Here you go! It's a bit longer than usual, so enjoy! c: thanks for good input on my survey - there were a few harsh ones, but what can I expect from an anonymous review place? People will be assholes if it means they can anonymously do so!
Anyways, should I do longer 'Previously on Everything Changes'? or do you all easily remember what happened before? I could do longer ones, like maybe a few hundred words, or I can keep them short like this.
Haven't done this in a while: figured I'd add it in just as a reminder:
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries characters, or the story line which I am basing this off of. I'm simply playing with the characters for my own amusement. I do not claim to own TVD at all, either. So don't sue me ;*
Previously on Everything Changes...
"Ric?" I asked, scrambling off my bed and to the door. I cracked it open, peering cautiously out into the hallway.
When I saw Alaric standing there in his bloody shirt I threw the door open.
"How are you alive?"
Ric spent the next twenty minutes telling me about Isobel and how she gave him the ring to protect him from supernatural matters. He told me to not be mad at Damon, who had only attacked him because he had came there to kill him first. When Ric left, I felt closer to my teacher than ever before. I could even call him a friend now.
Third Person POV
Anna walked down the stairs of Miss Gibbon's house. "Hey Beth-Anne!" she greeted, nodding her head at the other vampire.
Peering at the television, she noticed it was still at the same channel as last night. "You've been watching the same thing the whole time, I see. This is called a remote control." Anna picked up the device and handed to her. "There are over 150 channels. This button changes the channel. Hold it like this." She demonstrated how to change a channel and the girl's eyes lit up.
"Thank you!" Beth-Anne exclaimed.
Anna smiled and went into the dining room. Fredrick, another tomb vampire, was feeding on Miss Gibbons.
"Did you get enough, dear?" she asked sweetly, her glazed over eyes peering at him curiously.
"For now," he wiped his mouth off on his sleeve.
"Anna, are you hungry?" she turned to the girl. "Did you want a little?"
Anna smiled tightly. "No thank you Ms. Gibbons." With a quick listen to the elderly lady's heart, she added. "Why don't you lie down for a while and get some rest?"
Fredrick eyed Pearl's daughter warily. "She's fine. Aren't you, Miss Gibbons?" he compelled the lady, who nodded robotically.
"Of course I am. I'm fine." She left the room, a plastic smile on her face.
Don't start any drama. Her mom had said. Despite her mom's plea, Anna still shot Fredrick a hateful glare before leaving the room.
Anna walked into the hallway. She heard someone barely whisper Klaus' name, and she furrowed her brows, walking down towards the dining room.
Why were they talking about Klaus? Their deal was over the moment those tomb doors opened...
She stopped just outside, pressing her back to the wall. Peeking her head through the doorway, she narrowed her eyes.
Her mother, and a few others were leaning over a newer map of Mystic Falls, and talking in hushed voices. Anna's ears struggled to pick up on their words, but her gaze faltered when she couldn't. Looking around, she saw a bundle of something burning on the table and knew it must have been some sort of spell stopping her from eavesdropping.
But if that was lit, then how did she hear Klaus' name?
~0~
Meanwhile at the Donovan residence, Kelly sat inside her old bedroom, speaking in a hushed tone.
"No, I haven't had a chance yet," she said raking a hand through her dark hair. "I've been busy."
The person on the other line said something in response, and she flinched. "Yeah, I'll get it done today. I'll let you know what goes on."
Kelly heard her son's bedroom door creak open and she fumbled to get back under her covers. "It's okay," she replied, but her face said it wasn't really. "I know. I have to go. Matty's awake."
"Hey Mom!" Matt banged on the bedroom door, waiting for an answer. "Hey Mom?"
Kelly groaned and hopped out of bed. She opened the door and yawned widely for show. "What? I'm trying to sleep."
Matt's blue eyes softened. "Sorry, just making sure you were alive is all."
She smiled halfheartedly, head throbbing.
Keeping up the drunk act required her to actually get drunk.
Might have to change that… She thought.
"It's alright Matty. I just had a late night." Her own voice was inhumanly loud for her ears. "My head's still throbbing."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't bring the party home. And I think the neighbors would definitely appreciate it too."
She vaguely remembered bringing home some random guy she'd met at The Grill last night. They'd hit it off, but she couldn't seem to make herself sleep with him. She wasn't 22 anymore.
"It wasn't a party. Just one guy, don't be so judgy."
