Love Sucks - The Vampire Diaries - Damon Salvatore

*23*

I decided to look through the journals again. Just to have some sort of normality.... even though he spoke about vampires in there too. How can any of this be normal?

I picked the next one along, sat back on the bed and flicked through.

Christie left her ring. It hurts so much. I guess love doesn't conquer all. She visited again and it was as if she didn't care. She told me to stay away from the boarding house and never to ask about it. But that just made me want to know more. The guy that lives there, Zach I think his name is, is a Salvatore. A Founding Family so is well protected in this little town. No one will talk to me about him and I'm slightly scared to go see who he is. But I know I should. Maybe.

Zach Salvatore??

"Can I come in?" I heard Stefan's soft voice from the other side of the door.

"Sure" I sighed, closing the journal as the door opened and Stefan stepped in. He stood by the door for a moment, looking down at his feet and frowning. "Is there something you wanted?"

He finally looked up, "I'm sorry for doing that." He walked over and leaned on one of the posts of the bed, "I wasn't really thinking and, idiot I am, I decided to help not cheat on Elena would be to do it subconsciously."

"That is idiotic." I agreed and tapped the bed for him to sit down, "just never do it again."

"I won't. I promise." He sat next to me in silence for a few moments.

I had a good look at him. He was very handsome. Soft, kind features. Even his jawline, even though sharp and prominent, looked soft and kind. How? Well, it kind of faded into the rest of his face and suited him. It made him look like he was a good guy, a very handsome good guy, with a wicked side. Whereas Damon's jaw was sharp. Nothing else, just sharp. It stuck out and suited his personality well; like he didn't care and that he would do things his way or no way. I think his stubble helped too.

Stefan finally broke the silence, and my thoughts, "so what you said down there....about being a .... you know." He said awkwardly.

I smiled and laughed a little, "yeah. I know, I'm weird. I wasn't popular. I wasn't going at it like everyone else at school. And for a long time I thought I was a loser, still do"

"You're not." Stefans kind smile spread across his face and for that split second I believed him.

"Thanks but, I'm weird. I was the odd one. Quiet and alone. No one spoke to me. I was the loser of the school." I sighed thinking back to my school days. No one would notice the bruises on my arms or legs as I refused to wear anything short. My clothes weren't designer or even the latest thing. So I was seen as the loser... "But when I thought about having sex, I realised how much an intimate thing it was. And I knew I couldn't just give it up to anyone. So I was thankful I was the loser; no pressure to have sex."

"You don't talk much about growing up."

"I was beaten. A lot" I turned to him and his face just fell, "so there's not much to say." I sighed. "That's why I want my first time to be special. Memorable. Something I won't regret. I had imagined candles, romantic music, and just an amazing night. I've been given some shit cards in life, and this one thing I can kinda control."

"Only kind of?" Stefan smirked

"Well yeah. If it doesn't feel right, I can say no. And that's kinda powerful." I smiled as I thought about telling someone no. "I had always begged my dad to stop. Screamed at him, no. But he never did." I frowned and looked down at the journal, "so to be able to tell someone no and them to accept that... wow."  We both paused for a second before I completely changed the subject, "who's Zach?"

"Wow. Erm, he's our nephew ... well, great great.... great? Nephew? I think only three greats." Stefan said thinking hard. "Why?"

"He's mentioned in the journal. Apparently Christie told my uncle to stay away from this place and a guy called Zach was living here."

"I can't see why. He wasn't a vampire. Just a regular human." Stefan explained as I found a page I wanted to read from.

"I stood at the end of the drive and watched Zach get into his car and drive away. I finally had chance to see what was going on in that house. I peered through the windows but couldn't see anything. It was just old. As if it had been there for centuries. Everything seemed to be made from solid wood. Fancy paintings and rugs. But nothing out of the ordinary. Just looked like any other Founding Home in this town." I read an extract from the journal and looked up at Stefan.

"That's this house" he said matter of fact my.

"I know. But there was nothing. Nothing popped out at him that made him listen to Christie to stay away. It just looked like a house."

"Zach and the Founding Families knew of vampires. Damon and I came home a few times to see how he was and check in with the town. We never really made ourselves known. But we came back every so often. Zach was growing and supplying vervain to the town. Founders council only. Maybe that's all."

"Maybe....."