ii. credit cards and dreaded phone calls

no more dreaming of the

dead as if death itself

was undone.

Brandon’s words ring in their heads for the rest of the night, and the following day, up until night when they meet up again at the Grill and drown the same beverage and eat the same shit, still wondering how exactly they can still find something tasty in it. They replay the scene in their heads, trying to find some underlined meaning in them, but find none. They think their reaction is something that shouldn’t surprise them. They’re been away from danger for a while and the thrill of the adventure isn’t something so easily forgotten, now is it?

They didn’t prepare much for her anticipated arrival, barely talked about it during the day. They are all sitting on the couches in the Salvatore manner, most with a glass of something in their hands and staring at each other, waiting for one of them to finally break the silence and say something, anything, that would mark the disappearance of the dreaded state of nothing. Caroline has been, without a doubt, the most enthusiastic one out of them all, for completely different reasons. While she adores her friends and has proved that she will go to hell and back for their safety, she can’t help but feel suffocated because of their dramas they always pull her in, even if she doesn’t really have anything to do with them and the prospect of having another female she could bond with, someone fresh with different thoughts and issues, made her extremely peppy. “Now that we are all here, how about we decide which of use will offer housing to our guest?” 

Her slightly high-pitched voice broke the silence, the rest of the gang being extremely thankful for that and muttering a small ‘thank you’ in her way as they straightened their posture, putting on a rather serious expression. It is, in the end, a very important matter they shall discuss, jokes aside. Brandon had played an important role in the battles they fought and the last they could do is be on their best behavior and prepared for when his treasured friend will reach town.

“They boys are by definition out of the equation. We don’t need any of you to be all sleazy with her and traumatize her.” Bonnie narrows her eyes, looking straight at Damon. The man can only roll his eyes at her, titling his head in the sarcastic way only he possesses.

“What makes you think she’s hot enough for her to receive any of our attention? You’re getting a little bit ahead of yourself, no?”

“Damon! She’s not a piece of meat for you to talk about her that way!” Caroline’s scandalized voice broke the eye-war the two of them head, making both of them to turn their heads in her direction. Caroline will stake them both if she must to ensure the comfort of the mysterious girl, because God knows how much they need something new and perhaps normal in their life.

“But Bonnie is right. You men are out of this.” There’s a pause shortly after the blonde’s expression lights up, looking too alike a Christmas tree for Damon’s comfort. “She’s gonna stay with me!”

“I don’t—“ Damn speaks up to stop her before saying anything else only for him to end up being the interrupted one.

“Oh, it’s gonna be perfect! We’re gonna bond and watch movies and maybe go out shopping and she’s gonna talk about her life and, Jesus, I feel so normal.” She just doesn’t clap her hands at the thought.

“Listen to me, Barbie. Not only are you a baby vamp and your control over your blood-lust is something extremely debatable, we don’t need another you in town, thank you very much.”

“Oh, screw you, Salvatore!”

“Been there, done that, didn’t end well, did it?” His smug expression along with the truth his words hold make Caroline shut up, leaning against the couch with a defeated expression, arms crossed over her chest. “You know, I think Caroline is right. She’s perfect for this, you know? Making someone feel at home? Besides, we can be there for her if anything gets out of control.”

For once, she’s glad Elena is part of this discussion. She can’t help the twinkle of hope that glistens in her eyes as she leans forward, making sure to give everyone around the room her best impersonation of a kicked puppy that seems to do the trick after a few seconds when Damon sighs, throwing his hands up in defeat. “Fine! But don’t come to me when Barbie here will become bat-shit crazy.”

He barely got out of the way before the flying lump could make contact with his face.

//

They weren’t given much time to prepare and most of it has been wasted on trying to come up with a strategy. Lucky for them, being a vampire does come with its perks, one of them obviously being getting things done faster than usually, thing they are now extremely grateful for, especially when Caroline has taken it upon herself to ensure the room in which their unexpected guest will reside is the epitome of beauty and luxury.

When the blonde vampire barged into the Salvatore’s mansion with her friends on toe, nobody tried to act surprised. They’ve already foreseen her getting up at unholy hours, right when the shops will open to start buying furniture and whatnot, all with the handy fortune of the two brothers who didn’t have much of a say in all of this, but whom didn’t dare to be adamant about it. They all know exactly how scary she can be when somebody stays in her way once a plan is formed in that head of hers.

To say the hours spent solely on acquiring the required furniture were absolutely exhausting would be but an understatement. They barely have the time to catch their breath and lean against a shelf before Caroline pops out of fucking nowhere and drags them to the other side of the shopping complex, fingers clutched tightly around the black credit card. Damon is pretty sure that if he were human and had some type of attachment to money like most people do, he’d be crying his eyes out right now. He is also pretty sure the recipe will be long enough to be used as a belt around her waist.

