.
I can't stand it I know you planned it
I'm gonna set it straight, this watergate
I can't stand rocking when I'm in here
Because your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear
So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this fucking thorn in my side
Oh my God, it's a mirage
I'm tellin' y'all it's sabotage
Sabotage – Beastie Boys
A.N. : I hope you enjoy the new instalment. Thanks to all those that followed, favorited and reviewed the story. As usual feel free to share your thoughts, I'm always happy when I hear what you think of the story!
The stare off with Stefan Salvatore, if it could even qualify as such, couldn't have lasted more than five seconds - ten at most - but their significance was almost inversely proportional. Well, for her at least, Stefan just looked at her and carried on. Sure, it had been something trivial to most people, however, most people in this universe weren't aware just how much trouble was coming. He was the change that symbolized the future changes - if it made sense. He was the first step in the long stairwell of what would change in the city... With him came Damon and then Katherine, the Originals, Silas... and so on and so forth. While for Olivia it felt like the Universe had shifted, like the green light for troubles had appeared, for most people it was a regular Monday morning. She was once again freaking out. First she knew things – important things, things that could very well mean her death… even if she was sure, or almost sure, that Stefan wouldn't kill her others could very well end her (or use her, she still hadn't decided which outcome was the worst). Plus, she had knowledge that even Stefan didn't possessed, like his friendship with Klaus and his relation with Rebekah - in all fairness that could be said of most characters in the show seeing that she knew what consequences their decisions would have. Second, she was fully aware of what he was doing… or what he was going to do! And sure, it was amazing and she'd have the chance of seeing the story unfold right on in front of her eyes… but then again, it wasn't like the mess – all of them – was like having a picnic in a park. People died, people were going to die… maybe even she would die or Tom and Alex… or one of the Jacksons. With her presence she didn't even know what could happen. Plus, it wasn't just her, it was seven other people that the show hadn't covered. Seven others that could easily change the plot - and she didn't even want to consider what her foreknowledge could do!
"Fred!" Alex loud voice breaks her trance. Tom and Alex were looking worriedly to her, their eyebrows were furrowed and both were close enough as if they expected her to pass out at any moment. "What's going on?"
The world as you know is about to change, she wanted to say. But she couldn't so she settled with, "I... I'm just nervous."
While Alex seemed unconvinced, Tom was now frowning. "You'll do fine, don't worry so much."
"Are you sure? You go really pale on us," Alex mumbles as he glances to her face again as if he was searching for proof. "I'm sure it's going to be fine but if you still feel like shit, come find me and we'll ditch school."
She offers him a small smile. "I feel like shit, can we ditch school?"
Tom laughs. "Good try but no."
"Hey, it's her choice," Alex immediately mutters. "If she's not ready, she's not ready."
"But she is, she's done the work… her friends are there and she's going to do fine," Tom declares narrowing his eyes a bit. "If Cass discovers no one will hear the end of it and she'll never leave the house again." While his words seemed to be an exaggeration, she was aware that they weren't. The Jacksons acted really protective - so protective that it almost looked like insanity - whenever Olivia (the other and now her) seemed ill or strange.
"Don't start." Her voice was loud and broke their glares, just like she had intended. When they started bickering it usually took a while till they stopped on their own terms. "Thanks pesk."
He waves her off, the tension on his body gradually easing. "Tommy is right," Alex admits with some reluctance. "However, if you're not up for it fuck it."
Tom groans. "If she's not fine I'll be the first to get her away." Instead of the argument starting over, they were now merely glaring at each other.
"Can we go now?" She gives both a sheepish smile. "Before I lose my nerve."
"Care's also waiting for us."
Alex rolls his eyes and gently squeezes her hand. "That's my cue. See ya at lunch maggot."
She nods before turning her attention to Tom. "Lead the way." He automatically flashes her a smile before walking inside of the building.
They walked in almost absolute silence to Caroline. It wasn't uncomfortable which she assumed that it was strange. While he and the other Olivia had literally know each other their entire existences, she obviously didn't, feeling awkward would be perfectly natural... expected even. But she didn't, she felt comfortable with Tom. Sure, their family dynamics had changed since she got here. She wasn't as close to Tom as the other had been and she and Alex were in more pacific terms than in the past. And for one reason or another, she felt more comfortable speaking about her memory loss with the latter. The first always seemed so depressed that she preferred not to speak with him about it. Alex told her off, he always stressed that she was their sister... she was their own blood and flesh (which was debatable, sure, biologically he was absolutely right... but the person inside wasn't Olivia Jackson) and, even if he interrupted her a lot, he allowed her to vent. The only time she had gone to Tom instead of Alex, she had felt like the shittiest person alive. Unlike the younger brother, he didn't interrupt and allowed her to say whatever she pleased but there was always a heart-breaking expression in his face - which had led her to seek out Alex instead.
Caroline was chatting with Bonnie and Elena when they reached the corridors. Tom's face, and her own, immediately brightened and as soon as the blonde spotted the twins, she squealed and ran to them with a wide grin dismissing the conversation she was having with the two other girls. Said girls seemed to be used to it, merely rolling their eyes at the display with small smiles on their lips.
Olivia's hand is automatically grabbed as Caroline pecks Tom's lips several times, she then proceeded to hug her. "My favourite twins." The girl seemed so happy that Olivia was glad, or mostly glad, that the plot had been messed with. Caroline did really know how to make someone feel liked. "How are you?" Her gaze jumps from one twin to the other with a slightly expectant expression.
"Good, good," she replies as she nudges Tom. "This one was missing you."
Caroline grins before planning a kiss on his lips. "I missed you too." Tom chuckles at her declarations - that seemed almost solemn - as Caroline pulls them both to Bonnie and Elena. The girls had small smiles on their lips. "And we're all together again." She pauses as Matt passes them., avoiding eye contact with Elena. The only thought on Olivia's mind was that this was more awkward than it had been seen in the show. "Sorta."
Bonnie nudges her, the fact that she disapproved could clearly be seen in her face and posture. "Caroline."
The blonde frowns. She looks apologetically to Elena. "Sorry, sorry. It just left my lips."
Knowing that this could quickly turn sour, Olivia greets the other girls. "Good morning."
"How have you two been?"
Tom shares a glance with her, a meaningful glance, before turning his attention to Bonnie. "The usual, thing's been hectic. How about you two?"
"We're fine," Elena says with a smile on her lips. A small, unconvincing smile. "I'm fine."
Olivia nods. "That's good. Now if you excuse me, I really have to drop my things." She gives a small shake to her bag that was full.
"Bye," Elena says with the same small unconvincing smile.
"See you later," Caroline quips as she and Tom follow her. Once they were at a distance she sighs. "She doesn't look fine."
Tom squeezes her hand. "It takes time Care."
"I know, I know. I'm just worried. She barely speaks with me and she never wants to go out." She then stops speaking and walking. "Oh, that's right. Bonnie and I are planning a get together at the Grill today, we're all going." It seemed like the we also included Olivia.
