𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 | 𝐭𝐯𝐝

7

After cleaning, everyone left except for Stefan left. Stefan and Elena went to her room and I took a shower and laid out an outfit for the football game the next day, then changed into leggings and a t-shirt. I began drying my hair and turned around, only to see a crow perched on my window. "Shoo," I whisper yelled. The bird didn't dare to move. "My god." I scoffed and wiped my makeup off and walked to the window. "Shoo."

The bird didn't move.

"How strange," I mumbled and put my hair up. "Shower is available!" I yelled to my siblings. "I call it!" Jeremy yelled in response. "You ass!" Elena yelled down the hall. "Haha...bitch!" Jeremy snickered.

I giggled and looked back at the bird. It was gone. I smiled and walked back to my bed and laid down, the night's events playing in my head as I fell into slumber.
-
After finishing a "happy birthday" blunt with Jeremy and his friends, I sprayed perfume on myself and stuck a piece of gum in my mouth, and went to meet my sister, who was complimenting her boyfriend. "Ooh. Look at you. You look hot in your jersey." She smiled at Stefan. "What happened? No more cheerleader?" He looked at Elena and I. "I quit. I'm a quitter. Sundance 'wasn't qualified for it since she had just learned the routines. But hey, the birthday girl can hang out with her sister!" Elena hugged me. "Yeah, yeah." I giggled. "You're not a quitter. You suffered a great loss. You're not the same person. You should be looking ahead. You should be starting over. Ok? I hope you don't think this is too soon or too weird, but...I, uh, I wanted you to have this." Stefan took out a necklace with a silver lining and a beautiful ember gem in the middle.

"Oh, my God, it's beautiful." Elena gasped. "It's something that I've had forever, and, uh, I've never wanted to give it to anyone until now. I'd very much like it if you'd wear it for me, for...good luck." Stefan smiled. "Is that rose that I smell?"
"No, it's, uh...it's an herb. It's nice, huh?"
"I love it."
Stefan put it around her neck. "And, uh, I wanted to thank you for pushing me to try out for the team. It feels really good."
"We're a pair. I quit, you start." Elena wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Right. We're a work in progress. We'll figure it out." Stefan kissed Elena and she walked away.

"Happy birthday, Sundance."
"Thank you. Thank you for making Elena happy again. I miss her smiles."
"She makes me happy too. Oh uh, I have something for you too. Here..." Stefan took out a box with a necklace in it. It was a dark gray chain with a heart and two roses in the middle. "Just...I know it isn't the best looking but you need to wear it. Especially around Damon. You already know things. I will explain everything but for now, this protects yours from Damon. Keep it on." He warned. "Thank you. It is beautiful." I nodded.

"I'm glad you like it." Stefan smiled. I hugged him quickly. "I'll see you after the game. Thank you." I nodded. "Bye, Sun."

After making my way past the crowd, I slipped on the necklace and held it close to my chest. It laid perfectly between my collarbones, making me smile. I pulled my jean jacket closer and looked around as I moved back to the crowd of chanting students.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait. Let's be honest here. In the past, we used to let other teams come into our town and roll right over us!" People booed as Mr. Tanner spoke. "But that is about to change!"
I cheered as Mr. Tanner encouraged the team. "We've got some great new talent tonight starting on the offense, and I'm gonna tell you right now, it has been a long time since I have seen a kid like this with hands like these. Let's give it up for Stefan Salvatore!"
Elena and I clapped till our hands were red, Elena letting out girlish giggles. Tyler whispered to Matt, so I cocked an eyebrow at Donovan and he gulped. "That has been waiting for us to put a check in the win column, I have only one thing to say to you...Your Timberwolves are hungry. And the central high lions are what's for dinner!" The crowd went wild. Elena and I hollered and joined in on a chant for our football team. "Tyler, stop it! Tyler! Tyler, stop! Stop it! Stop, you're hurting him! Tyler! Tyler, stop! Tyler! Stop it! Tyler, stop!" someone yelled. I ran past the students and looked at my brother on Tyler Lockwood. "Jeremy!" I yelled. Stefan grabbed Tyler's wrist and pulled him up. "Hey, he's down! Enough!" Stefan yelled. Tyler punched Stefan, but it had no effect on him.

