Hey reviewers sorry it's been so long since I've updated, but life has been kind of hectic, but it's getting better and hopefully I'll be able to write more often.
I'm also looking for someone to help me write these chapters because while I have everything planned out, I need help to make the basic stuff more entertaining because I feel like they could be much better and that's one of the reasons I haven't updated in a while.
So whoever wants to; PM me with your request (BTW you would be able to critique and suggest story themes plot points and maybe even a character based on yourself in the story) and I'll send you a small bit of the next chapter to critique and such, and if there is a multitude (though I doubt it) of people who would like to help me whichever one I like best will be chosen. You will of course get full credit for your part as the Editor and creative consultant in every chapter you have partaken in. Thank you :D
Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy this chapter an please review they help inspire me! I always read the reviews while writing. :D
Chapter 12
Grouping
I awoke with a jolt just as I had before, once again holding my breath to keep quiet. While the experience during the dreams had gotten worse, when I was awake I began to feel emotionally numb.
After a minute of getting my breath back on track, I groggily walked over to the window and saw it was still well into the night, and began debating whether or not I wanted to go running again.
But when I got less groggy and my senses returned, I began thinking about the journal I found. According to what I read it seemed to be a love story, kind of like Romeo and Juliet vampire style, but I hadn't been able to read the ending to see.
So many questions raced through my head about that book: Why did I dream about it? Why were some pages ripped out? Who was this Clara? Who was this Kol? What happened to them? Was it even a journal? Or just a story someone wrote? If so, did Bree write it?
It crossed my mind to ask for Bree's number so I could talk to her about it, but I didn't want to start asking about a silly book that was probably harmless enough; honestly though, I just hated the idea that I might seem foolish.
I shook off the on-going questions, and decided it was probably just a story Bree wrote and placed with witch stuff since it involved vampires. But of course, the issue of how I dreamed about it kept nagging me.
Moving on; I headed downstairs for no particular reason, and as I started going down the stairs I felt the urge to start running again. But my only jacket was soaked in blood and it looked fairly cold outside to me, so to appease the anxious feeling I began running up and down the stairs about five times and continued until I heard Stefan walk up to me.
"Hey Katy, what are you doing up?" he said in a slightly tired tone as he walked towards the stairs.
I looked up from the bottom of the stairwell and replied, "I can't sleep. I thought I'd try to tire myself out." I lied smoothly, simply wanting to avoid talking at the moment. "But I think I'll go try again now."
He seemed to accept that answer and walked off back to sleep, and I did as well, this time sleeping under my bed-which helped.
But what felt like seconds of sleep was all I got before the human alarm clock named Damon walked in.
"Hey girlie! Up and at 'em. You're gonna be late for the bus." He said, dropping my duffle-bag on the floor next to my face.
"EH!" I groaned loudly from the disturbance.
"Come on, I can't drive you today, no waiting around. You can go sleep on the bus ride-or class, whatever floats your boat."
"Fine, just get out now please!" I groaned.
"Gladly." He said walking out.
On the bus ride, I sat alone upfront by the driver, hoping to be undisturbed by anybody. That plan appeared to have backfired and I ended up being bored out of my skull. I guess it would only figure that'd happen once I tried to make an effort to rid myself of my schoolmates.
Sitting on a school bus is pretty tedious as it is, but my peers seemed to have telepathically decided that talking about me in loud whispers wasn't chicken enough for them; now they reduced themselves to giving me consistently judging looks whenever they caught my eye.
After my small attempt at entertaining myself by hissing at them had worn off, I finally noticed some cheerleaders behind me whispering loudly.
That was the highlight of the ride... Pray for my soul.
While I didn't want to pay attention, it was hard not to, especially when you keep hearing things like "She is really pale, maybe she's one too." Or "Well that's what Bianca told me!"
Yes, this is what passes for logic amongst my peers; if the girl who treats you like an inferior human being because you didn't start worshiping the ground she walked on, must be right about any and all comments about the new girl in school... Yeah, bite me.
What stood out though was that when I turned to look at them and they noticed, most of them would get these freaked out looks on their faces. It was the same face you'd give someone who you bluntly told you during lunch they were a cannibal.
So after I quickly got bored of them, I turned back to look in front of me and stare off into space, and I let my mind wander until it stuck to just thinking about the journal/story book again. And this time, I did try to think more in depth on it, but I was unsuccessful in finding any tangible theories.
Once we got to school, it kind of dragged on like school does, but I was noticing more and more looks from people-including some teachers. But I just brushed it off, telling myself it was probably just aftermath of my behavior in class on my first day.