"Sure."
Caroline smiles brightly. "Great! Maybe we can make everything get back to normal." Olivia had to fight the urge of laughing. Little did her blonde friend knew that things would never again be normal - well, at least cording to her current definition.
Olivia grins. "I'll drop this off alone and get our schedules. So use your time wisely and get it off your systems."
Caroline laughs, shaking her head, whereas Tom merely smiles. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Olivia had hoped that the time it took her to drop her things would be enough for Stefan to leave the School Office. Even if he was one of the supernatural beings that she was least worried about - she assumed that he was one of the few that wouldn't outright kill her if he noticed that something was strange with her - she didn't really want to cross paths with him. She still didn't know what where the changes that her presence and the Jackson's would have and she really didn't want to mess up things more. Messing up in this universe would mean death, her death.
However, the plot, fate or whatever forces where controlling this, seemed to have other plans. It seemed like he had just finished compelling the secretary, at her intrusion he smiled. The sun glasses where still on his hands (she really didn't know why he had been wearing them in the first place) and it seemed like he was waiting for something. She had to control her urges of either rolling her eyes and mumbling I haven't seen anything – which would most likely guarantee that the vampire wouldn't leave her till he discover what she was hiding – or raising her eyebrows and asking Don't you really have better ways of going on about this? Instead, she focused her attention at the secretary trying to stop her internal freak out since Stefan Salvatore was next to her in the flesh.
"I'm, uh, her for my schedule and my brother's…"
The woman smiles and starts speaking, interrupting Olivia - she had been about to tell her her and Tom's name. "Of course. How is everyone?" She didn't know if the woman was being polite or if she actually knew the Jacksons.
"Everyone's fine, thank you for asking." She forces a polite smile, trying to will the woman into moving which didn't seem to be happening.
The woman nods. "How's Carl and Amanda? It seemed like just yesterday they were running around these halls." Okay, so she knew the Jacksons…
"Oh, busy with college." The woman started to move then and she barely controlled her urge to sigh in relief. She really couldn't explain, but she wanted to run away. Okay, she was being paranoid since this brief encounter couldn't really change the lot that much… right? "Carl already left and Amanda will leave soon."
"Send my regards dear." She hands her two papers. "There you go, yours and Thomas'. Alex already dropped by… in case you're wondering."
She smiles. "Thank you so much. Have a nice day."
"You too." When she turns her back she's called out making her heart go in a frenzy. "Olivia, wait a bit."
She closes her eyes before turning back making an effort to maintain the smile on her face. "This is the new student… Maybe you could show him around?"
She wanted to snort. Stefan would have more luck if he went alone. She almost got lost in her way here... "Sure."
"I'm Stefan. Stefan Salvatore."
"Olivia Jackson," she introduces herself politely. She waves to the secretary before leaving the office. "Uh, if I'm honest I'm not really the best person to give you a tour." She didn't even know why the woman had asked that of her. Was it his doing? Vampires could compel people without speaking… but he was weakened… still, it wasn't like she was an expert. But maybe it had just been a weird coincidence.
"It's okay, you don't have to feel obliged," he tells her gently. Oh, he was throwing her off so much. And she really wanted to touch his hero hair. Was it soft as it looked? Was it stiff? Where there some sort of wires beneath all of that?
She waves her hand trying to seem like a normal high school student. "It's perfectly fine. Being the new kid can get pretty intense." Before he could reply, she notices just where they were. That was right, he was supposed to bump into Elena on the bathroom around now if her memory served her right – and she seriously hoped that it did and that her memory losses hadn't affected what she knew of the plot. "Uh, those are the bathrooms… which is something that everyone should know," she babbles awkwardly as she tries to decide what would be the best course of action. "I mean, everyone pees…" She trails off. He was giving her an amused smile, with his eyebrows slightly scrunched as if he was trying to understand what was happening in her brain. "You know what… all this talk off pee ticked my biological needs. So… yeah…" She then hurries inside of the bathroom before she said something else stupid and before he commented. Stupid, stupid, stupid. What the hell are you thinking?! The only thing that served her as a consolation was the fact that it was better to look stupid than messing with the plot.
She really didn't know just how long their meeting was supposed to last, but she takes her time. Her phone kept vibrating so she reads the texts that Caroline, Tom and Alex had sent her. 'something wrong?', 'why are you taking so long?'; 'where are you?'. Caroline's where also in the same line as Tom's: 'we'r tired of waiting 4 u!'. Alex was just to check up on her: 'u doin gud?', to which she immediately replied 'I'm fine. Your text speak hurts me, kill it with fire.'. His reply had been automatic 'Snob. Call if you need me'. With a smile on her face she tells the other two that she was on her way, that she had just shown the new guy the way to the lockers – well… almost.
She had expected him to be gone by the time she left since she had really taken her time, but he was there, leaning against a wall that faced the bathroom door. She didn't know if he had bumped into Elena or not and it wasn't like she could ask. She seemed weird enough as it was and she really didn't need a vampire getting curious about her. If she had learned anything with the TV series was that it never ended well when a vampire got curious about someone. So, she'd have to be careful… especially with Damon. Whereas Stefan was an okay guy – or sort of, but at least he did try his hardest – she was sure that with Damon things could get bad really fast. Oh, she felt like her heart would jump of her chest just thinking about it. Maybe she should just avoid him for as long as she could. He had no emotions, he was on a mission that wouldn't end well… and she really didn't want to die. Sure, maybe dying would take her back to her world… or maybe she'd just die. She rather not risk it.
"Olivia?"
She blinks her eyes. Stefan had his eyebrows scrunched and was observing her which made her feel even more fidgety. "Sorry about that," she says pleasantly as she tries to shake off her gloomy thoughts. "If you don't mind, we're meeting my brother and his girlfriend."
He smiles as he shakes his head. "I don't mind that."
"Okay, they're somewhere around…" She isn't the one that finds them. Caroline – she was starting to think that the girl had some sort of powers – spots her and drags Tom with her.
"There you are. We've been looking for you." She then smiles as she looks to Stefan. "Hey. I'm Caroline and this is Tom."
Tom merely nods in acknowledgement as he observes his sister. "Stefan," he says in turn. He follows Tom's gaze and frowns. "Sorry for…"
"Nonsense!" Caroline claps her hands excitedly effectively interrupting whatever Stefan had been about to say. "We'll show you around so you don't get lost on your first day!"
"Thank you," he says politely.
Caroline nods as Olivia hands the schedule to Tom. She had already taken a peek at it and they shared all of the classes. "Oh, lemme see!"
Olivia laughs despite feeling like she was going to freak out – this was being too much – as she hand her the paper. Having Caroline and Tom there did make her feel a bit better. "Calm your knickers."
