Chapter Five


Caroline let her legs move in the water causing it to ripple against her skin. Sighing, Caroline let a hand go through her hair before gripping at the sides of the dock. She could smell and hear everything around her and at that moment, Caroline felt relief. Freedom.

"This is nice," Caroline sighed out, closing her eyes shut before all the stress and thoughts that clouded her mind seemed to vanish instantly.

"I know," Elena sighed out as well, nudging her friend playfully in the shoulder before bringing her feet out from the water. She loved how quiet the place got near the water. It was so peaceful.

"I can see why you come here," Caroline stated, opening one eye so that she could look over the brunette that sat next to her, "It's where all thoughts just seem to disappear, you feel—"

"Free?" Elena interrupted, grinning when Caroline seemed to nod at her.

"So you never really told me what was bothering you," Caroline said, shifting herself away from the water before putting her attention on Elena again. Caroline's brows furrowed when the brunette seemed to shake her head at her.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Elena—"

"It's nothing," Elena said, "It's nothing."

Caroline's eyes narrowed at the sight of the woman smile reassuringly at her. About to protest, Caroline froze when Elena spoke up, "What about you? Something's been bothering you too Care."

"I'm fine," Caroline said, letting a hand play through her hair again.

"Caroline—"

"It's not important," Caroline interrupted, smiling at the brunette.

Elena could see right through it. She knew something was wrong with her friend and she knew it was something to do with the dreams that Caroline had spoken about before. The blonde seemed exhausted and it was visible that things were getting worse. Elena's concern only grew when Caroline seemed to always push the subject aside every time she was to bring it up. She also couldn't forget the sight of half-conscious blonde in Damon's arms a week ago. There was screaming—lots of screams. What was it that had shaken Caroline up so bad?

Caroline and Elena's attention was brought to the door of the Cabin. They watched as three figures walked out from the place, and both of the women stiffened at the sight of two figures especially.

Caroline's eyes found Damon.

Elena's eyes found Alex.

Elena watched as the blonde man seemed to grin at her before slowly following Stefan to the woods. Elena couldn't help but let relief stroke her body at the sight of the two make their way away from the Cabin. They were probably out to check on Jeremy and Samantha again.

Caroline's eyes found Damon who looked over at her and her eyes softened when he instantly turned his gaze away from her. She could see the muscles work in his jaw as his hands form fists before walking into the opposite direction. He seemed to disappear into the woods as well and Caroline eyes softened instantly. This was because of what happened a week ago when Caroline had partially fainted in front of the oblivious Salvatore.

(**********)

"Oh my god," Elena breathed out in shock, her hands finding her mouth when Alex and Stefan brushed past her quickly and through the door. She watched her blonde friend being lifted up in Damon's arms, her pale features observed by everyone in the room.

There had been screaming—so much screaming.

Now Caroline was unconscious and gently placing on the bed, Damon's hard eyes never leaving her, his hands in the lifeless blonde's. He didn't let go. He didn't dare let go.

Alex watched his best friend before him, his eyes roaming her form. He didn't know what to feel. He had heard screaming. Screaming.

Stefan hardened at the unconscious blonde and then at the sight of his older brother. Damon's expression was blank and cold. Stefan had heard screaming, lot and lots of screaming. Now he was tense and cold.

Caroline could feel and hear her surrounding again. She knew it had been a long while since she had pasted out from the empty room. She looked over at Damon whose hand was still in hers but other than him, no one else was in the room. They must have left the older Salvatore alone with her.

"Damon?"

It was difficult to get out his name. Her throat was tightening.

She watched as his head shot up at her instantly. His jaw clenching and then loosening at the sight of her eyes staring into his. "Caroline," he breathed out before she watched him sigh in relief.

She smiled at his worried form.

"What happened to you?" Damon asked, his voice begging. He was begging her to tell him. He wanted to know what she had been hiding from him for so long and he couldn't take it anymore. He was losing his patience with the blonde that had scared him half to death with her passing out and screaming.

"Nothing," Caroline whispered out, eyes drifting away from him.

Looking down at his hand in hers, Caroline sighed internally. He was her wall—her shield.

Damon's jaw clenched, his hand tightening in hers. "That wasn't nothing Caroline," Damon voice was getting higher by the minute, his anger and worry getting the best of him. Why couldn't she just tell him?

"I'm fine," Caroline stated softly.

"No," Damon stated, shaking his head, "No. No you're not."

"I am," Caroline assured, smiling gently at the man who seemed to glare at her.

