"Stripped"
Chapter 3: Break
Damon sat down on the front steps of Bella's house; a few moments ago everything had gone quiet in the house.
"She did the spell again?" Bonnie asked, walking up.
"What are you doing here?" Damon asked.
"Witch stuff," Bonnie replied before sitting next to him. "How is she?"
"Her arm is pretty screwed up," Damon replied. "She's lucky the glass didn't cut her veins or nerves."
"You gonna sit out here for a while?" Bonnie asked.
"No," Damon said, "I need a drink."
Damon walked off and Bonnie stood up knocking on the door.
Bella answered and it was obvious she had been crying.
"Bella are you alright?" Bonnie asked, concerned.
"Right as rain," Bella replied while wiping the remaining tears away, "What can I do for ya?"
"I can come back later," Bonnie said.
Bella grabbed her hand, "No," Bella said, "Don't worry about me; I'm just crying tears for someone who doesn't deserve them." Bella led Bonnie to the living room and sat them down, "What's up my witchy partner?"
"Bella how did you keep your powers?" Bonnie asked, "I saw what happened."
"You saw the spirits try to strip me of my powers…I didn't let them. What happened is I lost faith in myself and my power; that's why I couldn't use." Bella explained. "The spirits didn't know Anna like I did, she didn't deserve to die."
"But you used dark magic," Bonnie pointed out.
"No," Bella said, "I was trying to bring back a friend; someone who was wronged…an innocent."
"But she killed," Bonnie said.
"She had found happiness and was trying to make up for her mistakes," Bella countered.
"So if we do something to save those we love even if we use black magic to do it, are we evil?" Bonnie asked.
"No," Bella said, "It just means we care too much to lose them. What's with the questions Bonnie?"
"Nothing," Bonnie said, "Just some unresolved stuff I never got to ask Grams." Bonnie quickly changed the subject, "I heard you are on strict orders with that arm. Need help unpacking?"
Bonnie helped Bella unpack for about two hours before she headed out for lunch with Jamie.
"You know I want to meet this guy," Bella said while walking Bonnie to the door.
"You will," Bonnie said, hugging Bella, "Take it easy okay. Not all this stuff has to be unpacked."
"I will," Bella said and watched as Bonnie drove away.
She shut the door and walked into the kitchen to get something to eat, but realized she had no groceries.
"Damn it," Bella said and grabbed her purse.
.*.*.*.*.*.
The store wasn't very far from home so she started to walk. Halfway to the store, the clouds rolled and it started to rain.
"Great," Bella said while continuing to walk, "If this is your doing spirits you can kiss my ass." She said.
Suddenly the sound of a very familiar Camaro came up behind her.
"Bella," Damon said, stopping next to her.
Bella didn't answer, instead she just kept walking.
"Damn it Bella," Damon said, throwing the car in park and getting out.
He grabbed her arm, spun her around, and then threw her over his shoulder.
"Put me down," Bella said, hitting his back with her injured arm, immediately regretting it.
Damon ignored her and placed her in the passenger seat before he blurred to get in.
"What are you thinking?" Damon asked as they started to drive.
"There's no food in the house and I was going to the grocery store." Bella replied indignantly.
"You should have called someone to take you," Damon said.
"It was sunny when I left," Bella defended before she noticed that they were passing the store, "Where are we going?"
"Just sit back and shut up," Damon said.
The pulled up to the Salvatore Boarding house and Damon looked at her.
"You're shaking," Damon said.
"It happens when idiots pick up a girl that's wet from walking in the rain, puts them in their cars, then keeps the air conditioner going," Bella through chattering teeth.
Damon got out, opened Bella's door, and got her into the house.
"Go over by the fire, you'll warm right up," Damon said, taking off his jacket and helping Bella with hers.
Bella walked over to the fire, standing as close as she could. It wasn't long before she started to warm up.
"Here," Damon said, coming up next to her, "These are some of the old clothes you left here."
"Thanks," Bella said and headed to the bathroom.
She carefully changed being mindful of her arm before she walked back out. Damon was already in dry clothes.
"That was fast," Damon said. "Not as fast as me though."
"I wouldn't be proud at being fast at things Damon," Bella retorted.
"Let me see it," Damon said holding out his hand. Bella was hesitant, "You know I'm going to win one way or another."