"My knickers are just fine, thank you," Caroline mumbles as her eyes trail the paper. She then grins, she was pleased. "We're together." She quickly hugs Olivia and kisses Tom. When they laugh she smiles bashfully. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay." Stefan still had the smile on his face. "You seem to be very close."
"We are," Caroline confirms. "You know that I met her on the first day of school too?" Stefan furrows his eyebrows as he glances between the pair. "She had gotten separated from her brother and she was sort of freaking out and-"
"You came to the rescue," Tom finishes with a grin on his lips. He shares a look with Olivia – who found the story adorable. "A week later she declared them best friends."
"Yup." Caroline was beaming. "And we've been ever since. So, fear not. You're in good hands Stefan." And with that she began walking.
Olivia rolls her eyes. Tom had told her part of the story on her first day in this body - she just hadn't known that it had happened on her first day of school (or was it kindergarten?). "We were kids."
Caroline sighs. "The point stands, doesn't it? I'm experienced with these things."
"I'm lucky then."
He wasn't but it wasn't like Olivia could tell him that. "Seems like it."
Thankfully Caroline took charge of showing the nooks and crannies to the guy because Olivia did not know the place. If anything it had been good that secretary had asked her to show him around - now she also knew her way around. Caroline and Tom also kept talking so things weren't as awkward as before and Olivia could finally relax a bit. Still, it was disconcerting. She had never imagined that one day she'd be walking down these halls with Caroline and Stefan at her side. In the midst of their wandering, they pass by Alex who says something to the guy he was speaking with (she had never seen that guy before and that made her wonder if he was an extra or a new character that had been introduced) before joining them.
"What's up maggot?"
She smiles as Caroline rolls her eyes and points out the classroom to Stefan. "All's good pesk," Olivia tells him. "What have you been up to?"
"You mean in the thirty minutes we weren't together?" She nods making him laugh. "It was so strange not to hear you nag me every five seconds." He had a faux disconcerting expression that disappeared when she scoffed, a teasing smile appeared in its place.
She smacks his arm. "I do not nag."
Her smirks. "Sure you don't."
"That's our brother, Alex," Tom introduces him to Stefan when he realized that the younger teenagers didn't seem inclined to acknowledge their presence.
"Hey," Alex mumbles glancing to the Stefan.
"Stefan," he introduces himself. "Nice to meet you."
"Yeah." Alex didn't seem to share the sentiment, he merely turned his attention to her. "Later maggot." With that he walked away.
"Later!" She yells and watches him wave his hand. He walked back to the guy he had been previously speaking with and they vanished in the crowd.
Tom was sighing. "Uh, sorry about him. He's a bit of a dick."
"That is an understatement," Caroline chimes in.
Olivia knew that they did not get along, however, she didn't like them bashing him. "Leave him be. He's a teenager, most teenagers as strange, rude creatures."
Caroline rolls her eyes. "Very well. " Caroline turns her attention to Stefan and smiles. "I think we showed you most of the place. Is there anything particular you'd like to see…" She trails off as she continues looking to his face.
"No. I think you guys did a thorough job. Thank you."
Caroline beams proudly. "Good. If you have questions or anything you can totally come for us." She gently nudges Olivia a bit more to the front – she had to fight off a horrified expression off her face. "We'll set you straight."
Stefan laughed uncomfortably. "Thanks."
"We should probably go," Tom declares once he finishes observing his sister. He wasn't sure if she was quiet because of the new guy or if it was because of them being inside of the school. "You're welcome to tag along Stefan."
She wanted to smack him. "Uh, I have History as my first class, maybe you could point out the way?"
"Tanner." There was a positively tart expression on Caroline's face. "I didn't miss him."
Tom nods. "Guy's an ass."
"A pain in our asses," Caroline corrects. "You're so unlucky to have him on your first class."
Stefan furrows his eyebrows. "That bad?"
"Worse!"
Olivia wanted to laugh at Caroline's dramatic nature, however, from the little she had seen, Tanner was indeed an ass. "She's right," she comments. "He's…"
"Annoying," Caroline offers.
"Stupid," Tom mutters.
"I was going with strict…"
Caroline rolls her eyes. "Mrs. Halpern is strict. That guy is a dick." Olivia raises her hands in mock surrender. "Please, you hate him just as much." Olivia never liked the guy, but she couldn't say that she hated him. But then again, she had never been his student or dealt with him personally. Maybe she used to hate him, it wasn't like she had Olivia Jackson's memories…
"We'll take you there," Tom states.
And then things were back as they were on the show once they got there. Stefan was looking to Elena, who was looking to him, as if no one else was in the room. Caroline sighs, dramatically rolling her eyes, and waves good bye to Bonnie, then the trio left.
The classes went as she had predicted them to. Even if she was in no way used to – or prepared – to be a high school student, she dutifully took notes and did her best to pay attention to whatever the teachers told her. If anything, the time she had spent at college would make this a piece of cake. It was also great having Tom and Caroline there. They didn't sit next to each other in some of the classes, but at least they were in the same room so she wasn't completely alone – in this unknown environment. It wasn't the school itself that was scary, she knew that (well, horrible things were going to take place there) it was mostly the fact that she was in this universe.
It was surprising (not that surprising) but she even bumped into Stefan during the day – not literally and she hoped it never to happen because she didn't really know how the witchy vision thingy that had happened with Bonnie (would happen was more correct) worked. Unlike it had happened in the show, Caroline didn't really ask his entire life story. She asked about his family, receiving the same answer as she did on the show and after gushing about a bit about the Salvatore Boarding house, she merely asked about how his day was being. Tom also asked a couple of questions, mainly about his classes – apparently they were going to share the English class – and if he was thinking about joining any of the teams, to which he replied that he wasn't really planning on it. She had to fight off the urge of snorting and telling him that in a couple of days he would indeed join the team to Matt's and Tyler's – and Tanner's - dismay.
After the brief encounter, Alex met with them so they could have lunch. Lunch was more awkward than she had predicted. There was clearly some history there that she was missing. Caroline and Alex seemed like they couldn't stand each other - the fact that they were making an effort for her sake did make her feel warm and fuzzy - but they didn't argue or anything of the sort. Most of the time was spent with them and Tom pretending everything was all right and that they weren't outright ignoring each other. Caroline did interrogate her when they went to the bathroom. She was worried that Olivia was spending too much time with Alex because of her relationship with Tom - Olivia tried her best to put her mind at ease but she wasn't completely sure that it worked. It was also when she learned that she had been the one that had set them up in the first place... which was slightly surprising. She did wonder what had the other Olivia done.
