162 CANDLES.
"You know I find it so odd that Sheriff Forbes wants to talk to you about Vicki Donovan."
"Yeah." Leya replied half-heartedly as she glanced at Daisy from underneath her eyelashes.
"Did you even know Vicki?"
"Not really, I've only met her a couple of times." Leya answered mentally adding, not to mention I watched her die.
"I should get going, the shop's supposed to open in a few I'll drop you off at the station if you want." Daisy said changing the subject as she finished her coffee.
Leya nodded her head slightly, standing she rubbed her sweaty palms against her jeans as she made her way to Daisy's car. Leya was nervous, what was she supposed to say. That Damon Salvatore is a vampire who turned Vicki, and when Vicki attacked Elena, Stefan killed her by plunging a wooden plank into her heart? Yeah that'll go over well, Leya thought rolling her eyes as she walked out the door.
Just as she opened the car door she heard someone call out her name from behind her, she turned around to see Jenna.
"Jenna." Leya greeted pleasantly. She hadn't talked much to the young red haired woman, but their brief occasional run-ins were always enjoyable.
"Where are you going so early?" Jenna questioned with a kind smile.
"The police station. Sheriff Forbes wanted to ask me what I know about Vicki's disappearance." Leya replied.
"That's where we're heading too. Liz thought since Jeremy and Vicki were so close he might know where she went."
Leya nodded her head in understanding, her heart going out to Jeremy who just saw the girl he loved die.
Jenna continued. "Oh, Damn. Forgot my car keys. I'll see you at the police station?"
"Yeah. Bye." Leya called out to Jenna's retreating back as Jeremy stepped out.
"Hey Jeremy!" Leya greeted jogging over. "How are you? No, wait that was a stupid question I know this must be horrible for you but-"
"It's okay. I'm fine." Jeremy said cutting Leya off.
"I'm sorry; I must've heard you wrong. You're what? What about… Vicki?" Leya questioned confused.
"I'll miss her, but it's for the best." Jeremy replied walking off to lean against the car.
Leya watched him eyes wide, eyebrows almost reaching her hairline. He'll miss her, but it's for the best?
"No bloody way." Leya whispered quietly to herself realization hitting her as Elena walked out.
"You had him compelled." She hissed grabbing Elena's arm and dragging her a little ways away.
"I had to do it, Leya." Elena responded defeated. "You didn't know how much he was hurting. Jeremy's already lost so much, I couldn't let him lose anyone else."
"You can't keep what he felt for Vicki repressed. Sooner or later he will find out." Leya said sternly.
"Not if you don't tell him. Please, Leya. He's just a kid, he shouldn't have to go through all this pain." Elena begged.
Leya was about to counter that she couldn't keep him in the dark, when she thought of her own past experiences. She thought of Cedric and how she had always wished she never had to see him die in front of her. Then she thought of Jeremy, who would be devastated and heartbroken if he knew the truth.
"Fine." Leya whispered relenting. "But he will find out, Elena. And when he does I sincerely doubt you'll be his favorite person."
"Thank you." Elena replied relieved. "And I know, but it's for the best. Jeremy deserves to happy."
"Who compelled him?" Leya asked.
"Damon." Elena replied. "I asked Stefan to, but he said he wasn't strong enough."
"Where did Vicki say she was going?" Sheriff Forbes asked Jeremy.
"She didn't." He replied.
"Did she tell her brother where she was going?"
"No, she didn't say anything to me." Matt told the Sheriff. "She told Jeremy to tell me she was leaving town."
"Is there anyone I could talk to who that may know what happened to her prior to leaving town?" She continued her questions.
"Stefan Salvatore and Leya Potter may know." Matt replied. "He came by the house to see her, but she wouldn't talk to him, and Leya's been hanging around Stefan lately."
"Well what was he doing there?" She asked.
"I was trying to help her. I knew that Elena was worried about her brother. He was dating Vicki and she had a drug problem and I tried to help her." Stefan explained.
"Stefan was trying to help Vicki with her drug problem, and since moving here both Stefan and Elena were my first friends, so I thought that maybe I could help out." Leya told the Sheriff.