Somehow, Damon found a new sort of respect towards Caroline’s female friends who seem unaffected by her enthusiastic nature, as if this is a normal occurrence that no longer has an impact on them. He’s not going to voice it out, however. He’s got an image to protect.

“Do you think this is enough? Did we get everything we need?” the devil’s voice interrupts his monologue and the blue-eyes vampire is tempted to roll his eyes at the concern in her voice.

“Trust me, Barbie, it’s enough.”

Caroline decides to trust him on this one and ushers all of them to the checking point. Stefan lets out a relieved sigh and his brother knows he’s about to fall to his knees and thank whatever deity is ready to listen. He can’t say he’s not close to doing that too.

//

Once again, they found themselves being glad they have their vampire powers, for they would have never finished arranging the room without them, at least not before their guest would arrive. When all is done, they spoil themselves with some beers and cookies. For a while, the demon Caroline turned into is tame.

They are on her porch, leaning back in the plastic chair they have brought from inside the house, sighing and groaning when they move around and their muscles protest against the sudden action, yelling at them that after the torture they had received, they gotta stay still. This is definitely going on their list with the things they shall never repeat in their entire life.

“Now that we’re done with that as well, we can finally call it a day.” Caroline comes from the house, making a bee-line to the spot where Stefan is at, letting herself plop on his lap without hesitation. Damon can see the embarrassment burning in his eyes that thanks to her undead nature doesn’t reflect on his face and he finds it endearing for a second, before he catches the pain that flashes on Elena’s face for a second before she regains her composure. He feels sorry for her and feels sorry for Stefan as well. Things between Caroline and Elena have been everything but stable and the odd friendship his brother had going on with Klaus went straight to hell after Caroline has confessed her attraction towards Stefan while Klaus was trying to court her. Things—have been extremely messy.

None of them say anything for the rest of the night. Not that they could say anything when the tension finally caught up with them and is pressing harshly on their chest. Damon is pleasantly surprised that no fight erupted between the two girls. And slightly disappointed considering it would’ve been quite the sight.

//

“You know, you have had many stupid ideas, but this one takes the cake, man.” Her voice is playful, holding amusement behind her words and Brandon can imagine her trying to balance the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she walks about the house, trying to find something to busy herself with. She’s always had this habit and after so many years in each other’s company, he finds it extremely endearing.

“You deserve to take a break, Cerise. When was the last time you went somewhere without having it to be for business?” There’s a pause and the black-haired woman, Cerise, knows that there is no loop to escape through. He’s got her there. In this moment she wishes he wouldn’t know her as well as he does. She sighs, shuffling to the couch and taking the phone in her hand as she falls on it, moving around until she finds the perfect spot.

“You’ve got a point, alright. That doesn’t mean that going to the place that was once known as the eye of the supernatural tornado is a bloody good idea.” Her voice reflects the bemusement she’s feeling. Brandon is a weird lad, something she has grown accustomed with and would never be able to imagine him being different, but sometimes, she really thinks he has some big issues with his logic.

“Look, I know that the location isn’t the best, but the people there are great. They’re the kind of persons you like: sad, broken, with a tear-jerking story to make people excuse their outrageous behavior, many issues, a sense for adventure and dark humour. What more could you ask for?” She would have thrown her pillow at him if he had been here. The playfulness in his voice is really starting to piss her off.

Cerise brings her hand to her brow, rubbing it with two fingers while contemplating her choices. She ends up sighing, admitting herself defeated. “Fine, but don’t blame me if things take a different turn than the one you expect.” Brandon doesn’t have time to let out any victorious sounds for she has already ended the call, throwing the phone on the opposite couch and covering her face with a pillow before groaning in frustration. She will end up in a fucking ditch because of her friends.

After some more moments of self-loathing and growls, she jumps on her feet and goes to check her luggage again, just to make sure she has everything she needs. She pats her own shoulder when she realizes that she got everything from the first try and falls onto the bed face-first, trying to find the courage to get dressed and go to the airport to catch her flight to Virginia and ultimately, to the little town Brandon claims to be the best for a wicked vacation. While she agrees with the wicked part, she thinks that she will be everything, but relaxed considering her luck when it comes to such things. It’s one of the reasons she has stopped trying to use her breaks to visit her world. She’s simply a magnet for troubles.

“I am really going to regret this, aren’t I?”

Cerise has absolutely no idea.

no more dreaming like

a girl so in love,

so in love