Chapter Text
"So, what about Stefan?" I asked skeptically to Bonnie. "When i gave him Elena's number and email, i touched his hand and got a really bad feeling."
"That could just be best friend intuition, Ivory once
had it with a guy that was trying to flirt with me
when we were hanging out. And she turned out
to be right..." I paused, drifting off.
"Actually! So that's why i haven't been able to stay near him. I keep having this feeling everywhere he is." Bonnie expresses loss of comfortably.
"Elena probably knows what she's doing. And if you turned out to be wrong, you can apologize and share a tub of ice cream." I suggested, a smile sprung on my lips. "Thanks, Carmen." Bonnie hangs up the phone. I sighed.
"It's tiresome being the only one who everyone goes to for advice. I should probably start paying people. $5
each for the Mystic Falls Friendship and Relationship Connoisseur Guru, Carmen Sommers!" I anounced and waved my hand to visualize a written banner.
I laughed. "I should probably go. I've
been in this room for too long."
Going downstairs, i grab my bag and headed out. My first stop was the Mystic Grill. Sitting down, I looked around.
"What would you like?" Vicky asked me. "Vicky? I didn't expect you to be working with what happened a couple of days ago. How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Good. Matt hasn't left my
side ever since." Vicky rolls her eyes.
"That's what big brother's are for. They call you nicknames and mess with you, but they'll always love you." I spoke, lovingly. "He's just worried about you."
She chuckles. "Yeah."
"I'll just have a glass of water." She nodded and left. I tapped my nails on the table out of boredom, but soon came across Caroline chatting with Matt.
'What's going on there?' I thought curiously. 'Looks like Caroline found someone who likes her. Way to go!'
I smiled.
"I knew this is where i'd find you." A voice said
from behind me. Turning around, i see that
Damon, using his usual smirk, looking at me.
"Does that mean you've been stalking me?" I raised an eyebrow. But a second later, laughed. "Hello, Damon."
He sits down next to me. "What's a girl
like you doing alone in this place?"
I sighed. "Needed some fresh scenery. I've been couped in my room for the past couple of hours." I admitted, groaning and putting my head down on my arms.
"Sounds to me like it's something more than that." He told me. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"It's…complicated." I admitted. "I thought everything was going to be easier when i returned, but…"
"It's not what you expected." He finishes for me. I nodded. "Yeah. I can't tell my Mom, Elena, or Jeremy. Everything's just going to hell. With Vicky's attack, would like to know that it's all behind me."
He puts his hand on mine. Creating a shock through out my body. "Everything is going to get better for you."
I stared into his eyes, and my heart
warmed with a strange feeling.
Before i could say something, Vicky
showed up. "And here's your water."
I mouthed thanks and she left. I turned around and saw that Damon wasn't here anymore. "Oh, when did he…" i trailed. I sip my water and shrugged it off.
I get a call from Elena. "Could you stay for dinner? I'm
trying to get Bonnie to warm up to Stefan, and
i want you there to make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Sure. I'll be there." I nodded, even though she couldn't see.
"Good. See you later." She hangs up. I sighed. "Why
do i always get myself into stuff that is obviously
turning into a bad idea." I looked at the time.
"Carmen! Hey! I haven't seen you since
yesterday." Caroline's voice called to me.
"Yeah, been busy." I got an idea. "Well, we're having a
dinner party at our house, and it's the perfect time
to hang out." Caroline instantly smiled.
"Of course! I'll make sure to pick a cute outfit." She hugs
me and leaves quickly. "Okay…?" I said, unsure of
her implications. "That's Caroline for you."
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Bonnie and Elena were setting up food,
while i just set the table. "You explain it. Last night,
i'm watching Nine-O, a commercial break comes on
and i'm like "i bet it's that phone commercial". And sure enough, it's the guy and the girl with the bench, he flies to Paris and he flies back. They take a picture."
Elena laughed. "Oh, come on. That
commercial's on a constant loop."