Matt nibbled on his lip, nodding to himself. "I talked to Roberta at The Grill yesterday and there's still a bar-tending position open if you still want to...y'know...get a job."
Kelly winced. "I figured she'd still be pissed about the last time I worked there."
She had slept with her boyfriend, after all.
"I think she's desperate."
"I'll check it out," Kelly mumbled, flashing back to her conversation earlier this morning.
"Yeah?" he questioned in surprise, and Kelly smiled tightly.
"Hey now, don't act so surprised." Matt's surprised expression immediately disappeared, and he scratched the back of his neck.
"Well...I mean, I didn't know how long you planned on sticking around," he said awkwardly.
"Well, there's back rent due," she mumbled, and the doorbell.
"Who's that?" her eyes searched Matt's face, and she smirked. "Elena I see."
He walked down the hall and opened the front door, letting his...friend...in.
"Hey, if you wanted to get breakfast before school we gotta go now or we're..." Elena trailed off, seeing Kelly standing a few feet behind Matt.
"Hi Ms. Donovan," she offered weakly, waving.
Kelly plastered a smile onto her face, waving back. "Good morning Elena! How are you?"
Matt's eyes narrowed and he turned on his heel to stare at his mom in shock.
What a strange response...he'd thought that she didn't approve of her anymore.
"Good, you?" Elena responded, not seeming to realize Kelly's strange behavior.
"I'm fine, thanks," she went into the kitchen, leaving the two alone in the living room.
"I'm ready to go." Matt picked up his backpack off the floor and the two of them left.
~0~
Caroline's POV
"Caroline."
I paused outside my bedroom door, and my name was called again.
"Care."
Furrowing my brows, I looked around.
"Stefan?" I asked, still trying to find the source. "Where are you?"
"Over here."
I turned around and saw him in the doorway to the den.
"Oh, hey!" I smiled and walked towards him.
"Someone's here to see you," he said hesitantly and I paused just before the entrance.
"Hi Care," said a familiar voice from inside the room. My eyebrows shot into my hairline.
I met Stefan's gaze. He smiled, probably realizing what I was thinking.
Bonnie? But she wasn't supposed to be back for a while...
Stefan stepped to the side and I saw Bonnie seated on the couch.
"Bonnie?" I repeated my previous thoughts. "But I thought you weren't supposed to be home until-"
She tucked her legs up underneath her and patted the other cushion.
"I decided to come home early. Didn't want to be a gloomy graveyard girl forever," she giggled lightly, knowing that I'd earned that name right after my mom died.
"How are you?" I asked, immediately regretting it.
Rule number one Caroline, it's stupid to ask how they are. Especially when that person is Bonnie Bennett, and when the person who died was her 'mother-figure'.
"Sorry," I sat down on the couch next to her. "How's your aunt?"
Bonnie smile seemed a bit forced, but I didn't comment on it. She eyed Stefan warily before speaking.
"She's good. A bit shaken, of course, but good."
"Are you going back to school?" I asked, changing the subject.
She pressed her lips tightly together, shaking her head. "Not yet. I'm going to help my aunt clean out Gr-Gram's house and then I probably will."
I changed the subject again, talking about clothes and television shows for a while. Bonnie still seemed distant though, angry almost. Stefan had left halfway through the conversation, murmuring something about getting ready for school. Her mood increased slightly after that, but I still sensed a sort of uneasy tension.
Was she mad at Stefan? I wondered on my drive to school. Why would she be mad at Stefan?
~0~
Stefan and I walked through the halls, headed outside for lunch. It was a chilly day, and part of me wished we would be sitting inside for lunch, but no such luck.
People could eavesdrop inside, and outside had some of the best 'privacy' school could offer.
"Damon hasn't said a word to me," Stefan mumbled. "Has he said anything to you?"
I shook my head, adjusting my scarf around myneck a moment after. "Nope, I haven't even heard any snide comments about my blonde hair or anything."
Stefan nodded to himself. "Every time I try to talk to him, he shuts me down."
"Do you think he's trying to find Chandra still?" I asked. "He was really crushed after the whole tomb thing, I'm sure."
"I don't know," he responded honestly. "He waited 145 years to find a girl who didn't even care about him. It's gotta hurt, right?"
"Were you surprised that Katherine wasn't there?" I suddenly queried. "I know that you two had a thing back in the day."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I be surprised?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, stupid question, sorry. You just didn't seem to react as much."
