Chapter 3: Goodnight

Staring down at the breakfast in front of her, she chewed her lip deep in thought. What was the right thing to do? Tell her mom? Of course that's what she had to do. Was she going to do that? She didn't know. Poking at her cereal with the spoon, she stared up at her mom who was making coffee and then looked over to her dad that was reading the newspaper. Did she wanna ruin what they had again? Did she want to move again?

Getting up, she walked over and put her bowl on the side as she walked out and grabbed her bag in the hallway, checking her appearance in the mirror to
make sure you at least looked a bit decent. She brushed herself down and pulled on her leather jacket.

"Honey, you okay?" Her mom walked out and asked as she crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow, "You've been acting strange for the past days."
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine mom, all...good. I'll see you later." Aria walked out and closed the door, sighing softly. If only she knew.

Going over to her car, she pulled the door open and got in, dropping her bag in the seat next to her. Thank god she had got a car the day before. The freedom to go anywhere she wanted and whenever she wanted.

Elena rummaged through her locker, looking for her chemistry book and smiled as Stefan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the head. They had a very close relationship, ever since they met. They were ALWAYS together.

"Lost it AGAIN?" He said teasingly as she laughed and gave him a look.
"No. I have just...misplaced it.." She answered, smiling big as she continued searching through it, knowing if she didn't find it sooner or later, she was going
to be late for Chemistry. That's not what anybody wanted with Mrs Landi.

Damon walked into the school and looked around, searching. Not here. Moving down the halls, he looked around and turned the corner as he headed down the corridor and seen Stefan and Elena. GREAT. Going over to them, he gave them a charming smile.

"What do you want Damon?" Stefan questioned, raising an eyebrow as he kept his arms around Elena's waist.
" Do you actually have to follow me in school too?" Elena asked, annoyed and gave him a look, getting her book.
"Actually...Miss Elena. It's not all about you. You're not who I'm looking for." He told her with a smirk as her jaw dropped and walked off, continuing to look around. Where was she? Turning the corridor, he made his way down the hall and stopped, seeing her.

Finally. After 'hours' of searching. Pushing through the endless amounts of students, he made his way over to her, taking in her appearance as he grinned. Always seemed to look...dashing. Walking over, he leaned against the locker beside hers and grinned as she shut her locker and jumped, seeing him.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" Aria asked, holding her hand on her chest as she took her jacket off and folded it over her arm.
"To see you. What else would I been doing in a high school full of teenage girls for?" He grinned, wiggling his eyebrows as she smiled softly, rolling her eyebrow.
"You're such a weirdo. What do you want?" Raising an eyebrow, Aria tucked her hair back and looked up at him, waiting for an answer.
"You're such a clever girl Aria." He told her with a smirk as he pushed himself off the locker and stepped closer to her.

Aria gave him a warning look and stepped back, pointing at him. She knew he wanted something. Like HE would come into a High School just to see her. It would be a bit weird since she hasn't seen him for a couple of days. Not...that she was counting or anything.

"Don't even think about it Salvatore." She told him sternly as she looked around, seeing that all the students had vanished from the hall.
"Don't...what? You seem unsure of me. After all. I've helped you out." Rolling her eyes, she waved her hand at him and turned around, walking down the hall as she headed towards her class. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and chewed her lip, confused. Where did he go? Shaking her head, she turned around and continued onwards to class.

Pulling up outside the Mystic Grill, she walked inside and looked around, seeing the same old crowd as usual. Going up the small steps, she took a seat on the stool and smiled as Matt came over towards her.

"Twice in the past...three days. You must really have a thing for me Aria." He told her, grinning as she rolled her eyes and took her jacket off.
"Don't get your hopes up Matt. I hardly like anyone." She told him, smiling as he walked down the bar, getting her normal order.
"Well you like me, so," Aria slowly turned her head and looked at him with a 'are you kidding me look' as he grinned, "what?"

"What? Seriously? What? You know something," Turning on the stool, she leaned closer, "It's weird when 24 year old men stalk 17 year old girls."
"I'm not stalking. Who says I even followed you here? I came here to have a drink and it is the place I always come too." Smirking, he ordered his bourbon.
"Whatever floats your boat Damon." Aria told him, turning back on her stool as she smiled, taking the coke from Matt and taking a big sip.

Looking around the bar, she chewed on her lip as she took in the dim lights and the people that were playing pool with sour looks on their faces. Wow...she thought her life was bad and they're just playing pool. Glancing back at her drink, she took another sip and spun the glass with the tip of her fingers. Hearing a chuckle, she looked to the side of her, to see Damon looking at her with a smile.

"A penny for every thought," He told her as she rolled her eyes and ran her finger around the trim of the glass, "Have I told you that you look ravishing today?"

"No." She told him straight, lost for words as he leaned closer to her, leaning his elbow on the bar.
"Well, you do. So...wanna fill me in on your daddy issues?" He asked amused as she looked at him, glaring.
"Your such an ass." She told him as he smiled with a nod.