"Fine. Well, how about this? Today i'm obsessed with numbers. Three numbers, i keep seeing eight, fourteen, and twenty-two. How weird is that?" Bonnie asked. "And that's never happened to you before the end of summer break?"
She shook her head no at my question.
"Maybe we should play the lottery." Elena joked. "Have you talked to your Grams?" She puts the noodles on a plate.
"She's just gonna say "it's because i'm a witch". I don't wanna be a witch. Do you guys want to be a witch?" Bonnie asked.
"I don't wanna be a witch." Elena instantly answers.
"I think being a witch would be cool. Casting spells, and cursing those who bully you." I admit.
Elena and Bonnie gave me a
horrified look. "But i'm only kidding."
"And putting it in a nice bowl isn't
fooling anybody." Bonnie retorts.
"Okay, serving spoons. Where are the serving spoons?" Elena asked, going to the cabinets. I go to tell her,
but Bonnie beat me to it. "Middle drawer on your left."
She pointed to the drawer.
Shrugging, when me and Elena gave her a look. Elena opened the drawer and took out a serving spoon. "Okay, so you've been in this kitchen like a thousand times." Elena tries to explain.
"Yeah. That's it." Bonnie said, not
believing the possibility of magic.
Our doorbell rings. "That must be Stefan." I walked over to the door and see Stefan on the porch. "Come on in. We've been waiting for you."
Moments later, everyone was eating dinner, in
awkward silence. I kept trying to get some tension
out of the way, only receiving one word answers from Bonnie, and Stefan just brushing it off. "Did Tanner give you a hard time today?" Elena asked Stefan.
"Well, he let me on the team, so…i must have done something right." He answered. Elena laughed. "Bonnie, you should have seen Stefan today. Tyler threw a ball at him, and–"
"Yeah, i heard." Bonnie cuts her off.
I sip my water awkwardly, looking from Bonnie to Elena, and back. "Maybe Bonnie could tell you about her family."
"Um, divorced. No mom. Live with my dad." She answered. "Not the response i was looking for." I mumbled.
"Hmm." He nodded.
"No, about the witches." Elena clarified. Stefan quickly turned his head at "Witches". "Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool."
"Cool isn't the word i'd use." Bonnie disagrees. "Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed but i do know that there's a history of Celtic druids that migrated here in the 1800s." Stefan explained the historical moment.
"My family came by way of Salem."
Bonnie told him, starting to warm up.
"Really?" She nodded. "Salem witches?"
"Yeah." She smiled and played with her food. "I would say that's pretty cool." He admitted. "Really? Why?" She asks.
"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity." He explained. She nodded. "Yeah, they are."
Another doorbell ring. "There's Caroline!" I quickly ran to the door, opening it and seeing her and…Damon?
"Surprised?! We brought dessert." She said, holding up a cake. I gasped. "Hope you don't mind." He anounced.
"No, i just didn't think that this was your type of scene." I said, voiced my thoughts. "But, the more, the merrier."
I opened the door more and moved out of
the way. Caroline, cheesily walked in the
house, and Damon walked inside.
"This is a nice place you've got here, Carmen." He looked around. "Yeah, it's home." I smiled at the compliment.
"I hope i'm not intruding." I waved him off. "No, of course not. You're welcome anytime." I repeated what he said to me and Elena when we first met.
"What're you doing here?" Stefan asked from behind me. "Just wanted to get to know my brother's girlfriend more. And see her adorable cousin." I blushed.
"He-he can't stay. Can't you, Damon?" Stefan asked his brother, giving him a glare in the process. "No, it's alright. He can stay. I invited Caroline, which in turn made Caroline–for whatever reason–invite Damon." I confessed.
"Thanks, Carmen." He walked away. I turned to Stefan. "I really didn't know that he was coming." I whispered.
He sighed, but gave me a reassuring nod. Saying "It's not your fault". I smiled thankfully and walked into the living room, where everyone was sitting.
"I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team. Uh, Tyler must be seething. But good for you. Go for it." She congratulated. "That's what i always tell him. You have to engage. You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you, you have to go get it." Damon added.
