Okay, quick question that I would really like you guys to answer. Adele becoming a vampire…what are your thoughts on this? If you would like her to become a vampire, would you like her to become one sooner rather than later or would you rather wait to see her become one? Let me know via review or PM yes? (:

Shout outs:

Thank you to SomebodyWhoCares, winxgirl1997, ddluzelle, Lucy Greenhill and MysticGirl200 for your reviews. You guys are awesome and MysticGirl200 I would love to be the one to make the previews for the new episodes. :p "Next week on the Vampire Diaries; Klaus gets pissed and throws a hissy fit…again. Meanwhile Damon and Stefan are still mindlessly fighting over a girl who just isn't worth it. I mean come on boys whatever happened to bros before hoes…literally? Get with the program already!" That would be me, all the way. I would probably piss a lot of people off now that I think about it. Oh well, it would still be fun. xD

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's.

Chapter 4: Disturbing Behavior

"I just don't know why you want to bring chili to a potluck. Everybody brings chili." Damon continues to rant as he turns away from the stove. Elena is chopping up a tomato behind the island as Adele leans her elbows against the side of it, flipping through a random fashion magazine she found on the table.

Damon moves in easily behind her, his arms sliding around her small waist as he gazes over her shoulder at the magazine. "Hey Ric." He calls out as the history teacher enters the kitchen.

He looks around at them for a moment trying to remember the last time the two of them had hung out at the house, let alone Adele even showing up besides that one night she decided to stay home. "What's up?" He asks noticing the pots and pans, the knifes and the cooking ingredients.

"What time do you want to go to the Lockwood party?" Elena asks before anyone can say anything else and Alaric gives her a look that says he really doesn't want to go.

"Ah. Those founder's parties aren't really my thing." He shakes his head.

"Show up," Damon says, "there's going to be nine other people that brought chili." Elena stops chopping to give Adele a look that says "deal with him" and Adele merely sighs turning her head to look up at Damon behind her.

"It's an old family recipe, okay?" She tells him and he snorts, his hands slipping through the opening at the back of her dress to run along the bare skin of her stomach. She jerks slightly because damn, his hands are cold though his fingers running along her ribs does wonders to heat her up.

"Yeah, I know. I knew your old family. They made sucky chili." Adele bangs her head against the counter softly letting out a small laugh as Elena sends him a glare before breaking into a laugh as well because honestly, it was true. The chili could be a lot better.

"Why are you guys here exactly?" Alaric asks. "Not that I'm not happy you've finally decided to come home…" The comment was directed at Adele and she sends him a bright smile but doesn't respond.

"She knows." Damon mutters mentioning to Elena as he points to something that catches his eye in the magazine, a dress none the less that looked more or less see through and very short, maybe even shorter than the one she currently had on. She shakes her head elbowing him in the ribs. Damon squeezes her sides and she jerks forward bending her knees in order to try and wiggle her way away for that brief moment.

"Hey Mister," She mummers. "Watch it." She straightens up turning her head to raise an eyebrow at him and he smirks leaning forward to kiss her gently.

"Anyways," After watching their public affection Elena turns away with the urge to do the gag motion but suppresses it as she looks up at Alaric who has his eyes narrowed in a very fatherly way at the two. He tares his eyes away from the two as well looking back at Elena. "They think I'm going to break." She says. "I'm not going to break. I am just going to keep making chili, pretend like I didn't just spend the entire summer looking for someone who didn't want to be found."

"She's in denial." Adele says flipping to the next page marking it as a pair of shoes catches her attention.

"I'm not in denial." Elena whispers though she doesn't look up from her chopping.

"No?" Damon asks and this time Elena does look up at the two who are staring back at her. "You're still wearing that necklace. Isn't that the reminder of your unbreakable bond with Stefan?"

*VD*

Damon's cell phone rings and he lets go of Adele to retrieve it from his pocket so he can see who it is. "It's Liz." He tells her moving away from the twins to answer it. Elena glances at Adele who shrugs.

He returns to them a minute later, swinging Adele around to face him as he swipes down capturing her lips in a gentle kiss and Elena huffs turning away from the happy couple, the affection and bitter realty that she can no longer have that with Stefan leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

When she's finally able to pry herself away he explains that Liz needs him to help her with the Bill situation and Adele understands. Caroline's dad was a vampire hater if there ever was one. John hated them as well but in the end he was willing to forget his hatred in favor of his daughter's happiness while Bill would rather torture Caroline in an attempt to help her because now that she's a vampire, she's suddenly broken.

