"Eve, wake up." Eve heard before something hit her face. Eve flinched before sitting up quickly, throwing whatever had woken her up across the room. Eve blinked a few times before she saw a pillow across the floor from her. Eve sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"Five more minutes." Eve grumbled, keeping her hands over her eyes.
"No. You're not just moping around all day. Especially today!" The familiar, irritably chirpy voice sassed. Eve rolled her eyes before dropping her hands into her lap and looking up at Caroline. "It's Founder's Day! You promised to help me with everything!" Caroline sassed, grabbing hold of another of her plentiful pillows from her bed and smacking Eve upside the head. "The parade starts at 10, so we have to get a head start." Caroline stated seriously. Eve only then noticed the towel that was wrapped around her head. "You've been hiding out in my room for over a week. You're going to have to eventually see him." Eve let out a groan as she pulled herself from the cot at the end of Caroline's bed.
After finding out that Damon had feelings for Elena, Eve needed a little space. But before she could up and leave everything behind, Caroline forced her to come stay with her...At least until Founder's Day. That was the deal. Sometimes Eve took a small cot at the end of Caroline's bed, other times Caroline had her sleep in her bed with her. It wasn't like she was going to hurt herself sleeping on the cot, Eve had mentioned. She could break her back if she really needed to to help it align itself in the right positions again...that part she didn't mention.
"Not if I can avoid him all day and sneak out de rest of me bags tonight." Eve sassed. Caroline let out an annoyed scoff, whipping around in her fancy little towel and pointing a hairbrush back at Eve. Eve raised an eyebrow back, letting out a small chuckle as she stretched.
"You won't have time for sneaking if you're spending all of your time with me." Caroline sassed. Eve rolled her eyes.
"What am I supposed ta do when yer up on dat float?" Eve sassed back, folding her arms.
"Well, Bonnie isn't on any floats either." Caroline shrugged, turning her attention to her vanity mirror. Eve tensed up at the suggestion.
"Ya know dat Bonnie hates me, right?" Eve asked, sitting on the edge of Caroline's bed. Caroline scoffed. "Ya can't even scoff! She's had ta have said somethin'." Eve knew the witch wouldn't say too much about their relationship since Caroline was only just a human, but Eve doubted that Bonnie just kept quiet about her obvious hatred. Even without being a vampire, Eve was sure Caroline would notice the energy coming off of Bonnie. Caroline only sighed.
"She's just a little concerned that you'll be bad for me. Like Damon was." Caroline stated, leaning over, letting the towel fall before she caught it and began rubbing the material on her hair. Eve rolled her eyes. "I've tried to set her straight multiple times, but she really can't get it in her head that you're not going to kill me in my sleep." Caroline muttered quietly as she continued to dry her hair.
"Who knows, it's still early." Eve sassed. Caroline scoffed at the idea as Eve fell back onto Caroline's bed, seeing the red numbering of her alarm clock. "Christ, Caroline, it's six in the mornin'." Eve grumbled, letting her arm cover her eyes.
"And I've been up since five, so I don't want to hear it." Caroline sassed. Eve mocked the blonde, despite knowing she wasn't going to see the action.
"You already won de ding, why are ya still actin' like ya have competition." Eve asked, yawning.
"Because. I still have to be the prettiest on that float." Caroline muttered. The sound of Caroline forcing a hairbrush through her hair made Eve snicker.
"Trust me, Care. Ya are de most beautiful in de whole town." Eve said dramatically, expanding her arms across Caroline's twin bed.
"You can't be so sweet." Caroline grumbled back softly. Eve held herself up on her elbows. "You're leaving tonight." Caroline muttered. Eve felt an ache in her heart.
"I'm goin' ta Boston dis time, I didn't dink ya'd want ta come." Eve sighed. Truthfully, she didn't want Caroline to come. Eve needed to leave this town behind...this town and everyone in it. She had already outstayed her welcome...But she was going to miss this ball of sunshine. Even with her nonstop talk about earrings and old, superficial town traditions.
"You just want to leave this town behind you." Caroline muttered as she grabbed her hair dryer. Eve sighed once more.
"Care, I'm goin' ta tell ya one of the most cliche dings." Eve said seriously, making Caroline turn around to look at Eve. "It's not ya it's me." Eve said. Caroline's face fell before she threw her hairbrush at Eve. Eve laughed and caught it as Caroline turned around and turned on her hairdryer.
Eve fell back onto Caroline's bed and closed her eyes, listening to the sound of Caroline drying her hair, letting the smells of the house sink into her pores. The coconut in Caroline's conditioner. The fabric softener of her sheets. The bitter smell of coffee as it began to brew downstairs. The sounds of birds beginning to chirp as the sun began to shine.
"It's always going to be Stefan. With Katherine. With Elena. With you."
Eve opened her eyes as Damon's voice began to whisper into her subconscious. Her heart ached. Eve sat up and got off the bed.
"I'm goin' ta get some coffee." Eve said aloud as she grabbed hold of the door handle. "90 percent sugar, 2 percent creamer and 8 percent coffee?" Eve sassed loudly back at Caroline. Caroline nodded enthusiastically. That's what kept Caroline going in the morning. What made her so chipper. It was a ton of sugar rushing through her veins before 8 am.
Eve closed the bedroom door behind her. The cool of the wood under Eve's feet sent a shiver up her spine. The heels of her feet were safe as she had on long and baggy sweatpants. Caroline had gotten irritated that Eve wouldn't sleep in pajamas, so she made her wear sweatpants. Eve didn't sleep in pajamas because she usually slept in shorts, but didn't want Caroline to wake up and see more freckles than she's already seen.
