A/N: I know. I suck. But I finally got the full-time job I've been trying for!

Anyway... This is a flashback chapter. Kind of a glimpse into my OC's past, pre-chapter one. And I probably should've mentioned this already, but for those of you who don't know her, the girl in mind for my OC is Shenae Grimes.

SHOUTOUTS:

blehlove: I absolutely love hearing from you in any way on every update! Dani, to me, seems more like the girl with guy friends, not girl friends (maybe one or two, to keep her sane!), so I really want to keep her relationships with the Mystic Falls men building! And Damon... well, he's Damon. If he didn't threaten the people he later befriends, who would he be? LOL!

SomebodyWhoCares: Your 'Oh oh...' made me laugh. Just wait ;)

Heavens-spirit: OC stories are the best! Don't get me wrong, I love reading stories between the actual characters of the show, but OCs are fun to create AND read about. Plus, you can play with the real characters :D Thanks for following LLLLDDG! (wow, that's a LOT of L's!)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to: West Coast Country Girl for favoriting, and to Herondales and Salvatores AND DreamingUntilForever11 for following! And to all my other readers :)

Now... enjoy!

A white blank page and a swelling rage, rage
You did not think when you sent me to the brink, to the brink
You desired my attention but denied my affections, my affections

So tell me now, where was my fault
In loving you with my whole heart?
Oh, tell me now, where was my fault
In loving you with my whole heart?

*White Blank Page – Mumford & Sons*

July 15th, 2008

It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon. I'd started my job at the hotel my mom was working at, and just received my first paycheck. My best friend, Riley Forbes, was helping me blow my hard-earned money at the Del Monte shopping center. It was while we were sitting in Cold Stone Creamery, enjoying some ice cream, when the door opened and someone walked straight up to where we were sitting.

"Excuse me, but I just have to know your name." A deep voice came from the teenage boy who was leaning towards me with a hand on the back of my chair. The bluest eyes I'd ever seen looked back at me.

"Oh really? Well, in that case, I'll never tell." I winked at him. A smile spread across his handsome, slightly unshaven face.

"Gag! There are other people here, you know." Riley flipped her golden locks over her shoulder. We both ignored her.

"You have the prettiest brown eyes I have ever laid eyes on. What's it gonna take to get your number?"

"Adam, Danica, seriously! Either stop flirting or get a room!"

Adam pressed his lips to my forehead before straightening up and flashing his smile at Riley.

"Mind if I join you ladies?"

"Only if you can keep it in your pants!"

"Charming, Riley. Really. Very lady-like." I laughed and rolled my eyes at the blonde. "Yes, Adam, you can join us. Pull up a chair."

Adam grabbed an empty chair from behind him and placed it at the table with the back facing us, his elbows resting on it.

"What are we eating?" He picked up the bowl of ice cream in front of me.

"Riley ordered Cheesecake and mixed in graham crackers. Mine's Oreo Cream with Oreo cookies."

"Should've guessed yours was all Oreo." He let out a chuckle.

"Do you want something? My treat. I got paid today."

"Sure. Surprise me."

I gave his cheek a quick peck before getting up and ordering him a shake. I brought it back to the table a few minutes later. He sucked on the straw before giving me his adorable smile again.

"Chocolate Cake Batter with fudge?"

"You're so good at that!"

"I feel like a third wheel." Riley whined.

"Okay. I get the point, Forbes." He turned to me with a hopeful expression. "I'll see you at 8?"

Two years into the relationship, and he was still doubting that I wanted to be with him. I rolled my eyes again.

"Of course."

"What are you guys doing at 8 on a Tuesday?" Riley scrunched up her nose.

"Anniversary dinner at Rosine's Restaurant."

"That's right. You've been together for what, like, 40 years now?"

"Two years today." I smiled at her.

"Yeah, and tonight might be the night that Dani finally puts out!" Adam joked. I poked his side.