The rest of the day when without hitch. While Caroline went to her meeting with the cheer squad, she went home with Tom and Alex to drop off their things and warn Cass that they were going out. Alex hadn't accepted the invitation of going to the Grill with them – he claimed that lunch had been more than enough and that he just needed to be left alone for a bit. Cass allowed them to leave, reminding them that they had to be at home by 10 at the latest. Olivia briefly wondered how would the Jacksons react to the news of the vampires strolling around town – well, Damon hadn't made an appearance so it was more one vampire running about – since they weren't what she'd call traditional witches. Would they lose their plots and try to murder them? Or would they be okay with that knowledge? One way or the other, she was sure that she would find out the answer to that question one day. She just didn't know if she was going to rue that day when it actually came.
Caroline was already inside of the Grill when they got there. She waved her hand enthusiastically and Olivia had to control her laugh when Tom started grinning - Tom was clearly taken with the blonde, whenever he saw Caroline his face would light up as if he was a child during Christmas morning.
"There you are," Caroline mumbles after pecking Tom's lips. "Elena's coming!" She shares excitedly. So is Stefan.
"That's great," Olivia states smiling to her bubbly friend.
She nods her head with a semi-serious expression. "Maybe she really is better."
"She's getting there," Bonnie says. "These things take time."
Caroline sighs. "I know, still she's so different. Don't you agree Libbie?"
She was put on the spot. While she had a grasp of the character... She really had no clue how Elena acted before apart from apparently being bubblier. "Elena will be fine," she settles with. While Bonnie was giving her an approving smile, Caroline was frowning.
"I'm gonna order," Tom says breaking the awkward silence. "Any of you want something?"
"I'm fine," Caroline replies flashing him a smile. Bonnie nods in agreement, raising her cup a bit.
"Uh, chips and burger."
Everyone was looking oddly to her. "Coming right up," Tom says before leaving – acting as if nothing strange had happened.
Bonnie furrows her eyebrows. "Chips?"
"Yeah?"
"She's on one of her British moods," Caroline states rolling her eyes. "I think she has been binge watching Doctor Who again." Bonnie laughs and nods as if it made sense. Olivia didn't really know what to say but thankfully she didn't have to speak. "Woah," Caroline half yells half whispers. "Elena's with Stefan and they were intercepted by Matt." She cringes. "Won't end well."
"Matt won't do anything to jeopardize his relation with Elena," Bonnie quips with her eyes trailed on them.
"Or lack there off," Caroline adds. When Elena approaches the table Caroline smiles. "I'm happy you came and you brought Stefan!"
"We had a run in," Elena says almost shyly as she takes a seat next to Bonnie.
Stefan picks up a chair from another table and places it next to her, flashing a smile to the other occupants. "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course we don't." Caroline speaks for the rest of the table.
Tom nods in acknowledgement of Stefan before sitting next to Caroline. He hands her one of the two glasses he had been carryings. "Here."
"Thanks." She immediately started sipping on the soda so she could have a justification why she wasn't speaking. Truth was that she didn't know exactly how to act around everyone.
"So, share with us Stefan." Caroline leans into Tom a bit. "How's Mystic Falls treating you?"
He looks to Elena and smiles. "Great actually."
Caroline had a smile and it seemed like she was ready to interrogate Stefan. "So, you were born in Mystic Falls, right?"
Stefan nods. "And moved when I was still young."
"Parents," Bonnie asks next.
"My parents passed away."
Everyone at the table started exchanging looks. Bonnie and Caroline looked at Elena, who was starting at Stefan and Tom was looking to Olivia. Caroline eventually looked at them and smiled sadly. She wondered on that instance what the story of the Jackson's mother death and their father disappearance. "I'm sorry," Elena mumbles.
"It's fine, it was a long time ago," he reassures her.
"But it's never easy," Elena continues. They were seemingly lost in their own little world again. Then, as if Elena had remembered that there were other people with them, she asked the next question. "Any siblings?"
"None that I talk to." But you will soon. "I live with my uncle," he adds.
It seemed like loving gaze that Elena and Stefan were sharing wasn't just unsettling to Caroline. - Olivia didn't know what was exactly bothering her blonde friend or her brother. She clearly loved Tom. "The food is taking long, isn't it?"
"I'm absolutely famished," Olivia shares with Tom. "I could murder that burger."
Stefan was looking to her with a curious expression. "Uh, she's been binge watching Doctor Who," Caroline explains. It was a bit more than binge watching British shows, however, that explanation did make things easier whenever she slipped up.
"We all know how much of a whovian I am," she jokes. Apparently even more than she was aware.
"So, Stefan, since you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow," Caroline trails off sharing a look with Olivia that made her frown. That look couldn't mean anything good.
"It's a back to school thing at the falls," Bonnie continues.
Like on the show, Stefan looked to Elena, tuning out everyone else. Seeing it made her want to cringe, oh it was so awkward. He could have acted less… she didn't even know how to categorize the way he was acting, but he could have at least, for etiquette sake, shared a glance with the others. "Are you going?"
Bonnie grins. "Of course she is."
"We're all going," Caroline adds looking partially annoyed. Olivia looks to her with a raised eyebrow. "It's tradition," she says a bit riled up.
"Of course we are," Tom says soothingly. Caroline's bad mood lifted and she grins.
"We'll see each other there." Even if what Stefan was saying could be applied to everyone, he was looking to Elena as he spoke.
"Yes," Elena confirms a little breathlessly.
With a smile on her lips, Bonnie turns her attention to Olivia. "You're usually more excited about these things." She was? She was starting to think that it would be close to impossible to maintain appearances. "You feeling alright?"
"I'm just tired," she tries to justify. "Today was long."
Caroline nods her head energetically. "Tell me about it."
Eventually her food got there and as she ate, the rest - apart from Stefan that only spoke when someone asked him something - spoke animatedly about their plans for the party. She couldn't really say that she was paying much attention to the conversation, worrying instead about the party taking place on the falls. The party would mark the return of Damon to the city (even if tonight he and Stefan would have a chat) and he was going to attack Vicki. While she did not feel very strongly about the girl – she had always found her a bit sketchy – that didn't mean that she deserved to have her neck chomped on… Also it would later result in her turning in a vampire and subsequent death. If possible, she rather the girl didn't die mainly for Matt's sake, he always looked so lonely that she couldn't help but to feel sorry. But what could she actually do? Try to prevent the girl from attending the party wouldn't really work nor would shadow her – if anything, both of them could end up being Damon's meal for the night. Vervain in her blood could theoretically prevent him from munching on her but then again it would also prevent Stefan's compulsion. Sure, he could very well kidnap her and then compel her once the herb was out of her system but... she just didn't know how Damon would react to that. It could very well make the girl die faster than in the show.
"Libbie!" Caroline was leaning towards her as she shook her arm. Everyone in the table was looking to her with expressions that varied from worry (Tom and Caroline) to confusion.
A bashful smile appears on her lips. "Sorry?"
"Are you alright?" She give Caroline a hesitant nod, glancing to Tom's direction. The blonde friend frowns. "Really? You were-"
"You look like you were half falling asleep," Tom tells her, interrupting Care.
"No, no. It's just a headache," she informs them. It was partially true, thinking about what she should do did really give her a headache.