Stefan sighed. "I did... I didn't want Damon or you to see it," he admitted sheepishly, ducking his head as if he were embarrassed. "Almost drank Mystic Grill's liquor stock dry."
My eyes widened slightly. We sat down at our picnic table, and I pulled out my lunch tote.
"Are you alright?"
Stefan kind of just halfheartedly shrugged, and I stopped dead in my tracks, placing my hand on his shoulder. "Stefan. Are you okay? Like really?" I was being completely serious, studying his green eyes for whatever emotion I could comb out.
"As fine as I can be." he replied obscurely.
"C'mon Stefan, I'm practically your best friend. You can tell me these things!" I tugged on his arm, staring at his face. "Heck- you've listened to me rant about my drama before – and you even gave me advice! Let me do the same for you."
He sighed, and let me over to a tree, where we stood. "When Katherine wasn't there, I was really surprised, to be honest. I expected her to come out, and for me to have to try my hardest to not feel what I thought I felt for her so long ago. Elena and I were complicated then – we still are now – and I wasn't sure if I was happy or sad that she wasn't in there." he explained. "I don't know what to think anymore. Elena and I were so close, it seemed, only a few weeks ago, and now she's jumping from Matt, and back to me. I don't know if I'm wasting my time pining after her, or if she really feels for either of us at all." he exhaled, wiping a hand down his face restlessly.
"Thank you for confiding in me, Stef." I said softly.
I looked at the cold ground for a moment before leading us back onto the path.
"So you really think Damon's okay?" I changed the subject, and Stefan shrugged.
"I don't know, like I said, Care, it's gotta hurt. He was more obsessed with opening the tomb than I was."
"And all that heartache couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." I said sarcastically, biting into my turkey sandwich.
"You're eating?" I laughed uncertainly, not really wanting to talk about my Damon emotions right now.. Since when did Stefan eat?
He shrugged, throwing a chip into his mouth and chomping down. "Gotta keep up the image."
"You're upset too, I see." Stefan pulled a bag of chips out of his pocket and started tomunchaway.
"He rubbed Isobel's death into Ric and Elena's faces. That was a dick move, and I don't enjoy associating or living with dicks." I pressed my lips into a straight line, sighing. "He's just a jerk, Stefan." I took another bite. "I'm sure Elena's upset too, you know how she is."
Elena suddenly sat down next to me. Having heard some of our conversion, she said dryly, "Ah, Isobel...my vampire birth mother, who's related to my vampire ancestor Katherine, who helped screw over you and your vampire brother. What a lovely family I have."
Her plate hit the table with a dull thump. Stefan raised an eyebrow slightly, staring at Elena.
Stefan hadn't mentioned it to me, and it was technically none of my business, but they seemed broken up. Elena and Matt had even arrived in the same car this morning.
Was it hard on Stefan? Elena being here?I wondered, looking at the old pair.
"Why aren't you with Matt?" he popped a chip into his mouth, and I could see the feigned nonchalance.
She was silent for a moment before shrugging.
"It'd be so nice if we could get through just one day without having to deal with any of this crap. No vampire mother, brother, long lost grandma, any of it." Elena groaned, sinking her teeth into her pizza, which was steaming profusely. I took note of how she blatantly ignored the Matt question Stefan had aimed at her.
"No vampires at all?" I raised an eyebrow.
She shrugged. "I could tolerate Stefan," she sent him a flirtatious smirk.
Stefan clenched his jaw, staring off down the path.
They had technically broken up, but she kept coming back to him.
"I just want to get on with normal stuff...like y'know: fun!" she threw her hands out, knocking my cup of water off the table.
I growled in frustration, bending over and picking up my wet purse.
"I'll be back." I took another large bite into my sandwich and carried my now empty water bottle and purse into the school.
~0~
Third Person POV
Back at the table, Elena and Stefan sat in silence, Stefan munching on his chips, still staring down the path.
"So, Stefan..." Elena said, and Stefan got up.
"No, Elena, I just can't right now okay?" he stared coldly down at her. "I have enough drama with Damon right now. I really don't want to deal with our high school drama right now."
Elena creased her brows and her hand rested on his.
"I was just going to say that I'm here if you need me."
She batted her eyelashes and Stefan felt himself being drawn back into Elena's alluring presence.
