"Come on Jeremy, Cherith, going to school! Walking out the door now!"

Elena called her siblings down as she walked to the front door.

"Hold on kiddo! Your thermos!"

Jenna called out to Elena and she smiled thankfully.

"Thanks Jenna!"

Elena moved to open the door when she stopped short, seeing john standing right in front of her.

"Elena! Jenna! It's been a while."

He grinned, looking at the two surprised women.

"Um… Uncle John… hi…"

Elena stuttered out, not sure what to say while Jenna stared at him with an unhappy face, crossing her arms.

"What are you doing here so early?"

She blurted out and John raised an eyebrow as he walked in with his luggage.

"Wow, I can really tell you really missed me Jenna."

She scoffed.

"As for your question, I did say I'd be here before noon."

Jenna rolled her eyes, disgruntled.

"Well in case you haven't realized, what you say and do are always different."

Just then, Jeremy walked down the stairs with a frown, spotting John.

"Uncle John, watsup!"

He greeted him, patting him on the shoulder.

"Hey!"

John smiled but Jeremy had already walked past him and out the door, Elena covering her smile.

"Anyways, I have some business in town so I decided a visit would suffice."

John spoke again, looking at Jenna.

"How long will you be in town?"

Elena asked, hoping he wouldn't spend much time in Mystic Falls, especially with all the things that had been going on.

"Hm, I don't know yet."

"Uncle John?? What the hell are you doing here?"

Cherith's voice sounded from up the stairs and the other 3 turned to her.

"Cherry! Glad to see—uck! What the hell happened to you?"

He grimaced, looking at her slightly disheveled hair, dark circles under her eyes, pale lips and her dead eyes.

Cherith gave him a dry smile jogging down the stairs and giving him a pat.

"Things have happened John… life isn't as roses and rainbows as you think. I'll see you later. Really good to have you here. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two like old times."

She walked out the door and John turned to Elena and Jenna.

"What's wrong with her? She's usually so sarcastic and witty but this is more… emo."

"Like she said, she's been through a lot."

Elena added, not wanting to explain to her uncle that his youngest niece had been having slight nightly terrors after killing vampires for the first time.

She quickly turned to Jenna.

"Well, I'll be heading to school now. Good luck Jenna."

She whispered the last part to Jenna who sighed ruefully and she walked out the door.

John looked at Jenna with a smile.

"Ugh! Your face makes me want to puke!"

She grouched and he scoffed, amused.

"Can't you at least pretend to be happy I'm here??"

Jenna gave him a look before forcing a happy smile on her face.

"Oh my God! John! It's so good to see you! How long has it—yeah, no… I can't do it. You're a dick and I hope you step on horse shit."

She gave him a look before walking away and John watched her amused as he walked off.

"Yep. Still the same. I'm not done Jenna. I'm not gonna let you sell my brother's office."

Jenna turned back, giving him a glare.

"The decision is Jeremy, Elena and Cherith's."

"And they're minors…so, like I said, you have no right."


Mystic Falls High.

Cherith flopped down on her seat beside Leslie as she got to school, looking slightly disheveled and Leslie frowned.

"Wow… you look…bad."

Cherith snorted, turning to her friend.

"I feel bad. I feel… dead, inside."

Leslie's eyebrow raised.

"Well okay Miss emo… well, maybe the founder's kick off party will do you some good, don't you think?"

Cherith frowned.

"Why would I even want to go to a stupid party anyways… I could be at home… eating and sleeping."

Leslie rolled her eyes.

"You always eat and sleep."

Leslie suddenly perked up.

"Hey! How about going on a date or something?"

Cherith grimaced, turning away from her friend and Leslie whined.

"Oh come on Cherry! You'll be 16 soon! Time to make crazy decisions! Kiss a guy you're not interested in, drink until you're practically slushed!... Have crazy sex with a practical stranger!"

She leaned in at the last one excitedly and Cherith snorted, a grin appearing on her face.

