It had been a little short of a week since everything happened. Surprisingly, Damon kept his distance. Stefan had thought it was suspicious but Elowen had managed to distract him. Right now, Vicki was far more important.
Currently, Stefan and Elowen were at the boarding house. Both of them were asleep. Stefan was on the armchair while Elowen was laying on the couch. The book on Stefan's lap fell to the ground and woke him up. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he picked up the book and set it on the table. He walked over to the couch and pulled the throw blanket off the top of it and spread it over Elowen.
A strong gust of wind came through the house. Stefan turned and saw the backdoor open. He assumed it had been the wind from a few seconds ago and went to close it. A woman's laugh broke through the silence once the door was closed. Now alert, Stefan walked out into the foyer and looked around. More various noises were heard throughout the house.
"Damon?" He called out. "This isn't funny. Are you trying to scare Elowen or something?"
The noises came to a stop. Shaking his head, he ruled it out as Damon playing a prank and started to walk back to the couch. The moment his back was turned, he was knocked to the ground and flipped over. A blonde vampire hissed in Stefan's face, fangs out and eyes dark.
"Lexi?!" Stefan breathed, surprise etched out on his face. A wide, genuine smile spread out as Lexi got off of him and helped him up.
"Hi there."
"What are you doing here?"
"How could you even ask that?" Lexi pulled him into a big embrace, hugging him tightly.
"I missed you."
"Happy birthday. So, who's Elowen?" She asked. She peered over Stefan's shoulder and spotted the teenage girl sleeping peacefully. "Ohhhhh. I see. We have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?"
Elowen abruptly woke up a couple of hours later, sitting up. She glanced around and didn't see Stefan in sight. She pulled the blanket off of her (where did that come from?) and carefully got up. She didn't know what time it was, but it was still dark outside, though there was a glimmer of light in the distance. Sunrise.
She crept towards the cellar and headed down the stairs, deciding to check on Vicki. She must've heard her footsteps because she spoke out a second later.
"Time to eat nasty animal blood again?"
Elowen stopped in front of her cell, peering in. "If I come in, can I trust that you won't try to escape?" She asked, rolling up the sleeve of her shirt.
"Not after what happened on Halloween. I almost hurt Jeremy."
"That's what I was trying to tell you. Your heightened emotions overpowered my warning, though." Elowen unlocked the door and slid into the cell, closing it behind her.
"How long are you going to keep me here?" Vicki asked. "Matty is probably worried sick."
"Until you learn control," Elowen replied. "We can't let you roam the town if it means putting an innocent person at risk. Which is why I'm going to let you try again." She offered her exposed arm to Vicki, who swallowed hard at the sight of her wrist.
"What if I can't?" She nervously questioned.
"You'll get there eventually." She lifted her wrist. "Here."
Vicki took her arm in her hands, once again looking up for confirmation. Elowen nodded her head with certainty. She didn't want to hurt her or have a repeat of last time. Finally, she allowed her fangs to elongate and bit into Elowen's wrist, trying her best to be gentle. Despite her attempts, Elowen still made a sound of discomfort.
"Remember, you can't let it control you," Elowen reminded her through gritted teeth.
Vicki took a couple of big sips, then forced herself to pull back. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, wiping her mouth. The veins slowly slithered away and when Vicki opened her eyes, they were back to normal. Elowen grabbed part of the sheet that was on the cot and used it to apply pressure to her wrist. She watched Vicki carefully, looking for signs of her losing control. After a few bated breaths, Vicki started to smile.
"I did it!" She tried to dive forward for a hug, but Elowen quickly leaned out of the way. She lifted her wrist up. "Oh, right." Vicki scooted away a bit and looked away.
"But you still did it!" Elowen said encouragingly. "This is good news, Vic."
The sound of footsteps approaching got louder and louder and soon Stefan came into view.
"Stefan!" Elowen excitedly got up. "Guess what Vic-" She stopped short when an unknown woman stepped out from behind Stefan. "Oh. Hi…?"
"Lexi," the blonde supplied. "And you must be the famous Elowen."
"Whoops. I forgot to tell you someone was here." Vicki sheepishly gave her an apologetic smile. "I heard them talking earlier."
Lexi assessed the situation and looked at Stefan. "I thought you said she needed help with control."
"She's still new," he replied.
The next second, veins appeared on and off around Vicki's eyes, who covered her mouth and zoomed out of the room. Stefan went after her, leaving Elowen and Lexi alone. Lexi took Elowen's wrist and removed the sheet that was wrapped around it.
