When I woke up early in the morning, My dad and I had to go to the council meeting. I got dressed. Then I went downstairs. We ate breakfast. Then we went in the car. We drove to the city hall. We got out of the car. We sat down next to each other. Most of the people were locals. I don't know anyone. Then Damon sat next to me. What brings him here?

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"The same reason you're here. To protect the people of this town." He said.

The meeting started. The mayor sat down. Her name is Mayor Sparks. She's middle aged. She had brown hair and hazel eyes. She seemed agitated.

"Good morning, everyone. We have a situation. There's been several attacks this week. All of the bodies completely drained of blood." She said.

"Is it the same one that's been killing all these people?" I asked.

"Most likely." She said.

"Do you have any ideas of who it could be?" Dad asked.

"That's where you guys come in." He said.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

"We were hoping you could tell us." She said.

"We need to find out who it is." She said.

"The story for the town is another animal attack. I don't know how long we can keep lying to them." Dominque said.

"It's the way it has to be. If we tell them havoc will arise." I said.

"True." She said.

"That's it. Meeting adjourned." She said.

Then we left the meeting. My dad dropped me off at school. I was in front of my locker. Then I grabbed my book. I went to class.

Damon's POV

I was very discouraged after the meeting. I had no idea that that the council knew about the vampires. I think it was a bad decision to move here. I don't know who's killing all these people. Was it Stefan? He acts differently when he's a ripper. I don't think he's a ripper. I have to know who's killing all these people. I entered the boarding house. Stefan was in his room. He was writing in his journal. I went up to him.

"You said you had it under control." I said.

He stood up.

"And I do." He said.

"Then who's been killing these people. Huh?" I said.

"It wasn't me." He said.

"Who is it then?" I asked

"It was someone else." He said.

"You have no idea who this is." He said.

"No." I said.

"Me either." I said.

Then we seperated.

Paige's POV

I couldn't stop thinking about there being a vampire in town. There hasn't been vampires in this town in a long time. I have to keep my eye out on who it could be. I just want Damon and I to be friends. I feel like I'm fighting with myself. I feel like it would be a bad idea to be with Damon. I don't think I'm ready to be in relationship right now. Why was he there at the meeting? I don't know what I think about him being there. The first period bell rang. I'm late. Then I saw Aria and Violet come towards me.

"Where were you?" Aria asked.

"I got held up." I said.

"You should've been there. AP English was shit without you." Aria said.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad." I said.

"No it was. I didn't have anyone to spend time with." Aria said.

"What about me?" Violet asked.

"Oh yeah right." Aria said.

"Well I'm here now. Did I miss anything?" I said.

"No. Just the usual." Aria said.

Then the bell rang. Stefan came towards me with a girl I didn't recognise. She had long brown hair and brown eyes. She was tall.

"Hi." He said.

"Hi." I said.

"I didn't see you earlier in English." He said.

"Yeah I had things to do." I said.

"This is Gwen Maxwell." He said.

"It's nice to meet you." I said.

"I'm Paige." I said.

"She'll be staying with us for a while until she can get a place of her own." He said.

"Are you guys like a thing?" I asked.

"No we're just friends." She said.

"He's been very kind to me." She said.

"Yeah he's very sweet." I said.

"I'll see you later." I said.

"Yeah for sure." He said.

Then it was lunch time. We were in the dining hall. I was sitting with my friends. Aria was siting with her boyfriend. They were snogging each other. I'm not a big fan of PDA. It grosses me out. His name's Liam. I don't know much about him.

"He plays baseball." She said.

"What position do you play?" James asked.

"I play pitcher." Liam said.

"Oh really. I heard they're doing well this year." James said.

"Yes, we might be in the championships this year." Liam said.'

"How was first period?" I asked Violet.

"It was fine." She said.

"It was boring without you. I missed you." She said.

"I wish I could've been there." I said.

She looked down.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just tired." She said.

Then some time passed. James was buying food.

"If you must know. James asked me out on a date." She said.

"Oh really. How do you feel about that?" I said.

"I don't know. I'm kind of confused." She asked.

"What? When?" She asked.

I laughed. She was a little late.

"Just before lunch." She said.

"Better late than never. I always wondered if you had a thing for him." Aria said.

"I kind of had other things to worry about." Violet said.

I rolled my eyes. She could be a little a more supportive. What's going on with her? Sometimes I don't understand Aria.

"What do you say?" I asked.

"I said I would think about it." Violet said.

"Where is James?" I asked.

