Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries and never will, but I do own Charlene Davis and Megan Swann and any other characters I come up with.
Author's Note: Hope you love the updated version! :D
Megan didn't want to go back home to be by herself because Bonnie had spent the night at Grams, so she would be all alone in her house and with everything going on, that was the last place she wanted to be.
So, here she was at Elena's house, sitting on the couch, watching some show she was barely paying attention to.
"Why is there nothing good on TV anymore?" Megan couldn't help but complain, leaning her head on Elena's shoulder. "I need something good after what's been happening in the last couple of days." Her eyes glanced up to see her best friend's sister looking down at her sympathetically. "And I miss Charlene…" She sighed. "Hate I have to go through this without her…"
"I know…I miss her too…" Elena said softly. "But at least she's still here."
Megan slowly nodded in agreement. Elena was right. Though being a vampire was horrible, at least she wasn't dead…like Vicki.
"Yeah…" Megan changed the subject, given not a happier subject. "By the way…how are you dealing with the whole vampire thing?" She quieted down her voice since Jeremy was in the room with them, doing something on the dining room table.
"Dealing as well I can be." Elena said with a shrug. "I just can't believe they actually exist…"
"Yeah…well they do…" Megan sighed again as she lifted her head up from Elena's shoulder and tried to pay attention to the TV, wanting to shift away from the vampire conversation before someone caught a listen to it. Just in time too because Jenna appeared and Megan scooted over so the adult could sit in between her and Elena.
"You're wallowing." Jenna commented, looking over at Megan, who immediately protested.
"No, I'm not…" Then seeing the look on Jenna's face, she sighed. "Fine. Yeah, I am. But don't judge Jenna, you're doing the same thing." She made sure to sound teasing to show she didn't mean anything by it.
Jenna gave a sigh. "Yeah, but my wallow is legitimate. I was dumped."
"Yeah. Well, Logan's a jerk." Elena informed her.
"Elena's right, you deserve better than that asshole." Logan needed a better insult than what Elena called him.
Jenna couldn't help but smile at the two girls. "Thanks."
Megan smiled back as she put an arm around her best friend's aunt. "Of course, Jen!"
"Still, you didn't get a brush off email that said, 'I'm leaving town. See ya.'"
"Like I said, asshole." Megan joked as Jenna and Elena shared an amused smile.
"Wanna keep it down over there?" Jeremy called, getting their attention.
Jenna and Elena turned to look over at him with matching frowns. Megan laughed to herself at how it looked.
"Why? What are you doing?" Jenna questioned curiously.
"Homework."
It was Megan's turn to look at him, but she had a look of shock on her face. "You're doing homework?!"
Both Jenna and Elena were shocked too, for good reason too. Jeremy never did homework.
"Since when do you do homework?" Elena asked, startled.
He didn't glance up at them, scribbling on paper. "I gotta finish this. I'm way behind and I have a quiz tomorrow so…"
"What do you think? Alien?" Elena shared a look with her aunt.
"Some sort of replicant?"
"No, he definitely got possessed by a ghost." Megan couldn't help but comment too.
Jeremy looked up, glaring a little. "He can hear you."
"We know." Megan quipped with a grin as she turned back around to look at the TV, but she shared a concerned look with Elena. What brought that on?
Liz sat behind her desk in the police office, dealing with paperwork. Her phone rang from beside her and she picked it to put it to her ear.
"Yeah, send him in." Liz told the person on the other in of the phone. Damon entered the office and she looked up at him. "Mr. Salvatore, come on in. Can you get the door?"
"Sure." Damon said, closing the door.
"I understand from Mrs. Lockwood that your uncle is out of town."
Damon nodded. "Yes he is." he responded as he headed over to Liz. "He filled me in and asked if I could give this you." He stopped walking once he was over to her and handed her a box.
Taking it from him, Liz opened it up and pulled out a handful of vervain. "Vervain?"
"That's all we have at the moment, I hope it's enough," Damon told her.
Liz nodded. "It's a small circle…Founding family, a few city officials."
"And your deputies, of course right?" Damon said, sitting down in the seat he was standing in front of. "Are we any closer?"
Liz shook her head. "I think our facts are wrong," she said. "We've always believed that vampires can only come in the dark. What if that's changed?"
"So, is that even possible?"
"We've exhausted every other option," Liz answered, sounding exasperated. "We have to consider the vampire may be walking around during the day. Right in front of us."
"Hm…so what's the next step?"
"We're now looking for anyone new to town, since the death began," Liz responded. "Should turn up a subject or two."
"And I, of course, will do anything to help."