Later on though, when lunch rolled around, I was pulled aside by Ms. Lark who had a rather stern look on her face. Curious about what caused the 25-year-old-hippie to look like she had just watched 'Batman and Robin', I followed her to one of the classrooms where Mr. Gregory and Principal Winthrop were. I also noticed Judy 'Dex' Moore, and a redheaded cheerleader I didn't recognize.
"Hi! I'm Joelle." She greeted me in an extremely cheerful voice, but a slightly shy smile.
Is there some kind of universal law that requires all cheerleaders to be on eternal sugar-highs? I asked mentally.
Joelle was close to my age, she had fair skin, rosy cheeks, and thick red curls that reached just above her shoulders. She had light blue eyes that were round and very big-like an anime character, made to look bigger by her button nose and tiny pink lips.
Combined with her manner and joyful presence; this girl was the very definition of 'cute', she was like one of those cuddly rag dolls you can't help but want to hug.
Principal Winthrop gave a small twitch of her lips, which-I suppose-was her definition of a greeting, while Mr. Gregory and Ms. Lark both remained quite somber.
"Jeesh people, did you forget to take your meds today or something?"
All the teachers seemed to sigh in some kind of frustration, while Dex seemed to be doing her best not to laugh, and Joelle looked rather frightened like her peers on the bus. I looked around awkwardly; it had become clear to me that humor was not a learned subject in this school.
"Okay." I said, still feeling rather awkward, " So, what's with Lunch Time Intervention?"
"This is about the behavior of you three girls." Winthrop said in a voice that vaguely reminded me of Ms. Trunchble.
"Do you mean as a collective? Or are you referring to individual faults?" Dex asked.
"What?" Joelle asked, clearly confused by Dex's wording.
"We are referring to each girl's failing in school-form function." Mr. Gregory said.
"Slow down," Dex began mumbling, "I don't speak pretentious douche."
I snorted at that one. Again though, humor was proven to have died from the looks at the teachers' faces.
Ms. Lark turned to look at both me and Dex saying, "Girls, I've been told by multiple teachers and students, that you were seen yesterday in possession of some kind of illegal substance."
"You mean drugs?" I asked, now kind of regretting the meds joke earlier.
Ms. Lark nodded, "Now I don't know for sure about you Katy, but I myself caught you Ms. Moore smoking a cigarette in the ladies' room."
All eyes turned to Dex as she replied, "That doesn't prove drug use, that proves tobacco useage-seriously, you're an educator?"
I nodded to myself in response. Mr. Gregory chimed in, "Yes, but a thousand Frenchmen can't be wrong, and we've given you the benefit of the doubt Ms. Moore-too much in fact." He then turned to Joelle, "And while Ms. Silvermen has never been caught with any illegal substances, including tobacco, she has not managed to keep her grades as impeccable as Ms. Moore. And since Ms. Weston's suspected drug use is in question-along with her unquestionable inappropriate behavior, Principal Winthrop, Ms. Lark, and myself have decided the three of you shall be teaming up for extra credit after school everyday for the rest of the week."
"And once you've all put in the effort required for this week, you are may stop if you wish. However, if any of you continue the actions that brought you here or do not put in the proper amount of work, you are required for another week of earning extra credit." Said, Winthrop.
I groaned, but since I knew I wasn't getting out of this easily I asked, "Alright what would you like us to do?"
Once again Winthrop spoke, "As a whole, we are going to expect respectable behavior for both your teachers, and your classmates. You will all be cleaning the classrooms, and by Monday we expect you all the make one essay-the topic of which will be decided by Ms. Lark."
Do these people think we have no lives? I thought, And just assume we all own teleporters from Star Trek?
"Can we all agree to that?" Ms. Lark asked, more as a statement then a question.
"Okay." Joelle agreed.
Ms. Lark then turned to me, I shrugged and replied quickly, "Whatever." and finally she turned to Dex who just nodded slightly.
"Then we are dismissed." Mr. Gregory said, clapping his hands together as he walked out of the room, followed by Ms. Lark.
As we started to go out, I was stopped by Principal Winthrop.
"Ms. Weston, I'm aware you didn't attend cheer-leading practice today? Care to explain?" she asked.
"Actually, Damon Salvatore will explain it to you later." I said, attempting to get passed her but she stepped in front of me.
"It'd better be good."
"Not my business." I mumbled, having a fair idea of his excuse.
"What?"
"Nothing. Gotta go." I said scurrying out.