"Caroline tell me the truth," Damon stated, his voice softening, "Just tell me."

"I'm fine," Caroline stated again. Her voice was flat and she could see that Damon was losing his patience with her.

"Why don't you trust me?" Damon asked, his voice cracking slightly when looking back at the blonde.

Caroline's eyes softened, her head shaking rapidly at him. She trusted him. She trusted him with her life. She couldn't have him believe that she didn't trust him. She trusted him.

"Damon—"

"Forget it," Damon muttered, his jaw flexing again when he tried to pull his hand out from hers.

He's my wall.

Caroline gripped at his hand. Her chest starting to heave when she could feel the memories slowly coming back, her hand tightening around his, Caroline asked him to not let go. Just to not let go of her. He was the wall.

She watched as he looked over at her, his lips pursing together when looking back at her begging form. Pulling him towards her, Caroline flushed against him when he seemed to lie down and against her. His form was tense underneath her and Caroline squeezed him in reassurance.

"I'm fine," she muttered before letting her fingers lace between his again.

She slept peacefully after that.

She slept peacefully from his touch.

(**********)

Getting up from her position on the dock, Caroline didn't even think twice on wanting to go and talk to Damon. Excusing herself from Elena, Caroline slowly made her way towards the woods where Damon had pasted through. She needed to find and talk to him.

Maybe she was ready to finally tell him what was going on.

He deserved to know.

-x-

Alex's finger twitched when resting his hand on the open door. His eyes seemed to glance at the pathway that they had just walked from, before staring back at the car that stood hidden in the woods before him. Pursing his lips together, Alex didn't even notice Stefan staring up at him from the driver's seat.

"You coming in?" Stefan asked. He was confused to why Alex stood motionless at the car door.

He watched as the man snapped out of his thoughts and looked into the car.

Alex rolled his eyes at the confused man before huffing in a breath. "Start the car," Alex started, "I'll be right back."

Not even given a chance to question the man, Stefan watched as he had instantly disappeared from view. Sighing, Stefan started at the car and waited for the man to return.

Alex found himself in front of the Cabin in a blink of an eye. His gaze seemed to fall instantly on brunette who seemed to be sitting alone on the dock. Using his speed again, Alex ran towards the woman and grinned when she seemed to jump when he called her name from behind her.

"Hey," he said when her eyes seemed to look up at him.

"What are you still doing here?" she asked, her eyes were wide.

Alex grinned. "Want to come?" he asked. "I'm sure you'd love to see our brother," Alex explained when the woman seemed to look at him, wide eyed.

Elena didn't know what to say. Slowly nodding at him, sudden hope filled her at the mention of finally getting to see her brother. She hadn't seen Jeremy for three months and a week now and Elena couldn't help but let an unknown grin spread across her lips.

"What?"

"You in?" Alex asked, grinning at the sight of the brunette's sudden expression. She seemed so happy and Alex's brows furrowed slightly at the feeling of his stomach flutter.

Nodding almost immediately at the man, Elena completely forgot she was trying to avoid him when she took his hand that he seemed to hold out for her. Standing on her feet now, Elena slipped on her boots before looking back at the man.

"Ready?"

"Don't I get to pack?" Elena asked.

Alex's brows rose. "Nope, Stefan's waiting in the car," he answered, grinning at the sudden excited brunette.

Sighing, Elena nodded before starting to walk past the man. "Lead the way," she stated.

Elena's eyes widened at the feeling of Alex take hold of her hand again. Turning around, Elena glanced down at her hand in his before looking back at his soft expression. He seemed to grin at her and her brows furrowed.

"There's no time for walking," Alex stated, stepping in closer to the brunette. Slowly slipping his free hand around her waist, he laughed when Elena's eyes seemed to widen further. Before she could protest or even speak, Alex and Elena vanished from the dock, his vampire speed taken to advantage when he seemed to pop in front of the car once again, a confused Stefan still waiting in the car.

"We're here," Alex whispered down at Elena who seemed to have her eyes shut. Her hands clutching at his jacket, as she was clinging onto him.

Alex's eyes softened at the sight of her. His breath got caught in his throat when she seemed to finally let go of his jacket and look up at him. Loosening his hold on her, Alex stepped back before looking back at Stefan who seemed to be eyeing the two of them. Alex shifted awkwardly under the blonde man's gaze.

Elena seemed to notice it too and she couldn't help but blush when Stefan seemed to grin at the both of them. His gaze constantly looking between both of the awkward individuals making it slowly to the car; Elena sat at the back, Alex sat up front. Stefan's grin grew when Alex had opened the door for the blushing brunette.

