A/N: here's the final chapter for today. Hope you're enjoying the story so far! See you at the bottom.

Once again my thanks go to the awesome Arabella Whitlock, any mistakes are completely my own :)

I do not own anything, except for my own leather jacket that is.

Firework

Grilled

Elena and I had spent the rest of the morning digging through the shed which was full of cobwebs and obviously hadn't been used for a while, looking for supplies. We'd found a perfect bright yellow colour, one that reminded me of sunshine. Something that would hopefully keep my nightmares away.

We'd had a quick sandwich before starting to paint the room, at some point Jeremy and Jenna joined us and the four of us decorated together. Laughing and joking while we did. Real laughter, not the fake laugh I'd been putting on for so long.

Jeremy was sarcastic and had a quick wit, as well as an understanding side of him that I didn't expect for a guy his age. Elena was bright, fun and bubbly but not too over the top with it and bounced right off her brother. Jenna was the perfect mix of both of them, sarcastic and bubbly. She acted more like a kid than an adult and was fun to be around. The strangest thing for me though was that instead of feeling left out or the odd one I actually fitted in when I finally let my guard down. I could be just as sarcastic and laugh just as loud. It was fun. And it was exactly what I'd needed, even if I hadn't known it.

Maybe Alaric was right, maybe I could start to fill the hole that had been left by them with something else. With being part of a family and having friends? Not relying on a man, or anyone else for my happiness? Maybe.

"What time is it?" Elena asked as she finished painting the wall her and I had been working on together.

"Er... Five, ish." Jenna said putting down her own paint brush and admiring our handiwork.

The room did look loads better now, the yellow reflecting sunlight from the window inside. It went well with the dark furniture in the room. It was almost a days worth of labour and fun.

"I've gotta get ready!" Elena said with a grin before turning to face me. "You can get ready in my room if you want? These walls won't be dry for a little while."

"I'll just grab some clothes, hang on." I said with my own smile in return, I'd smiled more here in two days than I had in months back in Forks.

I dug through my wardrobe looking for anything that could be remotely suitable for going to a bar, I had nothing. I guess it was just going to be jeans and a t-shirt again. Not that I minded, I'd just wanted to make a good impression for once.

A memory broke through; the last time I'd wanted to make a good impression. I'd been going to meet a family of vampires and I'd wanted to look good, I'd picked out the only skirt I owned but still felt like I was dowdy and under dressed. I hadn't fit in there, I wasn't going to fit in here, no matter what I wore. That much I knew.

"You can borrow some of my clothes if you want, we've gotta be about the same size. And we'll go shopping tomorrow?" Elena asked me, her eyes taking in something on my face, an emotion I didn't want there.

"Yeah, that will be great, thanks." I replied plastering my face with a smile and hiding my real emotions behind the mask. Something that was getting easier to put on everyday. Somehow I didn't think that was a good thing.

~0~

"Elena! Stefan's here!" I heard Jenna shout from downstairs, her voice echoing around the hallway outside of Elena's room where we'd been getting ready.

"Who's Stefan?" I asked as I put in a pair of earrings that she'd insisted made my outfit.

"Erm... He's my... Boyfriend." Elena told me quietly with soft eyes.

"You never told me you had a boyfriend!?" I said slowly, almost an accusation.

"Yeah well with everything..." Elena trailed off.

"Elena, there's no point trying to hide something like a boyfriend from me. Most people have them." I smirked. "And I'm fine with that. It's my ex and my ex friend that I have issues with. And I'm learning to deal, honest." I told her, my eyes on her through her mirror which was decorated with pictures and jewellery. Her room was an extension of herself and I loved that.

"Sorry, it's just..." Elena said quietly.

"Don't say sorry." I protested, if anyone should be saying sorry it was me, I was so messed up that people were hiding things from me. "Tell me all about him!" I gushed, caught up in this girl bonding day in a way I'd never been able to do before. But I couldn't help it. Elena was beautiful and popular but despite that I saw bits of myself in her. I saw a kindred spirit.

