Song Inspiration: "You Found Me" by Kelly Clarkson
Author's Note: Sorry for the long update. Just had to make sure it was just right. I wanna thank my friend [Nova] for helping me get the dialogue together and helping me write this chapter. Thanks love so very much.
"So are you going to pick me up later?" Alice leaned over the driver window, a coy smile now replacing the former distraught demeanor. The car parked just outside a sign labeled MYSTIC FALLS HIGH SCHOOL. The brunette beauty stared back her, her cheeks flushed with anxiety, they were about to embark on the unknown that was waiting on them in this town. The sunglasses that had just held her shiny locks back were now being pushed down over the bridge of her nose. Sydney replied, "Yeah, just call me when you get things straightened out. I'm going to get a drink and see what people know about the Lockwoods." Alice leaned in and kissed her cheek, whispering, "I love you, doll."
Sydney followed suit kissing Alice's cheek, "Love you too, babe. Now get out of here before this guy leaves." She'd pointed out to the gentleman stepping outside of the front entrance of the school, wearing dark rimmed glasses, a brown suit and tie, and holding a briefcase as if he were going leaving work for the day. Alice squeaked and headed in a short sprint for the building, allowing Sydney to leave for the town bar. She raced her Shelby away from the lot and headed toward downtown. If she recalled, there used to be a something of a saloon/hole-in-wall where that area was built up. Hopefully it's still there or something of the like…
She'd been meaning to get that stupid scratch fixed. It just looked unsightly and unattractive at the left side of hood. Her 67 Mustang was clean, the black gloss shined perfectly in the sunset. Yet the nick in the front of the car remained, and it was bothering her like no other. Mystic Falls was a sleepy little town; the only reason Sydney didn't bring her car in was because she was afraid the body shop just outside of town weren't going to make it look like new. "Nice car." One of the town kids called out to her as she started to lock the door. As she threw her jacket over her shoulder, she mumbled, "Yeah right." The last time she was here, George Lockwood was terrorizing the townspeople every full moon. She believed the little bastard enjoyed hurting these poor people. The thought of ripping out his throat and saving the day, pleased her. She knew it wasn't fair. Besides, Jonathan Gilbert took care of that shortly after she left town.
She looked up over her car and saw the name of the establishment she was going to be walking into, MYSTIC GRILL. This little town had changed quite a bit since she was last here. Well it's been over 150 years, She thought, walking past a group of gawking male townies, she sighed knowing that would never change no matter she may go. It would have made her smile if one of them actually had the balls to come talk to her. But nonetheless, she pulled open the entrance door and walked through. Well there was one thing, she was already starting to enjoy. The place looked very relaxed and much laid back. She raked through her dark curls, and surveyed the area. She was hoping she'd run into her "aunt" Carol or Tyler. But she saw no one. She couldn't smell them near. They weren't at the manor. This was looking like a waste of time.
Her eyes continued to roam and she surveyed an open spot at the bar. No she shouldn't. I can't, She told herself, as the young bartender ducked beneath the smoothed surface. Stay focused, Sydney. You must find the Lockwoods. He resurfaced opening a bottle of chilled vodka, one of her favorites. She watched as he poured the sweet nectar in the small glass. She watched it twinkle over the ice that filled the container, her ears picked up the sound of the fluid cascading against the ice. She reacted by licking her lips, and without will she found herself walking over to the bar, taking the empty stool. Placing a sliver card on the polished wood grain, she knew she couldn't keep herself from indulging a bit of spicy nectar.
Looking up to the bartender, "Double Johnnie Walker Red, and keep em' coming." As the bartender prepped her shot, she turned her back to the bar. She knew he'd be back to town soon; there weren't as many animal attacks in the area lately. But she could smell Patrova blood near; her brother would find it soon. She'd be here waiting. Reaching over to grab the shot, she thought to herself; since she was in town for a while, she may as well get into a little bit of trouble tonight. She downed the first shot and her roaming eyes scanned the room for anything interesting to catch her attention.
