A Different Path Taken

Chapter 7

Mia POV

I sighed as the sun rose, figuring I'd better get home to make it to the Mystic Falls Pageant to support Caroline. Protect her now actually I felt anger at how she was used by my dad, her not even remembering anything about it.

I got to the boarding house and saw no one was home thankfully. I looked in my closet and saw a yellow dress that looked proper but cute enough. I heard my phone beep and I smiled when I saw it was from Tyler.

Tyler: Be my date for the pageant?

To Tyler: Didn't know you were into these things

Tyler: Well it's at my house so :/

To Tyler: Oh! Then yes :)

He told me he would pick me up and I went down to feed before he came. I saw the cooler that held the bags now insanely stacked up. Normally we have a donor from a phlebotomist that hooks us up but this was all from the hospital.

I looked at the different types and grabbed one, wondering why my dad would take all this. I drank three bags before I heard a car pull in. I quickly ran upstairs when I heard a knock on the door and opened it up to see Tyler in a suit.

"I really like yellow on you." He complimented and I thanked him. "Sorry I totally forgot to bring flowers."

"I'm not really a flower kind of girl. Candy works better." I grinned at his laugh as he opened my door for me. We set off to his house, which was really a mansion considering his dad was the mayor.

"Nice place."

"Yeah if you're into empty rooms. Then again I'm sure the boarding house is just like this."

"More dark actually but I love it." We got off the car and the mayor was greeting everyone.

"Ah! Honey I'd like you to meet, Mia Salvatore." Mayor Lockwood introduced me to his wife, Carol that she had me call her.

"Salvatore? Well it's a pleasure, Mia. Please welcome in and have fun." She winked at me and I thanked her, walking in with Tyler holding my waist.

I saw my dad and uncle there in suits, both looking good but I was still mad at them. "Got anything to drink?" I asked him and soon we were handed flutes of champagne, even though we were under the age limit.

I saw my uncle pacing a bit, looking at everyone like he wanted to drain them and I saw Tyler wave to a certain guy. "Why don't you go say hi? I'm going to check on Stefan."

"Oh sure. I'll meet you in a bit." I nodded and left his side to go over to my uncle. I grabbed his hand and pulled him outside towards the backyard for fresh air.

"Mia." Stefan held me to him and I wrapped my arms around him. "I'm hungry. I'm so so hungry. This is why I can't have human blood but I'm trying so hard."

"Hey hey, it's okay." I rubbed his hands as I pulled away. "If it's too hard you shouldn't be here. They told me about the whole council being here and I don't want you to feel anxious here. I'll tell Elena if you want."

"No. No, I can do it. It's only a few more hours." I nodded and told him I'd be here if he needed me and went to return to Tyler's side. I walked inside and saw him looking around but he smiled when he spotted me.

We stood outside as we heard the girls being escorted out but I was confused when I saw Elena walk out with my dad. I narrowed my eyes as they danced together, my dad showing a bit of feeling as they didn't stop making eye contact.

Wait. Where's Stefan. I looked around and noticed too that a girl was missing. Great, he probably killed her. The dance finished and I went over to Caroline while Tyler talked to his parents, but them looking over at me made me listen in.

"She's definitely a better suit than any others you've brought over" His mom said and his dad even agreed. "Her cousin Damon is really thought highly of in this town. Even the Sheriff holds him in regards."

"She even passed the test by being in daylight." His dad said and I was confused, were they trying to find vampires like that? I smiled when after Tyler wanted to dance and we were having a fun time. Sure my mood was pretty spoiled since Anna showed up but I still wouldn't kill her in public like this.

"Mia!" Elena's worried voice said from behind me and I turned to her. "We need you." I told Tyler I needed to help Elena with her dress and took off towards where Elena said Stefan was going crazy.

"Stefan no!" Elena shouted as Stefan tossed my dad into a tree. I saw the frantic and helpless look in his eyes and felt horrible. I ran to my uncle, hugging him and begging him to calm down to which he did.

I gasped when Elena suddenly stabbed him with a vervain dart. "What are you doing?!" Dad came over and told me to go back to the party with Elena. "No! I'm not letting you do that to my uncle!"

"Look at this!" Elena gestured to the dead human girl next to them. "Stefan has gone out of-"

"He's a vampire!" I hissed at her, "I'm sorry you think he's some human who listens to your every word and does anything to please you but this side of him came with the relationship. The moment he acts like a vampire, you wanna act like he's gone insane and needs to be locked up?!"

"That isn't Stefan. He wouldn't want to be killing people. He's not like Damon." I saw regret fill her eyes and I turned to see my dad looking down at his shoes as he heard what she said.

"Don't do this to him." I begged my dad but that went in one ear and out the other as he threw my uncle over his shoulder and ran off with him.

"I'll say Stefan got too drunk and needed Damon to drive him home."

"Go to hell." I grabbed the woman's body to get rid of it and left Elena alone. I returned to the party and saw Tyler pushing some guy back, anger in his eyes.

"Tyler! What's your deal!" Caroline shouted at him and I ran towards them. She took the guy away and I saw Tyler look at me, his eyes begging for help.

"I don't know, Mia. I don't know." I looked up and sure enough, it was a full moon. His wolf gene was making him angry since he hasn't shifted yet. I ran to him and held him to me, telling him I was here for him.

He drove me home and I could feel him wanting to tell me something but the silence was killing me. "Mia, I don't think you should be hanging out with a guy like me. I have a horrible anger problem, I'm rude, I ruin everything good that's for me. Vicki cared for me and I treated her like shit... she's dead and I can't even tell her I'm sorry. Everyone at school dislikes me because I can't explain my issues."

"Tyler." I held his hand to stop him from rambling. "I want to be in your life. I'm not the perfect person either, but it's how we are to each other that determines how we should be. Your anger issues, they'll fade with time. Vicki? I'm sorry about her but her death isn't your fault."

"She cared about me and she died."

"She cares about you and didn't die because of you." I faced him more, "I'm not Vicki. I'll never have those memories with you... but I'd like to make some of our own. I'm not going anywhere, Tyler."

"Please don't." He pulled me to him and placed his face into my neck and I held him. "You make me feel better. Like I can be myself and not have to worry if I'll say or do something to mess it up. Stay please."

"I will."