As if they could sense how uncomfortable their affection towards each other was making Elena, Adele throws her arms around Damon's shoulders. "No! Please don't go! Stay with me forever and we can have it all!" She yells her voice overly dramatic. Elena stops chopping, her eyes widening at the scene beginning to happen before her.

"I'm sorry." Damon's voice sounds like a mixture between amusement and pain, like he's trying hard to make himself sound like the idea of leaving her side for a mere hour was too excruciating to think about. "But I have to go. There's a world out there that needs my help and I'd be selfish to stay here and spend the rest of my days happy with you."

Damon sweeps her up into a kiss that she is guessing is meant to be like there last kiss, like he was leaving and never coming back. Adele pushes him away. "Don't make this harder than it already is." She tells him taking a wide step back. "Go. Save the world but don't ever think of coming back. You've broken my heart for the last time."

"I'll never forget you!" He's gone before Elena has the chance to blink and after a few moments of stunned silence she turns to look at Adele who is back to flipping through her magazine like the two didn't just have a complete black and white movie moment in the middle of the kitchen.

"What?" She exclaims when it becomes obvious that Adele isn't going to pay any attention to her.

Adele glances up, a confused gleam in her eyes. "What?" She asks and before she can respond the doorbell rings. "I'm going to get that." Adele pushes off the counter and leaves the kitchen quickly a smirk forming on her lips. That was insanely fun and the expression on Elena's face made it that much better.

She opens the door to Caroline standing there holding out a bowl to her. "I come bearing gifts." She smiles brightly and Adele eyes the bowl.

"Please tell me that's not chili." She groans and Caroline's smile falls as she steps aside and Bonnie comes into view.

"Bonnie!" Elena calls from behind her and Adele makes it out of the way in time for her brunette sister to come barreling through.

When Bonnie pulls away she glances between Caroline and Elena. "I leave town for the summer and everything goes to hell for the both of you." She says causing the two girls to shrug and smile softly before Bonnie looks to Adele.

"Welcome back." Adele smirks and Bonnie smiles. Sure the two weren't best friends but it was safe to say the two had grown closer during the past year, close enough to actually call themselves friends.

"Thanks and I hear you've been having the summer of your life."

"It's been a good one yes." Adele laughs just as Jeremy is coming down the stairs spotting Bonnie by the door.

"Bonnie!" He calls causing the four to turn to look at him, Bonnie's grin widens as she pushes past them all.

"Jeremy." She throws herself into his arms hugging him tightly. Adele rolls her eyes but smiles none the less. Jeremy was finally happy and Adele's thoughts trail off as she sees his smile fall slightly, his eyes fixed on the mirror across from him. She looks but sees nothing but his own reflection. He shakes whatever it is off quickly and Adele lets it go, for now.

The four girls move into the kitchen to finish off the chili as they wait for the time to roll by before there due to head out to the potluck. Elena grabs the crock pot from the counter placing it on the island as Bonnie takes a seat on a bar stool; Adele returns to her previous standing place and Caroline grabs the pot of cooking chili.

"The problem with my dad's normal side of the family is normal made for a really boring summer." Bonnie is saying as Caroline brings the chili over to Elena. They begin pouring it in as Caroline sighs in a dreamy sort of way.

"After the last few days, I would kill for a normal family." She tells them, she seems to realize the task she's preforming and sends Elena and Adele confused glances. "Since when did you guys learn how to cook?" Elena had some minor cooking abilities but Adele didn't. Adele never cooks, the only thing Caroline's ever seen her make is toast and even that was rare.

"Damon helped a little." Elena attempts to which Adele snorts.

"More like a lot." She says and Caroline turns to her with slightly narrowed eyes. She was well aware of Adele relationship though they haven't talked about it much. Caroline made her opinion clear from the beginning and Adele proved she could care less what anyone thought.

"Oh yeah?" She didn't mean for the simple question to sound so snarky but as Adele's sharp blue eyes turn to her she realizes it had.

"Stop judging." Elena speaks up surprising both Adele and Caroline. "He's just trying to be a good boyfriend and... ow!" She exclaims suddenly making the three girls jump.

"Did I splash you?" Caroline asks in a panicked voice but Elena shakes her head her hand coming up to her necklace.

"No, no, my necklace." She breaths pulling the silver ball away from her skin and left behind is a burn mark in the same shape. Elena looks up at them alarmed. "It burned me." She unlatches it, pulling it off her neck to hold it up in front of her.

"Let me see." Bonnie whispers leaning closer to examine it, she reaches out touching it but quickly pulls her hand back as it sparks and Elena lets it go in surprise.