"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today. It's only because you missed summer camp." Caroline scoffed. "God, i don't know how you're going to learn all the moves." I put my hand on her leg, signaling for her to stop while she can.
"I'll work with her. She'll get it." Bonnie defends Elena. "Or we could put her in the back…" Caroline trails off.
I face-palmed. "Oh, Care."
"Hey, you know, you don't seem
like the cheerleader type." Damon pointed out.
"She used to be more fun. But now she's not so much." I widened my eyes, mouth agape. "Caroline!" I yelled. She puts her hand over her mouth in shock.
"Elena! i didn't mean…" She quickly
apologized, looking guilt-ridden.
"It's alright, Caroline. I'm fine." Elena smiles weakly. I could tell it hurt her, but she didn't want to make it worse.
"I'm soory, Elena. I know what's it like to lose both your parents, in fact, Stefan and i have watched almost every single person we've ever cared about die." Damon said, in a somber tone.
I took his hand in mine. I smiled, comfortly. He gives me a confused look, but doesn't comment on it.
"We don't need to get in to that right now, Damon." Stefan warned Damon. He scoffs. Oh, you know what, you right, Stef, i'm sorry, i…the last thing i wanted to do was bring her up. Ha" Damon struck a nerve with Stefan.
'Katherine?' I thought. Looking at the two brothers. 'She really must have messed up their relationship.'
Later, i'm putting away the dirty dishes and i hear footsteps. "One more." Damon said as he hands me the glass cup, but it slips from my fingers and almost breaks, untill Damon caught it on time.
"Nice reflexes." I smiled. "Earlier, did you mean Katherine?" I asked, hoping that i didn't cause a negative response.
"Mm-hm." He helps me put the dishes in the dishwasher. "How did she die?" I asked. "In a fire. A tragic fire." He told me, a saddened tone in his voice.
"Recently?" I watched his expression.
"It's like it was yesterday." He said.
"You must have loved her too. I can tell by how you talk about her." I admitted. "I know the feeling of loss, so…" He gives me a confused look. "I think it's best to get along with Stefan. You both lost someone you loved–even if it was the same woman–and you two need each other in your time of grieving."
His mouth just opens when Bonnie and
Caroline shows up. "Hey, need some help?"
"Sure, why not?" He goes to leave. Caroline and Bonnie watched him go and Caroline hung her mouth open.
"Okay, Carmen, i love you, but he was totally flirting with you!" Caroline whisper-yelled to me. I frowned my brows. "What? Caroline, no he wasn't."
"Bonnie, you agree with me!" Caroline turned to Bonnie. She raised her hands in surrender. "I'm not getting into that."
We all laughed. Elena coming in later
to help. "What's going on here?"
══════════════
Me and Caroline are saying our goodbyes. "Make
sure to tell me all about what's going on with you and Damon later. I need all the juicy details."
"Sure, Caroline. You have my word." I put one of my hands behind my back crossed my fingers. I hugged her.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She laughed and
walked away. I chuckled. Watching her
leave, when Stefan walked over to me.
"Hey, so…Carmen–" I cut him off. "I know what you're about to say. There's nothing going on between us."
He blinked. "How did you…"
I winked. "Call it a superpower. And also that you've been staring at me while i was talking to Damon. You're not so subtle on the way you act with him."
He laughed nervously. "Don't worry, my lips are
sealed." I zipped my lips with a hand motioning
of a zipper. "Just don't have Elena be in the middle
of your guys disagreements. I'd prefer it
be someplace else rather than here."
I see Elena walking upstairs. "Go get her.
She needs some happiness in her life."
He nods and walks over to Elena,
hand-in-hand. I smiled at the two.
I yawned and headed to my room. Getting undressed and in pj's, i climbed into bed and turned off my light.
I dreamed of Damon again. This time we were making out. I've never dreamt of someone more frequently than now.
"Oh, Carmen, the sound of your heart beating is music to my ears." He moans into the kisses. "Just one little taste, and it'll all be over."
