Bloodlust → Stefan Salvatore [1]

The Birthday

    
THREE MONTHS LATER...

     I open my eyes, seeing the sun's light shining down on me. I push my covers off of my body, and I slowly rise up into a sitting position. I take a deep breath, and spring my body up onto my feet. I quickly throw on some pants and a t shirt and head down stairs.

    
     I dial in Caroline's number on my phone and press it up to my ear.
     "Good morning sunshine." She greets me.
     "Hey. What are you up to?"
     "Just shopping for the party you're trying to bail in tonight."
     "I never said yes in the first place." I walk into the kitchen to see Rick making coffee. I smile at him. I'm glad he's staying with us. He has been since Jenna died.
     "Right, but Elena did. Therefore, you have to go, by default. Also, my mom wants you to all her." Caroline says, causing me to stop in my tracks.
     "Did she find something?"
     "An animal attack in Memphis. It's the third one this week in Tennessee."
     "And you're sure it's a vampire?" I ask, catching Alaric's attention as well.
     "Yes, but that doesn't mean that it's Klaus."
     "Yeah, but it also doesn't mean that it isn't. I'll call her." I sigh.
     "Call her on her cell, not her work phone."
     "Will do. Tell her I say thanks."
      "Okay, well I gotta go. I'll see you in a bit."
      "Oh, Caroline, wait. Just... keep tonight small. Please." I beg.
     "Wear something nice." She demands before hanging up. I groan and set down my phone. Rick walks to the living room and I pour myself a cup of coffee.
     "Was that Stefan news?" He asks me.
     "Could be more Klaus victims."
     "Are you certain Stefan is still with him?"
     "Easy to be certain when the alternative is that he is dead." I glance over to see Rick folding up the blankets on the couch.
      "Are you sure you're okay sleeping on the couch? You've spent half the summer on it, if you need a bed, Jenna's room is right upstairs."
      "I don't know. Sleeping in my dead girlfriend's room..."
      "Right." I sigh, having flashbacks of the ritual.
     "Oh, and Blake," Rick starts, I look over at him, "Happy Birthday."
     "Thanks." I smile before walking away.

     After calling Sheriff Forbes about the animal attack in Memphis, I told Elena, so she could pass it on to Damon. Now, I'm sitting at a table outside the grill, waiting. "Hey." I hear his voice. I turn around, seeing Grayson walking towards me.
     "Hey, yourself." He sits across from me, picking up the menu.
      "So, anything new?" He asks.
     "Animal attack, Memphis."
     "Besides that. Anything new, personally." Grayson emphasizes his question.
     "No, not really."
     "Are you excited?" He asks me.
     "For what?"
     "Your birthday! Obviously."
     "Well, I mean, yeah. It's just weird... not celebrating with my parents this year. But, still, I'm ready." Matt approaches us.
     "Hey guys."
     "Hey Matt. Where's Jer?" I ask. Jeremy started working at the grill at the beginning of summer. I was hoping he'd be our waiter.
     "He's waiting inside. Anyways, can I get you guys anything to drink."
     "Beer?" Grayson asks.
     "I'll see what I can do." Matt scoffs before walking back inside.
     "You're sister keeps giving us looks whenever we're together." Grayson tells me.
     "We've been hanging out for most of the summer. Maybe she thinks we're dating." I point out.
     "What? That's crazy."
      "Right?"

     I walk into the boarding house, seeing Elena, Caroline, and Tyler setting up for the party.
     "I feel like I have to fight Damon every single time we get a lead on Stefan." I overhear Elena tell Caroline and Tyler.
      "What, did it not go well?" I interrupt, announcing my presence.
     "Nope. He told me that he'd go to Memphis with Rick, and that I had to stay."
     "Maybe he doesn't want to find Stefan." Tyler shrugs.
     "Tyler!" Caroline shouts at him.
     "What? He's into Elena, and Stefan doesn't want Damon dating his boyfriend's sister."
     "Stefan only left with Klaus so that he could save Damon's life. Trust me, Damon wants to find him." Elena elaborates.
     "But you kissed him. It probably screwed with his head." Tyler cus her off.
     "Wait, What? You kissed him?" I ask Elena, shocked.
      "Tyler!" Caroline shouts. She turns to Elena, "I'm sorry."
     "Don't worry about it. Yes, I kissed him, but it was a—" Elena pauses, then continues, "goodbye kiss. I thought he was going to die." Elena looks down at her phone. "I just missed a call from Bonnie. I'll be right back." She leaves the room. Caroline picks up an empty box of napkins and throws it at Tyler.
     "Just because I tell you things doesn't mean you're aloud to know them!" She scolds him.
     "Sorry. I gotta run if I'm gonna change and pick up Sophie in time." Tyler begins to walk away, but Caroline cuts him off.
      "Wait, you're bringing a date? Slutty Sophie is your date?" She giggles.
      "Hey. It's been kind of slow in that department." Tyler rolls his eyes, "And... I'm horny all of the time now."
     "Yeah, tell me about it. Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna explode." Caroline adds in.
     "Okay, that was both disgusting and unnecessary." I end their conversation, allowing Tyler to leave.