I DO NOT OWN TEEN WOLF, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Five:

After a week of staying with Liz, I still couldn't relax. I knew that Damon was just biding his time… I knew that when he finally resurfaced, he would hit me in the most painful way imaginable. I wasn't ready for that. I wasn't sure that I would ever be.

I think the biggest surprise of this whole ordeal was Derek. I knew that he said that he would come visit me, but I hadn't expected him to come every day. He hasn't missed a day once. He never comes empty-handed, either. Sometimes he comes bearing chocolate, other times it's some movie that we had talked about, to watch together. I was slowly becoming more comfortable around him. The only one that I'm used to being this comfortable with is Caroline. I'm not even this comfortable around Stefan.

I know that even though he is Damon's brother, he wasn't the same person. That didn't meant that there weren't times that Stefan didn't remind me of Damon – because there were. I think that's the biggest reason that I can't bring myself to completely relax around him.

"Have you left the house, other than doctor's visits? " Derek asked me. I shook my head. We both knew that I hadn't. I'm too paranoid. I'm convinced that the moment I do, Damon will show up and find me.

I know that it's not logical. I do, but that doesn't make convincing myself otherwise is any easier.

"No," I breathed. Derek looked like there was something he wanted to say, but was holding back. He gets that look a lot. I'm never sure if I should be grateful for it, or not.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet, when you're feeling up to it. My sister, Laura, s moving to town and…. I think it might help both of you to talk to each other. If you're not ready, it's fine. I understand. I haven't told her about you. I didn't want to say anything, until I knew that you were ready." He explained. I nodded, taking in his words. He's always so thoughtful. He continues to surprise me. He's one of the most patient people that I've ever met.

"I… I don't know if I'll ever be ready to talk about that with anyone…. But I would be honored to meet your sister, Derek. If she's anything like you, then I'm sure she's great. I think that having another friends right now… would be really nice." I told him. He gave me a small smile that gave me butterflies in my stomach.

When I first met Derek, I was intimidated. I don't think that I really realized that there was a big difference between someone being intimidating and someone being scary. Derek doesn't scare me. He's so gentle. Lately, I've been finding myself wondering more and more about what my life would have been like, if I had met Derek instead of Damon. I knew that I would never know that answer. It didn't matter.

I knew that no one would ever want a broken girl like me. I was damaged goods, at best. Not that it really mattered. I doubt that I'll ever be comfortable sharing myself with anyone else, again. Derek deserved someone better than me. He deserved someone who was as perfect as he was. I knew that I could never be that.

"I really think that the two of you would hit it off. You remind me of her sometimes. Your personalities are so similar." He admitted.

"I look forward to meeting her." I promised.

Caroline laid with me in bed. I woke up in a cold sweat, hours ago, from nightmares. I doubt that they are ever going to stop. I can't escape him. He'll always have power over me.

I jumped, when my phone vibrated in my hands. I was looking on Pinterest absentmindedly, trying to take my mind off of my reoccurring nightmares. It was a text message. Dread filled my stomach, until I saw it was from Derek.

'Are you up? I can't sleep… want to binge on Criminal Minds?
-Derek'

His offer was the best I had heard in a long while.

'I've been up for ages, but everyone here is asleep – I'd hate to wake them up…
-Bonnie'

I sent my reply hesitantly. My phone started vibrating and I realized that he was calling me. I crawled out of bed and went into the hallway.

"Hello?" I breathed.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I know that you said everyone was sleeping, but I thought it would be quicker if I called." He apologized.

"Oh, no, it's okay." I assured him. He let out a nervous sounding chuckle. Why would he be nervous about talking to me?

"Fell free to say no, but I thought that since neither of us could sleep, maybe you would want to come over to my place and watch it? I can pick you up." He offered. I bit my lip. I wanted to. I really did. I knew that I couldn't hide in Liz' house for the rest of my life.

"Okay, just let me tell Caroline. Are you sure that you don't mind? I don't want to be any trouble." I hesitated.

"I promise I don't mind. I wouldn't have offered, if I did. "I'll be there in ten." He ended the call.

I went back into the room I was sharing with Caroline. She woke up, when I sat down on the bed.

"Derek invited me to come over to watch movies, since neither of us could sleep." I told her. That seemed to wake her right up.

"What are you gonna do?" She asked me.

"I told him I would go. I don't know… Do you think it's a bad idea?" I asked her, gnawing at my bottom lip.

"I think it's great. I think it's good for you to get out of the house and try to do something fun. I think being around your friends is really good for you, right now. Don't worry about telling mom. I'll let her know." Caroline helped ease my worries. My phone vibrated with a new message. "Is he here?" She asked me.

'I'm outside.
-Derek'

My eyes scanned over the message and I nodded to Caroline.

"Come on. I'll walk you out." Caroline volunteered. I pulled on a sweater and some shoes, before following her to the front door. "Try to have fun. Okay? And call me if you need anything."