Morning
After Krystal had finished a bag of blood the doorbell rang,
"Hey Krystal, can you get that, I'm not quite ready yet," Cadence shouted,
"Sure," Krystal jumping up and getting the door.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Krystal asked,
"My brother sent me to accompany you guys with the funeral arrangements today, may I come in?" Stefan asked,
"Right, hey Cadence, you have to be the one to let Stefan in," Krystal shouted,
"You don't have to yell, come in Stefan," Cadence still brushing her hair, Stefan stepped into the house.
"You guys ready to go?" Stefan asked,
"Almost, Krystal don't forget to clean your mess up," Cadence explained as she headed back to her room.
"Okay sis," Krystal shouted back, she grabbed the blood bag off the counter top and threw it in the trash, she grabbed another bag out of the fridge and drank it as she leaned against the sink.
"So," Krystal finding it a weird that Damon sent his brother to pay for things,
"Damon thought that it would be easier for you today if he wasn't around," Stefan explained. Krystal nodded as she drank more blood,
"How are you doing with everything?" Stefan asked,
"Um, I'm fine, I am trying to not think too much about things, I don't want to get to the point where I am crippled with depression and sorrow over mom and dad, they are in a better place and I was the one who got left behind, I chose this lifestyle to protect my sister, and now that its over, I don't know, I am at a complete loss of what to do with the rest of my life," Krystal seriously. Stefan nodded,
"You also chose to start over, a fresh new start," Stefan reminding her,
"Yeah, perhaps I was better off dead," Krystal mumbled out, Stefan heard her, he didn't know what to do but he could clearly see she was regretting her choice to live her life as a vampire.
"You don't have to feed on humans, or human blood," Stefan seriously,
"No, its not that, I was never supposed to live in this world, its what my grandmother explained to me, I was dead at birth, the doctors brought me back to life, then I was supposed to die in that wreck, along with my parents, but another doctor intervened and gave me life again, I'm just a ghost," Krystal explained. Stefan wanted to go over there and shake some sense into her, but Krystal's sister came in the kitchen,
"Ready, you guys ready?" Cadence asked,
"Yeah, we'll take Casper," Krystal throwing away the empty blood bag.
They went out to Casper and got in,
"Who's your new companion?" the car asked,
"His name is Stefan, Stefan meet Casper," Krystal turning the car on,
"Uh, hi Casper," Stefan confused,
"Its Krystal's, Brandon's, and dad invention," Cadence explained. Stefan nodded,
"Its nice to meet you finally Cadence," Casper hearing Cadence voice,
"Yeah, looks like you got a little roughed up in that fight," Cadence explained.
"Just a little, nothing that Krystal cant fix," Casper explained,
"Of course, how about some good rock in roll," Cadence asked,
"Coming right up," Casper flipping through the channels and settling on a station,
"Perfect," Cadence explained, Krystal drove out of town to find some clothing for her mom and dad. After they had found clothing they went through and picked out caskets for their parents, Stefan had a chance to talk to Krystal alone,
"Don't think about doing anything stupid," Stefan whispered, Krystal laughed a little,
"Who ever heard of a vampire with suicide tendencies? Besides, I cant really die unless I take off my daylight ring, or if I stake myself, I rather die for someone than take my own life," Krystal whispered harshly. Stefan nodded, he thought he had died for love, but that wasn't the case, Katherine never loved them, they found out that they had just been toys to her.
"Make sure its worth it this time," Stefan mumbled,
"Yeah," Krystal staring at a black casket with silver handles, her father would like it,
"What do you think about this one for dad?" Krystal asked Cadence, she came over and looked at it,
"You were closer to dad than I was, I wouldn't really know," Cadence shrugged.
"Not really, don't you remember he was the one who suggested I take pills because of the vision dream things, he thought I was a freak too," Krystal mumbled, Cadence didn't know what to say,
"You are my sister, I love you just the way you are or were, you know what I mean," Cadence explained.
"Yeah," Krystal explained, she walked up to the sales person,
"We'll take the black with the silver handles, we still have another to pick out as well," Krystal explained. The sales person rang up the black casket, Cadence picked out a light pink one for their mother.
"Also the light pink with the silver handles," Cadence going to the sales person,
"Will that be cash or check," the sales person asked,
"Check," Stefan walking over, they set up the delivery for them to arrive in the funeral home in Mystic Falls then they were being flown to Colorado.
"Alright, so tomorrow we can get the flight taken care of, and all we have to worry about is the digging the holes for them, and the headstones which we can get in Colorado," Krystal explained.
"Right, well I have to get into work today or they are going to fire me," Cadence explained, Krystal nodded, they got to the car and left. After Krystal dropped her sister off at work she went back to Cadence's house, it was just Krystal and Stefan now. Krystal cut the engine, she was about to get out when Stefan grabbed her wrist, Krystal looked at the hold he had on her wrist, then at Stefan.
