'Enough!' Someone shouts nearby. With all my strength, i prop myself up on one elbow to see what is going on. Stefan and Damon are fighting with vampiric speed; their bodies are a blur of colour and noise. I try to catch my breath. 'Stop...' I say quietly. In a second they stop, when Stefans fist connects with Damons cheek; the same cheek i punched only a day or so ago. He falls backward. His face is covered in his blood and my own. I stare at him in awe. 'I'm going to kill you. I'm going to rip your fangs out of your head one by one and then...' 'Stop.' I say again, this time stronger. Stefan looks over at me, his expression is pure sadness. Daniel suddenly drags me off the ground, touching the puncture wounds in my neck. I flinch. 'hey!' i say. He looks at Stefan. 'They're clean, theyll heal fine.' I slap daniels hand away from my neck. 'You fucking asshole.' Stefan says as he walks toward Damon. Damon sits still, he looks like he's in shock with what he's just done too. 'You had this planned...' I try to walk to Stefan but Daniel holds me back. 'Stefan, stop it.' He glares at me. I've never seen him angry before; it doesn't suit him at all. I notice Damon wipe his mouth against the back of his hand. Why is that so... hot? I touch my neck, its still bleeding heavily. 'Believe it or not, i never meant to do that...' Damon says, coming to his feet slowly. I know he's telling the truth. Stefan scoffs 'Bullshit, you knew this would happen from the get-go...' 'No!' Damon shouts. He looks me in the eyes. 'Eleanor, i didn't.' I nod at him. 'Its fine. I'm fine. I just want to go back to my room...' i say, trying to make my way back to the amphitheatre. Daniel holds me back again, stopping me from moving. "Daniel, i can handle myself.' I say sternly. I'm too weak to fight force him away from me, but I'm hoping he'll listen to my requests. 'We're taking you to medical' he says simply. 'No. I'm going home.' I say, trying to get him to let go. 'Daniel...' Stefan calls out. '...Ill take her to her room. You and the professor can deal with him...' I stand there bewildered, unable to look away from Damon. He genuinely looks sad. Stefan begins to lead me away, taking my hand in his. Just before damons out of sight, i look back at him; wondering if that might be the last time i ever see him. Later that day, i wake up on my bed. I remember being taken back to my room, but i dont remember much else. When i wake, Stefan is sitting on the edge of the bed next to me. I sit up. 'hi.' 'Hey.' He says, placing a hand on my knee. I rub my eyes, i needed that nap; i feel much stronger. 'Eleanor...' Stefan grips my knee tighter. '...I am so sorry.' 'No, Stefan dont. Its not your fault...' He cuts me off. 'No, it is my fault. I should've done more to have stopped you from going in there with him. I should've known better...' 'you mean he's done this before?' i ask 'No. But i know what he's capable of. I should've seen it coming...' 'No Stefan, really, its not your fault. He didn't even know what he was doing...' i say, brushing my fingers over the grooves in my neck. He frowns. 'Youre kidding me right? He planned that from the very beginning.' I frown back at him. 'Stefan, it was an accident.' 'Surely you dont believe him.' He's getting frustrated. 'Yes, Stefan, i do. He was trying not to; i saw it in his eyes...well, more so under them...' i remember his veins showing then disappearing moments before he bit me. Stefan stands. 'That's crazy! He's never coming near you again...' he turns quickly before heading for the door. I jump from my bed and run in front of him, pushing him back. 'Stefan, its fine! Look, I'm not even hurt. Its honestly nothing.' Stefan grabs both my wrists in his hands. 'Not only did her break school policy; he did that without your permission, something thats supposed to be special...' He shakes my hands in his. I look up at him. 'I'm okay. Things like that aren't a big deal to me. Please calm down.' I say to him, breaking free of his grasp. 'You should care. I care.' He zips past me in an instant and disappears. 'Stefan, don't go!' i shout, hoping he's still within hearing range. I stand in my doorway. He's so protective of me... In a few moments he's back. He's only been gone a few moments but he does look calmer. 'I filled Sierra in on what happened not long ago. She wanted to see you, but shes in class...' he says gently, walking towards me. 'I'm glad she didn't. She should stay in class, its the rules...' My voice trails off as he comes closer to me. He's only a foot away. My heart quickens. What are these men doing to me...? His hand reaches out to my neck and quickly flicks my hair over my shoulder; revealing the wound. Is basically healed; but not quite. I freeze. He examines it for a moment, before he's eyes quickly dart up to meet mine. 