It wasn't like Caroline had any subtlety. Eve could recall at least 3 instances that she had seen Caroline naked, and all were Caroline's fault. Once in New York, and twice in her bedroom. Eve chuckled as she began walking down the hallway towards the stairs. Eve got to the top of the stairs and felt the warm memories quickly fade. She would have to shove them down...She was leaving. She was getting away from people that made her feel anything. She didn't deserve the luxury...and yet people continued to cloud her thoughts.
Caroline. An over zealous teenager with so much shine it was sometimes hard to look at her. And all Eve had to do to gain her friendship was stand up to her boyfriend's bitchy mom. Despite who Eve was friends with, Caroline saw past that and continued to talk with Eve. But Eve knew it couldn't last. The memory of Caroline looking up at her in a dark alley in New York made her skin crawl.
So, you're like, what? A vampire?
The slight mockery of it all when she asked. The blood just on the corner of her mouth because a vampire was causing 'mayhem'. Eve's heart clenched. She did that. She made Caroline experience that...Eve pushed the bright blonde from her mind as a different blond came to mind.
Stefan. Without him, Eve would even be here...or at least in the 21st century. She would probably be dead in a ditch due to her father's anger...never having known her nephews…never having to see them all die. Eve took in a deep breath. That wasn't Stefan's fault...There was no ill will towards the younger Salvatore for what he did. He saved her. And despite only seeing each other a few times in the last century, he still made her feel warm and fuzzy. Memories of Stefan filled her mind from when she had first met the baby vampire to...the sad look on his face as he asked a simple question.
Are you happy?
Eve now stood at the bottom of the stairs, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. Stefan was happy. Eve wasn't about to take any of that happiness away from such an easy to brood vampire. Especially because the reason she wasn't was because of his brother.
Damon.
Eve blinked. She was in the kitchen. Liz stood in front of the coffee pot, taking a sip of coffee. Eve stepped into the kitchen, her foot making a small enough noise to cause Liz to tense up, but not enough for her to turn around and pull her gun out...Not like the first morning Eve had accidentally snuck up on the woman.
"Morninn'." Eve said, making Liz become less tense as she turned full to see Eve. "Sorry if I snuck up on ya." Eve apologized making her way to the coffee pot. Liz let out a soft chuckle.
"Kinda figured Caroline would want to wake up early. I have an early shift so I could watch the parade instead of, you know, watch the parade." Liz shrugged. Eve reached around her and grabbed two mugs. "Are you going to the parade?" Liz asked. Eve snorted as she poured some coffee into a mug.
"I don't dink Caroline would let me live it down if I didn't." Eve sassed. " I'm leavin' either tonight er tomorrow ta Boston. I'm afraid she'd hunt me down and kill me." Eve snickered, shoving in the fact that she was leaving to Liz.
"You're leaving?" Liz asked gently as Eve poured more coffee into the second mug she had. Eve felt her chest begin to constrict at Liz's tone.
"Aye. I dink de 'welcome wagon' is close ta bootin' me off." Eve tried to laugh as she turned and walked over to the refrigerator to grab creamer for Caroline. "I mean, I'm sleeping here, aren't I?" Eve sassed as she took the creamer and walked back over to the counterspace where she had left the coffee.
Eve made the mistake of looking back at Liz as she opened the cabinet for the sugar. Liz gave a small smile back. Something churned inside of Eve at the smile. Liz was...sad that Eve was leaving too. That wasn't something she had planned on.
"Well, just so you know, you're welcome here anytime, if your travels ever bring you back." Liz said with the same smile that hid behind sad eyes. Eve felt her chest begin to hurt. She didn't need these sudden emotions...and yet she felt the familiar break of her heart. There was a reason she never stayed in one place for more than a week...
OOO
Eve sat on a float, an ivory long shawl with flowy sleeves hung around her black shirt, short blue skirt and black leggings. The heeled boots she had taken with her when she decided to stay with Caroline for a few days, that turned into a week, luckily matched her shawl. Eve swung her legs gently before she snickered as she watched Caroline and Matt switch sides for a picture to better hide Matt's cast. If Eve would have been listening, she would have heard Carolione say something about the cast not being period correct.
"Eve!" Eve blinked as Caroline beckoned here to come off the boat. Eve rolled her eyes with a smile as she hopped down and walked over to Caroline. Caroline comedically shoved Matt out of the way. Matt, dramatically stepped away from the two. "Excuse us, picture!" Caroline sassed towards Matt before she smiled back at Eve. Eve couldn't help the laugh that left her mouth as Caroline grabbed and pulled Eve to her side.
"Haven't ya taken enough pictures?" Eve sassed at Caroline. With Caroline wearing more 'period correct' shoes, and Eve wearing her own heels, Caroline wasn't towering over her like she usually did. Caroline gave a pout back at Eve at the comment.
"Never." Caroline said, batting her eyelashes. Eve chuckled and looked over to where the camera was and tensed as she saw Bonnie. Even a few feet away, Eve could feel the witch's power radiating off of her. "Smile!" Caroline chirped happily, hugging onto Eve excitedly and smiling at the camera. Eve gave a smile back, hoping Caroline couldn't tell how tense she was. A boy, Eve was fairly certain his name was Tyler, stood behind Bonnie in period civil war clothing, watching the pictures being taken. "Now I want one with Bonnie." Caroline smiled, beckoning for Bonnie to come over to where they were. Eve took a step away from Caroline, already feeling Bonnie shooting magical daggers at her if she knew she wouldn't get caught.
