Chapter 2: Thank You

Jogging through the woods to the beat of her music, she slowed down to take a look around her. The leafs were falling from the trees and hitting the ground within seconds thanks to the wind. The trees were bareless, almost as if they were naked. Kicking the leaves, she smiled, feeling like a kid again and began jogging again, knowing that her mom and dad would lose it if they knew she left the house without telling them.

After the Ezra scenario, they were very ANNOYING. They would check what she was wearing, how her makeup was, what she had in her bag and how her hair was. It was getting pathetic. She decided sneaking out would be the best thing to get away from the fun of it all. Seeing a small lake, she walked over and looked into it, her reflection staring back at her. It was beautiful, the sparkle that it gave off as the sun hit it.

Moving around it, she headed through some trees and stopped seeing a house, causing her to frown. A house in the middle of nowhere? Leaning against the tree, she studied it as if it haunted her somehow. It was a big house. Beautiful design, double glazed windows. A big garage. A fountain in the middle. Tilting her head to the side, she tried to get a look at the name on the mailbox before someone tapped her, causing her to let out a scream.

Turning around quickly with her hand on her chest, she came to face with the guy from the Grill a week ago. He had been stuck in her head ever since their meeting. Pulling her earphones out, she swallowed, feeling her lungs regain the lost air.

"You..you scared me there." She murmured as if it were a secret and tucked her earphones into her hoodie pocket.
"Sorry. I seen you having a good look at my house and decided to come over and see what the fuss was about." He told her with a smirk as she blushed, feeling the butterflies banging against the sides of her stomach. How does this guy always manage to look good? The dazzling blue eyes, the shirts that hug his torso perfectly and the dark denim jeans with the black shined shoes. He was like...a god.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I...I didn't realize this was your house. I was just...passing through and seen it. I just thought it was such a beautiful house." Aria spurted
out and swallowed, knowing she was talking jibberish. Feeling her phone vibrate, she jumped slightly already feeling like she was on edge and took it out, murmuring a small 'sorry' to Damon, before she flipped it open and pressed it against her ear.

"Hello?" She greeted as she wrapped her other arm around herself, feeling cautious from the look he seemed to be giving her as he looked her over.
"Aria Montgomery, where the hell are you?" Her father's voice shouted down the phone as she pulled the phone away a little.
"I went out for a walk, is that not allowed anymore?" Looking at the time on her watch, she began walking back into the woods, heading back in the direction that she had came from. She was meeting Caroline and Elena at the Mystic Grill in an hour and she didn't want to keep them waiting.

As her dad continued shouting down the phone, she hung up, knowing she had heard enough of that in a lifetime. Glancing behind her, she seen the guy gone and frowned, feeling very odd. Shaking it off, she put her earphones back in and began jogging again.

The grill was packed with people. The bar staff were running up and down the bar, making sure all the customers were satisfied and happy with their orders. The waitresses hurried through lines of tables, trying not to trip on the way as they were serving customers. People were crowded around the bar, the pool tables, there was a group of guys playing darts.

Aria pushed past the crowd, apologizing on her way through, not wanting to start a fight when she had only been here a week. What fun that would be.
Her eyes caught Elena and Caroline sitting at a table amongst the crowd causing her to cringe at the thought of getting to them. Taking a deep breath, she
pushed her way through as someone bumped into her causing her to stagger and fall into someone's back.

"Oh god. I am so so sorry." The brunette told the person quickly as she tried to recover from embarrassment.
"Falling for me already Aria?" The guy asked, turning around, causing her to look up as she finally seen who it was. THAT guy again.
"Oh, its you." She answered, not bothering to answer the question as she moved past him and headed over towards Elena and Caroline.

A week ago, she was head over heels with a crush on a guy she met at the bar. Now that she's seeing him more, she's started to become very annoyed of
him and his attitude. Cocky...very cocky. Shaking it off, she hurried over to the table and sat down.

