Eve was getting dressed in the dress she had worn the previous night. Mason had left early to go and exercise or 'wear out' Tyler, as he lovingly put it. Caroline would have been proud of Eve. Sleeping with a man. Eve pushed out the guilt her heart tried to hammer into her chest as she remembered the previous night.
Mason had given her a shirt to be more comfortable, jokingly telling her to not bother with leaving the room. Eve took that as a challenge and stripped in front of him. Despite being at a funeral she didn't really care to be at, she had (luckily) made sure to match her underwear that morning. Mason learned that her freckles really did go everywhere, but really pooled on her face and shoulders, but dispersed everywhere else. Eve learned that it had been far too long since she had been laid. It was, all in all, a win / win for the two of them.
Eve looked herself up and down in the mirror. Her hair was a problem. It always seemed to be a problem. Luckily, Eve was able to find a hair tie and tie her hair up in a ponytail, since her previous one had been ripped off and thrown God knew where. Eve would have felt bad, but Carol didn't seem like a woman that would leave hair ties in the guest bedroom anyway, which led Eve to figure out that the hair tie she had found wasn't actually Carol's to begin with. Plus, there was blonde hair still wrapped around the hair tie she had found. Fuck the Mayor. Or rather, fuck the Mayor's brother. Eve made herself look as presentable as possible, but already knew that she was doing a walk of shame, of sorts. Wearing last night's clothes (that were worn to a wake of the mayor) and had her hair up in a messy ponytail. Luckily, the little makeup she had worn was still presentable. Eve grabbed her cracked phone from the nightstand and walked out of the bedroom. Eve froze instantly when she heard the ending of a conversation.
"I promise you I will get to the bottom of it." Damon. Damon. What was he doing here? The familiar guilty feeling nearly made Eve double over when she heard his stupid voice. Eve internally groaned as she slipped off her heels. They were downstairs, as far as Eve could hear, but she knew Damon was always listening for other things. Fuck.
"Which brings me to my next subject," Carol began as Eve began slowly creeping down the stairs. "With Richard gone, I'll be acting as interim mayor until the elections and I'm going to need someone to spearhead out the council. I'd like that person to be you." Eve stopped on a step as a silence filled the house. Eve bit her tongue to keep her from laughing. Yeah. Damon would be the perfect person to lead the vampire council looking for vampires.
"Whatever you need Carol. As a founding family member it's something that's very close to me so I would be honored to help keep this town safe from vampires." Eve rolled her eyes as she continued making her way down the stairs. Eve continued slinking down the stairs, hearing a door shut as Mason and Tyler's voices filled the house. Fuckfuckfuck. If they caught wind of her, they would say something, then Damon would hear it and come wandering out and shitshitshit. Eve listened for a moment longer before she knew where they might be. If she was quick, she could get to the front door.
"What was that? Like seven?" Tyler asked as Eve continued down the stairs.
"Six. I don't count the last one. You crawled it." Mason teased back.
"What?" Tyler snarked.
"I think Grandma Lockwood actually passed you, in her walker." Mason laughed.
"Yeah, okay. Shoes off. Mud...my mom…" Tyler muttered as Eve quickly flittered to the front door. "You keep a girl over?" Eve heard Tyler ask as Eve got out the front door. SHIT.
"Hmm?" Mason asked back, sounding confused. Pleasepleaseplease. "Nah." Mason muttered as Eve let out a breath. "On an unrelated note, stay here." Mason stated making Eve quickly shut the door behind her. Fuckfuckfuck. Wynn glanced around before flittering out of sight. She was not about to have a conversation with Mason with Damon close enough to eavesdrop. She knew him too well. Wynn didn't enjoy the second pang of guilt as she continued flittering out of sight. She wanted to get to the hospital. She wanted to see Caroline.
"More tea, Damon?" Carol asked, pulling Damon from his eavesdropping ways for a moment.
"Oh, yes please. Thank you Carol." Damon said, putting on an appreciative smile and holding the tiny teacup she had given him. Carol poured more tea into the cup and Damon gave a smile before sipping on the drink. He would have much preferred the drink to be a little stronger, but…
"Your little one night stand run off?" Damon's ears perked up again as he heard baby Lockwood snark. Mason let out a small huff.
"We were talking about your anger issues, and just because she did run off, it doesn't mean we're going to change the subject so easily." Mason snarked. Damon's heart fluttered unintentionally. Eve had been a flirty little thing at the wake…and she hadn't come back to the boarding house either…Then again, she had been staying with Liz and Caroline…Damon's mind wandered and he felt his hand grip the teacup a little tighter.
"That out of practice with the ladies then?" Tyler snarked. Damon took a sip of the tea to keep himself from snickering as Carol was luckily lost in her own thoughts.
"Exercising help with your anger issues?" Mason asked, ignoring the question.
"I play three varsity sports and work out four times a week, so no." Tyler muttered back.
"Do you have episodes?" Mason asked another question.
"Man, all I know is that I lose myself when I'm angry." Tyler muttered. "But I'm going to go upstairs and shower…maybe I'll catch a glimpse of that-" Damon heard a smack and nearly scowled.
