''I don't know which colour to wear with that top.'' Caroline started. I knew she'd go on for a long time so I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes.
''I mean, I obviously can't wear black again, it'll ruin my nails and it's not fashionable anymore. '' I heard her move herself and some stuff where after it got quiet but not for too long.
''Hello.'' Klaus said, suddenly lying next to me and occupying the other half of the bed. I jumped up, almost falling of the bed. Caroline had screamed in surprise and the nail polish she was about to put on had fallen on my carpet. Light blue polish was flowing over it.
''I'm so sorry!'' She clasped her hands in front of her mouth. I hated Klaus.
''It's fine. '' I waved her off and gave Klaus a warning look. Apparently, I hadn't been subtle enough because he spoke.
''Oh my, you ruined her favourite carpet. It was worth a lot of money, you know. She got it from a queen back in the 1840's, when it was recently invented. Such a shame that this historical object is ruined, because of you. ''
I turned to Caroline and saw her eyes narrow.
''Don't you dare try to make me feel guilty.'' I looked surprised back. The Caroline I knew would start to cry and beg me for forgiveness. Maybe, I said maybe, she started to get to know my brothers a little better. I smiled, glad with the progress she made, every day. My eyes drifted off to Klaus again, see what his response would be. He still had that awful smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes.
''What do you want?'' I asked. No way was my brother here because he wanted to be with his little sister.
''I was about to tell you, '' Klaus stopped, got up, closed the door and lay back down. As if closing the door would help.
''You know the masked ball, which is in about a week?''
I raised my eyebrows. I had been thinking about it but why was it Klaus's business? He didn't even go to school.
''What about it?'' Confused, I switched gazes with Caroline and she shrugged, also confused.
Klaus whispered and at first, I didn't hear him.
''What?'' I asked, coming closer to him.
''Elijah won't let you go.''
A sudden anger rose in me. Instead of just sighing and feeling frustrated, I got angry. I even kicked against a pile of clothes lying on the ground.
I heard a growl downstairs, someone else laughed.
''Klaus!'' Elijah called.
''Got to go, the boss calls.'' He winked and left the room, through the window. He wasn't going to face Elijah now, Elijah had probably told him to keep quiet about it , for some reason. As usual.
Someone knocked on the door.
''We need to talk.'' Elijah.
''Yeah we do. But not now.'' I hoped he'd go away and after a minute of doubt, he did.
Caroline wanted to open her mouth to speak but I gestured not to, instead, I took my phone and texted her.
I thought he'd let me go! Since Damon will be there as a teacher, Stefan as a student, that's enough, that's more than enough! It is also safe, in school, what could happen?
I threw my phone on the bed. All of this sucked. Caroline looked empathically at me. She typed something on her phone and showed it to me.
We'll think of a plan. There has to be some loophole. Don't worry, we'll get you there.
Even though I knew it was impossible to escape my prison, it was nice to think she cared about me. It gave me some strength.
''Maybe we can ask Willow, she is a kind of bad ass. She'll know what to do.''
I rolled my eyes. Caroline obviously forgot that Willow didn't know my siblings were vampires. She might know what to do with regular people, but I thought this would be a little out of her league.
''Yeah, we'll ask her how to get away from vampires! Easy cheesy.''
''Don't be so annoying. We could only try and tell her you have really strict siblings. ''
After ten minutes of arguing, I gave up and couldn't find any more reasons not to ask her so we met Willow during lunch.
Caroline elbowed me, a signal to start talking. My sandwich had fallen out of my hands, on the ground. I sighed. No food for me then.
''So, Willow. '' I started and looked at Caroline who gave me a nod to continue. I turned my gaze back to Willow's.
''I was wondering whether you knew a way I could to get to the masked ball without any knowledge of my siblings. You know they're kind of out of their minds. Got any ideas?''
Willow scratched her head and looked at a tree in the distance. I knew her well enough in the meantime to know she was thinking, deeply thinking.
''I might have something but I've got to think about it first. I'll meet you tomorrow. ''Where after she left us confused. I shrugged and took a sandwich of Caroline who immediately took it back. ''Don't you dare steal my food.''
''You ruined mine!'' I pointed out. We both laughed and I got half of hers.
The next day, Willow had asked to meet me at her house. Since meeting out of school was practically impossible to me, we skipped a lesson again after noon and went to the coffee shop. Besides us, and the lady who owned this place, there was no one around.
''I've got to tell you something. And ask you something. ''
I drank from my coffee but burned my tongue so I put it down again. It was a nice cup, covered with little pink flowers.
''I know your family are vampires. I know you're not. '' She stopped a minute to look in her cup and steered the milk around.
''So what are you?'' She asked, looking up at me.
For a second, I didn't know what to respond. This girl, my friend, knew pretty much my biggest secret.
''How do you know? Did Caroline tell you? '' I knew Care wouldn't spill my secret but there really was no other explanation.
''No, '' she sighed, '' here comes the I-have-to-tell-you-something part. ''
I raised my eyebrow.
''I'm a witch. From the Horne bloodline. My name is Willow Horne.''
I frowned. I knew from class what her last name was, I didn't get why she said it now. But the fact that she was a witch, I hadn't had a clue. I looked down, at my coffee and then back at Willow. It all made sense now. The disappearing coffee stain, the flying guy.
''Oh my god. Oh. My. God.'' Why hadn't she told me?
''I know, I'm sorry. I meant to tell you but my grandma told me not to tell people who got involved with vampires so I was afraid and-''
''Stop, stop. I don't mind. I mean, I'm shocked, yeah. But it's your secret to tell, not mine to know.''
She smiled.