"I'll tell you all about him, but maybe when he's not stood downstairs waiting for us." Elena grinned at me as she stood and grabbed her bag, looking stunning as always. I followed her lead and stood up as well, taking my purse and cell, putting them in the pockets of Elena's leather jacket that I'd borrowed. "You look hot Bella! You've got to get a jacket like that tomorrow!" She gushed over me.

"Er... Yeah. Thanks." I said, not believing her in the slightest. I looked okay, she'd managed to smooth my hair into something almost as nice as hers was and clad in her old clothes I looked quite stylish but still me. I'd picked these out, she hadn't thrust anything on me. Not like Alice would have done. But still I wasn't hot, not even close.

So I was stood in dark skinny jeans, black plimsolls, a black tank top and leather jacket, teamed with the silver hoop earrings that Elena had thrust into my hands.

"Bella, seriously you look fierce. Believe me, I know. Now c'mon, I want you to meet Stefan." She beamed at me before heading out of the room and down the stairs, way more easily than I ever could have done in the heels she was wearing.

I followed at a distance, I could do this, I could handle being round a normal couple for a night, no problem. Deep breaths.

The guy who was smiling at Elena as I reached the bottom of the stairs was really good looking. He had brown hair and deep brown eyes, his jaw was chisled to almost perfection and his muscles stood out even under his dark black t-shirt. Elena and him looked perfect stood next to each other. The perfect couple. Okay another deep breath.

"Stefan this is Bella, Alaric's niece, and Bella, this is Stefan, my boyfriend." Elena said with obvious joy. She was head over heels I could see. And surprisingly instead of hurting like I thought it would, I was happy for her. Really happy, this girl, who was so sweet and nice to me, even though she'd been forced into living with me, even though I was weird and woke her up with nightmares, she deserved every bit of happiness she could get.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Stefan stepped forward and shook my hand with a kind smile.

"Same here." I beamed right back while taking his hand.

Instantly I was alert though. My scar, the one I'd got from James, started tingling, almost burning but not quite. My eyes snapped into his. His brown eyes, his warm skin. I was just being stupid, I told myself, I'd probably just rubbed part of the jacket over my arm when I moved it, nothing weird or supernatural here.

I took a deep breath and followed Stefan and Elena from the house, both of whom didn't seem to realise anything unusual had happened with me thankfully.

"Bella!" Jenna called from the door just as the three of us reached the pavement. I looked over my shoulder to see her stood on the porch waving me back.

"Er.. Sorry, I'll just be a second." I said to Elena and Stefan whom both looked as bemused as me as to why I was being called back.

I jogged over to Jenna, praying as I did that I wouldn't trip. "Sorry, I forgot to give you this." Jenna told me as I reached her. I held my hand out automatically as she went to give me something.

"Thanks, hang on Jenna..." I said as I realised what was in my hand. I'd been given a set of keys to the house, which made sense, but I'd also been given some cash.

"Alaric asked me to give you it, don't shoot the messenger. Just take it and enjoy yourself." Jenna smiled warmly at me before walking back into the house.

I looked down at the money and stuffed it into my pocket, determined not to spend a dime and give it back to Alaric as soon as I could. I didn't need his help, I'd get a job or something and I still had enough till I went shopping tomorrow to fund tonight.

I hurried back to Stefan and Elena who were patiently waiting for me still on the sidewalk.

"What was that about?" Elena asked me with a frown as we started walking.

In answer, so I didn't have to lie I took the keys Jenna had given me and showed them to her. Elena just nodded and showed me her trademark smile again.

"So Bella, Elena said that you come from Forks, in Washington right?" Stefan asked me as we carried on walking together. He had a nice soft voice, and a kind smile. Was everyone in this town a saint?

It took us twenty minutes to reach the Grill, the place where school kids and adults alike hung out apparently. The conversation had been nice, Stefan seemed like a really cool guy, he'd been interested in me but not too prying. He was good company.

We stepped inside the bar and I was surprised to see it so busy. The place was packed and looked nothing like I'd imagined. There were pool tables, booths, a bar, food being served and also a cleared area that looked like a dance floor.

"Hey look! There's Bonnie and everyone." Elena said to Stefan and me.