Why did it matter who Mason had hooked up with? Because it might have been her. Damon took another drink of the tea to hide the scowl he couldn't help. He couldn't be upset. It wasn't fair. He had nearly hooked up with Katherine. He wasn't allowed to get protective or angry or jealous. He needed to find his stupid truth, and maybe it was stupid to believe that his Evie would wait for him for all eternity for him to figure out his shit. She deserved better. Damon let himself sigh. Carol blinked over at him and stood up.
"Well, I'd hate to keep you. I'm not sure what all needs to be done to really prepare for any meetings or…" Carol said, gesturing to him to get up from his spot. Damon didn't argue. He was a little tired of being around the Lockwood's for so long. And it didn't help that his mind kept going back to Eve.
"There's a few things I need to do, but I appreciate that you believe me to be so trusted." Damon said with a smile, placing the teacup onto a fancy little plate and standing up, grabbing hold of Carol's hand and squeezing it reassuringly. Carol nodded softly with a smile before grabbing the plate and cup Damon had just set down, walking out of the small room. Damon turned and began walking out of the room. He needed to clear his head from everything.
As Damon walked through the mansion, memories popped into his head. Katherine and Stefan and dancing and get-togethers from days long past. Eve had mentioned meeting Damon in one of her hallucinations brought on by Stefan. Damon could almost see her scowling in the corner in a stupidly frilly dress her mother absolutley made her wear to try and attract a sutor. Eve had changed so much since she was turned into a vampire, but Damon could still see the brazen attitude that she always embodied. Fuck. He really threw her away for a chance with someone that never loved him. Well, two individuals that never loved him. It just happened that both looked identical. Damon stopped walking when he caught sight of Mason. Mason also saw him and looked confused.
"Hey." Mason said with a little wave of his hand, a towel wrapped around his neck. Damon kept his eyes from rolling.
"Hi. I was leaving." Damon said, trying his best to keep his tone neutral. Mason nodded as Damon walked towards the door. Just as Damon's hand reached for the front door handle, he paused. Don't do it. "Just some friendly advice," Damon began, turning a little for Mason to hear better. Mason had also paused as he began walking up the door. "Maybe make the fact you slept with someone at your brother's wake a little less obvious." Damon muttered. Mason's shoulders broadened. "I mean, his wife is still alive and grieving, even if you're not." Damon growled, letting a little of his distrust of this man come out as he opened the door.
"And who are you?" Mason snapped back, making Damon stop in his tracks and turn. "Who are you to tell me how to grieve?" Mason snapped, his arms folded as he stood on the steps to go upstairs. Damon stared back at him.
"Someone who thinks of the other person that you're using for your grief." Damon stated back with a sharp smile.
"I'm not using anyone." Mason snapped. Damon tried to keep his calm, letting go of the door handle to not crush it. "I don't need to justify anything to someone I don't even know." Mason said with a shake of his head, turning and walking up the stairs.
"Damon Salvatore." Damon called back, introducing himself before turning almost leaving when he noticed Mason stop dead in his tracks from the corner of his eye.
"No wonder you're so uptight about it then." Mason muttered loud enough back to make Damon turn around once more. "Sorry you couldn't figure out that she wasn't that into you…Or as much as you thought she was." Mason said with a chuckle making Damon nearly see red. "Did you really think she'd wait for you?" Mason chuckled. Damon breathed in through his nose. No. This Mason was just talking to rile him up…But shit was it working… "Gotta say though, it is a little satisfying to know that just the thought of being with her made you have to stop and try and rile me up." Mason snickered. "To know that even now she has such a hold on you is hot in the bedroom. I may even mention it next time we fuc-" Damon stopped himself from flittereing over and snapping this little surfer boy's neck when he saw Carol walk into the main hall with her arms crossed.
"Mason." Carol said in a warning voice, looking over at Damon with an apologetic look. "Damon, you can go. Thank you for standing up for me, but I need to talk with Mason. Alone." Carol said, glaring back over at Mason who was standing a little straighter. Damon bit his tongue and only nodded, finally leaving the house and shutting the door behind him. Damon walked to his car quickly. Anger was boiling in his blood and he needed to deal with it somehow…Going back to the boarding house and having a strong drink would do it…
No it wouldn't. Ripping that stupid sufer boy's heart out of his chest would…
Luckily the hospital was near the woods. Eve was already in a shitty mood having to flitter all the way to said hospital because someone decided to have a secret vampire meeting while she was trying to leave. Wynn walked into the hospital with ease, getting a few looks towards her, which she ignored as she walked to an elevator. When the door opened, Matt came out with his head down.
"Oh, hello Matt." Eve said with a smile. Matt didn't see her at the wake, so he wouldn't know that she was wearing last night's clothes…good. Matt looked up at her from his phone looking a little distressed. Eve's smile dropped instantly. "Is Caroline okay?" Eve asked quickly as Matt stepped out of the elevator.