"Well it's a bad thing there's no practical stranger in Mystic Falls now, is there?"

Leslie beamed.

"Not here… but our seniors week trip is in a few months… what's to say you won't meet some sexy ass guy?? I know it's what I'm planning!"

Cherith looked at her friend, exasperatedly.

"Sometimes I wonder what it is exactly you feel for Chad Davis. Anyways… is it final now? Are we really going to New York for the trip?"

Leslie grinned, nodding excitedly.

"Heck yeah! Fun, right?!"

Cherith nodded.

Yeah, it'll be fun.

At least she had something now on her mind to think of that wasn't death related.

After turning those tomb vampires into mince meat, she'd heard about the death of Vicki Donovan.

It had made her speechless.

Vicki as of last year to her had been a crackheaded junkie that had been leading her brother on and making Matt's life a living hell.

Now though, she couldn't help but feel pity for the girl who had seemingly died from overdose and buried by some asshole in the middle of nowhere.

Honestly, Mystic Falls was turning up more and more darker as the days went by and she wasn't sure she was a fan of that.

Adding vampires to it, it wasn't safe like before when one could take a walk around 12 midnight without fearing for their lives.

"Oh, and prom is literally March! Who are you taking?"

Leslie asked her and Cherith scrunched her nose.

"I dunno… maybe I'll just go solo, or maybe even stay home."

Leslie gave her a look.

"Oh no you don't, missy. There are plenty of boys…and girls, looking for dates. Hey, check out Timmy Turner. He broke up with his girlfriend last week so technically he's free real estate."

The two girls turned to a dark haired guy in black leather jacket and dark blue jeans, his hair in slight disarray as he laughed at something his friends had said.

He must have realized he was being watched because he turned his dark blue eyes on them and gave them a curious smile and wave which the two girls gave back before turning away.

"And he's super hot! Best way to loose your virginity. Prom!"

She gushed and Cherith snorted.

"He's hot, yes but nah, I'm not interested in him. He looks like he'd end up telling his friends how 'good in bed' I was or something."

She grimaced and Leslie sighed, pouting at her friend.

"You're no fun. Just come to the party tomorrow! That's all I care about sissy…"

Cherith grinned as Alaric walked in, signaling the start of class.


Gilbert Residence.

That evening, Cherith walked out of her room, entering the kitchen to have an early dinner with the others, except Elena who was probably in her room trying to avoid John.

John was sort of persona non grata in their home.

Because he was a grade A asshole.

Jenna hated his guts, Elena disliked his very presence, Jeremy just didn't care.

Cherith though, didn't mind the man much.

Oh, he was an asshole, and she wasn't afraid to let him know when he acted like one, but he usually taught her a bunch of things, like when she'd been a kid, she had been pretty tiny and delicate for her age and that made her easy pickings for others.

It had been John who'd thought her to use brute force when absolutely necessary and not just her mouth.

Another thing she didn't mind about him was how he embraced being an asshole without even covering it. It was good finding people who weren't two-faced every once in a while.

She sighed as she sat down for the Chinese takeout they'd ordered, grabbing her chopsticks to eat, sighing slightly.

"I've no interest in the boring Founders' Day Kick-off Party."

Jeremy said to John, looking resolute on his decision and John shook his head, giving Jeremy a serious look as he took a sip of his water.

"Sure you do, its tradition. You have no choice kiddo."

Jenna rolled her eyes, turning to them over the sink.

"Tradition sucks ass. It will be our role to break the tradition."

John rolled his eyes at her.

"You've always been rather childish, Jenna. It doesn't surprise me you are like this."

Jenna gave him a murderous look which he ignored, turning back to Jeremy and not noticing the way Jenna grabbed a knife, pondering whether it'd be a good idea to murder the bastard in front of his niece and nephew.

"The Gilberts have been a part of this town for a hundred and fifty years. We're one of the founding families and with that distinction comes certain obligations including going to the party. One day, when you can appreciate the significance, I'll tell you all about your heritage."

