Hello all! So sorry for the long wait! I have had a busy few weeks! Got a new job, had tons of school work, hopefully I won't take so long next time! I am definitely not abandoning this story!
Warning: This chapter mentions abuse. This is not a rape fic. I repeat, this is not a rape fic nor a near-rape fic. None of that is in this story.
Chapter 3: Friday Night Bites
April 21st, 1993
The young woman was kicking and screaming both in trying to get away from the people trying to calm her and from the pain.
"It's, okay, honey." Sheila told the screaming woman. "Just hold still."
Mike ran a hand over his face as he paced. "What's wrong with her?"
"She's in a great deal of pain with each contraction. The baby is coming too soon."
He took the woman's hand. "Jenny, sweetheart. You have to push, baby. You can do it."
"No, no I can't. It hurts too much." She turned her face into the pillow. "Please make it stop."
"We have to do it now."
"Do what?" Michael asked as Sheila placed her hands on either side of Jenny's head. "What are you doing?"
"We have to help her. She doesn't have the strength." She began chanting lowly, Sheila's daughter Abby and Othella joining in. Jenny suddenly gasped when she had calmed down, putting a hand on her swollen stomach.
"She's strong." Shelia murmured. "I've never felt that before."
"She's been chosen." Othella smiled proudly. "Jenny, your daughter has the gift of our goddess, just like you."
"She does?" Mike questioned, smiling a bit. "Our daughter is special, Jen." He pressed a kiss to his wife's rosy cheek. She smiled a little and then winced.
"Something's wrong." She croaked. All at once the witches seemed to be seeing something that Mike couldn't. They rushed around his wife, pushing him aside and he frowned.
"What's going on?"
"The baby needs to come now. Jenny is using her strength up to help her." Shelia murmured.
"Help? What's wrong with the baby?"
"It's losing life. Rapidly. There's something very wrong here." Abby frowned. Jenny screamed.
"Jenny?! Jenny!"
September 11th, 2009
Mike rubbed his temples.
"Rough night?"
"Just a dream."
Othella nodded once, pouring coffee into a mug. "Evelyn's been having nightmares again too. About that day she was found in the park all alone, I'm sure. It's always the same."
He grunted in response and she sighed irritably, turning to face him.
"She's sixteen, Michael." Othella scowled. "I need to tell her and it's time to tell her."
"No."
"I've kept silent about it for sixteen years, because you asked me too. I can't ignore it any longer and neither can you. She has the gift. She has a right to embrace her ancestry."
"A gift that killed Jenny."
"Jennifer didn't die from that." The woman said sharply. "Her body couldn't handle being pregnant."
"Are you blaming me?"
"For god's sake, Michael keep your voice down." Thella snapped before sighing. "No, I don't blame you, you do that enough yourself. Jenny was never very strong." She frowned. "Evelyn needs to know her heritage. She is descended from a very powerful witch. Her powers are not going to stay suppressed for long."
"No. I don't want you putting that stuff in her head. I mean it. She's not one of you. She's not." He pushed back from the table.
"She needs to learn and protect herself. I don't believe that animal attack nonsense any more than you do. I know better."
Mike frowned. "No. Keep her out of it. It was bad enough Jenny was involved."
"Where are you going?"
"I've got a job interview." He said and grabbed the truck keys, he was borrowing from his daughter. "I'm warning you, Thella, don't say anything to her. She doesn't have magic." He set a bracelet on the table. "Give that to her to wear. It's got some vervain I managed to find. Hopefully it's still potent." He turned and walked out of the kitchen.
"You'll be eating your words in no time." She muttered as he left the room. "Girl comes from a very powerful line of my ancestors. And I have no idea what she could be capable of."
Evie woke up slowly and groaned. She had fallen asleep on her homework and she could feel the paper sticking to the side of her face.
"Ugh." She grimaced, pulling the paper off and opened her eyes. She blinked at her surroundings before gaping like a fish at the chalkboard she had on her wall. Numbers covered the black surface from top to bottom, the writing on it from the day before had been smeared horribly. The same four numbers one, eight, six, and four. Over and over across every inch of board in bright pink chalk.
"What the hell?" She got out of bed and something hit the floor. Looking down at her feet, Evelyn spotted a piece of bright pink chalk. She bent to pick it up, confused, and saw chalk covered her hands. When had she written it? And why didn't she remember?
"Evelyn, your breakfast is getting cold." Her grandmother called from downstairs. "You better come and eat before Bonnie gets here."
"Coming." The girl called back, before frowning at the chalkboard.
Bonnie glanced at Evie. "Are you okay?" The girl was hardly ever silent unless she was thinking hard about something.
"Fine." She said quietly.
"Tell me. You look bothered."
She looked at Bonnie. "Can I tell you something and you don't freak out? Because I'm freaking out. But also not, because it's kind of spooky. And it's kind of cool too."
"Evie." The other girl laughed. "Stop rambling and tell me."
"Okay, so I woke up this morning and found my chalkboard covered in numbers. The same numbers over and over. At first, I thought it was Gran or Dad playing a stupid prank, but…What?" The blonde raised an eyebrow. "What's with the look? You're not supposed to freak."
"I'm not…What numbers?" Bonnie asked, hands tight on the steering wheel.
"Um-"
"Eight, fourteen, and twenty-two?"
"No. One, eight, six, four." Evie raised an eyebrow. "You've been seeing numbers too? Did someone write it on your wall?"
"No. It's all I can think about."
The blond, tapped her fingers against the door. "Maybe, it's supposed to be significant. One, eight, six, four. Sounds like a phone number."
"Camaro guy's?"
"Hell no." Evie scowled. "He's a weirdo."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I thought you liked him."
"I'll admit he's attractive, but I found out he was just a weird guy who zones out a lot. And I am not exaggerating."
"Like you? Nine times of out ten, your head is in space."
"Funny, Bon." Evie said wryly.
"Does he like you?"
She shrugged. "I think he thought I was someone else. And he kind of freaked me out."
"He touched your scar, didn't he?"
"Well, I don't like it."
"That's not a reason to ignore him, Evie. He didn't know."
"He didn't ask me if he could touch me, he just did. And his boundaries were way over the line."
Bonnie looked at her. "Evie, you have to give yourself a chance. You can't keep making up excuses. What are you so afraid of?"
"Being hurt, Bonnie. I've seen relationships come and go. Love is doomed."
"Not every relationship is like that."
Evelyn frowned. "In a lot of ways, yes they are. I'd just rather not deal with that."
Bonnie shook her head. "Promise me that the next time you see Camaro guy, you give him a chance." She held up a finger when Evie made to protest. "Obviously, he liked you or he wouldn't have taken the time to let you take pictures of his car."
"No."
"Evie, please?"
"No. He took my camera and took dozens of stupid selfies."
