So nothing really to say this time. Sorry it took long.
"But, Mom, you don't understand-!"
"Tyler, I understand perfectly, I just don't see why she has to stay here!"
I was sitting on Tyler's bed, listening as he tried to convince his mom to let me stay.
In her defense, we hadn't really prepared her well, for when she came in to check on Tyler in the morning, finding some girl in bed with him didn't really convince her all that well.
"You can't just throw her out in the streets!" If she says no… I don't know, but you're staying here.
"Tell me someone who knows her who would be willing to say we can trust her."
God I hate this, he thought, releasing his frustration.
I thought hard as to who would be able to stand in my defense, and almost slapped myself for not having thought of it before.
Stefan and Damon! I exclaimed mentally, getting up and moving to look out the window, now excited to head out and see them.
"Stefan and Damon," he said, professing my thought calmly.
"Damon Salvatore?" She asked, almost as if she wasn't going to believe it.
"Yea, the guy on the Council. His brother practically grew up with her."
"But where is she coming from? Why didn't she come with them before? Where's her family?"
"Her mom was sick," he explained, dealing with this better than I was. "Disease, she died. Her dad, well, her dad got up and left." I hate having to say this was what happened, but I really don't want to tell her the other reality either…
No, no, Tyler, it's fine. Thank you, really.
"And she grew up with Stefan?"
"Yes, and you know Stefan, not as well as you know Damon, but you know how calm he is."
"I'd rather hear this from Stefan and Damon's mouths," she said. "That way, I know it's true."
I'll be right back, I thought to him, knowing I could probably go and look for Stefan in time before her mom went to see them.
"I'll stop by their home after work, but just be careful while I'm gone."
"If anyone's the one you have to worry about, it's me," Tyler said, sounding as if he was rolling his eyes. Hold on, just let her go, then we'll go see them together. I really don't know why she doesn't think we can go see them now and convince them.
His mom sighed but I heard her get up and walk out of the kitchen, hesitate by the stairs, the ones that would lead straight up to Tyler's room, but then continued, out of the house.
Once the door shut and I heard the car's engine roar, I ran downstairs, smiling expectantly at Tyler.
"Might as well get comfortable," he said, getting up. "By the time she gets to Stefan, we'll have him agreeing with us."
"Okay, but can we go now?" I asked, letting him reach for my hand, holding on tightly. "I actually want to see them now, Stefan in particular."
"Stefan? Why?"
I shrugged, not knowing the exact reason behind my sudden excitement. "He's the one that kept me from being blood crazed, he's the one that helped me out, he's the nice, and I want to meet this Elena girl you mentioned yesterday."
"She's human," he said. "And she knows they're vampires and about all of their things…"
"So she would probably know about me?"
He shrugged. "Maybe, depends on how much Damon and Stefan want to let her in."
"Okay, okay, come on," I tugged slightly on his hand. "The more you say the more I want to get the details."
He grimaced. "I think I like you better when you sleep."
I groaned, turning, searching for his keys.
"Come on," he said, producing his keys from his pocket. "But I'll drive, since you seemed a little too hyped up to actually do any sensible driving.
I winked at him and ran outside, waiting by the car.
I'm starting to think you want the Salvatore brothers more than you do me.
"Don't be silly, Tyler. Who did I change for?"
"Remind me when we're over there," he said, locking the door on his way out. "I have to get Bonnie to change us back, before the next moon."
"I don't mind changing again," I replied, getting into his car. "If you were to ask me to change for you again, I wouldn't say no."
"But I wouldn't ask you to change for me, so drop it." He got into the car, not before throwing me a loving glare.
"I'll make sure she doesn't change us back," I joked, not really minding how this worked out. If I changed, fine, if I didn't, I'd be with him every step of the way.
"The hell you would," he retorted, backing up out of the driveway. "You made me leave, I'm making you leave."
Sure, whatever he said.
"And I'm being completely serious, Caroline." I nodded, but still didn't look at him. Caroline. Either you leave when I tell you to leave or I have Bonnie find something to keep you away from me.
"Okay, Tyler," I sighed, turning to look at him. "I'll leave, and I'll know how you felt when you had to leave me."
He reached up to nip my chin.
Thank you. But just to be sure…
"No!" I snapped. "I was just kidding when I said I wouldn't leave, but that's completely different from keeping me away the entire time."
"So, you'll leave when I tell you to leave?"
"Just as long as it's when you're cringing in pain as well."
He threw another glare my way.
"Fine, only because that's when I left you."