"I already know that Aria. Otherwise I wouldn't be well-known around here." Damon laughed, taking a gulp of his bourbon as she winced, thinking about what it tasted like last time. It left a burning feeling on the back of her throat, but it made her feel a whole lot better.

"He's just an ass. Always looking for ways to mess up the family." She told him softly as she took another sip of her coke and let out a puff of air.
"He messed about on your mom, huh?" He asked, taking a sip of his bourbon as he looked over at her.
"Twice now." The brunette answered quietly as she held two fingers up and finished off her coke.
"Here." Pushing the glass over to her, he smiled and nodded at it, "Finish it off. You might feel better. Just knock it back."

Aria looked down at the glass and slowly took it into her hands as she looked over at Damon, to see him ordering another one and sighed softly. It might help. It was worth a try. To drown all the worry out. Closing her eyes, she brought the glass to her lips and tilted her head backwards, gulping the drink in one as she placed it back down on the bar. Damon smiled over at her and took the empty glass, pushing it up the bar to Matt and chuckled, ignoring the glare he gave him.

"Feel better?" His blue eyes sparkled in amusement as he took a sip of his, his eyes never leaving the brunette.
"Much...actually." She told him after a minute as she breathed deeply, feeling relaxed. She had been so tense these past days, that she felt like she had been stuck in a block of cement. It wasn't doing her any good and it wasn't going to do her family any good if she didn't sort it out. Twirling her curls around her finger, she stared at the bar surface, studying the lined indents that gave off an antique look. It was beautiful.

"It's that bad huh?" Damon asked, studying her as he seen her petite frame shaking. She must have been under a lot of stress.
"You have no idea." She murmured softly as she smiled up at him and got off the stool, pulling on her jacket and fixing her hair.
"Come with me." He told her as he got up and looked at with a smile as she gave him a confused look, "Come on. I won't bite...hard."

Laughing, she shook her head and took her bag, putting it on her shoulder as she waved to Matt and followed Damon out, pulling her jacket closer. Feeling the cold breeze sweep by, she shivered and followed Damon down the path, not knowing if it was a good idea to follow him or not.

"Did you drive here?" He asked, walking over to his car as she chewed her lip, looking back at her car that was parked in front of the grill.
"Yeah. My car's over there." She told him, walking over as she looked at his car, her eyes studying it.
"Too bad. You're coming with me." Damon told her with a grin as he got into the car and started the engine. Aria looked at the car, deciding whether it was a good idea to get into the car with him. She didn't fully trust him. And her car WAS just over there.

Rolling down the window, he chuckled as she bent down slowly, leaning in through the window with an unsure look on her face. Feeling her heart beat fast, she looked around the car and at Damon, biting her lip hard.

"I'm not sure if this is a good idea." She told him shyly as she pulled back a little bit, but still leaning in through the window.
"Aria. Be spontaneous. Think in the future from now that YOU never had the guts to get into a car with an INSANELY hot guy" Chuckling, he ushered her in.
"Fine, fine." She answered, opening the door and getting in as she dropped her bag and pulled the door shut.
"Woo. Go you...your first step to an adventure of a lifetime." Grinning, he punched digits in as the radio came on and drove off.

Aria laughed and covered her face in embarrassment as Damon danced along the bar and was pointing at her with a grin. She shook her head at him and took another sip of her drink as she sat on the stool and watched how no one even looked at Damon dancing on the bar and no one cared, which was odd. She looked around the bar and smiled. It was more alive than the grill. People laughing, having a good time, dancing. Not on the bar...like Damon that is.

She shrieked in surprise as Damon reached down and pulled her out of her seat onto the bar with a grin on his face as he ushered her to him as he danced
down the other end of the bar.

"Oh my god! What are you doing?" She asked between laughing as she looked around, feeling the blood rush up to her cheeks as she stayed sitting on the bar.

"Come on Aria. Up!" He called to her from down the bar as she took a deep breath.
"I'm totally going to regret this later," She murmured to herself as she slowly stood up on the bar and smiled at him with a shrug, "I'm up!"

Damon wolf whistled and clapped as she rolled her eyes, still laughing in disbelief. She couldn't believe she was being all stupid and acting weird for a GUY. A GUY she might add that she's only known for a little while. She had lost the plot.

"Come on. Now get moving. Can't just stand there...go crazy. Let loose!" He shouted to her with a smirk, "I dare you!" Aria looked at him, smiling.
"Fine!" She was NEVER one to pass down a dare. Breathing deeply, she got into the music and started dancing with a smile, feeling herself let go.
"There ya go!" Taking a swig from the bottle of bourbon, he danced down towards her with a grin and passed it to her. "It will loosen you up!"

He winked as she giggled and took a swig of it and squinted from the burning taste as she took another few and passed it back to him. She smiled, feeling more comfortable and continued dancing. Everything was forgotten. She was having fun, she was happy. Wasn't thinking about her family, she wasn't thinking about the fact that she hadn't talked to anyone but Damon and Matt since the blood in the fridge incident. She was young and having fun.

