"But if you didn't believe in monsters, then how were you going to be able to keep safe from them?" Holly Black

"I'm sick of Bonnie's shit. If she doesn't want to hang out with us fine," I ranted, "but she can at least stop making bullshit excuses and pretending she's busy when she's always running off with Stefan and Elena."

Olivia stopped sucking on her Popsicle, tilting her head, "You're reading too much into things." Then continued to search for a movie to watch. Apparently it's hard to find a movie she's in the mood for.

I rolled my eyes, "she blew us off for Caroline."

"It was her birthday," Olivia reminded me, "and we don't know Caroline that well." She grabbed the VHS tape of the mummy, and popped it into the vhs player.

"She could have at least told us," I argued, "I would have understood, but no. She just cancels at the last minute. What a dick move." I grabbed a handful of chips to stuff my face with. It was so tiring. It was a wonder I hadn't called her out on her shit. I didn't know how Olivia could defend her.

"Just let it go," she said noting my apprehensive look, "at least for tonight, and enjoy. My mom's still very mad that I drank, but I convinced her that I didn't know the punch was spiked," she tells me grinning. She had told me a few times already. So fucking proud of herself.

I snorted, "such a rebel Olivia. I shouldn't be around you, it might rub off on me."

"Shut up," she giggled as she slid off her bed and fell down next to me. Our knees banged together as she adjusted herself. The movie was starting. I loved this movie. When I was younger I imagined myself to be Rick, or Evelyn, depending on my mood. I wanted to get into terribly exciting adventures.

We snacked our way through a bag of chips and soda, adding commentary.

"I honestly got contacts so that i'd never lose my glasses and get killed," Olivia mused, "I mean, that would be such a dumb way to die."

"That would suck," I said, "luckily I have twenty twenty vision." She threw a chip at me.

"I really do love this movie," I said as the credits rolled. "Now dance with me," I grinned.

Olivia smiled, "at least let me put some music on." She got up and put her ipod on shuffle. We swayed our way through solomon burke all the way to kesha, doing our best to look like all the nerd from the john hughes movies.

"I love dancing," I told her, spinning until I fell over and clutched the the floor, trying to hold on as I felt the room spinning around me. It felt awful. I laughed, "you are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen." I burst into another round of laughter. Olivia shook her head, scrambling for her ipod to put Abba on.

"My dream is to go to the ABBA museum in Sweden," Olivia confessed. "Live it up in the most ridiculous decade." She made the obligatory disco dance move.

"Less talking, more dancing," I said attempting to recreate the scene from mamma mia. We jumped on her bed, singing through our laughter til our sides ached.

After convincing Olivia I would be fine walking home, I left still grinning from the night. It was late, but I didn't mind it. I had been out late in a city before, and that had probably been more dangerous than a small town. What was the worst that could happen to me? I also hated to make Junel come down and get me. She was probably tired as hell, and needed to rest.

She would be pissed that I hadn't called her, going on about how she was failing my mom, but that wasn't true. We took care of each other. I'd just lie to her later and tell her that Olivia had given me a ride, and avoid the whole thing.

I walked across a silent town, the only light was that of lampposts. it was really nice, to be the only one awake at this hour. It was peacefully quiet. Then I looked down an alley.

A brown haired man was standing, holding a woman up. I would have shrugged it off as two drunk lovers if it hadn't looked so wrong. His mouth was on her neck, and there was blood staining his chin. The lady seemed to be passed out. And there was blood on his chin.

My whole body seemed to shut down, unable to process anything but the blood. I needed to move. I needed to get out of here. But my eyes were glued on the pair, transfixed, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

As a scream started to build its way out of my mouth, the man open his eyes and looked over at me. I needed to leave right now. But his gaze held me in place as he casually dropped the woman on the ground and smirked. She didn't move. I needed to move. The man didn't move, watching me with curiosity. He wanted to see what I'd do.

Think, Brett, think.

I closed my eyes, holding back the waves of panic threatening to shut me down. I wanted to lay down and sleep. This wasn't real. I was just tired. i didn't want to think of where my brain was leading me. Those things, they were just the stuff of books and movies.