"You've been having way too many headaches," Caroline comments.
Tom nods in agreement. "Do you want to go home?"
"Yeah," she mumbles apologetically. "Sorry," she says glancing to the rest.
Bonnie and Elena shake their heads, offering her a small smile. "We're going to see each other tomorrow," Bonnie reminds her. "You should rest."
"Yeah." She gets up from the chair. "I'm going to pay."
Tom warps his hand around her wrist. "I already did." He looks to Caroline. "You wanna come with us?"
"Yes." She looks to the others and smiles. "See ya tomorrow."
After the partially awkward exchange of goodbyes and get better wishes, they leave the Grill. Olivia's gaze briefly follows Vicki, she was flirting with Tyler looking like she didn't have a care in the world. What should she do? Should she even mess with the plot? Would it even work? She half wanted to do something but at the same time she didn't… her messing it up could have unforeseeable results… like dying. Sure, Damon hadn't outright killed her but who knew what he'd do to her or to whoever messed with the encounter he had with Vicky? It wasn't like there was a clear path for her to follow and she was sort of afraid. She felt a bit disappointed with that revelation, she knew that most of the fans would kill to be on her skin and there she was, with the opportunity of re-writing history and scared out of her mind of doing so. She takes a deep breath as she tries to calm down. Maybe she wouldn't have to worry about that… because maybe tomorrow she was going to be the day that she would return to her small flat, on her crappy bed and this was going to be nothing but a weird ass dream.
"Are you really okay Libbie, you're acting so strange," Caroline tells her effectively breaking her gaze.
"Just a headache."
Caroline frowns. "Bullshit. You're acting like Elena..." She widens her eyes and cringes. God, she did not wanted to be daydreaming all the time. "Okay, okay... not that bad. But you're always getting lost in thought. Did something happen?"
She looks to Tom. Didn't seem like he would intervene. "Uh, Caroline." Her tone of voice was gentle and even if she didn't know exactly what she could say to Care so she didn't worry without spilling the family secret, she would try. "It was just a long day and my head is really killing me."
"And that get together was awkward, wasn't it?" She smiles since it seemed that Caroline was seemingly believing her. That did make her feel a bit bad... She was lying, god, she was lying to Caroline Forbes!
"Yeah. The new kid seemed to be into Elena." Tom was furrowing his eyebrows. "It was sorta awkward, especially since Matt was there."
"Of course he is, everyone is always into Elena," Caroline comments snottily.
"Care." Her voice had been little above a whisper and a frown was in her lips. She hadn't expected their rivalry to be, well, existent. Caroline clearly had a boyfriend that loved her.
"I'm not," Tom declares fiercely grabbing her hand. "Ollie isn't too. You are wonderful and we love you."
A small smile appears on her lips, Caroline seemed embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I just." She sighs.
"Old issues," Olivia states as she grabs Care's free hand. "And Tom's right. You are wonderful, the best friend anyone could ever ask for. You got your issues but everyone has issues."
"Best girlfriend too," Tom adds with a grin.
Carline giggles. "You are the best. Thank you."
Olivia shrugs dismissing her words as she lets go of her hand. One of her priorities for tomorrow would be making sure Damon didn't cross paths with her. She now just had to think what she'd to about Vicki. "I'm going so you two can snog to your hearts contempt." She pulls out her phone to check the time. "You have forty minutes."
Caroline slaps her arm half-heartedly. "You're silly."
"I can drop you home," Tom offers. It seemed like he was divided. It was clear that he wanted to spend more time with Caroline but at the same time he didn't want to leave her alone.
She shake her head. "Enjoy your time love birds." She plants a kiss on Caroline's cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She wasn't surprised to find Cass and Daphne up, reading in the kitchen as if they had been waiting for the twins. Both seemed to relax considerably when they saw her and they promptly asked her about her day at school. She did really admire the older women, they had raised almost everyone alone despite their young ages and she was sure that it hadn't been easy - it couldn't have been easy. Alex was also still up. When he heard the noise in the kitchen, he came to check it out, smiling briefly when he saw her.
"Well, good night," she says as she looks to Alex. Maybe... she could speak with him. Without telling him everything but she really needed some help, she was clearly out of her league. After planting a kiss on the other sibling's cheeks, she walks to him. "Can we talk pesk?"
He seemed confused but nodded immediately. "Something happened?"
"No. Uh, I was thinking."
He snorts. "Good, thinking is good," he mocks her.
"Liam!" She narrows her eyes. "It's, uh, sort of serious."
His whole demeanour changes. "What happened?"
"Nothing." She walks to her room and signals him tom follow her. Once he was inside she closed the door. "What would you do if you knew that someone would get hurt and you wanted to prevent it... but didn't know how?"
He was looking to her face with a serious expression. "Who told you?"
It wasn't what she had expected him to say. "What?"
His eyes were narrowed and it seemed like his temper was flaring. "Was it Tom? We agreed that you'd be left out of it. The council is on it and Jimmy is controlling the hospital. Don't worry."
She was beyond confused. "What are you talking about?"
He was looking to her, seemingly trying to decode what was on her mind. "The vampire that's on town." Her body automatically tenses. They knew about Stefan? But how? Had someone touched him and gotten a witchy vision? "The one that's behind the 'animal attacks'?" He elaborates. Oh, right! Damon's presence had been announced with a couple of bodies! She wanted to slap her forehead, how could have she forgotten that. "It wasn't that?" She was at a loss now. Should she say that it was related? "Fred?"
She sighs. "I... uh... Someone is going to get hurt but preventing it can and will most likely cause even more issues," she mumbles as she walks to the bed to sit. Oh, the bodies were going to make everything worse! She had planned to tell him she was writing a story (or some equally mundane thing) but now she was almost sure he wouldn't believe her. "I don't know what to do."
"Don't go look for trouble," he tells her sternly. "Your safety comes first."
She sighs. "I'm not," she declares confidently. "I, uh, just wanted advice."
His expression made her laugh. It was like he was frowning and smiling at the same time. "And you came to me." She nods making him sigh. "Okay, you want to tell me exactly what's this all about?"
She couldn't. Okay, she could but she didn't know how he'd react. "I just know that someone is going to get hurt."
"Somehow this seems more than knowing that we might have a vampire running around and people will get hurt if he isn't caught," he mumbles with a worried expression. "Are you... seeing things?" She tenses again. Alex seemed alarmed. "That's not good," he says in a harsh and low tone. "Fuck-"
"I didn't say that I was," she mutters.
Alex raises his hand. "Don't lie." She wasn't. She was not seeing things, she had seen things. It was completely different. "Oh, Fred... that's not good."
"Why?"
He frowns. "It's never good when you see things that can come to pass... What spell did you do Fred?"
She fought the urge to scream. She hadn't done any spells... She was ocupying a body and in her reality this whole thing was a show! "I haven't and I'm not seeing things!"
