Like Fire

by AlexisKeller

Chapter 12

It was impossible to convince Bonnie to get out of the Salvatore house. She was adamant to stay at her makeshift workstation. However, Caroline had wanted to sleep in her own bed after a long time of being away and I definitely needed to see to mom.

However much I'd tried to convince her to take it easy, she'd insisted she was fine when she woke up back in the hospital some time after Damon had arrived and Kol had left. She'd initially been so shocked at the damage around her when she did, latching on to me with her arms, chanting, "Thank God you're okay, thank God you're okay."

It wasn't long after that that her inner doctor had kicked in, surveying the damage around her and declaring she needed to do her job. I'd been a little unsure at that but Damon gave me a look that told me it was all good. I had told him about Kol having given his blood to her while we'd been checking on the other people in the hospital and he'd taken it in stride.

So yeah, I believed Damon knew what he was talking about if he thought her injuries were healed and she was all good now.

Mom had texted about half an hour ago that she was home, so I thought it was probably good to get back.

Caroline stopped her car to drop me off in front of my mom's place before she headed back to her mom's—she was staying with her mom too; these not very ideal living arrangements being all we could do at short notice when we got to Mystic Falls—and I unbuckled the seat belt.

"I don't know how you feel about it, but it reminds me of high school. The whole living with my mom like this thing," she mumbled as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "I'm glad we're only here till exams because even though I love her, I can't do this anymore. Maybe after this Esther crap and exams, I can finally do something about it."

"Sounds like a good plan," I commented.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay in Mystic Falls for the long run, but I'd definitely be getting my own place either way. I'd worked for most of my years in Whitmore in a coffee shop on campus that was always swarmed. I wasn't swimming in it, no, but it was good money and I'd saved up quite a lot.

"Well, if everything goes well and it's possible," I turned away from my thoughts and back to Caroline, "then let's get a place together. How about that?"

I grinned at her. "I'm in."

"Can you imagine how awesome it'd be to have our own place? Just the idea that—" Her smile died as her eyes went to something over my shoulder. "What is he doing here?"

Feeling like I knew exactly who she was talking about, I turned to see Kol standing in front of the house ever casually, hands in his pockets and head tilted to the side as he watched us from the distance.

"I don't know," I whispered to Caroline, knowing there was no point. I knew without a doubt he could hear us.

"I'll come with you," she said and I took in the distrust on her face as she kept her gaze aimed his way.

Oh, Caroline. The determination in her voice absolutely warmed my heart.

She was a fierce protector of all those she cared for.

And it had me reaching out to take the hand of hers that was resting on the wheel. She looked at me in confusion and I just smiled at her. "He's okay."

Her eyebrows furrowed in a frown and she protested, "But—"

"Trust me, Care, he's okay. Actually, he's more than okay." It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement, but he'd saved me and my mother and she knew that. He was definitely more than okay, but that was all I could say at that moment with him around right then.

Especially when there was so much I didn't know about him, and so much that I was scared to ask. I didn't know why he did half the things he did when he was around me.

But even if he hadn't saved me or mom like he had, Caroline and I both knew we were still in alliance with the Originals. We were on the same side, so safety couldn't be a very.

The mistrust from her face cleared, probably realizing all that herself. "You're right. You're right. I just... I'm just looking out for you is all. Though I get what you mean. Just... call me after so I'm sure?"

There it was.

"I will," I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping out of the car.

"See you tomorrow!" She called out before the car slowly pulled away.

I steeled my nerves before I turned back to my house, seeing Kol hadn't moved. I moved to the house, only coming to a stop within a couple of feet from him.

"Your friend's not my biggest fan, I see," he remarked and I decided to just shrug.

"She just got home after being on a wild goose chase with your sister for a few days. She's allowed."

"Ah," at that his lips pulled up slightly at the side. "That explains it. Extended exposure to my sister can be taxing on anyone's patience."

Interesting, I thought to myself. A dig at his sister. But then again, Caroline had made many of those after getting back as well.

"Are you here for a reason?" I asked him straight out and the slight smile turned into a full one and I felt that familiar stutter in my heartbeat.

"Yes," he said simply. No elaboration.

Okay, then.

First things first.

"I wanted to say thank you for saving my mom," I said quietly and his smile faded to give way to an intensity in his gaze that was heavy enough to weight the air down around us.

"There's no need for that," he replied after a moment. "I made a deal. I don't need a thanks."

"Well, I'm still thankful," I went on, because he needed to know what he'd done was more than a mere transaction.

He went quiet at that.

"So... why are you here?" I went back to asking.

"To collect a debt." He said directly, no beating around the bush.

Now that shut me up.

I processed that for a moment as I took him in. His face was blank, the intensity there but muted compared to before

"Okay. What do you want?" I asked the somewhat dreaded question.

"Dinner," his answer was immediate.

I wasn't sure what I had been expecting, but that really wasn't it.

"Dinner? That's it?" I wondered out loud and he grinned. He saved my mom for dinner?

Something about this was glaringly off to me.

"What? Reckon I should aim higher?"

"No! No—um, dinner's good. Dinner's fine." God only knew what his definition of aiming higher meant.

Still reeling from what he wanted, I didn't notice him walk past me on the walkway. "Tomorrow then. Be ready by seven."

As always with him, I was thrown off completely. He was surprising in most things he did.

"Oh, Evie?"

I looked over my shoulder to him, noting at that very moment that I'd never heard him call me Eve, which was my name.

He often called me Evie. It was nothing special, but it was something no one else really did.

"Yeah?" I managed to say belatedly.

"Glad to hear you think I'm more than okay."

With that, he disappeared into the night.

Well.

Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe during these trying times!

Like I said, the plot will be kicking off properly soon. As ever, it feels great to read your thoughts on the story/chapter, so I'd love if you could let me know what you think!