"Ouch." Adele mutters sarcastically after a minute of standing there staring at the necklace lying against the counter top.

"What the hell was that?" Caroline snaps placing the now empty pot on the stove top and her hands on her hips.

"I don't know but I can probably figure it out." Bonnie says as they continue to stare at it.

"Well okay, go on." Elena says looking from the necklace to Bonnie who gives her a wide eyed stare.

"I'm not touching it! What if it shocks me again?"

"Well I'm not touching it." Elena deadpans looking to Caroline who shakes her head stepping away.

"Oh for shit sakes!" Adele exclaims reaching forward.

"Adele, no!" She plunks it from the counter by the sliver chain dangling it in front of her for them all to see.

"See." Adele says holding it out to Elena. "It's fine."

*VD*

Adele is sitting on the grass, her legs folded up under her as she's waiting with Elena and Caroline for Bonnie to come back with her grimoire. She was focused on her phone, leaving her completely unaware of Caroline and Elena's eyes watching her every move as her fingers are easily sliding against the touch screen key board of her phone. They watch as her lips twitch every so often, like whoever she's texting is highly amusing.

Remind me not to eat any of the chili. Any of it. –Damon

I shall do no such thing. –Adele

You want me to get sick. –Damon

I've always wanted to play nurse. –Adele

Why haven't you told me this before? There is nothing I want more in life then to see you in a sexy nurse costume. If I could see that, my immortal life would be complete. –Damon

Find me one and if you're good I'll model it for you. –Adele

Challenge accepted. (; -Damon

"I have an identification spell that might be able to tell me what magic affected the necklace." Adele tunes back in, placing her phone on the grass next to her as Bonnie finally returns. Elena digs into her pocket pulling the necklace out and handing it over. "It's going to take a while, so tell me if anyone's coming, ok?" They agree quickly and Adele's phone buzzes next to her.

It's going to be short, very short. That's a no brainer. –Damon

She snorts shaking her head choosing to ignore that. Caroline has gone back to watching her with narrowed eyes. "So are you and Damon like serious, serious? Or is this just like a faze or something causal?"

Adele looks up partly surprised. "What?"

Bonnie's shoulders slump as she looks up from the book open in her lap. "Caroline." She says in a warning tone but she waves her off, telling her to focus.

"As your best friend who worries for you daily, what is the deal with you and Damon?" She blurts out.

"We're pretty serious Caroline. You should know that considering I've been with him the whole summer and it's been one of the best summers ever for me." She answers sending Caroline a look that tells her not to start but being Caroline she ignores it.

"I know but just because he's sweet and caring towards you doesn't make him any less Damon. If my own father, who I love dearly, can't change me, no one's changing Damon. Not even you." She tells her feeling like as her friend, it was the right thing to do. She doesn't want her having high hopes about him.

"I don't want to change him Caroline!" She exclaims surprising both Elena and Caroline. "I've never wanted to change him. I love him because of him, if he changed he wouldn't be the man I love now would he? It's not me who wants him to change its everyone around us you guys included."

"Uh, guys." Adele snaps her eyes away from Caroline, towards Bonnie only to let out a surprised squeak. The necklace was levitating and by the way Bonnie was leaning back looking like she wanted to be as far away from it as possible probably means she's not the one doing it.

"What are you doing?" Caroline asks but Bonnie shakes her head.

"I'm not doing anything." She's watching it rise higher and higher into the air. "It has its own magic."

"That…" Everyone's eyes fall to Adele. "Is freaking creepy." She looks up at Elena. "I say chuck it before it kills us all."

*VD*

He picks up the small card sitting in front of one of the pots of chili's snorting at the name Fell. The Fell recipe was bad as well, maybe even worse than the Gilbert recipe. Actually now that he's thinking about it most of the founding families made horrible chili. He places the card back as Alaric appears across the table holding out a beer to him.

He takes it, grateful. If he was supposed to get through this whole event, he would need a little bit of a boast. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret..." Damon starts as they make their way towards the end of the table. "Founders parties are just an excuse for the council to gather in back rooms and plot against vampires." Alaric moves around the table to stand with Damon and he nods though that wasn't much of a secret, anybody who knew about vampire and the council could figure that out, not that many people besides the council and them knows about vampires.

Damon turns away to look at the chili once more. He was hungry but there was no way in hell he was eating any of that. "Hey," He sends Alaric a glance who has stopped walking to turn to him. "I think you need to slow it down with Adele."

Damon turns to him fully, not sure if exactly what he was hearing was correct. "Excuse me?" He basically hisses to his friend, one of his only friends in the town besides Adele and Andie but Andie was dead now so that meant it was just Alaric and Adele. He was already feeling the swirl of anger at the direction this conversion was heading.

