(Caroline's POV)
A couple of weeks passed by and nothing really changed, school was going well. Elena and I constantly talked about the Salvatore brothers but we had no clue how to go about our devious plan of them falling in love with us. We couldn't stop thinking about them even if we tried-which we did. We decided it's probably best to be subtle with the flirtation then maybe over time they'll succumb to their desires.
Today was Friday and the night of the homecoming dance. Elena came over to my house and we got ready. I curled my hair and did my makeup. I was wearing a tight black dress that had two straps and scooped down to show off my cleavage. I slipped on my black heels and we went out the door. We arrived at the dance but not before taking a few swigs from her aunt's secret stash and sharing a cigarette. We doused ourselves in perfume then walked into the gym which was decorated really cute.
Elena and I walked over to the far end of the gym and sat down at a table. We started pointing out girls in super slutty dresses and laughing. I saw Bonnie and Rebekah walking around as chaperones. We were just talking then I looked over to the other side of the gym. I took in a sharp inhale and grabbed Elena's arm, "Elena holy shit, they're here." Elena looked at me, "Tyler and Matt are here? I didn't think they'd show." They were the only decent-looking guys at our school who we tried to distract our minds with. We'd hang out with them sometimes so for now it was more plausible than us getting with our teachers. I shook my head, "No Mr. S and Mr. Salvatore are here!" Her eyes widened, she looked at me then looked at them. We started awkwardly for a moment. Just focusing on the movement of their lips as they talked.
"Quick check!" she said and we both looked at each other to make sure our hair and makeup were perfect. We scooped up our cleavage before sitting casually back in our chairs. We decided to walk past them, make eye contact, and smile so they'd notice how hot we were. We tried our best not to freak out as we did that then went outside to sneak a cigarette. The rest of the night passed by. I was just hanging out in front of the gym outside. I hadn't seen Elena in like twenty minutes and I kept texting and calling her.
Suddenly she ran up to me, "Oh my god, you'll never believe what just happened!" She said smiling. "Dude, I've been calling you where the hell have you been?" "With Matt! We've been hanging out for the past twenty minutes and he invited me to come to his after-party." She started squealing and jumping up and down. "I told you my parents will get all crazy if I stay out really late and you're my ride home." She nodded, "Matt wants me to go with him right now, can you ask Rebekah or someone to take you home? Or maybe Stefan?" She said winking. I sighed and said, "Yeah sure, just don't get pregnant." She laughed and hugged me, "Thank you so much! I'll text you tomorrow." I waved bye then sat down on the steps.
About thirty minutes later everyone had left and it was just the teachers and me I. Bonnie had already left so it was just Mr. S, Mr. Salvatore, Rebekah, and I. We were cleaning up when Rebekah asked, "Where's Elena?" I rolled my eyes and said, "She left to go to Matt's after-party." Rebekah laughed, "Wasn't she your ride home?" We got everything pretty much cleaned up and we sat down on the steps. I replied, "Yea, do you think you can give me a ride home?" Rebekah sighed and asked, "Where do you live again?" I replied, "Like ten minutes south from here on Cravens Avenue." "Shit I live nowhere near you," she paused then said, "Hey Salvatore," calling over to Stefan. Alarm covered my face but I tried to look as casual as possible. She asked, "Caroline lives on Cravens Avenue, you think you can give her a ride home?" He looked at me, I tried my best to smile sweetly but seductively then I looked towards the ground. He replied, "Yea sure I live about a block away from Cravens." Rebekah smiled then looked at me, "Great." Mr. S and Rebekah left.
Holy shit this is actually happening. I snuck a quick text to Elena, "SALVATORE IS GIVING ME A RIDE HOME. Odds I'll lose my virginity tonight." I tried my best not to die laughing right there. I was totally joking about the virginity thing but maybe I could feel him out… My heart was racing as Mr. Salvatore led me through the parking lot to his car. The atmosphere was completely normal and comfortable. He opened the door for me and I took the opportunity to touch his arm, "Thank you," I said. We got in and I told him the cross streets of where I lived.
As we were driving he asked, "So why aren't you going to this after-party?" It was strange having a normal conversation with him, since he's my teacher, whenever I do talk to him I'm either answering a question or asking one. "I don't know, parties aren't really my thing and my parents are expecting me home-they're kind of strict," I replied, trying my best to keep my cool. But I was also trying to put up this total virtuous act, I know older guys die for that. I looked out the window, forcing myself not to stare at his gorgeous face. "I understand, I was the same way in high school and kind of still feel the same way now, you know, not being the biggest fan of parties and all." I giggled a bit and looked over at him. He caught my glance and we made eye contact for a moment but it was different than in class. As we drove on, the car got warmer inside and the atmosphere changed and it felt like we were just two people, not a student and a teacher.
