Chapter 11
Just a young gun with a quick fuse
I was uptight, wanna let loose
I was dreaming of bigger things
And wanna leave my own life behind
Not a "Yes, sir," not a follower
Fit the box, fit the mold
Have a seat in the foyer, take a number
I was lightning before the thunder
Thunder – Imagine Dragons
As I help carry boxes into the house in preparation for the Lockwood masquerade ball I can't help but notice Elena leading Bonnie away from the group. Hmmmmm now that seems like more fun to me! Looking around I see no one paying attention to me and I place the box I am carrying down and turn to make my way over to Bonnie and Elena. Approaching the two near a bench in the backyard I hear Elena say "It's a lot, I know. Katherine's doing everything that she can to drive me and Stefan apart and Caroline just got trapped in the middle." "It's not that you and Stefan are pretending to fight. It's that I didn't even know you guys were fighting at all." Responds Bonnie with sadness evident in her voice. Stepping forward I ask, "Are you two okay?" Their heads turn towards me, and both give me a small smile. Bonnie then shares "I know where I stand, Elena. And I know where you stand. But where do we stand?" putting her hand on Bonnie's arm Elena grabs her attention "You're my best friend, Bonnie. I didn't mean to let this craziness with Caroline get in the way of that. But she needs you too." "Not yet, I just...she's a vampire, I can't. I think we should get back." Standing up Bonnie then makes her way towards me "ready to go back Annie?" nodding I respond, "of course Bonnie, whatever you need."
Back in the house Bonnie and I are making our way outside when Uncle Mason Bumps into her "Excuse me." I glance at Bonnie and notice that she is continuing to watch Mason with a look of confusion on her face. Just as I go to ask her what is wrong a voice from behind stops me "What's the matter? Are you okay?" Turning around I see that Stefan has come over. "When I touched him, I saw something." At that, both Stefan and I step close to Bonnie as Stefan says "What do you mean? Like a vision?" "I saw Elena." Tilting my head in confusion I ask "Elena? Why would you see Elena when Mason bumped into you?" As Bonnie gives Stefan a soft grimace, she tells us "He was kissing her." Why would Elena kiss Mason? That is just weird. As I am broken from my thoughts, I hear Stefan tell us "You didn't see Elena, you saw...Katherine." Before Bonnie or I can respond Stefan takes off. As Bonnie goes to follow, I quickly grab her arm, "Bonnie I need to tell you something. If Mason really is working with Katherine, we might have a problem…" Nodding for me to continue I do "Tyler gave Mason the moonstone last night. Now don't ask me what it is but I know it is important to Mason. And maybe Katherine."
Shortly after telling Bonnie about the Mason and the moonstone, Stefan returns to us this time with Damon in tow. Damon quickly grabs Bonnie and I's arms and subtly lead us father out back where less people are "Okay this is as far as we go Damon." States Bonnie with conviction in her voice. "What do you want Damon?" I ask as Bonnie and I turn to face the brothers. "A favour" Damon tells us. As Bonnie responds I let out a short laugh. Breaking through my laughter is Stefan "I know how you feel about helping us out, but since you're the one that linked Mason with Katherine, we finally have an opportunity to get an upper hand on both of them so, just hear us out." Giving Bonnie a murderous smile Damon sarcastically states "pretty please?" Bonnie and I share a glance before she responds, "we are listening." Suddenly Stefan's phone rings "I have to fill Elena in on what's going on." He tells us as he walks away to answer his phone. Turning back towards us Damon says, "I need you two to figure out if Katherine has the moonstone." "I mean she probably does. I saw Tyler give Mason the moonstone last night. If they are working together, why wouldn't he give it to her right away?" I ask. Jumping onto my question Bonnie informs us "My visions don't work like that. I don't get to ask questions." "How inconvenient. Although, let's talk about that little witchy juju thing you do with me. You know, the fun one where my brain bursts into flames? What is that?" Sneers Damon at Bonnies response. "That's me giving you an aneurysm. Your blood vessels go pop, but you heal quickly; so, I do it over and over again." As Damon gives Bonnie a look that can only be described as predatory, she tells him "Damon, I'm not gonna help you hurt him." "Hold up. No. No one is hurting or killing my uncle." I say with clear conviction. "Mason Lockwood's a werewolf, Katherine's evil. They're the bad guys. Really? You're gonna play morality police with me right now? Let me put it to you another way: they're a threat to Elena. So, you, witch, are gonna get over yourself and help us." "Wait stop. Just stop. You can not be serious right now." Turning towards me Damon says, "If you are not going to help us little witch then get out of the way." "I can still hurt you, Damon." "But are you willing to hurt Elena?" he asks me. Glancing at Bonnie I see a look of guilt "Fine. But I want no part of this. But if he dies, I will kill you Damon." I sneer before turning and quickly making my way back inside.