"Are you? Are you really? You seem to be there for Matt more!" he snapped, and she recoiled slightly, but kept her hand in place. "Who do you even want, Elena? We aren't puppets for your own amusement. We both have feelings, and I do not appreciate being toyed with."
She jutted out her bottom lip, and he saw part of the girl he had thought he'd fallen for.
"I-I'm sorry. I just don't know who I want. I feel for you and Matt both, Stefan, honestly."
He worked his jaw, and decided to sit back down.
Her actions reminded him of Katherine.
His former lover had the same...tactics... as Elena.
He scowled, disgusted with himself. Even over a hundred and fifty years later, the same tactics, the same face, even, made him weak in the knees.
He'd noticed right off the bat that Katherine and Elena were similar, but not this similar. Usually Elena could be an air-head, even a bit selfish and uptight at times, but he hadn't seen the extreme similarity until now. The batting of the eyelashes, the sympathy-fake or not – it was tactics most girls used. He'd truly loved Katherine back in the day – or so he thought – but it never was real for her. Stefan was always a game to her. See how far he'd go, see how obedient he could be.
What originally drew him back into Mystic Falls was Caroline. When he got a call from Zach, who was politely asking if it was okay for the girl to move back in, he'd gotten curious. Not only was this girl an exact replica of Chandra, but she was friends with Elena – who looked just like Katherine.
Stefan felt his mind being pulled into a flashback as he stared at her pretty face.
Flashback to Mystic Falls...
Stefan's kisses lingered on Katherine's neck as he pulled away. He glanced cautiously at the clock, mumbling curses under his breath as he saw the time.
He had promised his father that he would be in his study at 2:15 for a meeting. It was already 2:05 now, and he would need to get dressed and comb his hair if he hoped to be at least slightly presentable.
He got off the bed, with a moan of protest from Katherine, who reached out for him longingly.
"Aw, Stef, don't leave." She whined, and her fingertips trailed down his arm, sending goose bumps down his spine.
Stefan glanced down at her, and then back to the clock.
"I must meet my father at 2:15. He will be suspicious if I do not show."
Her bottom lip jutted out and she grabbed his arm. "Stay with me for a while longer."
At the time, Stefan didn't realize she was trying to compel him. His father had slipped vervain into his breakfast this morning, leaving him uncontrollable for the next 12 hours at the least.
Her brown eye stared into his green, and he nodded.
Just for a little bit longer. He decided on his own.
"Okay," he sank back down to the bed and she pulled him to her with a devilish smirk.
~0~
"Stefan." Elena's voice jerked him back to the present, and he shook his head, clearing away the memory.
"Sorry," he dipped his head. "What were you saying?"
She huffed a heavy sigh. "I said we should go on a double date! You and Caroline and Matt and I!"
Stefan's eyebrows lowered. "What are you talking about? I'm not dating Caroline."
Did it really look like that? Surely Caroline didn't think that they were dating, or even flirting. Was Elena jealous?
"Oh," she said lamely.
Oh? Stefan wondered. What's that supposed to mean?
~0~
Anna, who was still at Ms. Gibbon's farmhouse, walked into the small living-room. There were two average size maroon couches settled in an L shape, and an oak coffee table in front of them, a few books and remotes on top. The wallpaper was a navy blue on the top half, and a white on the bottom, the two colors separated by trimming.
Her mother was currently explaining cellphones and texting to Harper and some of the other vampires. It was strange for them, she was sure. Suddenly, Jeremy's voice hit her ears and Anna rushed towards the phone.
She knew how her mom would react if she even had the slightest thought that her and Jeremy – a Gilbert – were more than acquaintances.
"I didn't break it, I swear!" Harper said, looking distressed.
She offered a weak smile and clicked the end button. His voice-mail stopped and Pearl grinned at her daughter.
"I was just showing Harper what you taught me! What a marvelous device!" she grinned even wider and Harper spoke up.
"Who was that?" he asked curiously. "Is that your boyfriend?"
"Jeremy Gilbert," she responded, and her eyes widened when he asked if he was her boyfriend. Anna was thankful that she couldn't blush, because if she could, she was sure she'd be as red as a tomato right now.
"Of course not," Pearl responded for her, standing up.
It was then that Anna noticed her mother's new outfit. She was wearing a long black skirt and a white blouse with a dark fitted jacket over it. Her hair was pulled back into her usual severe high bun.
"What do you think?" she asked, spinning slowly.
