November 30th, 2009 - Monday
"How was I supposed to know Tyler?" Vicki shouts out loudly as she throws her book bag across the room. "I can't control it okay?"
"I wanted to be at school today Vick." Tyler snaps back annoyed as he runs his fingers through his short hair while forcing himself to calm down. "I need to be at school today. My dad will practically kick my ass otherwise."
Matt and Caroline were watching with concern from the Donovan kitchen when Mason walked in and leaned against the door way after letting himself in and shutting the door. He watched on curiously.
"You think I don't want to go?" Vicki snaps back at him in annoyance as frustrated tears start to fall down her cheeks. "I need to go so that I can leave this god forsaken town Tyler. But you don't need to stay here. You won't get attacked today if you decide to step out there and neither will my brother or Caroline. None of you need to stay. I am not forcing you to stay here with me. I didn't even ask you to stay."
"I'll stay with her." Mason says flatly causing them to jump in surprise when they see him standing inside the house beside the entrance. "So that the rest of you can go to school."
He was concerned, not that he wanted to say that right now or even admit it. So much has changed in such a short amount of time. But since their meeting and Vicki's explanation he's been getting a really weird feeling. It's as if he's being warned of danger even if he's not entirely sure if he knows the cause of it.
"Man." Matt begins to say in protest but Mason cuts him off by shaking his head and placing his hands up.
"I'll help. I don't know what I can do about it or anything else really, but I want to help." Mason admits, thinking about how he will have to talk to Vicki about what has been causing her death. All she gave him were vague details, but vague won't help any of them with this.
After that he will need to talk to Tyler, Matt and Caroline to find out what they know or remember. What's the cause? Can they make it go away? Although, since Vicki did a ritual he can bet that that is what caused the whole random time loop. The fact that it's centered around her makes him wonder why no one else, other then this small group seems unable to notice it.
--
An hour later they were outside in the backyard and he was teaching her the basics of fighting, making it harder and harder for her to get him down each time. With a omph she landed on her back, then taking a deep breath she brings herself back to her feet tiredly.
"You're getting better." He compliments as he looks at her. "But, not good enough to take on a vampire. Not yet. Again."
With a groan Vicki nods and gets into position again to prepare for a fight. "I just started learning today Mason."
"Ah huh. Again." He demands after she gets to her feet, they both get into position and then she punches forward, her leg kicking out to hit him.
Mason blocks her fist and her leg, knocking them out of the way before he turns sharply and hits her right in the face. After she drops she sighs. "Ouch."
"You have to knock my hand out of the way Vicki otherwise I'll just keep hitting you down."
It was four hours later when Vicki finally managed to hit him back. When Matt got home from school with Caroline and Tyler in tow they found them in the backyard. Not long afterwards they formed pairs to practice with Mason showing them different ways to fight back.
--
December 2nd, 2009
It was Wednesday and the first day since the 30th of November that she didn't have to relive over and over again. Or so she hoped. They got to school and aside from learning about the whole Career night that is supposed to go on the day when relatively normal. Aside from Jeremy's constant stares and one unsuccessful attempted compulsion there were no complications.
Vicki was standing beside Caroline, Matt and Tyler as they walked around at the set ups for Career Night. "So, what do you want to do when you grow up?" Caroline asks them cheerfully while making sure to ignore Bonnie and Elena.
They had been trying to get everything back to normal ever since she pulled away from them. But, it's hard to be friends with people who will treat you like you're less then, or as if you're stupid. Bonnie isn't so bad, but the new witch has always preferred Elena. Caroline now just doesn't feel the need to compete with the doppelgänger or to force herself to fit into the perfect mold. She can be herself.
Tyler shrugs at Carolines question and sighs. "Dad wants me to run for Mayor when I get older, he says it's some kind of family legacy or something. But, I don't know if I'll do it or not, I'm good at drawing - although it's not easy to make a living with that."
"I kind of want to work in Law Enforcement." Matt admits before running his fingers through his hair. "But I don't know, I wouldn't mind working in accounting. I'm good with numbers you know?"
Caroline nods her head as Vicki bites her lip in thought. "I want to do something that means something." Vicki says smoothly. "I don't want to be just a waitress or .. lost. I felt lost for so long and I want better then that. What about you Care?"
"I want to be an Investigative Journalist actually." Caroline says with a small smile as she looks at the floor shyly.
They chuckle softly and Tyler is the first to speak. "You'll be good at that."
"The best probably." Vicki adds with a smile.
Matt nods his head in agreement. "Yeah, you've always been good at getting information from people. Whether they notice it or not."
Caroline beams at them happily as they walk out and go back to the Donovan's house.
"Are you sure you don't mind if we stay the night again?" Caroline asks with a frown as she sets her bag on the hook in the entry way.
"Honestly." The brother and sister say fondly. "You can stay as long as you like."
"Movie?" Tyler asks. "Or should we play a card game? To bad Mason can't be here, damn wolf gene huh?"
"Card game." Simultaneously they all reply.
"What does he think about that?" Vicki asks as they find a deck of cards.
Tyler sighs. "He says it's painful, that it hurts."
Deciding to change the subject, so that they don't have to think of their friend being hurt Matt changes the subject. "What card game should we okay?"
"Strip poker?" Tyler suggests as he wiggles his eyebrows causing the ladies to chuckle and Matt to venomously protest, not wanting to see his sister in any state of undress.
"Nope, uh, Vicki is my sister so.. nope." Matt replies looking a bit sick.
"Regular poker?" Caroline suggests then with an amused twitch of her lips. "Or maybe B.S. we could always play Rummy?"
"Rummy." Tyler and Matt say as Vicki and Caroline shrug their shoulders.
--
December 8th, 2009 - Tuesday
"I'm not the only one who finds it annoying that they love to have school dances all throughout the week am I?" Vicki asks Caroline with a scowl after getting what she needs from her locker.
Caroline shrugs with a smirk. "I don't mind. I like the dances and planning them. Makes me wish I could keep being on the squad. Maybe we can go to the next dance?"
"Maybe." Vicki replies in a mumble.
"Then why didn't you stay on it?" Tyler asks in amusement as he walks over with Matt.
"For the same reason Matt decided to pick up a job as a Bus Boy at the Grill." She retorts with an eye roll.
"Maybe Vicki will join me on the cheer squad." Caroline retorts bubbly.
Vicki snorts and waves a hand dismissively. "Please, the other girls would be pissed."
"They would accept you. Especially with Mason being your boyfriend." She says in a sing-song voice.
"I still can't believe you're hooking up with my Uncle." Tyler mutters as Vicki playfully flicks off Caroline who chuckles at her friend.
Matt makes a face. "I don't even want to think about my sister doing anything like that with anyone. Seriously. Ew."
"Oh come on, I never said anything when you were doing the female Gilbert." Vicki says with an eye roll. "You're so dramatic Matty."
"Just Matt, Vicki." He says with a huff, then he mumbles. "Besides, you never caught me doing her on the table."
"Nope." Vicki replies cheerfully, a Cheshire grin on her face. "I saw you both doing it against the wall though."
"No you didn't." Matt says in denial."You would've said something."
She snorts. "Oh, I so did see it. And let me tell you, it was gross. But, you're my brother. So I didn't go screaming my head off when I caught you or say anything because I didn't want to embarrass you."
"So." Caroline begins saying curiously. "How is he?"
Vicki grins at her as the boys cover their ears, not wanting to listen. "So, soo good."