"You go over, I'll get the drinks. What do you want?" Stefan asked Elena with a smile, his eyes shining with love.

"I'll just have a diet coke please." Elena said back, her eyes holding the same amount of feeling.

"Bella?" Stefan asked me.

"I'll have the same please." I told him and started trying to free my purse from my pockets.

"Don't worry, I've got it." Stefan winked before walking towards the bar so quickly that I couldn't protest.

"C'mon." Elena said while taking me by the hand and dragging me to a booth that was almost full.

"Hey guys!" She exclaimed as we reached the booth full of teenagers about our age.

"Hi!" Most of them greeted back, looking from her to me. I felt the familiar rise of a blush as they looked me over. I hated being stared at, I felt like they could all see that I was pretending, already knew I didn't fit, didn't belong.

"Okay this is Bella, she's Alaric's niece and she's living with us all. Bella this is Bonnie, Caroline, Matt and Tyler." Elena introduced everyone.

"Hey Bella, it's nice to meet you." Bonnie beamed at me as she held out her hand, awkwardly I took it.

Again I stared into her eyes in shock. My scar had started tingling again. But this girl, she was as normal as Stefan. She had beautiful mocha skin and deep chocolate eyes, as well as brown hair that fell into artistic curls down her back. And she was warm, almost hot in fact, defiantly nothing supernatural there. I needed to stop freaking out and acting so paranoid.

"Hi Bella!" Caroline cut over Bonnie, her voice loud and excited. She reminded me so much of Alice for a second that my heart skipped a beat. "Are you going to be going to school with us? How long are you staying here? You so need to come on the decorating committee this year with Bonnie, Elena and me! We'll have soo much fun!" She really didn't stop talking, it was like a dam had burst in her mouth and all the words came tumbling out in a flood that just wouldn't be stopped.

"Wow! Caroline! Breath! Let Bella speak!" The boy sat next to her, Tyler, spoke up with an easy going nature. He grinned at me before raising his eyebrows at the pretty blonde.

"Sorry, sorry. I get carried away." Caroline apologised to me with a smile and her hands in front of her mouth. Everyone around the table rolled their eyes but I let out a giggle, so she did have a filter if pointed out.

Matt and Bonnie both shifted on their sides of the table so that Elena and me could get in, as well as Stefan when he returned from the bar.

"How you finding Mystic Falls so far then Bella?" Matt turned and asked me. He was cute, in a Mike Newton kind of way, but much less annoying. He had blonde hair and nice bright eyes, kindness in them like everyone else I'd met here so far.

"It's great, everyone's so nice." I smiled as Stefan came over and passed the drinks he'd brought for us out. "Thanks." I said excepting mine and taking a drink.

"So are you all seniors then?" I asked, wanting to know more about these people, interested in them for a change. Not just pretending. Maybe if I'd have given people this chance before I'd have had more friends. But then again, no-one back in Forks had been this openly friendly, they all had an agenda, all were interested in me just because I was new. No-one's eyes held so much happiness and kindness except for Angela's, the one true friend I had made back at home.

"Yeah or we will be on Monday! We've known each other since, like forever. Well except Stefan that is." Bonnie beamed at the guy in question.

I looked to him with eyebrows raised, wanting to know the story there but didn't ask in case he didn't want to tell.

"I was in your shoes last year. New guy at school." Stefan smiled kindly at me.

The conversation carried on like that for a while. And I found that I was really enjoying myself. I really liked Bonnie and Caroline, well when Caroline used her filter I did anyway. Matt and Tyler seemed like nice enough guys too, but talked more amongst themselves.

I looked to the bar after a couple of hours and after we'd placed an order for food. Alaric was sat there with another guy. His back to me all I could see was a lean body and a mass of dark black hair, as black as night.

"Hey I'm gonna get a drink, anyone want one?" I asked, I needed to give Alaric his money back, and this was the perfect opportunity.

"I'll get it." Stefan said quickly while glancing at the bar, his eyes looking toward Alaric and his friend, a frown on his face as he did.

