Humanity 6 "The Change"

Chapter 8

ASHLEY'S POV

"I'm a vampire." I say to Elena as we sit in the common area of the dorm.

"I don't know...maybe a little less emphasis on vampire." She suggests.

I'm trying to find a way to tell Liam what I am. I really like him, and I can't keep hiding it from him. He's gonna find out sooner or later.

"I'm...a vampire." I try again before sighing in frustration. "I mean, there's only so many ways you can say it."

"Well, maybe Liam will stop digging into Lady Whitmore's miraculous recovery, and you won't have to come clean." She says optimistically.

"Or he'll keep digging, realize that I force-fed her my vampire blood, and then just bail."

"Okay, you know all of this can go away with compulsion." Elena reminds me.

"So, you want me to lie? Lie again and again."

"Well, if you want to tell him the truth, I support you all the way, but if you're rushing into this to escape some conflicted feelings over a certain ex who just came back to life, then I suggest you keep your fangs to yourself." She says as Jo walks into the room.

"Hey." I smile at her.

"Hi."

"Where's Alaric?" I ask, noticing that he isn't with her.

"Don't kill the messenger." She says, shifting uncomfortably. "Something about an impromptu guys' weekend."

What the hell does that mean? We're all supposed to be celebrating Thanksgiving together. Caroline is gonna be pissed.

***

"You can't miss friends-giving." I tell Ric over the phone. "Matt and Jeremy are already missing because they're cleaning up the mess with Tripp in Mystic Falls, and Caroline's mom has to work. We're already low on friends as it is."

"Well, if it's any consolation, our Thanksgiving meal is roadside chili." He says with a slight laugh.

It's not funny. I just wanna know where they are and why they aren't here.

DAMON'S POV

"Hey. Were you invited to friends-giving?" Stefan asks me as we wait for Ric to get off the phone.

"Of course. Caroline demanded I bring string beans." I tell him, rolling my eyes. He just sighs in defeat. "Why? Were you not invited?"

"Nope." He says sadly.

"Oh boy. You messed with the wrong girl's feelings." I smirk.

ASHLEY'S POV

"What do you mean Bonnie's in the prison world?" I ask after Ric explains his latest expedition with Damon and Stefan. "Damon said that she wasn't there...that she found peace with...why didn't he tell me this?"

"Why wouldn't I consult you in a decision that might permanently change your life...I wonder." I hear Damon say on the other end.

"He didn't want to get your hopes up." Ric explains, ignoring Damon's comment. "He honestly thought Bonnie died trying to free him. If she sent her teddy bear over here, it could mean she's still..."

"Bonnie's still alive? Oh my god." I say with excitement.

"Yeah. So we're in Portland right now, trying to track down some Gemini thing." He tells me.

"Ascendant." Damon chimes in.

"This is amazing." I say, no longer mad at them for missing dinner. They're trying to get Bonnie back.