"If you're looking for the word that means caring about someone beyond all rationality and wanting them to have everything they want no matter how much it destroys you, it's love. And when you love someone you just, you…you don't stop, ever. Even when people roll their eyes, and call you crazy. Even then. Especially then. You just—you don't give up. Because if I could just give up…if I could just, you know, take the whole world's advice and—and move on and find someone else, that wouldn't be love. That would be… that would be some other disposable thing that is not worth fighting for. But I—that's not what this is."

~Ted Mosby, How I Met Your Mother

X

Sometimes she wondered that if maybe she cared too much. Gave to much. That if it was all worth it. These thoughts were never entertained for too long, never given serious consideration. Marcella often found herself in the perpetual state of just letting go. Let it go. It's not worth it. She'd tell herself. This is just the way things are. It also helped to remind herself that everything had a purpose.

"Earth to Marcie! Are you even paying attention!?" The younger of the Forbes girls looked up then. Lifting her head slowly to hold off her sisters glare, coming out of a forward stretch. Marcella was in process of cool down yoga and hadn't been paying full attention to her sister. But she had figured it was okay to space out a little after the first three rants about Elena Gilbert.

Marcella met Caroline's gaze. "I'm sorry Care, what did you say?" Caroline sighs rather dramatically, which causes the younger girl to roll her eyes.

"Are you going to the bonfire tonight?" The beginning of school bonfire where there was lots of drinking and partying going on. Marcella raised her brow audaciously at her sister's question. Their mother is the sheriff, she wasn't even a student after graduating in the spring, also she never went to these sorts of things.

"No…." It slips off her tongue cautiously as if she has the feeling it's not the answer her sister wants. Caroline was the type who expected certain things, and Marcella usually didn't mind fulfilling her whims.

"Look I know you graduated early and all that but you can come as my guest, mom is working overtime and won't be home tonight. You don't have to drink or anything you don't want to do I just need some moral support tonight." Marcella sighs, knowing that she won't fight Caroline on this. She smiles at her big sister after a moment.

"Fine, I'll come. I'm not drinking, so I'll drive, and if I decide it's time to go home we leave." Caroline bit her lip as if she was about to protest. The younger sister shook her head. "My terms Care, take 'em or leave 'em."

"Fine. Now go get ready you can't go anywhere dressed like that." Marcella looked down at herself them accessing the black leggings and tank she had on frowning slightly. There wasn't anything wrong with what she had on, this was a nice pair of leggings and a clean tank top. It was Caroline's turn to roll her eyes.

"I'll help you pick out an outfit." She taunted knowingly. Marcella pulled herself up from the floor using the ballet bar she had in her bedroom. Caroline gave her a victorious grin it was obvious who had won.

"Fine, but I'm doing my own hair and makeup, and I want to wear purple." This caused her sister to slight purse her lips together, turning to look at Marcella's open closet. Thinking

"You can do your own hair, but I'm doing your makeup and only if you wear those charcoal wedge boots." Caroline says over her shoulder as she already starts to pull different articles of clothing off the rack. Marcella smiles at the back of her sisters head, pleased, that would work.

"What time is the party, I need to shower." Caroline waved dismissively at her then which meant she had enough time to go do that. She shook her head before heading out of her room to their shared bathroom. Leaving Caroline alone with her closet, trusting her older sister not to dress her completely out of her comfort zone. Marcella trusted her.

The things she did for her sister. She focused on the purpose of the moment. Despite her conflictions on the matter it made Caroline happy and that was really all that mattered. Marcella loved seeing her sister smile. Caroline had such a beautiful smile, so it made all the effort worth it.

x

"Didn't think this was your scene Edie." She looked up from her phone and smiled at the approaching figure. He wasn't wrong, this was not her normal scene. Marcella wasn't a party girl.

"Hey Mattie, how are you?" He offers her a grin stuffing his hands in his vest settling next to her on the bridge. His eyes drifting from her, but she doesn't mind. Even if he was distracted he'd still talk to her. Caroline had ditched her almost immediately once they arrived. Rude.

Matt shrugs his answer, and it was honestly what she had expected. "Eh, how are you? History class isn't the same without my desk neighbor Miss I went ahead and graduated two years early." She laughs tucking her phone in her back pocket.

"You just miss looking at my answers." He chuckles eyes finally drifting back to her. Marcella plays with a loose curl, her hair mostly confined in a messy bun.