Minding his own business after a wasteful weekend tracking Stefan and a magical artifact that was going to prove invaluable, Damon was yet again sitting at The Mystic Grill drinking his favorite drop of alcohol. His bourbon was normally served straight up on the rocks, and usually, as a double. Being a vampire, alcohol didn't affect the body unless drunk in copious amounts; seeing as the body healed too quickly for it to take effect. That, however, wasn't the main reason he drank the same thing over and over. Instead, he had become accustomed to the taste and the burning sensation down his throat, just like when he fed on humans. For Damon, it was like a hunger suppressant. If he drank cold bourbon, it would be like he had just had the equivalent in human blood... almost like a nicotine patch, but for vampires driving the craving of blood away.
While lost in some random thought, he turned his head to see who had pulled up the bar stool next to him; a little surprised to hear a female voice order a straight scotch. For a moment, all he could see was the back of her, with long brunette (almost black) hair flowing down her back and accentuating her assets. Least to say, Damon's view had vastly improved. However, when she finally sat properly, he was taken aback with not only her beauty (which he did not show on his face), but also that he knew her... once upon a time. Yet, for the undead life of him, Damon couldn't remember her name, even if he was staring uncontrollably at her beauty. He interrupted her heaven, "I like a girl who knows and holds her liquor," he directed to her, "What was your name again?" he asked cheekily and instantly he knew that he sounded like some guy with a lame pick up line. However, he was curious as to how he knew her and hoped that it wasn't just a dream. Besides, the girl could drink!
Tossing the drink back down the hatch, and pushing the shot glass forward, she hadn't flinched or winced at all when the smooth spice burned down her throat. Sydney hadn't paid much attention to the people sitting at the bar at all. That was until she heard someone speak to her. A very familiar voice. Her eyes trailed the voice to it's source. Her words caught her throat when she met his haunting blue eyes. She could only muster an airy whisper, "...Damon."
All of a sudden, it felt like 1864 again. Her mind flashing back to the day she first met him, he, his family, and the house they shared. The days running around in the woods… Playing around in the garden of the Salvatore home… Staring at him now, he hadn't aged a day, still as handsome as the day they met. But it couldn't be real; it had to be his great grandson. He was a spitting image of him too. There's no way he's alive. He'd have to be at least 170 years old, she thought. But there was no matter of convincing herself, he had an intoxicating scent, always has. There was no mistaking, it was him for sure. Damn ultra heightened senses. Why can't you just let me believe he was dead?
She turned on her stool to him, "It's actually Sydney." She answered, playing it cool, barely able to contain her excitement. His spiky brown hair was a much different look from the coiffed waves he had a century ago. "But when I met you and your brother years ago, you knew me very personally." The bartender placed a fresh filled shot glass before her. She the corner of her nude matte lips turned up into a smirk and she answered. "With a shot, it's either go hard or go home, do you agree, sir?"
Damon cocked an eyebrow at her drinking skills. He was impressed. It could mean a few things; partied harder than normal; starting drinking young... or; she was either older than she looked. He doubted it was the last of those options, but from her reaction on seeing him, he suspected he was forgetting an important detail about the whole situation. Even if she tried to hide it, his super hearing picked up that she knew his name. The skip of the beat of her heart was another indicator to him. Secretly he would be cautious, but on the surface, he was going to be his regular dic- charming self. He smiled a little at her, seeing the expression change on her face when she greeted him – he had her, at least for the moment.
When she told him her current name, his smiled stayed and he said, "Both pretty and unique," pausing a moment before adding, "...and your name's interesting too," teasing and complimenting. Damon then looked over to the barkeep and tinkled the glass in his hand, signaling for another. He quickly obliged and Damon took a sip of his freshly poured bourbon, then stopped mid-gulp, almost choking when she revealed her real name, and that she knew him at least a century ago. It was a little disheveled for Damon's usual reaction, but Sydney… she was before Katherine.
And she should have been dead by now! Instantly, he took a few breaths to keep the choking at bay and then frowned, looking at her as if she just fallen off of Mars onto Earth, like some kind of alien, his eyebrows at work. Surprised, he asked, "But... how?" It all started coming back to Damon. He started remembering bits and pieces. Almost as if someone had compelled him to forget about her; and for a few moments… He just stared at her, incoherent. When he finally made a little sense of it, he asked concerned and a little desperate, "Where have you been!" Not caring that he may have blown his cover or revealed a large secret to a potential stranger, even if he did know her all those years ago. Still in shock, he merely raised his glass and took a shot of his drink as she swallowed hers, then waited intently for her answers.