Eventually, Megan went back home to an empty house. She felt of loneliness creep up on her, even though she had no reason to feel lonely. She had friends, people who cared about her. She had everything she ever needed…then why did she feel that way?
It had to be because of Stefan. Something she hated herself for. When was she the type to have her whole world stop just because of some boy? Then again…Stefan wasn't just any boy. He was her whole world, and she hadn't even known him for that long. And he was a vampire…he wasn't safe. She needed to stay away from him, just like she told him she was going to. It was easier said than done.
Tired of her thoughts and tired in general, Megan headed up to bed and quickly fell asleep, exhausted. She wasn't asleep for long as she was awoken by Bonnie gently shaking her shoulder.
"Bonnie…" Megan said sleepily, sitting up in bed as she ran her fingers through her hair. "You're back."
"Yeah, I am. Scoot over."
Megan did and Bonnie slid into bed beside her. The brunette turned her body so she could hug her sister.
"Why haven't you called me back?" Bonnie questioned as Megan broke the hug and smiled apologetically at her.
"I'm sorry Bon…I've just been busy…and I'm tired…tired of thinking…tired of feeling so alone…"
"You're not alone, Meg. You have me, Elena, Charlene, Caroline, and Stefan." Bonnie tried telling her.
Megan shook her head at the last part. "I don't have Stefan anymore…we broke up…"
"I'm so sorry…" Bonnie said softly as Megan sniffed and wiped her eyes while they welled up with tears. "Are you okay?" As soon as she asked the question, she knew it was the wrong one and rolled her eyes at herself. "Right stupid question. I know I've been MIA when you needed me the most. I suck."
This made Megan chuckle a little. "No, you don't." She squeezed her sister's hand. "You're the best sister I've ever had. I know we're not blood related but your still my sister and always will be."
"Me too." Bonnie said, smiling as she squeezed her hand back. Then the smile fell, and was replaced by a sad one. "I'm still sorry that I haven't been there for you."
"Well, you can make it up to me by taking my mind off of it." Megan told her with a smile.
Her sister grinned in response. "Just remember you asked for it." She literally hopped out of bed and ran to the window, closing it shut. Megan watched confused as she grabbed one of her pillows, ripping it open, causing feathers to fly everywhere and all over the bed.
"Bonnie, what are you doing?" Megan asked, so confused.
"I need to swear you to secrecy."
Slowly, Megan was starting to see where she was going with this and she bit back a grin. Finally. Her sister believed it.
"Of course, you can tell me anything." Megan swore.
"Okay. So, there's no windows open, right?"
"Right." Megan barely could keep her excitement down, but she managed it.
"There's no fan. No air conditioning."
"None."
"Grams just showed me this." Bonnie grinned. "You're gonna love it. You ready?"
Megan just nodded, now unable to stop her grin. "Yes!"
Bonnie began levitating feathers one by one in front of her. Megan's grin widened as she started to help until all the feathers were floating in front and above them. Her sister's surprised eyes met hers.
"I'm a witch too." Megan whispered with a grin. Her sister stared at her for a moment before laughing happily and she laughed too as she hugged Bonnie tightly, forgetting all about her Stefan troubles and everything else.
Stefan finally came back to the boarding house and he brought back animal blood for her, which Charlene was actually ecstatic about. She was starving so she would have eaten anything…well not human blood.
Charlene sipped her blood as she sat on one of the couches in the living room with Stefan and Lexi. It was interesting to see Stefan around someone he had known for a very long time. He acted so different around Lexi. He was more relaxed…more open.
If she didn't know that Stefan and Lexi were just friends and that Stefan was in love with Megan, Charlene definitely would have thought they were together. She finished off her blood and started on another, still hungry. Not only did the animal blood taste horrible, it wasn't very fulfilling. Charlene snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Lexi's voice.
"So, this Megan girl." The blonde started. "She'll come around. I'm sure of it. Have you had sex yet?"
Charlene nearly choked on her blood, causing them to glance at her. She caught their gaze. "What?" she protested. "I so don't want to know about my best friend and Stefan's sex life!"
"There's nothing to know." Stefan said quickly, actually blushing. "We haven't had sex yet."
"Oh geez." Charlene sat down her drink and covered her face in exasperation.
Lexi, obviously, didn't care about their embarrassment as she continued. "Sex always works. I mean, you'll rock her world so hard with your vamp sex, she'll be yours forever."
"Thanks for the mental picture, Lex." Charlene muttered, the nickname rolling off her tongue without thinking about it.
Lexi grinned in response to it. "I aim to please." She gave her a wink as Stefan spoke up.
"This isn't about sex or…or compulsion or any of our other tricks." Stefan explained softly. "She has to want to be with me on her own terms."
