Thank you for all the reviews and support!
I hope the whole Kol thing didn't throw too many of you off, but this will pick up immediately :)
Oh, also, none of the songs are mine.
They are popular songs that I'm sure everyone has heard, but we are just going to pretend that Damon wrote them ;) Kay?
Though, some songs might be changed to fit the story better.
I think that's everything, so...
Chris walked down toward the Wolf's Run trail with Tyler and Jeremy.
He'd found them coming out of the Mansion of Illusions, while waiting for Kol or April.
At some point in the darkness, they had all gotten separated, but he figured they couldn't be too far ahead or behind him.
After a few minutes had passed with a no show, Tyler suggested that maybe they had already went down toward the trail, and Chris agreed.
That's where they had decided to meet up, after all.
They'd passed Madison, Amber, and Vickie on the way to the Fortune Teller, and they mentioned seeing April and Kol entering the trial.
Chris idly wondered why they didn't wait for him, but shrugged it off.
It was a big park, and they were all free to run around with whoever they wanted.
Still, he didn't like the feeling he was getting.
Kol was a stupid drunk, and April shouldn't have to babysit him.
They came up to the gate, and Chris instructed Jeremy to wait at the exit, just in case Kol or April showed up from there.
He and Tyler continued through the gate.
He had yet to go through this field, but luckily, Tyler had.
"It's just a giant circle," he pointed out, "It loops around, back over there. So we just follow the path through the wheat field, then through these little shacks, and across this open area."
"It doesn't look like much is out here," Chris granted.
Tyler shrugged, "There's a few "werewolves" that chase you, but that's about it. Don't run and they don't chase. It wasn't really that scary. I think it's more for the kid friendly thing."
"Ah," Chris nodded, "Well, at least that explains why it's kinda empty."
Tyler made a noise of agreement as they started down the path.
Halfway through the wheat field, Chris could hear something following them, and noted a group that had come in behind them were already screaming.
He rolled his eyes.
Someone ran past him then, followed by a few others, and he finally turned.
Almost directly in the path they'd come from, stood a tall wolf figure, snarling.
He rose a brow, before turning back to Tyler.
Admittedly, it did give him the chills, but he was more concerned with finding April than worrying about some fake threat.
And that's when he heard it.
A faint screaming, coming from the distance...and his name.
Tyler shot him a look, and he knew he'd heard it too.
Chris started running then, cutting through the wheat, toward the noise, "April?"
Her following scream seemed disgruntled, almost cut off, and he pushed further, until he came out into a clearing.
Looking around sharply, he couldn't make out anything in the dark.
Then Tyler called to him, "Over there!"
Chris squinted, and could make out some vague shapes, and took off in that direction.
April screamed as her back hit the ground.
Kol's body was hard over her, and no matter how much she thrashed, he out muscled her.
She bit down on the hand he had over her mouth, and when he pulled back, she screamed out Chris's name again, this time, more desperately.
"Shut up," Kol growled, grabbing at her arms, that were still swinging.
With effort, he held them above her head.
She brought her knee up, connecting with his groin, and he let her go for a second.
But she was getting the impression that alcohol had numbed him to whatever pain she was inflicting, because he was hardly reacting to anything else she tried.
She tried to get back up, but his arms enclosed around her waist, as he fought to get her back under his control.
She screamed again, as loud as she could, praying someone would notice them.
Anyone.
Kol's hand came back around her mouth, "I said be quiet," he commanded, doing his best to work her dress up with one hand.
She thrashed against him, doing everything to keep him from actually touching her there.
God, she never thought she'd ever be in this situation.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and his hand over her mouth was making it hard to breath.
She felt crowded and overwhelmed, as if she would pass out any second.
Then Kol was off of her.
The sky above her spun a little, and it took a second for her to realize that someone was leaning over her, and talking.
"April? Hey, are you okay? Look, at me baby, please. April!"
She blinked, focusing on a pair of blue eyes, "Chris?"
Relief colored his features, as he pulled her into his arms, "You're okay," he promised, "You're okay, now."
She took another shaky breath, and looked over his shoulder.
Tyler was holding Kol against the tree, having easily overpowered him.
She pushed Chris back so she could stand, and he helped her to her swallowed, "I didn't think anyone would hear me..."
Chris had her back in his arms immediately, "I'm so sorry, baby."
She shook her head, "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come out here all alone-" she shook her head, "He's drunk."
"I know," Chris assured her, before turning back to Kol.
April felt a chill at the glint in his eye, and reached for his arm when he took a step toward the other boy.
He glanced back at her and she felt unsteady, "Can we just go, please Chris?"
Chris hesitated, threw Kol another look, sighed, then nodded, "If that's what you want, then of course...Ty, you got this?"
Tyler nodded, "Yeah, I'm good. Ya'll go ahead."
Chris thanked him, before wrapping an arm around April, and walking her back toward the pathway.
She tightened her arm on him, afraid that he'd turn around and do something bad.