Jeremy suddenly looked Interested and Jenna scoffed, waving the knife in her hand around, carelessly.

"Hmm, the Gilbert family legacy. I forgot how sacred it was. I'm not a Gilbert so I was never cool enough to hear it."

"Why does she hate you anyway?"

Jeremy whispered to John and even if Cherith was still out of it by the dining, even she was quite curious.

"Easy. We used to sleep together."

Jeremy's eyes widened and Cherith's lips curled in disgust as Jenna turned around, throwing a small bag at John's head.

"What the hell?! Really?? At the table?!"

She glared at him as he looked unconcerned and Cherith sighed, looking up from her food.

"How did we turn into such a dysfunctional family?"

She mumbled, looking at all the others and John raised an eyebrow at her.

"You've been rather moody all day Cherry. Care to share?"

He questioned her curiously and she sighed.

"What do you do when you have the stench of death surrounding you?"

The whole kitchen quietened as they stared at the youngest Gilbert weirdly and she sighed.

"No one gets me."

"You will be coming for the party tomorrow, right?"

John finally asked, shaking his head and Jeremy turned to him.

"You're not even gonna be concerned for her mental health?"

John smirked.

"You forget I grew up with Christian Gilbert. Wonderful man, my younger brother was, but he was just as slightly unhinged as she is."

Cherith glared at him.

"Well forgive us for taking more DNA from the Gilbert family. After all, our ancestors have been known to have been slightly touched in the head. And yes. I will be there. Just so I can inspire chaos and riot at the party."

She smirked at him, pointing a chopstick right at her uncle and grabbing at a fortune cookie, biting at it and reading it.

"You have been reborn anew. What the fuck is this shit?!"

"Language!"

Jenna sighed out.

"Geez…"

John shook his head and Jeremy snickered uncontrollably as Cherith ignored their very existence.

"I have been reborn anew?! What is that supposed to mean?! That's not even a fortune!"

She grouched, moving to grab another one but Jeremy slapped her hand away.

"Hands off you troll."

She pouted, holding her hand to herself and nursing a wounded animal look.

"I'll make you pay Jeremy Gilbert. Or have you perhaps forgotten what I'm capable of??"

She gave him an evil eye and he looked at her cautiously before dragging the small plate of fortune cookies to himself.


That night, as Cherith prepared to go to bed, sitting on her floor in a meditative stance like she'd been doing since her nightmares started, a knock on her door was heard.

"Cherith, you awake?"

"Yeah, come in."

She mumbled, not opening an eye or moving from her cross legged position.

She heard the door open and close and someone sit on her bed.

"Hey… how're you doing?"

"Don't ask"

Was all Cherith said and Elena shook her head.

"Anyways, I have a question, about Jeremy. Do you perhaps know if Jeremy suspects anything about… Vampires?"

She whispered slightly and Cherith popped open her right eye, staring at her sister for a second before closing it shut, arching her back.

"I don't know. Why the question?"

"Well, Alaric showed me a paper he wrote about vampires and… I'm really concerned he might know something."

Cherith shrugged.

"Like I said, I don't know. Besides, I really wouldn't be surprised if he did figure it out. It's Jeremy we're talking about here, he's a brilliant asshole."

Elena sighed.

"Cherith… this is serious."

Cherith groaned, giving up what she was doing and opening her eyes.

"And I'm serious too. If you could figure it out, and I could figure it out too, all on our own… what's to say Jeremy wouldn't, sooner rather than later?"

Elena frowned, not liking that idea and Cherith rolled her eyes, flopping on her back to the ground and staring at her ceiling, stretching.

"Look, if it bothers you so, then just go… ask him or something. I'm turning my back on vampire problems from today Elena. That's what you wanted anyways, right?..."

There was no answer and Cherith turned away from her sister.

"Don't bring it up with me anymore."

She whispered slightly.

"It's the nightmares isn't it?"

Cherith groaned.

