Quiet Beauty

Bewildered_Lily

Chapter Two

Dear Diary, September 5th

I fainted in Stefan Salvatore's arms yesterday, diary. It was utterly humiliating. I don't even remember what happened. One moment I was staring up into his green eyes, thinking something and then the next I was in the nurse's office.

Stefan was kind enough to stay with me until I woke up, but he wouldn't tell me anything about what had happened, though I asked him repeatedly. He kept saying the shock of almost falling over must have made me faint.

Agh! I fainted like one of those helpless damsels in distress, I despise so much! And why do I feel like in that instant before I succumbed to sleep, I remembered something very important? It's so frustrating I can barely stand it.

Anyway, the nurse was so worried about me she wanted to call my parents, but I assured her that I was fine. Stefan disappeared shortly after that, though I still recall the strange look on his face as he watched me.

Did I say something embarrassing as I fainted? Did I confess my undying love to him or something? I really hope not, since that would not be the truth. And I can only imagine the hell Elena will put me through if she thinks for a second that I'm trying to take what she has already deemed as hers.

But oh, diary! What happened? Something huge must have rattled me to send me into such a tail spin. And why, oh why, do I feel like I'm forgetting something so very important?

I can't take this gloom for much longer, so I'm going out after school. I think all the solitude of the summer has taken its toll on me. Tonight, I'm going to go out with some friends and forget all about dreams and fainting spells. Gods, I hope it works.

Lucy tossed her diary onto her bed as she dashed around getting ready for school. She was determined to forget about everything save fun and school today. It was obvious to her that something wasn't right, but she'd be damned if she was going to curl up into a ball and allow herself to wallow in misery. This was her senior year; she was going to spend it enjoying herself!

Dressed and ready to go, she made her way downstairs and out the front door. Making her way to her car, she wrestled the keys from her bag, glancing up into the trees for just a second. As she turned away a movement caught her eye, stopping her in her tracks.

A large crow sat within the branches of a tall oak, its inky black wings seeming to almost glisten in the morning sun. It studied her, its dark eyes seeming almost human.

Heat filled her body. She wasn't sure why. It was just a bird, but she felt as if it was actually seeing her, trying to discover her secrets. She felt her cheeks flush slightly.

"It's not polite to stare," she called out, feeling silly the moment the words left her lips. But to her surprise, the bird seemed to incline its head in understanding before it rustled its great wings and took off into the sky with a parting caw.

I'm going crazy. She thought to herself as she unlocked her car and cast one last glance into the trees, stepped inside and closed the door. I'm definitely losing my flipping mind.

~o~o~o~

"Stefan!" she called as she rushed down the hall to catch up to him. She was thankful when he stopped, though he looked slightly uncomfortable. And the looks she was getting from the other students in the hall made her acutely aware that she was bringing undo attention to herself.

"Lucy," he acknowledged politely. "May I help you with something?"

She smiled at him wryly, shaking her head at his stoic ways. It was strange but she felt a slight sense of déjà vu, though she disregarded it for the moment. "I'm sorry to call out to you like that, but I wanted to catch you before you left."

"I see," he answered a half smile tugging at his lips.

She rolled her eyes. "I wanted to thank you for helping me out yesterday. I know I was too busy grilling you for answers to say it properly. Kind of threw me for a loop, fainting like that. I'm sorry if I startled you or inconvenienced you in any way. I really don't know what came over me."

He looked startled for a moment, as if he hadn't expected any gratitude. "You're welcome. I wouldn't have left you lying there so vulnerable, Lucy."

She beamed at him brightly. "Okay, good. Now I don't feel like a complete jackass. And I'm not too embarrassed to shake hands and be friends now." With a laugh she held her hand out to him.

"Yes, I think I'd like that," he said almost teasingly and shook her hand and she decided that smiling was a welcome change from the dark brooding look he usually sported. However, even as she formed the thoughts his smile froze and he was pulling his hand from hers, his attention shifting from her to someone approaching from behind her.

She turned to find Elena approaching, and was surprised to see an almost timid look on her face. She met Elena's eyes for a moment before quickly shifting back to Stefan's. Elena didn't look too happy that she was standing here speaking to Stefan so openly. Lucy hoped that Elena wasn't getting the wrong idea.

"Hi, I'm Elena Gilbert and I'm on the senior welcoming committee, and I've been assign—" Elena started, but Stefan cut in.

"I'm sorry; I don't have the time." He stated, almost desperately Lucy thought.

"—to show you around the school—"

"I'm sorry; I can't. I have to—to get to football tryouts." He rushed on. His eyes landing on Matt, who came to a halt slowly as he came into ear shot. "Matt, you said tryouts were right after school, didn't you?"

"Yes," Matt said slowly. "But—"

Turning away from Elena, Stefan began to march in the general direction of the football field. "Lets get moving then. You can show me the way."

As Matt cast Elena an apologetic look, Lucy turned her wide eyes from Stefan's quickly retreating back to Elena's slightly flushed face. Lucy couldn't recall a single time when a boy had turned down anything Elena was willing to offer.

She started to notice the crowd that had gathered around them, and her eyes fell on Caroline Forbes' sickeningly satisfied smirk. With a glare that could melt the polar ice caps, she stared Caroline down until the other girl turned scarlet and then she turned her full attention to Elena, who was looking rather lost.

