Fall

Chapter 57: Learn the Ropes or be Hanged from Them

The three of us duck into a different, less populated hallway. The guy Bonnie was flirting with earlier is behind us, fixing something, and I signal to the boys with my eyes that we'll need to be quieter around him. "Is he-" Damon begins to ask, but Stefan overtakes him.

"No no no. It wasn't that kinda strength, but it was more than human if that makes any sense." Stefan looks behind us to make sure no one else is listening in, certainly not the Lockwoods. It's strange, I've known Tyler my whole life and I've known Mason since I was a kid. There's no way they're anything other than what they are. But then again, Bonnie's a witch and Elena's got an evil twin vampire. I guess everything's not as it seems here.

Damon scowls. "What is up with that family? If they're not vampires, then what the hell are they?"

"Ooh. Uh, maybe they're, uh, Ninja Turtles." Stefan supplies and I can't help but laugh a little bit.

Damon looks at his brother in disbelief, shaking his head. "You're not funny."

"Or, no, zombies. Werewolves."

I lean in to it, giggling and adding my own two cents. "Or elves. Bigfoot? The boogeymen?" Stefan sends me a smile at me joining in on his joke.

"No comedic timing at all." Damon admonishes us as Stefan grins in satisfaction. He turns around and eyes the guy Bonnie was flirting with earlier, and I can already see a plan forming in his mind.

Stefan sees it too, because his grin disappears. "What? What are you up to?" He asks.

"Since this is reality and there's no such thing as werewolves or combat turtles-"

Stefan and I follow after Damon as he walks to the guy behind us. "I said, Ninja Turtle."

"Is it really that far-fetched, Damon? I mean look at you, look at me. You're telling me these things don't exist?" I bring up, leaning against the lockers as Damon gets up to the guy and compels him to get into a fight with Tyler. I roll my eyes at the antics. Do we really have to compel someone to find out what's going on with the Lockwoods? This poor guy. Stefan argues with Damon about it and I start to walk away, having gotten a text from Elena that I'm needed at a booth.

But Damon shoots out a hand and stops me. "Hey, by the way, I did know that that ring was on Jeremy's finger. Doesn't that count for something? Can't we go back to being friends now?" There's an air of teasing in his voice and I bristle at it, feeling a rage swell up inside me.

"Damon, don't." Stefan tries to tell him, but Damon waves him off.

I refuse to turn around, trying to keep my cool, as Damon keeps his hand on my elbow. "Come on, Kara. I saw the ring. And he's alive now, come on, let's let bygones be-"

Whirling around, I fix him with a glare and work my jaw, trying very hard not to deck him right now. "Stop talking Damon, for once in your life shut your god damned mouth before I rip you to shreds and you're nothing but another corpse on the ground. With only Stefan to mourn you, because God knows no one else ever fucking will." I spit out at him, venom in my blood as it races and itches for a fight. And I know that if he opens his mouth again to lie to me about what he did to Jeremy, I'll make good on my threat.

He lets go of my arm, both him and Stefan looking equally shocked. Damon's mouth is closed, which is a minor miracle in and of itself, something like remorse in his eyes. I send a look to Stefan behind me, letting him know that I need space, before I turn around and leave the school as fast as possible.

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Sitting around Alaric's classroom with everyone, I put my head in my hands. "I can't believe I was so oblivious. Keeping the room dark, that feeling when a vampire's around? God, I'm an idiot." I admonish myself, thinking back to Caroline's behavior earlier in the day. Elena rubs a hand on my shoulder in comfort as Stefan paces.