"Did you delete all of the selfies?" Evie grumbled under her breath and Bonnie smirked. "Thought not."
"What's that prove?" The girl snapped moodily, lowering in her seat and glaring at the window. "I just said he was attractive."
"If you really found him that irritating you would have deleted all of them." She reminded her. "Now promise."
"Fine." She whined. "Now can we please change the subject?"
Bonnie smirked again. "Okay. So, back to the numbers…did you find out how they got on your chalkboard?"
"I wrote them, I guess. In my sleep. My hands were covered in chalk dust."
"Wow. That is spooky."
"But cool too." Evie grinned.
"I'd be freaked out."
"Well, I am a little, but I'm a bit thrilled too. You know I've always liked that kind of thing. Maybe I'm developing mystical powers." She lifted her hands. "Oooh. I put a spell on you." She waved her fingers at Bonnie. "Hey, maybe you have the mystic powers too. We can be the witchy duo!"
"Shut up, Evie." Bonnie laughed, though she was still a bit freaked out about having the numbers in her head, the strange feeling from Stefan, and the crow and fog she had seen when with Elena. "Hey, can I ask your opinion?"
"Sure, Bon."
"What do you think about Stefan?"
"He's nice. Different and has a definite aura of mystery to him, but he's a great guy. Why?"
"Last night at the Grill. I touched his hand and got a weird vibe. I mean really weird."
"Oh, when you disappeared? Caroline said something about you "wigging out"."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Thanks for paying attention and yes."
Evelyn frowned. "Was it a bad feeling? Like scary?"
"It definitely wasn't something nice. It felt like…death."
"That's spookier than writing in chalk."
"They're both scary. I don't want to be all "don't date him, Elena" but he has a darkness around him. I think she should be careful."
The blond shrugged. "Personally, I think he's okay. Maybe you just saw another vison or something. Or maybe something tragic happened to him."
"I guess, but I still feel uncomfortable."
"Listen, I'm not saying don't date the guy, I'm saying just take it slow." Bonnie told Elena as they got out of her car.
Evie hopped out, tucking her straight hair behind her ear. "Stefan's not the problem, Bon. His brother's a nutjob. And I'm pretty sure he stole my beanie."
"You have three beanies and they all look the same." Bonnie laughed.
"Each is unique."
Elena ignored Evie, which wasn't unusual. The girls barely spoke to one another despite Bonnie wanting them to be friends. "You were the one who said go for it." She reminded and Bonnie sighed.
"Now, I'm saying take it slow."
"Why the about-face?" Elena inquired.
"It's not an about-face. You're single for the first time in your high school career. It's the perfect time to play the field."
Elena scoffed. "Oh, because I am so that girl. Seriously, what are you not saying?"
"It's stupid." Bonnie muttered.
"It's not stupid, its witchy cool." Evie corrected and the other girl rolled her eyes in amusement.
"I accidently touched Stefan and I got a bad feeling." She admitted to Elena.
"Is that it?" The brunette raised an eyebrow. "Bonnie."
"It was "bad" bad."
"So this is witch mojo thing?" Elena smirked and Evelyn rolled her eyes slightly.
Bonnie sighed. "I'm just concerned. This is me expressing concern about my best friend's new boyfriend."
"And I love you for it." Elena took her arms. "But I feel good. It's been a hard year and I'm starting to kind of feel like things are getting back to normal again. And you know what? Stefan is a big part of that."
"Witchy duo..." Evelyn whispered in her ear and Bonnie elbowed her. "Okay, okay! I gotta go to the Yearbook meeting. I'll see you later." She walked away, rubbing her ribs.
"I forgot to mention I had practice." Bonnie said, stretching her arms as she sat next to Evie. "Sorry."
"It's all good." The blonde said, shielding her eyes from the sunlight to look at her best friend. "The sun feels warm after being in the school pool. I'll just nap here on this blanket."
"Where did the blanket come from?"
"My locker."
Bonnie laughed. "You were really serious about having everything in there."
"Everything but a pillow." Evie smirked and lowered her hand.
"You can do the routine with us if you want. Caroline won't mind. Besides, Elena might not come. And I know you know the routine."
"Only because you did it like half a dozen times at my house." The girl responded. "Besides, who is that coming out of the locker room?" Evelyn's hand in her face suddenly, waving nonchalantly in the other direction.
Bonnie turned her head and hopped up from the blanket.
"You came!"
As the girls started talking, Evie closed her eyes for a short nap, turning her iPod on.
"Daddy? Daddy, are you here?" Evie called, peeking through the fake flowers and plants that lined the top of the low wall that separated the doors from the tables at the Grill.
"Hey, sweetie, what are you doing in here?" One of the waitresses asked kindly. She had long red hair and Evie thought she looked like, Ariel, the mermaid. "Are you looking for someone?"
"My daddy. He said to wait in the truck, but it's been a long time."
"What's his name?"
"Mike. He's got a big green coat on."
The woman grimaced. "Um, wait right here."
The lady disappeared and Evie poked at the flowers.
"I know where your daddy is."
She turned around to see a tall man with a dark coat on. He was smiling at her.
"You do?"
"Hey, Evelyn!"
She jolted awake when someone shook her. Bonnie was smirking at her.
Pulling the iPod earbud from her ear, she tried to act casual, despite her heart going ninety miles a minute. "What did you say?"
"I was asking you if you've heard from Caroline."
Evie sat up and dug her phone out of the worn out over the shoulder bag. "Nope. She would have already said something if she was sick."
Bonnie nodded. "Yeah, I know."
As Bonnie and Elena starting talking about Caroline, Evie rubbed at her temples. She was having her nightmare during the day now? The same nightmare that she couldn't make sense of.
The sound of a loud car radio came closer to them and Evie's eyes narrowed as a familiar light blue Camaro rolled up.
"Uh…" Elena trailed off and Bonnie looked up.
"Oh, my god. That must be the mystery guy from the Grill."
Evie snorted at the two that were making out in the car. She was sure that Caroline was just putting on a show as usual. Elena and Bonnie looked at her when they heard her scoff.
"That's no mystery guy." She said dryly. "That's Damon Salvatore, the Camaro driver and camera thief."
"That's Camaro guy?" Bonnie asked her and Evelyn nodded.
"Yep. He's very odd. And apparently into Caroline." The other girl sent her a smirk. "So much for my forced promise to you." Bonnie looked at the girl next to her with "seriously?" look. Evie just grinned.
Caroline flounced her way over to them, her smile practically radiating her smugness. Evie eyed the scarf around the girl's neck before dismissing it. She figured it was a fashion statement.
"I got the older brother. Hope you don't mind." The bubbly blonde said to Elena and Evie snorted.
"Hey, you'll find someone else." Bonnie told her softly, feeling bad that Evelyn clearly liked him, even if she claimed it was just a little bit.