"Sheesh. She got you good. Here." Lexi bit into her forearm and offered it. Elowen took it and drank a little. When she leaned back her wrist had already begun healing.
"So, um. You're a friend of Stefan's?" Elowen asked awkwardly a moment later.
"His oldest friend." Lexi confirmed.
"And you're here visiting?"
"I thought you were supposed to be the all knowing witch," Lexi joked. Elowen blinked.
"... You know about that?"
"Please." Lexi rolled her eyes. "Stefan wouldn't shut up about you."
"Oh." Flustered, Elowen tried to hide behind her hair. Lexi laughed at this.
"C'mon. Let's get up there."
They found Stefan and Vicki by the bar. Vicki was downing a glass of bourbon like her life depended on it. Some had even dripped down her chin.
"Thank god, you're healed," Vicki said when she noticed Elowen. "The smell of blood was starting to get to me."
"It's good that you got out of there instead of giving in. That's a step." Stefan took the empty glass from her and set it back on the table.
"Listen, can I….. can I call Matt?" Vicki asked hesitantly. "I just want to let him know that I'm okay."
"Here." Elowen pulled her phone out of her pocket and handed it over. As she walked a few feet away to call Matt, Lexi turned back to Stefan.
"Anyway, now that that's out of the way. What are we doing for your birthday?"
"Birthday?" Elowen questioned while Stefan groaned. "It's your birthday?"
"Yup," Lexi confirmed, popping the 'p' at the end. "He's officially 162."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because he's boring and doesn't like to make a big deal out of it," Lexi stated as a matter of factly. "By the way, doesn't it bother you that he's like, super old?"
"Did your boyfriend care when he was human?" Elowen retorted.
Lexi visibly recoiled. "Whoa. You weren't kidding about that all knowing thing."
Vicki came back and returned the phone to Elowen. "He said that he'd filed a missing persons report and that Sheriff Forbes is calling some people in for questioning." She crossed her arms, trying to make herself appear smaller.
Stefan's phone rang almost immediately after Vicki said that. He answered it and a second later, Vicki's expression dropped.
"What? What's going on?" Elowen asked, being the only one out of the loop. Stefan ended the call and sighed.
"That was Elena. The Sheriff wants us to come in for questioning," Stefan explained. "Will you two be alright here by yourselves?"
"It's not like we can go anywhere." Lexi gestured out the window. The sun was completely up now. "You and Damon are the only ones with those nifty little daylight rings. I have a mood ring from '75! Trade ya?"
"It doesn't work that way and you know it," Stefan replied.
"Will I ever get one?" Vicki asked quietly.
"Maybe," said Elowen. "Once you prove that you can handle it." Her eyes darted to Lexi. "I can make you one, though. It's a pretty basic spell."
Lexi perked up immediately. "Wait, really?"
"If I can get my hands on lapis lazuli, definitely."
"C'mon, we should get going." Stefan nodded towards the front door. "Don't wanna keep the Sheriff waiting."
Elowen and Stefan took their leave, meaning it was just Lexi and Vicki in the house now. Lexi plopped herself in a chair.
"Alright, baby vamp. Let me teach you my ways."
"I don't think the Sheriff suspected anything," Elena said as she met up with Stefan and Elowen outside the police station. "Jeremy had no memory at all. He only knew what Damon made him know. How's she doing?"
"Better. She fed on me this morning and didn't lose control," Elowen casually replied. Elena widened her eyes.
"She what?!"
"Shhh!" Elowen quickly looked around to make sure nobody was looking. "I let her do it."
Elena crossed her arms. "I don't think I can do this. You two act as if this stuff is normal and it's not! I'm lying to my friends, my family. Matt has no idea what's going on and it hurts not being able to tell him his sister is okay." She shook her head. "I should go."
Stefan tried to go after her but Elowen grabbed his arm. "She made her choice. Let her go."
Truth was, Elowen was bothered by the fact that Elena insinuated that her and Stefan were "freaks". This was normal for them. It was their everyday lives and there was nothing they could do to change that. Even if that's not what she meant, it's how Elowen took it.
The ride back to the boarding house was silent. Elowen had been put in a bad mood and Stefan wasn't sure why. She was out of the car and in the house first.
"I can't believe her!" She grumbled, stepping over the couch and dropping herself on it. Lexi and Vicki were sitting across from her, a suitcase full of blood bags open on the coffee table.
"Who?" Lexi asked, sipping on her bag.
"Elena," Elowen replied. "She basically told me that we are," she gestured to everyone in the room, "are, are, abnormal."
"That's what you're upset about?" Stefan had finally caught up, coming to sit next to his girlfriend.