When I opened them again, he was in front of me, chuckling at me. I wanted to smack him. I settled for reaching my hand out at him, wanting to know if he was real, but gripping for the knife in my keys as well.

"Darling," he said tsking, his smirk growing wider, as he stopped my hand. Pain shot threw my wrist.

i slammed the knife in my hand, aiming for anything really. He clearly wasn't expecting it, and I didn't stick around to see if I had struck anything. I ran, feeling battery acid run through my veins. I didn't think. I had to get home. Don't cry. Not here. Not yet. Hold it together.

Something slammed into me, knocking the wind from my chest.

"So she bites," the man said. No, man was wrong. He was still young, college aged, and devastatingly handsome. He still had blood on his mouth. "I would tell you not to be scared, but well," he said clearly amusing himself, "that would be a lie."

I wondered where my keys had gone. I needed them to get in. I'd rather not start breaking into my own house. This one actually had an alarm.

"Where are my keys" I asked him, careful to keep my voice steady, and hoping he would forget that he wanted to kill- don't think about that. Focus on getting home.

"That's a first," he replied. "It's usually more along the lines of 'don't kill me' but your last words, not mine." He shrugged, "but then you did try to stab me with a tiny blade. Not very smart darling. I'm assuming you're one of the few people left in this godforsaken town unaware of this town's secret."

"I need my keys asshole."

He chuckled, features lighting up with amusement.

I should probably get up, I thought. There was no use in staying where I had fallen. My movements were slow, as the adrenaline cooled, making me aware of the stinging pain. I'd have bruises tomorrow.

"That's not very nice."

He was mocking me.

I scowled, "if you're not going to kill me then give me back my keys." And I clearly had a death wish.

"But we've just started to have fun," he replied, stroking my cheek with the back of his hand, smearing blood on my skin. I flinched. I was going to die here, and all because I hadn't accepted a ride. I wasn't even drunk.

In keeping up with my death wish, I reached to wipe the blood off his mouth, studying the drying substance, mesmerized. I held my breathe, not daring to move, before making myself hold his gaze. His amusement was clear in his eyes. "What's your name darling?"

"My keys," I said cocking my eyebrow.

"Not a very fair trade," he said pouting, "but I am still hungry. Decades spent in a coffin will do that to a man."

I swallowed back the fear, cold blooming across my skin. I outstretched my hand, "keys first."

He smiled sheepishly, "you certainly drive a hard bargain maiden." Then he dropped the keys into my hand.

I took a step back, shoving the keys into my bag, before tilting my neck back and exposing my neck. Vampire, I couldn't help but think. A chill ran down my spine as he closed the distance between us, his hand held the side of my head, before craning down to bite me. My breathe hitched as his fangs sunk into my skin.

I was so stupid. And now I was going to die. I clenched my teeth, squeezing my eyes shut. At least I wouldn't feel any pain. I would pass out from the blood loss before that happened. It would be like going to sleep.

I started trying to shove him off me, clawing at his face, but he was still as stone, and my bones felt brittle. I whimpered, the reality of my imminent death. I didn't want to die. I wanted to get drunk at prom. I wanted Junel to see me graduate. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

He let me go, wiping the blood his lips.

Relief filled my body.

"Kol Mikealson," he said, grinning. He was all mania now, the smug bastard.

I backed away.

"Now don't get all timid on me now," he sighed, cupping my face with his hands. "What's your name," his tone void of all playfulness.

"Brett," I uttered.

He nodded, "forget all this until you see me again. Go home, Brett, and I wouldn't blame you if you dreamed of me. Oh and, don't go to the ball tomorrow."

I blinked and- I couldn't remember.

It was almost two in the morning when I got home. I took a shower after staring at my reflection in the mirror. There was dried blood on my cheek. It wasn't mine. I knew that much. I just didn't know how. There was blood on my neck. The start of a bruise bloomed on my upper arm. I was a mess and I didn't know why.

I took a shower, scrubbing hard at my skin, tears running down my cheeks. I couldn't calm down. Sitting down in the shower, water rinsing my skin. Breathe. Breathe.

Once I felt like I could get up without crying, I got out of the shower, cleaned my wounds and went to sleep. I was out like a light.

thoughts?