Evie rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Bon. I'm not jealous or anything." She laughed, bumping her with her hip. "I don't even like him. He's dating Caroline. And he's definitely not into me anyway."
"Oh, yeah? Well, he's also waving at you." She smirked.
Evie frowned and looked up to see just that. Damon was wiggling his fingers at her, a knowing, impish look in his icy blue eyes like he knew she was talking about him. She stuck her tongue out in response and he gave her a smirk.
Bonnie swatted at her. "Evelyn!"
"What?" The blonde girl asked and she rolled her eyes.
Damon winked at her before pushing his sunglasses up his nose and revved his engine, before speeding off.
"So, the deal is off right?" She asked Bonnie who sighed. Evie pumped her fist. "Yes, I am off the hook!" Bonnie rolled her eyes at her crazy friend's antics.
The chocolate skinned girl just shook her head. "Dating isn't going to hurt you."
"Ah, it's just not for me." The blonde said simply. "I'm too dramatic." She pretended to faint against the blanket.
"You are impossible." Bonnie stated teasingly.
"You mean adorable."
Bonnie giggled.
Caroline clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention. "All right, let's start with the double pike, herkey hurdler, what do you say?"
"Elena, sweetie, why don't you just observe today? 'Kay?"
Evie looked up from her phone, arching an eyebrow at Caroline before looking at Elena who was being sent to the back like a scolded puppy. She felt a bit of pity for the brunette knowing that she had missed summer camp because of her grieving for her parents. That and Caroline was just being…well Caroline.
Evelyn had known Jeremy and Elena's parents since she was little. Before her dad had been too far gone in alcohol, he and Elena's dad, Grayson, had been good friends. Elena and Evie had just never gotten along that well. there was no rhyme or reason, they just never saw eye-to-eye.
It wasn't that Elena was particularly hard to get along with it was just something that Evie couldn't put into words. They had just never been close. Their only connection was Bonnie.
She stood up from the blanket, going over to where the brunette had disappeared to. Maybe it was time to give her another chance.
Elena was leaning against the bleachers watching the football players.
"Hey." Evie said and Elena looked over her shoulder. "Who are we rooting for?"
"Stefan." The girl smiled. "Tanner's letting him try out."
"Really?" She said in interest. "After all that today in History?" Stefan and Tanner had gone head to head with naming Historical dates and it had ended with the teen proving Tanner wrong. It had been a satisfying thing to watch in Evie's opinion.
Elena nodded. "Yeah, I know. I didn't think he'd let him."
"Nice catch, Salvatore." Tanner called out and Evie smiled.
"He's good."
They stood in silence watching the football players for a few minutes. Elena looked back at the cheerleaders.
"Bonnie says you know the routines."
"That's because she practiced at my house when she was over." Evie told her. "I eventually picked up on it."
"Why don't you ask Caroline for a spot on the team?"
Evie shook her head. "I don't belong out there. I'd just trip over my feet."
"I don't think that would happen."
"I know it would. Besides, I like my yearbook photographing better."
Elena shifted. "So…You were at Stefan's house the other day…"
Here is comes, Evie thought bitterly. "Look, we're just friends and actually his brother invited me to take pictures of this really cool car they have."
"Damon invited you?" The same almost suspicious tone came again and Evelyn ground her teeth. "Why?"
"Because I took pictures of his car and he asked me if I wanted to see another cool car." She said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. "I didn't know he was into Caroline. Just a few minutes ago was the first time I saw him with her."
Elena was quiet for a moment, watching her and Evie hated the scrutiny.
"I'm not into Stefan." She said firmly. She wanted to punch the girl in the face. Evie had gotten into plenty of fights before to know where to hit to make it hurt. "I know he likes you and I know you like him. I'm not going to interfere with that. And I'm not into Damon either. Caroline is my friend and I'd never do that to her."
"Right."
Evie wasn't sure of that was a "right" as in "of course not" or a "right" as in "yeah, right".
"Right." Evie repeated with a frown and looked back at the football field.
"Are you seeing anyone then?"
She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "No."
"Did you kiss Matt?"
The blond turned to frown at Elena. "What is this? An interrogation?" She hissed and ran a hand though her long blond hair. "Yes, but we were drunk and it didn't mean anything. Are you accusing me of sleeping with him too?"
"No! No, I-I'm sorry." The brunette apologized abruptly, flustered at Evie's aggressiveness. How Bonnie was friends with her was a mystery. "I'm not trying to pry. Honest. I just-"
"You heard rumors." She interrupted and Elena's face reddened. "Yeah, well, I don't sleep with every guy I meet to make myself feel better about how I look."
"I'm really sorry."
Evelyn looked back at the football field, feeling unsure if trusting Elena was a good idea. "Anyway, I don't need a guy, I have my Gran's cats for company."
The doe-eyed brunette hid a laugh. "How many?"
"Six. Honestly she hates every cat."
"Then why does she them?"
"I don't actually know." Evie glanced at her for a moment, wondering if the interrogation was over.
The brunette shifted before smiling wanly, thumbing at the cheerleaders. "I'm just going back over there."
"Caroline will be looking for you." Evie nodded and she was glad the awkward conversation was over with.
Evie looked back at the football players, fiddling with the earbuds of her iPod as she thought about the conversation she had just had with Elena. So, you were at Stefan's house… She frowned to herself. So what if she had been? There was nothing romantic about her and Stefan. They were just friends. He'd never look at her the way he looked at Elena. Not that she wanted him too. Ever. She hadn't been lying about dating not being her thing. Disastrous dates were all she knew. So what was her problem?
Hearing the whistle blow for another play, she focused back on the guys in front of her. Evie frowned as Tyler leapt at Stefan slamming him against the ground.
"A buddy pass, Lockwood? Really?" She rolled her eyes. "What a jerk."
"Walk it off, Salvatore." Tanner called out and Evie shook her head.
"Hey, um, I invited Bonnie over to dinner tonight. Would you like to come? It'll be me, Stefan, and Bonnie. Since you and Stefan are friends, maybe that will help me win Bonnie over." Elena looked back over her shoulder before Evie could answer. "Just come on over if you want." She said before going over to the other cheerleaders.
Bonnie smiled as Elena came back over to them. They were taking a break for a moment before they would do the routines again.
"Hey. You were talking to Evie."
"Yeah." Elena murmured. "She's…angry."
"What did you say?"
"I just asked her some questions."
Bonnie sighed. "She doesn't mean to be aggressive, it's just…She's had bad experiences with people being her friend and they end up hurting her. She's suspicious of everyone now."
"Oh. I guess she really hates me now." Elena shifted. "I just basically asked her if she slept around."
