Sorry for the delay! I was out of town this weekend and finally got a chance to fix up the chapter. Let me know what you think! It was a lot of fun to write.

Branches gently tapped my bedroom window as they shifted around outside in the autumn breeze, waking me from my slumber. Bleary eyed, I shifted over to the edge of my bed and wiggled my feet into the soft slippers at the foot of my bed.

I had spent the last few days catching up on some much needed rest, still processing everything that had happened after Tanner's death. Picking up my robe, I swung it over my shoulders and shuffled downstairs for some tea to kick off my morning routine.

Once I had a mug of piping hot water, I plopped a homemade Gilbert family tea bag over its rim before heading back upstairs. Returning to my room, I quietly closed the door behind me before settling onto the couch, gazing out the window as I tucked my feet under me.

Unlocking the window, I cracked it open, letting the crisp dawn breeze flow through. Wrapping my fingers tightly around the warm mug, I briefly closed my eyes, slowly inhaling the herby aroma wafting from my drink.

It had always been a tradition with my dad to spend our mornings sitting on the patio bench over a cup full of our family tea, ruminating over life. He had always taken pride in crafting the tea bags himself, and whenever I had asked about the recipe he would ramble on about how it had been passed down for generations. I had loved watching his process of blending together homegrown lavender flowers, green tea leaves, lemon, and his secret ingredient, vervain. Growing up I had always grimaced at the distinct, bitter taste of vervain and had never understood why he insisted on adding it, but over time it had become a beloved, acquired taste, one that never failed to stir up a whirlwind of nostalgia inside me. Since the night of the accident, I had taken it upon myself to continue with our tradition as a desperate attempt to hold onto my dad. Even when the sweltering heat of summer had descended upon Mystic Falls and I gave up running, I had refused to stop… I couldn't.

The sky was littered with tufts of ivory clouds, its color a beautiful lavender pink as the sun began to creep up over the horizon, its light painting gentle strokes across my room. My eyes trailed along its path, before they landed on the cocktail dress I had draped over my full-length mirror.

The torso was embroidered with blood-red threading, embellished with a Stygian lace that adorned a petite satin black corset that perfectly accentuated any waist. Thick satin fabric flowed outward from the bottom of the corset, falling just below the knees. Despite its modest length, the skirt had a tantalizing slit on one side that ended mid thigh, revealing just enough to fuel anyone's imagination.

The dress was absolutely gorgeous, and wearing it should have been reason enough to spark excitement, but all I could feel was anxiety. Tonight was the night of the Founder's Party, and while it should have been a night full of elation, it felt almost wrong to do so, so soon after Mr. Tanner had died.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I continued mulling over recent dark events, when suddenly the thought of Damon Salvatore flickered through my mind, my lips frowning subconsciously. Despite everything he had done to me and Caroline, it was impossible to quell the loud questions that swirled through my head. Why did he refuse to leave me alone? What was he planning?

By the time I finished my tea, the sun was shining bright in the sky, my room fully lit and I heard low murmurs coming from downstairs - it sounded like everyone was awake. Placing the now lukewarm cup down on my windowsill, I got up to get ready for the day.

After showering and getting dressed, I joined Aunt Jenna and Elena in the kitchen. Elena was finishing up breakfast as Jenna leaned against the kitchen island, absent-mindedly flipping through channels on the television. She eventually stopped on the local news channel that was covering some breaking news.

Logan Fell, the local newscaster casted, "To repeat, the animal terrorizing Mystic Falls has been caught."

Jenna visibly scowled as she turned away from the TV, continuing to clean the kitchen as she mumbled under her breath, "Scum ball. Scum bucket."

Giggling slightly, Elena and I looked at each other before she gathered the courage to ask, "Who are you talking about?"

"Him." Jenna said as she motioned towards the news segment.

"The news guy?"

"Also known as Logan "Scum" Fell. Did your mom ever tell you why I moved away from Mystic Falls?"

Shocked to uncover some secret relationship drama Jenna had been hiding, Elena asked, "Oh, no way. You and him? He's cute!"

"Cute and charismatic." I winked.