"Here, I can take it." Tyler said, who had been standing behind Bonnie.
"I'll be on the float." Matt muttered and walked Tyler without saying a word. Tyler scoffed back and looked over at Caroline. Caroline raised an eyebrow back.
"I said I was sorry!" Tyler nervously laughed back at Caroline.
"You made out with his mother and then you beat him to a pulp." Caroline snapped back. "You're gonna have to do a little bit better than sorry." Caroline sassed and walked over and took the camera from Tyler before turning back around and handing it to Eve. Eve blinked and took the camera and took Bonnie and Caroline's picture. Caroline had told Eve the drama that had happened back during the Founder's Day Kick-Off party.
This Tyler kid made out with Matt's shitty mom and then the two got into a fight. Even though Caroline wasn't there, she knew all the drama that happened...well...not all of it. Guilt hit Eve quickly, making her heart sink as she looked at Caroline, happily chatting Bonnie's ear off.
"Caroline!" A high pitched voice rang. Eve turned around and saw Mrs. Lockwood, looking as stressed as a Lockwood could look. "It's time to get onto the float. Come on, come on!" Mrs. Lockwood beckoned, gesturing ladylike towards the float that Matt was already on with her clipboard. Caroline quickly walked towards the float, smiling back at Eve as she walked by, nearly bouncing along the way. Eve smiled back at her, the guilt slowly eating her up. Eve looked back towards where Bonnie was as Caroline waved back at Bonnie. Bonnie gave a small wave, her expression turned to a frown as soon as she caught Eve staring. Another moment passed before Bonnie turned and started walking the other way. Eve let out a small sigh before she quickly ran to catch up with Bonnie.
"Wait, hold on!" Eve called out to Bonnie as she tried to slip around the crowd that had already begun to form on the side of the road. Eve let out an annoyed huff. She was used to being able to get through crowds easily and others having difficulties, but Bonnie seemed to be the same height as Eve and had the same advantage of slipping through crowds. Eve let herself move a little faster than humans should, to finally catch up and stop Bonnie. Eve felt herself pause from Bonnie's witchy magic as she was held in place.
"I don't want to talk to you." Bonnie hissed. "I don't like you, I don't like you hanging out with Caroline and I don't-"
"I'm sorry." Eve blurted out, interrupting Bonnie. Bonnie paused for a moment, multiple different emotions crossing her facial features, from annoyed to confused. "I'm sorry fer how I acted last time I saw ya." Eve apologized. Once more, Bonnie looked confused. "I have me own dings goin' on and I was just kind of actin' like a bitch." Eve sighed. Despite being held hostage by magic, she didn't feel tense talking to the witch. She was going to be leaving tonight anyway. Wouldn't want a witch having any kind of ill-will towards her with an old vampire with a never ending grudge. "I'm goin' ta leave tonight. So ya can stop worryin' about Caroline bein' me friend." Eve tried to keep the words from dripping venom, but she knew they came off a little poisonous instead. Bonnie let out a scoff.
"Are you taking Damon with you?" Bonnie growled back. Eve bit her tongue for a moment before she nodded.
"Bein' Damon's friend is…" Eve tried after a moment of trying to think of something but let out a sigh. "Our friendship is complicated." Eve stated. Bonnie raised an eyebrow back, looking displeased with Eve's response. "No. I'm not takin' him. I've babysat de little shit fer long enough." Eve stated. "I know dat's not de answer ya wanted ta hear. But I have me own life and I can only spend so much of eternity watchin' Damon do stupid dings." Eve muttered. "I know ya dink dat me life and me worth is connected ta Damon, but know dat I care about Caroline and I don't want her ta get caught up in all dis bullshit supernatural shit." Eve said seriously. "Caroline has been a good friend and I hope ya keep her happy when I leave." Eve stated, staring back at Bonnie. Bonnie looked Eve up and down for a moment...and then another. The magic that had entrapped Eve was slowly released. Bonnie didn't take a step closer or step away.
"I still don't like you." Bonnie said, pointing a finger at Eve. "But it's hard to deny that Caroline doesn't adore you." Bonnie sighed, folding her arms. "Sometimes Caroline won't shut up about you." Bonnie chuckled. A warmth grew in Eve's heart. "I appreciate that you're leaving. This town is getting a little suffocating with all of the 'people' in it." Bonnie quoted the word 'people' with her fingers. Eve let out a sigh. "Just...don't up and stop talking to Caroline. I don't think I'll ever hear the end of it." Bonnie sassed. Eve let herself smile, letting out a gently huff of a laugh.
"I don't dink Caroline would allow it. I have a feelin' she would hunt me down and demand an explanation." Eve snickered. Bonnie chuckled as well. And for once, the tense magic that exuded from Bonnie was calm. Eve turned to find a spot that she could watch the parade.
"Do…" Bonnie said aloud making Eve pause and turn back to look at her. Bonnie let out a sigh. "If you're leaving tonight, maybe I can deal with you until then." Bonnie shrugged. Eve raised an inquisitive eyebrow back at her. "Maybe if Caroline thinks we aren't at each other's throats she'll keep you out of most of our conversations." Bonnie shrugged. "Plus, I mean, we're both pretty short so we can probably find a similar spot to see the parade." Bonnie said. Eve let herself laugh and nodded, taking a step closer to Bonnie.