Charlene smiled at that as Lexi gave him a surprised look, but with her own grin.
"Wow. That sounded all mature and grown-up."
"I'm not getting any older."
Charlene chuckled in amusement as she grabbed her glass of blood, drinking from it. As she did, Lexi moved over to her suitcase and opened it before pulling out a blood bag only to take a sip from it. Charlene watched closely and couldn't help but sniff the air, catching the scent of the human blood. Her mouth couldn't help but water and she cursed herself for it as she drowned the rest of the animal blood, making a face.
"Want some?" Lexi asked Stefan, making Charlene notice he was staring at the blood bag too.
"No. Thank you."
"Relax, I didn't kill anyone for it." She told him as she settled down on one of the chairs. "This phlebotomist I went out with a few times, he's my supplier." She took another sip and saw the expression on Stefan's face. In response, she gave him a pointed look. "Oh, don't judge, okay? Like I told Charlene, I tried the animal diet; lasted three weeks."
Stefan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Cause if I started again…I just don't know if…"
"You could stop."
Charlene looked between them both, feeling like she was missing something. Something important.
"Lexi, I'd never judge you." Stefan told her.
"I'm just jealous of your restraint. I have none." Lexi grinned, leaning back against her seat. "I delight in hedonism. Speaking of which, what are we doing tonight?"
Just then, Damon entered the room with that all too familiar smirk on his face. "Funny, you should ask." He quipped.
"We didn't ask you." Charlene snapped, glaring at Damon.
He ignored her. "There's a party at the Grill." He explained. "You'll love it. Banquettes, tacky wait staff, and all of Stefan's friends."
"Yeah, I don't want a birthday party." Stefan said dryly.
"Well, it's not for you. It's a party, party. No one's gonna know it's your birthday. Caroline's throwing it."
The mention of her friend made Charlene stand up, looking just about ready to attack Damon. "Stay away from her, Damon."
"Calm down, Charlene." The older Salvatore rolled his eyes with another smirk.
She crossed her arms. "Are you seriously telling me to calm down?"
"Yep, because you have no reason to freak out." Damon said. "We're friends, its cool."
"I don't care, you still need to stay away from her."
Damon rolled his eyes. "Fiiine. I'll stay away from her." Charlene stared at him, not believing him for a second but decided not to say anything. "Anyway, it's important for the town to see us out and about like normal folk. We need to blend." He noticed Lexi's stock of blood and scoffed. "I prefer mine at 98,6."
Lexi looked offended as Damon slandered out of the room, having the last word like always.
"Dick." Charlene mumbled, her eyes following him. Unfortunately, he was a dick with a nice ass.
"Let's go." Lexi said eagerly and Stefan stared at her with a, 'are you serious?' expression on his face. "Please?"
As much as she hated Damon, Charlene wouldn't turn down an invitation to get of the house. "Yeah, please Stefan." She added, and he looked over at her. "I really need to get out of this house."
Seeing it was two against one, Stefan sighed heavily. "Fine. We can go."
While Charlene excitedly got ready in her room, Lexi entered Stefan's room after taking a shower. A towel was wrapped around her and her hair was pulled up in a bun on top of her head.
"I'm almost ready," Lexi said to Stefan, who was sitting in a chair, happily as she threw the towel that was in her hand of to the side. She went to stand in front of a mirror as Stefan spoke up.
"I can't believe you actually think we should go to this thing," he said as he got out of the chair.
Lexi looked at him through the mirror, rolling her eyes slightly. "Sorry it's not like I'm asking you to run outside midday without your ring," she told him sarcastically. She turned to face her friend, making sure the towel wouldn't fall off of her, "I mean, seriously, it's a party."
"A party that Damon wants us to go to, you know," Stefan reminded her as he went to stand in front of her. "So my question is why? I think he's up to something."
"Who cares? What can he possibly do with all those people in a public place?"
"He knows how to keep a low profile, believe me," Stefan said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Okay, so he'll behave," Lexi said in response. "Come on. One day a year I get you, one day." She held up one finger as she continued. "That you're not brooding and existing in your own head." She said teasingly.
"It's my birthday, yeah."
"It's my day," Lexi corrected him. "And that guy that jumped naked in the Trevi fountain; and got drunk on the torch of the statue of Liberty; can stop his worrying for one night and go to a stupid party." A stern look crossed her face, "So, quit your whining and go get ready."
Stefan held his hands up in surrender. "Fine." He gave in before going into the bathroom to go get ready.
Megan left her house to go see Stefan and Charlene. Mostly the latter because she needed to see her. She parked her car in front of the house before climbing out and knocking on the door. Megan didn't know if she rather Stefan open the door or Charlene, probably Stefan since her best friend didn't have a daylight ring.