Before we turned onto my street he pointed at a house and said, "That's my house right there, it's where I grew up." I nodded because it was a quaint but giant house. We turned onto my street and after passing a few houses we stopped in front of mine. He stopped his car and I turned to him and said, "Um thanks again, for driving me home." I debated touching his arm again but decided that was too much. Instead, I turned towards him and slightly pushed my chest together with my arms. I knew it looked like they were about to fall out. I could tell he was trying his best not to stare. He looked to the ground and faintly smiled, "It was no problem." We looked at each other for what seemed like forever but I know it was just seconds. It felt like we were close, like kissing distance close even though we weren't leaning towards each other. It was crazy and my heart was racing, and that was when I heard a plate smash from inside my house. Then I heard yelling-I knew it was my mom and dad.
I turned my head to the car door and said 'shit' under my breath. Suddenly the atmosphere in the car got very cold because I knew exactly what was happening in my house. He looked alarmed as he looked between me and the house because glass kept shattering. "What's going on?" he asked. I looked back at him, staring at his perfect lips that I wanted so badly. "Nothing, I'm so sorry" I stuttered out as I got unbuckled. I got out of the car then said, "Thanks again for the ride," and ran off into my house, knowing what was waiting to come.
I ran inside, bracing myself. This only happened when my father would drink. I walked in on my parents yelling at each other and my mom thought it was best to throw our good china at him. I was in the foyer and they were arguing in the front entrance by the stairs. I watched in horror as my dad threw my mom into the wall. I screamed and ran over to them trying my best to break it up. Mom was knocked unconscious and leaning on the wall. My dad had me pinned to the floor and was screaming into my face. The alcohol coming off of his breath was enough to get me dizzy. He slammed my face into the ground and slapped me, giving me a cut on my lip and the left side of my forehead. I kneed him in the stomach and got out from under him. Tears were running down my face as I went to my mom. I woke her up then helped her walk upstairs and get into her bed.
By the time I got back downstairs my father was already passed out, thank god. I went to the kitchen and spit out the blood that was in my mouth. I ripped the bottle of whiskey out of his hands and stared at him in disgust. I went to the living room and sat down burying my face in my hands and crying. I went to the bathroom and looked at myself. My chest had drops of blood on it. My face was cut and my mascara was running, I looked like I'd been through hell… and I did. I was done, completely done. My father getting drunk and acting crazy didn't happen often but when it did, it was bad.
I walked out the front door and into the cold. The shock of the cold helped me deal with the trauma of it all. I just breathed in the crisp air. I wanted to scream into the sky and beg for mercy, beg for all of this to stop. But it won't. All my life my father has been angry and short-tempered, but the physical stuff only started these past couple of years. It just kept getting worse. I haven't told any of my friends, not even Elena knows.
Once I got upstairs I checked in once more on my mom before heading to my room. I turned on the shower and started gulping down a glass of water. When I got in, the hot water stung my cuts, but eventually, it felt so nice being in there. I let the water and steam wash over me and tried to relax as much as possible. Once I got out I cleaned my cuts with hydrogen peroxide and put bandages over the necessary ones. Thank god it was Friday and I could have the weekend to recover. At least I'd look a little less fucked up on Monday. I got into the coziest pajamas I had and crawled into my bed. I thought of Mr. Salvatore to ensure I'd have sweet dreams and forget about all this craziness, at least for a little while.
The weekend went by uneventfully. Except for the call I got the day after the dance explaining all the drama at the after-party. It was nice talking to Elena, even though she doesn't know it she always cheers me up and can make me laugh when I'm feeling awful. I had to tell her all the details about my car ride with Stefan, except for the ending. She was so jealous he'd given me a ride and that he lives so close. In her words, "easy access." So the next step on her plan is working a ride home from Mr. S and finding out where he lives.
Thank god my father left for a business trip the day after complete chaos ensued. It's become quite the pattern of his. He's director of sales for some company that also heavily funds the police and fire department of our county. My dad used to be a cop, but once the force got to be too much for him, he switched careers. He was on the force from his early twenties to his late thirties, he got out when I was like five or six. That's my guess as to why my mom feels trapped or never gets the authorities involved. He was apparently a great police officer so he's still well respected. Now with his new job, he still tries to help them out. My dads is always at events for our civil servants and some of his best friends are cops. So it'd be no use. But on the bright side being a director of sales requires him to travel a lot so at least he's out of the house.
It was Sunday night and I was looking at myself in the mirror. The cut on my forehead was still pretty prominent but the one on my lip was healing nicely. There was only light bruising around the cuts which was a best-case scenario. So when I go into school tomorrow completely covered in clothes, I'll be able to blame my injury on something stupid. The next morning I put on a navy long sleeve, layered it with a big tee and my dark wash boot cut jeans. I put on nice cozy socks, my comfiest shoes and made sure to grab an oversized grey hoodie. I got everything I needed for school and headed out the door. Instead of Elena picking me up, my mom drove me to school. She informed me that my dad should be gone for at least a week but didn't know when he'd return. She told me sorry a million times. I could hear the heartbreak in her voice. She felt trapped but she informed me she was working on a plan to get us out of this. I told her I understood and that it was okay, as long as we had each other we'd be able to make it.