If only | Damon Salvatore

058. IN NEED OF SOME VAMPIRE FREE, ME TIME

Chapter fifty eight

"In need of some vampire free, me time."

It was time to go back to school—time to start living their lives like they used to, or at least a semi-normal version of them.

Upstairs in her room, Beatrix was frantically hunting for an outfit. Downstairs, Damon stood on the porch, watching as Stefan pulled his motorcycle out into the driveway.

"Good day for a midlife crisis," Damon remarked dryly, taking a sip from his bottle. "A hundred and sixty-four years... I'd say you're due."

Stefan sat down on the bike, turning to face his brother. "Elena and Beatrix's transitions have been a little depressing. I just want to help them have some fun."

Damon scoffed. "Oh. Those who can't do, teach."

Stefan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Ah. I see we're still fighting."

Damon just raised his brows, offering no denial.

"Got it," Stefan sighed, standing up from the seat. "Where are you going?"

"That hunter jacked Tyler Lockwood of his werewolf venom last night," Damon shared, his tone turning dark. "So basically, he's got vampire poison in a bottle. I'm going to find him, and I'm going to eat him."

"I'll go with you," Stefan offered immediately.

"I don't want your help," Damon shot back. "I just want to kill this guy and get the hell out of town. Wasn't that the deal? Whoever Elena doesn't choose leaves?"

"That was before she and Beatrix turned," Stefan argued.

"And I stayed to help," Damon countered, furrowing his brows as his voice dropped. "But if I take you punching me as the first clue... I'm not wanted here anymore."

Stefan looked down for a brief second before locking eyes with his brother. "Listen, you blood-shared with my girlfriend. And then, when I told you to leave Beatrix alone, you kept asking her questions and pushing her to break her animal diet. Not to mention you dragged her with you to kill a hunter, where she—like always—had to come in and save your ass, exposing herself to him. You're lucky you didn't get her killed. So yeah, I punched you in the face. You deserved it. Why don't you stop being dramatic?"

"No, brother," Damon said coldly. "Dramatic would be leaving before I kill this hunter. Speaking of Beatrix, don't you two have school in like a few minutes?"

Stefan checked the time and huffed. "Beatrix, come on! We're gonna be late!" he called out.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs. Damon and Stefan both turned to watch as Beatrix stepped out onto the porch. She was wearing a thick black headband, a black dress, a leather jacket, and matching boots, her book bag slung over one shoulder.

"Sorry!" Beatrix shared, adjusting her bag. "I couldn't find any of my stuff."

Damon and Stefan both looked her up and down, taking in the outfit.

Beatrix raised her brows at the sudden silence. "So, we ready to go?"

Stefan snapped out of it and nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

Walking through the crowded school hallway, Beatrix trailed just a step behind Elena and Stefan. When the two of them turned into the social studies classroom, Beatrix went to follow. But the moment she crossed the threshold, her eyes locked onto the back corner of the room. A cold rush of memory hit her, vividly reminding her of exactly how she had died.