Bella sighed and held out her arm. Damon took it gingerly and led Bella to the couch, sitting her down and unwrapping the bandages to examine it.
"You pulled a stitch," Damon said looking at it. "Gonna have to restitch it and get you a new bandage."
Bella rolled her eyes, "Thank you Doctor Damon for stating the obvious."
"Don't do that," Damon replied, ignoring her as he blurred to get what he needed.
"Do what?" Bella asked, not looking at her arm.
"Roll your eyes," Damon said returning, "It's very unattractive, especially on you."
"I'll try to remember that," Bella sarcastically.
A few minutes later Damon was finished.
"All better," Damon said, "I'll get something to warm you up."
Bella was feeling completely awkward; they had just been arguing a few hours ago and Damon was acting like nothing was wrong.
"Here ya go," Damon said, handing her some hot coco, "That should warm you right up if my hospitality hasn't already done so."
"Why are you doing this Damon?" Bella asked.
"Because I screwed up," Damon said, "I shouldn't have done what I did to you."
"Which time?" Bella scoffed.
"All of it," Damon said, "You were my friend, you only wanted to help me and like the fool I've been for 145 years, I pushed you away. I hurt you and I shouldn't have."
"Not that easy to be forgiven," Bella replied.
"I know," Damon said, "I figure this a good start. So tell me Bella what brought you back?"
"Bad break up," Bella replied, "Let's not talk about it." Bella sipped on her coco.
"Why not?" Damon asked nonchalantly, "Wouldn't have anything to do with that Cold One bite mark on your arm would it?" Bella was quiet and Damon sighed, "I told you all about them and you didn't listen."
"I told you all about Katherine, but you didn't listen; guess we're even," Bella snapped.
"I'm not trying to get into some sort of pissing contest with you Bella," Damon said, slamming his glass down on the table. "I know I fucked up and I'm trying to make up for it. Why don't you just give me a chance?"
"Because maybe I'm tired of giving out chances and being disappointed." Bella said, standing up.
"I'm not every other person," Damon said.
"No," Bella replied, "You were just one of my best friends who I trusted completely and then you fucking threw me away like trash; the one person who I shared everything with."
"Not everything," Damon replied angrily, "You never gave me your blood or body."
"You're right, but you took my blood against my will didn't you? I guarantee you'll never have my body." Bella said and walked out the door.
It had stopped raining and as she walked she tore off the bandage and stopped dead in her tracks. Her arm was healed…the only mark on it was the one from James.
Bella turned her heel and stormed back into the boarding house.
"You asshole," Bella said, walking up to Damon and tried to slap him, but he caught her arm, "You had no right."
"I did you a favor," Damon replied holding onto her arm, "Now you won't need to depend on people."
"You're unbelievable," Bella said, trying to yank her arm from Damon's grip, but to no avail. "Let me go."
"No," Damon said, putting his glass down, "Not until you tell me what you think of me. I mean really think of me."
"Go to hell," Bella hissed in replied.
"I'm already there," Damon retorted. "Come on Bella, you never held back before don't do it now. Tell me what you think."
"You want to know what I think?" Bella asked angrily.
"Yes," Damon replied.
"Fine," Bella said, "I hate you…I hate what you did to me. I hate that you betrayed me. I hate that I fell for your bullshit and defended you when you didn't deserve it. I hate that I cared too much about you and tried to save you when you didn't want it."
"Come on Bella," Damon said releasing her arm, "There's more I know it."
Bella hit Damon, "You betrayed me; you broke your promise to me. The most important one I ever asked of you. I put my faith in you and in the end you disappointed me like you did everyone else. I hate that I thought I was different that maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't treat me like everyone else, but the joke was all on me because you did just that."
"What else?" Damon said, allowing Bella to keep hitting him.
"I hated that two months ago the only person I wanted to be by my side and have my back was you after everything. I hate that I still care too much for you and that no matter what I'm always going to try to protect you." Bella said starting to cry and beating on Damon's chest with both her fist. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"
Damon wrapped his arms around Bella, holding her tightly to his chest and allowing her to cry.
"I know," Damon said, stroking Bella's hair as she cried, "I know and I deserve it. I hurt you and that was the last thing I ever wanted to do. I could see myself hurting everyone except you."