Jenna shook her head and scoffed, "He is not cute. There's nothing cute about him." It was clear from the tone of her voice this was her final note on the matter.

Knowing better than to keep pushing her, I stayed quiet as Elena began pulling rings, a pocket watch, and more jewelry out of a small box. Stepping closer to get a better look, Jenna questioned, "What are you doing with that?"

Carefully, I picked up the watch and shifted it over in my hand. Upon first glance, it was clear all of these were antiques.

Elena began polishing a ring while she answered, "I went yesterday and got it from the safety deposit box. Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood she would loan it to the founder's council for their heritage display."

"Is that grandma Beth's wedding ring?" Jenna commented as she picked up a gaudy gold ring with a large diamond from the box and spun it between her fingers.

Elena nodded, "Originally it was great-great-grandma Mary's wedding ring."

Jeremy had entered the room, and after overhearing our conversation, seemed instantly intrigued by the topic. He looked over Jenna's shoulder before chiming in, "How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on eBay?"

I glared at Jeremy, "Quiet, Jer. We're not selling anything."

"That stuff is mom and dad's. You can't just give it away for free." He chastised, making his way towards the fridge, peering inside.

"I'm not giving it away. It's called a loan, Jeremy."

The doorbell abruptly rang, signaling the end to the conversation. Elena eagerly got up from her seat to go greet whoever was at the door. Curious, I leaned my chair back as far as I could without toppling over in hopes of catching a glimpse of who it was. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't see a thing, and I huffed in disappointment as my chair slammed back forward. I eventually heard a pair of footsteps climb upstairs… Must be Stefan.

–

While everyone was busy leading up to the party, I decided to spend some time at the gym. Something about sitting in the free-weight room after a workout was relieving - it fulfilled my need for some alone time. I was stretching my hamstrings on the mat when a subtle vibration in my pocket caught my attention. I grabbed my phone and checked the screen before answering, "Hey Bon Bon, what's up?"

"Hey Rhea! Please tell me you don't have a date for the founder's party… I need someone, but Caroline is taking Damon and Elena is going with Stefan."

A jolt of discomfort shot through my body at the sound of Damon's name. It took a moment to gather myself before responding, "Uh… yeah. We can go together! Come over and we can get ready? I'm leaving the gym right now."

"Perfect! You're a lifesaver. On my way!"

Hanging up, I tossed my phone to the side and buried my face in my knees. Damon? He was still choosing to toy with Caroline? Did the other night not even slightly derail him from his plans? She deserved so much better and the last thing I wanted was to have to worry about seeing him tonight.

Taking a deep breath, I rolled my eyes and lifted myself off the gym floor, grabbing my bag and swinging it over my shoulder as I headed to the car. I'm going to need a drink.

–

In an effort to surprise Bonnie with my dress, I rushed back to get cleaned up before she arrived. Making it home with some time to spare, I hopped up the stairs and into my room, instinctually tossing my bag onto the couch. Without a second thought, I stripped down and jumped in the shower. After rinsing off, I wrapped myself in a towel, my skin flush with a dewy glow before walking back into my bedroom.

Mindful of time, I snatched the dress off of my mirror and carefully stepped into it, sliding the soft material up around my hips until it reached my collar bone. Connecting each clasp of the corset, I hooked the final pair before I stepped back to check myself out in the mirror, smoothing down the front of the dress. My fingers traced over the beautifully embroidered fabric as I smiled wistfully, thinking about my mother.

A month before the crash, we had gone shopping which is when she had picked out this dress for me. It had been one of her many attempts to try to get me to incorporate more color into my mostly black wardrobe. She had insisted that the scarlet dress looked perfect on me, so I gave in to her pleading look, secretly loving the way it hugged my curves.

Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath, using the air filling my lungs to push down any emotions that had begun creeping up my throat. I heard the front door open downstairs before Elena shouted, "Rae, Bonnie is here!"

Eager to showcase my outfit to her, I burst down the stairs. As I rounded the corner of the last step, I could see Bonnie and Elena were standing in the kitchen, Bonnie's back to me. As I approached quietly, their voices fell into earshot, allowing me to pick up the tail end of their conversation.