"Ya sure yer okay with bein' around a scary, old vampire?" Eve asked quietly as the two walked down the sidewalk, easily slipping around people. Bonnie rolled her eyes back.
"Don't push it." Bonnie muttered. Eve couldn't help but snicker as a loud whistle was heard. "Come on, that means the parade's starting." Bonnie said, quickening her pace.
"Do ya know where yer goin'?" Eve asked, easily keeping up with the witch. Compared to the others, Eve didn't have to sprint to keep up.
"Kind of." Bonnie said, moving around people before she found the spot she must have liked to be at. "This is a good spot." Bonnie stated. Eve looked around. For some reason, people were leaving a lot of space in this one area. A light feeling of magic was in the air. Did Bonnie know she was making this her space or was it subconscious? Eve didn't care. As long as she could see the parade, that's all that mattered.
Bonnie and Eve watched the parade in silence, listening to Mrs. Lockwood announce the floats that went by, always sounding so enthusiastic. Eve felt a sadness creep into her chest. The colors, the cool wind, the gathering of people, all happy, all without a care in the world, just to watch a silly little parade...Eve knew it wasn't going to be like this when she got to Boston.
There were parades in Boston and they could range from small to huge, but they were never this small...never this intimate. A town knowing one another. Eve let out a small breath of air. No. She lived in the cities for a reason. If she lived in small towns, people would notice that she wasn't aging. Would remember her face when she left and came back, if she ever came back. Would...remember her. And she didn't want that. Didn't want to be remembered. Being remembered meant having a man come and murder your family during a family reunion. Meant being hunted down and tortured for something that happened almost a century ago. Eve blinked when Bonnie began to clap loudly and pulled herself from her head.
"This is Caroline Forbes, Miss Mystic Falls!" Mrs. Lockwood's voice exclaimed through the speakers. Eve looked and saw Caroline at the top of the float. Eve smiled and let out a loud whistle. Caroline looked through the crowd before her eyes met Eve's and lit up. Caroline blew kisses towards Eve. Eve fanned herself dramatically making Caroline laugh, holding onto Matt to keep herself balanced. Eve laughed once more, even with the multiple people that gave her weird looks.
Eve was so caught up in her dramatic display of affection towards Caroline that she almost didn't notice Damon. But she did notice Damon. Even when his back was to her, Eve knew it was him. Eve followed where he was waving to and saw Elena giving a scowl back at him before turning her attention to Stefan. Eve glanced over at Bonnie as she felt the witch tense up. Eve let out a silent sigh before she looked back towards the parade.
Damon turned around and despite herself, she felt her heart flutter. His eyes met Bonnie's first before they slid over to Eve. In them, she could see change of emotions easily swim through the blue. He had come over to see Bonnie and seeing Eve was a surprise. The two simply looked at each other, neither saying a word and neither realizing that they were staring at the other. Words unspoken screamed between the two but neither said a word.
"What do you want?" Bonnie asked snapping the two out of a trance that they had ended up in. Damon blinked and looked over to Bonnie, his arms folded.
"Just watching the parade." Damon muttered back towards her, his eyes casually glancing over towards Eve as he spoke. Eve bit the inside of her cheek. Bonnie turned to leave. "Where are you going?" Damon asked taking a step towards where Bonnie had been. Eve could almost feel a gravitational pull towards the man but quickly shook her head. She didn't need to be part of whatever they wanted to talk about.
"Away from you." Eve heard Bonnie snap back as she turned to walk away.
"Eve, wait." Damon said, making Eve nearly freeze in her steps. Eve glanced back at Damon as he looked back at Bonnie, annoyed that she was getting away from him and the conversation he wanted to have. Eve didn't say anything, but turned and continued walking away from Damon. Her heart hammering in her ears...but not loud enough to listen in on his and Bonnie's conversation. "I want to thank you." Damon said. Eve knew Bonnie had stopped. "The device that Emily spelled could have killed me. I don't take what you did lightly so...thank you." Damon said sounding sincere. Eve felt herself huff, annoyed at the memory of Stefan allowing Bonnie to destroy the vampire device. It could have solved her problems with Alistair, but why would Eve ever get what she wanted…
"I did it for Elena." Bonnie muttered back.
"I know that, but I'm still very grateful. And...I owe you." Damon stated. "Enjoy the parade." Damon said, sounding like he was in a hurry. Eve focused on what was in front of her. That's when she saw Liz. Liz was good. Liz was a distraction. Eve began walking over to her when she felt someone grab hold of her wrist. Eve flinched and accidentally grabbed a fist full of whoever had grabbed onto her's shirt. Eve took in a breath when she saw Damon.
"Just me, Evie." Damon muttered with a playful smirk. But Eve didn't let go of his shirt right away. Her body wanted to relax around him, but Eve forced it to stay vigilant. Or maybe she just wanted to touch him, or have her keep holding her wrist. At that thought, Eve let go of his shirt, but Damon's hand lingered against her wrist. Another moment passed before he let go of her. And then the two were just looking at each other again. "Listen, I'm kind of on a high from being nice to the witch so I just-" Damon got out before Eve forced herself to not roll her eyes.
"I was actually on me way ta talk ta Liz." Eve said dryly, giving him a hard stare. Damon blinked, looking a little shocked that Eve didn't want to talk to him. "Maybe later, if ya still want ta go off yer momentary high, we can talk again." Eve said nearly flinching at how harsh her words were. "I'll see ya, Da-mon." Eve nearly stumbled over his name, nearly saying his nickname, but forcing her tongue to say his full name. Eve turned back and began walking towards Liz.