"Hey Elena, I wanted to speak to you about something, you mind walking with me to my car? I'll give you a ride home if you want." She spoke brightly, looping her arm into Elena's and practically dragging her down the hallway and out the front doors.

When they had made it safely away from prying eyes, she turned to Elena again, dropping her arm gently. "You okay?" she asked softly.

Elena looked at her blankly for a moment before responding. "Yes, I just –don't think that's ever happened to me before."

Lucy nodded sympathetically. "I wouldn't let it get you down, Elena. Stefan's either got some logical reason for acting the way he does, or maybe you make him nervous for some reason."

"You seemed to get along fine with him, despite the fact that he only arrived yesterday," Elena accused, her hurt feelings making her jealous. She moved to continue, but stopped as she took in Lucy's expression.

"No way, Elena Gilbert," Lucy said sternly. "I refuse to be your punching bag. I have no feelings whatsoever for Stefan Salvatore beyond friendship, however if I did, that would neither be your business nor give you just cause to verbally attack me. You may be the Queen Bee of Robert E. Lee High, but you are not my queen, you understand? I'm not going to stand around and let you make me feel bad when I just tried to do you a favor!"

Lucy turned on her heels and stormed away from the gaping golden girl. She made it only five steps before Elena called out to her.

"Lucy, wait," she cried grabbing the girl's hand to stop her. "Look, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight. I'm still reeling from the thing with Stefan, and I saw you guys talking so comfortably when I came up to you, my mind latched on to that for a moment. Plus, all that stuff that happened yesterday. I didn't mean it."

Lucy turned and fixed Elena with her gray eyes, studying her to make sure she was being sincere. Satisfied with what she saw she nodded once in forgiveness.

"Elena, not every person in the world is going to fall in love with you instantly. Maybe most, but you have to deal with the fact that sometimes you lose some." She stated with a sigh.

"Yes, but I've never wanted anyone like I want Stefan," Elena said softly. "There's something about him that makes me want only him."

"Well, then don't give up," Lucy said point blank. "If you feel that way about him, then do what you do best. Dazzle him with your Elena ways, and I'm sure you'll get him. Just do me a favor okay?"

Elena laughed, "And what would that be?"

Lucy shook her head and then fixed Elena with that stern look again. "Make sure you really want him alright? I get the feeling that Stefan Salvatore has had a bit of a tough time, so don't decide you don't want him once he's yours. That just isn't fair."

Elena nodded solemnly. "I promise." She said gravely.

"Good," Lucy smiled gently. "Now, lets get out of here before we're the only ones left. Do you want that ride home?"

"Sure."

~o~o~o~

That night, she couldn't sleep. The air in her bedroom seemed too heavy, and after an hour of tossing and turning she gave up.

Slipping out of bed she reached for her robe, pulling it over the purple satin shorts and camisole she was wearing. A quick glance at the clock on her nightstand telling her it was two o'clock in the morning. She went to the French doors and pulled them open, stepping out into the slightly chilled air.

She went to the railing, leaning her weight on it with a sigh. She felt restless tonight, as if she would come out of her skin. She longed for something, but she couldn't begin to say what it was. A strange wave of loneliness washed over her.

"Why do I feel like this?" she whispered into the night. The moon glowed brightly over head illuminating the night softly. "I don't understand this."

There was no warning before arms snaked around her body, yanking her backwards against a warm body. Before she could scream her mouth was covered. Terror ripped through her, and she struggled helplessly against the bands of steel holding her.

She felt something nuzzle against her neck, and she trembled in fear. "What are you doing standing all alone outside in the dark, little Rosy," a smooth voice whispered in her ear. "Or should I call you little Lucy now."

She whimpered wretchedly against the hand that kept her silent. She was shaking so hard that her teeth chattered. How did they get to her on the terrace? Had they come through the house? Were her parents okay?

"Don't be scared Lucy, I won't hurt you, much," the voice chuckled. His warm breath caressed her ear and exposed neck. "I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth, please don't scream or I'll have to quiet you again and I might not be so gentle about it."

She nodded, and was relieved when he let her go. Immediately she flung herself away from him, turning to escape into the safety of her house. But quicker than she thought possible, she was swept up against him, her breath knocked from her as her breasts were crushed against the rock hard planes of her attackers chest. She struggled, but did not scream. A fear that he would hurt her parents if they came keeping her silent.

A jarring shake stopped her useless struggles, and she swore her teeth rattled in her head.

"Please, let me go," she pleaded. "Please."

"I will if you're good, little Lucy," the voice teased

"Stop calling me that!" she cried, finally yanking her gaze from the muscular chest in front of her to see the face of the person who was attacking her.

The ground seemed to tilt and she had to cling to this stranger as she tried to regain her balance. Staring down at her mockingly was a face she knew better than her own, and yet had somehow forgotten. Dark almost black eyes gazed down into her silver ones and in that instant something inside her clicked into place. Everything she'd thought she knew about herself and life in general, shattered into a million tiny pieces.

A life she'd forgotten came rushing at her, filling her up until she wasn't sure if she was Lucy Edwards anymore or this other version of herself.

Softly she whispered his name, tasting it on her tongue.

"Damon."

**Author's Notes: **

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