Bonnie commented with a concerned tone, "Yeah, they both dated her, only she chose Damon. And that drove Stefan mad, so he did horrible things to try and break them up. He manipulated Katherine. He filled her head with all these lies until it finally worked, and she turned against Damon."

"That sounds like one person's side of the story, meaning Damon's." Elena replied, rolling her eyes.

Making my presence known, I added "Do not listen to anything Damon has to say. He's the last person you should trust when it comes to relationships."

Bonnie pivoted to face me when her jaw immediately dropped and her eyes widened, immediately forgetting about the conversation. She took in my outfit before throwing her arms in the air and running toward me, exclaiming, "Rae, you look incredible! Your mother would be speechless! I can't believe you finally get to wear it."

Bonnie had been the first person I had shown the dress to when I brought it home, one of the few people who knew how much it meant to me. My emotions flared up inside of me causing my voice to waver, "Isn't it beautiful? I still can't believe how well it fits."

Squeezing me once more, Bonnie stepped back, her eyes beaming, "It'll be impossible for anyone to keep their eyes off of you!"

Looking over Bonnie's shoulder, I noticed Elena smiling as well, her eyes beginning to sparkle as tears lined them, "I wish Mom could be here to see this."

A grin spread across my face as I reached my arms out and ushered her towards me, a single tear falling down her cheek. She ran into my arms and held me tight. Patting her head, I choked out, "You're getting my dress wet, El!."

She pulled away from me and slugged my arm, "Come on, don't ruin the moment."

I shot her a playful grin and continued, "So, about Stefan… I mean it when I say don't believe anything that comes out of Damon's mouth."

Elena's lips stretched wider into a sincere smile, "I believe you, Rhea. Besides, that's easier than hating Stefan! He has been a little weird about the Katherine thing though, so maybe I should try to get it out of him tonight."

"Agreed. Speaking of which, we need to get ready!" I said, leaning forward to grab Bonnie's arm before I pulled her behind me, "Come! You're doing my nails first."

Dragging Bonnie upstairs, I sifted through my bathroom drawers searching for the right nail color. The tip of my finger glided over the mostly dark color palette selections before ultimately landing on a matte black varnish. Snatching up the polish, I spun around to show it to Bonnie.

She smiled, "Wow! What a surprise!"

I winked and grabbed a set of coffin shaped press-on nails along with my wavy curling iron. Bonnie set everything on the floor as she sat cross-legged on the carpet, pulling a pillow onto her lap. She gently patted the cushion and reached out for my hand.

A brief moment passed before Bonnie looked up at me, "Thanks for the other night. Sometimes it feels like you're the only one that believes in me... who truly listens… besides Grams."

"You're my best friend Bonnie, of course I'll be there for you. We can always depend on each other. Plus, it's gone beyond coincidence at this point. How cool would it be if I was friends with a witch."

She nodded as she looked lost in thought. A comfortable silence fell over us as she smiled to herself and began to hum. As Bonnie got to work on my right hand, I leaned over and grabbed a glass of whiskey I had prepared earlier off of my side table. Taking a large gulp, I felt the familiar sting of the liquor caress my tongue, the cinnamon spices coating the walls of my mouth before I gulped it down, feeling its warmth descend throughout my body.

Raising my glass, I tipped it to the side and joked, "I'm breaking out the fun Rhea tonight."

Not even looking up, she snorted and replied, "Don't have too much fun or you might end up in trouble. You know how Carol Lockwood is about drinking."

She paused her work for a brief moment and looked up and gave me a sly wink.

–

After taking a moment to fluff my crimped, wavy hair, I took one last sweeping look at myself in the mirror. The light mahogany of my eyes seemed to shine brighter than ever through my smokey eyeshadow and mascara, my lips glistening a deep ruby red to match my dress. All that seemed to be missing was some jewelry, so I popped on a pair of golden chandelier earrings and a black lace choker with a sanguine jewel in the middle. To top it all off, I slipped my feet into a pair of strappy black heels.