The other girl winced. "Oh." She leaned closer. "I shouldn't tell you this. Like Evie would literally throw a fit if she knew I told, but I think you should know. That kiss with Matt was a few weeks after you guys broke up. He was miserable and drunk and well, you've seen Evie drunk she loosens up a lot and just has fun. Anyway, she told Matt that he should try to move on and he thought he'd make a move on her. So he kissed her."
Elena sighed. "I feel really bad now…Do you think she'd like to come over tonight? I want her to give me another chance."
Bonnie smiled. "Evie would love that."
"Hell no."
"Oh, come on! Please? Come with me to dinner tonight." Bonnie begged her. "Please? I don't want to go alone." Evie admitted that it would make Bonnie happy to see her making progress with Elena, but at the same time she wasn't sure that she was entirely welcome.
"I can't just invite myself to someone's house."
The other girl sent her a look. "Elena invited you. No excuses. Please come, it'll make me happier. And she wants to get to know you better."
"After integrating me and basically calling me a slut?"
Bonnie frowned. "She didn't mean it that way. She wouldn't call you that." Evie rolled her eyes. "So just give her a chance. Please?"
She sighed. "Fine, but it'll be awkward."
"No, it won't. Elena likes you."
The girl sent her a look. "She tolerates me for your sake and vise-versa. Look, she's nice and everything, but there's something about her I don't like especially after talking to her earlier. I'll be my usual polite self, but don't ask anything more of me."
Bonnie sighed. "Okay then. But you will come right?"
"Yeah. I'll be there."
"Hey, Gran."
"Hello, dear. How was school?"
Evie sighed, scooping chocolate ice cream onto her bowl. "I got invited to Elena's for dinner."
Othella turned around to face her granddaughter. "And this isn't a good thing?"
"No. I don't want to go."
"Evelyn Marie, the girl invited you to her house. The least you can do is appear. She's having food prepared. It would be rude not to go."
"What for? She doesn't even like me! I don't care if it's rude."
"But you are friends with Bonnie. You need to stop trying to shut everyone out, dear." Evie frowned at the off-white tabletop and Othella sighed. "Evelyn."
"I can't help it." The girl muttered. "Bonnie is the only one I'm really close too."
The woman sighed. "I know, but you need to try. Not everyone is out to get you."
"That's what they want you to think and then they hurt you. I've seen it."
"Not everyone is like that, Evelyn."
"I know." She stabbed at her ice cream. Suddenly not as hungry. "Hey, Gran?" She decided to think about something else.
"Yes?"
"I was having a weird daydream today…My nightmare actually."
Othella turned to her granddaughter. "Really? Do you think it means something?"
"I don't know. Maybe I had too much coffee this morning."
"Hm."
"What? What's with the "hm" face?"
"I don't have a "hm" face."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Okay…"
"It's best not to ignore our dreams, Evelyn. There are times when dreams are gateways to our past, present, and future."
"Mystical." The girl smirked and wiggled her fingers.
Smack.
A newspaper smacked her head. "Gran!"
"There is no time for joking. You have to be open to your dreams."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Don't you have a party to get ready for?" The woman asked before leaving.
The girl's mouth opened and closed. "Gran!"
Evie yelped as someone tapped her shoulder. She whirled around to see Stefan.
"Sorry." He apologized and she smirked.
"Sneaking up on someone is rude."
"I wasn't sneaking." He protested with a grin. "You were just in your own head."
She nodded, suddenly apprehensive. "Yeah, I guess I was."
Stefan frowned lightly at her change of tone. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She said automatically, but running a hand through her hair. A signal she wasn't. "Actually, I should be asking you that." He raised an eyebrow. "I saw the buddy-pass Tyler orchestrated. He's such a git-face."
"He didn't mean anything by it."
"Yeah, he did. He and Matt are best friends. Don't let him bully you. I saw you at practice. You were great."
Stefan smiled. "Thanks." He reached around her to ring the doorbell.
After a few seconds, Elena opened the door. She smiled brightly at Stefan before noticing Evie standing next to him. Her smile faltered just a tad.
"Hey, Stefan. Evelyn. You both made it. Come on in."
Stefan let Evie walk in before him and he smiled warmly at Elena whose doubts about Evelyn floated away with his magical smile.
"You came!" Bonnie said happily from the kitchen.
Evie was starting to regret telling Bonnie she would come. Dinner was awkward and silent except for the occasional comment on the food or the weather.
"So did Tanner give you a hard time?" Elena finally asked and Stefan shrugged.
"Well, he let me on the team, so I must have done something right."
"He's a jerk, but he knows talent when he sees it." Evie told him. "You are definitely a win guarantee for this year, don't you think Elena?"
The brunette nodded automatically. "Yeah, I agree." She and Stefan smiled at each other and then Elena felt a lot better about having Evie over. "Bonnie, you should have seen Stefan today. Tyler threw this ball right at him and-"
"Yeah, I heard." Bonnie cut her off and Evie glanced at her.
"I didn't." She spoke up and ignored Bonnie's frown. "What happened? Did he do something besides tackle the hell out of you?" She directed the question at Stefan.
Elena's eyes widened. "Did he hurt you at practice?"
"No, no. I'm fine. It was just a hazing of sorts." Stefan shrugged.
Silence fell again.
"Why don't you tell Stefan about your family, Bonnie." Elena suggested.
Bonnie ignored the smirk Evie had on her face. "Divorced. No mom. Live with my dad."
"She means the witchy part, Bon." The blonde beamed at her wickedly. She got a glare in return.
"No one wants to hear that, Evie."
"Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool." Elena emphasized, tilting her head at the girl across from her.
"Cool isn't the word I'd use." She said dryly.
Evelyn smiled. "I would."
"Shut up, Evie." Bonnie elbowed her with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, it's certainly interesting." Stefan began, gaining the girls' attention. "I'm not too versed. But I do know that there's a history of Celtic Druids that migrated here in the 1800s."
"My family came by way of Salem."
"Really? Salem witches?"
"Yeah." The girl nodded slowly.
"It's cool right?" Evelyn grinned.
Stefan nodded agreement. "Yeah, I'd say it was pretty cool."
"Really? Why?" Bonnie tilted her head.
"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and non-conformity."
Bonnie smiled, more relaxed than before. "Yeah, they are."
Evie smiled at her plate and glanced at Elena who smiled too. Finally, Bonnie seemed to be won over.
The doorbell rang and Elena raised an eyebrow.
"I wonder who that could be?" Curious, she got up from the table and to the front door. Stefan suddenly left too after a few seconds and Evie turned to Bonnie.
"My Gran was being weird this afternoon."
"How so?"
"She was talking about me about being open to my dreams. Really weird stuff."
"Really?"
"Yeah, when I asked her about it though, she was just mysterious about it. Part of me hopes that she was actually telling me something cool and then part of me wonders if she had been inhaling her "herbs" again."
Bonnie laughed. "Sounds like Grams."
