12. Unpleasantville 

"What?!" a shocked Caroline screamed, "You and Damon finally kissed?!".

"Shhh" Aria said, placing her hand over Caroline's mouth, "Stop being so loud Care, Elena and Jeremy are right next door and they can not find out about this".

Currently, Aria and Caroline were in Aria's room, Caroline had found out about Aria's accident so she had rushed over to her best friend's house to make sure she was okay, where she found out that Damon was the one who saved Aria, but that wasn't all he did.

"Right, sorry" Caroline apologised, "But you seriously can't expect me to be calm about this, not only did Damon save you, you and him spend the whole day together in Georgia, and then you both kissed, this is a huge deal Aria".

"It's really not Care, it was just a in the moment kind of thing" Aria said, "I don't even know if it meant anything to Damon".

The thought of their kiss meaning nothing to Damon, actually hurt Aria way more than it should have.

"Forget Damon" Caroline said, "You tell me, how do you feel about the kiss?".

"That's the thing Care, I don't know what I feel" Aria said, "I'm confused as shit".

"What's there to be confused about?" a confused Caroline asked.

"Everything Care" Aria said, standing up from her bed and pacing up and down her room, "I still have feelings for Jeremy, but the thing is when I'm with Damon, Jeremy is the last thing on my mind, and when Damon kissed me, I let him because I think I wanted him to kiss me, that whole time Jeremy was the last thing on my mind, all I could think about was Damon, but after I left the boarding house, I felt so confused, I know what I feel for Jeremy but I have no idea what I feel for Damon, actually you know what scratch that, I don't even know what I feel for Jeremy anymore, ugh, I want to die".

Aria stopped pacing and plopped herself on her bed and stared at her ceiling.

"Okay stop being dramatic Aria, tell me something, after Damon and you kissed, did you guys talk about it, what did Damon say?" Caroline asked curiously, Aria looked at Caroline with a guilty look on her face, making Caroline narrow her eyes at her, "Oh I know that look, that's your guilty look, what did you do?".

"Well" Aria started, "After me and Damon kissed, I--", Aria hesitated to speak further.

"You what?" Caroline asked impatiently.

"I ran away" Aria said quickly, grabbing her pillow and covering her face.

"You what?!" Caroline screamed, grabbing the pillow from Aria, "Why would you do that Aria?".

Aria sighed, "I don't know Care, I was so confused with everything so I ran away".

"You know at times you can be such an idiot" Caroline told her best friend.

"Trust me I know" Aria mumbled, feeling really bad about running away from Damon.

Caroline sighed, "Look Aria, I know your confused, but remember before school started you told me that this is the year that you will get over Jeremy and find your one true love, tell me something, will you rather be with the guy who has ignored you and all your efforts to get him to notice your love or will you rather be with the guy who has had his eyes on you since the day he had come into town?".

Aria sighed, she knew Caroline was right, Jeremy had always ignored her while Damon has always made her his number one priority, "How come despite not knowing Damon that well, your so team Damon?".

"I'm not team Damon, I'm team Aria" Caroline said, "I want you to be happy, and not with an asshole who has never appreciated you, but with someone who looks at you like your their whole world".

Aria scoffed, "Damon doesn't look at me like I'm his whole world".

"Oh trust me, he does" Caroline said, remembering the Founder's Party and the way Damon had looked at Aria.

"Nope" Aria denied, "Also, you do realise the guy you called an asshole happens to be one of our best friends brother".

Caroline shrugged, "I don't care, you know you come before anyone else".

"Same here" Aria said smiling at Caroline, "Care, remember you can't tell Elena about this".

"Aria, I never tell Elena about our talks, so just relax" Caroline said, "But tell me again, why haven't you told Elena about you and Damon?".

"Because Elena hates Damon" Aria stated, "I've lost count on how many times we've argued about him".

"Doesn't Elena see how much Damon has changed you?" Caroline asked, "For the better, of course".

"Nope" Aria replied, "Only you have noticed that".

"Well we know whose your real friend then don't we?" Caroline taunted.

Aria rolled her eyes at her best friend, "Caroline" Aria warned.