"Whatever you two are doing, whatever's going on, you need to be careful, I'm not sure it's a good idea right now." He tells him, truthfully. There sudden relationship was beginning to worry him. Adele barely ever came home anymore. She was basically moved out and both Gilbert's and he knew that though Adele claims that it's not like that.

"I don't think it's any of your business, Ric." Damon spits. He didn't like being told what to do, he didn't like people trying to change him and he didn't like people judging his relationship with Adele. He understands that she's too good for him; he understands that she deserves more but damn it, he's selfish. She's his and nobody is taking her away from him. Ever.

"It is my business." Alaric insists. "I'm supposed to look after her. She's gone through a lot Damon, she's been hurt, she's has a lot of opened wounds and she needs a chance to heal, she doesn't need to be hurt again, she can't afford to be hurt again." In other words he was telling him that she was damaged and Damon almost growls because he knows that.

"I'm not going to hurt her." He snaps. He could feel the thread of control on his anger slipping quickly. "I know what's she's been through. She's damaged and I know that but she trust me to love her and help her so what do you think I'm doing?"

"What I think is you need to slow it down." Alaric says standing his ground as Damon glares. Before he has the chance to say something or do anything Liz pops up behind Alaric looking between the two tense men.

"Damon? Sorry, the mayor just called for the council meeting." She informs him so he walks off resisting the urge to bump shoulders with Alaric as he passes.

*VD*

She's walking down the hall towards one of the bathrooms. She wanted to be as far away from Caroline and Elena as possible. Their disapproval of her relationship with Damon always rang clear around them whenever they we're together. They couldn't seem to get over it, Bonnie seemed to be the only one out of the three who either didn't mind their relationship, or simply just didn't care which was just sad all on its own. So much for a best friend's support.

"The other side? Is that…is that what it's called?" Adele slows to a stop just outside the informal dining room. The double doors are cracked letting her see in just a little but she can clearly make out Jeremy standing there talking to…nothing. There was nothing there; he was talking to thin air like there was someone standing there.

"Wait…Well what about Vicki?" Adele's eyebrows rise. Vicki? As in Vicki Donavon? The Vicki Donavon she killed, Vicki Donavon? The dead Vicki Donavon? Adele moves forward, pushing against the door, letting it swing open slightly. He doesn't notice her and she takes the opportunity to lean against the door frame watching him talk to the air.

"Like the windows breaking." He breathes as if finally understanding something and Adele frowns. What the hell? Is he crazy? Oh my god, he died. Is this a side-effect of coming back? Is he going crazy now? She watches as he looks down at his hand confusion twisted into his features. "Do it again." He says lifting his hand slowly and he suddenly smiles softly at the nothing in front of him and Adele's finally seen enough.

"What" Jeremy jumps his eyes wide as he catches sight of her. "The hell are you doing?" She demands looking between him and the air in front of him.

"How long have you been standing there?" He asks rushing forward to peek out into the hall.

"Long enough." She says as he pushes her into the room closing the door. "Yeah that's smart because if you're planning on talking to yourself it would be a wise idea to close the door all the way, that way nobody over hears you and thinks you're I don't know…crazy?"

"I'm not crazy." He assures her and she simply raises an eyebrow looking past him to the spot he was previously standing. "And I'm not talking to myself." He looks away from her, glancing behind him briefly before letting out a deep breathe. "I'm talking to Anna." He lets out, relief washing over him in a cold wave. He didn't realize how much he wanted to tell someone until now, with his sister standing in front of him looking like he'd lost his mind. "I'm serious Adele. I'm talking to Anna."

"Anna is dead, Jeremy." She says softly and he nods.

"I know. I don't know why but I see her, I can talk to her. I think it has something to do with when I died and came back. Bonnie warned that there could be…side effects." He explains hoping like hell she would believe him. But she should. She's his sister, she has to believe him.

"So what you're telling me is that now that you've died and come back you can see ghost?"

"I can see Anna." He says. "And Vicki. Though Anna tells me I need to push her out that I shouldn't talk to her." Adele stares at him before her eyes move around the room like she's looking for something.

"She's behind me. She says you look great, that happiness looks amazing on you. Which she's right you know. You look really good." He offers her a small smile as her stare is completely flat.

"Don't even try to redirect this Jeremy. Do you know how serious this is? Something's need to stay dead." She looks behind Jeremy, in the air. "No offence Anna."

"She says none taken." Adele ignores him.