"Elena, please… I'm meditating here!"

She whined and a slight smile grew on Elena's face as she shook her head and walked out.


The following evening came and Cherith found herself dressed for the party, even if she was grumpy.

She'd worn a creamy gold heart shaped armless gown that flared from her waist to her mid thighs with fluffy tulle and cream and white platform wedge heels, her hair in a wavy and curly style to her back and a simple creamy pearl necklace and earring, slight make up on.

She actually looked older than her age, what with being dressed up and absolutely beautiful.

A slight smirk escaped her face.

"Definitely still have it."

She muttered as she walked out of the room, joining her aunt to head to the party.

Jenna whistled when she saw Cherith.

"Really, I'm getting anxious for those poor boys' sakes."

She smirked and Cherith snorted, giving her aunt a look.

"Any funny business from them and they'll end up loosing something special."

"Ouch! So fiery tonight!"

Cherith grinned.

"Maybe I'm just standing up for what us redheads are known for. Having no souls."

They laughed.


Founder's Hall.

Cherith split up from her aunt as soon as she walked into the crowd.

She ignored the looks thrown at her and walked past, looking for any familiar faces. Or even Leslie.

She spotted Damon and Stefan and ignored them. She really wasn't interested in their drama and she hoped not just for her sake, but for theirs too, that they stayed away from her because her patience was already slowly waning and it was only a matter of time before she snapped.

Right now, she needed a way to sneak a drink or two for herself. Maybe that way she could actually see herself having fun and sleeping well.

As she walked past a doorway, she paused, spotting Matt and Tyler looking as thick as thieves in a corner and a bottle of scotch they were desperately trying to hide from the small crowd in the room, being exchanged between them.

With an amused scoff, she sauntered up to them.

"Well, well…"

She drawled and the two jumped slightly, trying to hide the bottle when they turned and she snickered.

"Cherry! Hey! Didn't expect to see you here… this isn't exactly your kind of thing."

Matt forced a laugh out and she looked at him, unimpressed as she folded her arms around her rather impressive cleavage which Tyler was presently getting engrossed by.

"Don't try to act coy with me Mattie. Let me see it."

Matt sighs, a smile on his face as he showed her the drink.

"I really can't hide anything from you, hunh?"

Cherith gave him a smirk, snatching the drink from his hand before he could pull away.

"You're not diabolical. I am."

With that, she brought the bottle to her lips and took a long and big gulp.

"Cherry!"

Matt whispered out, scandalized as he looked around to be sure no one was watching and Tyler's mouth dropped open before a smirk grew on his face.

She holds a finger out to the both of them, taking another swig and dropping it with a sigh.

"I'm here to get my mind off a lot of things Mattie. This will help."

Tyler grinned.

"You know, I just might like you better than your brother."

He said and Cherith gave him a look, pushing the bottle into his chest and he quickly grabbed it with a grin as she arranged her hair.

"This party was bound to be boring. Might as well find a way to spice it up a bit. Make a bad decision or two."

She grinned, winking at Matt and walking off, a slight spring in her steps and Tyler turned to Matt.

"You know, she's actually hot."

Matt gave him an exasperated look.

"Dude! She's 15!"

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"Actually she'll be 16 in 3 weeks maybe? I heard Caroline mention that. Besides, don't act like you didn't notice it. She's got legs for miles too."

Matt scoffed, a smile on his face as he yanked the now decreasing drink from Tyler and gulped it down.


Cherith went back down the stairs, feeling slightly good and she noticed the music was now upbeat and danceable.

She grinned as she walked around, waving slightly to some people she knew and ran into Leslie.

"Cherry! Oh my God, you actually came!"

She gushed and Cherith scoffed.

"Please! If I didn't I know you'd have marched to my house and dragged me in my PJs."

"Damn right I'd have!"

She vouched before moving slightly in front of Cherith and sniffing, making Cherith step back startled.

"Woah… you're my best female friend and all, but I don't wanna kiss you."