Grabbing an ebony jeweled clasp off my wardrobe, I flicked my light off and headed out. As I descended the staircase, Stefan came into view, standing at the bottom of the banister by the entrance as he waited for Elena. The clicking of my heels seemed to draw his attention causing him to glance up from where he stood. His eyes landed on mine and he let out a soft gasp, looking briefly stunned. Not sure what warranted his reaction, I asked, "You good there, Romeo?"

"Yeah, sorry… uh… you just reminded me of someone." Composing himself, he bowed and held out his hand.

"A gentleman, as always." I said, grabbing his hand as he led me down the remaining steps. I felt my cheeks flush as the heat of the liquor I had consumed radiated through my skin.

Bonnie was waiting for me in the living room, looking amazing in a creamy beige dress that showed off her cleavage, pastel flowers decorating its halter top. Curtsying in her direction, I smiled. "Well if it isn't my beautiful date for the night." I winked. "Let's head out! Stefan, we'll meet you both there."

We hurried out the door without another word. Before we got to the car I turned around to wave goodbye to Stefan, only to discover his eyes still on me, looking pensive. As soon as he caught me looking, he weakly waved in our direction before he slowly shut the door.

–

Bonnie got us to the Lockwood's with ease, falling in line as we parked amongst the parade of cars that stretched down the long curved road. We exited the car and began our trek up the mansion's sprawling driveway. Large trees were coupled with tall green hedges that lined the path leading up to the enormous house.

I watched as the sun slowly receded behind the mountains in the distance. It was easy to get lost in the brilliant colors strewn across the airbrushed sky. The Lockwood's Mansion was a beautiful canvas, soaking in the autumn hues and lilac sky, the retreating rays softly illuminating the ivory pillars and large palladian windows. Just behind the residence was one of many town lakes, surrounded by the grand terrace and Lockwood gardens that stretched into the neighboring forest.

Crowds of people were ushered into the house ahead of us, shuffling up the courtyard's steps and through the double doors. Carol and Richard Lockwood were posted at the entrance greeting their guests one by one. Mr. Lockwood, Tyler's dad, was the mayor of Mystic Falls and big on public perception, which meant his ideals were strictly enforced across his family.

Throughout our relationship, it had been hard to miss the constant barrage of rules and expectations weighing Tyler down, putting an impossible burden on him to uphold the family image and carry out his inherited duties with zero room for error. There was no doubt this burden had only exacerbated his evident anger issues, though it never justified the many times he crossed the line as a result.

Our ascent up the stairs was nearly complete, bringing us into Mrs. Lockwood's field of vision. Carol's eyes landed on me, her face lighting up as she reached her hand out towards mine, "Rhea! Sweetie, how are you? Are you and Tyler working things out yet? We miss having you around!"

Embarrassed by the question, my cheeks flushed, "No, Mrs. Lockwood. You got the wrong girl! I heard he's already seeing someone."

Just as the words escaped my mouth, Tyler walked up, taking the spot next to his mother. It didn't take long for him to notice her eyes boring into him, prompting him to ask, "What? What did I do this time?"

"Good luck!" I grinned, pushing Bonnie impatiently into the mansion.

Entering the crowded foyer, my eyes instantly spotted the bar set up at the furthest end of the house. Slipping my arm through Bonnie's, I pulled her towards the counter, confident in my abilities to score myself a drink… or two. She knew my intentions all too well and let out a sigh, "There's no way they won't card you."

Pausing just before the bar, I whispered to Bonnie, "You wanna bet?"

Doing my best to be alluring, I leaned against the cool quartz and lightly bit my lip, widening my eyes into a doe-eyed expression. It wasn't long before the bartender met my eye and eagerly made his way over to me, unable to conceal his interest. "And what can I get you, beautiful?"

Resting my elbow on the countertop, I positioned my thumb beneath my chin, my mouth puckering as my eyes narrowed on his. A soft breath escaped me, my lips curled into a tempting smile, "Could I get a double whiskey, neat?"

"Of course!" He said, filling a glass immediately before he slid it towards me. "So how about -"

Plucking the glass from his hand, I interrupted, "Sorry I have to run, my friend is waiting for me." I flashed him a wink and turned on my heel, confidently strutting back over to Bonnie.