'This. This is sacrilege.' In that moment, i cant help stare. He's not like Damon; he's kind, gentle, caring... But Damon... He's powerful, intimidating... completely and totally bad for you... He glides his fingers over the marks on my neck, gentle as to not hurt me. I feel like i cant breathe. His thumb brushes the skin of my check, sending a spark of electricity down my spine. I open my eyes, and I'm forced to withdraw within an instant. 'Sierra!' i say, stepping back from Stefan. He turns to look at her. Her face is blank. 'Sorry to interrupt.' She says emotionlessly. Shes really not sorry at all; i can tell. Shes angry, i can sense it. 'how was your day? What class were you...' i begin to ask. 'I was concerned for you. Now that I've seen that youre more than okay, i no longer care.' She disappears from my sight. I sigh. She quite often has these tantrums; but this time i feel bad. Seeing Stefan touch me hurt her. I remember her reserving him jokingly a few days ago; how she tried so hard at the party... For the first time in forever, i feel guilty; truly horrible. I look at Stefan who seems a little confused. 'Is she okay?' 'No. Shes not...' i run my fingers through my hair. '...Thanks so much for being here for me, but i think you should go...' I cant do this to Sierra. If he stays, i will break her. I turn my back to him. He looks confused. This is happening way to soon... 'Okay. If thats what you want.' He says somewhat sadly, before heading back out the door again. I sigh, trying to come up with a plan to deal with Sierra. I look down, realising I'm still wearing bloody clothes, and quickly turn to my wardrobe. I change hastily, into basically the same outfit before; just cleaner. I leave quickly, accidentally slamming the door behind me. I run down the corridor and the stairs to the lobby; and almost straight into Daniel. 'Hey there!' he says happily, bracing himself for a potential impacts. I manage to slow in time. 'Hey! Sorry, have you seen Sierra?' i ask, slightly puffed. He nods. 'Sure, she came by here a few minutes ago, she looked like she was headed to the West courtyard. Is everything alright?' his curiosity peaking. 'Uh, yeah. I just need to find her. Thanks!' i take off again, hoping to catch Sierra. I slow the pace now, running at a human speed through the east yard. I spot her under the dark arch tunnel between the buildings. 'Sierra, wait.' I call out to her, catching up to her. I reach her, but she doesn't stop walking. I grab her arm. 'Hang on a minute, how about you hear me out...' I say. She turns back towards me. 'I dont need to hear you out Eleanor. I saw it all.' She tries to keep walking but i pull her back. 'Sierra, cut the bullshit!' i snap. She glares at me. I roll my eyes. 'Nothing happened. You would've known this if you hadn't taken off like a child throwing a tantrum...' 'Excuse me!' she yells in my face. 'You were standing there; together. All touchy...' 'Oh my god Sierra, grow up! He was checking my wound! It's not like he kissed me!' i yell back at her; feeling my fangs tingle with movement. He probably would've, maybe i should've let him... The frown disappears from her face. 'You didn't?' 'Of course i didn't. Are you kidding me? I've known the man all of 2 days!' i let go of her arm as she begins to relax. 'I don't like him or anything. I don't even know him. The last thing i need here is a distraction...' i push my hair out of my eyes. At least, i dont think i like him... 'Feelings like that make you weak. You know me; i am certainly not weak...' She sighs. 'I'm sorry. i just got really...' 'Jealous? Worked up over nothing?' i interrupt. She nods in agreement. 'There's nothing to worry about Sierra. Go for your life okay?' She smiles. 'Okay.' She turns and begins to walk away. 'Wait a minute, where are you going?' 'I promised some guys from my History class id help them with a 90s themed project. I am, after all, eternally stuck in the 90s...' she spreads her arms wide for emphasis. I laugh. 'Whatever.' I smile a goodbye before heading back the way i came. The sun is beginning to set, and i suddenly realise just how thirsty i am. i head back to the lobby, hoping to find Daniel still here. It's deserted. There's not even anyone behind the reception counters. Where can i get a little food around here... I walk slowly along a corridor next to the reception desk. Its marble, just like the lobby, with huge painted portraits strung to the walls. I admire it all as i follow it along. I come to a large painting of a woman and i stop for a moment. It looks like a classical medieval portrait; I've sat for these myself before. Shes gorgeous; long blonde hair like mine, blue eyes, porcelain white skin with zero imperfections. I tilt my head, noticing the resemblance between Aria and herself; and almost even me.