I got dressed in the locker room. I carried my duffel bag with me. Then I walked back to go home. I saw the cheerleaders practising their routine. I saw Aria. She was at the top of the pyramid. Then the pyramid collapsed. They gathered their duffel bags and went to the locker room. I ran over to her.

"Paige!" She shouted.

"Hi." I said.

"I didn't know you were a cheerleader." I said.

"Yeah. Sorry I didn't mention it." She said.

Then I noticed she was beside two other girls. I've seen them around. I think I have both of them in my classes. I'm not sure.

"Paige this is Olivia. Olivia this is Paige." Aria said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I said.

"Likewise." Olivia said.

She had long blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. She was very pretty. The other girl's name is Gabrielle. She said to call her Gabby. She had long dark brown hair, creamy olive skin, and brown eyes. She was pretty as well.

"We should go out. I feel like we haven't gone out in ages." Aria said.

"We went out last week." I said.

"Well I want to go out again. It was loads of fun. Do you fancy it?" Aria said.

"Sure I'd like that." I said.

"Great." Aria said.

"Just let me change. Then we'll go. Does that sound good?" Aria said.

"Yeah." I said.

Then we came out of the lockers.

"We should go to Daphne's Coffee Shop." I said.

"Sure." She said.

"I'll meet you there." She said.

That's where I work. We drove in separate cars. I parked outside of the coffee shop. We both went inside. We sat down. We ordered our drinks.

"So how long have you known Olivia and Gabby?" I asked.

"Oh. I have know them since middle school." She said.

"I think you should meet Nathan. You'd fancy him." She said.

"Looking forward to it." I said.

Then Damon came inside the coffee shop. I didn't want him to see me. I turned away from looking at him.

"What are you staring at?" She asked.

"Oh nothing." I said.

"Oh come on. Let's see." She said.

Then she saw him.

"Oh he's well fit. Does he fancy you as much as you fancy him?" She said.

"Aria would you please just drop it?" I asked.

"It's natural, Paige. You must fancy him in less you wouldn't be looking at him." She said.

"I don't fancy him. We're just friends." I said.

"Alright. Suit Yourself." She said.

Then Damon saw me.

"He's coming this way." She said.

"Oh great." I said.

Then all of sudden he was right in front of us.

"Hi there." He said.

"Hi." I said.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I'm here with my friend." I said.

"Oh." He said.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" He asked.

"No not at all." I said.

Then he sat down next to me.

"It's great to see you. I was wondering when I'd see you again." I said.

"How's Stefan?" I asked.

"He's fine." He said.

"Are you two shagging?" She asked.

"Aria." I said.

Blood rose to my cheeks.

"Oh my god! Your cheeks are red. You totally fancy him." She said.

I was embarrassed. Why would she say something like that?

"I should probably go. My dad's probably worried about me." I said.

Then I stood up. Damon looked disappointed. I don't know what he wants from me. It wasn't a good idea to come here. Aria's getting the wrong idea about him and me. I don't fancy him. I hardly know him. Then Aria and I got in the car.

"I never seen you act like this. Did I do something wrong?" She said.

I knew this was coming.

"No I just caught off guard." I said.

"I'm sorry. I pushed you like that. I didn't mean it for it to go that far." She said.

"No it's fine." I said.

"No it's not. I fucked up." She said.

"It's not your fault. My reaction was wrong." I said.

"We should watch the football game together." She said.

"Sure. I'd like that." He said.

Then I went to my house. My dad was sitting on the sofa.

"I'm going to a football game with Aria." I said.

"I haven't heard of Aria." He said.

"I've made new friends." I said.

"I can see that." He said.

I can tell he was upset that I didn't tell him about Damon.

"Look I know you're angry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Damon. I thought you would try to protect me." I said.

"It's my job to protect you." He said.

"I know." I said.

"Don't ever do that again." He said.

"I won't." I said.

I hugged him.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you too." He said.

Then we went upstairs to room to get ready for the football game. I drove to the high school. I parked in the car park. I went out of the car. I went upstairs to the bleachers. I looked for my friends. Aria was cheering with the rest of the cheer squad. She smiled at me. I smiled back. I sat down. After the game was over, I went over to my friends.

"Come I want you to meet Nathan and Cole." Aria said.

"Very well." I said.

I went down to the field. Nathan and Cole were beside them. I recognised Nathan straight away. We used to hunt together when we were little kids. He was well fit. He had shaggy light brown hair, brown eyes, and olive skin.