"Very respectable," her daughter responded, as she knew that was what she wanted to hear.
"That's the goal," her mother simpered, smoothing her hands down her waist. "Can't say I miss corsets."
Anna chuckled and something popped into her brain. "Oh! Before I forget, Susie Sunshine gave me her car keys and ATM card."
"What's that?" Pearl asked, and she looked at the plastic card in her daughter's hand.
"I'll explain later." Anna waved her hand and her mother and her left the room.
"Where are you going?" Fredrick asked. He had been looming in the hall, that much was obvious, but for how long, Anna didn't know.
"We have business in town. We'll be back as-soon-as we can. I trust you'll keep an eye on things," Pearl said, walking away.
"So I'm the baby sitter now?" Fredrick's lips turned down in annoyance.
"Fredrick," Pearl said as if she was talking to a small child. "If this is going to work, we have to cooperate with one another."
"So you're saying…," he started to say, but was cut off by Harper.
"I'll watch things Miss Pearl."
"Thank you Harper," Pearl nodded, smiling cheerfully at the boy before glaring at Fredrick pointedly.
~0~
Caroline returned to the picnic table about five minutes after she had departed, and Stefan and Elena were still there, being at least somewhat civil to one another.
"Hey," she greeted, sitting down next to Elena. After a curious inspection of her sandwich, she took a bite. "What did I miss?"
Stefan scratched back of his neck. How had he even agreed to this?
"Uh, Elena had the, uh, idea to go on a double 'date'."
Caroline cocked her head. "Date? But, Stefan," she laughed at the idea. "We aren't even dating – and no offense, but I don't want to date you!"
He laughed along with her, looking relieved.
"Before you say no," Elena butted in, touching my shoulder. "I'm not thinking anything big. Just dinner at The Grill and maybe a movie or something. You don't even have to sit by him."
I raised an eyebrow, looking back to Stefan. "You're okay with this? I mean you agreed to go on a 'double date' with your..." I thought back to Matt and her holding hands second block. "ex?-girlfriend and her once-ex-now-current boyfriend?"
He 'heh'd awkwardly, staring down at the table.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Elena asked me again, and I gazed at her.
"I don't know..." I mumbled, going to take another bite of my sandwich, but finding it already gone.
"Why not? We all haven't gone out together, as friends or as 'boyfriend-girlfriend' and I don't want it to be uncomfortable for any of us! I know the 'couple dynamics have changed and there's little awkwardness between us," she gestured from herself to Stefan. "And I just think it's important to get it over with."
Caroline sighed heavily. "I don't know," she repeated, and cast her gaze to her friend. "Stefan? Your input on this please?"
"I think it sounds like a great idea," he forced a smile onto his face. In all honesty, he didn't want to be stuck with Matt and Elena for a few hours, but Elena had a point. Perhaps it would work out any awkwardness. They could still be friends, he hoped.
~0~
Damon was leaving The Grill when he noticed two familiar dark haired ladies standing by his pale blue 1969 Chevy Camaro Convertible. He groaned lowly when he realized who they were.
Pearl and Anna.
Damon had known that Pearl would have came calling when Anna filled her in on what had been going on. She'd had to have been here for a while, and that meant she probably knew more than Damon could possibly assume.
"Hello, Damon," Pearl bobbed her head in greeting, a smug grin on her face.
"Ever hear of, I don't know, a cellphone?" Damon wiggled his cellphone in the air before putting it back into his pocket. "You could have just called me, not stalked me, waiting out by my car."
"A phone call wasn't necessary, Mr. Salvatore. I just need to speak to you about our new terms."
Damon rushed forward, clamping his hand around Pearl's neck. "I'm not discussing terms with you, Pearl," he said through clenched teeth.
Calmly, Pearl twisted Damon's wrist, immediately loosening his grip and making him slouch to the floor.
He grunted in pain.
"Let's go have a seat, Damon. We need to have a word."
Pearl let go of his wrist and calmly walked over to the benches by the road. She sat down, waiting for Damon to come and sit with them.
"Sure," She heard Damon grumble as he got to his feet.
After a bit of unfriendly banter between the two adults, Pearl jumped straight to the point.
"We've taken up residence at a farmhouse just outside down. It'll suffice for now," she said, pursing her lips.
"All 25 vampires?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not all. Some. I imagine that a few have already left town. Others are probably still in the woods or like us acclimating," she informed him politely.
