Sonder: def. the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own

Chapter 4: I'm a Weak Woman

Okay, now both Salvatores are looking at me like I've lost my sanity. Damon is blinking at me like incredulously, like he doesn't know whether or not to believe I'm real.

"Are you serious?" Damon asks, sneering at a piece of rubble on his nice shirt before brushing it off angrily. "No offense, Witchy, but I'm pretty sure you have nothing I'd want."

My brows furrowed, Did this bitch just call me ugly? Caramel eyes roll upwards as I do a big inhale, pinching my nose, "First off, rude. Secondly, I know exactly why both you Salvatores are here. Tweedle Dee," I say, pointing to Damon, "You, I can help quite a bit. As for Tweedle Dum," I look pointedly at Stefan, "I don't like helping when it comes to Elena, so not much I can do for ya there."

Green eyes become comically large as they lock on my form, barely looking like they comprehend exactly how much I know, and I hear Damon scoff, "Aren't you friends with her?"

Now that makes me finally crack up, the hilarity of the situation plus just how wrong the elder Salvatore is, officially breaks my business face as I bend over cackling. My stomach starts to hurt after a few moments, and I finally calm down, trying to wipe my eyes without messing up my eyeliner. Both are still very much confused, and it sends me into another fit of giggles as I bat my hand as if brushing away the thought. "Oh, I don't care about Katherine's double. Was I giving off that impression?"

Stefan has finally regained his composure and he tilts his head in an adorable manner, displaying just how confused he is by this entire situation. I don't blame him, it's a lot of reveals in the span of a few hours. "Wait, you know about Katherine? You know about what we are? How long?"

The baby Salvatore's questions are so soft spoken, like he's trying to keep his cool and not panic. It makes me feel a bit bad for springing it up on him so suddenly, but I hold tight to the belief that the sooner this conversation was had, the better. "Yes, I've known about everything, Stefan, I'm the latest and greatest Bennett witch. I knew when I first met you what you were, and I knew as soon as I heard about the wild animal attacks that your brother was in town. Speaking of which," I turn my attention back to Blue Eyes, "My great, great, blah blah blah sends her regards, Damon."

He blinks those pretty dark eyelashes before nodding in acceptance, starting to pace around the walk way. "Alright, what do you want?"

"Not much, but I'd rather discuss my plans with you separately. No offense, Stefan."

Damon's eyebrows raise in a flirtatious way and I roll my eyes, "Not like that, Salvatore. People that sleep with you end up in mortal peril."

Ha ha, future jokes.

"Okay. Stefan, kick rocks. Me and Bennett got business to discuss," Damon says mockingly, crossing his muscular arms in his leather jacket, hot damn. It's hard to be a professional under this level of stress. Stefan's concerned eyes land on me, and I'm touched that the look he gave Elena constantly in my memories is being reflected to me. Very different when you're not looking at it through a window. He strides over to me with even steps, until he's directly in front of me and I have to focus really hard to not stop breathing.

God, he smells like peppermint and pine, oh boy.

"Alessia, please listen to me. You can't go with Damon alone, he's dangerous." His green eyes are piercing, causing a wave of chills to travel through me. However, my inner feminist will not be denied.

I shake my head at Stefan, "I go as I please. Trust me, Stefan, I'll be fine."

He still looks beyond worried, maybe a little angry, and entirely focused on me. I'm starting to get why the girls all like you so much. The guy is very good at making you feel as if you're the only important thing in the world with just looking at you. I'm snapped out of my 'vampire hottie' trance by a sharp whistle from Damon.

"Get gone, Clark Kent. I won't ask again."

One look at Stefan and I can see how much he's holding back. But like literally, his eyes were doing that veiny thing that vampires do, and a low growl left his throat. Oooooooh my GOD, HOT. I try desperately to calm my suddenly racing heart, and Stefan looks at me, veins and all. OH NO. I feel my cheeks heat up as he pins me down with his stare, before saying almost too calmly, "I'll be waiting inside. We've got a lot to talk about." Then he turns and walks back into the boardinghouse, grabbing a stunned on the way Zach and pulling him inside as well.

Well, I'm in trouble.

Damon chuckles, "Well, that was fun. Now come on, Princess, we're going for a drive." He pulls his keys out and starts walking down the driveway to his very nice blue car that I don't know the name of.