"Yeah…" Matt muttered, shoving his phone into his pocket. "Well, I don't know…" Matt said with a shrug. "She's acting really…weird." Matt said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know how to describe it. I don't know if she's just in her own head about not being released tonight to go to the carnival or if she's stressed about something else; all I know is that she's a lot more jumpy." Matt said with a sigh. "Maybe seeing you will help her." Matt shrugged. "I gotta get going though. There's a few more things that need done before tonight and I've got to do some stuff…" Matt said trailing off. Eve watched as he nervously walked around her and left the hospital. Eve felt a strange pit forming in her stomach as she pressed the elevator button and the door opened. Caroline better be okay…
Eve got onto the elevator and pressed a button to get to the floor Caroline was on and felt her mind wander for a moment. Concern about Caroline was the main aspect bouncing around, but so was Mason and Damon and how everything was going to be and Alistair and… Eve rubbed her temples before feeling a buzz from her pocket. Eve pulled her phone out and looked at the name.
Mason. With a winky face. Eve couldn't help but chuckle as she answered the call as the elevator door dinged open.
"Hello?" Eve answered, getting off the elevator and slowly making her way to Caroline's room.
"Oh good, glad to see you're still alive." Mason snarked on the other line. Eve rolled her eyes. "With how quickly you ran off, I'm surprised whoever came and picked you up didn't crash." Mason continued. Eve snorted.
"Aye, alive and well. At de hospital dough, but not for any life dreatenin' means." Eve snickered, slowing her pace. Mason hummed.
"Well, Tyler said there was some carnival tonight for his school, so I called to see if you'd like to go." Mason said. Eve stopped for a moment, letting a nurse pass her. "Unless you just wanted to do the whole 'hook up and never talk again' thing…" Mason said, trailing off and sounding a little disappointed at the idea.
"No." Eve stated sternly, and a little too quickly for her own good. "No, we-I don't have plans tonight, so, aye, ya can take me." Eve said with a small smile.
"Baby girl, I already did take you." Mason said smoothly. Eve felt her cheeks warm at the
comment as she let out a snort. "But I'd be happy to take you again." Mason said in a low voice making Eve snickered.
"Yer awful." Eve chuckled. "I'll meet ya dere around 7?" Eve asked, hearing Mason hum, as if she had asked him.
"I suppose that could work." Mason teased. Eve rolled her eyes, despite the smile on her face. "I'll see you there, baby girl." The nickname made Eve's stomach flip. Eve didn't even have a chance to reply when she heard the click of being hung up on. Eve pulled her phone away from her ear and smiled before putting it back into her pocket and continuing walking towards Caroline's room.
"Caroline!" Eve exclaimed as she walked in and saw Caroline sitting on the floor by her bathroom door, her head resting on her knees and her arms around her knees. Eve quickly rushed up and kneeled next to her. "Are ya okay? What happened?!" Eve asked quickly, wrapping her arm around Caroline cautiously.
"I don't know what's wrong with me, Eve." Caroline muttered softly. Eve pulled her closer.
"What-"
"I don't know!" Caroline exclaimed irritably with a worried look. "I think I'm, like, dying or something." Caroline exclaimed, leaning into Eve. "I just snapped at Matt for opening the curtains!" Caroline snapped. "Like, he was just trying to be nice and let light in, but nooo." Caroline explained irritably.
"Hey, it's alright." Eve hushed her frantic friend. "Ya just had surgery a few days ago. And I can't imagine a concussion does wonders fer light sensitivity." Eve rationalized, gently stroking Caroline's hair. Caroline let out a long sigh, cuddling closer to Eve.
"The doctor said I could be released tomorrow morning, but, like, I want to get out of here." Caroline muttered. Eve sighed back.
"It may be best ya stay just until de mornin', Care." Eve tried, but Caroline pulled away from her and crossed her arms. "I know yer makin' great progress, but especially with de whole light sensitivity ding, it would be best ta make sure yer fully okay." Eve chastised gently. Caroline grumbled to herself softly, looking to Eve as if she was going to try and give her puppy-dog eyes. Caroline's eyes looked her up and down before a smile quickly replaced the pout.
"Didn't you wear that to the wake?" Caroline asked, her tone quickly changning. Eve snickered. "Oh my GOD!" Caroline exclaimed with a squeal. "Was it that hotty Mason?!" Caroline asked excitedly, shaking Eve's arm. "Oh my GOD! Tell me EVERYTHING!" Caroline exclaimed, getting up quickly before grabbing onto Eve's hand and pulling her up to sit on the hospital bed. Eve felt
the twinge of guilt of sleeping with Mason slowly disappear as she sat on the bed with Caroline.
Damon walked into the library with a blood bag in hand. It wasn't anything like fresh blood, but it would have to do for a while. If he went out to find some sorry sap, he knew he would kill whoever it was. Damon was still feeling the rage from what that stupid little surfer boy had said to him earlier that day.
"Did you really think she'd wait for you?"
Even as Damon began pouring the blood into one of his fancy whiskey glasses, he was irritated. Damon heard Stefan's footsteps walking into the library behind him.
