"Okay, great, I'll see you Tuesday!"
"See you!" I hung up the phone and checked F.I.R.E. off my list. Yes, I had a To-Do List, but it made my living hell life easier. Especially now.
I had just talked to Ashley and told her I'd be able to have band practice in two days. I was actually going to school tomorrow; what a nightmare. Damon wasn't going, so that made it even less tolerable, but, then again, if I were a hundred-and-what-not vampire, I'd skip school, too.
"Now, how come your vampire boyfriend doesn't seem to care about your mortal stuff?" Lily asked distractedly. She was watching New Moon, somewhere after the most horrific part of the movie: Edward removing his shirt. I swear, he has the chest of an eighty-year-old man. What girl wants to see that? Now, Lautner on the other hand had me doing the crazy fan girl squeal every time he was on screen. But of course, I had to convince Damon that he had a better chest than Lautner (half of what I said was true...).
"Cause he knows I don't want to be a vampire and be all emo and say I'm dying of old age at seventeen." I said grumpily, staring through my glasses at my sketchy To-Do List. My contacts were being stupid today and drying every five seconds so I said 'screw it' and wore my plastic framed green and brown glasses.
"No, he just doesn't wanna deal with you for eternity, let alone in, say, a month." Lily mumbled.
I could laugh. If she knew anything about yesterday—I don't kiss and tell—she wouldn't even think about saying that. But I wasn't going to enlighten her. Not just yet. I mean...yesterday was so wonderful, I couldn't even begin to tell her how amazing it was...And I wouldn't tell Elena, either, because she'd probably puke at the thought or something.
Anyway, the next thing on my check list was to take Olivia to the mall to take her to Game Stop. Damon was coming, too, since...well, I don't know. I guess I really wanted him around.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Game Stop was fun, I bought Olivia a couple of games—the new Final Fantasy game, and some Super Smash Bros. games—and then we went to grab something from Burger King. Olivia and Damon struck up a conversation about Final Fantasy and I found it immensely funny that Damon even knew the game as well as he did.
The entire time, I couldn't stop smiling at him. I guess you could classify that as glowing. A couple of times he caught my eye and smiled back, which sent frantic butterflies off in my stomach. I knew then, though—however weird it may seem after only being with him for a couple of months—I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I didn't want to become a vampire, though. But I wouldn't think about the future just yet. I was living in the now.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
We had three songs Ashley and Abby had written and one I had written. I got the inspiration a while ago and was working on it. It was somewhere after my dad had gotten hospitalized. I was so freaked out with Andrew being around that I had to do something—and writing it seemed the only thing I could think of.
Ashely helped with the chords for almost two hours, showed them to the band, who practiced it for a while, and then, finally, it was time to put it all together.
I stood, holding the mic, like it was my first time singing to an audience. Well, Greta, Lily, Isabelle, and Alex were the audience, but anyway. My legs shook and so did my voice a little bit. It was weird; I was speaking my entire life right now. There really was no happy ending to the song, but was there really in my life? That was a silly thought. Of course there was. I had Damon.
I sang, "Is there anyone?
Is there anything?
To hold him back
Back from me
It's like I'm in a dream
Nothing is what it seems
I run and I try
I try to understand
~Chorus~
What does he want from me?
What does he need from me?
Why did he choose to follow me?
Why won't he leave me alone?
Leave me alone
~Chorus Ends~
I'm becoming paranoid
Jumping at every noise
But can you blame me?
He's always there
There in the shadows
Waiting for his chance
His chance to get me
It's not like I want this
It's not like I chose this
Don't blame this on me
Try seeing him through my eyes
~Chorus~
He's here
He's here somewhere
You have to believe me
I can feel him
~Chorus x2~
Leave me alone."
Lily and Greta knew what I was talking about. They had grave smiles on their faces when they ran up to hug me.
"I've got to tell you something." Greta whispered and Lily whispered, "Me too."
They dragged me outside when I excused myself from the band. "What's up?" I asked them.
Greta fidgeted with her ring finger. It was then that I noticed the simple silver band with the heart shaped diamond on it. I gasped and Greta smiled. "Isabelle and I are getting married when we graduate."
"Greta!" I embraced her in a big hug. "I'm so happy for you!"
Greta giggled like an excited girl who was getting married. "Thank you. She proposed Friday night."
I smiled widely. "Congratulations!" I didn't realize I had tears in my eyes until I blinked and they fell from my eyes. I wiped them away. "So I'm the maid of honour, right?"
Greta laughed. "You and Lily are."
"Can you have two maids of honour?" Lily asked.