Leslie gave her a look before hitting her arm playfully.

"I can't believe you got booze before I did! Traitor!"

Cherith snorted, moving to the upbeat and dragging her friend towards the dance floor.

"Come on! Let's dance!"

She shouted over the music.

"Okay, I can tell you're tipsy already. I'm usually the one who has to drag you to dance!"

"I'm not tipsy yet! But I'm getting there!"

She promised and Leslie laughed.

"Well allow me to make you tipsy! Be right back!"

Leslie left and Cherith watched her go before shrugging and dancing on her own.

She hadn't let loose like this before. It actually felt… nice, to be able to dance and act like a rowdy teenage dirtbag for a while.

She smiled as she moved and right across the dancefloor she caught the eye of Timmy Turner who grinned at her and feeling awfully playful, she smirked and wriggled her finger at him before continuing to dance.

As she moved to the music, she saw him slowly make his way over but before he could get to her, Leslie got back, holding a smaller bottle of scotch.

"Look what I found…"

She sang, holding it discreetly and Cherith laughed out, grabbing it and looking around.

"How did you get your hands on this?!"

Leslie shrugged.

"Ran into a tipsy Lockwood and then blackmailed him into getting me this."

"Hmm, he's an ass but I like him just for today."

Cherith grinned as she took a swig, handing it to Leslie who did the same giggling.

Another upbeat song came up and Leslie squealed.

"Oh yeah! This is my song!"

The two girls laughed.


About 20-30 minutes after, Cherith excused herself, feeling slightly lightheaded and walking up the stairs to find a bathroom to pee.

"Hey!"

Timmy Turner jogged after her, in a stylish tuxedo and a rakish grin.

"Uh, hi!"

She said back to him, wondering what he was looking for.

"So! I saw you earlier… definitely look different than how you usually are."

"Oh?"

She smirked, amused.

"You mean crazy, obnoxious and loud?"

He chuckled but nodded.

"Yeah."

She crossed her arms.

"So… what am I like right now?"

She asked, slightly curious and her voice a bit low and seductive which she didn't notice but Timmy certainly did.

"Well, I think you've always been beautiful yes, but now hot, lively and cool."

She grinned before looking at him closely as he came closer to her.

She didn't know why, but maybe it was the slight intoxication she was feeling or just wanting to be her normal, almost 16 year old self, but she suddenly met halfway with Timmy, locking lips with him in a rough and slight battle for dominance.

He pushed her against the wall, body pressing against hers slightly and she let out a low moan.

They moved into an empty room and he lifted her by her thighs, wrapping them around his waist as he dropped her on a desk and ran his hands over her inner laps.

She dragged her hands through his ruffled hair, tongues clashing and he groaned in pleasure.

Suddenly, Cherith frowned, wondering what she was doing.

Oh yes she was enjoying their little foreplay, but she was in a party. A party where any adult could walk in and find her in such a precarious position, especially Elena and Jenna who'd never let her live it down.

She paused, removing her lips from Timmy's who breathed out heavily, eyes half lidded as he seemed to be on cloud nine and she pushed him away slightly, standing up and rearranging her dress.

He frowned when he noticed.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

He asked and she shook his head, plastering a smile on her face.

"Oh, nothing at all… just, I have to go pee."

She said dryly, walking around him and he chuckled, holding her hand.

"Hey, come on… really? You have to pee?"

Cherith sighed, becoming slightly disgruntled.

One thing she hated, people holding her without permission… no matter how good-looking they were.

"Yeah, so bye…"

She moved to remove her hand but he held her with a grin.

"You're joking, right?"

He looked at her, slightly exasperated and she huffed, suddenly impatient and angry.

"Yes Timmy! I want to go pee, so would you fucking let go of me and be happy I even gave you a moment of my freaking time!"

She spat out, red mist on her skin, slightly exploding outward and a bit of it seemed to float into Timmy's head and he suddenly blanked out, even if he was still standing, awake and open eyed.