They went into the hall to see where everyone had gone too and saw Caroline. Evie groaned as she spotted Damon behind the happy blonde.
"It's fine. Just come on in." Elena told him and the blue-eyed devil smirked at his brother as he stepped over the threshold.
"Fantastic." Evie muttered and Bonnie elbowed her.
"Shh. Be nice."
Evie scoffed. "At least there's cake."
Damon sent her a smirk as if he had heard her and she eyed him suspiciously.
"You have a beautiful home, Elena." He complimented, eyes on Evie.
"Thank you." Elena smiled at him.
After cake, the group took their coffee into the living room to talk. Elena and Stefan sat on the couch, Damon and Caroline shared an armchair, Bonnie had a chair directly across from them with Evie sitting on a stool next to her. Evelyn tried to ignore Damon for the most part, but it was difficult because he was sitting directly across from her, eyes lingering on her more than they should and a cocky grin on his face that made her want to punch him. But he wasn't the only one staring. Stefan had murder eyes for his brother. The phrase "if looks could kill" seemed all too real at the moment.
Evelyn's attempt to ignore him amused Damon greatly. She was trying her best to focus on everyone but him, so he kept trying to get her attention. His movement made her green eyes land on him again and he beamed at her. She scowled slightly and then subtly stuck her tongue out at him. She was spunky that was for sure. He wondered though if she would still be spunky had he not compelled her that day in the park. How different she might be. He tolerated this girl so far and he wanted to get her know all about her. He couldn't help but be smug in the fact that it was because of him that she was the way she was.
Caroline laughed. "I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team. Tyler must be seething." She smiled at Stefan. "But good for you, go for it."
"That's what I always tell him." Damon agreed. "You have to engage. You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you. You have to go get it."
Evelyn arched an eyebrow before leaning towards Bonnie to whisper: "Philosopher much?"
She elbowed her playfully, a laugh threatening to burst from her. "Shh, Evie." Damon's mouth twitched in amusement, but he didn't say anything.
"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today." Caroline said with a tilt of her head. "It's only because you missed summer camp." She told Elena. "God, I don't know how you're ever going to learn the routines."
"I'll work with her. She'll get it." Bonnie encouraged.
The tall blonde wasn't listening. "I guess we could put her in the back."
"Why don't you just cover her with a sheet?" Evie drawled, making Elena choke on her drink with a giggle and Stefan patted her with a hidden laugh. Damon smirked slightly.
"Or Evie can do the routine." Bonnie said, smirking at her best friend. Caroline giggled at the look on Evie's face. Even Elena smiled.
"No way."
"You don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena." Damon spoke up and Elena smiled slightly.
"Oh, it's just 'cause her parents died." Caroline chimed in. "Yeah, I mean she's just totally going through a blah phase. She used to be way more fun." Bonnie gave her a look. "And I say that with complete sensitivity." She said, cheeks pink.
"Is there any more cake?" Evie asked aloud.
Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Elena." Damon said with sympathy. "I know what it's like to lose both your parents. In fact, Stefan and I have watched almost every single person we've ever cared about die."
Stefan made a face. "We don't need to get into that right now, Damon."
"Ah, you know what, you're right, Stef. I'm sorry."
Evie frowned looking from one brother to the other. There was a thick tension in the air and Stefan seemed bothered by it the most, while Damon just looked like he could care less.
"The last thing I wanted to do was bring her up."
Elena's eyes lifted from her coffee mug to Damon before shifting awkwardly on the couch. Stefan grimaced.
Evie frowned. Her wrist was itching like mad and no matter how hard she scratched it, it wouldn't stop. The skin was red and hot to the touch and she wanted to run it under some water. So when the opportunity to wash dishes came up she leapt for it. Luckily she didn't have to fight Elena too hard to convince her to let her wash.
Evelyn pushed up her sleeves, running water over the red mark on her wrist. She winced for a moment before the pain began to recede.
Damon came into the kitchen and leaned against the counter next to her. "You don't like me, do you?"
"Whatever gave you that idea." The girl said dryly.
"Well, I like you."
Evie dried her hands and folded her arms across her chest as she turned to face him. "Cut the crap, Salvatore. What are you fishing for? Information to make your brother miserable? I don't have a sibling, but I have seen rivalries before. One of you will end up hurting Elena. And you'll hurt Caroline." She poked him in the chest and he saw her red wrist.
"What happened to your wrist?"
Evelyn stuck her hands back in the water much to Damon's amusement. "Hair straighter." She said automatically. "Don't you think you should go back into the living room?"
"Why do you hate me?"
"I don't hate you. I think you're a bit creepy."
"Get to know me then. Give me a chance."
She frowned. "To do what exactly?"
"Did someone hurt you? Is that what really happened to your wrist?"
Surprise flickered across her face before she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why do you care what happened to me?" She asked him, voice thick with suspicion. Damon's mouth twitched.
"Why are you avoiding my question?"
"Because it's none of your business."
He trapped her along the sink, locking eyes with her. "Answer my question." Evie's eyes widened a fraction and a flicker of fear went across them before disappearing.
"Back off, asshat." She scowled and shoved at him. "Just who do you think you are?"
Damon blinked in surprise before looking down at her wrist. "Nice bracelet." He frowned slightly, wondering where she had gotten the vervain from. He looked back up at Evie to see her staring at him warily, fight or flight mode apparent from her stance against the counter. It made him recall the brief flicker of fear that had appeared in her eyes only a minute before and it confused him.
He heard her footsteps before he heard Elena. "Hey, I can take over. Thanks Evelyn." The brunette said, coming into the kitchen.
"No problem." Evie said tightly and she rubbed at her wrist, still watching Damon. "Hey, do have anything I can put on my wrist?"
The girl frowned at the red skin. "Oh, my god. Are you okay?"
"It was my hair straightener. I didn't feel it until a while ago."
"I have some stuff in the upstairs bathroom. Second door on your right."
"Thanks." Evie gave her a faked smile and gave Damon a deep frown before disappearing from the kitchen. He watched her leave, feeling a bit more intrigued by her.
"Matt tries, but he's just having a really hard time. You have to understand that they were each other's firsts. You know, like, from the sand box." Caroline explained to Stefan. Evie flopped down onto the couch next to him and he smiled at her.
"Your brother is a creep."
"What did he do?" Stefan asked slowly, hoping and praying that he hadn't actually harmed her right here among everyone.
Evie snorted. "He was being nosy. Did something weird with his eyes." He blinked and glanced down at her wrist. He had noticed her knew jewelry but hadn't really thought anything about it. It made him worry though that if she was wearing it…who knew that there were vampires around? Had Damon noticed that? Would he hurt her? Then he noticed the white bandage there. Had Damon bitten her?! But surely not. She was wearing vervain.
"He's not well behaved. I'm sorry if he bothered you." He nodded at her bracelet. "I like your bracelet."