"He deserves it," Chris spat, as if reading her mind.
She swallowed, "I know...but you don't need to get in trouble too. It's not worth that."
Chris pulled her to a stop, "The hell it isn't. Drunk or not, it was pretty clear what he planned on doing. And as soon as his ass is sober, I'm going to give him the beating of his life."
April bit her lip, "Chris, please, don't...we'll talk to Liz or something...let her handle this. You can't get in trouble again."
He eyed her, and sighed, "I can't just let him get away with doing that to you either. The cops will give him a slap on the wrist and let him go. What if he does it again? What if I can't get there, next time?!"
April flinched a little at his rising voice, "I don't know," she swallowed.
"Dammit," he whispered, before pulling her against him, "I'm sorry baby. I'm not trying to take this out on you."
April still felt shaky, but at least with Chris holding her, she didn't feel like she was about to fall apart.
"Do you want to leave?" he asked after a moment.
She nodded, "Yes...let's go back to the Fall Festival. I'd rather be around you and other people I know, in a crowd."
He nodded, "Okay, let's go."
Chris could barely control the rage in his chest.
Kol.
One of his best friends since grade school, had actually tried to...
He swallowed, trying not to imagine how it could have gone, if he didn't get there in time.
He kissed the top of April's head, as they made their way to the car.
Luckily, the staff seemed to realize that April had been upset, and let them through the entrance gate of the trail, where they easily located Jeremy.
Chris gave him a clip notes version of the story, and asked him to go help Tyler.
After, he'd texted Vickie, Kyle, and Lauren, telling them to gather the others and meet them at the front of the park.
It only took ten minutes for everyone to show up, including Tyler and Jeremy, who seemed to be dragging a passed out Kol.
April tensed, and Chris rubbed her arm.
That's when he noticed the blood coming from Kol's nose.
He looked up at Tyler, who gave him a confirming nod, and couldn't stop the smirk that jumped to his face.
Kol wasn't passed out. He was knocked out.
Jeremy was also looking down him in disgust, and Chris held a renewed respect for the two.
"I thought we were staying until eleven," Vickie started.
Tyler shrugged, "Kol had one too many tonight. So I doubt an hour or two is gonna make much a difference."
"Okay," Kyle nodded, "So where's everyone going?"
"We still have a bit before we need to be anywhere," Chris stated, "So, Jeremy, if you can take Kol, ride with Vickie, dump him off on his doorstep, then we can all go check out what's left of the Fall Festival?"
Jeremy nodded, "Works for me."
The other girls seemed to agree too.
Madison grinned, "That's perfect, actually. Because you guys will never guess who made a guest appearance!"
Lauren raised a brow, "Who?"
"Damon Salvatore," Madison rushed, "My sister texted me, said he was going to perform tonight!"
"Awesome!" Briana jumped in, "We saw him a few days ago...apparently he's back in town."
Madison nodded, "I'd heard that...isn't he related to you, Chris?"
Chris sighed, "Yes, he is...can we go now?"
He was surprised to hear about Damon performing, but at the moment, he was more concerned with April then listening to the others fan-girl about his dad.
"Yeah, we can go," Tyler nodded, pulling his keys out.
"Thank you," Chris huffed, keeping a hand on his girlfriend as they all walked the rest of the way to the cars, Kyle stepping up to help Jeremy grab Kol's unconscious form.
Elena was beyond impressed.
Damon had stepped onto the stage, and people had actually screamed with excitement.
She stood off to the left of the stage, Stefan beside her, as they watched the performance.
The song wasn't one that she recognized, something loud, with a fast beat, but the crowd that had gathered sang along, and Damon's voice was as perfect as ever.
She couldn't wipe the smile off of her face as she looked up at him.
It was no surprise that he'd had so much success.
One look at his face, the relaxed ease and happiness there, and you just knew that Damon was born to be on a stage.
"I'd forgotten how good he sounded in person," Stefan told her in her ear, over the music.
She grinned, nodding, "He's amazing."
Caroline rushed over to them then, speaking loudly to be heard, "Oh my God! This is incredible! Look at how excited everyone got!"
Elena gave her friend a smile, "You did great, Care!"
The blond grinned, then wrapped her arms around her husband's waist, "Everything's perfect now!"
Stefan smiled, kissing her head, "I told you it would work out."
"Shh," she commanded, looking back at the stage.
Elena chuckled, and they all focused on Damon, happy and enjoying the night, as he introduced his next song.
"Okay guys, we're gonna slow it down for this one," Damon adjusted the guitar, then started playing a softer note, his eyes looking up, to find Elena's.
"You wiped the lipstick from your mouth.
Took your momma's diamond earrings out.
Laid your dress out on the bed,
Laid your head on my chest...
Remember we said we were gonna live forever.
And we would paint over the writing on the wall.
We chase that sunset till we're blind,
Then wake up to find
We are only human after all
We are only human after all."
Elena swallowed, the waves of emotion that only Damon could bring, poured out of her, and she felt her eyes fill with tears.