"Care for one?" Damon asked, not even bothering to look up to him. Stefan walked by.
"No thank you." Stefan stated casually. "I'm not hungry; just ate." Stefan continued and sat on the arm of the couch. Damon looked up to him.
"Aren't you worried that one day all the forest animals are gonna band together and fight back?" Damon asked aloud. "I mean, surely they talk." Damon said with a smirk as Stefan smiled back at him.
"I'm just happy that it's a bloodbag and not a sorority girl supplying your dinner." Stefan snarked back, pointing at the glass. Damon took a sip of the blood before wagging his finger at Stefan.
"Ah ah ah, don't go blaming me for that." Damon sassed. "You're the one who called my little Evie to…oh gosh how was it phrased?" Damon snarked, tapping a finger to his chin as if thinking. "'Get me out of my Katherine funk'?" Damon asked with a raised eyebrow. Stefan rolled his eyes back at him.
"Speaking of Katherine, have you heard from her?" Stefan asked, folding his arms. Damon stared back at him. Damon didn't like to feel as if he had the rug yanked out from under him.
"I think the Lockwood's have a family secret." Damon said, not looking at Stefan as he spoke what was on his mind. "Because the Gilbert device affected them, but vervain didn't. So they're not vampires, they're something else." Damon continued on his rant before looking over at Stefan.
"Is this your new obsession?" Stefan asked in his snooty way. Damon rolled his eyes back.
"You'd rather have some unknown supernatural element running rampant in our town, then fine, I'll drop it." Damon shrugged, leaning over a chair and taking a drink from his glass.
"We haven't seen the last of Katherine." Stefan stated. Damon rolled his eyes. If he wasn't holding onto a glass of blood, he would have slid and slumped dramatically into the chair. "You do know that, right? We have no idea what she's up to." Stefan continued. Damon let out a huff. "And I don't want you to just…" Stefan trailed off and sighed. Damon looked over at him curiously. "I'm not having the same conversation I had with you at the wake." Stefan said, shaking his head. "I just think it's important for you to know that we aren't the only two that need to stay vigilant about Katherine." Stefan stated seriously, gesturing towards himself and then at Damon. Damon stared for a moment, unsure of which other person Stefan was talking about. Of course, Elena was important and would need to stay vigilant, but Damon also knew John had gotten information of Eve's past somehow. Damon had a feeling in the pit of his stomach about who else may keep up with Eve. Two people came to mind, but one had shown herself already, but Eve seemed sure that Alistair would show up at some point…
"I know that, Stefan." Damon muttered, the burning in his chest returning.
Find your truth.
Maybe finding his truth was as close to a goodbye as Damon would get from her. The thought made his heart ache even more. Damon took a long drink of the blood in his glass, but still didn't feel the warmth it usually brought him.
Eve watched the carnival lights from a little bench, waiting for Mason. Eve was wearing a coral long sleeved bell shirt with white polka dots, skinny jeans and some boots. The weather was warm enough for short sleeves, but Eve knew the wind would catch her off guard if she didn't bring something warm…and now she didn't have Damon… Eve ignored the pang of guilt as she thought of Mason, which only made the pang hurt more. Mason had mentioned being a little late because he was bringing Tyler with him. Which wasn't a big deal. Eve simply placed the churning feeling next to the guilt and fear and basically all other negative emotions…deep down. She was supposed to have fun…Before she left… Eve sighed softly. When she left, it was going to be a bitch…especially with Caroline getting better so quickly because of Damon's blood. It was wrong to want Caroline to stay in the hospital…but the longer she stayed in the hospital, the longer Eve could stay in Mystic Falls…That's what she kept telling herself.
"Hey good lookin'!" Eve looked up to see Mason walk up to her through a crowd of people. Eve smiled and stood up, shoving more feelings down. She could deal with them when she left… Eve tried to keep the smile when she saw Tyler just behind Mason. "Don't mind the baby, it's temporary." Mason said, pulling Tyler up next to him by throwing an arm around the teenager and pulling him closer. Tyler rolled his eyes.
"Try again. Mason got in trouble with my mom." Tyler snarked back, shoving Mason away. "So
I'm the one watching him." Tyler stated with a smile. Mason rolled his eyes and Eve looked between the two curiously.
"Sister-in-law not like yer choice of after-wake activities?" Eve sassed, folding her arms. Mason smirked before it died quickly as he looked over to Tyler cautiously.
"I guess you could put it that way." Tyler shrugged, answering for Mason, who looked a lot guiltier than Eve thought he should. Eve raised an eyebrow back at Mason who waved Tyler off, walking up beside Eve.
"Let's just…not deal with that right now! I want to see how rusty I am at winning pretty girls cutesy plushies from cheating carnies." Mason said with a smile as he walked up and wrapped an arm around Eve. Eve smiled, despite how uncomfortable she felt as Mason began pulling her around.