"Hey girls, sorry I'm late." Holding her bag on her lap, she smiled at the two as they looked at her, mirroring her smile.
"Hey Aria. It's okay, don't worry. We were thinking of getting out of here." Caroline told her and waved her hand at the noise blurring around them.
"Yeah, we were gonna head to Stefan's and chill there." Elena told her with a smile as Aria nodded and pulled her bag over her shoulder.
"Sounds good to me." She responded as all the girls got up and pushed through the crowd. They walked outside, away from the warm atmosphere.

Damon's blue eyes lingered on the petite brunette leaving the grill and smiled, finishing his bourbon as he made his way out too, keeping a distance from the
girls. This girl was different. She was his one minute and then the next she was...not. Hot and Cold. He liked it. It made him more attracted to her and
her personality.

The girls walked up the road towards the Salvatore house, laughing and talking about the business in the grill. It turns out it was a cheap day. They were having special offers on drinks, meals and the arcade it's self in the grill.

"We're here at last!" Elena announced happily as the walk from the Mystic Grill had seemed longer than it was before.
"I know right? Stefan will wanna know what took us so long." Caroline told her laughing as she walked up the front door, knocking.

Aria stood at the bottom of the drive, studying the house in shock as she remembered the guy telling her this morning that it was his house. Did that mean
that...he was Stefan's..brother? Hugging herself, she kept staring at the house and jumped as she looked over to Elena who was calling her.

"Come on Aria! You can't stand out here all day!" She told her laughing as she walked inside with Caroline and Stefan.
"Okay." She murmured to herself as she walked up the drive and inside the house, shutting the door over.

Turning around, she held back a gasp as she took in the place. It's rustic, but posh interior. It made the exterior of the house look worth while. Walking
in further, she looked around and chewed on her lip. It was like a royalty's house. It was perfect, not one bit of furniture or pictures out of place. How
could a home be so perfect...and...full? If Stefan was here. how was he affording all of this?

Slowly placing her bag down on the ground, she sat on the couch, hugging herself, not wanting to touch anything, in case she ruined the neatness of it all.
Elena, Caroline and Stefan walked out of the kitchen and smiled at Aria. Elena sat next to Stefan on the couch opposite as Caroline took a place next to Aria.

"Here Aria. I got you some coke." Caroline told her with a cheerful smile as she held the glass of coke out, the ice floating at the top of it.
"Thanks Car." She responded, taking it gently as she took a sip and held it in her hands, the moist of the glass rubbing on her hands.
"Was the Grill really that busy then?" Stefan asked, leaning back as he wrapped his arm around Elena's shoulders. Leaning into him, she nodded, smiling.

"It was, we could barely move. Some people are cheap in this town." Shaking her head, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Stefan, does anyone else live here?" Aria asked suddenly as they all looked at her in confusion.
"Well...my brother lives with me. That's about it, why?" He responded as she swallowed, nodding.
"No reason. I just seen a lot of pictures. Your house is very beautiful." She told him with a genuine smile as she took a gulp of her coke.

They all smiled and laughed, nodding as they went back to talking. Caroline got up and turned the stereo on, jumping up and down. Elena and Stefan laughed and shook their head at her.

"Come on! We have to liven this relaxation time up!" She told them with a big smile as she turned it up louder. Aria smiled at her enthusiasm and laughed.
"Is she always like this?" Aria asked Stefan and Elena as Caroline gasped, pretending to be offended.
"Alwaysss." Stefan responded, dragging it out teasingly and smiled up at the blonde.
"Is it so bad that I'm happy?" Caroline shouted, smiling big as the door shut with a bang from the wind, causing everyone to look up as Damon walked in with his phone in his hand.

"Yes blondie. It is. You're annoying." He told her with a smirk as she flicked her finger up at him and continued jumping up and down.
"Aria, this is Damon, my brother." Stefan told her as Aria looked up at him for a brief second, before looking away again. Damon... she was imagining how it would sound rolling off his tongue. Aria! Stop it, she thought.

"Actually brother, we have already met. Several times." Damon told him with a grin as he looked over at Aria, his eyes dragging over her body as he could tell she was trying to avoid him. The brunette looked up at him as their eyes connected and she looked away again, sipping at her coke.