"That's not true, I miss your snarky comments about Tanner too." Matt smirks at her as she rolls her eyes.

"Is he still a douche?" He takes a sip from his solo cup before answering.

"Yeah, asked me if I was okay with maintaining my dumb jock status on the first day." She laughs shaking her head. That sounded like Tanner. He was such a jerk, honestly probably one of the only teachers she really hadn't liked. Her phone started buzzing in it's spot, Marcella frowned as she pulled out the device to read the caller ID. It was her mother, she bit her lip.

"So considerate of him. Hey Mattie I got to take this, I'll catch you around." She smiles at him, leaning up to kiss his cheek before walking away answering the phone as she walked. Matt shook his head watching her go calling out to her to be careful. Marcella gave him a thumbs up over her shoulder.

Marcella had been one of the first real female friends he'd made when he decided that girls didn't actually have cooties. She was kind, never treated him any different because of his parents like some of the other kids had. At this point she was basically like another sister to him. Matt would more than likely do anything for her. He frowned as she disappeared into the woods away from the noise, hopefully she wouldn't go to far. The teen shook his head she would be fine and headed back to the main crowd taking another drink from his cup. It was time for a refill.

There were times when Marcella hated the fact that between herself and Caroline she was considered the more responsible sibling. It usually meant that it was her that their mother called to check in on how they were doing when she had to work late. Marcella didn't want to lie to her mother about where they were, but she also didn't want to be the one to tell her since she knew how the woman would react. With all the animal attack's she wouldn't be pleased with their location.

"Hi Mama." She greets cheerfully once far enough away to be able to hear over the music.

"How's the bonfire?" Liz questions almost right away, a mirthful undertone in her voice. Marcella can tell her mother isn't mad. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Loud. How's work?" Liz chuckles lowly, Marcella can hear the sound of typing in the background. She must be filling a report.

"Tedious. I'm calling to let you know I'll be home a lot later than I thought. Also, don't drive drunk and please be careful." Says her mother the sheriff. Marcella smiles to herself. She felt for her, with all these attack's she knew her mother was swamped.

"I won't, I promise. I'm gonna let you go I need to check in with Care. I'll text you when we get home okay?" Marcella starts to walk back in the direction of the party.

"Thanks, I love you Marcella." "Love you to mama."

She hangs up her phone. Tucking it back in her pocket and taking cautious steps back to the party. Wouldn't want to trip and sprain her ankle or anything. Also she wanted to get back to her sister as soon as possible all of the sudden a bad feeling had settled in her bones. Marcella was ready to leave.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you not to wander around in the woods alone at night." The voice comes out of nowhere, sending chills down her spine. Marcella gasp for air, a started yelp slips past her lips. His sudden unexpected appearance catching her off guard, she can feel his presence behind her.

She doesn't dare turn around. Her brain screaming at her to run, but her body refusing to listen. Fear crawls up her limbs freezing them in place. The situation all to painfully familiar. Marcella couldn't move, she couldn't breathe.

Hot breath hits her exposed neck. She regrets wearing her hair up. A hand grabs her jaw line gripping in tight forcing her to look up. It isn't until teeth take over the flesh of her jugular barely nipping the surface does she regain her senses.

This wasn't a normal human. Her could be assailant was a vampire. It shouldn't have been as much of a relief as it as was. But Marcella had never claimed to be a normal person.

Normal people didn't realize vampires even existed. Normal people thought it was just a myth. Normal people would think the whole concept was insane. But so was dying and being reborn into a world where the supernatural was possible.

"My blood isn't going to taste good. Honestly it might even burn you." She comments idly like someone would the weather. Maybe she shouldn't tell the vampire that, but she didn't fancy being bitten either. The idea was not a pleasurable one.

That seems to halt him. His teeth still on the base of her shoulder, and then he sharply pulls away. Marcella is suddenly face to face with a vampire staring into the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen in her lives. Damon Salvatore. Something at the back of her mind whispers tauntingly. A wary realization grips at her senses, so it's begun.

XOXOX

HEY GUYS! Thank you so much for all the warm reception on the last chapter I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. A note here and then I'll let you go. Marcella is younger than Caroline and co but she graduated early. This is an important footnote and will come up later with a better explanation as to why. That's all. Anyway thank you again for your lovely reviews! Please keep letting me know how you feel so I can know whether or not to keep writing this! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Have a great day!

Sincerely, La'Rae