"He said he'd be right back. He's buying food." Aria said.

"He's avoiding me." Violet said.

"I'm sure that's not the case." I said.

"When I talked to him. He sounded miffed. You weren't there when I told him." Violet said.

"It's probably not like that." I said.

"Yeah it is." Violet said.

I didn't know what to say.

"What are you going to tell him?" I asked.

"I don't know. I don't want to ruin our friendship." Violet said.

"That's very true." I said.

"Do you fancy him?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." Violet said.

"How long have you known him?" I asked.

"Since primary school." She said.

"Has he always fancyed you?" I asked.

"I think so. I noticed the way he looks at me." She said.

I knew where she was coming from. I don't think she's had a boyfriend before. I would probably feel the same way if a friend asked me out. I'm surprised that she's never had one because she's really sweet. Any guy would fancy her. Then James came back with food on a tray. He had a cheese burger, chips, and a fizzy drink. Violet started fidgeting.

"Where were you?" I asked.

"I got some food." He said.

"Cool." I said.

There was awkward silence between us.

"I'll go out with you." Violet said.

"Sure. What day is good for you?" He said.

"How about Friday?" She asked.

"Sounds perfect." He said.

Then Stefan and Gwen sat with us.

"Hi." Stefan said.

"Hi." I said.

"Do you like this school?" Aria asked.

"Yeah it's great." Stefan said.

"I agree." Gwen said.

"Where do you go before?" I asked.

"I was homeschooled." Gwen said.

"I didn't go to school at all." Stefan said.

"Really. Why?" Aria said.

"Personal reasons." Stefan said.

"Where did you live before?" I asked.

"I moved around a lot." Stefan said.

I know what that feels like. You don't have a home. It's hard to make friends.

"It gets lonely, doesn't it? It's hard to make friends." I said.

"Exactly." Stefan said.

"We should do something tonight. It's been ages since we last went out." Aria said.

"What do you guys when you go out?" I asked.

"We usually go to the cinema." James said.

"This town has a cinema?" I asked.

"No we have to go to the next town." James said.

"What film are you going to see?" I asked.

"It will depend on what we want to see." Aria said.

Then I went towards Stefan.

"Are you guys going to go?" I asked.

"Yeah for sure." He said.

"Sorted." I said.

"I should go to class." I said.

Then I went to class. It was nice to make friends. It's been ages since I've made real friends. I have to move around a lot. It doesn't give me a chance to make friends. Sometimes I wish I was normal. Vampires killed my best friend. I do think about her a lot. When school was over, I drove home. I parked in front of my house. I went inside my house. My dad was watching telly. I sat on the sofa next to him.

"My friends and I are going to the cinema tonight. Can I go?" I said.

"Sure you can go." He said.

He had a stake in his hand.

"Take this with you." He said.

"I don't know." I said.

"It will give your old man a piece of mind." He said.

"Fine." I said.

I took it from his hands. I put it in my boot. I took a shower. I got dressed. I went down stairs. I went outside. I parked outside Fells Grill. I went outside. I went inside the grill. Aria was sitting near me.

"There you are. I didn't think you would come." Aria said.

I rolled my eyes. Then I saw Stefan sitting next to her.

"I didn't expect to see you." I said.

Aria came to my ear.

"Do you fancy him?" She asked.

"No we're just friends." I said.

"I think he's well fit. I fancy him." I said.

"Go for it." I said.

"We should play a game." Aria said.

"Which one?" Violet asked.

"How about seven minutes in heaven?" Aria asked.

"No not one." Violet said.

"Truth or dare then." Aria said.

"Paige truth or dare." Aria said.

"Truth." I said.

"Have you done it with anyone or are you virgin?" Aria asked.

"No I'm a virgin." I said.

"I knew it." She said.

I felt exposed.

"Violet truth or dare." I said.

"Dare I guess." Violet said.

"I dare you to kiss James on the lips." I said.

She looked like she was uncomfortable. I regret saying it. She kissed him. You can tell that she fancyed him. It looked like passion. They were snogging as if no one else in the room. She stopped kissing him.

"Alright, Stefan. Truth or dare." Violet said.

"Truth." He said.

"What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?" Violet asked.

He didn't answer.

"Paige truth or dare." He said.

"Truth." I said.

"What's the deal with you and Damon?" He asked.

"There is no deal. We're just friends." I said.

"Is that the one that you met at the grill?" Aria asked.

"Yes." I said.

"We should probably go." Aria said.