Cherith frowned, suddenly wary as he blinked slightly and grinned, his usual cocky self again.

"I have to go too Cherith, but it was really nice spending some time with you."

He grinned, backing out of the room.

"Also, you're a GREAT kisser. I hope we can do that again."

With a last wink, he walked out, leaving Cherith confused about what had just happened.

"Was that another power?"

She pondered to herself, walking out of the room slowly.

Did she just make him actually do what she wanted him to?!

Was that even possible??

As soon as she walked out of the room, Jeremy who was walking by, stopped, staring at her slightly ruffled appearance and looking in the room behind her.

"What?"

She raised an eyebrow and he looked at her amused.

"Nothing… just surprised that you of all people would have a secret tryst in a manor where John, Jenna or even Elena could walk in on you getting at it. Then again, it's you so…"

He shrugged and Cherith glared at him, moving to box at his head, her cheeks red.

"I wasn't… having a tryst! You stupid clown!"

"Uh-uh…"

He gave her a shit eating grin and walked away and she huffed at him, walking down the stairs, behind him, arms crossed.

"What time is this party ending anyways?"

She wondered before groaning.

"I can't believe I forgot to pee! Ugh! Damn Timmy and his distracting lips… this is why I shouldn't give boys the attention of the day. They make you forget important things… if I loose my bladder, I'm blaming the asshole."

She mumbled as she got down the stairs and entered another large, open room.

Thankfully, it wasn't rowdy and she could sit for a while before searching out anyone she knew for a ride home before she made any more… crazy, decisions.

As she sat down, she heard smacking of lips and turned slightly, her eyes widening as she saw Tyler Lockwood locking lips with Kelly freaking Donovan!

She wrinkled her nose, a bad taste left in her mouth.

"Yeah I take back what I said… I don't like Tyler Lockwood today."

She mumbled and looked away, only to see Elena and Matt walk into the room.

"Oh dear… drama…"

She sang, suddenly smiling and looking interested.

Matt frowned in shock and dismay, jogging over to them and dragging Tyler off his mother.

"What the hell are you doing man?!?"

He shouted out at Tyler who moved back slightly, Kelly Donovan looking guilty, like she always was…

The bitch.

"Mom!"

Matt shouted exasperatedly at his mother and Tyler stepped forward like the dick that he was instead of keeping quiet.

"Woah, dude… calm down man…"

Matt whipped his head over to him, anger in his eyes and in a second, punched Tyler in the face making him stumble.

Matt rammed into Tyler, the two moving to fight.

"Matt!"

Elena called out desperately and Cherith stood up, knowing this was going to become even more violent soon enough.

Tyler held onto Matt's jacket and punched him harder and he stumbled into his mother who was behind him and she stumbled into a table of glass cups and bottles, falling to the ground and breaking them in the process, gaining some slight cuts too and Elena with the other guests in the room stare in horror.

Cherith might thrive on violence every once in a while, but she could see this getting bloodier.

She slowly moved over to them, not wanting to startle either.

Tyler though, was already mad with rage, looking animalistic as he pushed Matt to the ground and crouched on him, punching him repeatedly.

"Tyler!"

Cherith shouted out, stumbling towards them as Elena looked on, scared.

"Stop it Tyler! You're hurting him!"

Elena screamed out and as Matt's face got bloodied up, Cherith couldn't stand by and watch as he moved to strangling Matt and she ran to hold Tyler's hand.

"Stop it you ass!"

Tyler, in his rage, didn't realize who was holding his hand, and at the moment Alaric ran into the room, Tyler turned to punch Cherith across the face and she falls to the ground in pain as people gasped.

"Cherry! Oh my God!"

Elena cried out, rushing to her sister who cried out in pain when she touched her cheek.

Alaric then moved to grab Tyler who was resisting, pulling him off of Matt as Kelly rushed off like the coward she usually was.

"Tyler! Stop it! What the hell was that?!"