Damon's eyes widened. He had had a feeling when judgy's Grandmother ended up dead, but he hadn't been completely sure until now. "How'd they get out of the tomb?" he scrunched his eyebrows, and Anna replied not even a second later.
"I think the witch screwed up that part of her hocus pocus," she said, and Damon nodded hesitantly.
"Oh."
"I understand from Anna that the Founding Families still have a secret council?" she asked, but her tone said that Pearl already knew that they did. Damon wasn't entirely sure why she had bothered to ask, but then again, he had never fully understood Pearl.
"And you're a part of it," Anna accused.
"That's ridiculous," he chuckled, and with a smirk he leaned back and tossed his arm over the back of the bench, propping his left ankle on his right knee.
"I've been in Mystic Falls since the comet, Damon." Anna smiled tightly, as if she was actually offended he thought they were that stupid. "I'm up to speed."
"And so am I. And now that you've infiltrated The Council, I'll need to know everything they know." Damon's smirk had practically melted off his face as he exhaled a long breath. "Starting with a listing names of all the council members and their families," Pearl finished, her daughter adding in another important part once she was done.
"And everyone you've supplied with vervain."
"Yes, that will have to stop immediately," The mother murmured, almost to herself.
Damon glared at Anna, irritated that she really had filled her in on everything. How much did this girl really know?
He quickly turned his gaze back to Pearl. "What exactly are you trying to achieve?"
"Mystic Falls is our home, Damon," she said levelly. "They took that from us. Our land, our home. It's time we rebuild."
Damon's eye twitched, his expression grim. "What, are you crazy? It was 1864!" he rolled his eyes arrogantly. "Wake up woman. The world has moved on."
"As a reward for your help I'm willing to give you what you want most," she said, her voice still level.
Pearl knew how obsessed with Chandra he had been back in 1864, and from what Anna had told her, he was still very eager to find her.
"I want nothing," Damon murmured assuredly.
"Chandra," Pearl countered, smirking.
Damon snorted. "You wouldn't even know where she was. You've been under the ground for the last century and a half," he rolled his eyes again, and Pearl resisted the urge to shove those pretty blue eyes of his right into his skull.
"Chandra, Katherine and I were best friends long before we came to Mystic Falls, Damon." he pressed his lips together, and stared out into the road, considering this. "I know how she thinks, I know her patterns, I know where to find her."
His silence and obvious consideration excited Pearl, but she didn't show it. It would be so much easier to deal with a happy Damon, a Damon who was willing to help. He turned back to her, his face still emotionless.
"I no longer have any desire to see Chandra ever again. And there's no way in hell I'm gonna play the role of your little minion," he started to get up, but Pearl was up, faster than he had ever seen, and she pushed him back down onto the bench.
"I'm not asking for your help, Damon. Finding Chandra was just a mere gesture of kindness. The rest is non negotiable," she informed him, looming over him threateningly.
He scowled and suddenly she shoved her thumbs into his eye sockets, hissing dangerously. He scratched at her wrists, pulling and tugging them, while simultaneously groaning in agony.
When she pulled away, Damon's blue eyes were now completely bloody red. Pearl was kind enough to leave him with sight, but he'd be in pain until he got fresh blood in him.
"I have four hundred years on you, little boy. I'll rip you from limb to limb without even blinking and you know it. I'll be in touch," she stared down at the younger vampire, who was on the hard concrete, still groaning, palms pressed to his eyes.
~0~
Jeremy arrived home after school. After getting a small snack and saying hello to Jenna, he retreated to his room.
Pacing back and forth, his memory flashed back to a few nights before, when he had seen Anna's eyes. They had been red, and black veins were beneath them, protruding like dark circles. And in the dim moonlight, he could have sworn he had saw fangs.
Whipping out his laptop, he typed into Google's search: how do you become a vampire? Clicking on the first couple of links, everything seemed sarcastic and fake. After a few more tries, he came across a chat sight.
How do you become a vampire? He typed in, and waited for responses. A few heartbeats later, responses came in.
Brad Pitt changed me. One said. Jeremy scoffed, and read the next one.
Go to Vegas and ask for Wayne Newton.
How do you kill a vampire? He asked, hoping for better answers this time.
The blood of Paula Abdul.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Serious answers only please. He specified, drumming his fingers on the laptop keyboard.
Stake in the heart always works.
His heart skipped a few beats. You're a believer?