The rest of the day had been just as dull and lifeless as before, but this time I managed to pick up some ideas why we (Joelle, Dex, and myself) were all put together.
And the conclusion I came up with-from what evidence I had- went something like this: I was the new troublemaker who set a bad example-or just got caught, Joelle was the failing student who needed a smart girl like Dex to help her, Dex was the druggie with wealthy parents so this was the closet she'd get to being expelled, and the school needed to find some way to lower the minimum-wage janitorial expenses.
Later on, the three of us agreed to meet up at the Grill after school, it worked out for us all since Joelle had an two older brothers working there, and Dex lived only a few blocks away.
As I waited outside the school, Barbie's less successful sister walked over to me with her gang.
"So I hear you got caught huh?" she sneered.
"Doing what?" I said uncareingly.
"You know what."
"I didn't deny that, you just need to be more specific. Example: Was the color of your hair-dye Hoochie or Hoe?"
Bianca's mouth dropped to the floor until she replied, "I will have you know my hair is natural."
I rolled my eyes, "Then remind your eyebrows, they forgot."
"It is, the sun changed it but not my eyebrows!"
"Oh please, the smell of bleach is making me nauseous-oh wait that's just your face." I said.
Alright alright, even I'll admit that was too bitchy for the situation, but I was just in a really bad mood that day.
"Wow, cliche much?" she said.
Though, just as I was about to respond, I heard the familiar voice of Damon going, "Hey! Girlie! Time to go!"
I started off towards him when one of the girls asked, "Is that like your new dad?"
"Temporary roommate." I replied.
I ran over to him afterwards and we headed towards the car, we hadn't spoken until I told Damon about meeting up with Joelle and Dex.
"So what did you do this time? Tell another authority figure to sh-"
"No, give me more credit, I have material outside of that. I just simply told a science teacher his facts were wrong, insulted a fourteen-year-old drug addict during that same class, and told said-teacher his birth was the product of an expired condom."
Damon chuckled slightly, "Is that all?"
"Did I mention they suspect me of doing drugs?"
"You've had a very productive day."
"And it looks like it's gonna continue on for a few more hours; can you drop me off at the Grill on the way back to the house? I can walk back to the house after we're done."
"Fine. Watch yourself though, that creeper vamp from last night is still out and about."
"I have my vervain ring, I'll be fine."
"That ring comes off you know." He said, matter-of-fact-ly.
"Yeah but-" I pulled out a stake from my duffle-bag, "This won't come out."
He nodded as we finally got the car, "You're not doing drugs are you?"
I gave him a look and he put his hands up in a surrendering position, "Hey, not judging, just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"Among other things."
"You would know." I countered.
He looked me in the eye, "Touche." then he started the car and we drove off to the Grill.
"Hey, why were you here to pick me up from school? I thought you couldn't drop me off?"
"Your Principal called, wanted the 'good explanation' to why you're refusing cheer-leading practice."
"What did you tell her?"
He smirked and said suggestively, "Let's just say it was good."
"Ewww! Please censor yourself around me! I didn't need to know that!" I said, covering my ears.
"Need I remind you of some of the things you say?"
"No, but I don't make them about people I see practically everyday." He gave me an amused look, "Most of the time."
Lucky for me the conversation ended there.
When we arrived, Joelle and Dex were there first with a table, and after I snagged a twenty from Damon-who clearly had other things on his mind, seeing as he handed it over so easily, I walked over to them.
"Hi!" greeted Joelle, "I got the topic from Ms. Lark after school. She wants us to write a short story, we can choose the genre, but she says nothing too extravagant."
Students, make a note to yourself that when a teacher says 'extravagant' in that kind of sentence, they really mean 'nothing with dirty language, suggestion themes, or basically anything that has gotten/will get you a trip to their's or the principal's office'. But don't take my word for it, take Dex's.
"So no life stories huh?" she remarked, "So what's left to write?"
"Well," I sat down at the table, "Did they say it had to be an original story?"
Joelle took a moment to consider this, after her train of thought took it's course she smiled, "Nope. What did you have in mind?"
"Why don't we basically rewrite Twilight; make it better, so to speak-"
"No." Dex interrupted, "If we're gonna do this, let's do something that won't take five minutes."
"Well why not? I think we can all agree we want to just get this done."
"Yes, but I think we can also agree we want to turn in something credible. I can keep up my GPA all on my own, so I am not putting my name on something that's insulting to everyone's intelligence including Sally Sunshine over here." she gestured her head to Joelle.
"It is?" she said in a hurt puppy voice.