"Do you realize what would happen if Bonnie found out you've been talking to your dead ex-girlfriends and you didn't tell her right away. Besides the fact that it is your ex-girlfriends that you're seeing your still seeing the dead and that is vital information that she needs to know."

"I know." Jeremy sighs, throwing his hands up in a dramatic fashion. "I know but I don't know, I don't know how she'll react. I don't want to lose her but I'm afraid I might."

Adele nods in agreement, not one to try and spare his feelings. "The longer you put off telling her the more likely it is that you will." She places a hand on his shoulder. "You're happy with you Jer. I know you are. Don't screw it up." She turns on her heels where she swings the door open. As she's turning into the hall he catches a glimpse of someone else, someone standing in the doorway across from the dining room. It was a guy, someone Jeremy didn't know, but he's watching his sister watching her disappear down the hall before disappearing –completely vanishing, his self, seeming not to realize he'd been caught, whoever he was.

*VD*

"Please tell me it's time to go." Alaric asks the two girls walking towards the front door. Caroline and Elena glance up at him but before they can answer Adele slides in between the teacher and her sister seeming to morph out of nothing like she was so famous for doing.

"Beyond." She expresses before glancing around them. "Where's Damon? He was supposed to meet me in the back but he wasn't there and he's not answering his phone."

Caroline gets a head of them turning on them and making them come to a stop as her gaze fixes solely on Adele. "Probably off doing bad things to good people." She snips and Adele straightens her shoulders, her eyes darkening and her lips pulling into a tight line. Seeing her best friends new stance Caroline quickly realizes she might've pushed a little too far for one night and quickly sends her an apologetic smile. "Consider me the honesty police." She says softly but Adele holds her stare.

She was sick of people judging him, judging them. It was no one's business but their own and the least Caroline could do is be happy that she's happy instead of continuously bad mouthing Damon and their relationship. She was sick of hearing she could do better. Adele couldn't do any better than him if she tried because in her mind there was no one better.

Caroline shifts her gaze away, wanting the stare down to end but catches a sight she'd rather not see which causes her face to fall completely and Adele noticing turns as well and with a sigh she realizes what it is that has Caroline looking ready to cry. They might not be seeing eye to eye right now but she was still her best friend.

"Why would he even show up here?" Adele whispers tearing her eyes away from Bill Forbes, hadn't Damon compelled him to leave town? What the hell was going on? Elena leans forward to peer around Adele and Alaric spotting the problem right away.

"I don't know…" Caroline says beginning to shake her head. "But I can't…"

"I know." Adele cuts her off. "Go. I'll call you later." Caroline nods before taking off and Adele turns to look back at Bill Forbes acting like the most respectable person in the world, like he wasn't a complete psycho who could stand to torture his own daughter.

"Okay what was that about?" Alaric asks, feeling very much out of the loop on this and Adele turns away to look up at him.

"Speaking of doing bad things to good people…" She mummers mentioning to the door, silently telling them it was time to go. They leave, closing the door behind them and as their feet hit the pavement of the driveway the door opens back up.

"Wait, wait. Huston, we have a problem." Damon calls after them jogging to catch up and Adele sends him a look over her shoulder but doesn't stop.

"Where have you been? You totally ditched me and you weren't answering your phone." She scolds as he catches up, falling into step beside Elena.

"Managing Bill Forbes." He tells them truthfully. "Apparently he's impervious to compulsion." Damon sends an annoyed glance back to the house as there making their way quickly across the yard.

"How?" Alaric is the first to ask.

"I have no idea. But he threatened to out me." Damon sounded both annoyed and disturbed at this to which Adele frowns. Yes, because that is exactly what they need. "Don't get me started on the irony of that."

"What did you do to him? How do you know the compulsion doesn't work?" Elena asks seeming to focus solely on that.

"I don't think that's the most important piece of information he's mentioned Elena." Adele says to which Damon sends her a look that tells her she's dead on. Who cares about the compulsion when he's being threatened?

"What does he want?" Adele asks.

"He wants to control the council, says it's been compromised." Damon tells them to which Alaric snorts before exclaiming that it has. "He wants to put vervain in the town's water supply."

Adele nearly chokes. Is he kidding? She really hopes he's kidding but before she can express her concern on the matter Elena is speaking up. "Maybe it's not a bad idea." Adele wants to slap her sister. She wants to slap her really, really hard right across the face. "I mean, it'll help you keep yourself in control now that Stefan's not here to..." Adele stops walking first, a hand coming up to rest on her forehead. She couldn't just leave it alone could she?

"To what?" Damon snaps stopping as well causing the other two to skid to a stop. "To keep me in check? Make me behave? I should have killed him this morning."