Tyler didn't want to do much, unless it meant showing up his uncle. Eve wished Tyler would go away. Mason had been a lot more quiet with Tyler around and he seemed to be following Tyler around compared to the other way around. Eve kept the grumbles and wishes to herself. Tyler pulled the two inside of the high school to the hallways, soon ending up near a crowd of people. Eve looked at the big sign on the wall that read Wrestling Club Arm Wrestling. It was like a moth to flame…Or Tyler had gotten a message about it. Either way, now she was being dragged around by a moth. Tyler knew the guys and easily got in on the whole arm wrestling thing. Eve watched as Mason cheered Tyler on.
"Hey, I'm sorry about this." Mason said softly next to Eve's ear. Eve smiled back up at him.
"It's alright. True, I didn't expect ta be de third wheel on what I dought was a date, but I get it." Eve said with a shrug, finally letting some of the irritation slip out. Mason sucked in a breath.
"I know. I'm sorry." Mason said with a small sigh. "Carol was a little pissed when she found out that I slept with you, but she's more concerned about Tyler." Mason shrugged. "I mean, his dad did just die." Mason muttered. Eve felt her skin crawl at the casual tone.
"He was yer brother." Eve reminded him. Mason let out a sharp huff.
"I don't remember asking for your attitude in regards to how I process my brother's death." Mason snapped back. Eve's heart fluttered as anger tried to bubble up in her veins. Mason let out a longer sigh as Eve folded her arms. "Listen, I'm sorry baby girl, I'm just…stressed is all." Mason muttered, pulling Eve a little closer to him. "Brother that I didn't care for did just die, after all." Mason grumbled into Eve's hair. Eve tried to let the anger drain, but it had been a while since she had a drink…of any kind. "I'll make it up to you if you'll let me." Mason said in a low growl near Eve's ear, pulling Eve closer to him as he wrapped his arm around her a little tighter. Eve flinched at the strength. "Now, stay put while I go show up my little nephew." Mason said,
kissing Eve on the cheek.
"I bet I can take you." Mason announced as he walked around the table from Tyler. Eve watched, trying to feel better, but her eyes wandered the room before catching Damon's.
For a moment, Eve felt like the moth, and Damon was the flame. The world disappeared for a moment, and a smile nearly lifted onto her lips before she blinked, noticing Stefan standing beside him. Eve wiggled her fingers at Stefan. Stefan gave a hesitant smile back, glancing towards Damon before smiling. Eve looked back at Damon who seemed to hesitate to move too. Eve had to retrain her brain. Damon was not a flame. Damon was a bug zapper…But God did she want to die after the boring night she was having. Maybe that's why one night stands were just that; one night. Especially when one party has to babysit the next night…Damon looked back towards Mason and Tyler as the two looked focused on arm wrestling.
Mason was smiling as Tyler looked like he was struggling, despite having won a few before Mason. Mason even had the audacity to look up to Eve and wink before throwing Tyler's arm against the table. Eve felt her cheeks warm gently as people cheered around her. She could hear a few girls giggling together.
"Okay, he's the champ." Tyler announced, obviously upset that he had lost. "Who wants to go next?" Tyler asked the crowd.
"Stefan wants to go." Damon's voice called. Eve looked over to him curiously, even cocking her head slightly as if to ask him a question. Damon smirked over to Stefan.
"Yeah, sure, I'll give it a shot." Stefan said, sounding reluctant as he walked up to the table. Damon looked back to Eve, his smirk slowly dropping as he looked at her for a long moment. Eve mentally planted her feet. Mentally clipped her own moth wings.
"Get him Stef!" Damon said, almost shaking his head as he looked back at Stefan and Mason. Eve let herself sigh aloud, turning her attention back to Mason and Stefan. Eve watched as Mason slammed Stefan's arm down, the same way he had done to Tyler. Tyler high fived Mason excitedly as Stefan walked back over to Damon. Eve tried to listen in, but was interrupted by Mason.
"Come on, Miss Evie." Mason chirped happily, gesturing for her to come over. Eve stood, frozen to her spot as the crowd of people looked at her excitedly…but the only eyes she felt were his. Eve couldn't even help herself. Her eyes swiftly landed on his. He looked frozen in his spot as well, but even from the distance there was between the two, Eve could feel his anger at the nickname as he glared at Mason. Eve quickly walked over and sat down across from Mason.
"Listen, I'll only do dis if ya don't call me dat." Eve said in a hushed voice, hoping Mason could hear her.
"How about if you win, you can pick whatever name I call you." Mason said, placing his elbow onto the table reaching for hers. Eve stared at his hand and felt a rush of irritation. It was a simple request, but Mason was making a game out of it…Eve reached and placed her elbow on the table, grabbing hold of Mason's hand. "No holding back now, baby girl." Mason purred. Oh, Eve was going to put all her vampire strength into this. Maybe even break the table…
The bell rang and Eve put all her strength into trying to get Mason's arm through the table…but to her surprise, even with her vampire strength, Mason wasn't budging. Eve tried harder, but still, Mason's arm wasn't moving. Eve blinked up at him and Mason looked as if he wasn't even trying… Interesting… Mason soon hit Eve's hand against the table and Eve pulled back. Mason smirked back at her.