"Yeah...Yeah, I'll...see you...Eve." Eve squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the hurt in his voice. She needed to shove down her emotions. Needed to pretend to flip her switch. Normal humans shoved down their emotions. So could she. Eve smiled at Liz as she noticed Eve walking towards her.
"Hey." Liz smiled back at Eve before she glanced behind her. Her smile slowly died. "What'd you do to Damon?" Liz asked. Eve felt her heart ache at how mean she had been. "He looks like someone kicked a puppy, but he's the puppy." Liz said looking concerned. Eve sighed and shrugged.
"Did you see Caroline? They did a really good job on the float." Eve stated aloud, changing the subject, looking back at the parade. Eve could feel Liz staring at her. It wasn't the smoothest transition, but maybe Liz wouldn't push the subject.
"She better have with how much time she spent organizing it." Liz chirped back. Eve nearly sighed, thankful that Liz wasn't pushing the subject of Damon any further. She just wanted to relax and watch the parade. Not think about anything.
OOOO
Damon made his way to the Grill. The first time in a week that he saw his best friend and she had no intentions of wanting to talk to him. He needed a drink. As Damon quickly rushed through a section of the parade that had an opening so he could get across the street, he continued to glance back at where he knew Eve was. His heart ached and he hated it. He didn't remember when his heart hurt so much...well, he could, but he didn't like to think about his Evie and Katherine making him feel the same way. Evie was always associated with happy feelings and Katherine was always mixed emotions. Angry, hatred, desperation. Eve always made him happy, warm, soft, loved. Damon blinked the thought out of his head as he finally got into the darkened building.
The Grill was empty besides a few people looking out the tinted windows with mugs in their hands, watching the parade. Damon let out a sigh as he walked up to the bar and sat down at his usual spot. The bartender didn't even bother asking him what he wanted before he slid a glass with bourbon and ice cubes to Damon. Damon waved a finger as thanks towards the man as he walked around the bar and towards a window to try and see the parade as well.
Damon sighed, looking at the glass in his hands. It had been a week since all the drama...Since Isobel had said that Damon was in love with Elena. Since Eve had said she loved him...and he chose to say he wanted a chance with Elena instead. Damon downed the whole glass of bourbon. He stood up reached around the counter to grab the whole bottle of bourbon. He poured himself another glass. God he was stupid. He had a woman who was always there for him and yet he didn't...Damon drank the whole glass again, not bothering to pour another glass. If he was going to sit and stew in self pity, he was going to need the whole bottle.
And even as he sat there, he was still thinking of Katherine and Elena. Damon took a long swig from the bottle. Why couldn't he just let himself be happy? Why did he have to keep chasing after women who didn't love him...Why did he have to keep bringing Eve down with him. Everytime he spiraled into a Katherine fit, she was there for him...And now that it was changing to an Elena type of thing, she was beginning to drift. He hadn't talked with her in a week...and that week felt longer than the years the two had gone without talking or seeing each other...but Damon couldn't figure out why.
Damon huffed, taking another drink from the bottle. He knew...deep down, Damon knew why it hurt him so badly. The two had been playing this game for decades...He would need space and tell Eve he was leaving and she would wish him well…and it was always him that left her...She had left him, but she always left for her own safety rather than because he was bored...Damon's teeth grinded against each other. God...he was such a piece of shit. Eve had been there for him...so many times...and he repaid her by what? Falling in love with another woman than would end up leaving him, end up not being good enough to keep around? He had a woman he was desperately in love with and yet he never chose her. Why?
Damon was afraid. Even after all the decades he had known her, Damon was so scared of losing her. And yet, that's exactly what he was doing. Something was ticking in her mind and Damon felt like it was a time bomb...just waiting to go off and for her to realize that Damon wasn't worth all the trouble that he brought with him. He had a crush on his brother's girlfriend and he was in love with his best friend. A broken little Irish girl who he fell in love with after just walking her home. Damon was going to need a lot more to drink if he was going to deal with so many emotions.
OOO
Eve sat quietly in a corner booth at the Grill while Caroline, Matt and Bonnie chatted happily away about the parade and school. When Caroline had pulled Eve into the Grill, her heart sank as she saw Damon sitting at his usual spot. Damon turned to look at the two, giving his usual smirk and waving at the two. Caroline rolled her eyes and pulled Eve towards the corner, but not before Eve's eyes caught Damon's. Her stomach flipped at how playful he looked and Eve nearly smiled.
Eve had groaned when Caroline shoved her into a booth where they were now, annoyed that despite being so hurt by Damon that he still made her want to cause mischief with him. Wanted to be around him, near him, just talk to him...but Eve knew she couldn't. Not right now, and maybe not for a few more years...But even the thought had her chest hurt.
Caroline had chatted mindlessly about the parade, trying to get Eve's mind off of Damon, but how could she when she was still within staring distance of him. An hour passed with the two eating some cheese fries and just chatting. Occasionally, Eve would look over and see Damon and he would always look over at her when she glanced at him. It was irritating how well he knew her and how he could simply sense her looking over to him. Even more irritating when he caught her glancing over at him after something dumb Caroline had said that made her laugh...and he smiled back.
Love was stupid and Eve was over it. Vampire emotions were even more stupid.