"You wish!" I said, at the same time as Riley exclaimed: "Gross!"

The three of us burst out laughing as Adam stood up.

"Okay, I'll leave you two to your girl time. Thanks for the shake, babe. See you in a few hours."

He leaned down and kissed me. His lips lingered on mine before Riley cleared her throat.

"You two are way too cute together." Riley said as Adam left, continuing when I started laughing again. "Seriously, it's disgusting how adorable you are."

"Okay, I get it. We're perfect for each other and you're jealous." I smiled to let her know I was kidding. She stuck her tongue out at me.

"I got you something."

Adam slid a black rectangular jewelry box across the table. I slowly and carefully undid the red bow wrapped around it. The case contained a sterling silver bracelet with oval rubies. Diamonds accented the gems.

"Oh, Adam! It's so beautiful!" I brushed my fingers over the length of it.

"You like it?"

"I love it! Help me put it on?" I asked as I pulled the bracelet out of the case. He grabbed the ends and clasped them together.

"I wanted to get you something as beautiful as you are, and you mentioned once how much you love your birthstone. I've been saving up for a while, and when I saw this, I had to get it for you."

"Now I feel bad. Your present is totally lame compared to this." I looked down at the gift bag by my chair.

"Honey, I wouldn't have cared if you didn't get me anything at all. The fact that you're here with me is all I need."

"Well... here. If you don't like anything, I can exchange it or get you something else." I handed him the bag.

He pulled out a charcoal grey, faux-fur lined hoodie and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

"Wow! How could this be a bad gift?"

"Well, I wasn't sure you'd like it."

"It came from you. That's all that matters." He smiled at me, picking up the movie. "Remember when we went to see this?"

"How could I forget? Our first date."

"Yep. But it's already opened."

"There's another surprise inside the case."

I'd stuck two tickets to the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight inside with the DVD.

Adam's eyes snapped up to mine after he opened the movie case.

"Are you serious? We're going to see this? I thought you hated the first one."

"I did not hate Batman Begins. I hated that the theater was out of those cookie dough bites. But I'd go even if I didn't like the first movie. You've sat through plenty of chick flicks for me. Plus: Heath Ledger."

We started laughing as a waiter came over to offer us refills.

"Good evening. Your previous waiter had to step out for an emergency, I apologize. My name is Mitch. Can I get you two anything else?" He glanced at Adam before resting his eyes on me. It was Adam that answered him.

"No. We're fine here, thanks." His tone was a bit cold. The waiter nodded to him before walking away.

"What was that about?"

"What was what about?"

"Just then. You were kind of rude. He was just doing his job."

"I don't like the way he looked at you."

"Um... okay?"

"Forget it. Should we look at the desserts?"

May 7th, 2009

"Ben, you are amazing!" I exclaimed, handing a Styrofoam ball to my Chemistry partner. He attached it to a wooden stick coming out of another ball.

"Eh, I do my best."

"I honestly don't know how I would've done this without you."

We were making a crystal lattice structure of sodium chloride, also known as table salt. Well, Ben was building the lattice. I was staring in awe at the fact that he had built most of it himself.

The bell rang as he finished putting everything together. I picked up the lattice, making sure to be careful with it, as we started walking out of the classroom.

"So I'll just bring this back tomorrow."

"Sounds good. Take it easy, Dani."

"You too, Ben. Have a good night!" I called down the hallway.

I was suddenly spun around and pulled into a deep kiss. After being released, I gave my captor a slight shove.

"Not cool, Adam." I tried to sound serious, but couldn't keep the smile off my face. I gave him another quick kiss before taking his hand with my own free one. We started walking towards the school parking lot.

"What are you thanking Ben for?"

"His help. We were partnered up for a project. He did most of it today, but I'm doing the rest of it tonight. You can help, if you want?" I offered.

"I was hoping we could hang out tonight. My mom's out of town on some business trip, so I'll have the house to myself for a week."