Nodding her head in disbelief, she smiled and nudged my shoulder to my left. Both of our eyes landed on Stefan and Elena heading into the antique display room. Bonnie began pulling me towards them before I resisted, seeing Damon and Caroline trail after them.

"Damon's following them and I don't like the guy much. Go ahead though, I'll be outside near the dancefloor."

"Are you sure? Okay… I'll be quick I promise!" Bonnie shouted over her shoulder as she ran off towards the group.

–

The sun had finally set behind the mountains, leaving the luminescence of the string lights to illuminate the wooden archways that were decorated with white lilies and hydrangeas. I swirled my drink in my hand as I sat at an empty table near the dance floor, feeling a pleasant buzz settle over my senses as soft music played through speakers hidden throughout the hedges.

Taking a final swig of my drink, I felt someone take a seat next to me, and after lowering my glass, I saw it was Tyler. As I met his dark eyes, I felt the tension of our history and our strained past interactions stretch taut between us. I suddenly felt thankful for the dim light of the patio, as the warmth of the liquor burned in my cheeks once more.

His eyes took me in for a long second before he let out a sigh, finally speaking, "So… about earlier."

I failed to mask my grin before letting out a laugh, "What did I do! She was bound to find out eventually."

"Vicki and I broke up." He said quietly.

Feeling sympathetic, I apologized, "Oh... I'm sorry, Ty."

He looked up from his hands, contemplating saying something before he flashed me his best puppy dog eyes and held his hand out to me. "Care to make it up to me?"

While I would have said no if I was sober… I was long beyond that. Besides, I could let myself have some fun for a night, I owed it to myself. Nostalgic feelings flooded my subconscious as our fingers touched, the familiar heat of his skin rippling through my hands. He led me out onto the dance floor, pulling me into him as he placed his other hand on the small of my back. Before I could get lost in our footwork, Caroline and Stefan walked into my vision, taking their place on the dancefloor. My brows furrowed as I immediately wondered, 'Where is Elena? And where's Damon?'

I was propelled from my thoughts when someone tapped on Tyler's shoulder, "May I? Someone stole my dance partner."

The thoughts stopped spinning the moment my eyes landed on him. He donned a sleek black suit with a fitted button down underneath, his hair a beautiful disheveled mess of liquid ebony. While he spoke to Tyler, his piercing, blue eyes never left mine, his lips curled in their usual smirk. My inner monologue screamed at me through my buzz, fighting to shut down any temptations that manifested within me. How did he still manage to break through all of the anger and resentment I held towards him after the other night?

Damon's hand slowly extended towards mine, his gaze holding me transfixed as I struggled for words, my inner conflict ultimately surrendering to my carefree attitude of the night, "Uh… sure. If Tyler is okay with it."

Pausing for a moment, Tyler muttered, "Yeah, go ahead. We can catch up later."

He looked unsure as I let go of his hand, but I nodded towards my former dance partner before I grasped Damon's extended hand, accepting his proposal. As our fingers intertwined, the soft humming in my ears seemed to grow louder as my heartbeat began to race, my thoughts growing fuzzier and my breath growing more shallow.

Damon swiftly guided me to an opening on the dancefloor, his other hand gripping my waist. He firmly pulled me closer, startling me enough to look up and meet his sharp eyes. Biting my lip, I said, "No surprises tonight, okay?"

We were standing so close his breath tickled my face as he grinned, "No surprises."

Wrapped in his arms, we began dancing, gliding across the floor in perfect unison. As we moved, the enticing smells of sandalwood and bourbon intoxicated me further, my eyes unable to break from his. As the first song wrapped and another slower song began to play, he dropped his gaze for a second, furrowing his brows before looking up again sincerely, "I'm sorry about the other night. It was inappropriate… I shouldn't have done that."

My breath caught in my throat, a gentle purity glimmered in his eyes showing me a side of him I had never seen before… Gone was the usual playful mischief. For the first time he seemed genuinely sincere and for the first time I found myself hoping that he was telling me the truth.

I cautiously replied, "I appreciate that... just please don't do it again. I don't want to be put in a position where I could end up hurting Caroline."