Alaric asked him as Tyler looked around, shaken, his eyes landing on Matt and Cherith on the floor as Elena turned to him, angry tears in her eyes.

The Mayor ran in at that moment, taking a look at the commotion and moving to his son.

Cherith though, was suddenly not in her right mind anymore.

Someone had dared to punch her.

Someone seemingly beneath her… had deigned to hurt her. To inflict her with pain.

"I'll take it from here…"

The Mayor said to Alaric, turning to his son and placing a hand around his neck slightly.

"Are you hurt?"

He asked, and in that moment, any patience that Cherith was trying to build up was gone.

He was asking his son, who had caused this mess in the first place if he was okay.

Cherith pushed Elena off of her, standing up, right fist tightening as slight red energy built up at the knuckles of her hand and she walked forward, pushing the Mayor out of her way and landing a powerful and crunching blow on Tyler's face in return and to the shock of those there, he fell to the ground in a dead faint, leaving everyone gasping in shock as Cherith flexed her fingers at the pain she felt in her hand.

Elena stared at her sister like she'd never seen her before and the Mayor looked between Cherith and his son, in shock and slight anger.

"Cherry!"

Elena stood, rushing to her sister and holding her shoulder, only for it to be shrugged off.

"Miss Gilbert—"

The Mayor started and Cherith gave him a vicious glare in return.

"Zip it Lockwood!"

Outrageous gasps were heard again as the Mayor stepped back in shock and Elena brought her hands to her mouth, covering them in horror.

"Next time… teach your son not to hit a girl. You never know just who he might end up hitting."

She gritted at him and his eyes widened in realization at the slight swell of her cheek that was starting to throb and was red and he swallowed, looking around.

With a glare, she walked off, Elena going after her as well as Alaric.


"Oh my God, are you okay??"

Jenna moved towards her youngest niece who joined the growing crowd standing in front of an antique giant bell.

Cherith waved her off, feeling an headache growing and with the booze she'd drank, mixing up with the pain she was feeling, it was not a good thing.

At all.

"It hurts, Jens…"

She whined slightly and Jenna frowned, moving to touch the swelling cheek and Cherith hissed in pain, moving Jenna's hand away, making Jenna smile.

"It's settled then, immediately after this speech, I'm taking you home. You'll have some aspirin and go to bed straight. Cause I know you've also been drinking."

Jenna gave her a look and Cherith tried to smile innocently but winced.

"Oh, you know me too well."

Jenna scoffed.

"—John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?"

Applause resonated around the room, bringing the two back to the present as John walked to the front and rejoins the Mayor.

"The asshole."

Jenna grunts.

"Yes. Yes he is."

Cherith turns to her with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not talking about John. I'm talking about the Mayor."

Jenna's eyes widened before she paused and thought about it.

"Alaric told me all that happened. I can understand why you'd call him that, but really Cherith! Telling the Mayor to 'Zip it!' I'm proud of you but I just wanna smack you silly at the same time too."

Cherith gave a side smile.

The sound of the bell startled Cherith and she winced slightly as it added to her already existing headache.

Jenna noticed and put an arm around her shoulder.

"Come on, I think we can leave now. It was getting boring anyway."

Cherith nodded, her head banging and she wasn't against it as Jenna helped her out of the manor and into her car, driving home.


Gilbert Residence.

Jeremy gets home before everyone else and rushes up the stairs, entering Elena's room and looking around it.

She had acted suspiciously that evening… too suspiciously.

Avoiding his questions, asking some pointedly alarming questions and it made him look at her in a different light.

He knew he'd never be able to get an answer out of her and so decided the next best thing, which was her diary.

It took a while for him to find it, and when he did, what he read had not been what he'd been expecting.

It had been worse.


Founder's Hall.

People were already leaving the premises and Tyler stood in a room, his cheek slightly swollen and looking like it'd bruise.

He remembered hitting Cherith even if by mistake and guilt surged through him.

Not just for her alone, but for his friend, Matt.