"Alright, guys. Can we please clam down?" Adele calls from slightly behind them. This was escalating very quickly and Adele was suddenly afraid of the outcome.

But of course they ignore her.

"She's Caroline's father Damon!" Elena half yells disgusted at the idea that he'd even thought of killing him. Like the idea that Damon would even suggest killing anyone was completely out of character for him.

"Yeah, and when I kill him, she'll have one more parent than we do." Damon growls out his eyes locking on the house as he tries walking away from them, back towards the Lockwood mansion.

"Guys!" Adele calls louder. "Please!"

"Oh, come on Damon!" Alaric yells pushing a hand against his chest, causing the vampire to stop staring up at him with cold eyes.

"You're repeatedly killing my buzz today, Ric. Step aside."

Alaric shakes his head. "Yeah, it's not going to happen."

"Damon…" Adele moves forward finally, calling out his name in warning but still she's ignored.

"Your temporary funeral." He shrugs with an air of complete indifference.

"Damon, no!" Adele yells springing forward but it's too late and Alaric hits the grass with a thud, his neck snapped.

"Damon, no!" Elena echoes, glaring at him "What is wrong with you?" She snaps but he merely looks at her before walking away making a point to avoid Adele's eyes all together knowing one look and he'd fall to pieces in front of her but he could still feel the anger and frustration rolling off her in waves as she watches after him.

Oh, yeah.

She wasn't coming home tonight.

*VD*

Elena is bending down next to Alaric, drumming her finger tips against her knee. "You see." She calls out to Adele who is still standing, looking in the direction Damon had gone. Adele snaps her gaze towards Elena who mentions down to Alaric with a wave of her hand. "He's not a good person Adele."

"This would have never happened if you could just learn to keep your mouth shut." Adele hisses out causing Elena's eyes to widen in surprise. Oh, so Damon flying off the handle is her fault? "Don't look at me like that! I warned you! You didn't listen to me! You can't go around trying to change someone who doesn't need to or want to be changed!" Adele is furious, at Damon, at Elena and at herself. She should've stopped this, she's should've never let it get this far.

"I'm not trying to change him!" Elena yells pushing herself to her feet.

"Bullshit!" Adele snaps walking forward. "All the judgmental stares you give him, the consist reminders that Stefan was a "good guy", the 'maybe it's a good thing, it can help you control yourself'. I don't understand what it is with you and Caroline. You guys are always talking about how Damon and I shouldn't be together because he's a bad guy, he's bad for me, I could do better or it can't possibly be forever, it's impossible she's human, you're not. My relationship with him is none of your god damn business and this 'he needs to change' shit is getting really old really fast. Stop trying to turn him into Stefan because Stefan isn't here!" She quickly begins walking away wanting to be far away from Elena.

"Adele!" Elena calls throwing her hands up. "Come on…"

"No!" She snaps turning back around. "You and Caroline can take your judgmental little opinions and stares and choke on em'! So much for wanting me to be happy right?"

*VD*

She enters the room just as Caroline is throwing Damon off of her. He hits the wall hard, sliding down to the floor as Caroline rushes to her father before rushing them both out. Damon reaches up brushing his finger across his lip, wiping away blood. "Oh bummer." He mutters. "I love a good girl fight."

She looks down at him, her expression saying it all. She wasn't just upset with him, she was disappointed. The look has him stumbling to his feet in a completely ungrateful manor. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Adele doesn't answer right away because she doesn't have an answer. She's not sure what exactly to make of the whole situation here.

"Why am I looking at you like what Damon?" She finally asks.

"Like I'm someone you don't recognize." He spits. "Like you don't know who I am because you do Adele. You do know who I am."

"I do know who you are! And for the last damn time, it is not this person!" She takes a deep breath trying to calm herself down but it was proving to be a difficult task as she runs a hand over her forehead. She hasn't felt this out of control of her emotions since she killed Kyle, a hunter they'd tried to get information out of only to find out he was the hunter who killed Tony.

"I'm not what? A monster? Sorry to disappoint Kitten but last time I checked I'm still a vampire!" This was quickly becoming another screaming match, one that would rival the one she just had with Elena out in the yard.

"That doesn't make you a monster Damon!" She moves forward, coming further into the room to stand in front of him. "Being a vampire doesn't automatically make you a monster, your actions are what make you a monster! It's the same for humans! We are classified as monsters by our actions not by what we have to do to survive! You have to drink blood to survive Damon, that's fine but going around and killing people just because it's fun is not who you are! You are not that person! As much as you try to betray yourself to be, I know you!" She pauses to swallow, angry tears willing in her eyes. "If you we're that guy Damon, I wouldn't love you the way that I do."