We stopped walking once we'd passed through the school's door and faced each other. His thumb started rubbing small circles on the back of my hand.

"Mmm... that sounds nice. But I can't tonight. I really do need to get this done. I'm bringing it back tomorrow so that we can check it out, make sure it passes the requirements."

"You've been my girlfriend for almost 3 years now. This is the first time that one of us has had a place to ourselves. This is what we've been waiting for, isn't it?" He grinned as he brought my hand up to his lips.

"Yeah, but this project is worth 90% of my grade. And Ben's. Which is why I need to get it done. I just need one night. We'll have all weekend to benefit from the lack of parental supervision."

The smile on Adam's face vanished. The look it was replaced with had a knot forming in my stomach.

"How about this: a couple of hours to finish my project, and then I'm yours. Promise."

As quickly as it had disappeared, his smile returned.

"I'll hold you to that. See you soon."

I drove home after another kiss from Adam.

By the time I'd finished my project for class and showered to wash the paint from my arms and hands, it was 30 minutes past the time that I was supposed to be at Adam's. Rushing to get dressed, I called Adam and left him a voicemail to let him know that I was on my way.

Ten minutes later, I pulled into the Johnson's driveway. Adam was standing in the doorway when I shut my car door.

"You're late."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how long it would take. And then I had to clean up. But I'm here, and I'm all yours now." My smile faltered when I took in his appearance.

His brown hair was slightly messier than usual, as if he'd been raking his fingers in it. His eyes seemed distant, not as bright. His jaw was clenched.

"Adam?"

His body visibly relaxed. I exhaled a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

"I made dinner." He said, holding a hand out to me as I walked up to the door. I placed my hand in his and followed him inside.

As soon as I was inside, the scents of tomatoes and garlic hit my senses.

"Mmm. Smells good, babe. Need any help?"

"Shut up."

I whirled around to face him. All of the warmth his features held moments ago was gone now, replaced by a coldness that sent shivers down my spine.

"Why were you late?"

"I told you. I had to paint my project for Chem."

"You mean, you had to do it for Ben, right?"

"Ben? No. I mean, it counts towards his grade too, but I didn't do it for him."

"You actually expect me to believe that?" The blank expression clouding his face and eyes caused me to take a few steps back.

"It's the truth." My voice was soft.

"Don't lie to me! Were you with him?"

"What? No! Adam, I swear. What's wrong with you?"

"YOU are what's wrong with me! Two years. Two years, we've been together! And this is how you treat our relationship?" He started advancing on me, and eventually had me backed against a wall.

"Where is this coming from?"

"You and Ben are close enough that he calls you 'Dani'. You're obviously more than just partners on a school project."

"Everyone who knows me, calls me that."

"Bullshit!" He yelled. "You lead guys on all the time! With your smile, your flirting... you're nothing but a whore!"

"Fuck you!" I screamed.

What happened next made me regret it instantly.

His hand came forward, connecting with my cheek in a backhanded slap. My head smacked against the wall as it turned from the force. I yelped in pain. Tears formed in my eyes almost instantly. For a moment, we just stared at each other in surprise.

Then Adam's hands were on my cheeks, his forehead resting on mine. He was crying, too, and whispering apologies over and over. I couldn't move, couldn't close my eyes. I couldn't even shut my mouth, I was so stunned.

Then he dropped his hands to mine and opened his eyes. They were slightly pink from the tears, but were also bright blue and full of sorrow and regret. He never stopped apologizing.

"Dani, baby, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Something in me snapped in that moment. I pulled my hands from his and pushed him away from me.

"Dani, please. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. Please!"

"I'm leaving, Adam. I'm going home. Don't call me. Don't come over. Just leave me alone."

"Danica, please. Please stay."

"I can't. I won't. I just... I need some time alone right now. Goodbye, Adam."

That was the first night of a very long week of life-altering events...