"What? When? How?" Caroline asked, looking over at Aria, whose head was still down, her eyes lingering on the glass that her fingers were tightly wrapped around. His blue eyes sparkled with amusement, knowing he just put in a an awkward position.

"Just a few times. The Grill." Aria murmured, looking up at Caroline as she knew looking at Damon, would make her start daydreaming again.
"Actually," Damon dragged out, crossing him arms as he rubbed his chin, pretending to think, "We met this morning during your jog as well."
"Not intentionally!" She looked up at him, a glare evident in her eyes as he grinned, walking past and through to the kitchen.

She seen the others looking at her and chewed her lip, smiling nervously. She was going to kill him, she felt like she needed to go and hit him or something. Finishing off her coke, she got up, stretching slightly.

"I'm going to get a refill. Where is it?" She asked softly as Stefan smiled, stroking Elena's hair.
"In the fridge Aria." Nodding, she walked on into the kitchen and seen Damon pouring a bourbon. Chewing her lip, she walked past him and opened the fridge, freezing as she seen the bottles of blood all over the fridge, causing her to swallow. Why was there bottles of blood everywhere? In the fridge of all places.

Feeling a warm breath on the back of her neck, she spun around quickly, coming to face with Damon and swallowed once again, feeling like she'd been caught like a deer in headlights. Smirking down at her, he moved closer as she leaned back, almost in the fridge.

"Ya know. It's not nice to be nosey and snoop around people's houses." He told her huskily as she inhaled deeply, getting his scent, which was a mix of
spice and cologne.

"I'm...I'm so...rry. Stefan said that the coke was in here." Aria responded, feeling the flutter in her stomach as she looked for a way around Damon.
"Mmh hmm. Well next time, get someone to get it for you. Instead of looking in places that you shouldn't be looking." He told her in a low voice as she nodded and
quickly ducked under his arm, hurrying out of the kitchen.

"You okay Aria?" Elena asked, seeing how she was rushing. The brunette picked up her bag and waved at them, rushing towards the door.
"Y...e...ah. Gotta go, bye!" She called out in a hurry as she rushed out, slamming the door and made her way down the drive, feeling her body shake.

Blood. Bottled blood in the fridge. Refridgerated blood. Just...BLOOD. Why would they keep blood in their fridge and why was Damon getting all weird about her seeing the blood? Looking up, she seen herself halfway up the road. It's funny how quick a walk is, when your mind is boggled with thoughts. Seeing the Mystic Grill, she walked inside, seeing it was empty now. It must have been a get in, get out thing. Walking over to the bar, she took a seat on the stool and placed her bag on the bar, deep in thought. What would any person keep blood in their fridge?

"Aria, right?" Looking up, she seen the guy that worked here on nights and the one that asked her for id, her 2nd night here.
"Id person." She responded as he laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, with a guilty look on his face.
"Eh, sorry about that. I was having a bad day. I know...you looked like you were too. Sorry for being a grump. I'm Matt." He told her with a smile.
"Nice to meet you Matt, as you know. I'm Aria." She responded with a slight laugh.

"Can I get you a drink now? Whatever you like...it's on the house?" Matt smiled as he cleaned the bar down and put the cloth over his shoulder.
"Anything good would be nice." Aria told him, not knowing what drinks there were. He nodded and smiled, walking down the bar as Aria rubbed her face and leaned her forehead on her bag.

"You know, I never said you had to leave." Aria's head snapped up as she heard his voice and she frowned.
"Are you following me or something?" She questioned as he chuckled and took a seat on the stool next to her.
"Well, you're not a hard girl to find Aria.." Damon responded with a grin as he watched her take a deep breath, obviously not comfortable in his company.
"Here's your drink Aria. Is he bothering you?" Matt asked as Aria took the glass into her hands and was about to answer, but Damon got to it before she
could.

"Go away busboy. Were busy...go on...shoo." He told him as Matt glared at him and moved down the bar, serving other people.
"Uh, how about you go away you stalker." Aria told him, getting up as she moved over towards the pool tables, only to be stopped by Damon as he appeared in front of her with a grin.