But she didn't get either as an unfamiliar voice called out, "It's open! Come on in."
Confused, Megan stepped inside and a shocked look crossed her face as a woman around her age appeared, dressed in only a towel. The woman had a shocked look on her face as well as she stared at her.
"Oh my God! How…uh…what…who?" she sputtered.
"Who are you?" Megan blurted out.
"Who are you?"
Megan crossed her arms. "I'm Megan. Now, who are you?"
The woman continued to just stare at her, freaking her out a bit. "Lexi, a friend of Stefan's."
"Is he here?" Megan asked awkwardly.
"He's in the shower." Her body stiffened at that as a glare slowly formed on her face. The woman cleared her throat nervously. "Do you want to wait?"
"No. Clearly, I shouldn't have come here. Sorry to interrupt." Megan bit out. She needed to get out of here.
"Megan?" She heard Charlene but she left before her best friend could say anything.
Charlene turned towards Lexi, the question about what happened was on her lips, but she couldn't get it out because the blonde hurried back upstairs before she could.
Frowning, she looked towards the front door and wished she could run after her. But damnit, the stupid sun was still out. Letting out a groan and rolling her eyes, Charlene headed back upstairs to finish getting ready for the party. She entered her room and closed the door before slipping off her shirt, not realizing someone was in the room with her until she heard an appreciative whistle. Charlene nearly screamed, immediately covering herself.
"Damon!" she screeched as she glared heatedly at the smirking Damon Salvatore laying on her bed. "What the hell?!"
"Well, hello to you too." He answered calmly, a sarcastic tone in his voice.
She just glared at him harder as she headed over to her closet, still covering herself. "Don't you have someone else you can bother? Like Stefan?" Sure, she didn't want him to bother Stefan either since it was his birthday, but she rather him not bother her.
"I much rather bother you." Damon smirked again. Before she could even blink, he was in front of her and her breath caught her throat as one of his hands reached up to touch her cheek. "And you know you love it."
"Even if I did, just stop bothering me." Charlene told him, almost pleading with him. "Please. I have more important things to deal with, like me being a vampire and not being able to go in the sun, and not being able to be with my family and my best friend who needs me. So, just leave me alone." With that, she backed away from him and turned around to hide the fact that her eyes were filling with tears. The last thing she needed was to let Damon see her tears.
He didn't leave as she could feel his gaze on her back. Charlene was about to say something to him but he spoke before she could.
"All you had to do was ask, Charlene, because I can help you with that."
Those words had her turning around. "What?"
"Over the years, I've collected daylight rings from witches, and I could give you one…"
Charlene sighed heavily. "And let me guess, there's a 'but' coming."
"No, no buts." Damon informed her, stepping closer to her again. "I was going to give you one anyway…can't have you suffer forever when there's so much to love about being a vampire and you need to experience it and you can't when you're stuck inside all day. So…" He reached into his pocket, pulling out a ring similar to his and Stefan's, except it was smaller and a lot prettier. "Here you go."
Charlene reached out so she could put it on, but Damon did it for her, and she let him for whatever reason. Their eyes stayed connected as he did. After he put it on, his hand stayed on hers for just a moment before he let go. He gave her a smirk and he finally left her room. Charlene stared after him, wondering why he did that for her. Maybe he wasn't as bad as she thought…
Once she thought that, she shook her head. No. Just because he did something nice, it didn't change what he did to her, or to everyone she loved. But it didn't stop her from being ungrateful as Charlene stared at the daylight ring on her finger, smiling to herself. Once she finished getting ready, she quickly left the boarding house without telling Stefan, last thing she wanted was to explain how she got the daylight ring, knowing he wouldn't like the fact she got it from Damon.
Charlene raced back home, but she bumped into someone along the way. It was Maddie, her ex co-worker.
"Char!" she exclaimed happily. "Long time no see!"
"Hi Maddie." Charlene managed a smile. "Yeah, I've been busy."
"I miss you at the Grill. It's not the same without you there." Maddie smiled back, placing her hand on Charlene's shoulder.
"That's sweet, thank you." She went to say something else but the familiar smell of blood hit her nose and it was coming from the redhead. Oh, it smelt so good. Her eyes locked in on the pulse of her neck. It was pumping deliciously and she wanted a taste so bad.
"Charlene? You okay?" Maddie almost broke through her hungry thoughts but her mind was still on it.
"No…no I'm not…" Charlene mumbled, then locked eyes with Maddie. Her pupils dilated automatically and the redhead's face went blank. "You're not going to scream…"
"I'm not going to scream…" Maddie responded blankly.
"And you're not going to be afraid about what I'm about to do."