"Don't Caroline me, you know I'm very possessive when it comes to you" Caroline defended.

"Trust me I know" Aria said laughing, "I've known seen we first met and you nearly scratched Elena's face off for messing with our playtime ".

"Good times" Caroline said laughing while remembering the memory.

"You know what, we've talked way too much about me and Damon, now I want to know about you and Matt" an excited Aria said.

Caroline suddenly started blushing, "Me and Matt? There's nothing to talk about there".

"Mhmm, that's why your blushing" Aria teased, poking Caroline's cheeks.

Caroline smacked Aria's hand, "Shut it".

"Come on Caroline, I told you everything about me and Damon, now it's only fair you tell me about you and Matt" Aria urged

Caroline sighed, "Fine, fine".

Caroline then went on to explain to her best friend about the recent new development in her and Matt's friendship.

***

After talking for ages, and Caroline making Aria promise that she will talk to Damon, Caroline finally left the Gilbert residence. After a while Aria decided to come downstairs and watch some TV while waiting for the pizza Jeremy had ordered them as Jenna was coming home late.

The doorbell rang and Jeremey went and opened the door, he saw the delivery guy standing there with their pizza.

"Hey, it's gonna be $22".

"Aria, I need the money!" Jeremy yelled into the living room.

"Yeah hold up!" Aria said, getting up from the couch and going towards the stairs, "Elena, we need the pizza money!".

Aria turned towards the delivery guy, "Hey, come in, just place it on the table here" Aria said, pointing to the side table next to the front door.

The man nodded and slowly entered the house and placed the pizza on the table, while Jeremy went back to the kitchen and Elena came down and handed Aria the money.

"Here you go" Aria said, handing the delivery guy the money, "Keep the change, thanks for the pizza".

The delivery guy smiled at Aria, "Thanks, and you have yourself a good night".

"Will do" Aria replied, closing the door behind the delivery guy, Aria grabbed the pizza and ran to the kitchen, "Whoever wants a slice come now, otherwise it's going to be gone in minutes, by yours truly!".

Jeremy and Elena rolled their eyes in amusement at Aria by nonetheless ran to where Aria was, knowing fully well Aria was definitely capable of eating the whole pizza herself.

While Aria was busy eating her pizza, she didn't realise that the delivery guy she had invited into her house, was the same guy who had caused her accident.

*** 

Stefan entered the Salvatore's living room only to see books scattered everywhere, he made his way to the bookshelf where Damon was.

"What are you looking for, Damon?" a curious Stefan asked his older brother.

"Not your concern" Damon replied simply, not even looking towards his brother.

"No, but putting Aria in harm's way, that is my concern" Stefan said, walking closer to Damon.

Damon froze hearing Aria's name, after their kiss last night, Aria had ran out of the room, and Damon hadn't heard from her since, to be honest he hadn't tried to contact her either, he knew she had feelings for Jeremy and Damon kissing her had confused her, plus Damon wasn't sure if he was even ready to move on from Natalie.

"What are you talking about?" Damon asked, shaking his head and clearing it from the thoughts of Aria.

"I'm talking about Atlanta" Stefan clarified.

"Oh, yeah, Aria and I had a blast" Damon said, turning to face Stefan.

Stefan laughed, "I get it, you're just bitter because one of us gets to be with the person that we love and poor Katherine is just out of reach, unless there's another way for you to get into that tomb, that what Bree said?".

"You're pathetic when you're fishing" Damon taunted.

"You're transparent when deflecting" Stefan retorted.

"Don't you have school?" an now annoyed Damon asked, Stefan didn't say anything just turned to leave, but Damon stopped him, "Stefan".

Stefan turned around and once again faced Damon, "What?".

"Telling Aria about her parents, what the hell were you thinking?" an angry Damon asked.

"Damon, Elena and Aria asked for the truth, and that's exactly what I gave them" Stefan said, confused with Damon's reaction.

"Stefan, some secrets are meant to stay secrets, there was a reason I hid that from Aria" Damon snapped.

"You knew?" a slightly shocked Stefan asked.

"Of course I knew" Damon said, "And I hid it from Aria knowing all to well she wouldn't be able to take it, but you just had to go and open your mouth, didn't you?".