I took a breath, "Alright, what do you suggest then?"
Dex suggested we pick a Star Trek fanfiction to write, seeing as the new movie had just come out on DVD and was actually good, so just the enjoyment of the movie managed to get us working together more smoothly. Unfortunately there were problems when decisions came around.
WARNING: A SHORT MONTAGE OF THE EVENING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR!
"Captain Jerold Hanning?" Joelle suggested.
"No self respected space captain would be named Jerold, nope, I refuse to accept that."
"Alright why don't we just name him Bob for now so we can move on?" I asked.
"Because we named like five other characters Bob." Joelle replied.
"Who?"
"Bob the protagonist, Bob the douche, Bob the red-shirt, Bob the love interest, and Bob the love interest's love interest." Dex said.
"Wait," Joelle started, "was Bob the love interest's love interest a boy or girl?"
"That's what we were trying to figure out." I said, "Bob has become both ambiguously gay and as straight as they come."
"Wait which Bob was this?" she asked.
"Bob the love interest. But seriously, Bob #5 is so overcompensating." Dex chimed in.
"And which Bob was Bob #5?"
"Oh for crying out loud!" I said exasperated with confusion, "Why don't we just make them both bisexual hermaphrodites? That could be the attraction!"
They both paused.
"Eh, I don't know-" Dex started.
"Come on, are you saying that a love story between two bisexual hermaphrodites in space wouldn't turn your head?"
"It's not their love story," she said, "And yes it would turn my head, but I wouldn't try to have a full in-depth conversation about it."
"What if we make one Klingon and the other a Vulcan?" Joelle suggested happily.
"No that's too Cullen-Jacob-y." I said.
"But they aren't fighting over one person, it's their love story!" she defended.
"It's not their love story!"
"Well, what was the original plot again Dex?"
"I don't know I forgot! I'm so confused!"
So were the Grill's waiters who served us that evening and overheard bits and pieces of this story.
We grew friendlier towards each other throughout the afternoon, but our pacing for the story grew slower. Dex became more then just civil, and I found she was actually very funny as well as smart, and Joelle was just so nice-I wasn't even that annoyed about her (apparently) being one of Bianca's drones. She was actually afraid of being teamed up with me and Dex because of things Bianca told her, and also with some stuff she'd seen with Dex.
"So what did Bianca tell you?" Dex asked.
"She told all the girls that you and Katy were druggies together since Katy's parents were into it."
"Well, were did she even associate Dex and I to be even remotely friends?" I asked.
"She said she saw you with Dex and Terrance, and that you were taking a bottle of pills from him."
"That dang Terri!" I moaned in annoyance.
Both Dex and I assured her we were not dealing together-another sweet little anecdote Bianca threw in when she told their cheer-leading coach, and she even backed me up when she told Joelle my parents weren't into it and I was refusing the drugs offered. While Dex refused to comment on her own actions, she was very honest about my involvement.
Joelle was actually a decent human being as a contrast from Bianca, but she was rather ditsy unfortunately for her stereotype-but my God she was strong!
I found this out when she challenged me to an arm-wrestling match.
"Errr!" I groaned as we came to a standstill, "You weigh practically nothing! Why are you to strong?"
"I'm a cheerleader!" she said with a growl at the pressure, "We get up at 6 in the morning and work out all day! What did you think would happen?"
Dex laughed as she snacked on some peanuts as she watched us, "I can't tell if you're both really strong or equally weak."
"Haha." I laughed slightly, "Good Friends reference-"
"Ha!" Joelle said as she slammed my fist down, "I win!"
"Aw man! Come on I was caught off guard by humor! One more round! I wanna try again!" I complained.
"There is no try..." Dex said in her best Yoda voice.
Needless to say that next round went the same way as the first. I'll always wonder if Dex was making funny references on purpose though.
We finally finished the rough draft for the essay/story, and even found a title "The Tale of Four Bobs! A Star Trek Parody!"-sadly, we had to make one of the love interest Bobs a girl or else we were gonna get crap from the school board against it's 'extravagance', so to speak. We named one of them Babette instead, but made it very clear she was a masculine looking Klingon woman as our own private joke.
And yes, as you probably guessed-like any normal person would-, the three us managed to become friends.
All thanks to a gossiping 12-year-old, a major root beer sugar high, and the epic love story of two bisexual hermaphrodites in space... Named Bob and Babette.
I walked back after we paid the bill and Spock-fived goodbye, feeling actually really happy, which was a rare feeling all things considered.