Watching the surprisingly quiet man sit next to him, Stefan glanced at him and watched as Alex looked back at him. He laughed when Alex seemed to shove him with his hand before looking back in front of them and out the window. Smiling, Stefan looked back up as well.

"Let's go then," Stefan stated sighing before finally moving the car.

-x-

"So that's why we're here," Jeremy finished, glancing at the girl that sat closely beside him on the bed.

Days had pasted and Jeremy found Samantha start to get more and more comfortable with him as time went by. Although she hadn't got all of her memory back yet, she claimed to have started to remember bits and pieces of her very first birthday and how her parents had thrown her a surprise princess party with all of her little kindergarten friends. Jeremy couldn't help but stare when she told him this, completely excited that she would be able to remember her life again. But then again, that's when Samantha would figure out that she had worked with Klaus, only to betray him and help save Caroline. She would also remember why she was actually here with him and not because of some lie he had just told her. She would finally realize that Jeremy wasn't her boyfriend. He was just a guy told to watch out for her oblivious form so that Klaus couldn't get to her. In order to protect her from the Original, Jeremy had to pretend to be stuck in this half-empty house by claiming that before she had lost her memory, as boyfriend and girlfriend, they were going to move out together after graduating. He knew it was a phony lie, but it seemed to have worked for the brunette and he couldn't help but sigh in relief when she didn't ask him any more questions on old family photos or where her family was at. She had asked once but Jeremy had just convinced her that they had gone out of the country on a business trip. He had lied to her a lot these past few days and he couldn't help feel unsettled towards it all.

"Can I ask you something?" Samantha asked, causing Jeremy to snap out his sudden daze. Looking over at the girl that seemed to move in even closer to his side, Jeremy eyed her curious form before smiling and nodding at her.

Jeremy watched as the woman beside him took hold of his hand that was lying on his lap. Looking up at her, Jeremy watched her smile at him.

"How'd we meet?"

Jeremy swallowed hard.

"Uh—um, it was at a party… everyone seemed to be celebrating the football team's victory that year," Jeremy started, "I knew about three or four people there, but the party was a crap-fest. I remember sitting around and feeling sorry for myself, but then I saw you across the room looking just as bored as me and I knew we'd get along just fine."

Jeremy smiled when Samantha seemed to laugh at that. He couldn't help but feel bad towards the fact that all of it was a lie. Everything he was telling her was a lie. A big fat lie.

"How'd you ask me out?" Samantha asked, now simply smiling warmly at him.

Jeremy's brows rose at that, his eyes shooting to the woman beside him, it took a moment for him to collect his thought. "You asked me out," he lied, huffing in a breath when the woman's eyes widened slightly.

"Really?"

Nodding tightly at the brunette, Jeremy struggled with his thoughts before coming up with something to say, "Y-Yeah, I was always the awkward type when it came to—" Jeremy stopped mid-sentence at the sight of the girl bite her lower lip at him. He knew she probably wasn't noticing her actions, but he noticed. He noticed. "Girls," Jeremy finished, his voice rising in pitch a bit when his throat seemed to tighten at the incredibly hot brunette before him.

Almost as if she noticed his nervous form, Jeremy watched as she grinned at him before moving in closer to him, her knees now pressed against the side of his leg, while her shoulder seemed to brush against his. Jeremy smiled tightly at the girl, trying to compose himself to the best of his ability.

"Tell me more," she began softly, "About us."

Jeremy's lips pursed together before he forced a small chuckle out of himself. "What would you want to know?" Jeremy asked before looking back at the brunette, his eyes searching hers when she suddenly started to blush, hesitating with the next question. He watched her shrug at him and he grinned. "You could always ask another time," he reassured, smiling when the brunette seemed to nod at him gently.

Mentally debating with himself, it didn't take Jeremy too long when deciding on leaning his head further into the brunette. He watched as her eyes widened instantly and he swallowed hard before leaning in further. Sighing, Jeremy knew she could feel his breath at her cheek by the way she seemed to visibly shiver. Letting his lips press against the side of her cheek, Jeremy's lips twitched at her flesh awkwardly before he slowly pulled away from her again.

"Since I don't remember anything, does that make this my first kiss?" Samantha asked softly, eyes studying Jeremy who seemed to look over at her with the softest expression. She sighed when he seemed to lean into her again, his lips finding her other cheek this time.