Greta shrugged. "But I don't care. That's the way it's gonna be."
We both hugged her and we all laughed. Greta would be the first to get married. And I was simply elated for her. "Hey, what about me?" Lily asked, sniffling loudly, brushing her own tears away.
"Oh, sorry, Lily." I sniffled. "Go ahead."
"Well...Alex and I are getting really serious now...I know, it's hard to top getting married but I think I've finally settled on one guy."
Greta and I squealed elatedly. "Lily! That's amazing!"
Lily laughed. "I know, I know! I can hardly believe it myself! But he doesn't let me boss him around like all the other guys I've dated and, I don't know, I guess that just turns me on."
We laughed. It seemed that all three of us—guy or girl-less only a few months ago—were finally finding love int the oddest places. It was...it was just beautiful, and I don't care how corny that sounds. It really was. And we were all lucky to have guys or girls that loved and treated us well.
Now there was only one more thing that would make life glow in my eyes; something next on my To-Do List...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My eyes widened and teared up. "What?"
The doctor nodded, opening the door. "Go on in."
I stepped in slowly at first, hesitant. Then I rushed by my father's side and buried my head in his shoulder, sobbing.
He stroked my hair, lovingly. "Hey, baby..." he said hoarsely.
I sobbed, with him holding me, for about an hour.
When I finally controlled myself a little bit, I began laughing. That went on for another half hour.
"I'm...you're..." I cried and laughed. "I missed you!"
My dad smiled tiredly. "I missed you, too...Victoria still around?"
I shook my head sadly. "I haven't heard from her...I'm sorry."
"That's fine. I didn't really like her anyway..."
"But," I studied my fingers. "Mom's dead...Step-mom's here...And I have a sister..."
We talked about Mom, Step-mom, Uncle Brian, and Olivia for a few hours—I explained to Dad that they were going out to dinner with one of Tori's old college friends at five and would probably be home late. Damon for another hour. Then a nurse came in and said I had to give Mr. Ashwern a rest. I began to protest—how unfair was it that I had to leave so soon? But my dad assured me he would be coming home next week and that I should go home to rest.
I kissed his forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow, Dad. I love you."
"I love you, too, baby." My dad muttered tiredly.
I let him sleep, but I glanced over my shoulder one last time before going out into the lobby. I wanted to stay with him so badly, but he was right. I could come back early tomorrow morning.
I was surprised to see Damon in the lobby. "How long have you been here?" I asked, walking up to him.
He shrugged. "Couple hours."
I sighed and laid my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around his torso and he held me back. I needed his arms around me. I was so happy, it was the very best thing that could have made this entire day better.
"C'mon, I'll take you home." Damon muttered and led me out to his car.
"My band is performing with out own song this week." I said tiredly. I was exhausted from laughing and crying. "You wanna come?"
Damon smiled at me and my heart skipped a necessary beat. "Of course."
I love you so much, I thought as I closed my eyes.
I was woken up gently a few minutes later. "C'mon, sweetheart, wake up." Damon muttered.
I groggily got out of the car, leaning against Damon as we walked up the driveway. Meredith, Uncle Brian, and Olivia were probably still gone.
Today had been a good day. My dad was on the rebound, I was on the right path with my step-mom, Olivia had told me that she was starting to really like having a sister, Lily and Alex were getting serious, Greta and Isabelle were getting married, my band was flourishing and about to produce their first CD, and through it all, I still had Damon.
I held onto his hand as we walked up my front porch steps. It was beginning to rain and I checked my watch. It read seven thirty. Everyone should be home soon, which meant Damon and I couldn't have time alone for a while.
Sure enough, I received a text message from my step-mom. I read out loud, "Meredith says everyone's on their way, they'll be home in fifteen minutes. She says no funny business." I smiled at Damon.
Damon drew me closer to him by my waist. "Our business isn't funny."
I snorted a laugh. "Right, of course, what the hell was she thinking? Our business is conducted in under fifteen minutes."
Damon wiggled his eyebrows and smirked. "You offering?"
I shoved him playfully, unable to keep the smile from my lips. "No, I'm not. I'm tired; laughing and crying all day can do that to you. It's been a long day. I'm going to sleep."
"Sleep is for amateurs."
I raised a brow. "Amateurs of what?"
Damon paused. "Never mind."
I rolled my eyes. "Goodnight, Damon."
He chuckled. "Night."
We kissed and I went into the house without a fuss, glancing back to watch Damon depart. I honestly did hope we would be together for a very long time. I hoped life—or him being a vampire—wouldn't get in the way of us.