"Thanks." She said and showed it to him. "My dad found it in the attic the other day, it belonged to my mother."
"Ooh, that's so pretty." Caroline told her before frowning. "What happened to your wrist?"
Evie shrugged. "I think it was the hair straightener. I'm fine." She nodded at the tall girl. "I like your scarf."
"Thank you, it's new." She beamed.
"Can I see it?" Stefan asked suddenly, moving closer. Evelyn arched an eyebrow. "I mean, would you mind taking it off?"
"Oh, I can't."
"Why not? Are you okay?"
Caroline's eyes darted around the room for a moment. "Um, all I know is that I can't it off."
Evelyn arched an eyebrow. "Okay…" She turned to Stefan and mouthed. 'She really likes to keep her outfit and accessories on at all times'.
"What are you kids talking about?" Damon came and perched on the side of Caroline's armchair. Stefan felt Evie inch down the couch, putting more distance between her and Damon. He frowned worriedly. Had Damon hurt her? Or threatened her? If Evie had vervain then Damon could have very well done something to give them away.
Evie's wrist started throbbing and she rubbed at it. She felt hot all the sudden and she rolled up the sleeves of her green shirt.
"I was just commenting on her scarf." Stefan murmured in answer to Damon's question and his brother hummed before turning to Caroline.
"Hey, you know, uh, Elena and Bonnie are finishing up the dishes. Why don't you take Evelyn and go see if you can help?"
"Does it look like I do dishes?" Caroline scoffed with a giggle. Stefan thought it was lucky that Evelyn was paying them no mind, her eyes on her wrist which she was still rubbing at.
"For me?" Damon pouted.
"Mmm. I don't think so."
Getting pissed off, Damon locked eyes with her. "Go see if Elena needs help in the kitchen." He compelled.
Caroline suddenly beamed at him. "You know what? I'm going to see if Elena needs some help in the kitchen."
"Great." He smiled pleasantly.
She stood up and Evie stood up too without anyone saying a word to her.
"I'm going to get some air." She said to Stefan. Her cheeks were pink and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows. She looked overheated.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I just got hot or something." She mumbled and headed for the door.
Stefan waited until the front door shut before scowling at his brother.
"They are people, Damon. She's not a puppet. She doesn't exist for your amusement for you to feed on whenever you want to."
"Sure she does. They all do. They're whatever I want them to be. They're "mine" for the taking." He smirked.
"All right, you've had your fun. You used Caroline, you got to me and Elena. You've been toying with Evelyn, good for you. Now its time for you to go."
"That's not a problem." He began and came over to sit next to his brother on the couch. "Because I've been invited in. And I'll come back tomorrow night and the following night and I'll do with your little cheerleader whatever I want to do. Same with little camera girl. Because that is what is normal for me. Besides, Evelyn is already my little puppet."
"What do you mean by that?" Stefan frowned. "What have you done?"
Damon just smiled.
Evie cursed and rubbed at her wrist. It was hurting so badly that she could hardly stand it.
"You all right?"
She yelped and whirled around to see Damon, leaning against her truck.
"Where did-? How did you-?" Her shock turned into annoyance and wariness in seconds and she scowled. "Why the hell are you lurking around my truck?!"
Damon shrugged. "I came to get air, same as you."
"Yeah, okay…So what are you doing out here?"
He held his hand out, wiggling his fingers. "Let me see it."
She hid her wrist behind her back automatically and he smirked in amusement.
"Excuse me?" She said, trying to sound confused, but it just came off angry.
He rolled his eyes. "Your wrist."
"It's nothing."
"Come on. Trust me."
"I don't."
He nodded. "I know, but I'm not leaving until you show me and I can be very persistent."
"Is that what you say to Caroline?"
"What do you mean?" He tilted his head.
She frowned at him. "Do you command her too?"
"Are you implying that I'm treating Caroline badly?"
"If your behavior is anything to go by." She scoffed.
"I'm sorry if I seemed pushy earlier." He said, though he really didn't mean it. The way the girl was looking at him made him wonder if she didn't believe what he said either. "I was just concerned for one of Caroline's friends. Anyone who hurts a girl is not a nice person." Evie's eyes softened, but her body was still tense.
"…Right…"
"So are you going to let me see it then?"
"If I scream, they'll come running." She warned him, back on defense.
Damon snorted. "Just let me see, Evelyn. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Here then. Jerkwad." She muttered and thrust her wrist out.
Damon flipped it over, being careful, and peeled back the bandage. He frowned. The numbers one, eight, six, and four were etched into her skin like a brand. 1864.
"Where did this come from?" He asked, looking up at her with an interested expression. Perhaps there was more to this girl than he thought.
"I don't know. It just happened and I-" She stopped, frowning, and coming closer to him. "Are those numbers?!"
"You didn't notice that before?" Damon inquired and she shook her head, looking intently at her wrist. "Do these mean anything to you?"
"No." She said, but she looked spooked so he knew she was at least partially lying. She pulled away from him, covering her wrist back up. "I need to go it's getting late." She walked briskly back to the Gilbert's porch.
Damon watched her go, confused and very intrigued by the girl.
"Who are you really, camera girl?" He muttered to himself. "What are you?" Curiosity on overload, he knew immediately that he would most definitely be keeping an eye on the girl.
September 12th, 2009
"I'm not taking that, Lockwood." Evie rolled her eyes. "You want me to lose my job on the yearbook committee?" Tyler only smirked.
"You wouldn't get fired."
"If I gave them a picture of your middle finger to the editor? Uh, yeah. Would so happen."
Some of the other members of the football team snickered and Tyler just smirked wider. Matt elbowed him with a laugh.
"Knock it off, Ty."
Evie smiled as Stefan came over to them. "Looking good, Salvatore." She complimented and he rubbed the back of his neck with a smile. "Hop in somewhere so I can take the team's picture." Stefan obliged her and she saw Tyler's look of displeasure. "Get over yourself, you big baby." She muttered lowly at him and he gave her a glare.
"Shut up, Harper."
Evie stepped back and adjusted her camera. "Okay guys, one, two, three…" She took the picture and then another one for good measure. When she gave a thumb up, they scattered back into the crowds of people, talking to some friends before the pregame lineup started.
Stefan stuck around and Evie came up to him. "Ready for the big game?"
"I hope so." He told her and she laughed.
"You'll do great. Do those moves like you did at practice yesterday and there will be no doubts."
Stefan shifted. "Have you seen Elena?"
"Nope, but I'm headed to find the cheerleaders now. They are usually around the concession stand. Caroline demands a diet whatever before she does routines. Don't ask me why, just go with it." Stefan laughed and he followed her through the crowd. "I see Bonnie, but no Elena or Caroline."
"There's Elena."
Evie turned to see the girl come up to him, and she wasn't wearing her uniform.
"Elena."