"So you got involved because Elena asked you to?" Liz asked Stefan.
"I asked Stefan to help. I thought that by helping Vicki, he was helping my brother." Elena responded.
"What was her behavior like those last few days before she left." She asked.
"Up and down. Very sketchy like she was coming down from some major party." Said Matt.
"Any signs of aggression or violence?" She asked.
"Not that I remember." Jeremy said.
"No." Said Stefan.
"No." Said Elena.
"No." Said Leya.
"So you believe Vicki really has left town?" Sheriff Forbes asked all of them separately.
"Yes." Matt said disheartened.
"Yes." Stefan replied convincingly.
"Yes." Elena said uneasy.
"Yes." Leya replied detached.
"I'll miss her, but I think it's for the best." Jeremy replied almost rehearsed due to the compulsion.
Sheriff Forbes let them all go; except Leya.
"Did I break the law in some way?" Leya asked jokingly.
"No." Liz smiled, laughing slightly.
"I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help." Leya began. "I didn't really hang around Vicki much, or speak to her now that I recall."
"It's alright. The reason I asked you to stay was that I had some questions about you. Not many people seem to know a lot about you." Sheriff explained. "Tell me about yourself."
Leya hesitated slightly, forcing a smile onto the face.
"Well, I'm from England, obviously. My parents passed away when I was a baby and my Aunt and Uncle had custody of me but they weren't very nice people, so I decided to move in with my Aunt here. I don't know if you know her but she has a shop called-"
"Daisy's flowers. I know. Your Aunt has some of the most beautiful flowers, but her shop also makes her incredibly busy, don't you feel lonely?" The Sheriff asked curiously.
"Yes. But it's alright, I can take care of myself." She replied confidently and Sheriff Forbes believed her.
"I see. Well I won't keep you any longer." Liz said and bid her goodbye. Leya nodded and walked out.
When Leya reached the parking lot Stefan was leaning against Daisy's car. Daisy had left it to her seeing as Leya had no other way home. She gave him a disapproving look as she walked closer.
"I know, I know. But hear me out, would you rather have Jeremy running through town screaming vampire or have him be happy and get his life back on track." Stefan said as she stopped in front of the driver's seat blocking her way.
Leya didn't say anything because she knew he was right and Stefan knew this too so he smiled triumphantly and Leya wacked him on the arm annoyed but couldn't help but smile.
"How about a ride home?" Stefan asked moving out of the way.
"Why not." Leya said with a smile. "It could be your birthday present."
Leya grinned at Stefan's surprised look as she got in her car. Stefan was in the passenger seconds later as Leya pulled out of her parking spot.
"How did you know?" Stefan asked with a faint smile.
"Intuition." At Stefan's skeptical look she added. "And a bit of snooping."
At dusk the next day Leya was getting ready to go to the Grill where Caroline was hosting a party. When she had dropped Stefan home the other day she met his best friend Lexi and Leya had taken an immediate liking to her, she thought Lexi was a blast.
Leya had stayed well into the night as Lexi, much to Stefan's humiliation told Leya about their escapades on Stefan's many birthdays. Leya had never laughed as hard as she did that night since she moved to Mystic Falls. By the time she should've left, Daisy had called her about thirty time's wondering where she was.
Stefan had stopped by earlier before he went to the party to see if she needed a lift, but Leya declined she had to talk to Elena before she left. Unbeknownst to Stefan, of course. Leya knew Elena was crazy about Stefan, she was just confused and who wouldn't be. Leya thought it would be good for Elena to see Stefan so carefree with Lexi tonight; it might persuade her to change her mind.
She walked out her house locking it behind her and strolled the few feet to Elena's, she leaned against the door frame arms crossed and rang the doorbell. A minute later Elena opened the door.
"Ready to go?" Was all Leya needed to say for Elena to rush to grab her jacket and check her hair and makeup.
The drive to the Grill was silent, nothing really needed to be said. When they arrived Elena went off to watch Stefan playing pool with Lexi while Leya wandered around.
She walked up to bar and was surprised to see Caroline drinking from a shot glass, looking upset. Leya walked up to her and sat on the bar stool.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Caroline replied.