Jeremy grabbed a broken glass bottle and strikes at Tyler, who shoved out of the way and he cuts Stefan's hand instead. "Jeremy, no!" I gasped. "What the hell, Jeremy? Put your head up, you're bleeding." Elena observed her brother while I looked at Stefan's hand. "It was bleeding," she whispered. Stefan just nodded. "I'll explain later. Act as the bottle missed." He whispered. I nodded and went to my brother and sister. "Just stop, ok?" Jeremy pulled away.

"Come on Jeremy," I whispered. Jeremy looked at me spitefully. "Leave me alone, Sun. Happy fucking birthday to the both of us, right?"

Jeremy walked away, shoving me behind him with his hand. I stumbled backward and stood still for a bit while processing the events. "Sun..." Elena whispered.
"I'm fine," I mumbled, going to the car.

Damon stepped out next to her. "I'm not in the mood, Damon." I sighed. "Doesn't matter, Sun." He smirked. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm hiding from Caroline."

"Why?"
"I needed a break. She talks more than I can listen." He explained.
"That could be a sign." I shrugged, walking over to the passenger side of the car and grabbing my phone. "Well, she's awfully young."
"Everyone is young to you. How old are you again?"
"Ahh, Stefan said you knew. 178." He said, making my jaw drop. He mocked me and continued. "I don't see it going anywhere in the bigger picture. I think she'd drive me crazy."
"Caroline does have some really annoying traits, but she and Elena have been friends since the first grade and that means something to me because it makes my sister happy." I crossed my arms. "Duly noted. I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable. That's not my intention."
"Then what are your intentions? Drink my blood and what not? Besides, you wouldn't put an alternate meaning behind everything you say if you didn't want me uncomfortable." I retorted.
"You're right. I do have other intentions, but so do you."
"Really?" I cocked an eyebrow. "Mm-hmm. I see 'em. You want me."
"You're kidding, right?" I laughed. "I get to you. You find yourself drawn to me. You think about me even when you don't want to think about me. I bet you even dreamed about me. And right now...You want to kiss me." He tried to compel.

I leaned in as did he, and slapped his forehead. "You're such a dumbass. I don't know what game you're trying to play with Stefan here, but I don't want to be part of it. And I don't know what happened in the past, but let's get one thing straight...You can't force me into jack shit." I slammed the door and walked away.

Matt: You gonna be able to play?
Stefan: Oh, yeah, I'm good.
Matt: Uh, what you did back there...you had Jeremy's back.
Stefan: Ah, he's a messed-up kid. Somebody's gotta look out for him.
Matt: I know. This week at practice I was a dick.
Stefan: Had your reasons.
Matt: No excuse.
I walked away from the guys but was soon drawn back when I heard Matt call for help.
"What kind of animal could be doing all this? Why would it come out of the woods and attack someone in the middle of town?" Elena cried. "I don't know. I don't know." Stefan whispered. I stood behind Elena, looking down at Mr. Tanner's dead body. "Damon." I mouthed. Stefan nodded.

"I was so sure that you cut your hand. I saw it." Elena mumbled. "I'm fine. I'm fine, ok? We're fine. That's what matters."
Stefan hugged Elena.

Dear diary, I'm back. I have so many secrets. How will I ever manage to keep them? Like I always do. Bit your tongue and wonder who you are disappointed by not telling them. Damon killed Mr. Tanner. Stefan and Damon are vampires. Vicki was attacked by Stefan. The world is no longer a sanctuary. It is madness.

I turned off my lamp and placed my notebook under my pillow. I felt my eyes fall.

third-person pov

Damon snuck into Sundance's bedroom. He gently caressed her cheek. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Her eyes fluttered open, seeing a glance of Damon before he disappeared.