"I won't be afraid…"
Charlene couldn't help herself now as her face changed and her fangs extended before she attacked, biting Maddie's neck harshly. The redhead didn't scream as she fed from her, draining her inch by inch. The temptation of blood was too powerful and she drank and drank until Maddie's body slumped in her arms…dead.
Once she finished, Charlene pulled back with blood dripping down her chin. She licked her caked with blood lips and closed her eyes in ecstasy as she held onto Maddie's dead body. Charlene knew what she had done and she felt horrible about it but no one had to know. She wasn't going to let it happen again, even if she had to do what she didn't want to do in the first place. Have Damon Salvatore teach her how to feed on human blood without killing anyone in the process.
That thought in mind, Charlene picked up Maddie's body to go give her a proper burial before heading back to her house.
Megan was once again alone in her house. Bonnie had went to the party at the Grill, the one Caroline was throwing, and her sister had tried to convince her to go, but she decided to just stay home. She wasn't one to turn down a party…she just wasn't in the partying type of mood. And she didn't want to run into Stefan, just in case he was going to it.
So, at the moment, she sat on the couch in the living room, munching on popcorn and watching Friends on TBS. The episode where Ross and Rachel broke up started just as Megan heard the doorbell ring. With a groan, she got up, grumbling under her breath as she headed over to the front door. Megan opened the door and Stefan was there.
"Stefan?" she questioned, surprised that he was here. "What are you doing here?"
"Lexi said that you came by and you seemed upset."
"Lexi?" Megan didn't have to think about it long and she frowned, crossing deeply. "Right. Towel girl." She grumbled jealous.
"The towel?"
Megan nodded, pursing her lips at him. She was taken aback when Stefan started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Megan asked angrily, now glaring at him as she crossed her arms. "It's not funny, Stefan!"
His laughing stopped. "I'm sorry." Stefan apologized. "But it's not like that, trust me. Besides, she's not exactly a girl – Lexi's just 350 years old."
Megan's glare faded away. "She's a vampire?" she asked rhetorically.
Stefan nodded. "And she's my oldest friend. Nothing romantic. Ever."
Megan relaxed as her arms fell back to her sides. "Okay, well, good…" she said sheepishly, cursing herself for getting jealous. "She seemed, uh, nice. A little weird though…she kept staring at me like she had seen a ghost or something."
"Yeah…" Stefan looked sheepish. "Well, I've talked about you a lot so…I guess she felt like she knew you." Megan decided to take his explanation to heart, even though it made no sense. "So, why did you come over?"
"It was a mistake to come over…and I just wanted to see Charlene." Megan quickly answered.
"Megan, talk to me."
"Do you not think I want to?" Megan found herself snapping. "Of course, I want to talk to you, Stefan. But I can't. Not when I'm keeping secrets. I can't even tell my own sister about it. And the only person I can talk to about it is Charlene, Elena, and you…and…"
Stefan stopped her by grabbing her hands. "Megan, I want you to know that I will always be there for you." He told her softly, looking into her eyes and she met his gaze. "You can come to me about anything, okay?"
Megan nodded and pulled her hands away. "Thank you…I appreciate it…and thanks for coming over…" She gave him a soft smile as she turned to go back inside but Stefan's voice stopped her.
"Hey, do you need a ride to the Grill?"
"Are you going to Caroline's party?" That was exactly why she didn't go because she was afraid of that.
"Lexi's dragging me and…it's my birthday."
"Really?" Megan couldn't stop the genuine smile from her face. "Happy birthday."
Stefan laughed softly. "Thank you."
Megan didn't say anything for a moment. "And no, I wasn't planning on going. I was afraid I was going to run into you."
He looked down at that. "Oh…"
"But…" Stefan looked up. "I guess since it's your birthday…I'll go…" He smiled widely and she smiled back. "Let me just go get dressed."
"Okay."
Megan smiled again as she turned and headed upstairs to get ready.
At the Grill, Caroline found Bonnie sitting at a table with two other girls and she went over to her friend.
"Bonnie, I've been looking for you," she told her friend as she grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the table. "I'm so sorry that I have to do this." They stopped walking and she faced her friend before continuing, "I know it's so Indian giver and I know we're not supposed to say that anymore but I need my crystal back."
"Why? I thought you said you hated it." Confusion was clear in Bonnie's voice.
"Then I saw it on you and I realized how great it is," Caroline said quickly coming up with an excuse. "And I've got three outfits I can coordinate it with so…"
Bonnie shook her head. "I can't give it to you," she said cutting her friend off before she could say anything.
"Okay," Caroline said internally annoyed at her. "Well, I didn't want to tell you this but I'm your friend, when you wear it makes you look fat. There I said it, but it's because I'm your friend so..."