His face softened, "I understand. And one day I'll explain everything." After a slight pause, a familiar playfulness glistened in his eyes once again, "I must say, you look beautiful tonight. Although, your style has an uncanny resemblance to someone I once knew."

There was an almost shy innocence to his words and I felt my face redden in response, moved by the genuine honesty he was baring to me for the first time. He twirled me outward, his eyes taking all of me in with open appreciation before he pulled me back.

Fighting back a smile, I asked, "Why does everyone keep saying that? First Stefan, now you? Here I was thinking I was a bit more original."

"It's not a bad thing, don't worry. She carried herself with elegance and power, but your similarities, thankfully, stop there."

Even the brisk breeze I felt against my skin as we glided couldn't cool me down, it was as if I could melt into his arms right then and there, "Question."

He grinned, "Potential answer."

"Why do you keep trying? I've pushed you away several times and I've gone as far as drawing a line at friends, yet you're still here. Most guys would turn and walk the other way the moment you ask that things remain platonic."

Slowing to a stop, it felt like time had ceased to exist. His warm breath swept over my lips as the distance between us seemed to shrink and the bustle around us faded to black. A vulnerability filled his sapphire eyes as he took a moment to contemplate my loaded question. Our eyes remained locked, never breaking contact as we stood in laden silence.

Just before he could answer, I caught a flash of gold from over his shoulder.

Caroline…

Her face contorted into a scowl as her eyes began to well up, staring at me and Damon. She quickly turned on her heel and stormed inside the mansion, an overwhelming wave of guilt sobering my thoughts.

Shaking off Damon's hold, I took a step back, "I thought she wouldn't mind? Man I'm so stupid, of course she would. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid, Damon."

Not waiting for an answer, I pushed past him and chased after her. Searching everywhere, I finally spotted Bonnie outside of a bathroom door waving me over. Without saying a word, she opened the door for me and motioned me inside, a concerned look on her face.

I entered the room just as Caroline's voice bawled to Elena, "Why is it always so easy for both of you? I try so hard to get a boy, any boy to like me, and you both do it so effortlessly. I'm just the stand-in until they eventually fall for you!"

She stifled her sobs when she saw me approaching as she exclaimed, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Damon?"

"No… I'm so sorry. You were dancing with Stefan so I didn't think much of it, but that doesn't excuse my short-sighted behavior. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Care."

Reaching out, I carefully placed my hand on her shoulder, accidentally pulling the sleeve of her cardigan down. Elena and I both gasped as the shifted fabric exposed what looked like a bite mark along her shoulder blade.

Elena grabbed Caroline's arm, closely inspecting the wound, "What the hell is this Caroline?"

Trying to pull away, Caroline gripped her cardigan and yanked it back over her shoulder "Nothing! It's nothing, okay?"

On a hunch, Elena suddenly grabbed the scarf tied around Caroline's neck, revealing yet another bite mark, "This is not nothing, Caroline! Who did this? Did Damon hurt you?!"

She cried, "It doesn't hurt! Please don't tell him you know, I told him it was okay! He didn't hurt me!"

Anger boiled deep within me as I grew white with rage at the thought of Damon doing that to her. Yet again, I had let this horrible person near me, and the worst part was, I wanted to be wrong about him. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I grabbed the champagne glass Caroline had been clutching and headed towards the door. Sparing no glance behind me, I yelled, "Elena, take Caroline home. I'll deal with Damon."

"But -"

"No, Elena. Leave this one alone." Glaring back over my shoulder, I added, "I'm not asking."

Caroline's sobs faded into the distance behind me as I pushed my way through the house. Making my way back toward the patio where I had left him, I stepped outside and spotted Damon walking towards the lake. Knowing my heels wouldn't hold up in the grass, I kicked them off and began running, my anger pumping loudly in my temples. My feet pounded against the pavement before they reached the soft green turf, my right hand struggling to keep the champagne from sloshing around in its flute glass. Everyone else had gone back inside, leaving just the two of us alone.

"Damon!"

He spun around, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. He grinned, "Back already? Did you sort things out with Caroline?"