"Damon your really underestimating her" Stefan said, "I just came back from Elena's house and Aria was completely fine".

Damon rolled his eyes, "I know Aria is strong, I know it more that you do, I also know she knows how to hide what she's really truly feeling, she's suppressing her emotions Stefan, she's far from fine, she's in denial, and once all the emotions and denial get too much for her, she's going to explode, and when that happens, that my brother will be on you".

Damon proceeded to walk away but Stefan stopped him, "How are you so sure she's in denial and suppressing her emotions?" he asked.

Damon turned to Stefan, "Turns out, you don't know Aria as well as you think you do, brother".

Before Stefan could say anything else, Damon used his vamp speed and rushed out of the living room, leaving Stefan alone, who was suddenly very worried for Aria after hearing Damon's words.

***

"It's so pretty, thank you, god it'll go with, like, everything" Caroline told Elena, looking down at the necklace Elena just gave her, "What's the occasion?".

"You don't need special occasions to give your friends a gift Care Bear" Aria said, knowing the necklace Elena gave Caroline had vervain in it, Stefan gave Elena bunch of jewelry that were filled with vervain, it was to protect everyone from the mysterious vampire that had hit Aria's car.

"Yeah, no occasion, just a little friend gift" Elena said.

"A lesbian-friend necklace, because we're freaky like that?" Caroline joked, sitting on a table with the other two girls.

Aria laughed at Caroline, while Elena just looked amused. 

"Your friendship isn't important just to Aria you know, it's also very important to me" Elena said.

"Why are you being so mushy?" a slightly confused Caroline asked.

"Because you've been avoiding me" Elena said, she then turned to Aria, "Both of you".

Aria didn't say anything, just quietly ate her sandwich, knowing Elena was right, she was avoiding Elena, and it wasn't because of Damon, it was because she knew if Elena got her alone she would want to talk about her parents, but Aria refused to talk about that, she couldn't talk about it.

"And I wanted you to know that whatever is going on with you and Matt, it's okay" Elena told Caroline, "And you Aria, I know why you've been avoiding me, but we're going to have to talk about it sooner or later".

"I prefer later" Aria mumbled.

"I was gonna talk to you about that" Caroline told Elena, "I was, but there's just not much to say, I mean we've hung out a couple times, that's it, but--I just feel like we've peaked as friends", Elena nodded her head in understanding, "This is weird, I shouldn't be talking to you about this, it's weird, it's weird, right?".

"It's a little weird but--" Elena laughed, "If it's what you and Matt want, then it's not about me".

"Yeah it is, Elena" Aria said, Caroline already telling her last night why she hadn't made a move on Matt.

"What?" Elena asked confused.

"Matt's not over you and we all know it" Caroline said.

"I'm with Stefan now" Elena said, "Matt understands that, he knows he has to move on".

***

"I can't believe you're adopted, I never saw that coming" Bonnie said, sitting with Aria and Elena at the Grill after school, "And Aria, your parents were killed by a vampire?", Aria didn't say anything just nodded her head, "Wow" Bonnie said shocked with all the information.

"And it gets weirder" Elena said, eating some fries, "I looked at my birth certificate, it lists Miranda and Grayson Gilbert as my birth parents, none of it makes sense".

"Which is why you should ask Jenna" Bonnie said.

"Plus your Dad was a doctor Elena, it couldn't have been hard to forge a fake birth certificate, Bonnie's right, you need to speak to Jenna" Aria said.

Elena groaned in annoyance, "First of all, the Elena I know would always want the real truth, good or bad" Bonnie said.

"And second off all?" Elena asked.

"Second of all, what's the worst that could happen?" Aria asked, "You're dating a vampire Elena, unless your birth parents are aliens, I don't see what you're so worried about".

Elena chuckled at Aria, she then turned to Bonnie, "Me and Aria have to go the store, our outfits for the dance is severely lacking accessories".

"Correction, her outfits need accessories not mine, like always Miss Forbes has already hooked me up with everything" Aria said, getting up along with Elena.

"Of course she did" Bonnie said laughing, "I'll pay the bill".