I shut and locked the door and was about to go for the light switch when I realized something. Someone was in the house...I turned back hurriedly to the door, but arms grabbed me from behind and a hand covered my mouth.
"Didn't bet on you being any smarter," chuckled a sickeningly familiar voice.
I kicked and squirmed, but the arms only tightened. Mostly I was so surprised because the last I heard from Andrew was when I chucked my other phone out the window. I had left my guard down. Which had been his plan all along. And I fell for it. Still helpless me. I hadn't gotten any smarter.
"Uh-huh. You think I'd let you slip through my fingers? After all I've done to get you? After how patient I've been?" I gasped as Andrew grabbed my ass and took out my cellphone. He pressed me against the wall and changed his hold on me. He held my mouth with one hand and pressed his body against me to prevent the use of my arms. He waved the phone in my face. "Text whoever and make those fifteen minutes go away. We need more time to catch up, don't you think?"
I glared as Andrew shoved the phone in my hand.
"Just tell them you have to have more time to talk to your precious boyfriend about something important." I caught the unmistakable bitterness in Andrew's voice when he mentioned my 'precious boyfriend.'
I shook my head. "No."
Andrew sunk his arm into my neck so I could barely breathe. "Do it," he commanded, all the previous amusement in his voice lost.
I created a new message.
"And don't even think about telling them you need help." Andrew warned. "I'm checking it when you're done."
I wondered why he didn't just write the message and have me get the contact, but whatever. I texted Meredith that I needed to discuss some things with Damon and could she chew up on Dad, I was still worried about him. And I told her I loved everyone. It was probably the last anyone would hear of me...
"Nice." Andrew glanced at the message, sent it, and tossed the phone onto the couch.
I glared at him with such hatred it could have lit him on fire. But I wasn't stupid enough not to be afraid. He would make me die a slow, painful death. I just prayed someone would get suspicious and call the cops. Though that was a long shot.
Andrew smirked and his dark eyes glowed like a tiger's. "You miss me babe?"
I continued to glare.
Andrew tightened his grip. "I asked you a question."
"Hmm mmm mm mmwr wii rr mmmm mmm mmmm, ooo iimm!" Which translates as 'How can I answer you with your hand covering my mouth, you idiot.'
Andrew just laughed and I couldn't help the shutter that ran down my back. He stroked my face and I shivered again. "I sure missed you. Being this close to you."
I closed my eyes tightly, willing the nightmare to end.
I think it was right when Andrew licked my cheek that I snapped. My leg curled around and I kneed his gut. It took him by surprise long enough to where his grip loosened and I slipped out of his hold. I ran toward the door and thrust it open shouting, "HEL—"
I felt the sting of someone slamming his or her fist in the back of my head just before collapsing to the floor. I distantly heard the door being slammed through the ringing in my ears.
Black spots dotted an angry face before me who was laughing in a cold fury as he grabbed a chunk of my hair, forcing me to stand. I swayed on my feet, swearing I had a concussion.
"You little bitch!" Andrew growled.
"You..." I tried spitting out a poor insult, but I was so light headed, my entire body felt numb and detached.
But through the numbness I felt the distinct burning of needlepoint canines sinking mercilessly into my neck. A hand slapped over my mouth as I took in a gasp to scream.
ELENA'S POV-
I dialed Liz's number but received voicemail. "Hey, you've reached Elizabeth Ashwern. Sorry I can't take your call—I'm too busy trying to get my boyfriend to admit he loves me. If you leave a brief message, I'll try calling you back—no promises!"
I laughed softly, calling Damon. He was probably with her anyway—he always was these days—and I needed to ask Liz something. He picked up instantly. "Hey, Damon. It's Elena. Are you with Liz by any chance?"
"No, I just dropped her off at her house." Damon said. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to ask if I could stop by to give her something." I explained. "I tried calling her, but she wouldn't pick up—I guess she's asleep. So I called you, figuring—"
"What was it you needed to give her?" Damon asked, amused. "I'm not too far from her house and I'd love an excuse to go back." He joked.
I rolled my eyes. "It's an early birthday present. But it can wait 'til tomorrow."
"Her birthday is coming up?"
I paused. "You didn't know? It's April 16. She might have told me not to tell you, but I guess I forgot."
"Hey—hold on a sec. Liz's step-mom just texted me...I'll call you back later." He said, hanging up.
"Okay..." I turned as Stefan stepped in front of the door. "Hey."
"Hi." He said with a smile, shaking his coat outside of the raindrops before hanging it on the rack.