"The film will start in fifteen minutes." Aria said.

"Yeah. Let's go." I said.

Then we left the grill. Then we went outside. I went over to Violet.

"I'm really sorry that I dared you to snog James." I said.

"It's fine. I needed to do it sooner or later." She said.

"So you're not mad?" I asked.

"No why would I be?" She asked.

"What do you think he'll say?" I asked.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to him since then. Do you think I fucked up?" She asked.

"No you didn't." I said.

"What if he asks me about it?" She asked.

"Don't worry. He won't." I said.

"He'll be confused." She said.

"I think he'll understand that you were frightened." I said.

"I still am." She said.

"I don't think so. He'll be all shook-up." She said.

"What should I do?" She asked.

"I think you should tell him how you feel." I said.

"I don't know how I feel." She said.

"I'm scared I'll get hurt." She said.

"Isn't everybody?" I asked.

"Even you?" She asked.

"Yes." I said.

"You spunky. You're brave." She said.

I smiled. Then we wet inside the cinema. After the film was over, we went outside.

"I found the film very predictable. I felt like I've seen it before." Aria said.

"I thought it was alright." I said.

We were going to a coffee shop. Then I looked in an alley. There was someone with dark hair. It was Damon.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just browsing the shops." He said.

Then I saw that there was blood on his face. What happened? It looked fresh.

"There's blood on your face." I said.

"It's just catchup." He said.

"It looks like blood. Did you get hurt?" I said.

"No I'm be alright." He said.

"OK. I'll see you later. I hope you guys have fun." He said.

"Cheerio." I said.

Then he walked off. What was that all about? Why did he lie to me? I should probably let it go. It was probably nothing. My mind's playing tricks on me. He was acting rather odd. Then we started to walk on. James was right beside me.

"What was wrong with him?" He asked.

"I have no idea." I said.

"He seemed like he was lying." He said.

Then we were at the coffee shop where I work.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"It's open mike night." She said.

All of us sat together.

"That's Regina from AP US History." I said.

I began to listen to her.

"When people talk to me, they don't see me. All they see when they meet isn't me. I feel lost when people speak to me." She said.

"Her poem is really good." I said.

"Yeah it is." Aria said.

There was silence between us.

"Do you mind if I say something?" She asked.

"Sure go ahead." I said.

"Do you fancy Damon?" She asked.

"No we're just friends." I said.

"Okay then. So you wouldn't mind if I ask Stefan on a date." She said.

"No that's fine." I said.

Stefan came back with the drinks. He set them down.

"Oh there you are." She said.

She looked kind of pissed.

"I think you've had too much to drink." He said.

"Well of course I have." She said.

"Aria... you and me. It's not gonna happen. I'm sorry." He said as he walked past her.

She looked thunderstrucked. I stood up from my chair. I went towards Aria.

"Oh Aria. I'm sorry. I'm sure he didn't mean it." I said.

"Drink some coffee. It will make you feel better." I said.

"Thanks. But I don't feel like it." She said.

"Why didn't he go for me? How come the guys that I want never want me? I'm inappropriate. I always say the wrong thing. I try so hard and I'm never the one." She said.

"It's not a competition. There's someone out there for you." I said.

"Yes it is." She said.

Then I realised it was time for me to go.

"I should probably go. I had a really great time." I said.

"Yeah same here." She said.

I went outside. I walked to my car. I started the car. I drove off. Aria's question took me off guard. I don't know if I fancy him. I care about him. I went inside my house. I went upstairs. I got ready for bed. I took a shower. I put on my pyjamas. Then I got into bed. I haven't talked to my brother, Aidan in a while. I dialed the number.

"Hi." I said.

"Hi." He said.

"I haven't heard from you in a while. Is everything OK?" He said.

"Yeah everything's fine. I've really missed you." I said.

"Oh I've missed you too. Have you made any friends?" He said.

"Yeah. We're really close. I feel I've known them forever." I said.

"That's great." He said.

"Have you met any guys?" He asked.

"Actually I have." I said.

"What's he like?" He asked.

"Well he's a very charming man, and funny." I said.

"He sounds great. I would like to meet him." He said.

"I have to go. I have coursework." He said.

"Bye." I said.

"Bye." He said.

I shut the mobile. What waps I saying? I definitely don't fancy him. I just want us to be friends. I eventually fell asleep.

Music

Poets of the fall-Carnival of the rust

The naked and famous-Young blood

Collective soul-tremble for my beloved

The Veronicas-Speechless