"Okay, pause. What were her exact words?" Vicki questioned. "I mean, I'm not saying I don't believe you, because Elena has a stick up her ass. I just want the full details."
Vicki's words caused Elowen's lips to quirk up a bit. "She said that this "stuff isn't normal," whatever that's supposed to mean. It's not my fault that I was born with supernatural powers."
"Just like it's not my fault this idiot's brother turned me because he was 'bored,'" replied Vicki.
"Can we stop taking jabs at me, please?" Stefan pleaded.
"Nah."
"Don't think so."
Elowen and Lexi answered in unison. All three girls erupted in laughter.
"Alright, alright. Let's get back on track. Don't listen to her, sweetie," comforted Lexi. "She's not worth fretting over. Now, onto more important things. You still haven't decided what we're doing tonight."
"Funny you should ask," said Damon as he stepped in the room.
"Well I wasn't asking you," Lexi replied, rolling her eyes.
Damon ignored her. "There's a party at The Grill. You'll love it. Banquettes. Tacky wait stuff. All of Stefan's friends."
"Yeah, I don't want a birthday party," Stefan replied.
"Well it's not for you," Damon stated with a 'duh' tone. "It's a party party. No one's gonna know it's your birthday. Jenna's throwing it."
At the mention of Jenna, Elowen swore under her breath. She had completely forgotten to give Elena some vervain for her aunt.
"Stay away from Jenna, Damon," warned Stefan.
Again, Damon ignored them. "It's important for the town to see us out and about like normal folk. We need to blend." He took a glance at Lexi's stock of blood. "I prefer mine at 98.6."
"We should go," Lexi suggested once Damon was gone. At the sight of everyone's faces, she pouted. "Please?"
Lexi was quite relentless about the whole party thing. She even sent Elowen home to change into something "more appropriate" (she added a wink at the end and Stefan nearly died from embarrassment). Her phone vibrated as she entered her house.
Did you know that Stefan once jumped into the Trevi Fountain naked?
Before she could respond, another text came in.
AND he's gotten drunk on the torch of Lady Liberty. I didn't realize he knew how to do anything other than brood.
Elowen snorted at Vicki's messages and started replying as she headed up the stairs to her bedroom.
If Lexi spills any more scandalous deets about Stefan, you better share.
Don't worry. I will.
"Please tell me you're going to this party at The Grill tonight," her brother pleaded once she made it to the top of the stairs. "Caroline asked me out and you know I don't do well at parties."
"You were fine at the Founder's Ball," Elowen pointed out.
"That was different," he said quickly.
Elowen sighed. "Yes, I'm going. Apparently today is Stefan's birthday and a friend of his is in town for it. I don't think I have a say."
"Thank god. Now, um…." He awkwardly wrung his hands. "Can you… help me figure out what to wear?"
Elowen playfully rolled her eyes. "I guess. Lemme just put my stuff in my room."
Back at the boarding house, Lexi and Stefan had just gotten done explaining to Vicki why it was a bad idea for her to come with them to the party. It was easier than they were expecting it to be, but apparently Vicki had learned her lesson the first time.
Lexi was dressed and finishing up her makeup while Stefan was in the middle of getting dressed.
"So…. are we gonna address the elephant in the room?" She asked, looking at Stefan through the mirror. He met her gaze, eyebrows knitted together.
"What elephant?"
"Y'know," Lexi stood and wandered over to where the picture of Katherine was setting. She picked it up. "The fact that Elowen looks vaguely like You-Know-Who."
"Are you saying that my girlfriend looks like Voldemort?"
Lexi rolled her eyes and tossed the picture back on the table. "You know that's not what I meant." She leaned against the dresser across from Stefan and crossed her arms. "Please tell me that you aren't involved with this girl because she reminds you of Katherine. You do realize that if that's the case, I'm gonna have to kill you."
"No! No," he denied and hurriedly shook his head. "Elowen and Katherine may share similar features, but they are not the same person."
"Well, Elowen isn't a raging bitch so she's got that going for her."
Stefan gave Lexi a look. "No. Elowen is… fierce, and she's…. She's brave. She looks danger in the eye and doesn't hesitate about what likes ahead if it means saving people she cares about. She's stubborn, and a little hotheaded, and a bit reckless, but she fights for what she believes in. She's always herself. And honestly…. I love that I don't have to worry about what I am when I'm around her because she understands; she gets it. I can talk about my vampirism freely and I can just be myself. There's no but's, and's or if's. Just us."
"Oh my god," Lexi breathed. "You're in love with her."
Stefan smiled, playing around with his ring. "Yeah," he nodded. "Yeah, I am."