"Just got off the phone with Damon." I said, waving my phone. To myself, I mumbled, "He really cares about that girl..."
Suddenly Stefan was hugging me from behind. "Who? Elizabeth?"
I rolled my eyes. "Of course Liz. What other girl is there that Damon might care about?"
"Well, there's a bunch of girls involved when it comes to Damon." Stefan pointed out.
I shook my head. "No, she's different. She just might be the one to change him for good..." I could have been, I thought distantly. But I was already in love with Stefan.
Stefan snorted. "That'd be a miracle."
"You saw her. You saw the way he looks at her." I rounded almost angrily. Why was it I knew Damon better than his own brother sometimes? "He forgets what he is around her and she doesn't remind him."
"Yeah, but when she found out about him—"
"Stefan, darling, I love you. But you really are a complete idiot sometimes." I laughed. "Of course she freaked. Her boyfriend—who she thought was perfectly normal—turned out to be a vampire. I freaked, too, Stefan. It takes a real person to be able to deal with that. And it takes a woman in love to go back to a monster."
"She's going to get hurt." Stefan said firmly.
I shook my head. "I don't think so. He loves her, too, Stefan." And part of me ached to say that because a part of me would always love Damon. But I chose Stefan—and I loved Stefan with all my heart. And Damon was now choosing Elizabeth.
What started out as a cruel joke on a random human girl to prove Stefan and me wrong about humanity turned out to be a beautiful thing...for both of them.
LIZ'S POV-
I glared up at Andrew, spitting blood in his face. Without even a second's hesitation, he backhanded me again. My head whipped to the side and I flexed my jaw. You know the really hard-core woman in the movie when she's being attacked and she knows martial arts and has all these witty comebacks? Yeah. I was so not that lady.
I was scared. Scared of death. I was scared to laugh at Andrew with a witty comeback. I was scared of losing the ones I loved the most. The most I could do was not break down crying and beg for my life. I had too much pride for that.
Andrew licked his blood stained lips, smirking. "Mm, I forgot how good you taste..."
With the blood still lingering in my mouth, I could have vomited. As it was, I was glaring at Andrew with a passion, but that only seemed to turn him on more. What was it with me and guys who liked it when I turned them down?
Andrew laughed. Then he sighed. "I wonder how much time our little text message bought us...It really is a shame to destroy something so beautiful..." He stroked my cheek with the back of his knuckles.
I shivered, throwing me head to the side to avoid his cold hand. "Just get it over with."
"Oh, no, ma'am." Andrew chuckled. "A good gentleman never rushes through a lady's first time."
I had half a mind to spit on him again. I glared at him. "You disgust me."
That only seemed to amuse him more. "Maybe." Then he sighed. "So darlin', how should we do this? Dismemberment? Tear your heart out? Chinese water torture? Human punching bag?"
I stared at him in horror. My legs shook and I swore I was about to faint. He really was going to do any, or all, of those terrible things...Oh, God...Oh, God! Someone help! I don't wanna die! I'm too young to die! I'm too young to die! I wanna live and have a career and get married and have kids who have kids then I'd have grandkids—I wanted grey hair for crying out loud!
A small whimper escapade though. Andrew liked that. A lot. "Such a shame." He kept murmuring.
Then don't do it, I thought vainly.
I closed my eyes and waited for it all to be over.
A sharp pang that left a horrible sting and ringing hit my cheek. "Look at me, damnit!" Andrew swore angrily.
Maybe that was the key; get him angry enough to kill me quickly instead of agonizing torture. I kept my eyes shut and turned my head away from him.
He hit me again, but this time grabbed my chin to face him. I kept my eyes firmly shut. "Look at me," he commanded furiously through clenched teeth.
Breathing hard, I kept my eyes shut.
"You're trying my patients!" Andrew shook me roughly. "Do as I say!"
I did the bravest thing I could have ever done. I opened my eyes, smiling defiantly, and said loud and proud, "No fucking way."
Instead of being hit or shook, I was thrown across the room. My arm caught on something sharp, tearing through my jacket and creating a painful gash. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out in sheer agony. Hot tears stung my eyes as I tried to block out the pain, even as Andrew hauled me by my hair to a sitting position.
"You stupid bitch!" He said in my ear furiously. I was panting so hard; my tiny gasps of pain were barely heard. But Andrew soon stopped and stared at my blood soaked arm. He shoved me down on my back and laughed, being over to lap up my blood like a dog lapping up water from its bowl.
I screamed, "Get off me, you sick—" But Andrew covered my mouth with a bloody hand.