"I'm sorry Caroline, I can't," Bonnie told Caroline.
"What do you mean you can't?" Caroline asked a little angrily. "Bonnie's its mine." Her voice sounded whiney and childish as she said the last thing.
"I thought you said it was Damon's."
"It is."
Bonnie then realized something, "So he's the one who really wants it back."
"No," Caroline denied. "Maybe." She added. "Just…" She touched the necklace but it shocked her causing her to pull her hand back, she looked at her friend confused, "Are you wearing polyester?"
Bonnie looked at her friend in disbelief, "You were really going to pull it off of my neck." She shook her head, "What the hell is wrong with you?" She walked away and Caroline groaned before walking away herself.
Megan and Stefan ended the Grill, standing close together, but not holding hands. Trust her, she wanted to, but thought it would weird considering what had been going on between them.
"Hi!" Lexi greeted, appearing in front of them. Megan managed a smile, feeling embarrassed at how she reacted when she met the blonde vampire for the first time.
"Hey…I'm sorry about earlier…" Megan decided to apologize. "I didn't know who you were…"
Lexi waved it off. "Don't even worry about it." She grinned and Megan could tell she meant it. "If I was in your position, I probably would have acted the same way. I was in a towel, at your boyfriend's house."
Megan would have corrected her, but decided not to. "Yeah, but still, I'm a lot nicer than that."
"I know." Lexi smiled again. She glanced around for a moment before looking at Megan again. "Do you mind if I borrow the birthday boy?"
"Sure…" Now, Megan didn't feel weird about it.
The blonde grinned at her and grabbed Stefan's hand, dragging him to the pool table, leaving Megan alone.
But she wasn't alone for long.
"Megan!" She was pulled into a tight and enthusiastic hug by Charlene.
Immediately, Megan hugged her friend back as she buried her face in her best friend's blonde hair. God, she missed her so much.
"I've missed you, Megan." Charlene whispered emotionally.
"I've missed you too." The hug broke and Megan's heart broke at seeing tears streaming down her face.
"Char, don't cry." She told her gently, wiping her face. "It'll be okay."
Charlene sniffed. "It doesn't feel like it…" she sighed as she wiped the rest of tears away. She shook her head, trying to collect herself. "But at least there's a positive…"
"What's that?"
A grin crept its way onto her face as she showed off her finger. There was a ring with the same type of jewel in the middle as Stefan and Damon's ring.
"Where did you get that?!" Megan exclaimed, grabbing her friend's hand to examine the ring closer.
Charlene looked sheepish and nervous at the same time. "Er…Damon…"
Megan's eyes widened. "What?" Instead of being mad, she was mostly concerned. "And what did he ask in return?"
"He didn't ask for anything." Of course, she had a hard time believing that and it must have showed on her face since Charlene said as she grabbed her hands, "I'm telling the truth. He didn't. If he did, I wouldn't have accepted it…but I can walk in the sun now, Megan. I don't have to be stuck inside all day."
"I know…but how do you know Damon isn't going to use this to his advantage when he wants to?"
Charlene gave a sigh, letting go of her hands. "I don't know…" She said nothing for a moment. "Let's stop talking about it. It's a party, we're supposed to have fun. Let's just pretend that our lives were like they used to be before Damon and Stefan Salvatore came to town."
That was easier said than done, but Megan had to agree. "Okay."
Her best friend grinned. "Come on, let's go to the bar and I'll compel us a few drinks." Megan couldn't help but grin at that as she let Charlene tug her over to the bar.
-0-
Charlene sat with Megan at a table, drowning her shot. She swallowed with a satisfying sound.
"It's so weird that I like alcohol now." Charlene informed Megan with a laugh, wiping her mouth and accidently smudging her makeup a little. "But I can't say that I'm complaining about it."
"Yeah…" Megan sounded like she wasn't paying attention and she looked to see what she was staring at.
It was Stefan and Lexi, who were both at the pool table, having a great time. Smiling and laughing.
Charlene opened her mouth to comfort her, but someone else spoke up. However, he wasn't a comforting person to say the least.
"Stefan smiles. Alert the media." Damon's voice was close to her, so she couldn't help but jump.
Megan groaned at the sight of Damon. "Go away…" she mumbled. "We don't want you here."
"You don't, but Charlene might." He smirked.
Charlene rolled her eyes and turned to meet his gaze. "Yeah, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you weren't there." She said sarcastically.
"Better be nice to me, I can take that ring just like that." Damon snapped his fingers.
"Go for it." Charlene challenged, but he didn't make a move to do so as Megan interrupted.