"Looks like little Evie here bit off more than she could chew!" Mason said to the crowd as Eve stood up. Another man had already sat down where Eve had been. Eve looked at Mason as he winked at her before she looked back to where Damon and Stefan were. Stefan was standing there, but Damon had disappeared. Eve didn't hesitate anymore. She walked over to Stefan.
"Stefan what-"
"Did you try?" Stefan asked, interrupting Eve. Eve's brows furrowed angrily.
"Of course I-" Eve got out before Stefan shook his head as if he didn't believe it.
"I did too." Stefan interrupted again. "Come on." Stefan said, gesturing away from the little arm wrestling show.
"Do ya dink dat's a good idea?" Eve asked, looking back as Mason beat another person. "I would think I'm supposed to stay since I came with him." Eve shrugged, but Stefan shook his head.
"It won't be long, just come with me." Stefan said, nodding for Eve to follow. Eve couldn't even say no if she tried. She felt the click of the sire bond at his words and followed without a second glance back at Mason.
"Do you think he's-" Eve heard as she walked behind Stefan as he stopped walking not far from the action, but where no one else was. Damon paused as he looked at Eve. The two stared at one another for a moment before Stefan's voice broke them both of their own trance.
"No, it wasn't that kind of strength, but it was more than human." Stefan explained, looking back at Eve and stepping to the side so the three could all see each other. "Eve tried too. You said you tried too, yeah?" Stefan asked, folding his arms. Eve nodded back at him, noticing Damon roll his eyes and fold his own arms.
"I did." Eve growled back, more towards Damon who glared back.
"It doesn't make sense." Stefan muttered aloud, forcing the two to focus on him instead. Damon shook his head.
"What's up with that family?" Damon grumbled aloud. "They're not vampires, so what the hell are they?" Damon muttered, seemingly more towards himself.
"Ooh!" Stefan exclaimed. "Uh, maybe they're ninja turtles." Stefan snarked. Eve looked back at him, not being able to help the smile at the shit eating grin he shined towards Damon.
"You're not funny." Damon snapped back.
"Or zombies; werewolves." Stefan continued, still looking like a little shit.
"No comedic timing, at all." Damon muttered with a roll of his eyes. Eve couldn't help but snicker back at him. Damon sent a glare her way, but Eve only bit her tongue to keep herself from laughing out loud. Damon still seemed tense as he turned and looked at a man fixing some machine behind him.
"What? What are you up to?" Stefan asked, glancing back at Eve. Eve looked behind him and saw the same maintenance man screwing something in.
"Since this is reality and there's no such thing as werewolves or combat turtles…" Damon muttered, turning and walking up to the man.
"Ninja turtles." Stefan corrected, smirking down at Eve as they both followed behind Damon.
"Hey, you." Damon said to the man, making him stop what he was doing.
"I have a name." The man snarked back. Damon grabbed him by his shoulders.
"Yeah, I don't care." Damon snarked back. "I need you to pick a fight with someone; a kid named Tyler Lockwood." Damon compelled the man. Eve glanced over at Stefan hesitantly, as he walked up closer to Damon.
"Damon, don't do this." Stefan muttered next to Damon's ear. Damon swatted his hand at Stefan.
"No, no, no, it's just an experiment." Damon muttered back at Stefan without breaking eye contact with the man who had yet to move. "Get him mad, don't back down no matter what he does, okay?" Damon continued his compulsion.
"I won't back down." The man said obediently.
"I know you won't." Damon said, glancing back and smirking back at Stefan as he let go of the man. The man stopped what he was doing and walked away from the trio as they watched him walk away.
"Do you realize someone is going to get hurt, right?" Stefan chastised, turning back towards Damon.
"No, someone is going to get mad; as in rage." Damon said with a smirk.
"What's that going to accomplish?" Stefan asked.
"That Tyler kid is incapable of walking away from a fight." Damon rationalized. "Let's see who intervenes…Maybe the ambiguous, supernatural mystery uncle." Damon shrugged with a smirk. "That, or if miss Evelyn here wants to get that information with her charm, that would be helpful as well." Damon nearly growled out the words as he looked back down at Eve. Eve felt a different pang enter her chest. Damon was upset with her. Eve glared back at him. "I mean, you both seem pretty friendly is all." Damon snarked before turning around and leaving Stefan and Eve. Eve felt her cheeks burning, but not the usual way they would with Damon, but rather from irritation (and maybe a little embarrassment). Stefan let out a sharp sigh.
"I didn't say anythin'." Eve snapped back at Stefan.
"I didn't say you did." Stefan snarked back. Eve let out sharp huff before turning to return back to the boring masculinity show that was the stupid arm wrestling. Stefan grabbed hold of her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Hey, stop." Stefan muttered irritatedly. Eve felt the sire bond, and she stopped in her place, glaring back at Stefan. "I don't know what's going on. With you, with Damon, or with that Mason guy." Stefan started seriously. "Just…stay safe, alright." Stefan said, his grip lightening as he looked down at her with concern. "I'll keep an eye on Tyler if you keep an eye on Mason." Stefan suggested with a shrug. Eve rolled her eyes, more so at the situation than at Stefan.
