Book 1: Time Of Our Lives

Chaper 54: Responsibilities

I'm sorry I haven't posted this chapter since December, I just been writers block with this series, but I'm back now!
...

Chapter 54:

MYSTIC GRILL
Alaric is sitting at the bar, drinking a glass of bourbon. Damon walks up to the bar and stands next to him.

Damon: Bourbon.

Damon sits down beside Alaric. The bartender pours bourbon into a glass and pushes it towards Damon.

Damon: Behold the teacher. Don't you have some papers to grade?
Alaric: It's, uh, more fun with a buzz.
Damon: Well, most things in life are. Sober's depressing.
Alaric: You don't strike me as somebody who gets depressed.
Damon: You say that like you know me.
Alaric: Nope. Just a hunch.

Damon and Alaric exchange long looks. Alaric finishes his drink and places it down on the bar.

Alaric: You have a good afternoon.
Damon: Not likely.

Alaric gets up and leaves. Not long after his departure, Liz walks up to the bar, standing next to Damon.

Sheriff Forbes: Daytime drinking, huh?
Damon: It's all the rage.
Sheriff Forbes: Listen, I need a favor.
Damon: You ever been in love?
Sheriff Forbes: Excuse me?
Damon: Have you ever been so bent on someone, just to have your heart ripped out by them?
Sheriff Forbes: You forget I was married.
Damon: Right. Gay husband

He gestures to the barman.

Damon: She'll have what I'm having.

The bartender pours another bourbon.

Damon: (pats the seat next to him) Sit down.

Liz takes a seat next to Damon.

Sheriff Forbes: There's a fundraiser here tonight that the Founder's Council is throwing. The town's most eligible bachelors get raffled off for dates, and, well, we're short a bachelor.
Damon: Is this what you do when there's no, um...(lowers his voice) Vampires? Organize bachelor raffles?

Liz laughs.

Sheriff Forbes: Oh, trust me. At this point, I miss the vampires. Look, you're a hero to this town, Damon. I know most people don't know it, but you are, and you're single and a catch. Oh, come on, help me out. Carol Lockwood won't let me live it down if I come up empty-handed.
Damon: You know, a room full of women clamoring to win a date with me. Sounds tasty.
Sheriff Forbes: (laughs, relieved) Thank you.
Damon: One thing. Can you get information on someone for me? Alaric Saltzman, the history teacher. There's just something a little off about him, and I just -- I just wanna make sure that the high school did their homework on this guy.

Liz gets up.

Sheriff Forbes: You got it.
Damon: Thanks.

Liz departs as Damon takes a swig from his glass of bourbon.

The doorbell rings and Trudie answers the door. The man from the middle of the road is on her front porch.

Trudie: May I help you?
Man: Thank you for the text.

Trudie looks surprised.

Trudie: You're welcome. I didn't tell her anything. I--I kept my promise.
Man: Good.
Trudie: The girl, though, she—she knew something.
Man: That won't be a problem. She won't get any closer to the truth.
Trudie: Good. So I'm done?
Man: Yes. You're done.

Trudie starts to close the door, but the man grabs a hold of it and starts pushing it back. Trudie struggles to shut it.

Trudie: No, I won't invite you in! You can't come in!
Man: I'm not a vampire, so, yes, I can.