~ * • ° Andy's POV ° • * ~

I slowly came back into consciousness, and tried to process thoughts, but my mind was frozen in the warmth wrapped around me.

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar room. Silk blankets were wrapped around my body and I was laying in the middle of a king bed. The entire room was white. White walls, white ceiling, floor, bed spread, and even the bed post. There was also a white door that was across the room that was basically filled with only the bed. I sat up, noticing a mirror, and as soon as I met my own gaze in the mirror, everything came rushing back to me.

How was I alive after everything? I should've died, with my injuries. But that man who said he was a friend of Elijah's, he must have done something to save me... But where was I?

I untangled myself from the silk blankets and walked over to the single window. I saw buildings I didn't recognize and people walking down the street like it was any other day.

Walking over to the mirror, I saw that I now had on a man's button up shirt and boxers. My hair was in a curly mess. I then looked where my wounds should be, but found none. They were all healed up, and looked as if I'd never been injured. I stared at myself a moment before sniffing the shirt and recognizing the scent.

Elijah.

I quickly headed toward the door, and opened it without hesitation. I came to a very plain hallway and followed it back to a room that its door was open. I peeked around the corner—

I did not see Elijah, but one of his friends – the one from last night.

"Hello?" I glanced around the room.

He turned around and gave me a glance over. "Andrea. Elijah will be glad that you are awake."

"Elijah…?" I barely squeaked out.

"Yes, I… work for him. My name is Jonas," He turned his back to me and continued on with whatever he was doing.

"So… where is he? Elijah, I mean?" I quickly added, looking at the ground.

"He left a few minutes ago to check up a few things. He requested that you stayed here, but of course said it wasn't mandatory and to allow you to leave if you wanted to," He explained.

I sat in a loveseat. "How are my wounds healed?"

"Elijah gave you some of his blood to heal you," He explained and we sat in silence as I sunk into the chair. If I died with Elijah's blood in my system... I'd become a vampire. I'd never age, never be able to have kids. I'd be seventeen forever.

"Is there any car I could borrow?" I asked, folding my arms. I didn't have the patience to wait around any longer, and no way was I going to stay here with a complete stranger. If Elijah wanted to speak with me, he could come to me.

"There are keys on the hook by the door,"

"Thanks," I said, but stopped in the doorway, and looked back at Jonas. "Is he a good person?"

"For a vampire, he's decent. But that doesn't change what he is, Andrea." He said as he gave me a meaningful look before continuing his work.

I left the room and eventually found the front door. There was a key hook and I grabbed the only pair of keys there before heading out the door. I walked down a flight of stairs and went out to a parking lot. All there was a silver Mazda. Did Elijah drive this? He seemed more like a BMW type of person.

I found a car key on the chain and unlocked the car. I climbed in and hurried home.

~ * • ° • ° • * ~

Once I got home, I took a quick shower and I got a call from Carol Lockwood. She wanted me to come to a party for a historian. I reluctantly agreed and changed into a royal blue dress and flats – requested by Mayor Lockwood herself – and let my hair run wild. I quickly headed over to the Lockwoods.

When I got there, it had a good bit of people here. The only reason I was here was because Carol begged me to. Since I had dated her son, we'd been like mother and daughter.

"It's for a historian," She had explained to me. "And you're the history buff in your family. Please, Andy, for me?"

I took a deep breath as I walked in and saw people. Great. It's not that I don't like people, it's just I don't always interact correctly with them, but only when they do something I don't like it say something stupid. I felt a sting where I remembered my wounds from last night were, but I ignored them as I searched the crowd for anyone I knew that I could maybe speak to, mainly Carol, and found her, but my heart stopped when I saw who she was currently speaking with.

Elijah.

I felt every hair rise and cold chills ran down my spine as he looked over and spotted me. It was like one of those moments when you're the only two people on Earth, and you realize you'd found your soulmate.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Soul mate? I've never had an actually conversation with him. He's not my soul mate. There's no such thing as a soul mate, I quickly chastised myself. I needed to stop reading romance novels.

I turned and looked away from those brown eyes and saw Damon. He spotted me and immediately headed over. "Hey," He greeted with a smile.

"Hi," I said with a smile, a warm feeling covering me now. I didn't feel as bitter towards him as I did before.

"I was—"

"I think—" We had spoken at the same time, and now laughed at each other.

"You first," He insisted.

"No, you," I shook my head and smiled brightly at him. His blue eyes were so captivating.

"Where were you after those werewolves attacked? How were you healed?" He asked.

"Uh, Caroline gave me get blood, and I got home just after Elena went to bed. I left early this morning to jog." I lied before I could stop myself. Why didn't I tell him I was with Elijah? He looked confused about something, but didn't have a chance to reply.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" Jenna demanded, walking up to us. But before he could answer, someone interrupted.

"Hi," A woman I didn't recognize walked up to Damon. "You came."

"Hi," Damon tensed slightly.

"Hi," The woman repeated before kissing Damon.

I took a step back, my face twisting in pain. It felt like someone had stabbed a knife through my heart and twisted it a few times. He was already with someone else? So soon after Rose? Hadn't he wanted to get together with me?

"Andy," He said, turning towards me.