Trying to distract myself from everything going on I fond myself sorting through fabric and costumes with Elena. "Come with me Annie, something is going on." Elena suddenly shares. Looking at her I notice her staring at Stefan who is walking away "Ugh, fine. Even that is better than these costumes." Time to see if my uncle is still alive. Quickly he two of us make our way out back and follow Stefan into the woods. As we get closer to him, I notice we are by an old well on the property. "What's going on?" asks Elena. "Neither of you should be here." Says Stefan. "Look Stefan I tried to ignore the fact that Damon is most likely torturing my uncle, but I can't. So why are we beside an old well." "Bonnie thinks the moonstone is down here." Stefan tells us as he looks at Elena with intensity. Quickly Stefan moves and forces the grate covering the well off. Pulling out a flashlight from his back pocket Stefan uses it to look down the well. Slowly he makes his up to the edge of the well and gets on it "Hey. Be careful." Announces Elena. As Stefan stands up, he responds "I'll only be down there for a minute." Suddenly he jumps and enters the well. Almost immediately after hearing a splash we hear a pained yell from the bottom of the well "ELENA!" startle we glance at each other before running to the side of the well. Gripping the stone we both lean over trying to look down "Stefan, what's happening?!" Yells Elena with panic laced in her voice. "Vervain. Oh, God! Help!" groans Stefan. From beside me Elena jumps back from the well and attempts to grab a chain from the ground when Caroline suddenly appears. Seeing Caroline I tell her "Stefan is trapped at the bottom of the well –" Before I can finish Caroline goes to jump into the well "NO CAROLINE. There is vervain down there!" I quickly yell at her. "Caroline, Stefan's down there and the chain is rusted. We've got to get him out. Now!" Screams Elena. Caroline quickly grabs the chain from the ground "One of you has to go down and help." Before I can even process what Caroline said Elena volunteers. Quickly, Caroline ties the chain around Elena's waist and helps her climb the side of the well. I make my way to the side of the well and grab Elena's hand to help steady her. From behind us I hear footsteps then Bonnie asks "What's going on? You just took off in a blur." Nodding at her Caroline says "I heard Elena screaming. Help her. Now!" Bonnie goes to the other side of Elena and together we help lower her into the well as Caroline holds the chain. From the bottom of the well we hear Elena yell "Hey! Oh, Oh my God." Quickly Caroline yells back "Elena, what's going on down there?" "Pull him up!" Once Caroline pulls Stefan up Bonnie and I jump into action to get him untied from the chain and out of the well. Together we place him on the ground as Caroline yells down the well "Elena? Ready for you!" "Hold on! I need to find the stone." Groaning I can't help but wonder What is so important about this stupid stone. Breaking from my thoughts I hear Elena Yell "I got it. Come on! Bring me up!" Once Caroline has Elena at the top of the well Bonnie and I reach towards her and pull her over the side of the well and help untie the chains from her waist. Upon seeing Stefan on the ground Elena quickly runs to him and immediately use a rock to cut her hand "I've got the stone, Stefan. Stefan, it's gonna be okay, everything's gonna be okay." She whispers. From beside me I see Caroline turn away as Elena places her cut hand on Stefan's mouth.
Latter that day Carol and I are standing in the dining room placing some finishing touches up. From behind me I hear the front door open and footsteps coming towards us. Looking Up I see Tyler walking into the room. As he makes eye contact with me, he says "it looks good." "Thanks. It was nice to see Matt today. He hasn't been around for a while." Responds Carol. "We've both been busy, I guess. Have you seen Mason? The guy's been AWOL all day." Well shit Damon. "Actually Tyler, Mason headed back to Florida." "What?" Tyler and I ask at the same time. "I was hoping he'd stick around...I thought that with your dad gone...anyway, he's gone. So, I guess it's just the three of us now." Slowly she pats both of us on our shoulders before turning and leaving the room. I guess he got scared and left us. At least Damon didn't kill him, I guess.