Bella just cried, letting go of all her pain and anger towards Damon as he held her while he apologized over and over again. Finally Bella ran out of tears and just stayed in Damon's arms shaking.
"I'm so sorry," Damon whispered.
"Damon," Stefan called, coming into the house.
Bella stepped away from Damon and ran to the bathroom.
"What?" Damon growled.
"Elijah and Rebecca are here," Stefan said.
"How's Elena adjusting to her vampire life?" Rebecca asked, sauntering in.
"Rebecca," Elijah warned.
"What?" Rebecca asked innocently, "I'm genuinely curious."
"What do you want?" Damon asked.
"How are you alive?" Elijah asked.
"I watched my brother's body burn to ash," Rebecca said, "So don't try lying."
"Beats me," Damon said, "Guess we're just that lucky."
"Maybe you won't be so lucky," Rebecca said, "You know new vampires are quite vulnerable."
"I think she'll be pretty safe," Bella said, walking in completely composed.
"Who are you?" Rebecca asked.
"Someone you don't want to cross," Bella replied, "But you can call me Bella."
"Another human in on your secret." Rebecca scoffed.
Bella smiled before she then waved her hand, causing Rebecca to be thrown into the wall.
"Not really human," Bella replied and lifted her hand causing Rebecca to be levitated and then slammed her into the wall pinning her there. "You are in quite the situation."
Elijah tried to move to Bella, but he couldn't.
"Yeah don't try," Bella said, looking at Elijah, "Let's have a little chat shall we. I don't like you…I don't like you in my town and I gotta say, I'm a little pissed at what you've done to my friends."
"When I get down," Rebecca started to say, but stopped as a searing pain coursed through her head.
"Don't interrupt, it's not nice," Bella said, "I'm not like Bonnie, I'm more powerful. I'm a witch that when the spirits tried to take my powers away, I basically told them to go to hell. You've already gotten on my bad side so I suggest you leave my friends alone or you will be joining your brother."
"Only the white oak can kill us," Rebecca hissed.
"Hey," Bella said, "I was told I couldn't fight the spirits, but I did. It may take me a few tries, but I'll find another way to kill you. Now granted you'll probably be really disfigured, but hey you'll be dead eventually so it won't matter. Are you clear on my terms and conditions?"
"Yes," Elijah said.
"You're obviously the smart one in the family," Bella said and released Elijah. "Better control your sister…a shock collar might be a good start."
Bella released Rebecca who tried to come at her, but Elijah stopped her.
"Pick your battles sister," Elijah said.
"Listen to him," Bella advised, "You won't win right now."
"I'll be seeing you soon," Rebecca said as they started to leave.
"I'm counting on it." Bella called as the door shut. "You guys are such asses."
"Why?" Stefan asked.
"Because we didn't call her to join in the fun of pissing off people like that," Damon answered.
"How's Elena?" Bella asked.
"Alright, I picked her up some blood bags." Stefan replied before he eyed her arm, "I see you healed up." Stefan's eyes went wide, "Bella…"
"Don't even ask," Bella warned, "I'm not in the mood."
Stefan quickly shut up and mumbled about heading back over to Elena's, leaving Damon and Bella alone once again.
"Bella," Damon said.
"It's alright," Bella said, shaking her head, "You're sorry, we're cool."
"No we aren't," Damon said, "Don't lie to me, but especially don't lie to yourself."
"What do you want me to say Damon?" Bella asked.
"That you're willing to try and build what we had back up," Damon said. "I messed up and you know I don't admit that to anyone, but I can't stand you feeling like you do. I'm selfish and I want us to be how we were…I need you Bella. I know it will take some time, just tell me you'll try to forgive me."
"You hurt me," Bella said, "More than anyone."
"I know," Damon said, "I should of trusted you, but I was too blind to do it."
"We'll see," Bella said.
"I knew I'd wear you down," Damon said while smirking.
"Shut up Salvatore," Bella replied, punching him, "You aren't off the hook."
"It's a start though," Damon said.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Damon cooked them dinner (his famous spaghetti) and they caught up on what had happened in the last year.
"You shouldn't have fallen for him," Damon said as they ate.
"As if you're any better," Bella said, "At least I don't make the same mistake twice."
"At least I don't nearly die," Damon said.