He sighs again. he was fidgeting. "Who knows?" He was seemingly dismissing her words. "You told Tom?" She shakes her head. "Okay, we're not going to tell Cass. 'Cause this can't be good. People don't wake up one day and start seeing bits of the future."
"We're witches though," she mumbles with uncertainty.
"We are but none of us ever used divination," he tells her calmly. "Sure, we all can do the occasional locator spell but we never had visions." He looks to her with a huge frown. "And why all of the sudden? You... how are you seeing stuff if half the time you don't have magic in you? How are you triggering the visions?"
She frowns. "I'm not."
"We're going to have to do research," he comments mind absently. "Maybe there's something in the grimoires."
"Okay." She didn't know if allowing him to think that wouldn't bring more issues in the future, but at the very least gave her an excuse to know things. "How about... uh... my previous question."
"What's going to happen?" She hesitates making him raise an eyebrow. "How do you want me to help if you don't tell me?"
"Meddling can make everything worse... we can get hurt or worse," she whispers to him, looking to her feet. "But not meddling will lead to someone dying. To several someone's."
He sighs. He grabs her hand and squeezes, prompting her to look to him. "Tell me, you can trust me... I mean, you trust me or else you wouldn't be telling me all this shit." he had a small grin on his lips that she soon mimics. Yeah, for some weird reason she did trust him but she just didn't know if she trusted him with the whole information. "So, spill."
"There are rules," she tells him seriously. he raises an eyebrow confused with the change in her demeanour but nods. "First you aren't a free agent, if I say no it goes."
He rolls his eyes. "Fine."
"No, that's important." And it was, she didn't want him dying on her because she had a big mouth. "Promise me Liam."
He extends his pinkie making her giggle. "I solemnly promise." Even if his tone was slightly mocking, she knew he was serious enough. "Cross my heart and hope to die."
"Okay." She takes a deep breath of air trying to calm down her nerves. "At the party tomorrow someone is going to get hurt." She didn't know if she should tell him that it was Vicki. "No one will die, but that person will get hurt." He nods encouragingly. "I thought that we could, I don't know, slip vervain... but, that will cause complications."
"We can prevent whoever from going to the party," he counters.
She nods. "But that means someone else is going to get hurt or even the same person. I'm not sure if we can completely prevent the future," she admits honestly.
He's silent for a bit. "What are the complications with vervain?"
She sighs. "She's going to get compelled into forgetting," she says automatically regretting. Alex was looking to her with a serious expression, scarily serious.
"You know who it is." It wasn't a question, she had said more than she had intended. She nods hesitantly. "Tell me."
She looks to her feet. "Vicki Donovan," she whispers. "She's going to have an argument with Tyler and well... you can imagine the rest."
"Okay, why do you want the compulsion to work?" He was clearly humouring her. There was no reprobation in his eyes - she was sure that not many would extend her that courtesy, she was positively sure that most would find her a horrible creature for being seemingly okay with the girl getting hurt and the vampire (who were actually vampires) using compulsion on her.
She decided to, well, if he was capable of debating this with her, maybe she could give him a bit of information... but nothing that would put him in more danger than he already was. "This will change," she states mysteriously. "This is the start and I'm not telling you that it's okay." She makes a pause looking to him straight in the eyes. "It's not, but it will happen regardless of what I want... Eventually, it will get better. The vampire will have... uh, will change their priorities and there won't be innocent people dying by their hands."
He looked frightened. She didn't know if it was on her behalf, on everyone's behalf or of vampires simply scared the shit out of him. "How do you know? Fred... What did you see?"
"Enough," she mumbled averting her gaze. "I can't tell you everything since I don't even know everything." It was a bit of a lie - it wasn't a total lie since she really didn't know how her influence would change the plot - but she couldn't tell him more at this point. "Just, trust me."
"I do." When she looks to him it was clear on his face that he really did. "I... Look, divination doesn't work like that. At least I don't think it does, Cass never told us something like that. We don't really have, uh, an affinity with it." He makes a pause, groaning. "This shit would be better if you had your memories... but let's just say that it isn't a tool in our skillset. We're better with Illusions and things of the sort... Premonitions? Not so much." He makes another pause, fiddling with his fingers. "I don't even know if we have a seer in out lineage. And even if we did... You have no magic of your own. I'm worried Fred. This can't be something good."
She squeezes his hand. "I'm alright."
He didn't seem convinced. "But she's going to eventually die, isn't she?" She nods reluctantly. "And you're sure that you want to help out the vampire? You know that shit is insane, don't you?"
She didn't want to help him... per say. She just didn't want to mess out the plot to a point new people (that she had no clue of knowing about) would be in danger or that it would result in their (the Jackson's, and the other protagonists) deaths. "I'm not... not really. I-I just don't really know what to do. I don't want people to get hurt but intervening can easily make everything worse. I also have to keep an eye on Caroline," she vents. "And on Tom so they don't stumble into any shit..."
He jolts from the bed. "They're in danger too?"
"I don't know." Care was safe for the most part, she stumbled into Damon after the party. "We gotta give Care some vervain." That was imperative, she had to prevent Damon from using her and since she was the Sheriff's daughter... maybe he wouldn't find anything strange with it and wouldn't chase her more for it.
He had a frown. "Okay, I'm sure that Cass can get us vervain. Just how are we going to explain this shit to her?" he looked like he was having the worst time of his life.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dumped all this shit on you."
He had a frightened expression. "Don't. Look, we can deal with it and its better that you do this with me than alone. Someone gotta keep an eye on you." There was a hesitant smile on his lips. "I... I gotta ask, why me? Why did you tell me and not Tom?"
"I trust you," she mumbles looking to the ground. "I know that you won't judge me," she trails off. "And since Care is involved, Tom's going to lose his plot."
"That's an understatement." he sighs. "Okay, I worry about the vervain."
She perks up. Maybe, maybe confiding in Alex hadn't been all that bad. "How?"
"I'm going to Jimmy," he tells her taking a seat next to her. "He and Zach are palls and I'm just going to lie." She laughs at his serious expression. "I'm going to make up some bullshit that I'm worried about you." She raises an eyebrow making him snort. "That's not the bullshit, the bullshit is that we should slip vervain in your food... I'm sure that everyone will get on board since we don't really know if vampires can do something to your mind... And I'll say I want some. Then we go to Tom-" She immediately opens her mouth to protest making him sigh. "Look, he'll be on board of giving something with vervain to her. You tell him you're worried about Caroline and problem solved, right?"
It was actually a decent plan. "Yeah. That's actually bloody brilliant. I'm sure he'll keep an eye on her and we'll be keeping an eye on them... "
"Now about Vicki." He runs his hand over his face. "You're sure that we can't prevent it?"