Before i could speak, his face transforms like it did with my first dream. And again i wasn't scared. He grows fangs and sink his teeth into my neck, but i don't feel pain at all.
In fact, it's a exhilarating feeling. My moans
escaped my mouth and I dig my nails into him.
Nothing could have prepared me for
this. But, i didn't want to stop.
He lets my neck go and looks at me. Seeing his mouth stained with my blood, springs unwarranted feelings.
I quickly kiss him back, but more roughly this time. 'Carmen, snap out of it!' I unlocked our lips and turned my head. "Who–" Damon shushes me.
He turns my attention back to him. And i'm back under his spell. The voice was quickly gone. We continued kissing but a ringing sounded, waking me up.
I groaned. I searched my room for a sound but heard nothing. "Maybe it was just Mom or Jeremy." Seeing that it was still night out, i headed back to bed.
I touched my neck, but i don't find a wound. "Some crazy dream i had." I go back to sleep. Choosing to forget the dream since it didn't continue from there.
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The start of the celebration for tonight's game is here, and I wanted to see it for myself, taking my mind off last night.
Seeing everyone festive and rallied up, is a
nice way of putting it. I drink my to-go cup
of coffee from my favorite place.
Mr. Tanner gives a glorious speech, gaining cheers
from the crowd. After, i heard some commotion and fighting and looked around. Seeing Jeremy and Tyler throwing fits at eachother. "Tyler, Stop!" Vicki yells at him.
It being in vain. Running over to them, i pulled Tyler away from Jeremy. "Back away from my cousin!" I glared at him.
He stared at me in shock but i didn't haer anything when i felt myself be pushed away. "Jeremy, no!"
I see Jeremy with a broken bottle in his hand.
I quickly walked over to him. "Jeremy! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I search his body for any major injuries.
"No, i'm fine." I picked his head up and read his expression. Getting an honest answer, i let him go. "Clean yourself up before going home. See you when i get back."
He nodded and walks away.
I sigh in relief. "Could this night get any better."
I say, walking off the to the game. Later, i
wanted to grab my coat since i didn't bring one,
and Elena told me that there was one in her car.
I turned around and came to face with
Damon Salvatore. "Ah! You scared me." He raised
his hands in surrender. "Sorry. Couldn't pass up on the perfect opportunity." He smirked, mysteriously.
"What are you doing here?" He asks. "Just getting a coat. It's cold out here." I shivered. Rubbing my arms up and down trying to keep warm. "You must be warm-blooded if you're standing here without one on." I scoffed.
"I don't really get cold like that." He admitted. "Okay, well, i have to get back there. Elena'll began to worry."
"Yes. But first, i know what you're thinking. You want me." He said, not even hesitation in his stance.
I blinked rapidly. "Huh?"
"I get to you. You find yourself drawn to me. And right now…" I feel myself stare into his eyes. "You want to kiss me." I know i shouldn't, but my body's moving on it's own.
Before we completely close distance, i
snapped out of it and took a few steps back.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm sorry. I'm just gonna go…" i sped walked out of there. 'What was that? I was just about to kiss Damon Salvatore!'
Going back, i sat down on the bleachers.
I calm my beating heart. 'Carmen,
you're stronger than this! Fight it.'
After a while, the police and ambulance were called. Mr. Tanner was just attacked by a wild animal. So,
everyone was shocked that it happened out in the open.
'Let's hope that he died peacefully.'
Returning home and coming to an worried mother
wasn't on my bucket list. She had already ripped
a new one into Jeremy. "Mom, i said that i'm
fine. No need to get a first-ad kit out."
"You're lucky that i can't ground you! But if i could, you would be "super grounded". She cups my face. "I'm just being a mother worried about her child."
I smiled and bring her hands down from my face. "I appreciate that, mom. Now, can i please go to bed?" I asked. She sighed and nodded. I go upstairs and go to sleep. Sleeping peacefully, i don't have any dreams.