I smiled and reached for his hand, watching as he slipped his fingers between mine.
"Let's go over what we'll do when we get there," he said.
"Well, there's getting them to agree to say that I grew up with them."
"Which I'm pretty sure Stefan would agree too…"
"Damon…" I looked out the window, trying not to be pulled back by my memories. "Who knows how that'll go."
"And then there's the vampire that followed you home yesterday."
"And why the hell he was following me home."
"Who he was."
"What he wanted."
"And…?"
I looked back to him, not sure what else.
"Caroline," he sighed, turning back to the road.
"Umm… Did you mention something while I was asleep or something? Because I'm not really sure what…?"
"I guess it wasn't as obvious, but if they do know who the other vampire was, we have to get them to inform us on everything."
"If they decided to trust us with it."
"They should, because we'll agree to give them the moonstone my Uncle Mason wanted so badly."
"You think that has to do with it?" I asked, intrigued.
"If he wanted it, that means it has at least some sort of importance."
"Step on it, yea, Tyler?
I felt Damon before I even saw the house.
Or, his aura, you can say.
The dark, gold flecked aura he had, the one I knew was perfectly his, because I could feel his arrogance, the way he was probably smiling cunningly right now.
And then, "Welcome home, Care."
I hissed unconsciously and Tyler turned to look at me, turning the corner, the house coming into view.
He talked to me, I explained, and I didn't even have to say he. He thinks he can just talk to me like nothing ever happened.
Tyler stopped the car in front of their house, and Stefan came out, looking just like he had a year back.
We got out at the same time, Tyler and I, and Bonnie walked out of the house, looking satisfied, followed by a taller brunette, one that immediately reached for Stefan.
Elena, Tyler informed, moving closer to me, stepping slightly in front of me.
"Caroline?" Stefan asked, once we were on the bottom of the steps.
"One and only," I said, standing there awkwardly, wanting nothing more than to disappear with Tyler back to his house, spend the rest of the day there.
Elena smiled at me and slowly stepped down the stairs.
"You're the one he changed?" She asked.
So she knew.
I nodded, looking behind Stefan, expecting to see Damon smiling at me, but I didn't see him.
She nodded and stopped in front of me.
"I can honestly tell you he's not at all happy that he did change you," she started, taking me completely off guard. "When he did decided to tell me, he was completely torn up by it, and I could tell he regretted it. He said that if he could take it back-"
"I probably wouldn't let him," I interrupted, smiling at her, showing her I didn't mean any bad intentions, that I was speaking honestly.
She looked surprised and I nodded toward Tyler, looping my hand through his.
"A vampire and a werewolf?" Stefan asked, stepping down form his spot.
"Stefan," Elena said, as if shunning him.
"A vampire and a human?" I contradicted, smiling brightly at him. "Honestly, Stefan, what are you going to do?"
"You're admitting it now?" Bonnie asked, stepping down as well. "You like him?"
Tyler laughed, dropping his head, awkwardly shaking his head.
"Where's Damon?" I asked, loud enough for him to hear.
"Well, let's start off with this," Stefan said. "Why are you here?"
"As in in your house here or-?"
"In Mystic Falls here."
"I don't know," I shrugged. "I came here because the Life Force, aura thing was so strong, I figured no one would notice if I fed on-" His eyes widened in surprise. "Rabbits!" I added. "You were the one that showed me how to feed on rabbits, why would you think I would do differently?"
"Why don't you help her, Stefan?" Elena asked. "You've been drinking the blood bags we've gotten form the hospital. I'm sure if we got her into the same habit you're in, she'll be more in control."
He nodded and smiled.
"How about it, Caroline?"
I was going to agree, reluctantly, but Tyler mentally nudged me.
To have them agree with us, Bonnie switch us, and yesterday's vampire.
"Right…" I said. "Maybe some other time," I said. "And I don't want to procrastinate on that, but the reason Tyler and I are here is because, well-"
"We want to get you and Damon to agree that when my mom comes by later in the afternoon, that you two will agree to say that Caroline is trustworthy, that she would be safe staying in my house."
"You already moved in with him?" Bonnie asked, smiling widely.
I shot her a begging look to save the teasing for later.
"You're mom doesn't want her staying with you?"
"I guess having woken up in the same bed didn't work in out favor."
He nodded, understanding dawning on him.
"So, what's the story?"
"Seriously?" I asked, smiling. "You'll do it?"
He nodded, smiling sternly. "I'm sure you'll make a great edition to our little group."