She frowns. "I'm just not seeing how. We either put ourselves in danger and it happens all the same or we prevent it and someone else gets hurt or killed..." She pinches the bridge of her nose. "Maybe we could prevent Tyler and her from disappearing?" But then there was a chance that Jeremy would get hurt. She had the distinct impression that he had been following Vicki but she wasn't completely sure. "I don't know."
"We could spend time with them at the party," Alex suggests. "We ain't friends but... We're on friendly terms. Maybe Tom will join in and, yeah..." He makes a pause and looks to her. "Do you know who the vampire is?" When she doesn't reply he groans. "Wouldn't it be easy if you told me?"
"Maybe or maybe it would get you killed," she says seriously. "I don't want to speak about that."
"Fred!"
She narrows her eyes. "I'm serious. It's not safe."
"I know how to take care of myself," he insists. "How can I help you if you don't tell me?"
"I can't." Her voice slightly breaks. There were so many things that could go wrong by telling him. She'd have to tell him about Stefan and if he reacted to Damon... he would most likely kill him. "I swear that... There's too many things that can go wrong."
He seemed like he didn't agree but that was worried with her apparent distress. "I'm not gonna press... now. We'll get back to this later." He gets up from the bed. "Try to rest and we'll speak in the morning."
"Thanks Liam," she tells his genuinely. "Thank you so much. I didn't know how I was going to deal with this alone."
"I'm here." Even if his tone hadn't been so solemn, she would have believed his words. "You can tell me anything and I promise I'll try to help... Even when I don't agree."
"I know." He nods and plants a kiss on her forehead before leaving the bedroom with a much calmer expression that she had predicted.
Olivia knew that she wouldn't have a restful sleep but she hadn't predicted that the cause of the distress would be Olivia Jackson and not the shit that was happening. She dreamt of her again. She was with Tom on a beach she didn't recognize with two adults she had never seen before. The woman was smiling, sitting on a towel as she waved the off. The male was helping them bury a toddler (she thought that it was Alex) on the sand. They were all laughs and giggles but then something happened, the scenery changed. She wasn't in the beach any more. She was inside of the house crying loudly, there was other guy and he was yelling and she was being dragged away. There were no Tom or Alex, the woman wasn't also there. Instead there was another man, a man that wasn't the one that she had seen at the beach. She must have done something because he abruptly lets go of her and snarls – as if he wasn't completely human – before being tackled. When she fell, she saw blood. There was blood on the floor and on her hands which made her screech.
She felt ridiculous for going to Alex room in the dead of the night because she had a nightmare – or was it a memory? She could no longer tell. Not only was he way younger than her but she had never been the type to seek comfort in other people, maybe because she had been an only child. Also, she was dumping too much shit on him, wasn't she? First the problem of Vicki and now her nightmares? She doesn't knock, instead she lets herself in and gently shakes him before getting inside of the bed.
"What's wrong?" His voice was groggy and he was giving her a worried look. "Did you see something else?"
"No. I had a nightmare. Can I sleep here?" It was honestly embarrassing, he was 15 and she was 23 – or 16, depending on the point of view. She was partially hiding her face, she didn't want to see what look he was giving her.
He nods as he makes more room for her. "Wanna talk 'bout it?"
Even if it was clear that he was absolutely knackered, he was willing to speak with her. "Uh, I don't even know what it was about. There were yells and snarls and blood," she says lamely.
He sighs. "You're safe. You sure it wasn't a vision?"
"I am." Well, sort of. She had the distinct impression that she was seeing their past. "I know I'm safe." At least on that moment… It wasn't like any of the vampires running around had been invited inside, so she was. She was safe right now.
"I won't let the boogie man get ya," he mumbles teasingly. "Just rest, okay?"
"Thanks pesk."
He ruffles her hair. "Don't mention it maggot."
After the classes she was completely and utterly fidgety. Everyone, including Alex, was giving her worried looks and commenting on her nervous demeanour making her barely deflect their attention. Alex had spoken with James during their lunch break and shared with her that all seemed to be on track and that he'd have the vervain by tomorrow at the latest making her relax a bit. They had decided to not loose Vicki and Tyler from their sight - as well as their brother and Care - and that they would wing it- At Alex's mention of winging it, she laughed hysterically making the younger male snort and ask her if she had a better plan which she really didn't.
While he and Tom were at practice, she read the grimoire on her bedroom - she had promised Alex to do so, even if she was sure that she wouldn't find any answers there - trying not to lose her plot before the party. So many things could go wrong, she hoped that by improvising things would get even worse. She also hoped that confiding in Alex wouldn't get him killed. However, only time would tell.
"Hey!" Caroline hugs her when she and Alex get to the party.
Alex promptly rolls his eyes before glancing around. "I'm going to get us a drink," he tells her, flashing her a smile before walking away.
"Urgh, why did you bring him?" Caroline wasn't the only one giving her curious looks. Tom also seemed to be curious on the matter - he had invited her to go with him and Caroline and she said no because she and Alex needed to go over their plan, which wouldn't happen if he was around. "Just wanted to give you a bit of time to be together." What she didn't say was that it was mainly because they wouldn't exactly be alone till the party ended.
"You sure you're okay?"
She smiles before nodding. "Where's everyone, anyway?"
"Bonnie and Elena went for drinks and the rest of the squad is around... somewhere." At her words she glances around as if she was trying to spot someone.
Tom furrows his eyebrows, looking to something over her shoulder. When Olivia follows his gaze, she finds Alex walking to her - sipping on a beer and holding a... cup with what she hoped that was a fizzy drink- with Tyler and Vicki on tow. He flashes her a grin and winks his eye. "Here." He hands her the drink once he was close.
"Thanks."
Caroline, after greeting Tyler, looking partially surprised - Olivia wondered what Alex had told him to get him there - moved her attention to Olivia. "Not as many people as last year," she tells her.
Olivia honestly didn't know so she nods as she takes a sip of her drink feeling thankful that it wasn't in fact an alcoholic beverage - being drunk or partially drunk would really fuck up things more. "It's still early," Tyler points out.
"I'm sure that the party will last," Alex adds sharing a look with Olivia.
Vicki nods her head - it looked like she was feeling slightly out of place. "Let's hope that it's better than last year."
Olivia seriously hoped that Vicki was right, so she extended her cup to the girl. "Here's to that."
Vicki gaps before nodding with a small smile on her lips, hitting Olivia's cup with her bottle of beer. "Yeah."
Caroline glances at the pair. "Uh, I need a new drink." She smiles to Olivia. "Join me." Olivia looks to Alex, trying to subtly access if he could deal with the other tree people alone. She hoped that the fact he hadn't said something to prevent them from walking away meant that he did. "What's up with that? Why are we hanging with Vicki and Tyler? Did Alex lose it?"
"Is there something wrong with it?"
Care shakes her head hesitantly. "No but since when do we hang with her?"
"It's just a party," Olivia says with a small smile on her face. "We're not braiding each other's hairs and having sleep overs."
