The Balance

Chapter 13

I'm heading to the school to help clean up from the dance last night. I am exhausted, I wish dealing with Klaus's psycho mother was the only thing we had to put up with. However Alaric decided not to transition and Elena and Jeremy are taking it really hard.

My phone rings and it's Tyler, we had our first kiss last night, my heart races just thinking about it. "Hey," I smile, "are you almost here?" Tyler promised he'd come help me, Matt, Caroline and Rebekah clean up from the dance.

There is a pause before he finally response, "I'm bailing.."

I stop, "What do you mean you're ditching clean up committee?"

Tyler sounds like he's moving stuff around, "Klaus called. He's leaving town and wants me to pack up his house."

"Well, since when does sire bond equal mover slave?"

"Since he realized you're not gonna dump me for him." I can hear Tyler grinning.

I replay my conversation with Klaus from last night, regardless of what is going on with Tyler, Klaus promised to be my one and only epic love, "I see... well can't you say no?"

"He still thinks I'm sired to him. It's fine, I'll keep up the act and it will all be over soon. I'm late, I gotta go. I love you." Tyler hangs up the phone before I can response.

Did he just say he loves me? I mean Tyler and I have been getting closer and he definitely makes me feel alive. His love is different than Klaus's, it's new and keeps me on my toes in a good way. I'm not having to worry about if someone is out to get revenge because Klaus hurt them or a loved one. I'm able to relax around Tyler and be semi-normal. My thoughts are interrupted as I hears a noise and turns around. I don't see anyone behind me.

After a few moments I walk into the cafeteria. Rebekah is alone, cleaning up the mess from the dance. "Where's Matt?" I ask.

Rebekah seems annoyed as she throws plastic cups into a black bag. "He bailed. Got called into work at the last minute."

I throw my hands up, "Are you kidding me? So, it's just us?"

Rebekah doesn't look at me she just keeps cleaning, "Yes, and you're late. Clean up committee started at eight o'clock"

I look at my phone, "It's like 8:02."

Rebekah stops and turns to look at me. "Exactly. I managed to turn up on time and I didn't even get to attend the dance that I organized." Rebekah walks past me and empties out the trash.

I sigh, I know Rebekah really wanted a relationship with her mother and the betrayal I can see is tearing her apart. "I'm sorry about your mom. I mean I know you like, hated her and everything, but still...I'm sorry."

Rebekah gives me a side glance, "I'm sorry about your teacher. He seemed like a nice guy."

I think about how helpful Alaric was and how he was always there for others, "Yeah. He was."

"I'm gonna get started on the gym." Rebekah walks out into the hallway.

After a few seconds I hear a commotion, I walk out to the hall to see Alaric throwing Rebekah against the locker. He's about to stab her with the white oak stake. I grab a mop and break it into two and stab it into Alaric's side. Rebekah looks at me at as Alaric takes the stake out.

Rebekah grabs my hand and vamps have out of the hallway. Rebekah is no where to be seen but I rush to my car, fumbling with the keys. I sees Alaric's reflection in the car window and the keys fall. Alaric wraps his hands around my neck and drags me back towards the school. I'm struggling trying to get out of his grip but he just squeezes hard. My vision is going fuzzy from the lack of oxygen. The last thing I see is Alaric's flesh smoking and burning off from the daylight hitting his skin and it hits me, Alaric is a vampire.