"What, do you want to hang out or something?" Krystal panicking on the inside, she had thought Stefan was nice, maybe she had been wrong,
"Krystal you aren't a ghost, you shouldn't live your life like one," Stefan explained,
"The last time I check Stefan I was a vampire, I died, and I chose to turn, to protect my sister, what kind of life could I have as a vampire, always having to move because I wont get any older, never having a family, kids, a husband, a little puppy with the big back yard and white picket fence, the Norman Rockwell Christmas's, none of that will ever happen," Krystal explained.
"You have your sister," Stefan explained,
"No, I have no one, Cadence lost me in that wreck, along with mom and dad, but because I chose to live this way and to protect her, she doesn't get to mourn me along with them, I died, I am the living dead Stefan, she is alive and doesn't need to waste her time on a living dead vampire," Krystal jerking away from him. She got out and started walking up to the house, Stefan swiftly moved and threw her back onto the hood of the car. Krystal had to catch her breath,
"You need to come to your senses," Stefan seriously,
"And you think by throwing me on the hood of a car is going to knock some sense into me?" Krystal laughed a little, Stefan hated drama, his brother was always causing drama, now he had to deal with another one that was acting like a drama queen, she would be perfect for Damon.
"You have Damon, you have Elena, a vampire brother, you never had to watch him grow old and die, nor will you ever have to watch the woman you love grow old and die, but I will have to lose my sister, sooner or later she will die of old age, I'm sure she'll be surrounded by grandkids and great grandkids and maybe her husband, who had always been there for her, to love her and their kids, and I will be alone again, just like when I lost my brother, now get the hell out of my way," Krystal hissed.
"So what, you rather be alone now, and not celebrate your sister's life, the life you fought so hard to save?" Stefan shouted,
"I wasn't expecting Damon to come to Colorado to help me in that fight, I wasn't expecting to survive that battle, but I did, and I rather be alone now than celebrate the seconds in each and everyday that my sister is growing older and closer to death," Krystal growled out, she threw him out of the way and moved into Cadence house and shut and locked the door. Stefan watched from the ground, he sat there and thought about her words, she was right, all she had was her sister, like he had had Damon for all these centuries, but her sister was human, she wouldn't live to be as old as a vampire could live, and Krystal would truly be alone in the world, no family, no friends, just nothing.
Stefan was determined to make her have friends, to be in her sister's life, he had to do it before she left for Colorado again because she wasn't coming back, and if she was telling the truth about her feelings for her sister, her sister would never see her again. He had no idea how to deal with her, but he got up and went back to the boarding house to think of ways.
That night
Cadence had called and told Krystal she was headed out for some drinks with a couple of her friends, she invited Krystal to come out with them, she thought about it, and agreed to do it, only to make sure her sister didn't get into trouble. They winded up at the grill in town, Krystal moaned, she could already feel a migraine coming on, Stefan and his brother's gang liked to hang out here,
"Just great," Krystal mumbled,
"Hey, you coming?" Cadence asked,
"Yeah," Krystal not sounding too thrilled about their choice of bar, they walked in, some of the founding family members were there, Tyler and Caroline were there, but Stefan, Damon, and Elena were all missing in action. Krystal sighed out of relief, she could deal with Tyler and Caroline, but not the rest, she wanted to go over and play some pool maybe challenge some people and keep her distance, but out of love and protection for her sister she stayed with their group.
Cadence was hanging around a guy from work, Krystal hadn't really liked him, he seemed like Damon, only the human type of Damon, one who always got what he wanted, there was another girl that had came with them, she was okay, so Krystal thought. Cadence had brought another guy, one in his early 20s for Krystal's company, Krystal wasn't interested, even though he was nice, he was human, she was a vampire, it wouldn't work, not when she couldn't tell him what or who she really was.
"So, you just lost your parents, that must be rough," the guy not really knowing what to talk about with Krystal,
"Look Trevor, I am sure you are a nice guy and everything, I am just not interested," Krystal softly,
"Its Tristan, you aren't interested in sitting here and talking to me?" Tristan asked,
"Not about my parents, no," Krystal thinking that by hanging out with this guy would lead into something more,
"Okay, your sister tells me you just graduated from high school," Tristan started out again, Krystal was bored, she smirked a little,
"I don't know what I wanna do with my life, or anything like that either," Krystal explained.
"Okay," Tristan confused,
"Look, I just came out tonight to keep an eye on my sister, nothing more," Krystal seriously,
"I thought you were her younger sister?" Tristan asked,
"I am, what does that have anything to do with looking out for her?" Krystal annoyed, she saw Matt, she nodded,
"Hey Matt, can you give me a bourbon please," Krystal asked,
"Sure thing," Matt getting her a glass, another guy from Cadence's work came walking in, he sat on the opposite side of the bar, he looked to be her age, Cadence waved at him, he gave her a two finger wave to acknowledge her. Krystal glanced him over, he seemed nice, sad, but nice, and he was plenty attractive enough, dressed in a nice jacket suit, with a white button up long sleeved shirt, Krystal could tell by the way the guy eyed her sister that he liked her, but may be a little shy to come forward about it. Krystal got her bourbon, took a swig of it, then started talking with Tristan,
"Who is that?" Krystal asked,
"Oh, that's my older brother, he is CEO of the company, my father runs the company," Tristan explained,
"Yeah, he is the one who throws his money around to all the charity things, the homeless, the orphans, anything to make him look good, he is a kiss ass if you ask me," the guy with Cadence spouted off, Krystal looked again at Tristan's brother, she knew the guy that Cadence was with was throwing around words to make Tristan's brother look bad, he seemed like a kind hearted soul who was just lonely, and too shy to go after what he wanted, or to try to strike up even a conversation with the girl he liked.