Another hour passed and Matt and Bonnie had shown up and took over the conversation...so now Eve could zone out and be sad. Eve had huffed out laughs as to make sure she was still 'part of the conversation'. It was pretty easy to pretend when the people talking are high schoolers and one of them is a little vain. Eve took in a deep breath when she saw Damon finally stand up and begin walking towards the booth she was in.
And then Elena came in. And Damon stopped.
"I like you better like this. The period look, it...didn't suit you." Eve listened in on Damon.
"Is that an insult?" Elena asked back sounding like she was...flirting with him? Eve listened more intently.
"Actually Elena, it is a compliment of the highest order." Damon sassed back, smirking at Elena and suddenly Eve didn't want to be there.
"Hey, I'm goin' ta go out and get de last bit of warmth de sun has ta offer." Eve stated casually. Caroline made a pouting face back at her in response. "Don't worry, my stuff is still at yer house." Eve sassed back, patting Caroline's hand.
"I swear if you leave before you talk to me-" Caroline got out, wagging her finger at Eve.
"Aye, ya'll find me and beat me ass." Eve sassed back, standing up from the table. "I remember Care. Ya won't get rid of me dat easily." Eve smiled but felt it drop when Caroline's face looked genuinely sad. Eve quickly walked away from the booth and began to leave
"So, I think you should stop with the flirty little comments and that eye-thing that you do." Eve nearly flinched as she heard Elena's voice as she walked.
"What eye thing?" Damon asked, his voice playful as usual.
"Don't make me regret being your friend, okay?" Elena asked. Eve bit her cheek to keep herself from making any noise as she left. She knew she would scoff, or huff or do something and Damon would hear it. And she just didn't want to talk to Damon...well...she did, but she didn't. Eve ignored her mixed emotions and walked out of the Grill.
The sidewalks were still bustling and the streets were mostly filled with people walking about. Eve took in a deep breath. The air was still crisp from the cool air, but the sun was warm enough. Eve looked across the street into the center of the town square. Small tents and booths were set up with balloons and streamers and ribbons decorating the place. Eve pulled her shawl tighter around her as the wind blew a little too harshly, bringing with it a sharp cool air. Eve shivered before her ears picked up Damon's voice once more.
"You do not talk to me like that! I'm not your sister. And from now on, don't talk to your sister that way either." Damon snapped lowly to whoever he was talking to. Eve looked behind her to see him holding onto a teenager with brown hair...sister? Was this baby Gilbert?
"So, you're going to kill me just 'cause I hurt Elena's feelings?" The teen snapped back. Eve felt her feet moving towards the two. Especially with that kind of threat. Damon would absolutely kill for less.
"Cut her some slack." Damon snapped back.
"She erased my memories." So it was Jeremy.
"No. I did." Damon snapped back. "She was protecting you." Damon tried to reassure Jeremy...Eve felt her stomach twist.
"It wasn't her call to make." Jeremy growled back, pulling his arm from Damon's and starting to walk away once more. Damon instantly grabbed his arm and yanked him back. "Let go of me before I cause a scene." Jeremy muttered.
"You'll be unconscious before you even get a word out." Damon growled back.
"No need fer scenes, baby Gilbert." Eve said as she quickly made it over to the two bickering and grabbed onto Damon's arm. Damon looked a little surprised at Eve. "He's not worth de trouble." Eve muttered, keeping her hand on Damon's arm as he finally let go of Jeremy.
"Oh, trust me, he is." Jeremy snapped back, glaring at Damon.
"Trust me." Eve growled back, glaring back at the younger Gilbert. "He's not." Eve muttered, letting go of Damon's arm.
"Hey, everything okay here?" Eve turned and saw Stefan walking over to the three. Eve huffed, sending a glare back at Damon, who was staring at Jeremy.
"Yeah." Jeremy muttered, taking a step back.
"Listen, what my brother is trying to say is, don't blame Elena for this" Stefan stated. Jeremy looked at Stefan a little less angrily than he had at Damon. "Damon turned Vicki, I killed her. She was a threat to you and she was a threat to your sister." Stefan continued, sounding as apologetic as ever. "I'm sorry it happened. I wish it hadn't." Stefan said gently. Eve looked between the three and scoffed, turning their attention towards her.
"I mean, I get baby Gilbert's anger." Eve muttered. Stefan shot her a glare and Damon simply stared. Jeremy looked at her, a little surprised that she was even defending his emotions. "I don't know what all happened, but it sounds like Elena had Damon erase yer memories of some Vicki girl" Eve said aloud, figuring out the story quickly.
"Eve..." Stefan muttered. Eve glanced over at him before she looked at Jeremy directly.
"Bein' forced ta do somethin' ya don't want ta do with someone else pullin' de strings? I'd be pissed too." Eve muttered with a shrug. "And ta have no one on yer side because two boys are in love-"
"Eve, stop." Stefan said sternly. Eve stopped, her sire bond making her. "Jeremy, Eve wasn't even-"
"You're Eve?" Jeremy asked, interrupting Stefan and looking back at Eve. Eve raised an eyebrow back at him before she nodded. Jeremy let out a small chuckle. "You're the 'dangerous' Eve?" Jeremy questioned with a laugh.
"I...I guess?" Eve said, sounding just as uncertain as Jeremy. Jeremy simply shook his head before he glanced back at Damon before looking back at Eve.
"Your boyfriend shouldn't have made me forget." Jeremy muttered before he turned and walked away. Eve felt her gut twist at the comment. Plus the fact that she had just dogged on Elena and nearly blurted out that Damon and Stefan were both in love with her...and now stood next to the two Salvatore's.