He was smiling and I could see his blood stained teeth. His eyes seemed to glow more, causing him to look more frightening. He licked his lips and moaned. "Mm, you really do taste luscious."
I gagged, dry heaving.
Andrew laughed, supremely satisfied by my disgust. He picked me up by my collar in a sitting position. My head had already been light from the concussion, then by the blood Andrew took, and now from my arm. I doubted, even if I were saved that instant, I would survive. I'd lost too much blood. I was feeble and ineligible to even keep my own head up.
Andrew laughed. "I'm just about finished with you." He pinched my arm and I gasped weakly. "You feel that? Good. Then you'll feel what's coming next."
He raised a pointed metal pipe. I could see the reflection of my face as the pip came down. I didn't even look like myself. The girl that was staring had pleading hazel eyes and her once pretty face was covered with blood and oncoming bruises. And she closed her eyes just as the pipe would pierce her skin...
The front door suddenly caved in and a tall, tense figure ran at Andrew with impossible agility. I gasped as I was brought to my feet and showed in front of Andrew, the metal pipe pointing threateningly at my chest.
The figure stopped short, his hands curled into fists at his sides. Black eyes glared hatefully at Andrew and I could see, in the depths, how much he wanted to the other vampire's head clear from his shoulders.
"Damon..." I breathed in relief. But my voice was weak and wispy and my eyelids kept threateningly to close.
Damon's expression changed for a split second to me. He had a look of horror and empathy in his eyes, wishing he could take all the pain I was feeling and just take me away in his arms. But he knew how impossible that was. As if severely angered by that, Damon glared at Andrew and I could have sworn an animal-like growl escaped deep from within his throat.
"Let her go, you son of a bitch." He growled, barely containing his fury.
"Whoa, whoa, bucko." Andrew laughed tauntingly. "Finders keepers and I saw her first."
"She's not a toy you can play with!" Damon shouted, taking two steps forward.
"Not what you thought when you first mer her. And," I gasped as the metal tip poked my skin. "I'd stop, it you don't want to kill her."
Damon stopped.
Andrew laughed and grabbed my face. "And isn't she just delicious?" He licked blood off my face. I whimpered in disgust.
"I wouldn't know." Damon growled through severely clenched teeth.
"You've never tasted her blood?" Andrew gasped mockingly. "Oh, I guarantee it! 'Sides, she's no fun to me in this state. I'm bored."
Time seemed to slow in that instant. Andrew's hold on me switched. The pipe drew sharply up and I could hear the fatal wiiissshhh of it as it sailed down...penetrating my lungs.
I gasped in horrendous pain and I distantly heard Damon shouting through the blood rushing in my ears and my immense shock. I choked on something—air, I guessed, as it wasn't entering my lungs. I was harshly shoved forward and heard retreating and advancing steps all in the same, excruciating moment.
"Elizabeth!" a hazy voice called.
Strong arms caught my fall and I was being cradled tightly, but I couldn't feel it because my body was so numb.
Hair was pushed out of my face with frantic, shaking fingers, and someone continued to shout, "Elizabeth!"
I tried focusing my eyes on him. It was hard, with my rapidly shaking body and suffocation. But I was able to stare into those black eyes of the man I loved most. I tried to speak, to tell him one last time how much I loved him. But what came out was a series of gasps, whimpers, and strangled screams.
Those black eyes were glazed over. Wait—Damon was crying? Her me? Oh, me, that was bad. "Elizabeth, please..." he was begging in a panicked, but low voice. "Please, Elizabeth, hang in there. Stay with me..."
I shook my head when Damon made a motion to cut his wrist. It was too late to be changed into a vampire. And besides, however painful it was, I think I would rather die, like how it's supposed to be.
Damon's grip tightened. He knew, too, it was too late for me. "Damnit, Liz!" His voice cracked. "Don't do this, don't...Don't leave me..."
Tears leaked from my clouding eyes. I wouldn't leave him if I had a choice. Too many people had left him to be a scared orphan boy with a brother who didn't understand his pain. I choked on a painful sob.
Damon pressed my head under his chin, holding onto me for dear life. His arms shook, but that could have been my body spasms that were gradually slowing. "I love you." He whispered in my ear.
I choked and a strangled cough escaped me. Blood spattered on Damon's shoulder. My blood. I had a spasm after that, but then it was over. My eyes clouded over and, for Damon's sake, I smiled. I was in the arms of the man who loved me instead of dying in the eyes of a psycho who got off on watching me suffer. Though horribly painful, it was a good day to die. And I was so thankful Damon was there and that he was with me.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
That was the end.