"It's good, I've got this, besides I kind of wanted to talk to Alaric." I told him.

"Please Bella, it's your first night out here, I'll get the drinks, and you can see Alaric at home right?" Stefan smiled at me, but something was off. I just wasn't sure what. Maybe Stefan just really didn't like girls buying their own drinks?

"Um... Sure, okay?" I said, Stefan really smiled at me as I sat back down. He placed a kiss to Elena's lips and headed to the bar.

"He just wants you to like it here that's all, he remembers how it feels being new." Elena said, watching me as I looked to her boyfriend.

"He seems really nice." I smiled at Elena, tearing my eyes off Stefan, letting it drop but knowing deep inside that something was going on.

The conversation carried on flowing over the food, which was delicious.

"Bella and I are going shopping tomorrow, you two should come, make it a girls day?" Elena asked Bonnie and Caroline as we started making noises about heading home.

"I'd love to, but I've made plans with Jeremy, sorry." Bonnie said with an apologetic smile. Bonnie, Elena's best friend, was going out with Jeremy, Elena's kid brother, and apparently everyone was cool with that.

"Caroline?" Elena asked.

"Yes! Shopping!" Caroline enthused, with a huge smile.

"Great, I'll give you a text." Elena smiled back.

I smiled at Caroline, glad that I'd be able to get to know the bubbly blonde some more. I was pretty sure that after tonight I had some real possible friends here.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow then..." Caroline's words died in her mouth and a hard look appeared in her eyes as she looked over my shoulder.

I turned to see who had that effect on the happy girl.

The guy who'd sat at the bar with Alaric was stood behind me with a grin on his face. And wow.

He was tall, at least six feet, his face was strong and handsome, his hair as dark as it looked from across the room, his muscles apparent even under his long sleeved black t-shirt. And his eyes. His eyes were the brightest, iciest blue I'd ever seen. He was drop dead gorgeous.

Not that it mattered, I knew a pretty face didn't mean anything. And I'd sworn off guys for the rest of my life.

"Well hello there, you're new aren't you?" The man asked me with a sparkle in his eyes and a mischievous grin.

"Yeah?" I asked, what was with him? Something about this guy just screamed danger and hurt.

"Who's your friend Elena, she looks delicious." The man stressed delicious in a way that made me think of red eyes and pain. My heart started beating slightly faster. I needed to calm myself down, I was being stupid. I was reading way too much into this handsome mans words.

"This is Bella, and we, are leaving." Elena said, her eyes hard as she jumped down from her seat and glared at the man, tugging Stefan with her as she did.

"So soon, but I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet. You don't want to leave just yet, do you Bella?" He asked me, his brilliant blue eyes boring deeply into my own.

"Yes I do." I replied quietly, this guy was creeping me out. Despite his good looks.

The man looked shocked at that, shocked and angry. Apparently he wasn't use to people saying no to him.

"Damon!" Came a sharp voice from across the bar before Alaric came walking over to us, his eyes fierce and never leaving the man in front of me. "I see you've met my niece." Alaric said, before smiling gently at me.

"I've just had the pleasure of meeting Bella here Ric. Though I had no idea that she's your niece. We were just getting to know each other. Weren't we Bella?" Damon asked me, his eyes widening as once again he looked straight into my own.

"No, Elena and me were just leaving." I repeated, getting slightly angry. There was persistent in a nice way and then there was just annoying, this guy had crossed that line. I was sure he was just being friendly like everyone else, but I didn't really want him talking about me like that, like he was telling me what I was going to do. I'd had enough of people deciding what I was gonna do for a life time.

"What?" Damon asked confused for a moment, as though he had no idea how I could possibly refuse him.

"I said no we weren't, Elena and I are going home." I replied with a frown. Elena nodded before taking my hand and moving me from the bar, swerving around Damon as she did, Stefan right behind us.

As we stepped out into the cooling night air Elena let go of my hand. "Who was that?" I asked, slightly pissed at the guy, but also intrigued. There was just something...

"I'm sorry about him Bella, I'll talk to him he won't bother you again." Stefan said, his eyes holding doubt, as though he didn't believe what he was saying.