"Well I'm happy he's having a good time." She informed Damon. "Because you haven't given him anything to be happy about lately." She took a drink of her beer before turning to look at the older Salvatore with a pointed look.
At this, Damon rolled his eyes. "Oh you're right. Poor Stefan persecuted throughout eternity by his depraved brother; does it ever get tiring to be so righteous?"
Megan snorted. "I'm being righteous? Oh, you're one to talk Damon." She stood up from her chair. "I'm getting another drink." She mumbled as she left Damon and Charlene alone.
"Do you have to be so mean to my friends?" Charlene frowned at him.
"Yep." Damon said, popping the 'p'.
Charlene sighed heavily as she stood up. "Whatever Damon." She went to leave, but he grabbed her arm.
When she looked over, his face was close to her face and she stiffened as he exhaled. After a moment, Damon pulled back to stare at her. He stayed silent for a moment before speaking.
"You drank human blood."
This made her completely freeze. "No, I didn't."
"Yeah you did. I can smell it on you." Damon smirked hugely. "Given up on the Stefan diet, huh? Mm…I'm surprised you lasted this long."
"Shut up, Damon." Charlene hissed, glaring at him. "It won't happen again."
He shook his head. "Yes it will, and you'll keep killing people if you don't know how to control yourself. Let me help you."
Charlene knew she had told herself that she would ask for his help, but in the moment, she didn't want to. She could do it on her own.
"The last thing I want is your help." Charlene snapped, roughly pulling her arm away. She started to walk away from him but stopped as she realized something and she turned around. "That's why you gave me the ring! You knew I couldn't control myself and would go out and kill someone, so I would ask for your help!"
"You caught me."
Charlene stared at him in disbelief, but then she got angry and tore her ring off, throwing it at him. "Take your stupid daylight ring back!" she growled. "I don't want it and you can go to hell!" She stormed off.
Megan was alone again, sitting in a booth and staring into space. This was no fun at all.
"Hey! Why are you sitting by yourself?" Lexi appeared, drinks in her hand.
"It's not without annoyance." Megan responded as she managed a small smile. "Charlene disappeared on me, but I can't blame her. She has her own problems to deal with, you know with being a vampire and all."
"Yeah, but good thing alcohol helps." Lexi said as she handed over one of the shots she had.
Megan didn't drink it as she looked up at the blonde. "How can you guys drink? You would think you wouldn't be able to."
"It helps curb the cravings, but makes for a lot of lusty vamps." Lexi said, waggling her eyebrows a little.
Megan laughed at that. She couldn't help it. Megan shook her head and found her gaze locking on Stefan, who was still at the pool table.
"I've never seen Stefan drunk before." She commented. "He's always so…"
"Uptight?" Lexi guessed with a smile.
"Yeah…"
Lexi gave a laugh. "Yeah."
"He's not like that with you, though." Megan said quietly. "I'm kind of jealous."
Lexi sat down next to her. "You don't have to be. That's just the benefit of knowing someone for over a hundred years. You can just be yourself."
"I wish he was like with me…"
"Not yet…but the first step was him telling you." Lexi touched her hand. "The rest comes with time."
"You sound so sure, Lexi." A lot more sure than Megan felt.
She said nothing for a moment. "The love of my life was human. He went through, what I imagine you're going through: denial, anger, et cetera. But at the end of the day…" Her eyes met Megan's brown ones and smiled. "Love really did conquer it all." She gestured to her tequila. "Are you going to drink that?"
Megan shook her head. "Go for it." Lexi took it and drank the shot in one go, causing the dark haired teen to look at her impressed. Then her eyes glanced down. "I'm scared, Lexi. With everything that's going on. Not just with Stefan, but everything…I don't know if I can do it…"
"But you're here, aren't you?" Lexi stated and Megan bit her lip, nodding her head softly. She was here, despite everything. "Cause your crazy about him, I get it, okay? I mean what's not to love." They looked at Stefan and Megan couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. He looked so happy. "Listen. Take it from someone who's been around a long time. When it's real, you can't walk away." She gave her one last smile, squeezed her hand, and stood up to walk back over to Stefan.
Megan quickly stopped her, standing up herself only to give Lexi a huge hug. She knew she had surprised her since Stefan's best friend didn't return it right away. Megan held onto the hug for a few minutes before pulling away and smiling.
"Thank you." She told her. "And it was very nice to meet you, Lexi." The blonde smiled, actually looking a bit shy before she left Megan.
"Lexi sure is something." Charlene said as she appeared beside her.
Megan turned and smiled. "Yeah…she is."
Damon was sitting at the bar when Lexi appeared with two shots in her hands. She sat them down as he glanced down at the shots, then up at her.