Aren't you? The person responded, and Jeremy paused.
Did he actually believe in all this? Was he a 'believer' so to speak?
Gnawing on his lip, he quickly shut his laptop and shoved it away from him.
~0~
Caroline's POV
I stood in front of my full length mirror, getting ready for my 'double-friendship-date' thing. Whatever you could call it.
I applied a bit of lip gloss, and pushed my curly hair behind my ear. Staring at my reflection I scoffed.
You don't have a date, Caroline! I reminded myself. This is Stefan you're going to be hanging out with. Not Klaus or Damon- not that I would want to date either of them.
Wiping off the lip gloss and shaking out my re-curled hair, I smiled nervously again.
There. Now I look 'normal'.
Someone knocked twice on my door, and I stuck my head outside the bathroom. "Come in," I called.
Damon waltz inside, sunglasses covering his eyes.
Rolling my eyes, I commented, "Oh, it's you." I paused, and remembered last night. "Go away, Damon."
"Ooh still sore about last night, I see. You aren't the one who got his lung punctured!" he teased, walking over towards me. "Someone's got a hot date I see."
I furrowed my brows, shaking my head. "Yeah, uh no way. I'm going out with Stefan, Matt and Elena. Elena's calling it a double-date, but-"
Stop rambling Caroline, I chided myself, and simply shook my head.
I was furious with Damon for killing Ric, but he was still alive - technically, and I never was able to stay mad at Damon for long. His 'charm' always won me back over. I'd try my best to not let that happen this time. He wouldn't get off so easy.
"Whoa, easy there Blondie," he smirked down at me, and I stared at him in the mirror, rolling my eyes.
I pulled my hair over to the side and put in my hoop earrings that were previously laying on the counter.
"What's with the glasses?" I queried, moving my hand to take them off his face. I pulled them down, and my eyes widened when I saw his blue eyes. The whites of his eyes were deep red, and the skin around it was a faint blue, like an old bruise.
"Oh my god," my jaw dropped and I pushed the glasses back onto his face. "Yeah, you can leave those on."
"Ha. Ha," he said dully.
"What happened?" I asked, fumbling to find the second hole on my left ear. I turned my attention to the mirror, still listening to Damon.
"Pearl happened," he grumbled.
"Isn't that Anna's mother?" I asked, knowing that the name sounded familiar.
He nodded, and stood there silently for a moment.
"Can I ask you something?" his demeanor was suddenly serious, and I paused, my hands still up to my ear. I turned to face him, studying his expression. It was one of confusion and uncertainty.
"Yeah, shoot," I said, staring at him.
"Uh," he furrowed his brows, looking down for a moment. I could tell he was unsure how to word this. This was strange, coming from Damon of all people. He was usually arrogant and sure-footed when it came to any situation.
"So, Stefan mentioned that you were first to find Klaus in my room yesterday," he started. "What was...what was he doing there?"
I narrowed my eyes. Damon didn't know that Klaus was in his room? I thought...
"I don't know. I thought..." I furrowed my brows. "I don't know what I thought he was doing there. He came out of your bathroom, um, shirtless. I think he was wearing one of your shirts, too."
His furrowed brows lowered even more, if that was even possible, and he stared into space, remembering something.
"That was my shirt, now that I think of it," his hands grasped my shoulders, surprisingly gentle as he turned me to face him. "Did you see his shirt — the one he changed out of?"
I stared at nothing in particular, trying to remember as well. "No," I looked back to his face. "Why does this matter Damon?"
He pursed his lips. "Am I the only one who finds it strange that he's seemingly not heartbroken over Chandra and Katherine's absence from the tomb? I mean, he even helped Anna and her goons to get inside."
I blinked, my mouth dropping open. "Oh my god." I said slowly. "You're right. I'd noticed that he wasn't reacting as violently as you, but I figured that he was more...broody... in private about it."
Damon worked his jaw back and forth. "Something's definitely up. Rather he knows something that we don't know or..." he scowled, and then glanced down at his hands, which were still resting firmly on my shoulders. He lifted them off quickly, averting my gaze.
"What could he possibly know that we don't? And why would he go into your bathroom to change shirts or whatever? Doesn't he have a house of his own?"
"That's what I'd like to know..." he mumbled before starting to leave.
"Y'know, I would say go ask Ric for help, but you did kill him, so I'd say that isn't the best idea." I called after him snarkily.
