BORN TO DIE, stefan salvatore [1]

35 - KNOW THY ENEMY

BORN TO DIE
KNOW THY ENEMY

WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS CURRENTLY GOING ON, LEAVING TOWN TO GO TO A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION FELT WRONG. Madeleine wouldn't have even gone if it wasn't for Caroline interfering and it didn't seem like the worst idea until Matt discovered Caroline was a vampire and Isobel showed up to implode Elena's life.

But, she made a promise and she was the kind to keep to it. She was still slightly hesitant to be left alone in an unfamiliar town with Theo and her friends were equally as considered. But if it seemed her instincts were wrong about him, she was a powerful witch who wouldn't bat an eye and taking him down if she needed to.

Theo offered to drive which caused another hesitancy. Maybe it was just Madeleine imagining the worst but she worried about allowing Theo full control over their journey. She pictured him driving her past McKinley and whisking her all the way to Canada before killing her in cold blood. But that was just a worst case scenario.

Theo picked Madeleine up from her house at 12 o'clock in the afternoon. Her father, Daniel, greeted him with kindness but was sure to assert dominance over the boy. Theo laughed but he seemed slightly uncomfortable.

"No offence but your dad's intense." Theo said once they got in the car.

Madeleine chuckled as she put on her seat belt. "He's a little overprotective but he means well."

Theo put the car in second gear. "Is that like a regular daddy-daughter thing or did something happen?"

Madeleine swallowed. "It's quite regular but my best friend died last year."

"Jesus Christ." He gasped. That was the last thing he was expecting. Theo shuffled. "Is it okay to ask what happened?"

"My ex-boyfriend killed her." Madeleine ripped off the band aid. Supernatural or not, it was the truth. There was no point avoiding it.

Theo's eyes widened. His gaze flashed between the road and the girl. "Are you serious?" Madeleine bit her lip. She nodded her head slowly as she avoided eye contact. Theo huffed. This was a lot more than he expected. "Are you okay?"

Madeleine wasn't every going to be okay with it. She was going to spend the rest of her life trying to make it up to Charlotte somehow. But it was easier. "I'm managing."

"I guess that makes sense why you and your friends act the way you do."

Madeleine looked at him. "How do we act?"

Theo shrugged. "I don't know. You're all very secretive but if shit like that is happening to you then I get it. I'd be guarded too."

"I guess having good friends has really helped me a lot."

"Even though you feel on the outside?"

"It's not their fault." Madeleine said. She knew nothing was ever going to shut off the little voice in her head. "We've all got out insecurities. I won't let it ruin all of the other good things."