"Now now Aria. That's not very nice. You barely know me and already call me a stalker? At least know me for a more than a week." He teased.
"I don't wanna know you to be honest, alright?" She told him straight, losing patience as she walked away again, heading towards the tables.
"You did the first time you met me." Damon responded as he appeared in front of her again with a grin, causing her to huff in annoyance.

"No I didn-" Before she could finish, he lifted his hand to tell her to be quiet.
"Yes you did. You've been thinking about me all week." He told her as she looked at him, shock evident in her eyes as she pushed it away just as fast as it came and walked around him, placing her drink down as she stepped outside.

Walking down the path, she pulled her jacket closer to her and breathed in the fresh air. Sometimes she would imagine she was miles away, she'd drift off into a fairytale land. Even looking at the sky brought on an imagination daydream. Smiling softly, she walked quicker and turned down the alley.

"You know. When someone is talking to you, it's rude to walk away.." Damon called to her, following behind her.
"And, you know it's ANNOYING when someone keeps following you like a lost puppy!" She called back to him, furrowing her eyebrows, not liking the thought of being in a dark alleyway with him. Hello, who would wanna be in an alleyway with someone who's fridge was full of blood? Screams out murderer.

"I'm not following. I'm, let's say," Damon said, thinking to himself with a smirk on his face.
"Following me?" Aria filled in, rolling her eyes as she walked outside the other side of the alley and stopped dead, seeing her dad and another woman.
"Fine. Following it is, maybe I'm in-" Looking at her, he stopped talking, seeing her staring at something.

Standing behind her, he looked over her shoulder, confused to what she was looking at. Aria gripped her bag and coat tighter as she watched how her dad wrapped his arms around the woman and kissed her. She swallowed, tightening her fists. Again, he'd done it again. Seeing her getting into her car and driving off, she stormed over, leaving Damon and towards her dad. Boy did he have some explaining to do.

Damon watched curious as the brunette strided over the road and towards an older man, who was just about to get into his car. Should he go over? Crossing his arms, he leaned against the wall watching, speculating the scene before he interfered. Chewing on his lip, he watched how he brunette slammed the car door and began talking to the man in an angry manner. He listened in and stayed quiet. Did she have fire or what?

Storming to her dad's car, she slammed the door before he could get in, causing him to look up in surprise. He swallowed, seeing his daughter and turned to her.

"Aria, what are you doing here?" Byron asked as she glared at him, furious.
"You said you wouldn't do it again dad! What was that! Your 'friend' huh?" Aria shouted at him, feeling the tears build up as she crossed her arms.
"T...that w...as.. nothing." He responded stuttering nervous as she breathed deeply.

"I could kill you right now. I could kill you dad!" She closed her eyes, trying to keep calm.
"Don't talk to me like that Aria! I am your father!" Byron told her sternly as she laughed coldly and glared at him.
"No, you're not. You lost that title the moment you hurt mom. You've just done it...again. I won't be keeping it a secret from mom this time." She told him as she went to walk away but he grabbed her arm quickly.

Damon watched and as he seen her go to walk away and Byron grab her arm, he moved over quickly and stood behind Aria, watching him carefully.

"Is everything okay here?" He questioned as Aria looked up at him, swallowing back the tears and tugging her arm away from her dad.
"Yeah. Everything is perfect." Giving her dad a dirty look, she turned and walked in the opposite direction as Damon watched Byron and followed her soon after. Byron watched the guy and frowned annoyed as he got into the car and drove off.

"You alright?" Damon asked as he watched her hug herself and take a steady breath before she answered him.
"I'm fine." She replied, swallowing and turned the corner, walking to her house as she searched her bag for her keys.

His blue eyes watched her curiously, not knowing what made him feel protective of her all of a sudden. He pushed it to the back of his head as he watched her unlock the door and walk in, before she turned around, looking at him.

"Thank you Damon." Giving him a weak smile, she shut the door as he rubbed his chin, thinking and turned around, walking off in the other direction. For the
first time in a while, his mind was boggled and shockingly, it wasn't Klaus or Elena making him like that.

A/N: Hope you like it guys :) Leave your opinions please

Shauna
xx