"You sure?" Aria asked.

"Yeah" Bonnie replied.

"Alright, bye then" Aria said, leaving the Grill along with Elena.

***

Elena and Aria were walking back from the store, when Aria's phone started to ring.

"Hello?" Aria answered.

"Hello, Aria".

"Uh, whose this?" Aria asked, confused hearing a man's voice she has never heard in her life.

"You hit me with your car" The man said, suddenly making Aria freeze in her spot, "Is that your friend's?", Aria turned around to see a guy with black hood on, standing across the road, staring right at her, "You got away from me, you won't next time".

Aria looked towards Elena in panic, "Elena get in the car!".

"Aria what's wrong?" Elena asked confused.

"Elena, let's go!" Aria said, quickly getting into the car, Elena quickly followed seeing her friend's panic, Aria turned around to see the guy still looking at her, "Drive Elena, drive!".

Elena nodded and started the car, and quickly drove away from the mysterious vampire.

***

Elena had driven herself and Aria to the Salvatore Boarding House so they could talk to Stefan about what had just happened.

"Why me? What could he possibly want from me?" Aria asked confused, "And if he wants me dead, then why call me first?".

"It's because we're predators Aria, we hunt, we stalk, it's often as exciting as the kill" Stefan said, "And I don't think this vampire wants you dead".

"What do you mean?" Elena asked confused.

"Aria is a Connor witch Elena, one of the most powerful witches to exist ever, something tells me this vampire wants Aria for her powers, not to kill her" Stefan said.

"But how would he know who I am?" Aria asked confused.

Stefan sighed, "Aria, there's something me and Damon haven't told you, we didn't want you to panic".

"What Stefan?" a suddenly afraid Aria asked, knowing whenever Damon hid something from her it was because it was bad.

"Aria, whenever a Connor witch uses magic, for a few hours they start emitting this power, which lets any supernatural creature near them know who they are" Stefan explained, "I'm guessing, when you had used your magic this new vampire was nearby and had sensed you".

"Oh my god" Aria said, suddenly realising something, "Now I know why Damon stopped me from doing any type of magic at Bree's bar, he didn't want everyone to know who I was".

"Yeah" Stefan whispered.

"When I said I wanted to be a witch, I never signed up for this" an overwhelmed Aria complained.

"Hey, you're going to be fine" Stefan told Aria, "I want you to take this" Stefan handed Aria, Jeremy's pocket watch.

Aria looked at the watch in confusion, "This is Jeremy's pocket watch, how do you have it?".

"I took it from Damon who took if from Logan who much have taken it from you guys" Stefan explained.

"What happened to it?" Elena asked, taking the watch from Aria's hand and looking at it.

"Well, it's not just a watch" Stefan said, "It's a sort of compass, but it points to vampires".

Just as Stefan said that, the watch in Elena's hand started ticking and pointed right at Stefan.

"Why did my father have it?" Elena asked, closing the watch.

"The Gilberts were one of the founding families, and back in 1864 they were among those who sought to eradicate the vampires, the compass was used to find us".

"Did you know them?" Elena asked.

"Yes" Stefan replied, "I want you both to keep this, that way, you guys will know if you're ever in danger".

Aria and Elena both nodded their heads in understanding.

***

"Spoke to the insurance company Aria, car is totaled" Jenna told Aria, as her and Elena entered the kitchen, "You can keep using mine or Elena's for now".

"Fine by me" Aria replied, she then looked at Jenna's outfit, "Wow, someone looks hot".

Jenna laughed at Aria, "Why thank you".

"So you're coming to the dance?" Elena asked.

"Alaric asked me to help chaperone" Jenna said smiling.

"Oooo, Jenna and Alaric, I like the sound of that" Aria teased.

Jenna threw a cushion at Aria which she easily caught, "Shut up Aria".

Aria let out a laugh, but before Aria could continue the banter, Elena turned to Jenna, "Why didn't you tell me Jenna?".

"Oh dear" Aria mumbled, quietly sitting on the chair and observing the scene infront of her.

"Your mom was gonna do it eventually, I never thought I'd have to" Jenna replied.