"That's because you're already died once." Bella countered.
Damon was quiet for a minute, "Okay I'll give you that one," Damon said. "So imprinting huh."
"Please don't," Bella said, "That is probably the biggest issue of it all."
"It's cute," Damon said, "He's the little puppy dog humping your leg."
"Shut up," Bella said, "You are unbelievable."
"Oh come on, tell me you weren't thinking it too," Damon said and when Bella didn't answer he laughed, "I knew it."
"I care about Jake, but us being together was bad for two reasons…A) I didn't feel that way for him and B) it wasn't fair."
"Life isn't fair," Damon commented.
"Yeah, but I'd rather not make it more complicated." Bella replied.
"You're a badass witch, I'm a vampire, Elena looks like my ex-girlfriend…how is that, mixed in with everything else, not complicated?" Damon asked.
"Doesn't count," Bella said, "I knew about the whole witch thing and vampires being real way before I met you. Elena is one of my oldest friends so it's a matter of how much time has passed. Besides being a witch, the issues going on here are just part of the territory since your issues involve magic."
"You're logic is really messed up at times." Damon said.
"So is your moral compass, but hey I'm not making any judgments." Bella replied.
"What about our fights?" Damon questioned.
Bella rolled her eyes, "I was stating facts not making judgements." Bella answered.
Damon sat there glaring at Bella, "You only win because of a technicality."
"Doesn't matter," Bella said, "You always said winning is winning no matter what it's based on. One of the few bits of reasonable and usable knowledge you gave me."
"Hey I educated you on a lot of things." Damon defended.
"Sorry, but picking-up-bimbos-101 wasn't a class I ever needed." Bella said laughing.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Damon said coyly.
"Oh please, every time we went out you were always on the prowl and telling me how to spot the easy ones," Bella said.
"I wanted you to be my wingman," Damon defended, "Women are always better than guys."
"I'm so glad you finally admitted that women are the superior gender," Bella said, grinning widely.
"I didn't say that, I meant that in that instance that women are better than men." Damon corrected.
"Sure," Bella said, nodding her head. "I'll keep your little secret." Bella laughed, "Damon Salvatore, you are the biggest heartbreaker this world has ever known."
"Some hearts shouldn't get broken," Damon said softly.
"You're right," Bella said before she quickly added, "You know it's all your fault I fell for a Cold One."
"What?" Damon asked surprised, "How?"
"I was angry at you and you were always telling me how stupid it was to get involved with Cold Ones. So when I saw them, I just thought maybe if one day you saw me with them it would be the biggest FU I could do to you." Bella said.
"Got more than you bargained for though didn't you?" Damon said.
"I didn't expect to fall for him." Bella admitted, "So guess you win that one."
"Wasn't one of the fights I wanted to win," Damon said.
Bella glanced up at the clock and sighed, "It's late, I need to get home."
"Oh come on," Damon whined, "We used to stay up to all hours of the night and we had so much fun."
"I still have a house to unpack," Bella said.
"I'll help," Damon replied.
Bella smirked, "You know I would have taken that offer, but seeing as how you healed my arm I don't need any help." Bella said and Damon got a deer in headlights look on his face, "Guess you screwed yourself on that one Damon. Thanks for the dinner, it was good."
"How are you going to get home?" Damon asked.
Bella pulled out a set of keys, "I know my car is in the garage…you didn't think I had lost the ability to anticipate you did you?"
Bella walked out of the kitchen, leaving a stunned Damon still sitting at the table.
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed the chapter don't worry Bella hasn't fully forgiven Damon she just needed to break and admit some things.
Thank you to my beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for the amazing work she does. You guys this girl is such a good friend she has created a master list over on live journal for me complete with links to outfits, bookcovers, etc… Here's the link:
Just look on the left hand side click on Emeraldphoenix23 FFN Master list and you will find everything on my stories. I owe her so much for doing this.
Some bad news you guys I went to my first day of classes and I have this semester cut out for me. I already have five assignments due next week and that's only in TWO of my classes. I hope you guys will understand that my updating might be a bit of a wait. This is my last semester and I have to make the grades to graduate. I am going to try my best to keep up with my writing, but school comes first. I hope you guys will stick by me even if the updates are sometimes long waits.
Review you guys! I'd love to hear your thoughts.