I cross my arms staying in the same spot, before calling out, "You want Stefan to follow us?"

"Nah, he'll still be able to hear the engine where we're going. If you screamed he'd hear you and promptly come running like the good little bunny eater he is."

I shrug my shoulders at that and promptly jog over and gracefully slide into the passenger's seat when he speeds over and opens it. "Thanks, Jeeves."

A sardonic grin appears on his face as he closes the door, and soon we're off on the road. After a few minutes, he pulls off to the side of the empty road and turned up the radio a bit. Ew, the 70s.

"That should be far enough, with the radio at least. Alright, Glinda, what do you know? And while you're at it, what do you want from me?"

My eyes roll for what feels like the millionth time since I came over here as I say, "My name's Alessia, use some variation of that. Also, I know all about how you're trying to get Katherine out of the tomb."

Blue eyes turn to ice chips as I bring up his ex-boo, but I shrug away the imminent threat in his gaze. "Chill, I'm here to help you get her out. I don't have anything against her."

A dark brow quirks on his handsome face as he grabs a blood bag from in his dashboard. And let me just say, that Damon in the moonlight was very much on par with Stefan by the firelight. But, because I'm a powerful woman I didn't even notice. He takes a sip from the convenient straw, before turning his attentive gaze back to me.

"Emily died because of her habit of sticking around bloodsuckers."

I laugh again, leaning back in the passengers seat before grabbing my cinnamon gum from my jacket pocket and offering him a piece. He shakes his pretty dark head and I shrug before popping a piece in mouth, and turning my attention back to the conversation. "No, Emily died because she didn't prepare for her habit of sticking around bloodsuckers. She always assumed Katherine had her back and they'd never get caught. Emily was a sweet girl who got emotionally attached to an unreliable person."

"Oh, and you wouldn't?"

"I keep my circle small for a reason, Damon. If I'm honest, that's part of the reason why I'm here. Basically, in exchange for my helping you get into the tomb, I want you to keep four people on your 'do not eat' list."

Damon, unsurprisingly, looks confused again before moving towards me suddenly. I steady a glare at him, fully prepared to blast him out of the windshield if he takes one misstep, but instead he reaches back into my jacket pocket and grabs the piece of gum I offered him from the package. What an indecisive weirdo- WAIT. He's trying to intimidate me! His eyes lock on me, and I feel like they're looking for some sort of a reaction, but Stefan was all up in my business earlier, so I'd just prepared for Damon to test that boundary.

"And you aren't gonna try and stop me from eating other people?" He asks, sounding like he's mocking me but from his eyes I'm guessing it's just his disbelief.

I tuck an out of line curl behind my ear and turn back to facing the windshield while Damon keeps looking at me.

"Nah, it's a pointless conversation. Besides, if I was a vamp I'd probably use the 'eat, compel, let live' method, but there's no way I would be able to avoid killing my fair share of people. Eternity is a long time to have the same morals, it's fine to shuffle them every now and again."

Now Damon is really looking at me like I'm an alien. Or at least he does for a few seconds before he chuckles, "Holy shit, you are one weird little witch."

Well, that's rude.

He rolls his eyes back as he finishes his bout of chuckles, smacking the steering wheel in amusement. "Gee, you're gonna be fun to have around. What the hell, I'll accept your offer, Alessia. Now, who can't I have for lunch?"

I hold back a squeal of victory, turning to him again with a bright smile, "First one is Bonnie, obviously. She's my younger sister. Second, Caroline Forbes. She's the prettiest blonde in this town, can't miss her. Third, Tyler Lockwood. He's a jock, and acts like one. And lastly is my grandma, but if you are faced with a decision where one of us three Bennetts have to die, she's good to go."

Bright blue eyes blink at me as if trying to examine me closely, and it almost makes my heart race, "Why the hag?"

"She's lived the longest out of us. Not to mention, there's a lot of supernatural activity in this town. I might have to pick which of my family lives or dies. It's important to have that pecking order ready to go in case of emergency."

Pretty baby blues narrow on my form for a moment, clearly thinking and assessing the situation, before he nods and starts back up the car. As he pulls the vehicle through a sharp u-turn, which made my head hit the window by the way, he smirked over at me as I rubbed the sore spot. "Fair enough, little Bennett. Now let's take you back before Stefan gets his panties in a twist."

Oh shit, I forgot about that.