"What?" The woman asked, looking at me.

I shook my head at Damon, fighting back tears. What was his deal? "No, I get it. Hope you have fun." I walked away from them, heading toward the bathroom, only to run into Carol and Elijah.

"Andy," Carol said, quickly hugging me and obviously not seeing my pain.

"Uh, hey, Carol," I said, but my voice was stiff and tense. It felt like my wounds were on fire and I did my best to put a good face on.

"Elijah, I want you to meet Andy Gilbert. She's a history buff and knows more stuff than me, perhaps anyone, in the town. If you have a question, she's the go-to person," Carol went on and on while I was slowly breaking. I looked up to meet Elijah's gaze once, and he was closely watching me, trying to figure out why I was so tense. Damon walked up, and I immediately had to escape away from him. I couldn't stay near him.

"I'm sorry, Carol, excuse me," I choked out after a second. I darted away and over to the bathroom. I shut the door and ran over to the toilet, instantly vomiting up everything that was in my stomach.

I was done with Damon. There's nothing left for me in that relationship. Only pain. But you said that last time… What are you going to do if he tries to apologize again? Of course, there was that part of me that wished he would, but I knew I couldn't go back to him. Ever.

I flushed down the vomit and went over to the sink. I gasped in pain and lifted up my dress to see that my wounds were bleeding like there was no tomorrow.

"Andrea?"

I jumped when I saw Elijah in the reflection, and immediately dropped my dress back down.

"Are you alright?" He moved a step toward me.

"I'm-I'm fine," I turned away, clenching my fists. I didn't want to straight up say that somehow his blood hadn't healed me.

"I smell blood," He walked over and grabbed my wrist gently, but I pulled away from him.

"Don't touch me," I said. "I said I'm fine, I just need to get back to the party—"

"You're bleeding everywhere," He looked at my stomach and I glanced to see streaks of red on my dress. I gasped and grabbed my side, grabbing onto the sink. I touched my side and looked at my hand to see it covered in blood.

"I gave you my blood," He murmured, seeing the blood.

I groaned. "Well, it didn't work, evidently,"

"Come with me, I will get Jonas—"

"No, why should I trust you?" I demanded, stepping back from him. It was clear his patience was wearing thin.

"Andrea, please. Now is not the time. You are bleeding out," He took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders to cover my wound. We stared at each other a moment before I gave in, nodding. We walked out from the bathroom and headed toward the door when Damon stopped us.

"What's going on, Andy?" He asked, blocking our path.

"N-nothing, Damon, just p-please—" I was feeling woozy. When had it gotten so hot in here?

"Perhaps you should just keep yourself involved in things with Elena as she is the only one you concern yourself in when Andy is involved," Elijah said, putting a hand on my back to steady me.

"Andy, come on—" Damon started to reach for me, but I moved out from his reach.

"He's going to help me, Damon," I lifted the coat enough so he could see the blood. "S-something's wrong; my body's… It's rejecting v-vampire blood."

"Whose blood were you taking?" He demanded. Once we didn't answer, he looked to Elijah, making the connection. "Seriously, Andy?"

"Yes, Damon," I barely managed, my feet wobbling from under me.

"I am going to help her," Elijah said, his tone very serious as he spoke to Damon. "I can assure you that no harm would ever come to Andrea."

Elijah helped me by Damon before he could protest, and then I saw John coming towards us quickly, but I sped up despite my condition. I didn't want to see him right now and get into an argument.

We got out of the Lockwood mansion, thankfully without John following us. Elijah made a call and let me put all my weight against him. I was leaning against him, my head very close to his and we most likely looked like a couple to most. If only. His scent was so intoxicating, that I almost had forgotten the blood until he asked how I was feeling.

"Fine," I answered tiredly, trying not to think of how embarrassed I'd be later on for all of this. I closed my eyes, my legs giving out but he caught me and I was now in his arms bridal style. I felt so tired, and just wanted to fall asleep… "Isn't… Carol going to be angry… when she finds the guest of honor has left?"

"She will be fine," He said, and I felt his hand on my back. His thumb drew small circles on my back. I felt myself relax.

"This is familiar." I murmured.

"Don't fall asleep, Andrea. You need to stay awake," He gently shook me.

I opened my eyes and looked up at him. "The Mazda," I said, handing him the keys. I told him where the car was and he carried me over. He placed me in the car, and I watched him as he got in on the driver's side.

"Anastasia was her name, wasn't it? The girl I look like, I mean. The reason you're helping me right now b-because I don't have a role in the sacrifice." I said as he began driving.

His expression gave away nothing he was feeling, and I hated when people masked their emotions like that from me. I mean, I did it, but only to undeserving people who always seem to hurt me and to strangers.

"Anastasia was just a friend," He said, before looking over with a stone cold expression.

I shook my head and closed my eyes. "Whatever you say, Elijah,"

I saw him slightly stiffen but ignored it. All I wanted was for my wounds to be okay, and it seemed like forever until I saw the apartment building. I heard two car doors open and I was lifted up. My head was clouded by now and I couldn't register anything, besides the arms which held me. I knew it was Elijah, because the sensation I felt at our skin touching. I slowly drifted off.

~ * ° · ° · ° * ~