in this?" Kenzie asked.
"No." the other two replied facing off with one another.
"She's honest, she's told me all about your plan." Rebekah told him.
"Oh yeah?" Damon asked. "Then why haven't you gone to stop it?"
"Because Stefan really is no concern of mine right now and I'm enjoying talking to Kenzie."
"Yeah yeah, everyone gets that about redbird."
"You both realize I'm still here, right?" An exasperated Kenzie asked but both ignored her.
"I think I should keep her around. God knows I can use a friend. What do you think, Kenzie? Wouldn't being a vampire be fun?"
Damon laughed. "Right. Red as a vampire. That's the last thing she wants."
"Oh really?" Rebekah asked, moving to bite her wrist.
"Hey, stop." Kenzie yelled. "Look, you twats, stop it, both of you. Rebekah you can't turn me into one, your brother tried it didn't work. Besides, I'm not ready for that kind of commitment with you yet. Lets get to know each other then go from there, yeah? And you-" she turned to glare at Damon. "-just leave me alone." She stomped off, annoyed with both of them.
She decided to go home and hoped neither tried to catch up with her. They could finish their little fight by themselves and leave her out of this.
Macks.
Kenzie slowed down, wondering if she was hearing things.
Macks.
She stopped and spun around, wondering who the hell was calling her. "Whoever it is, piss off and don't call me that."
A giggle sounded behind her and she spun around, her eyes widening in disbelief. She knew that giggle.
"Mads?"
… … …