*

As me and Damon pull up into the driveway, I feel a sudden force yank me out of my seat, making me squeak. The world is a blur of midnight blues and browns when I find myself in a very nice bedroom. Oh, I think I'm gonna throw up but what a pretty place to throw up in. Like seriously, all the fancy duvets, curtains, the whole shebang. Shit, this isn't a bedroom, it's a whole loft. And so many books. As I turn around inspecting the room, there, leaning angrily over the corner fireplace with a glass of something strong, is Stefan Salvatore with his back to me.

What a pretty, pretty man. Even angry, he looked like a sculpture come to life, and I had to force myself to focus when an angry exhale left his very distracting mouth. I need to get out of here before I risk it all. Suddenly, he turns around, glaring at me harsh enough that I feel like I actually did something wrong.

"Do you even realize how stupid that was, Alessia Bennett?"

Oof, he pulled out the full name.

I scoff, "Whatever, Stefan. I don't need your permission to do anything, you barely even know me." Like seriously, he's only known me for two days and he's scolding me like he's my absent father. This is the exact reversal of what Elena got in my memories. He was super sweet and gentlemanly there, they connected right off the bat and acted like lifelong lovers pretty quickly. So, why the hell was he talking to me as if I was an infant?

His green eyes flare at the latest poke to his anger, them turning the brightest shade of green I've ever seen. "You could've died, Alessia. What part of that aren't you getting? Damon has no qualms about hurting the people I'm around."

"I can clearly handle Damon, Stefan. Maybe you should quit talking to me like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm fully aware of what you and Damon are capable of, I was well prepared for this meeting." His green eyes keep looking at me dead on, but I see a faltering in them.

"You knew I was fully ready for this. That isn't your problem, so what's actually your issue? Cuz if it's me doing secret business with your brother, I'm not telling you. I don't care how angry you get."

He shakes his head and I notice that it's not in its normally coiffed style. It looks like he ran his hands through it multiple times. Messy, shaggy, golden brown locks draping across his handsome face. It's becoming very difficult to focus when the tension in this room is so high.

Stefan sets down his glass on the table before turning fully back to me. He stares me down hard, like he's trying to see if I'm scared of him. I'm very much not scared of either him or his brother. They're the main threats right now, but in a matter of months, they're gonna be small fish in a big pond of hot mess. I stare up at him just as hard, but then a yawn works it's way through my rib cage, and I realize just how long today has been. Stefan's eyes soften slightly at me and he grabs his jacket.

"I'll take you home, Alessia," he says, placing a hand on my lower back to guide me out of the room. What a sweetheart, but if I could just record him saying my name that'd be GREAT. His gaze is still hard as we walk downstairs. And I get a little peak at the rest of the boardinghouse. Very luxury masculine. I see Damon sitting on a leather couch in front of a massive fireplace and shoot him a wave.

He winks back at me and tips his glass of alcohol to me, and I nearly choke on my spit. Gotta be more careful around these pretty people, Jesus Christ, a wink almost gave me a heart attack. I walk out the front door that Stefan is holding open and wait for him to direct me to his vehicle. He doesn't. Instead, he gives me a very insincere smile, in my opinion anyway, and walks over to me.

"Uhh... Stefan? Where's your car keys?"

Said vegetarian vamp puts his hands in his jacket pocket and gives me a look that borders teasing and patronizing.

"Oh, don't worry, we won't need them."

My eyes widen when I realize what he means.

"Wait, Stefan, don't-!" I'm suddenly picked up yet again and feel the sickening force of ten tilt-a-whirl rides against my stomach. It feels like eternity, but is probably only a couple seconds, when he finally stops and we're in an alleyway. I'm immediately tempted to put my still shaking head between my thighs to fight off the bout of nausea hitting me like a freight train.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Stefan leaning up against the alley wall beside me, a teasing smile on his face. I glare as hard as I can at him as I sit back up out of pride, and I see that the douche is trying his hardest not to laugh. He lets out a couple of those weird 'cough' chuckle things that don't sound like coughs, before finally shrugging his shoulders at me.

"What the hell was that for, Stefan?!" I whisper yell, trying not to gag. He looks down at me, straight faced, but I can see the glee in his eyes as he bends down to my level, his face inches from mine. OH SHIT-

"Well, you're right, I can't control what dangerous, stupid things you do, but I will take this," he waves his hand around the area before gesturing towards me still trying not to be sick, "as my 'You Worried Me' toll every time."

