The Other One

Four

The party is beginning to clear out so I send Matt a text.

"Hey Matt, I can't find you anywhere, I'll be on the front porch. - Rae"

My phone is at 10%, Matt I hope you're still here.

I make my way to the front of the house and find myself partially alone on the front porch, a few kids mingling and lingering to their cars.

"You know, this town can be a little scary at night." I hear a voice and look up from my phone. It's just Jeremy, I was kind of hoping it would be Damon.

"I wouldn't know, it's only my second day here." I joke, trying not to feel intimidated, but still drunk.

"Do you like it so far?" He asks, this time a little closer.

"Can't complain really, I only know like Matt, unless you count when Tyler was hitting on me." I joke with the last part.

"Well," he grabs my phone, which shocks me a little, "now you know me." He smiles handing me my phone back.

I see that he put his number in my phone, clever kid.

I send him a text really quick saying 'hey :)' so he would have my number.

"So, Jeremy, do you attend Mystic Falls High as well?" I mean, he looks young, but you never know.

"Yeah, actually. So does my sister, Elena." He replies.

Right on time, I hear a female's voice.

"C'mon Jer, Stefan and I will drop you off at Aunt Jenna's- oh hey, you're Matt's friend Raegan right?" She stops and directs the conversation towards me.

"That's right, and you're Elena. Have you seen him by the way?" I ask, not sure where to carry the conversation.

She looks around and spots him walking from the back of the house with Tyler.

"I think that's him over there. So, are you two like?" She starts to question, hinting that we were kind of together. I see Jeremy take interest.

"Oh no. He's the first person I met, we're just friends." I clarify.

Elena nods in understanding.

"Well, we have to get going. This kid still has a bedtime." She says, teasing her little brother, causing him to roll his eyes.

"I do not. It was nice to meet you Raegan, I'll see you at school?" He asks and I nod. I wave goodbye to the two and head towards Matt.

"Hey stranger, thought you were going to stick by me tonight?" I joke and hit his shoulder, which was a mistake, he's not squishy like my dad.

"I'm so sorry Rae, I got caught up with Tyler here, making sure he didn't kill anyone." He says as he throws his arm around his shoulder. Tyler smiles, clearly annoyed.

"It's okay, do you think you could give me a ride home?" He frowns a little.

"Actually, I've been drinking, so there will be no driving for me. But I can walk you home?" He offers as an alternative.

I shrug my shoulders and loop my arm through his.

He says bye to Tyler and I avoid eye contact as we head towards my house.

We walk for what seems like hours, my phone has died and I'm sure my parents are freaking out.

Normally, waking in the dark would freak me out but I feel safe with Matt. Mainly because he's keeping me from falling over, but I also know he wouldn't let something happen to me.

Like I said, I know this is a rushed assumption, but sometimes people radiate these good vibes and you just know they're good people. Matt Donovan is one of them.

We talk a little about our childhoods and what our families are like.

Matt brings up the picture from earlier.

"So, what happened? If you don't mind me asking." He seems a little cautious.

"It was the summer before our freshman year of high school. She um, went missing, after a party. I was supposed to give her a ride home but we were both drinking and I passed out. They never found her body." The memory causes tears to swell in my eyes.

"Damn Rae, I'm sorry." He puts his arm around my shoulder and we walk in silence. I'm used to that. Nobody really knows what to say.

"You know it's not your fault right." He speaks up after a few moments.

"I know. I just know that if I would've been sober she would still be here." I shrug my shoulders.

He gives me a reassuring smile and we continue to my house.

Matt walks me up to my front door again, such a gentleman.

I notice that my parents' cars aren't in the driveway.

"Hey Matt. This might sound weird, but would you want to, like stay with me tonight. Not in a weird way. I really don't want to be alone." I shut my eyes realizing how, 'hi please come up stairs, after a party and let's do this' that sounds, but I just honestly don't want to be alone.

He pauses for a moment.

"You know, I could totally be a serial killer. You've only known me for 36 hours." He jokes, my eyes widen a little.

"Well, after everything, I'll take my chances." I laugh a little.

"But sure Rae, I'll stay." I give him a big cheesy smile. We head inside and turn on the lights.

"Okay, I'm going to go grab some blankets and pillows and I'll be down in a minute. Just make yourself at home." I say before heading up the stairs.

I change into my pajamas, take off my makeup and brush my teeth. I grab my charger and some stuff to sleep on before heading down stairs. I find Matt sitting on the couch playing on his phone.

"So, you hungry?" I ask, I'm always hungry after I party.

"Starving." He says with a smile.

We make a frozen pizza and grab some drinks. We put something random on Netflix and find ourselves drifting to sleep shortly after.

The last thought before I fall into a deep slumber is Damon Salvatore, and damn that's a good thought.