Upon entering the house I noticed two things: books thrown about all over the ground, and the fact that they made a vague trail to the library, which I followed. When I got to the library I saw Damon writing at the desk, surrounded by books.
"What happened here? Did Belle ransack the place while I was gone."
"Not your concern kid, unless you wanna help?" he asked nonchalantly, probably expecting a 'no'.
"Well how could I help if I can't know what you're doing?" I retorted.
"If you're gonna help kid, start by cleaning those books over there." he said, not looking up from his writing.
"No thanks, I'm not cleaning up your mess. When you're ready to tell me what you're doing, I'll be over here doing my homework."
"Great."
After awhile I got bored of homework, so with my metaphorical tail between my legs, I started cleaning up the books. There were so many I had to go all the way back into the library to find room for them; I finished after a while, but on my way back I started to overhear a conversation between Stefan and Damon, so I decided to eavesdrop and hid behind one of the many rows of book shelves.
"And why would I want it?"
"Gee, I don't know Damon, maybe you wanna do a little Pops-missed-bonding (A/N: Sorry guys, I watched that episode twelve times over and I still couldn't hear him)?" I held back a laugh on that and he continued, "Go ahead, read it, enjoy. I have, and no where in it does it say anything about Katherine, or the tomb, or how to open it?"
I listened closer as I heard Stefan's previous reply, confused as ever but still interested.
"Not surprised. Man could barely spell his own name." Damon replied with an edge of annoyance in his tone.
"I'm really sorry it won't be any help with your diabolical plan... The sequal."
Must be a running joke in this house, I thought.
"You know I could help you." Stefan said.
"You help me? I don't know, seems a little, unnatural."
I nodded to myself in agreement with Damon's statement.
"I'll do anything, to get you out of this town. Even release Katherine."
"What about the other 26 vampires?"
"No, they can't come, they have to stay put-but Katherine, I would consider that."
Yeah you would, I thought nodding my head, Seriously though, I say if she actually was in that tomb-I would go out of my way to put a boulder outside the room she's locked in... Rot bitch.
Harsh: maybe, necessary: entirely.
"What are you doing? Hm? What's your angle?"
"Think about it."
"Why would I trust you?" Damon asked the same way he asked me abouot the books.
"See that's your problem Damon, you apply all your short-comings to everbody else. If history is any indication, there is only one liar among us."
I thought to myself about that statement; while I had little respect for Damon as living-dead thing, I really couldn't recall him ever being dishonest, at least from what I could tell. He may have been a dick but he was an honest one, a rare comodety.
I stayed in my hiding spot a few more moments after I heard Stefan leave, that is before Damon called me out.
"You can come out now Katy, I know you're there."
I rolled my eyes and walked out, "How long have you known I was there."
"Whole time."
"So you don't mind that you know I heard basically everything?"
He looked up from the old book on the desk, "Maybe I do mind, what would you do with any of that information?"
"What will you do?" I asked.
Literally saved by the bell, a phone went off just after I replied. We looked over to see Stefan's phone ringing, with Elena Gilbert blinking on the calling screen. I picked it up and threw it to Damon, "Go long!" and he caught it with ease, answering it.
"Stefan's phone, how may I help you?"
"Where is he?" I heard Elena on the other end.
"Oh, he's on his way to you. Forgot his phone."
"Oh, thank God. This compass was spinning, Stefan must be here. Thank you."
"You're welcome." and with that he hung up.
"Elena has the compass?" I asked.
"Yup. St. Stefan must have given it to her. Ain't that sweet." he said, walking back over to the desk.
"What are you planning to do with this tomb thing?" I asked, playing dumb.
"Why would you care?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because it doesn't involve you."
I pulled a chair up right next to him and sat down, "Actually, you're wrong it does involve me. Because the second you leave, I will be either stuck back in an orphanage or placed with another family in town. Now personally, I would like a say in where I go, because I am sick and tired of being handed over to people and left like an inconvience!"
And with a final word I stomped out of the room and headed towards my room, my happy mood officially ruined, but I couldn't really place why this affected me so much. The orphanage was better then here, wasn't it?
***Third Person's POV***
Damon sat still a moment after Katy left, he took a breath and pulled out his own cell phone, and he began to dial Toby Marshall's number. However he was interrupted by a call from Elena.
"Missed me?" he answered.
"He got into the house." answered the voice of Stefan.
Damon's face turned cold as he replied, "I'm on my way." and shut off the phone. He sped up to Katy's room and said, "Come on, grab a stake, creeper vamp made a move."
Without hesitation Katy grabbed a stake from her duffle-bag and followed Damon.