"Come on Jess, he is sweet, he cares about people, and he wants to help, the world would be better off if there were more guys like him," the girl Cadence had brought along explained. Krystal wanted to slap her sister out of the spell she was under and get her to see the guy sitting at the other end of the bar, he was perfect compared to this guy that her sister was currently with.
"Tristan, tell me more about this brother of yours," Krystal explained, Tristan sighed, rattling on about his brother, how he worked long hours, didn't have a girlfriend, most of the girls he had gone out with had wanted him for his money or material things he would buy for them, he had a cocker spaniel dog that he went home to every night, and his name was Edward but most called him Eddie because he didn't like to be called Edward and he was a year older than Cadence.
~Perfect, he is so perfect for her, god Cadence, get your eyes off of the bad boy and look, open your blind fucking eyes and look at him!~ Krystal's mind screamed, she glanced over at Cadence and saw the guy was making her laugh, she was too busy laughing to notice that he had slipped something in her drink. That was the last straw, Krystal was about to get up and punch the guy, just lay him out, when she saw that Eddie had noticed the guy spiking her sister's drink.
~Get up, get up and come do something about it, lay this guy out.~ Krystal's mind screamed, Eddie got up and started to walk over but she could see the wheels turning in his head, before he got even half way over to them he had talked himself out of it and was walking out.
"Oh no you don't," Krystal mumbled,
"Hey, where are you going?" Cadence asked,
"I'll be right back. Don't drink that," Krystal commanded, Cadence was confused as she was a bit tipsy already, Krystal ran out and grabbed Eddie before he could leave,
"Where are you going?" Krystal asked, Eddie turned around,
"Do I know you?" Eddie asked,
"No, I'm Cadence's sister. Look I know you like her," Krystal getting his attention,
"Excuse me?" Eddie laughed a little,
"Look, I don't know if you guys talk at work, but that's not important right now, what is important is that you saw that guy spike her drink, now is your chance, you can go play the prince and rescue her," Krystal explained. Eddie laughed a little more,
"And how do I know your sister even likes me for me?" Eddie asked,
"My sister doesn't date guys just for their money, or material things, that has never mattered to either of us, she is the fairytale type person, just waiting for a prince to come rescue her from the trouble she puts herself in, now I know you have always had relationships that turned out where they didn't give a shit about you but you have to trust that this is different, she is different, you were about to come over to us but you stopped, I don't know if its because you are scared or too shy to approach her, but if you want to stop being lonely and stop having to work long hours because you come home to an empty house then go in there and lay that guy out," Krystal seriously.
"I know you can, I can see the muscles in your arm," Krystal pleaded with him,
"Why does this matter to you?" Eddie asked,
"Because, because I was one that always picked the wrong guy and he neglected me and murdered my parents, I want her to have someone who cares about her, who will love her for her, and protect her," Krystal's eyes watering. Eddie stared at her, minutes went by.
"Fine, be a pussy, let everyone else run all over you, if you cant man up and be a real man I will just take care of it myself," Krystal hissed out, she turned and walked back in. She was almost back over to her sister, when she was cut off,
"Cadence, don't drink that," Eddie standing there by her and in front of Krystal,
"What, why?" Cadence slurred a little,
"This guy spiked your drink," Eddie explained, the guy jumped up,
"Where the hell do you get off talking about me like I aint here, you little pussy ass son-of-bitch!" the guy taking a swing, Eddie caught his wrist, then caught the other that was coming around to hit his jaw, Eddie head butted the guy, and he sat down hard on the stool passed out. Krystal smirked, a tear rolled down her face, happy that maybe now Eddie would take the chance to know her sister.
"If you want I can take her home," Eddie explained to Krystal, Krystal wiped away her tear quickly,
"Um, yeah, I think she has gotten herself into enough trouble for one night," Krystal nodded.
"Do you know where her house is?" Krystal asked,
"Yeah, I've been there once or twice," Eddie explained, Krystal smiled a little and nodded,
"I'll meet you there," Krystal explained. Eddie turned back around and swooped up Cadence in his arms,
"Lets get you home," Eddie softly.
"But I'm not ready…" Cadence being interrupted,
"You have had enough for tonight," Krystal being more responsible than her older sister. Eddie got her in his truck and got her seat belt on her and he left.