''Thank you, for being so understanding. Honestly, I'd be freaking pissed on you if it were the other way around.'' I laughed. After half an hour, we headed back to school. On the way, I asked whether she had a magical plan or something , where after she laughed at me. I didn't get the joke, it was a logical question. She shook her head.
''Your brothers are vampires; it can't be that hard to get away for an evening? I could cast a spell which lets you make no noise, so they won't hear you go away and I'd make a double ganger who is asleep in your bed or something.''
''Yeah, only problem is, they had a curtain installed around our house. ''
''Ouch. That sucks. How do you get in and out then?"
''If I touch a vampire, I can go through it. But not by myself, so every time I want to go to our garden , I can't or I have to ask for help like a little baby, it's not fun at all. ''
''Yeah, it's a whole new level of being careful. ''
We'd just arrived at school and saw Jenna talking to Caroline. They were on the other side of school.
''How long have you been friends with the Hasting witch?''
''Who?'' I asked, confused. Willow was the only witch I knew. I looked around and suddenly, anyone could've been a witch. I hadn't know with one of my best friends, who knew how many witches walked around here. Maybe even vampires. I wasn't able to tell the difference between humans and supernaturals.
''Jenna?'' she asked like I was supposed to know. I stopped in the middle of my track.
''She is a witch?'' I asked, surprised. Never had I thought of her. I mean, I hadn't expected it from Willow either but she kind of has the looks and a couple of hints. But Jenna, she was the shy girl from the back of the class, nothing special about her.
''Wait. You didn't know?'' Willow turned around, she first hadn't noticed I'd stopped.
I shook my head.
''I had no idea.''
Willow raised an eyebrow.
''How do you know?'' I asked her. We walked further and came closer to Care and Jenna, apparently, a witch.
''Witches can cast a spell on their selves, I did it. It shows a kind of aura around everyone. Every creature has its own colour. Like, the witches, that's white. Humans are green and vampires red. ''
''What's my colour?'' I asked.
''It's a colour I've never seen before, it's a brownish colour, not very pretty if you ask me.''
''Thanks.'' I roll my eyes.
Before me and Willow got to discuss what to with Jenna, either confront her or let her make the decision, we arrived. Caroline greeted us first, then Jenna.
''So, found a solution? '' Caroline asked, she looked from me to Willow. I was just about to say something when Jenna interrupted me.
''For what?'' She asked.
''You've obviously met her siblings, you know how hard they are on her.''
Jenna nodded understandingly; it hadn't gone well when she had visited. I wondered what she remembered and how. I hoped she remembered it as kind of fun.
''So we were seeking for a solution to get her out of the house, without any knowledge of the others. And I need to do some research before I can tell whether I found one or not, see you later, guys.'' Willow waved goodbye and ran off to a group of guys who were standing a couple of feet further away from us. I recognised one of the football team who had harassed her. Why would she hang out with them now? I shook my head and let it go.
''Do research? '' Jenna asked.
I waved it off and started talking about the history assignment we'd gotten from my brother. It was a good way to distract Jenna. I didn't know what to feel, betrayed, stupid, understanding? I understood why Willow had kept it hidden, she was new, didn't know whether to trust us and she eventually said it. But Jenna? I had helped her on her first day, she had no friends, and I invited her in my home.
Willow gave me a call, right after school. I took up and looked for Stefan's car. It was nowhere to be seen. Great. He'd be late again.
''Hi Willow.''
''Hi, could I come over? Even sleep maybe?''
''Yeah, sure. You could eat with us. With me, I mean.''
''Sounds great. Six 'o clock?''
I confirmed and saw Damon coming.
''Don't tell me my teacher is going to bring me home. ''
He smiled.
''Stefan got,'' he seemed to think about what next to say, '' caught up.''
I didn't even bother asking. I looked for Damon's car but didn't see it anywhere.
I grunted.
''We're going to run, aren't we?''
''Yep.'' As he said the 'p', he made plopping sound.
''That's not healthy for my hair, not at all.''
''Don't be such a baby. ''
Without a warning, he lift me up over his shoulder and before I could complain, we were already home. He put me down inside the house and I fell to the ground. Damon laughed.
''It's not funny.'' I felt dizzy and couldn't stand on my feet for a second so I stayed on the floor.
''I'm so glad I'm not human anymore.'' He drank from a blood bag, the first time I ever saw him doing that.
''You are so weird.'' Klaus came by. I wanted to get up but he kicked me down. I knew better than to try to stand up again so I lay down and made myself as comfortable as I could. I wasn't going to let any of them bother me today.
''C'mon, where's the fun in that?'' Klaus kneeled beside me. He poked me, like I was an insect. I sat up.
''Go away, Klaus. ''
He smiled and stood up, so did I, only to be pushed down again.
''For real?! '' I screamed. I had fallen on my coccyx and it hurt like hell. I got back up but sat down immediately on the couch. A couple of seconds later, Elijah and Rebekah came home with groceries.
''Willow is staying over tonight. '' I said to Elijah. He didn't even look up, he just nodded.
''Will she join you for dinner?''
I whispered yes as low as I could but he had still heard me. There will be a time that he won't hear me. I won't give up.
The next person who walked in, was Michael and I was glad to see him again. I ran over and gave him a hug. I felt the books he had been holding behind his back and immediately got excited.
''Now you've ruined your own surprise.'' He said disappointed. He threw the books on the couch and I immediately ran over.
''These are the new ones! There is so much to learn, I can't wait, have you already read them?''
Michael shook his head and kissed Rebekah.
I heard Damon laugh and saw Klaus rolling his eyes, imitating me probably but so low I couldn't hear and Damon could. I threw the object nearest me, which happened to be the remote, to Klaus but of course, he captured it with ease. I hated being weak so bad at this point.