"Alright, these shots are a bribe," Lexi told him seriously. "I need you to answer a question. What are you really doing here in Mystic Falls?"
"Have you tried the Brittle? It wins award."
"Cut the crap." Lexi snapped as Damon drowned one of the shots.
He sat down the empty shot. "Okay." He leaned forward and smirked. "I have a diabolical master plan."
"What is it?"
Damon raised an eyebrow at her. "If I told you it wouldn't be very diabolical, now would it?"
Lexi just shook her head at him. Over at the entrance of the Grill, Liz Forbes, three police officers, and a girl that got attacked by a vampire entered the party.
"Look around, let me know if you see anything." Liz told the girl, who still looked completely shaken.
The girl nodded wearily. She looked around at all the people before landing on Lexi and Damon who were at the bar. The girl pointed at the bar and Liz's face darkened looking over at the blonde who was sitting next to Damon Salvatore, not knowing the latter was the one who actually did it. The sheriff pushed the girl over to one of the guards and then gestured to the other two police officer to follow her.
Charlene left Stefan and Megan so they could have some time alone. She hoped they would be able to work things out. She liked them together. Elena joined her and they talked for a little bit when Charlene noticed something from the corner of her eye.
Sheriff Forbes was taking away Lexi!
Charlene gasped in shock and horror. She didn't hesitate to start running, ignoring Elena calling out her name. Charlene wanted to stop whatever was happening, even though she had no idea what was going on.
It was too late.
Her eyes widened in horror as Damon staked Lexi. "No!" she cried out and went to run, but she was held back by Stefan, who also had tight grip on Megan.
"Stefan, what are you doing?! We have to stop him!" Charlene told Stefan, but he shook his head.
"It's too late…" he whispered sadly.
Once everyone was gone, Stefan pulled away and stormed off. Charlene quickly followed with Megan right behind her.
Megan tried to grab his arm but it was no use.
"He killed her!" Stefan exclaimed angrily. "He killed Zach; he killed Tanner; he turned Vicki and Charlene, I have to kill him!"
"No Stefan! You can't do that!" Charlene told him loudly, not knowing where the sudden need to keep Damon safe was coming from.
Stefan turned around quickly, causing them to jump. He looked furiously and it was scary to see him like this. Especially Megan. Something Charlene noticed and she pushed her best friend behind to protect, just in case.
"Why are you trying to save him?!" he roared angrily. "Charlene, he's never going to change! Don't you see that?! He's never gonna change!"
"I know that!" Charlene yelled. "I know that better than anyone! He's a dick and doesn't care about anyone but himself, but Stefan, don't be like him! If you kill him that will just make you just as bad as he is!"
Megan stepped around Charlene and she didn't stop her. Her best friend grabbed Stefan's face, forcing him to look at her.
"We're trying to save you, not Damon." Megan told him desperately. "You have no idea what that would do to you!" She basically took what Charlene said, but put it in a nicer way.
Stefan pulled his face away from Megan's grip. "Everywhere I've been, pain and death follow; Damon follows. No more." He tried to walk away again but Megan stopped him again, grabbing his hand and staring at him pleadingly even though he wasn't looking at her.
"Just talk to me, Stefan." She pleaded. "Please. Let me be here for you. For once."
He pulled his hand away, stepping back from the two of them. "No. Megan, you were right to stay from him."
Finally, he left and this time, Megan let him as she fell to her knees, letting out a sob. Charlene quickly joined and hugged her tightly, letting her cry into her chest.
Before the sun came back up, Charlene went back to the boarding house and she went into the kitchen. She found Damon there drinking a glass of human blood.
"What you did to Lexi was horrible." Those were the first words Charlene said to him.
Damon rolled his eyes. "I already got it from Stefan, no need to add onto it."
"I would just be glad he didn't kill you."
"And I know I have you to thank for that." Damon said, smirking a little.
"I didn't do it for you. I did it for Stefan." Charlene told him. For some reason, she didn't believe her words.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Alright. Whatever you say."
"Why did you do it?"
"I did it to get them off our trail. Just be glad I didn't decide to use you instead."
"I would rather you have used me." Charlene said, completely serious. He looked at her surprised and she stepped forward. "I'm not good at this, being a vampire, I can't control myself. I didn't want to admit it but I can't. And I know it won't be the last time…not if I don't learn how to control myself around human blood. So, against my better judgement, I want your help."
Damon thought about it. "Okay. But I can't do that if you don't have this." He pulled out her daylight ring and tossed it to her.
Charlene caught it easily before she slipped it on her ring as she looked up at him. "Thank you…"
"No, thank you." Damon smirked widely. "This is gonna be fun."
God, she better not regret this…