She felt shivers run down her spine at the feeling of Jeremy's lips move at the side of her face. "I should go," he whispered, low and raspy, "you should rest."

Samantha nodded, her cheek hitting his nose briefly before he finally pulled away from her again.

Both felt butterflies.

-x-

Caroline watched Damon who walked before her. He knew that she was right behind him and yet he didn't look back, instead Caroline watched as his form became tenser when walking deeper into the woods.

"Damon?" Caroline called out softly, watching as he suddenly came to a stop.

Caroline bit at lower lip before walking closer to the frozen man. Now behind him, Caroline let her hand travel down his arm and to his fist. She smiled when his form softened instantly at her touch, his fist opening, allowing her fingers to slip through and find their way in between his fingers.

"Damon," Caroline whispered out, a smile bracing at her face when a tingling feeling shot through her hand and arm at his touch. He was the wall.

Walking in front of Damon, Caroline stepped closer into him and watched as his eyes drifted closed, his jaw flexing and flexing.

Letting her free hand cup his face, Caroline let her forehead rest against his, her chest moving fast before she stepped in closer to him. His touch was exhilarating.

"I love you," Caroline breathed out, her nose nuzzling against his.

She watched as he sighed against her mouth, his muscles tightening before he whispered back at her, "I love you."

Caroline grinned. He couldn't stay mad at her and both knew it.

Her brows furrowed when he instantly pulled his forehead away from hers and finally opened his eyes to look at her. His gaze was soft and yet so cold and Caroline frowned when he seemed to step past her, his hand slowly slipping out of hers.

Sighing, Caroline let her eyes shut closed. She had to tell him. He deserved to know. She loved him.

"I've been getting nightmares," Caroline blurted out.

She let her eyes flutter open when she no longer heard Damon's soft footsteps against the muddy ground below them. Turning around slowly, Caroline watched as Damon turned as well. His eyes finding hers again when she continued, "I've been getting dreams ever since the night of the ceremony."

Damon's brows furrowed.

"Well, I thought they were dreams," Caroline started, walking closer towards the man, "they aren't though."

"They're memories," Caroline stated sighing, "They're Rosetta's memories."

Damon eyes widened at that. His mouth gapping open when the woman he loved walked closer and closer towards him. "How's that possible?" he whispered out, his eyes soft.

Caroline shrugged. "I think it was from the spell Samantha casted on me that night," Caroline began, standing in front of Damon now, "the spell wasn't completed but I think some of it worked."

"What?"

Damon's eyes were wide. They were so wide and he couldn't help but gawk at the woman before him.

"I see her sometimes," Caroline started softly, "Rosetta. I see her."

Damon's eyes softened at the blonde's expression. This was obviously hard for her to talk about and Damon composed himself to the best of his ability before listening to her further.

"A week ago I got all her memories in one go," Caroline explained, "It was overwhelming and it hurt."

The screaming…screaming.

"I've seen her with Klaus, I've seen her with her family and friends and I know how she died," Caroline explained further, not wanting to relive the memories of the blonde woman's death. It still shook Caroline up.

"I've witnessed their love," Caroline finished, looking up at Damon who seemed to tense again.

She smiled sweetly at him before explaining his effect on her. He was the wall.

"One thing I don't understand is you," Caroline started, grinning when Damon's brows seemed to furrow at that, "Every time you touch me, all the memories and thoughts disappear. I'm just Caroline Forbes—I'm normal."

Damon eyes softened at that and he watched as the woman stepped closer into him.

"But there's this feeling I get from your touch," Caroline brows furrowed when brushing her fingers against his.

"When a human is turned into a vampire, the emotions are heightened," Caroline explained, "but now, when I touch you, it feels as if my vampire senses are multiplied by hundreds. I feel everything and it feels amazing."

Damon smiled slightly at that. Although this whole situation was completely insane, he couldn't help but smile when the blonde seemed to shiver when brushing her finger against his palm.

"I don't know what any of it means," Caroline finished softly, her orbs pouring into his.

Damon nodded slowly, stepping in closer to the blonde before cupping at her cheeks. She seemed to let out a shaky breath at that and Damon knew it was because of the heightened emotions. He couldn't help but grin when she seemed to whisper out his name.

"We'll figure it out together," Damon reassured softly, letting his thumb feel at her skin causing her to shiver again against him.

Slowly pressing his lips against hers, Damon heard her whimper before kissing back at him.

Caroline didn't know what to feel. Every part of her was tingling and her insides fluttered uncontrollably at his touch, his scent, and his taste.

He was her wall.


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