On My Own (TVD Series)

Inner-Strength

Quietly heading down the hallway, Damon was bent over the liquor table pouring himself a glass of O-Neg, while the fire was burning behind him.

"Do you care for one?" Damon asked.

"Sure..."

Leaning against the back of the couch, he hands me the second glass before walking around me to the lounge chair.

"So, why don't you take from the vein anymore?" Damon asked.

"Do I really have to answer that question?"

Sipping my drink, I rest one of my legs on the armchair while letting the other hang down.

"I'm just glad this is a blood bag and not a sorority girl supplying our dinner."

"I like this..." Damon whispered.

"You and me getting along."

"We don't get along, Damon. I have to deal with you, and probably for the rest of my life." I chuckled, gulping down the last bit of my drink.

"I think the Lockwoods have a family secret." He blurted out.

"Okay, what?" I laughed, setting the glass behind me.

"I was this morning, talking to Carol about the Council, and Tyler's Uncle mentions something about Tyler's rage. Do you know anything about that?" He asked me.

"Why would I know?"

"Well, you seem to be hanging around him a lot. And I noticed Stefan's car outside of their house just before I went inside...what are you hiding, Lauren?"

"I'm not hiding anything. Tyler needed someone to talk to, you can ask Carol and Mason yourself." I whispered, standing up and heading to the stairs.

"The Gilbert device affected them, the vervain didn't." Damon blurted out.

"You think they're supernatural," I said, standing on the top step.

"Why don't you get yourself all galled up, and we can find out for ourselves."

Running up the stairs, I see someone standing in front of my vanity with dark brown hair and dark clothing.

"...Katherine..." I whispered, and suddenly Damon's hand wrap around my shoulders, pushing me back against the wall.

"Stay here."

Watching him go into my room, I turned to see him searching the bathroom and my closet before coming out.

"Okay, it's clear." He whispered.

"Was that Katherine?"

Pushing the door open, I looked around the room to see nothing on the floor just the window wide open with my curtains flowing in the wind.

"Get dressed," Damon whispered.

Grabbing an orange crochet top that stopped just above my belly button, I slipped on some light washed shorts with a black belt and some regular old converse before heading downstairs.

"Okay, let's go," I said.

"Hold on." Stepping in front of me, Damon looks down at my necklace.

"Who gave you that necklace?"

"Really? Stefan already asked that a few days ago. I don't know, I thought it was Katherine." I whispered.

"Can we go?"

Grabbing my coat, the two of us hopped into Damon's car and drove in silence to the carnival.

 ~