"Evelyn." Elena beamed. "How's your wrist?"
"Not so bad today." She admitted, before adding: "I have no idea how I burned myself right there, but I've been extra careful." Elena bought the lie. "I'm going to talk to Bonnie. If you see Caroline, tell her to come get her picture before it gets dark." Evie waved at them before hurrying off with her camera.
"I will." The brunette nodded before looking at Stefan.
"You're not in uniform." He raised an eyebrow.
She shrugged helplessly before sighing.
"God, I forgot that we light things on fire like crazy people." Evie muttered as someone lit the pyre with the stick figure wearing the opposite team's uniform on fire and Bonnie erupted into giggles. Caroline bit her lip to hide her laughter and peered down at the camera the girl had in her hands.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." Tanner's voice echoed through the crowd of cheering teens and everyone quieted a bit so they could hear him. "Now, in the past, we used to let other teams come into our town and roll right over us!"
"Boooo!" Everyone shouted, making Evie jump at the noise.
"But that is about to change. We've got some great new talent starting on offensive. And I'm going to tell you right now, it has been a long time since I have seen a kid like this with hands like these." Tanner shouted into the microphone. "Let's give it up for Stefan Salvatore!"
"Whoo!" Evelyn joined in the cheering and Stefan shifted under everyone's cheers.
"Hey, Jer."
"Evie."
"Can I sit? I need a break. Tanner's speech is giving me a headache."
He scooted over on the truck tailgate and she hopped up next to him.
"Gimme." Evie said, waving a hand at one of the beer bottles that were being handed around. The younger teen raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you supposed to be taking pictures? Sober?"
"Don't judge." Evelyn told him and wiggled her fingers. "I can be drunk and still take excellent photos."
He handed her one of the bottles with a smirk and she took a big gulp.
"Much better."
Jeremy tilted his head. "Are you okay?"
She frowned at her lap. "I found empty bottles in my dad's closet." She shook her head and looked back up at Jeremy. "I know he's not going to stop cold turkey, but if Gran finds the bottles, she'll kick him out. And technically she has a right to do it. It's just frustrating is all."
"Sorry." He told her genuinely. "I'm sure he's trying."
"Yeah, he just needs to try harder."
"No, Ty. No!"
Hearing Vicki's voice Evie and Jeremy looked up to see Tyler striding towards them.
Jeremy slid off the tailgate and Evelyn narrowed her eyes.
"Don't look so down." Tyler mocked the younger boy. "You can have her when I'm done."
Jeremy's eyes flashed and he punched Tyler. The two of them starting fist-fighting, bumping into Evelyn on the tailgate as they did so. They knocked over the empty beer bottles as well, making them break as they hit the ground.
"Tyler, you asshole!" She snapped and hopped up from the truck to block him from hitting Jeremy again. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Mind your business, Harper." He snapped back and knocked her out of the way. She wavered and fell back on her bottom, her hand landing in the broken glass and her camera bouncing away in the grass. Blood gushed down her hand, and she cradled her hand to her chest, staring at the bloody mess. She had never dealt well with seeing her own blood. Other people's she could handle but not her own. She felt a panic that she hadn't felt in a long-time bubble up inside her.
Tyler had Jeremy on the ground and was beating his face in. Vicki was screaming at him to stop, but he wasn't budging. People were starting to gather.
Stefan appeared and he grabbed Tyler's fist.
"Hey, he's down! Enough!" He snapped. Tyler whirled around with his other fist and punched Stefan in the gut. Jeremy flipped over on the ground and grabbed a piece of the broken glass.
"Jeremy." Elena shouted and Evie looked up. "Don't!" He swung out at Tyler with the broken glass, but Stefan got in the way. Evie didn't stick around for more. Almost blindly, she searched for her camera and made a hasty exit, feeling faint.
Evie splashed her face with water again before drying off. She didn't feel as faint now, but she still felt off.
The last time she had felt so sick after seeing her own blood was a few months ago, when she had cut her hand a gardening tool. She had freaked out, but luckily her Gran had been there to help her. PTSD a doctor had said after the first few times it had occurred over the years.
Evie scowled at her reflection. It was bad enough that she couldn't recall what happened that day in the park when she was eight, but for it to be the reason she got sick seeing her own blood?
"Why can't you remember?" She snapped at herself. "There has to be a reason, you get all freaked seeing your own blood. No wonder everyone thinks your weird." She suddenly snorted. "And you talk to yourself. Add that to the list." She made sure that her hand was glass and blood free. That had taken a long time to accomplish. She came out of the bathroom with a wet paper towel to clean off her camera and headed towards the parking lot, having enough for tonight.
"Damn it." Evie cursed at the dirt covering her lens. She dabbed at the lens with a wet paper towel, muttering about dirt. Not watching where she was going, she slammed into someone and strong arms kept her from falling to the ground.
"So we meet again."
She looked up to see non-other than Damon Salvatore and she groaned. "Oh, it's you. I didn't think you liked football."
He smirked. "Who doesn't enjoy a game or two?" The double meaning was all too clear and she rolled her eyes before realizing his arms were tightening around her, drawing her closer as he set her back upright. She tried to back away, but he kept her from moving.
Evie frowned and pushed at Damon's arms. "You don't know what personal space means do you?" He gave her a smirk.
"Sure I do."
"Well, you're kind of in mine. So," She wiggled out of Damon's grip. "-Back off." Evie folded her arms across her chest. "Shouldn't you be watching Caroline?"
"Nah. I'm actually in hiding."
"Oh, so you're one of those. Just in it for the sex." Evie scowled. "Nice to know."
"You're judging." He waved a finger at her and smirked. "Were you interested perhaps? Are you jealous I'm with Caroline?"
"No. Definitely not." She glared at him. "I just don't want you hurting my friend. If you care so little for being there for her, why are you with her?"
"I'm here, aren't I?" He scoffed. After his run in with Elena, the last thing he wanted was another lecture.
"Yeah, away from the cheering section."
Damon tilted his head. "What happened to your hand?" He changed the subject.
"Oh, uh…glass." He kept staring at her. "What?!" She scowled at him.
"Is that all the explanation I get?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I thought we were past this." Damon rolled his eyes. Was she always so difficult and stubborn? "I thought you were learning to trust me. Especially after last night."
She frowned. "Just because I showed you my wrist doesn't mean that we are "friends". I still don't trust you."
"Do you trust anyone?"
"Not after they take my camera and make selfies."
He grinned shamelessly. "Come on, some of them were really flattering." Her cheeks turned a bit pink and his smirk widened.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
Damon suddenly and her wrist, the one with a bandage on it and he examined her wrist, tugging her closer.
Evelyn scowled. "Hey! What did I say about personal space?!"
"You still have the marks."
"Yeah. They won't go away." She tugged at her wrist. "Let me go." She said and he glanced at her. She was eyeing him warily again.