He winced loudly, throwing a hand over his heart. "Ouch, Blondie."
I ignored him, my mind going back to our conversation. I could be blonde sometimes, living up to my Blondie nickname, so graciously given by Damon; but I never thought I could be this blind.
Something was definitely up with Klaus. And if Damon couldn't find out, I sure as hell was going to.
Curiosity killed the cat. A voice inside me reminded. But satisfaction brought it back. I retorted to the little voice, and smiled into the mirror one last time before heading over to put on my shoes.
Five minutes later, I heard another knock on my door. I got up to answer it.
Stefan. I saw when I opened the door.
"Hi, Stefan!" I greeted, stepping back to allow him into my room. "Ready for this weird double-friendship-date thing we have going on?"
He smiled, laughing. "As ready as I could be."
It was then I noticed he had his hands behind his back. Pulling them out, I noticed he had a bouquet of wild daisies and-was that vervain?-in his hands.
"Aw, thank you!" I smiled, taking it from him. I noticed that the stems were wrapped in a damp paper towel, and after a tentative sniff, I found that yes, he had given me a vervain bouquet.
I raised a single eyebrow, meeting his eyes, which were crinkled with mirth.
"I figured it's a weird double-friendship-date, so why not? I would have driven too–" he added. "But we live in the same house."
Grinning wide, I threw my arms around his neck, giving him a hug. "Nice touch with the vervain." I chuckled puling back. "I thought Damon burned it all?"
Stefan slowly shook his head, tapping his ear and pointing to the basement.
I grinned again, grabbing my purse off my bed.
"Ready to go?"
I nodded and we walked down the stairs. "Have you even been on a double-date before?"
He chuckled, opening my car door for me. "Oh, absolutely. ' 72, Hef and the twins."
My eyes widened. Hugh Hefner – the Playboy Bunny guy? Seriously?
He laughed as I managed to stutter out a "What?"
"Yeah," he laughed again at my shocked expression. "Playmates...I got Miss June."
"Stefan Salvatore, hanging out with Hugh Hefner. Suddenly it all makes sense." I teased.
"What makes sense? What?" he asked, looking a bit worried.
I shook my head. "I'm teasing, Stefan. I just can't imagine you hanging out with that pig." I scrunched up my nose in disgust.
Hefner had always made me sick. It was mostly because he produced a magazine sexualizing woman's bodies for men's pleasure, but mostly because he was still old and hanging out with a bunch of scantily clad twenty year old girls.
He raised an eyebrow, but I said nothing more, not wanting to go off in a rant about how I felt on the matter.
~0~
Third Person POV
Jenna stood outside her brother-in-law's old office, staring at the dusty windows. She saw two people walk up behind her in the reflection, and she turned around with a smile.
"Miss Sommers?" Pearl asked, and Jenna beamed politely back.
"Yes. Hi Pearl."
"Hi," Pearl smiled in return. "This is my daughter, Annabelle."
"Of course!" Jenna looked at the familiar face. "Jeremy's friend."
"Nice to see you, Miss Sommers," Anna replied kindly, hoping to avoid any future conversation with her mother about her and Jeremy's relationship.
"Oh, Jenna please," the auburn haired lady insisted. "This property was in my brother in law's family for generations. It's one of the originals structure in Mystic Falls. It used to be one of those old fashioned drugstore thingies."
"An apothecary?" Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Jenna nodded once, and Pearl and Anna exchanged a glance.
"You don't say," Pearl pursed her lips and Jenna turned to unlock the door.
Anna noticed Jeremy walking, and a small smile played on her lips. She was so wrapped up in watching him, she didn't even notice her mother and Jenna go inside.
"Annabelle?" she called, and Anna's gaze snapped to her mother.
"I'm coming, Mother," she replied, quickly scurrying inside.
So, what did you guys think? I'm trying my best to make it flow more, and try to improve my writing style in general.
Sorry for no Klaus in this chapter, but he'll be gradually showing up more and more, like I've said before! (:
QOTC: How do you thing the double-friendship-date thingy is going to go next chapter?
For those of you messaging me silly stuff like 'oh, elena's taking over'. She's not. She won't. She's a main character along with Stefan, Damon, and Caroline, so she makes a lot of appearances like a main character does.
On a lighter note, we're almost at 250 follows - 20 away! & we have 156 favorites, which is crazy! Thank you guys so much! xx