"I think I could do both." Eve grumbled back. "Tyler is babysitting Mason tonight, so the two won't be far without the other." Eve stated back with a sigh. Stefan raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want to…intrude on anything or treat you like you're a child, even though you sort of are to me," Stefan began, with Eve scoffing back at him and punching his arm, causing him to snicker. "And I'm not one to judge, because you've seen my shitshow of a life, but…what's going on?" Stefan asked, trying not to sound as concerned as he looked. Eve raised an eyebrow back at him, pretending not to understand, but Stefan shook his head back at her. "I'm nearly 45 years older than you, don't act dumb." Stefan chastised. Eve rolled her eyes back at him.
"If ya don't want to treat me like a child, den don't." Eve grumbled back. "It's nothin', it's a fling, it's for fun, it's not important." Eve rolled her eyes back at him. Stefan's brows raised at her comment.
"You really think messing around with a Lockwood is just for fun?" Stefan continued to chastise. Eve rolled her eyes and looked away from him irritatedly. "Eve, you can't just-" Stefan got out before Eve pulled her arm from Stefan's light grip roughly.
"Can't what, Stefan?" Eve snapped. "If Damon can go off and figure his shit out, why can't I have fun in the meantime?" Eve snapped, folding her arms tightly.
"I'm not saying you can't, Eve, I'm just trying to-"
"Everything alright over here?" Eve flinched when an arm slipped around her waist and pulled her closer. Eve bit her tongue to keep from snapping at Mason as he looked at Stefan with a stern look.
"Yeah, everything is okay, we were just-" Stefan got out before Mason shook his head.
"I wasn't asking you." Mason said sharply, back to him. Stefan blinked back, keeping his face from showing he was shocked with how Mason was talking to him. Eve felt her stomach drop uncomfortably.
"It's fine, we were just talkin'." Eve reassured quickly, looking between Mason and Stefan as Mason continued to stare down Stefan. "Nothin' ta worry about. Just old friends talkin' is all." Eve continued to reassure Mason, gently trying to push him back away from Stefan. Mason let out a small puff of air before pulling Eve and walking back to where the arm wrestling was. Eve shot a quick apologetic look back at Stefan, only to see Stefan staring at the back of Mason's head. Stefan looked back over at Eve with a worried look, but Eve shook her head slightly, as if to tell him that she would be okay. Eve looked forward as she saw Tyler walking over to the two of them.
"Hey, I gotta go to the car real quick. Can you two behave yourselves for like 20 minutes?" Tyler asked, smirking and looking between the two. Mason pulled Eve a little closer and smiled back at Tyler.
"Of course we can." Mason said. "Can you?" Mason snarked, watching as Tyler continued texting on his phone. Tyler rolled his eyes.
"Better than you can, remember." Tyler snarked. "Who's watching who tonight?" Tyler said with a smirk. Eve rolled her own eyes.
"Depends on what you need at the car." Mason snarked back. Tyler let out an annoyed huff before walking around him. Mason watched him walk away hesitantly. "You alright?" Mason asked, looking down at Eve. Eve nodded.
"Like I said, we were just talkin'." Eve shrugged, gently trying to un-pry Mason's grip from her hip. "It's not a big deal." Eve muttered, trying to keep her irritation to a minimum.
"I was just worried is all. That's Damon's brother right?" Eve bit the inside of her cheek.
"He is, but he's not Damon." Eve shrugged, looking back up at Mason as he stared down at her. "He's a friend." Eve tried to reiterate. Mason didn't say anything, but looked to where Tyler had gone. "There's nothin' goin' on between us. It was just…a little spat. He's worried." Eve muttered, shrugging once more.
"Yeah, well, he doesn't need to be." Mason stated sternly. Eve felt the same dropping feeling in her stomach happened again.
"You seem just as worried about your nephew." Eve couldn't bite her tongue as she snarked back at him. "What do you have to worry about?" Eve asked, genuinely curious. "You don't seem to mind spending the whole night with him despite being here with me." Eve shrugged, letting some more irritation slip out. Mason rolled his eyes.
"I'm just worried about him." Mason muttered back. "Even before I came down here, he's had those violent outbursts you saw the other night." Mason said with a shake of his head. "Just for the night, I just…I want to make sure nothing happens is all." Mason said a lot more gently. Eve let out a small sigh. "So, I know he wants his own privacy, but…let's just pretend I'm the babysitter, alright?" Mason asked, not waiting for a response as he let go of Eve's hips and grabbed hold of her hand, walking her out of the crowd and into the hallway. "I'll make up for the night, I swear." Mason said, sounding guilty as he continued leading Eve down and out of the school. Eve followed…it wasn't like she had a choice, his grip was tight, and if she couldn't get him to let go of her hip, she wasn't going to be able to get him to stop holding her hand.