"So dat's baby Gilbert den?" Eve asked aloud, dreading the moment she would have to turn around and face the two brooding brothers.
"Good cop, bad cop and criminal...unique take on the usual duo." Damon muttered back, more towards Stefan. Eve couldn't help but roll her eyes. Stefan let out a small puff before he grabbed both Eve and Damon's arms.
"Criminal?" Eve asked back, folding her arms as Stefan pulled the two to the alley by the Grill. "What about me seein' what Elena did wrong make me a criminal?" Eve snarked back. "Sorry I don't find her as endearing as ya both do." Eve muttered, pulling her arm from Stefan's gentle grip. No one was in the alley, which was good because Stefan must have known that there was going to be a fight.
"Enough." Stefan snapped, letting go of Damon's arm. "You're both acting like brats." Stefan muttered. Eve put a hand to her heart and scoffed loudly. Damon rolled his eyes at the comment. "Damon, Elena's relationship with her brother is none of your business." Stefan began, sounding like he was going to continue his lecture towards Eve, but Damon stopped him with a low chuckle.
"Oh, there's only one 'do-gooder' role available. My bad. I'm sorry." Damon snarked back. Eve rolled her eyes back at his response and Stefan folded his arms.
"Get over yourself." Stefan stated, but Eve noticed the glance he made over at Eve. He wanted to mention more about Elena and Damon's relationship...but was being nice. Eve let out a groan.
"Ya both are actin' like babies." Eve scoffed.
"Us?" Damon suddenly snapped, pulling Eve's attention to him. "We're acting like babies?" Damon asked, with a slight bitter laugh in his tone.
"Yer both fightin' over somethin' dat can't be shared." Eve growled back, folding her arms back at Damon.
"I mean, I offered up a compromise to Stefan." Damon scoffed back.
"Damon." Stefan said in a warning tone.
"Oh? And what compromise is de great Damon Salvatore willin' ta give, hmm?" Eve asked, glaring back at Damon.
"Damon, don't." Stefan warned again.
"I just thought we could switch. Since he seems to be getting so friendly with you, I thought it was only fair if I was friendly with Elena." Damon snapped back down at Eve, taking a step towards her. Eve felt her heart race as she stared back at him and scoffed.
"Oh, I'm sorry Stefan and I have been friendly. Did dat hurt yer little feelings?" Eve snapped back at Damon. "And in response, ya dought, ya, 'may as well offer up me friendship with Eve fer a relationship with Elena'." Eve hissed. "Because dat'll fill de void dat Katherine left, right?" Damon's eyes narrowed at the comment before he let out a sharp laugh.
"Sorry I still have feelings for the first love of my life-" Damon muttered out.
"She didn't LOVE ya Damon!" Eve snapped, but Damon kept going.
"So you thought you could just trade Salvatores?" Damon asked. Stefan continued to try and stop the two, but now it was like they were the only people in the world.
"What are ya-" Eve muttered out.
"You thought because I could never love you the same way that you love me, you could just switch us out?" Damon snapped. Eve scoffed at his words.
"I'm not Katherine!" Eve snapped loudly back at him. "I'm not about ta switch teams because-"
"What? Because you don't love me as much as you love Stefan? Is that it?" Damon asked. Eve couldn't help but laugh at his comment.
"Don't even dink about pullin' dat shit one me Damon Salvatore." Eve snapped, pointing a finger at him. "I'm not de one in love with Katherine and her doppleganger and dat keeps choosin' dem every time, even dough dey don't choose ya." Eve growled back.
"Oh and who would choose me, hmm?" Damon snapped back. Eve let out a scoff.
"Are ya dat fockin' stupid?" Eve asked through a laugh. "I've picked ya every time!" Eve snapped.
"Even with Aidan." Eve's breath caught in her throat. "Tell me, Evelyn, did you find him because you couldn't have me?" Damon asked back, gesturing out dramatically.
"Don't." Eve growled back lowly.
"Are you saying your whole relationship is a lie based on the factors that we look similar?" Eve couldn't even catch her breath as Damon turned around swiftly and began to pace.
"Damon." Stefan muttered but Damon shook his head.
"Don't even get me started, Stefan." Damon snapped, now turning his body towards Stefan. "You can't just try and jump in and jump start your relationship with Evie. It's not fair to Elena." Damon muttered. Stefan's brows furrowed but Eve jumped back into the conversation quickly.
"Back to Elena, like always." Eve laughed aloud turning Damon's attention towards Eve again. "Christ Day, I leave fer a week and ya fall for Katherine's doppelganger while Stefan's detoxin'?" Eve muttered.
"Damon, I'm not trying to 'jumpstart' anything besides a friendship with Eve." Stefan stated seriously. Damon looked between Stefan and Eve before he shook his head.
"It's just kind of convenient that you and Eve get all friendly when I'm going through shit...that's all." Damon muttered back towards Stefan. Stefan and Eve shared a confused look.
"What are you-?"
"Too bad my own shitty doppelganger had been in a relationship with Eve when you showed up to see her in the 50's." Damon chuckled lowly. Eve and Stefan shared a look once more, but Eve's look was turning more hurt compared to Stefan's annoyed look.