"Who was he?" I asked again.

"That is Damon, Stefan's brother. And he's an ass." Elena stated, her voice holding anger. An emotion I'd not expected from her.

"You're brother?" I asked, though now I thought about it I could see a certain family resemblance.

"Yes." Stephan sighed as though he wished he weren't.

Okay, first impressions about Damon hadn't been so great, but what was with everyone disliking him so much? Even his own brother? Was he really that much of an ass? Against my will and my better judgment I was defiantly interested in learning a bit more about Damon.

~0~

3rd Person P.O.V

Alaric walked Damon back from the kids, his anger well and truly fired up. Damon needed to keep away from his niece. She was screwed up enough without having Damon play with her, and Alaric was sure that's what the vampire would do, he'd play with her till he got bored, then he'd dump her, or worse.

"So you've got your niece staying with you? Gotta say, she's smoking." Damon said while ordering another whiskey with just a wave of his long fingers. He hadn't been lying either, she was hot.

"Damon, cut the shit." Alaric growled, too tired and not drunk enough to deal with it.

"So how did the lovely Bella end up in your care then Ric?" Damon asked, his curiosity piqued, though he wasn't sure why. Sure she was hot, but then so were half of the lovelies in here. No it was something in her eyes, something in those deep brown emotive eyes that interested him. She was hiding something, and Damon loved a puzzle.

"Damon." Alaric warned the vampire.

"What? Can't a friend, ask another friend a question? Especially when his friends obviously got another mouth to feed. That's important stuff Ric." Damon said, his voice teasing.

"She got her heart broken, her boyfriend left her, then her best friend. Her dad -my brother- thought that she should come and live with me." Alaric told Damon, against his better judgement. But Damon was right, he probably should talk to someone other than Jenna about the new addition to his family.

"He sent her to live with you!? Does he even know you? You're an awful role model." Damon scoffed.

"That's why he sent her to live with me." Alaric mused.

"Come again?" Damon asked a frown above those brilliant blue eyes.

Alaric remembered his phone call with Charlie earlier in the day.

"She's messed up Charlie, she needs her family, not being passed around like this!" Alaric had argued with his brother.

"You're her family too Ric." Charlie said simply.

"I'm not a guardian though Charlie!"

"She doesn't need a guardian. She needs to start living! Be a normal teenage girl for once." Charlie insisted, he knew what he was doing might backfire but he was willing to take that chance.

"Bella is a normal teenage girl Charlie, she just had her heart broken is all. She needs time but she'll be fine." Alaric had argued, not seeing what Charlie was getting at. Bella seemed like a typical teenage girl to him, maybe a little more shy and polite than average but still normal.

"That's the thing though Ric. She's not. All her life she's been looking after someone else, her mom, then me. Then she gets a boyfriend and starts acting like a middle aged woman. I don't think she's ever even had a beer for gods sake. She doesn't ever break curfew, she doesn't cuss, doesn't smoke, doesn't go where she's not suppose to. She doesn't hang out with the other teenage kids. She needs to start living a life, a real one, go out break a few rules. Enjoy herself. And you won't stop her, and she won't feel like she has to take care of you, of any of you. You are exactly what Bella needs Ric. Please."

Alaric had agreed, of course he had, how could he not. A seventeen year old who hadn't even had a beer? He might be a bad role model, but Charlie was right in saying that he was just what his niece needed.

Omitting some parts, so hopefully Bella didn't seem so alluring to Damon, Alaric told his friend everything. Including the fact that he really did hope that he could help Bella, that he could make sure she enjoyed her life a little, live it.

Damon sat and listened. That's what was hiding in those big brown doe eyes. Heart break; and she was putting on such a good mask too. Damon, though he'd never let on to anyone, could relate, his mask fooled most of the world, even his own brother and Bella's was almost as good as his was.

She might make an interesting play mate, the dark haired man thought with a smirk.

A/N: so that's your lot! I really, really hope that you enjoyed what I've got so far! Please leave a review and let me know. Every reviewer gets Damon as a play mate for one night ;) Till next time, happy dreams.