Caroline snorts before flashing her a smile. "Sure, but it's going to be awkward when Elena joins us. You know those two never got along." It seemed like she wanted to say something else, but they bumped into Stefan. "Hey! You made it." She seemed a little less enthusiastic than on the show, but there was still a smile on her face.
"I did." He smiles to both girls.
"We're getting drinks, join us." Stefan looked like he wanted to protest, but soon Caroline was pulling him with them.
"Care," Olivia mumbles, fighting off the urge to laugh. The vampire seemed so reluctant but was following them nonetheless. "I'm sure he has other places to be."
Caroline rolls her eyes, letting go of Stefan. "We're getting Elena too. Plus he doesn't even know the place... he could get lost," she reasons.
"Thank you," Stefan quips. "But you don't have to worry... I'm sure I could find the way."
Caroline stops briefly and glances to his face. She didn't look very pleased, Olivia just knew that she was about to give Stefan a piece of her mind. Sure, he was being slightly rude - not that Caroline's pushiness was polite either - but there wasn't any real reason to blow off her kindness. "If we're forcing you to something just tell us," Olivia says gently making Caroline widen her eyes. "No hurt feelings or anything."
He opens and closes his mouth a couple of times. "No... I meant-"
"Libbie's right," Caroline tells him with a slightly serious tone. "I tend to be..."
"In your own head," Olivia offers making the blonde smile in appreciation.
"Yeah so, tell us. Plus, we just want to get to know you," she adds before handing him a beer.
He sighs. "I didn't mean to be rude."
"Well, you were." Olivia raises an eyebrow making Caroline raise her hands. "All's forgive though. Now, would you like to join us or... go on your own?"
"I can go with you," he says sounding like it wasn't a completely appalling idea.
Caroline flashes him a smile. "Good. Did you see Elena and Bonnie on your way to us?"
Olivia shakes her head. "I'm sure they must be around here somewhere." She subtly looks to Stefan curious of what he would do, he could hear them speaking.
"Let's try to find them." He was subtly walking ahead of them, glancing around - which made Olivia wonder if it was to keep up appearances or if he was trying to pin point her location.
Bonnie stumbles on them, looking partially surprised. "Bonnie," Olivia greets pleasantly.
"You look spooked," Caroline declares devoting all of her attention to Bonnie.
Meanwhile, Stefan rather discreetly continues walking away - not that discreetly since Olivia noticed, however, she was being attentive of his behaviour. "I'm fine," Bonnie promises. "Just need a refill."
Caroline furrows her eyebrows. "Where did he just go?"
"Elena, I'm sure," Olivia states. "Let's get you that drink Bonnie and you can join us."
Bonnie smiles appreciatively before following the girls back to where the rest of them were. She spent the better part of the party with the group they assembled - being briefly joined by Matt at some point. Tyler tried twice to subtly disappear with Vicki but given that Matt was there and every time he tried it Alex would subtly speak with him as if he had no clue what Tyler was trying to do, he managed not to get far. In fact, Olivia found herself having fun. Caroline was a wonderful distraction and seeing her and Tom interact was cute. Alex and Tyler also seemed friends - she even teased the younger Jackson into admitting it - and Vicki wasn't completely ignored like Olivia had feared by Caroline's reaction. Jeremy was also safe, seeing that he was lurking around them so overall, the plan of improvising wasn't bad.
During the middle of the party, as the teenagers became more intoxicated, Tyler and Vicki weren't the only ones trying to sneak out. Caroline and Tom also tried it but were dissuaded when Olivia started chatting with them. They were actually one of the first ones to abandon the party - wanting some alone time - being followed by a sullen Matt and Vicki who was drunk out of her wits. Tyler went with them and soon Bonnie and Elena, who they only saw when at the end of the party, accompanied by Jeremy also left. Olivia couldn't believe it but their plan had worked! No one was munched on in Vicki's absent and said girl was most likely now at the safety of her own house. Maybe she had worried herself over nothing.
"I think this was a success, wouldn't you say Fred?"
She grins, promptly hugging him in pure and complete happiness. "Yes, we need a drink brother!"
They stumble into Stefan in their way to drinks, who chuckles at their sight. "You guys look happy."
"We are," Alex says enthusiastically and Olivia nods her head in agreement.
She did wonder what was Damon doing and if he and Stefan had crossed paths already. However, Stefan seemed... happy so she thought that he had no clue his brother was prowling. Oh, poor guy. His world was going to shift when he got home - if the plot hadn't changed, that was. "You're free to join us."
"Why not."
Alex glances inquisitively at her before walking to the drinks. "So, how was your first party?"
"Great."
Alex hands them two beers, opening hers before handing it to her. "To the successful night," he cheers tilting his own bottle.
"May it all be as easy," Olivia quips mysteriously before clinking their bottles.
"And to Fred's weird ass toast." Alex flashes her a smirk before drinking from the bottle eagerly. Neither had consumed much alcohol during the night - this was her first drink and Alex's third.
Stefan furrows her eyebrows. "Fred?"
"Fred," Alex confirms without offering any explanation.
Olivia rolls her eyes. "Middle name."
"Another one?" She nods approvingly at Alex question, eagerly finishing her own drink.
Stefan was glancing at them, looking partially confused and amused. "Why are you celebrating the end of the party?"
"Some see an end, we see a start," Alex jokes with a smirk.
She raises her bottle. "Oh, that was good. To new beginnings." Alex clinks his bottle to her and both look to Stefan, who amusedly toasts with them.
"I'll let you continue." He smiles to both. "See you tomorrow."
"Bye Stefan."
"Bye," Alex says at the same time as her. "Okay, one more and we should go."
She nods. "Have I told you that you are bloody brilliant?"
"I'd like to hear it again," Alex tells her teasingly.
"You, Liam, are bloody brilliant," she declares with some flourish making him grin. "Couldn't have done it without you."
He nods. "I am amazing," he agrees.
She raises her glance. "To being partners in crime."
"I can get behind that," he says after a laugh since Olivia did look really excited.
Meanwhile in town, there was a girl leaving the Grill completely alone. She had delayed her return home to sober up with her boyfriend who decided to act stupid. So now, she had to walk alone across the town because he was a dick before the people that cared noticed her absence. She really didn't want to explain what had gone wrong and this really put a bump in her overall good mood. The party had been good, but as usual, the guy had to ruin it.
A good looking guy stops right in front of her and when she tries to walk around him, he steps to the side, preventing her escape. He seemed thoroughly amused but her annoyance and she wasn't in the mood to deal with it.
"I don't know what your problem is dude, but I'll scream if you try anything."
A smirk appears on his lips. "I'll be gone and done before you scream... You see, I'm... peckish." He then lunges for her neck before she had proceeded his words. She screams when she feels his teeth on her neck and after couple of seconds he lets her drop on the ground. "Much better." He flashes her a bloodied smile before rushing away as all the lights of the houses that were around, light themselves.