"Caroline." Leya said warningly. Caroline looked at Leya relenting.
"I just got called a shallow, useless waste of space." Caroline said sadly with tears in her eyes.
"What?" Leya asked astonished, then added angrily. "Who said that?"
"Who do you think?" Caroline asked rhetorically picking up a shot glass and downing it. Damon.
"Listen to me, Caroline." Leya said taking the shot glass out of her hand. "You are not a shallow, useless waste of space or anything else Damon might tell you. You are an incredible person, and a great friend. The people, who love you, know how great you are and would never think anything bad about you. Damon's a prat who doesn't know you well enough, so what he's says is completely irrelevant."
"Thanks." Caroline said with a small smile.
"Will you be okay?"
"Maybe. But not tonight." Caroline replied and Leya nodded understandingly rubbing her back consolingly and turned away knowing Caroline wanted to be left alone.
She went to turn and go find Stefan but bumped into someone; Leya clenched her jaw tightly when she saw who it was.
"Well don't you look..." Damon eyed her up and down smirking. "Delicious."
"Stay away from Caroline." Leya instantly sneered.
Damon rolled his eyes amused. "And if I don't? What are you gonna do about it little girl?"
Leya smiled threateningly. "More than you know." She said walking off, leaving Damon stumped.
Leya joined Elena at one of the tables and before they could strike up a conversation Lexi interrupted.
"Ah, the famous Elena. And Leya, wonderful to see you again."
"Towel girl." Elena replied a little sour.
Lexi just shrugged her shoulders. "I've been called worse. Here." She said handing Leya and Elena each a shot glass.
"I didn't know that you guys could drink." Elena commented.
"Oh yeah, it helps curb the cravings. But it also makes for a lot of lushy vamps." Lexi wiggled her eyebrows, making both girls giggle.
"You know, I've never seen Stefan drunk. He always seems so..." Elena trailed off.
"Uptight?" Lexi offered. Elena nodded.
"But not with you." Leya said. Lexi smiled.
"Well that's the benefit for knowing someone for over a hundred years. You can just be yourself." She said.
"Yeah, he can't be himself with me." Elena said, sighing sadly.
"Well not yet. The first step is him telling you. The rest comes with time." Lexi said honestly. She slowly crept her hand toward the shot that Leya had left untouched and swiped it, gulping it down, making the teenage girl shake her head and laugh.
"You seem so sure." Elena said.
"The love of my life was human. He went through, what I imagine you're going through: Denial, anger, etcetera but at the end of the day…. love really did conquer all." She said, compassion filling her voice. Then she glanced at Elena's drink.
"Are you gonna drink that?" She asked.
"Oh, uh go for it." Elena laughed. Lexi obliged and threw, yet another, shot of tequila back.
"Woo!" She was clearly on a buzz and enjoying it.
"I'm scared." Elena admitted. Lexi stopped for a second and looked at her.
"But you're here ... 'cause you crazy about him, I get it okay? I mean what's not to love? Take it from someone who's been around a long time. When it's real, you can't walk away." She said.
"Hey Lexi." Elena called as she started to walk away, Lexi turned around with a smile. "It was really nice meeting you."
Leya sat at the bar sipping on her coke, she might head back home soon. Elena had threw all caution into the wind and started spending the rest of the night with Stefan, because what Lexi had said was right when it's real, you can't walk away. And what she had with Stefan was real, she didn't want to give it up just yet..
That conversation had left Leya feeling exceptionally lonely, and she idly wondered when Ron was going to ask Hermione to marry him. They were so in love when she left that she could admit to being jealous on more than one occasion. Not of the two together, no, she was happy about that. Leya was just jealous of the love they shared.
"What are you?" Damon asked sliding up to Leya breaking her out of her daydream asking the question that had been eating him away all night.
Leya blew out a frustrated breath and told herself to calm down before she did anything stupid. She forced her hand that had started to slowly inch towards her jacket where her wand was concealed and answered.
"A teenage girl, who really wants to kill you right now."
"Oh, and do you always think about killing me?" Damon asked amused.