The gap closed between us before I finally stood in front of him, yelling, "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Finally realizing how angry I was, he asked, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"While I was talking to Caroline, I found your teeth marks on her. Why did you do that to her? Is she really just an object to you? Are we all part of some twisted charade?" I screamed, taking another step towards him.

Damon looked stunned by my rage, he extended his hands towards me as he replied, "Rhea, please calm down. Please, let me explain. I never hurt her."

Scoffing at his answer, I retorted, "Are you kidding me right now? How can you honestly say that when she has bite marks all over her! How can I trust anything you say?"

His hands connected with my shoulders in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, "You don't understand, It's not what you think. Remember what I said about her helping me? I never -"

Fury overwhelmed me as I ripped away from his grip. Through gritted teeth, I snarled, "Don't you dare touch me!"

Enraged, I threw Caroline's champagne at him and what happened next was unexplainable. Damon immediately doubled back, clutching his face in pain as he fell to the floor. His knees buckled until he keeled over onto the grass, his loud moans ringing out in agony before he fell quiet. My eyes widened as I froze, panic and fear spreading down my spine in a cold chill.

What the hell happened? What did I do?!

Stefan suddenly appeared behind me and grabbed my arms, spinning me towards him. He shook me, breaking me out of a panic-stricken trance, "Rhea, look at me. Hey, it's okay."

Afraid, I blurted out, "Stefan, look at him! He's not moving… I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Stefan shushed me, raising his fingers to my lips, "Rhea, trust me. It's okay! He drank too much and passed out. The pain was probably just some champagne getting into his eyes. I'll take him home. It looks like you've had a lot to drink too, you should get back to Bonnie."

As he said that my vision blurred and I suddenly grew dizzy, losing my balance I slumped against his hold. He helped me stand up and nudged me towards the house. "Hurry, go. I'll take care of Damon."

Speechless, I nodded and stumbled back towards the house. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Stefan hoist Damon's arm around his shoulder, flashing me a reassuring smile before he walked off.

Everything felt like a bad dream, my thoughts battled with one another trying to make sense of what had happened. I continued on towards the house, trudging through the grass in a daze.

"Rhea? Oh my god, Rhea!" Bonnie cried out as she rushed over to me. "Are you okay?"

She looped her through mine, pulling me to lean my body weight against her. Her eyes traced over my face looking for any injury, as I stayed mute, unable to answer. Catching on to my current state, she didn't push for an answer, my footsteps staggered as she began helping me toward her car.

–

Bonnie parked outside of my house and we sat in silence staring out the front windshield. Finally mustering up the strength to speak, I muttered out, "Bonnie."

Her gentle eyes looked at me expectantly, "Yes, Rae?"

"Thank you."

She smiled, "Of course. Like you said, I'll always be here for you."

I stepped out of the car, forcing out a smile before I walked towards the house. As I climbed the steps, I saw Elena peeking out through the living room window, watching me with concerned eyes. Relieved to see her home, my body relaxed as I continued into the house.

"What happened? Did you talk to Damon? You look awful." Elena asked, the moment the door closed behind me.

"Gee, thanks Elena. Honestly, it's a bit of a blur, I'm still not sure of what happened." I said, waiting for her reaction.

Elena's eyes narrowed with concern, "Is there anything you can tell me? Anything at all?"

"I don't know, I yelled at Damon and then he passed out from overdrinking or something? I don't know. It sounds crazy, but something definitely happened. Stefan showed up at the tail end of things and took him home. Speaking of which, did you get a chance to talk to him tonight?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"It's okay, we can talk about it later. As for Stefan, things didn't go well. I tried to get him to open up about Katherine, or anything really, but he just shut me out. He asked me to blindly trust him, but how am I supposed to do that without him earning it?"

I raised my brows, "Ah... I'm sorry, Elena. I'm pretty tired though, so can we talk more tomorrow?"

Thankfully, Elena seemed to understand that I needed to call it a night, as she nodded thoughtfully before I climbed the staircase and headed straight into my room. With no energy left, I barely stripped off my dress before flopping onto my bed, immediately curling up into my comforter. Closing my eyes, my thoughts faded to black.