"Why are you so defensive, hm? I'm not trying to hurt you." He ran his fingers along her cheek, touching her scar. Was there something else going on here? He remembered her flash of fear in the kitchen, though brief, he had seen it.
He started when she slapped his hand away venomously, her eyes flashing angrily. "Don't touch me." She hissed, looking ready to fight him if she had too. That made him curious.
"Easy." He said, his hands raised in the air as he gave her space. "Easy. I'm not going to hurt you."
"Bullshit." She snapped. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Salvatore, but I don't like it." She turned from him and stalked away.
"I wouldn't go that way if I were you…" He said in a singsong voice under his breath, knowing full well she couldn't hear him. He followed her at a distance.
Evelyn cursed Damon under her breath as she stalked through the parking lot.
"Stupid, freaky, handsy, jerkwad…" She stopped. There was a body lying on the ground. She took her phone out and turned the flashlight on. Slowly, she moved the light over the body. "Oh god…Mr. Tanner…" He was lying there on the concrete behind someone's truck. His neck was bloody and there was a puddle on the ground.
The sound of shuffling caught her attention and she shifted the light again. Her father was slumped next to Tanner, a beer in one hand and blood on his clothing from the puddle of Tanner's blood. Mike Harper was snoring, not a care in the world.
"Daddy…"
"Evelyn."
She turned to her to see Damon.
"He didn't do this. He wouldn't." She told him automatically, almost challenging him to say otherwise.
"I believe you."
"But no one else will." She frowned, chewing her lip as she thought. "They all know he and Tanner disliked each other. And they know my dad's…drinking problem…" She took a steadying breath. "I know he wouldn't do something like this. I have to get him out of here." She turned back to Damon abruptly. "Are you going to tell?"
"No." He told her truthfully. "Do you trust me?"
She hesitated and he rolled his eyes. "Evelyn. We have to move fast before someone comes looking for the coach."
"Right. Right." She said snapping out of her thoughts. "What do we do?"
"Where'd you park your truck?"
"Back that way." She pointed near the entrance to the stadium. Damon nodded. He moved over to Evelyn's dad and pulled him up carefully from the ground, being cautious not to disturb any more of the "crime scene".
"Lead the way." Damon murmured.
She nodded and they made their way to the truck. Evelyn tugged at the door handle, cursing as it stuck.
"Shit!"
"You want to be a little quieter?" Damon hissed at her.
"Well, excuse me. It's not every day that my father is found next to a dead body." She hissed back, wrenching the door open. Damon pushed Mike into the truck, scooting him the middle seat before climbing into the cab.
Evie shut her door and then turned her head when the other door shut. "What the hell are you doing?" She snapped. "Get out."
"Are you going to carry him into the house yourself?" Damon raised an eyebrow.
"I've done it before."
"Just drive, Evelyn." He said with a roll of his eyes.
Scowling, she turned the key and started up the car.
For a while, they drove in silence, but finally Evie could no longer stand it.
"Look, I'm sorry about earlier, okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"I have this thing about people touching my scar. I don't like it."
"Dully doted." He nodded. "Are you sure that's all?"
She frowned. "What do you mean?" She repeated his question.
"You're way too defensive and suspicious. Especially when you think I'm trying to hurt Caroline."
"I have my reasons for being cautious." She glanced at him. "Are you hurting her? Is that why she wearing those scarves all the time?"
"I honestly don't know what those are about." He lied. "Is she that much of a fashionista?" He hoped that she would just let it go and not pursue the subject. To his relief, she seemed to believe him.
"I guess so…Maybe I just didn't notice it before."
"Thank god my Gran is still at her meeting." Evie sighed as she pulled into the driveway. "She would flip out." She hopped out of the truck and ran up the steps to unlock the door before turning to see Damon already on the porch with her snoring dead to the world father, slung over one shoulder.
"That was…fast." She murmured and then shrugged. "Come on in. I'll show you where to put him."
Damon stepped over the threshold and followed the girl up the steps.
"That's his room." Evie opened a door and Damon flopped him onto the bed. "Thanks." She told him and knelt in the floor to tug the man's boots off. She hopped up from the floor to take the man's coat off. Mike snorted and rolled over.
"Okay, gotta wash these." She said to herself and slung it over her arm before picking up the boots. Damon waited in the hallway for her, watching as Evie tucked her dad into bed, turned on a small fan, and flicked the light off. She made a wide path around him and he followed her down the steps and back in front of the door.
"Thank you." She said tucking her hair behind her ear. "I…I guess I owe you one."
He flashed her smile. "I'll hold you to that."
Ignoring the feeling she had just made a big mistake, she sighed.
"He didn't do it. He couldn't have…could he?" She looked up at Damon with big apple green eyes.
"No. I'm sure he didn't." He said and she nodded. "Get some sleep, Evie." He said and stepped out onto the porch. "Goodnight."
"Night." She murmured and slowly shut her door.
Evie let her head thump against the wood of the door and she sighed heavily. It was going to be a long night of washing blood and getting rid of empty bottles before her Gran got home.
Damon came to check on her hours later and found her sleeping restlessly, a frown on her face. He sat gingerly on the side of the bed and invaded her head to see what she was dreaming that made her frown so.
"Evie, wait."
She turned to face a golden-haired boy. He was rubbing the back of his neck.
"Don't run off."
"You were sleeping with someone else, Troy!" She snapped. "Get away from me!" He grabbed her arm.
"Hey! I said don't walk away from me!"
"Let go!"
He back handed her and she glared at him as she hit a wall.
"You better start listening to me!"
"Screw you, asshole!"
He hit her again, this time with his fist. She couldn't block him and ended up on the floor against the wall.
"No one wants you anyway, Evelyn. Look at you. Scarred faced and ugly as sin." She dodged him when he made to hit her again.
"Shut up! At least I would never cheat on someone!"
"No one would want to cheat with you! I don't know what I was thinking being with you."
Angry she jumped up and punched him in the face. He screeched, blood gushing from his nose.
"That's what you get, asshole! If you can hit me, then I can beat the hell out of you!"
Damon retreated, having seen enough. No wonder his little pet project was so hostile at times. He wondered if perhaps he had made her that way as well. Able to fend for herself when she needed too. Impulsively, he brushed back hair from her face and she grumbled, rolling onto her stomach. Hearing footsteps on the staircase, he disappeared back out the window just as the door opened.
Evie's Gran peered into the room and then came over to the window, shutting it and Damon rolled his eyes. Guess it was time to go elsewhere. He gave the light blond headed girl a last look before zooming off and leaving her to sleep.
Unbeknownst to Damon or anyone else, Evie rolled over, frowning, she waved a hand in her sleep. The window unlatched and opened back up. The light breeze came back into the room and she settled back down into a deeper sleep.
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