"Paige is that you?" Nathan asked.

We hugged each other. I realised I haven't met Cole yet.

"It's been so long." Nathan said.

"Yes it has." I said.

"Do you two know each other?" Aria asked.

"We used to play together when we were little kids." I said.

"Is that so?" Aria asked.

"You never mentioned him." She said.

"Well I was rather preoccupied with other stuff." I said.

"We should go out or something. It's been ages since we last went out." She said.

"We only went out a couple days ago. Why so soon?" I said.

"Well the night is young. You only live once." She said.

"I guess. We can go." I said.

"Alright. I'll let the girls know." She said.

Then I went to the car park. I got in the car. I drove to the grill.

Damon's POV

Flashback

Ever since we shagged last time. We've been inseparable. We haven't been able to keep our hands off each other. I haven't felt this way about anyone in a long time. I think I'm in love. I want to tell her. I don't know how she'll react. I went to her flat. I knocked on the door. She answered.

"I knew it was you." She said.

She kissed me. She wrapped her legs around me. We crashed onto the bed. I kissed her neck. She moaned. I got off her. I laid down next her.

"We're going out." I said.

"Where?" She asked.

"Out." I said.

We went outside to my car. We drove to a meadow nearby. There was grass as far as you can see.

"Why the fuck did you bring me here?" She asked.

She sounded upset.

"It's fresh air, remember? Look at it! We need to get away, yeah?" I said.

"Yeah. Good to get away." She said.

We saw a bunch of mums with prams and children with kites. I parked in the car park nearby. Then we chased each other like school children. She laughed. I love her laugh. We chased each other around trees.

"Damon! Come back. Damon! Stop it. Stop it." She said.

She almost got me whilst I was on the ground. She laughed. I got on top of her. She laughed again.

"No! No!" She said.

She caressed my face. I put my hands on either side of her. I caressed her hair and face.

"I totally fucking love you." I said.

I waited for her to say it back.

"Now's the bit when you say." I said.

"Don't move." She said.

I realised she was looking up at the clouds. I got off her. I laid down next to her. I looked up at the sky.

"That one's Will." I said.

"Their faces, behind the skin." She said.

I'm confused. What's she on about?

"Skin?" I asked.

"Between this world and the next." She said.

She took a deep breath.

"Their teeth and their claws coming out, trying to break through." She said.

I was worried. Is something wrong?

"Did you drop something in the cab?" I asked.

"Like a fart or something?" She asked.

"No, like a tab or something." I said.

"A tab with your face on it." She said.

"Here." She said as she pointed to my heart.

"Your heart that fits mine." I said.

"From the moment I saw you, I knew you'd be the closest I get to being close. I didn't know what to do with that feeling. Happiness." She said.

I had to let her know that I felt the same way. I got on top of her.

"Listen Bianca, you're the closest I'll ..." I said.

I kissed her.

"They know now and their hungry. Really fucking hungry. Because as long as I've known, they've been chasing me. Now they're ready. Now they're strong enough to break through. I can't fight them. I used to be able to when I was strong but you've made me weak. Now I can't. I can't." She said.

I felt so bad for her. Is there anything I can do to stop her demons?

"Bianca. there's no one fucking there." I said.

"Ugh. I can't. Let me go." She said.

"Bianca. Listen what do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Stay here." I said.

"They're ready now." She said.

She kept looking back to see if the monsters were there.

"They're coming." She said.

"I'll fight them. Is that going to stop them? I'll fucking fight them." I said as I ran off to fight them.

"Fuck off! Fuck off! You cunts! I'll kill you all. Fuck off!" I said.

I began to shout at the monsters. I started to laugh. I walked back to where she was. Her expression changed. I put my hands on my knees.

"I have to go home." She said as she shook her head.

I was confused. I thought we were happy.

"What?" I asked.

"Get me the fuck out of here, Damon. Please." She said.

We walked to the car. I helped her in the car. I buckled her seatbelt. I drove off. I parked in front of her house. I carried to her bed bridal style. I tucked her in. I lied next to her.

"Are you alright now?" I asked.

"Much better." She said.

Then I was about to leave.

"Will you stay with me?" She asked.

"I'll stay here until you fall asleep." I said.

Then we fell asleep in each other's arms.

Music

Lykke li-Little bit

The Black Keys-strange times

Bonnie Prince Billy-Ebb tide