"Damon! I can't stay here all night! I have to get home!" She shouted to him as he danced up towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes you can, trust me Aria." He told her with a grin as he looked into her eyes. "Let all those worries go. Think about tonight...like it's your last night!"
"I have school tomorrow. If I miss that I am dead." She told him, looking up at him as he grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Well, we can't have that now can we?" He lifted her into his arms, spinning her around as she shrieked and held onto him, scared off him falling off the
bar.

Placing her down, he smirked and grabbed another bottle, taking a gulp as he held it out for her with a grin. She laughed, rolling her eyes and took it from him and took a gulp of it, giggling as she pushed him, passing it back to him. Walking back down towards the end of the bar, she laughed when Damon grabbed her and dragged her back.

"Nu uh. Staying here missy." He told her with a smirk as she shook her head with a smile and ran down the bar, jumping off as she stuck her tongue out.
"Cheating Miss Montgomery!" Damon called to her as he danced down the bar and jumped down in front of her with a grin.
"I need to go homeeee." She told him, poking his chest as she crossed her arms with a smile.

"Fine, BUT...only if you come back to mine and we finish drinking." He told her with a grin as she thought about it, chewing her lip.
"As long as it's back in Mystic Falls, I don't care. Come on." Pulling on her jacket, she grabbed her bag and walked out as he laughed, pulling on his jacket
and followed her.

Damon turned the stereo on, turning the volume up to its loudest as Aria laughed and dropped down onto the couch with a smile. The drive back had been eventful. Not GOSSIP eventful. But eventful. Walking into the kitchen, he grabbed two glasses and walked back out to her with a grin, as he filled the glasses with bourbon and passed a glass to her.

"I'm not going to be able to get up for school tomorrow." She told him with a smile and giggled as Damon shrugged and danced off, drinking his own bourbon.

"School's for losers anyway!" He told her, jumping up on the coffee table as he danced to the music.
"Your brother goes to school." She reminded him with a laugh and got up, taking her jacket off as she put her bag on the couch.
"He's a loser." His blue eyes shimmered with mischief as she smiled and got up on the couch, jumping on it.

"So are you to be fair!" Aria shouted over the music laughing as she gulped back the bourbon and jumped onto the table with him.
"BUT everyone wants to be me!" Damon shouted back with a smirk as he poured more bourbon in her glass and filled his own up.

Aria rolled her eyes and danced to the music, taking sips of her drink on every beat of the music causing Damon to laugh and nudge her playfully as he danced next to her, downing his own bourbon, soon filling it up again.

The front door opened as Stefan, Elena and Caroline walked in and stared at them in shock as Damon waved at them and continued dancing with Aria as he filled her bourbon again. She smiled and lifted her glass to him and began sipping at it again. Stefan moved over to the stereo and turned it off as they both turned to him.

"Hey!" They both called out at the same time and looked at each other as they burst out laughing.
"What is going on here?" Caroline asked, crossing her arms as she glared at Damon and looked at Aria.
"N...nothing." Aria told her, hicupping and patted Damon's back as she got off the table and finished her bourbon, placing the glass down.
"Nothing? Your drunk! And you're with HIM!" Elena told her and shook her head in disbelief as she placed her things down.

"He's been very good...to me...and nice, so, we were having fun." Aria told her as she hicupped again and pulled her jacket on, giggling.
"You got it Aria," Damon told her, jumping down from the table as he downed his bourbon and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Let's get you home."
"Damon, leave her alone." Stefan told him sternly with a warning look as Damon waved him off and lead Aria over to the door.
"Bye guys! Oh Stefan...by the way.." Aria turned to him and pointed at with a smile, "The blood in your fridge, not cool." She laughed and walked out as Damon grabbed his jacket and pulled it on, following her out as he shut the door.

"What do we do?" Caroline asked with worry as she looked at Stefan and Elena as she took a seat and leaned back.
"I don't know. I didn't even know they were together...or...seeing each other. This explains why she's been avoiding us. The blood." Stefan told them.
"Well, you seen how she rushed out that day, she looked frightened." Elena commented as she rubbed her face, thinking.
"I'll talk to her tomorrow. Sort this out." The blonde told them, smiling as she went into the kitchen.

Walking down the path, Aria searched through her bag for her keys as Damon held her up, knowing she would fall over if he didn't. Finding her keys, she pulled them out smiling and waved them in his face as she slowly unlocked the door.

"Told ya I'd find them Salvatore." She told him, giggling as she walked inside as Damon went to follow, but he got held back and groaned inwardly.
"Er, are you gonna be alright going up to bed?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow as she smiled and nodded and patted his chest.
"I...am going to be...VERY alright." Aria smiled and laughed, hicupping again as she leaned in the doorway.
"Well, goodnight then Miss Montgomery." Damon told her with a grin and was surprised when she leaned forward, giving him a peck on the lips.
"Goodnight Mr Salvatore." Waving, she giggled and shut the door and locked it.

Damon laughed and rubbed his neck, grinning as he looked at the door one more time and moved backwards, going back up the knew when he got home that his fun of tonight would soon be forgotten when Stefan gets a hold of him.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed :)

Shauna
xx