Images flashed back and forth between past and present the more she stared at him. She attempted to look away, when the bewilderment on his face took form; she did her best to hide all emotion. "I had a mission when I came here. My charge was taken care of and I was needed here no more. So I left and left the story that'd I'd died in my sleep. It's really simple actually." She turned back to face him, letting the fake smile plaster her face.
However her cheeks grew rosy, as if she'd been hiding something. She did her best not let her true memories be heard, because if he was indeed the species that'd kept him alive for 100 years. He could hear her every thought. In her head, she struggled to block out the lost memories. She wanted to play it cool, as usual, but it appeared to much harder than it truly had been before.
She leaned into her object of intrigue and whispered, "So happened to you? How long have you been...? I remember a more distinguished good boy, and you've always been devilishly handsome. But the more and more I look at you. The more and more I want to have my way with you, and my senses tell me you wouldn't object." She traced her finger along his wrist. Her blue eyes never leaving his. This wasn't a first for her to try to change the subject about her all the while getting dirt on her latest playmate. She only hoped he took the bait.
He wasn't about to bite. He brushed her hand off, knocking back the rest of his drink. "As tempting at that sounds, I want answers… I thought you died…" She waved over the bartender. Tossing her dark locks behind her, she just winked and requested he bring over the rest of the bottle to save time and energy.
"I had to. Lives were at stake if I didn't leave." She pouted, "Believe me, you were my best friend, it damn near killed me to leave you behind." A head shake followed by Damon in disbelief, in response, she poured the Johnnie Red over the ice in his glass. He whispered, "Sydney… If you were a vampire why didn't you tell me? I would have understood. Katherine sure had no problem ripping someone's throat out in front of me."
Katherine Pierce. She smirked. Katherine annoyed her to no ends. The vampires in Mystic Falls wanted to live there peacefully, Katherine being the lascivious tramp that she was made it so hard to do that. Which, in turn, made it even harder for family to keep her in line. The only enjoyment that came out of watching her was when she exposed herself to the Salvatores, it was gonna hurt her big time in the end. When she'd heard that the town council locked her in Fell's Church, she and Alice had themselves a Siesta in her honor.
"Vampires…" She whispered back, making the connection that he was now a vampire. "Gotta love their ruthlessness." She took a swig from the bottle itself, not bothering to fiddle with the shot glass. "But, I'm not sure that's what you wanna call me dear."
He finished off his glass as if he were taking down a shot, shaking off the burn just before he asked. "Oh is that so? Then what are you? For you to be at least 100 years old, it's the only thing that makes sense."
Her phone vibrated in her back pant pocket, like clockwork... She corked the nearly empty bottle on the bar, and began getting up from the stool. "See ya around, Damon." She whispered, as she leaned over, her powder pink lips not quite touching his ear. She gave it a little lick and headed for the door. She felt his gaze from behind her, but she couldn't look back. The more she felt Damon's presence, the more she was around him, the weaker she got. With each step she felt her knees buckle with need, she couldn't take him there in the bar. She had to force herself to walk away; this plan wouldn't allow her to coerce herself with someone of an enemy species.
She got in her Mustang and slammed the door shut; she cranked the ignition and pressed answer on the touch screen of her cellphone. "You're still at the school right?"
"No, Doll, my bones are so sore, I'm heading for the woods." The voice responded through the phone. She looked up through the windshield. Full Moon… Her skin flushed with heat. Sydney said, "Go near the falls, I'll be there soon, don't start with out me, Alice."
She powered the phone down; she glanced back and saw the dark figure of a man standing just outside her car. The haunting blue eyes watching her as he could hear everything she spoke. With the blink of an eye, Damon stood in front the driver's window, tapping on the glass. Her right foot filled heavy like lead as she peeled out of there. Smoking billowed away from the tires; the smell of burning rubber filled the street. Damon didn't even bother. He had her scent; he would find her wherever she went. There were many questions to be answered… but not before he got acquainted with her decadent body first.