After checking with the last witch in Bonnie's list and again hitting a dead end, Elena suggested they should get back to Mystic Falls. The group have been in New York for five days and school was about to start, and Elena didn't want her brother to miss it. Besides, she, Bonnie and Caroline would be starting college.
While mostly everyone agreed, Spike wanted to stay some more, in hopes of seeing the redhead again; and Damon, while wanting to give his friend a chance, agreed it was time to leave.
–She has Bonnie's number, though it would have been wise to ask for hers, –Damon said, trying to reassure his friend.
Spike didn't say anything, he was trying not to think, because the more he did, the more he wanted to go out and try to track her down. Then again, it would not work now that he couldn't sense vampires, or pick up a specific person's scent. And while they were returning to the hotel to pack and check out, Spike felt slightly odd, and when he tried to quicken his pace, he suddenly super sped and hit a wall head on. The rest completely failed at not bursting into laughter.
–Hey! It's not funny, –he frowned while wiping some of his own blood from his nose.
–Oh but it is, –Damon replied, completely amused about the incident.
–At least you can run fast now, –Elena reassured Spike.
–Thanks for the pep talk, love, but I'll feel much better once I'm done with it, –Spike said, somewhat upset; though Elena realized it wasn't personal.
The trip back to Mystic Falls was mostly a quiet one, except for Elena talking from time to time on the phone with Bonnie and Caroline. From what Damon could gather, Blondie was not happy with Elena's and Bonnie's decision of staying in the boarding house instead of getting a dorm together in Whitmore College. Meanwhile, Spike was sitting in the back of the Camaro fidgeting with his new cell phone, and occasionally sighing in frustration.
–Too difficult to figure out? – Damon mocked him, glancing through the rearview mirror. Spike returned the look, not amused.
–Yeah, mock the techno-challenged vampire, very funny, mate, –he replied, –the last cell phone I had was a StarTac.
–A what? – Elena asked.
–A pocket cell phone that only had buttons and a green quartz screen, – Damon replied.
After stopping for food on the road, Elena once again traveled with Bonnie and Jeremy. Damon had decided that Spike should stay in their home until he could find his friend a permanent place; and Elena knew exactly in what particular place Spike could live, but before taking any decision, she needed to consult with Jeremy. After all, Alaric left the loft to the Gilberts, not to Damon, and considering their home didn't exist anymore after she burned it to the ground, there was a possibility that Jeremy wanted to live in the loft at some point.
Once they were back in town, Damon made sure to re-stock their blood supply, now that Spike was temporary living in his house. Things would be easier once Spike developed the ability to compel, but so far that particular perk was a no-show.
While Spike was in the living room, still trying to setup his phone to his liking, Elena was receiving her friend Caroline, who immediately noticed the bleached blond vampire.
–Who is that? – She asked curiously.
–That's Spike, a friend of Damon's, he's a vampire, – Elena replied.
–Damon has a friend? A vampire friend? That can't be good, – Caroline didn't hide her disapproval.
–Please, don't start, – Elena quickly retorted.
–Fine, fine, – Caroline replied before the two of them headed for the kitchen.
Damon overheard the conversation and rolled his eyes, he was bringing some bourbon and blood.
–I see you met Caroline, – he told Spike while handing him one of the glasses.
–I barely took a glance, she reminded me of a girlfriend I had, –Spike replied frowning.
–Really? That was one of the girls I was gonna introduce you, –Damon said, amused at Spike's reaction.
–Yeah, Harmony had a personality that made you crave for bloody nails screeching against a chalkboard, mate, –Spike shuddered.
–I get your point, –Damon replied.
The week had been somewhat smooth, and while Spike felt comfortable with living in his friend's home, he really wanted to get a place of his own but that was going to take a while. According to Damon, he was still waiting for news, though Spike didn't know what his friend was talking about. Damon decided to not tell Spike about the possibility of getting Alaric's loft, besides Damon had been clearly not amused at learning that Caroline decided to throw a party at the Salvatore residence as a celebration for their first successful week in college.
–Not happy about the shindig, are you? –Spike asked, clearly knowing the answer.
–Of course I'm not, –Damon replied, glaring at Spike, –the least I need is a group of frat douchebags spilling alcohol all over my house.
–Then why on bloody hell did you let them do the party here? –Spike wondered.
–Because I can keep an eye and compel them to feed if needed. –He replied.
–I'll probably hide in my bloody room and listen to the Sex Pistols out loud, or go to that Grill you enjoy so much. Anything to not be in some party, –Spike murmured almost to himself, and Damon chuckled.
Their conversation was interrupted when Bonnie rushed into the living room.
–Guess who just called me with news regarding portal magics, –she said excitedly.
–Hmm, what do you know, she did call after all, –Damon said looking at Spike, who clearly was surprised. Damon continued, –so what did she say?
–Not much, she has some pages of a grimoire, she doesn't understand anything, so she's coming to Mystic Falls to drop them tomorrow evening, –Bonnie replied.
–But tomorrow you girls have that party Caroline planned, –Damon noted.
–I know, but what was I going to tell her? "Please don't come tomorrow, we have a party" and lose any chance at seeing those pages? –She retorted.
Spike pondered for a moment, Maybe I don't have to hide in my room after all…