He didn't know why, but he got angry a lot… too angry, and it was causing problems in his life already.

Problems he didn't like.

Problems that had suddenly escalated that night and in front of a crowd.

He'd well and truly fucked up.

He turned at the sound of footsteps and his dad walked into the room, looking stiff faced.

"Let's go."

Was all he said and Tyler sighed, walking up to his father.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I don't even know what happened. I was drinking and…I lost control. I can't explain it."

He tried to explain and his father nodded slightly, turning to walk away when he backhanded him with a slap, making Tyler stumble in shock as his father pressed a hand to his chest, effectively trapping him against a wall.

"That is the last time you ever… embarrass this family."

He threatened his son before walking off, Tyler breathing heavily, watching his father's retreating back.


Gilbert Residence.

Cherith stood in her room after having a much needed shower, taking some aspirin and applying some ice to her bruise.

She looked at it in the mirror and grimaced, knowing that it might look really ugly the following day.

"Hey Cherith… I need to talk to you."

Jeremy's voice sounded and she rolled her eyes.

"Not now, Jeremy… I'm not in the mood."

"I really need to—"

He walked in and stopped, seeing the bruise on his little sister's cheek and frowned, walking over to her.

"Wow… Elena told me what happened but I thought it wasn't as bad as she'd said. Does it hurt?"

She gave him a look.

"Like a bitch."

He smirked, before frowning.

"And… how about Tyler? How hard did you punch him?"

Cherith smiled slightly.

"Let's just say, it was nightie night for the ass."

Jeremy grinned.

"That's good. Still can't believe you talked to the Mayor like that. Jenna is still gloating all about it on the phone."

Cherith scoffed.

"I'd gloat all about it if I could too anyways… but whatever! What do you want bro…"

Jeremy looked at her for a minute before shaking his head.

"Uh, nothing. It can wait."

She gave him a look.

"Really Jemmie? Just tell me."

He scoffed with a smile.

"Really, nothing serious I promise. We can talk another time. Just get some rest, okay?"

Cherith sighed an nodded as Jeremy walked out of her room and she turned back to her mirror, leaning closer to stare at her injury.

"I cannot believe tonight turned out like this."

She scoffed, mumbling.

"Went to party, drank a lot, made out with a notoriously good-looking player, mind controlled him into walking away, got punched, punched the living daylights out of Tyler Lockwood and basically told the Mayor to shut his mouth. I don't think I'm missing anything else…"

But damn, the bruise was ugly!

Was all she could think as she daintily brought a finger u to brush her cheek lightly.

It hurt just to look at and made her feel weak.

She didn't like feeling weak.

No matter what… even when she had been younger.

If only she could do something about it… it looked hideous and she wanted it gone!

Immediately after that thought, crimson energy seeped out of her fingers and into her bruise and right before her eyes, the slight wound on it closed up and the redness and swollen look vanished, making her look like nothing had happened in the first place.

Her jaw dropped as she stared in the mirror at her now pristine cheek.

It was like nothing had happened.

She was back to normal and there was no pain whatsoever.

She looked down at her hand, remembering when she had done something similar to the broken window back in school, and a small smirk appeared on her face.

Well, well…

She looked up at the mirror, closing her hand in a fist, smirk still on her face.


Hi guys!

so this is the next chapter!

Yes yes, Cherith is beginning to act like the crazy teenager she was born to be.

As you can see it wasn't just a sudden change. She's been changing for a long time now.

She won't be ultra crazy about boys and booze though... remember there's still the threat of vampires and Harknesses to deal with. But she's also a soon to be 16 years old, so of course I'll make her act her freaking age. She's mature, but she'll be a baddie to boot.

I also used to wish in this episode that there had been someone to knock some senses into Tyler and his father. Tyler is a good guy but his father's influence is an ugly one. Poor guy just can't get a break i guess.

Hope you like this though... she really is getting into her powers even without anyone to help her out, isn't she??

Please comment on what you think!

Thank you!