Damon stares at her. It's all he can do, her blunt confession making his chest tighten.

"I know you like to cause trouble. You're extremely mischievous and impulsive and reckless but you are not a monster. Monster's, they don't care about people Damon; they don't feel anything for anyone but themselves. You care. You love me and you love Stefan. You care about Elena and Alaric and you cared about Andie and as much as you like to deny it you care about Bonnie and you care about Caroline, Liz and Carol but you refuse to show them that because your afraid of rejection, you pretend around them, you make them think you're some bad guy so they don't have a chance to get to know you but Damon, I'm not them. You can't do this with me. I don't like seeing you this way and I refuse to watch you try and destroy everything you've done for yourself, everything you've built here. If you want to pretend to be a monster because for some reason it's easier that way then fine but I don't want anything to do with it."

And she walks away, leaving him with that long and angry speech, leaving him alone with his own tortuous thoughts in the darkest parts of his mind. She was right for the most part. He didn't get the warm satisfaction when killing people that be pretends he does but he used to. When he was a younger vampire, he liked killing. When his emotions we're off hunting his prey and killing them was what he lived for. Now though, there was always that ping of guilt and the numbness. The only time he could remember feeling like that when killing was before the drama of Stefan and Katherine back when he was in the war.

He realizes now, that he has changed.

While he wasn't a grade A citizen, he wasn't the ruthless, cold blooded monster he'd been when he first arrived with his mission to save Katherine. Something along the way had changed him, something in the form of his 5 foot 6, blonde and blue eyed girlfriend, the one he'd light the world on fire for.

And while he had changed, he'd still kill anyone, he'd hunt down and destroy anyone who'd ever even think of causing her harm, anyone who'd try and take her from him.

In one smooth motion, Adele Gilbert had swipe into his life and taken it over completely.

And he wasn't surprised because while he loved Katherine because of everything that she was, Adele was just that much better without even trying. He'd known it since they met but denied it completely because he'd been blinded by Katherine.

To him Katherine was beautiful but Adele was something else entirely, he had no words to describe it. Katherine was devious but so was Adele, she was not only devious but smart. She could get exactly what she wants from someone and make them think that they had wanted to give it to her without the use of compulsion.

Where Katherine is selfish, Adele is loyal. There is nothing she wouldn't do for the ones she cared about even if it meant she was the one getting hurt or worse killed. Where Katherine was just plain cruel and ruthless with mercy being something she's never heard of, Adele could be cruel and ruthless but she cared about people. As long as people stayed on her good side and did nothing to anger her, they we're in the clear unless she just didn't like them, then they we're kind of screwed.

Adele was everything he wanted, everything he needed. She understands him, she knows him –the real him, and she loves him as much as he loves her so why is he always screwing up?

*VD*

"Adele…" Adele glances up from her phone, she's sitting cross legged in the middle of her bed at her own house with her bedroom door locked letting Elena, Jeremy and Alaric –whenever he came home from being dead, know to leave her alone but Elena doesn't seem to get the message. "Please! Come out with us. We can talk. I think we really need to talk."

She was talking about going shopping with her and Caroline. Adele springs from her bed moving over to her door where she unlocks it, cracking it open to look at her sister. "Why would I do that? So you guys can tell me how much of a mistake I'm making by dating a guy like him? So I can listen to you guys talk about him like he's the worst person to ever walk the earth? No thank you." She goes to close the door but Elena stops her, pushing a hand against it.

"We're not going to do that. We just want to talk okay?" Adele stares at her; she doesn't want to go out with them. She doesn't want to listen to them talk bad about Damon. As much as he pissed her off last night, she's mad at him but he still her boyfriend and she still loves him and she's not about to listen to the two people who should be the happiest for her shame her for who she loves. She doesn't understand how when she wasn't dating him but it was so clear that she loved him that they we're okay with it but now that she was finally with him, it was the most unthinkable thing to ever happen.

"Fine but one bad comment about him and I'm leaving." Elena nods holding up a hand.

"I promise."

*VD*

Despite wanting to talk to her, they both had little to say as there walking through town square one of them on each side of her. Caroline was uneasy, Adele could feel it and Elena was walking awkwardly besides her, glancing at anything but her.

"If one of you doesn't start talking, I'm leaving." She states looking between the two girls.