Nodding as well, I said, "Well, we knew each other when we were little. Say how we went to the same school, but then we went to different schools because we specialized in different things or something. And that when you were leaving, we were like best friends."
"And Damon would have to say what?"
"Don't worry about Damon," a new voice said. "I'm sure we can just compel her into believing the little vampire's safe."
I looked toward him, flinching slightly as I saw him walking out of the house, that sly smile plastered all over his face.
"Remember," Elena said, tugging on my hand. "No matter how arrogant he may seem, he regrets it."
"It's about time I claim my property," he said, moving past Bonnie, Stefan and Elena, standing directly beside me. "But what are you doing with a werewolf?"
"Damon," Stefan interjected, moving as if to move between us in case we showed any signs of retaliation.
"I really don't have time to get into those explanations," I said, shaking my head slowly. "If you just agree to help me out now, I'll tell you anything you want later."
Tyler squeezed my hand, drawing Damon's attention.
He won't do anything, he said, watching Damon as close as he was watching me. If he does, we can just lock him up with me when I change.
"Can you just agree to say how you always saw Stefan and me playing in the meadows or something?"
He widened his eyes a bit. "You sure you won't try to rip her throat off?"
"I'm positive, or else I would've already gone for someone else."
He cocked his head to the side, studying me.
"If I recall, you did go after someone. A lot of someone's in particular."
"So much for regretting it, huh?" I retorted, shrugging at Elena. "But will you just agree to it Damon? I'm not going to and I haven't killed anyone in Mystic Falls."
He still looked at me, but then nodded.
"Fine, but tomorrow, you spend the day with me-" Tyler pulled me back, away from Damon. "Ah, I figured you'd react like this."
"What do you want with her?" He asked, causing Stefan to step forward, holding him back slightly. Bonnie and Elena took up either side of me.
"Are you really just going to let them solve this?" I asked, feeling defenseless standing there.
They looked at me as if I were crazy.
"Right," I said, shaking my head. "Vampire, humans."
I ran forward and pulled Tyler away, stepping out of Damon's way.
Hold it, Tyler. Remember? He isn't going to hurt me.
He glared at me, but then calmed down, letting out the breath he was holding in.
"So we have a deal?" Damon asked, stepping forward, placing his arm on my shoulder. "I tell Carole you're safe, and you spend the day with me tomorrow?"
I glanced at Elena and Bonnie, and only received a reassuring look from Elena.
If you don't want to do it, Tyler began, reaching for me again. Just tell me and we'll leave, we'll try to compel her.
I'm not strong enough for that, I replied, looking at Damon.
"Fine. You have a deal."
He nodded and smiled, squeezing my shoulder than letting me go. He stirred the air around me and it triggered something inside of me.
"It was you?" I asked, my mouth dropping open.
He turned and winked.
"I had to check up on my little prodigy eventually, right?"
He turned back and walked back into the house.
"What was that?" Bonnie asked.
"I went to my old apartment yesterday," I sad, giving her the shorter version. "After I finished packing my things, and I was leaving, I felt someone inside the apartment with me. I ran away, and I figured it was a human or something, a robber that had gotten in, but they had still been following me, and I realized they were a vampire.
"And it was Damon."
Tyler sighed.
What exactly does he want with you? I turned to smile at him.
Whatever he wants, you're all I want okay?
He smiled back at me.
"So that takes care of two things," I turned to Bonnie. "Can you switch us back now?"
"So that takes care of two things," I turned to Bonnie. "Can you switch us back now?"
She smiled back, nodding.
"How'd it go?" She asked, looking between Tyler and I.
"I should just hurt you for having agreed to switch us," Tyler added.
Elena clapped her hands together, placing them over her mouth.
Stefan laughed once, putting his arm around her.
"Bonnie wasn't kidding when she said you guy were mates." She said, beaming at me.
I smiled wryly, feeling as awkward as Tyler probably felt a while ago.
"Come on in," Bonnie said. "Let me just find the book again and I'll have you two back to normal."
I looked back to Tyler and pulled him by the arm.
Might as well get over all this awkwardness, I said, trying not to be to aware of the fact that Stefan and Elena were probably speculating at us.
I'm comfortable around you, not everyone else.
As we sat down for Bonnie to switch us back, I began to feel just some of what Tyler would feel, about how he told me he felt so alone at times.
Yea, I would have my depressing moments where I didn't want to talk to anyone, but the way Tyler felt made me vow to never leave him.
And to never let him leave me.
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