The two walked out of the school. Eve looked around the carnival. Eve tried her best to keep her intrusive thoughts away, but she could almost feel what it would have been like if she and Damon were there together instead. She could almost see his stupid blue eyes light up at at a joke he would make that made Eve laugh, or blush or push him; she could almost feel him pull her closer to make sure she didn't disappear. The grips felt different. Eve physically shook her head as she and Mason walked through the carnival towards the parking lot. Of course their grips felt different, they were two different people. Mason was worried about his nephew and Damon wouldn't care what happened to anyone, including his own brother, if Eve was around. The guilt continued to pang her chest. Eve heard a scuffle, and Mason let go of her hand and sprinted into the parking lot. Eve followed behind hesitantly.
"Hey! Tyler, Tyler!" Mason snapped, rushing and pushing Tyler and the man Damon had compelled early apart. "What the hell, man?" Mason snapped back at the man, as he continued to try and fight Tyler. Mason put a hand around his throat before the man punched Mason twice before shoving him against a car. Mason rolled over the car, closer to Eve. Eve took a step back, hesitantly looking at Mason as Tyler tackled the man down. Mason blinked and looked at Eve. Eve felt her heart skip a beat as she saw Mason's eyes. Yellow eyes. Mason didn't hesitate as he got up, somersaulting over the car he had been pushed over before he jumped over the man and landed in front of Tyler, crouching.
"Your eyes!" Eve heard Tyler mutter in shock as he sat up on the ground. Mason said nothing as he turned back around, backhanding the man hard. Eve stared in shock as the man lay on the ground, grumbling but not getting back up.
"Come on, let's go." Mason said, pulling Tyler up to his feet. Mason pulled Tyler away, looking back at Eve, his eyes having changed back to blue, before he continued pulling Tyler away and off into the night. Eve hesitantly walked around the cars and saw Stefan come rushing over to the man on the ground.
"Hey, you alright man?" Stefan asked, looking up at Eve for a moment before he crouched down to the man. Eve walked up to him quickly.
"Why did I just do that?" The man asked aloud, looking at Stefan before he looked back at Eve.
"You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Stefan said hesitantly, standing back up and reaching down to help the man up. The man grabbed his hand and gave a nod.
"Well, thanks, but I…I gotta get back to work." The man muttered, holding his head before he began walking back to the carnival. Stefan watched him leave before turning back to Eve.
"Did you-" Stefan got out before Eve nodded.
"Yeah, did ya-" Eve muttered, glancing back towards Mason and Tyler had gone.
"Yeah." Stefan nodded, interrupting Eve. "So…we have a different supernatural problem than vampires…" Stefan muttered, folding his arms. Eve let out an irritated sigh, pulling her phone out of her pocket. "What are you doing?" Stefan asked curiously, looking at Eve's phone.
"I'm usin' me charm." Eve muttered, irritated that she was still thinking about how Damon said that to her. Eve text Mason a simple message;
Eve: I hope you and Tyler are okay…
Eve then noticed a text from…Bonnie? When had she put Bonnie's number into her phone? Maybe Caroline put it in there. Eve pushed the thoughts aside.
Bonnie: Caroline is here. Do u know y she's upset?
Eve heard Stefan pick up his own phone and answer a call.
Eve: No? Why is she here? I thought she wasn't supposed to be discharged until morning.
Eve tried to focus on Stefan's call, but Bonnie text her right away.
Bonnie: Matt said that 2 but she said she got discharged early
Eve could overhear Stefan saying they should meet in a classroom, but Eve couldn't focus on that.
Eve: Where are you? Are you with her now?
"Eve?" Eve glanced up at Stefan. "Hey, we have another problem." Stefan muttered. Eve's brows furrowed. "It's Caroline." Eve felt her heart flutter.
"I know she's here, but she shouldn't be." Eve muttered irritably. "She was having light sensitivities early and I told her to stay in the hospital until tomorrow morning." Eve sighed, looking back down at her phone.
Bonnie: No idea. Talking to Matt now about it. She's acting weird…Weirder than normal…
"She's a vampire." Stefan stated. Eve froze in the middle of her text. If her blood could go any colder than it already was, it would have frozen. Eve looked back up at Stefan. "Elena just called. She told Damon her memories were coming back…about everything." Stefan said, looking worried, but not as worried as Eve became.
Caroline's memories were coming back from when she was compelled. Damon had compelled her for his own fun; for his own good. Eve had compelled her. For her own good. Eve felt her stomach churn as her heart raced. New York. She would remember New York. She would remember that Eve brought her to a dangerou city with dangerous vampires that would have killed her in an instance. She would remember that Eve compelled her to not remember what happened with Sofya, from the restaurant to the alleyway. Eve compelled Caroline not to remember that Eve was a murderer.
Eve looked at the message she had almost sent Bonnie.
Eve: It's Caroline. She'll be better soon. She always is.
Eve felt sick.
"I have ta find her." Eve said quickly. Despite being terrified. Eve wanted to explain - needed to explain. Eve needed to explain…but fuck how was she supposed to. Eve flittered away from Stefan without a word. She needed to find Caroline.