"I'm sorry." Elena blurts out. "I realized after you left that I was trying to change Damon but I think if he wants to be in my –our life,"

"But nothing." Adele cuts her off. "Damon isn't here for anyone to bend to their liking. Just because you don't agree with some of the things he does, just because you don't like some aspects of his personality doesn't mean you have the right to try and change him especially when he's not even your boyfriend. He's mine and I happen to love him exactly the way he is. That is all that matters to him. The more you push him to change the more damage you're going to do because Damon is an asshole and will do horrible things just to spite you."

"It's nice to know you can attempt that he's an asshole." Caroline mutters, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Yeah," Adele stops causing the two girls to stop as well, turning to look at her. "I can attempt it. It's not like I'm blind to the fact that my boyfriend can be a completely bastard at times but you two continue to act as though I'm so blinded by him that I don't know who it is I'm dealing with." Caroline and Elena glance between each other and Adele huffs at them. "News flash, I know Damon better than either of you. Hell I know Damon better than anyone in town which is why I'm telling you both to back off. I love you guys, I do but I love Damon to and I feel like you're trying to make me choose my sister and my best friend or the man I love, who's helped me through so much and I'm not going to do it. I refuse and if you try to make me you're making the decision for me."

"We're not trying to make you choose Adele." Caroline sighs dropping her arms to her sides. "We're just worried about you. We know how much you've been through and we can't stand the idea that Damon could hurt you."

"Of course he could but I'm also completely capably of hurting him as well." She reminds them.

"Adele if whatever you guys have doesn't work out I'm afraid you wouldn't be the same and I'm afraid that Damon would become worse." Elena explains to her and Adele sighs reaching up to brush a stray hair out of her eyes.

"You don't need to be worrying about that. I do but I would like it if ever I needed you guys for Damon related issues that you'd be there for me without the judgmental stares or the 'I told you so's.'"

"You can." Caroline says quickly. "I might not agree in your choice of a boyfriend but I'll always be here for you. You should know that."

Adele narrows her eyes slightly watching her. She should, shouldn't she? It's just with all the drama of hating Damon, Adele had become doubtful. She finally nods. "You're right." She says. "I do know that." She smiles softly causing Caroline to smile back before her eyes catch something off to the side and it falls slowly. Adele looks over as well. Bill Forbes is walking towards his car. "Do you want me to…?"

Caroline shakes her head sending her a small smile. "I got it."

"Alright. Call me later." And she runs off, towards her father leaving just her and Elena.

"You know you can come to me to right? I'll always be here for you." Adele looks over to Elena silent. It wasn't that she thought she couldn't go to Elena for help, it was just that Elena always seemed to have her own problems that come before anyone else's. It was for that reason growing up that Elena and Adele we're never as close as they should've been.

"Yeah. I know." She mummers.

*VD*

Damon grips the door handle of the front door, the light knocking automatically stopping. He knew that whoever was behind the door wasn't Adele because she would've just come in and she was the only person he wanted to see right now but she was ignoring him big time.

He opens it a ping of surprise flaring at Elena who is standing there with wide brown eyes. They stand there for a minute, somewhat awkwardly. Damon becoming increasingly uncomfortable lets a smirk slip. "I'll accept written apologies only." He mocks.

Elena's lips twitch as if she's trying to suppress a smile but soon realizes that it wasn't a smile she was trying to hold back it was a smirk of her own that alerts him right away that this wasn't Elena. "Trouble in paradise?" She mocks, her tone laughing at him and he takes to banging his head against the open wooden door.

"Katherine." He groans. "Wonderful. What do you want?"

"I'm just a girl looking for a partner in crime." She sings as Damon takes it upon himself to turn away, wanting to be as far from this scene as possible. "You feel like hitting the road?" She calls after him. "Getting the hell out of dodge?"

"Impeccable timing." He says turning back. "I was told I need to slow it down." His tone is bitter and she takes full advantage of it moving into the house with no resistance, surprising her. Elena died but Adele was still alive, she must've given the house back.

"Is that a yes? I'll drive."

He turns back away from her. Could he really go on a road trip with her? If Adele found out, she'd be pissed. If there's anyone she hates more than that bastard James it would be Katherine. The two couldn't stand each other. He pulls out his phone quickly dialing her familiar number and places the phone to his ear but once again it rings twice and hits voicemail. He clinches it pushing it back into his pocket as he turns back around. "Why not?" He calls. "Walls are starting to close in on me around here. Where are we going?"

"Away from here. That's all I'm going to give you for right now. But believe me..." She pulls out something from her pocket, and dangles it in front of her. It's Elena's necklace. "It's good."

Previews for the next chapter:

Damon decides to take a road trip, with Katherine,

It's senior prank night at the school,

And

It goes terribly wrong but then again what's new?