"Damon, I wasn't looking for Eve." Stefan scoffed. "I hightailed it out of the last city I was in because I was back on human blood. Back to being 'The Ripper'. It was just a coincidence that I even happened upon her and Aidan." Stefan stated back cooly, trying to calm his building up anger towards his brother's darkening tone. Damon rolled his eyes, getting ready to speak again but Stefan shook his head and held up his hand to keep talking. "Need I remind you what happened after that...April?" Stefan stated, his eyes shooting over to Eve who was silent but gave a single nod. "You know where Eve ended up? Mystic Falls. With you." Stefan snapped, taking a step towards Damon, pointing his finger at his big brother. "And you know what you did?" Stefan asked, glaring at Damon as he spoke. "You had her turn off her humanity. The next time I saw her, she was back in Boston and made some woman cut her wrist in front of me and I ended up killing the poor girl." Stefan explained. Eve flinched as she remembered how awful she was with her humanity off. "I only kept in contact to keep phone numbers relevant and I didn't talk to her until this year!" Stefan hissed, now only a step away from Damon. "And I called her here for you. Because all you were doing was going into a spiral because Katherine wasn't in the tomb. Knew where you were for decades!" Stefan snapped staring at Damon. "Damon, I truly don't know how to tell you this in the simplest terms…" Stefan said, his voice mellowing as he took a deep breath. "If I had known that being friends with Eve would upset you this much-" Stefan got out before Damon scoffed and folded his arms, not taking a step back from Stefan.
"Trust me, brother…" The words came out just as softly but laced with venom. "You wouldn't have changed a thing with Eve. You knew how I felt about Katherine and you-" Damon muttered out before Stefan shook his head.
"And you know how I feel about Elena." Stefan stated lowly. "The difference is that I'm not being sired to love her." Stefan said gently. "You're trying to make Elena into Katherine, but she's not." Stefan said, his brows furrowed in a pitiful way towards Damon. Stefan looked back over at Eve who was staring, trying to keep her heart from beating or breaking. Before Stefan could say anything else, Damon took a step back from Stefan.
"You're right. She's far nicer." Damon muttered, looking back at Stefan as if challenging him. Eve stared back at the the two before she opened her mouth but shut it. Damon looked over at her, but Eve simply shook her head, turned and walked out of the alley, leaving the two Salvatore brothers.
If that was the last time she ever saw either brother, it would be too soon. Eve sighed, ignoring any conversation that Damon and Stefan continued to have become white noise. She didn't want to hear it anymore. She was tired of Elena. She was tired of Katherine. She was tired of the Salvatores. Eve looked around the crowd of people and felt her heart warm. She wasn't tired of one family though.
Liz Forbes looked a little exhausted from the day's events but she was about to become even more exhausted when Eve came over to her. Eve nearly felt herself bounce over to her. She needed some kind of distraction and a mom was the best option. Liz finally looked Eve's way and smiled. Eve waved as she got closer.
"Hi." Liz sighed out. Eve snickered and stood beside her. "How are you?" Liz asked, looking as inquisitive as ever. Eve sighed.
"Let's just say dat de only reason I would stay in dis town is fer you, Caroline and yer lasagna." Eve chirped. Liz frowned down at her comment but Eve shrugged it off. "I'm goin' ta enjoy dis night, even if it kills me, Lizzy." Eve smiled. "I assume Caroline's still in de Grill?" Eve asked. Liz nodded before she pulled out her phone. Eve glanced at the name and grumbled. "Oh, yuck." Eve muttered with a scowl as the name 'Gilbert' came up. Liz let out a half grumble half laugh.
"You got that right." Liz muttered. "Excuse me for just a moment." Eve nodded and looked around to find an empty bench. Great. Heels were great but God did Mystic Falls have awful foot massage places. Eve sat down and took in a small breath. Her ears tried to perk up at any deep voice. Eve grumbled and pulled out her own phone from her back pocket and looked at it. A message from Caroline...and one from Damon. Eve opened the one from Caroline.
Caroline: Bitcchhhhh! Whr r u?
Eve: Just outside the Grill.
Caroline: Boo u hore.
Eve: Come win me a carnival prize
Caroline: isnt tht ur job babe? ;*
Eve snickered at her conversation. It was so...normal. No vampire drama, no girl drama, no boy drama, no...drama. Just Caroline being...Caroline. Eve smiled as she put her phone down when Liz came back over.
"I have to go over to my office." Liz grumbled, standing in front of Eve, nearly slouching in defeat.
"About dings dat go bump in de night?" Eve asked. Liz sighed and nodded. "Well, ya better go. Keep de town safe, Sheriff." Eve smiled and winked up at her. Liz gave a small smile back...but she looked worried.
"Keep Caroline close by tonight, will you?" Liz asked. Her voice sounded even more worried as she tried to make it seem like a much less big deal than what it was. Eve nodded. "Thank you." Liz smiled and gently squeezed Eve's shoulder. It was a reassuring gesture...but Eve didn't like it... Caroline would be fine if she stayed with Matt and especially Bonnie...but Liz wasn't so prepared. Eve watched Liz walk towards one of the older looking buildings. As long as Liz came out, she would be fine...but until then, Eve was on high alert. Even if it meant distracting the woman's teenage daughter.
OOO
OOF. Did someone order DAMON x EVE ANGST CAUSE YOUR GONNA GET MORE AND I'M SORRY. For more than just Damon and Eve drama but also being on hiatus...for like ever. Oops. Life sucks but I'm still kicking. Anyways, I hope you like this! It's been a while since I've written for TVD and my beautiful characters, so excuse anything that's shitty and the shitty writing. If you're still around, I love you!