They had lost so much back then, and she remembered the first time she'd heard this song on the radio.
She'd been home, alone, luckily, cleaning, and it had come on.
She had cried then too, sitting on the floor for at least an hour, holding on to what could have been.
Chris had been seven at the time, and had just started getting curious about why his daddy wasn't around.
It had been hard for her, all alone.
"If I'd known that it would end
I would've paid a little more attention.
Memorized every look and touch,
Every fragment of us...
Remember we said we were gonna live forever.
And we would paint over the writing on the wall.
We chase that sunset till we're blind,
Then wake up to find
We are only human after all
We are only human after all.
Starin' out across the lake,
That horizon's turnin' red and grey.
Watch the waves as the fall and rise,
Like our dreams, like our lives..."
Elena closed her eyes.
Even though he'd written the words a long time ago, they were still true.
Things were constantly changing, especially for them.
Maybe this time, it would finally work out.
"Remember we said we were gonna live forever.
And we would paint over the writing on the wall.
We chase that sunset till we're blind,
Then wake up to find
We are only human after all
We are only human after all."
Chris held April's hand as they walked into the square about half an hour afterwards.
It seemed emptier than before, probably because it had gotten later...or because most of the crowd seemed to be around the stage.
He could hear Damon's voice echoing out through the speakers, and could make out some of the words being sang, as they got closer.
"I told myself I won't miss you
But I remember
What it feels like beside you
I really miss your hair in my face
And the way your innocence tastes
And I think you should know this
You deserve much better than me
The bed I'm lying in is getting colder
Wish I never would've said it's over
And I can't pretend... I won't think about you when I'm older
Cause we never really had our closure
This can't be the end
I really miss your hair in my face
And the way your innocence tastes
And I think you should know this
You deserve much better than me"
Chris had the feeling that these words were a little personal, and when he followed Damon's line of sight, and landed right on his mother, he knew he was right.
He was singing to her.
And the way his mother's eyes streaked with tears led him to believe that Damon was using the music to convey fifteen years of unspoken words to her.
He smiled a little, admiring the fact that even after all this time, they somehow managed to find their way back to each other.
He looked down at April, and kissed her head, "I love you."
She looked up at him, and smiled, "I love you too."
He wanted to ask her if she was okay, but each time he tried to bring it up, she changed the subject, so he figured that she might just be wanting to forget about it for tonight.
He could allow her that.
And he would make sure she had a good time.
"Come on," he pulled her arm, "There's a Ferris Wheel over there, and not many people seem to be on the rides, so no line."
She smiled, "Okay."
They walked over to it, and saw the man running the machine, sitting next to the box, allowing the last of the riders to get off.
Chris recognized him.
"Uh, Chris," April noted, "We don't have any tickets."
He shrugged, "It'll be fine."
She shot him a look, and he smiled, "Just trust me."
She nodded, and he brought her up to the short line.
Being a Founding Family member did have its perks occasionally.
"Chris," the man greeted as they walked up.
"Mr. Fell," Chris smiled, pouring on the charm, "How are you, Sir?"
"Can't complain," the man smiled kindly, "Who's this?"
Chris motioned to April, "April Young, my girlfriend."
"Young?" the man questioned, "As in Pastor Young?"
April nodded, smiling, "My father."
"Ah," he gave a nod, "Well, you two having fun tonight?"
Chris answered before April could flinch, "Yes sir, just been enjoying the music."
Mr. Fell looked over toward the stage area, "I think they whole town is, Son. Though I've been meaning to ask around, did I hear right? Damon's playing?"
"That's right," Chris nodded, "He's back in town."
Mr. Fell stared at him for a moment, "I'm sure you're family is thrilled."
Chris nodded, "They are."
"And you're mama?"
"She's happy as well," Chris assured him, "Things are working out great."
"Good to hear," Mr. Fell smiled, "So you two wanting a ride?"
Chris grinned, "Yes sir...but we don't have anymore tickets, unfortunately."
The man shrugged, "Consider it a late birthday present."
Chris winked at April, "Thank you, Sir."
Mr. Fell let them on, and closed the bar over their laps.
A few other couples had gathered as they'd talked, so he started moving the machine, letting them on as well.
"Told you," Chris smirked.
April shook her head, "This town is too small."
Chris laughed, "Hey, I'm not gonna complain about a free ride."
She smiled, snuggling into him, "Me either."
Chris wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and settled into his seat, as they rose to the top.
The view wasn't special or wondrous in any particular way, but it still caught his breath.
The whole of his town was lit under them, his home.
His father's voice echoed through the air, and the love of his young life sat by his side.
Despite the events that may have soured the night, he felt content, and normal.
He felt at peace.
So? What did you think?
I know this whole Halloween night is dragging out, but I don't mind if you guys don't ;)
Things are gonna wrap up soon though, and after that, it should speed up and get more on the original plotline I had.
Hope ya'll liked!