"It's not a conscious thought really. It's just something that's always there."
Damon laughed, he like getting Leya all wound up and angry, it made for great entertainment. And before he could question her more Lexi arrived.
"Alright, the shots are a bribe. I need you to answer a question." Lexi said putting two shot glasses down. "What are you really doing in Mystic Falls?"
"Have you tried the brittle? Wins awards." Damon said lamely trying to change the subject.
"Cut the crap." Lexi said bluntly.
"Okay." Damon replied drinking one of the shots. "I have a diabolical master plan."
"What is it?" Lexi asked.
"Well if I told you, it would be very diabolical now would it?" He smirked.
Across the other side of the Grill they didn't see Sheriff Forbes walking in with a terrified girl by her side. She looked around at the people and pointed shakily across the room where Damon, Leya and Lexi sat. Once the girl was taken back outside, Sheriff Forbes stalked across the room, a syringe filled with vervain at the ready.
When she reached the trio, she stabbed the needle into the blonde.
"What are you doing?" Leya demanded trying to move forward, but Damon grabbed her from behind, tightening his arm around her waist and pulling her back into his chest.
"Thank you for the vervain. Now if you'll excuse me." Sheriff Forbes motioned for the officers to carry an unconscious Lexi from the room.
"You did this." Leya hissed, ripping herself from Damon's arms, and spinning around to face him. "What have you done?"
"I did what I had to do." He retorted.
She scoffed and turned around and left not wanting to waste another second. She jogged to where Elena and Stefan were by the pool tables.
"Stefan, Sheriff Forbes took Lexi."
"Oh my god." Stefan mumbled as they watched the cops to drag Lexi out of the Grill.
"What is it?" Elena asked confused watching the scene.
Stefan grabbed both of the girls' hands and began pulling them towards the door. It was blocked by the cops.
"Can't go out this way." One of the cops said.
Leya looked at a panicked Stefan.
"The back." She told him. And he let go of their hands and pushed his way through the crowd, Leya and Elena following after him.
They finally made their way through the crowd and found the back exit. The trio heard gun shots and Leya instantly began to run towards where she heard them come from. She looked around the corner to see Lexi closing in on the Sheriff.
Lexi was about to lunge and attack her when Damon stepped in the middle of them forcing a stake through her heart. Leya gasped and Stefan pulled her and Elena back and out of sight.
"Oh my God." Stefan whispered pained.
They peaked their heads around the corner to see Lexi gasping as her skin started to slowly fade to grey making her veins more pronounced as they wormed their way to the top. And then she fell, she was gone and Leya couldn't help but think her death was faster than Vicki's.
"You ok?" Damon asked Liz, acting as if he were concerned.
"Thank you. Get it in the car, quickly." Sheriff Forbes told him. He nodded and began to do as she said.
As soon as the car was out of sight Stefan stormed off Elena and Leya chasing after him. No matter how many times they called out to him he kept walking until they were away from eavesdroppers near the Grill.
"Stefan!" Elena called once more. He didn't turn.
"Stefan!" Leya tried one last time. He stopped and turned on his heels, his eyes held a devastated wild look, making the girls step back.
"He killed her! He killed Zach, he killed Tanner, he turned Vicki. I have to kill him." He explained heatedly walking off.
"No, you can't do that." Leya said forcefully walking behind Stefan, Elena following her.
"Why are you trying to save him?" Stefan asked astonished. "Especially after what he did to you. Leya, he's never gonna change. Don't you see that? He's never gonna change!" He was outraged. He was furious with his brother and he had every right to be, but he couldn't kill Damon. They needed each other.
"I'm not trying to save him; I'm trying to save you! You have no idea what this will do to you. You may hate him now, Stefan but he's still your brother. You'll only regret it in the end."
"Everywhere that I go, pain and death follow. Damon follows me. No more." He said backing up.
"Stefan, please, please, just talk to me. Let me be here for you. Talk to me." Elena pleaded softly grabbing onto his arm making him turn around.
"No." He shook his head shamefully. "You were right to stay away from me." And then he left, and both girls could only imagine what was going to happen when he found Damon.