I blink up at him, completely shocked at his teasing manner, before I start bursting with laughter. I can't help it! Who knew that the brooding, moody, serious, Stefan Salvatore could actually joke around?! This was a scientific discovery if I've ever seen one. Stefan then covers his mouth, trying not to laugh with me at just how hysterical this evening has been, but he eventually breaks and I hear his loud beautiful laughter. I don't think I ever saw him laugh this hard in my memories, and in a weird way it made me really happy that I could bring that out in him.

Finally, our laughter dies down, and I once again acknowledge I'm in some random ass alley. "Okay, Stefan, you had your fun! Now, where the hell are we?"

He smiles before extending an arm to the exit of the alley, "Right next to Mainline Coffee. I heard Bonnie while we were running to your house, but I figured you'd want to touch base with her since she seemed to want to talk to you at the bonfire. Well, shit, forgot that I'm gonna get yelled at for a third time tonight.

I sigh loudly before pinching my nose and heading out the alley, but I stop before I pass Stefan. I pat him on the shoulder comfortingly before parting with, "I'm sorry I made you worry, but don't worry about me, I'll be fine. See ya probably tomorrow."

Then I left with a quick turn to the left, before I hear Stefan call out, "The other way, Alessia." I promptly blush hard and pivot, realizing I'd spaced out looking at the sidewalk and didn't look at all where I was going.

"I knew that!"

All I hear is a deep chuckle vanish into the air.

*

I seem to have come at the best time, because my blonde bestie was in dire need of a pep talk. Bonnie looked exhausted, so when I poked her on the shoulder, her olive eyes lightened in relief but also flashed a bright, big 'HELP ME'. I pop a squat in the seat next to Caroline and wrap my arms around her very drunk body. She looks up and gives me the brightest smile I've seen all day, cupping my cheeks. "Oh, thank goodness you're here, Aless. I'm having a s-hic!-self confidence crisis!"

I smile warmly back at her, pulling one of her hands off my face and holding it gently.

"Talk to me, Care, what's got you in the dumps?"

I know full well what's got you in the dumps.

"Stefan Salvatore totally blew me off tonight," she says, cornflower wyes starting to water as her hand shakes in mine, "Why didn't he go for me? You know, how come.. the guys I want, never want me?"

My eyes snap to Bonnie, remembering she said something pretty cold in my memories, but she just says, "I'll get you a water, Lessy," and gets up to grab said water.

I look back to Caroline, who's looking more forlorn and depressed by the minute.

"I'm inappropriate, and always say the wrong thing. And Elena always says the right thing. She doesn't even try and he just picks her. And she's always the one that everyone picks! For everything!"

I swear to god, my heart's breaking right now. I can feel my eyes start to water at hearing just how badly she wants to be loved. It wasn't just the boys either. Her dad chose his new husband. Her mom perpetually chooses her job. And even in my memories, Bonnie chose Elena. She had to wait a while for someone to finally be interested in her for her, and he happened to be the Scooby Gang's enemy.

"And I try so hard," she says ardently, with more passion then I've seen from her in a while, "and I'm never the One."

She shakes her head, trying to pull her hand back, but I yank her into a hug as I sniffle. "You listen to me, and you listen to me good, Caroline Forbes," I start, and she hugs me back, tightly, "Elena Gilbert is small potatoes. We're stuck in this podunk small town where none of these boys have any taste. I mean look at you, me, and Bonnie. We're the hottest girls I know and not one of us has a boyfriend!"

I hear her watery chuckles and I know I'm winning her over as I rub my hand over her back comfortingly.

"These boys are just a blip on the radar, chica. They want boring. Easy. Sweet. Docile. That's why they go like flies to Elena. Us? We got fire, and we won't be tamed by just any pretty boy who walks into this shit town," I finish off, and Caroline pulls away from me with a teary smile.

"If I swung that way, I'd marry you, Aless."

"Shit, I'd marry me, too."

And as me and Caroline pull apart, I see a familiar body of dark hair and leather jacket walk out the door.

Huh, wonder when he got here.

*

A/n: Hey loves! Thanks for all the love, it's really a powerful motivator for churning out these chapters! And to the person who asked, Alessia will eventually be paired with someone, I'm just not really sure who. I've got as good of a guess as you guys do. Have a great rest of your day!