"If my mom was here right now and I asked, she'd tell me the truth" Elena said.

Jenna sighed, "Your dad was about to leave the office one night when this girl showed up, she was sixteen, a runaway, and about to give birth, he delivered her baby and he gave her a place to stay but a few days later, she disappeared, and there you were, your parents were trying so hard to have a baby, it just wasn't happening, all Miranda ever wanted was to be a mom".

"But why were my parents names on the birth certificate?" a confused Elena asked.

"Your dad was a doctor Elena, he took care of it" Jenna said.

"Just like I said" Aria added.

"They didn't wanna lose you, so they kept it quiet, told as few people as possible, but if anyone ever wanted proof, they had documentation" Jenna clarified.

"What else do you know about her? The girl" Elena asked.

"Just her name, Isobel" Jenna revealed.

***

Aria's look for the decade dance

Aria and Elena were both in their shared bathroom getting ready for the decade dance at their school, the theme this year was the 50s.

"Wow" Elena said, looking at Aria, "You look really pretty".

"Thank you" Aria said, smiling at herself in the mirror, "You don't look too bad yourself, Gilbert".

"Thank you Connor" Elena said, giving Aria a smile, "Hey Aria?".

"Yeah?" Aria asked, using the bathroom mirror to apply her red lipstick on.

"Are we going to talk about it?" Elena asked.

Aria froze, "Talk about what?".

"You know what" Elena retorted.

Aria sighed and closed her lipstick, "We are not going to talk about it Elena".

"Aria, we have to talk about it, you know what happens when you bottle your emotions up" a worried Elena reminded.

"Elena I'm not saying we won't talk about it ever, we will, just not now okay, I just want to enjoy myself tonight, I don't want to remember anything horrible, please" Aria pleaded.

Elena sighed but nodded, knowing if anyone deserved a fun night then it was Aria.

Aria nodded and went into Elena's room to grab her purse, when suddenly she heard the watch ticking, "Elena" Aria called out, running to the watch and grabbing it.

"What happened?" Elena asked, coming out of the bathroom, confused.

"It's spinning" Aria informed.

Elena's eyes widened when she realised what Aria meant, "Call Stefan, quick".

Aria nodded and quickly grabbed Elena's phone and dialed Stefan's number.

"Stefan's phone, how may I help you?" Damon answered.

"Damon" Aria breathed.

"Aria" Damon whispered, a small smile forming on his face when he heard Aria's voice.

"Damon, where's Stefan?" Aria asked, suddenly remembering the spinning compass.

"He's on his way to you and Elena, forgot his phone, why?" Damon asked, sensing the panic in Aria's voice.

"Oh thank the lord, this stupid watch compass thingy was spinning, but it must be cause Stefan's near, thank you" Aria said with relief in her voice.

"You're welcome" Damon said, going to hang up.

"Damon" Aria said, stopping Damon from hanging up, "I-I'm--"

"It's okay Ria, I know" Damon said, knowing fully well that Aria felt guilty for running out on him last night.

Damon finally hanged up the phone and Aria took a deep breath and turned to Elena, "Stefan's near us, that's why it's spinning".

Elena nodded, "Let's go downstairs".

Aria nodded and both the friends went downstairs.

Elena went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water while Aria stood in the living room waiting for Stefan, Aria let out a huge scream when suddenly someone grabbed her from behind, the mysterious vampire went to bite Aria's neck, when Stefan came and pushed the vampire off, Elena ran up to Aria and helped her up.

Before Stefan could do anything the vampire snarled and speeded out the door.

Stefan rushed to a panicked Aria and hugged her, "You okay? You're okay".

Aria took heavy panicked breaths and hugged Stefan tightly, she was scared out of her mind, she looked towards the door the vampire had just left in extreme fright.

***

"Well, how'd he get in?" Damon asked Elena and Aria, as soon as Damon had found out about Aria getting attacked, he had rushed over to the Gilbert residence to make sure she was safe.

"He was invited in" Elena said, rubbing a still very frightened Aria's back.

"He posed as a pizza delivery guy last night" Stefan explained, sitting on the other side of Aria.

"Well, he gets points for that" Damon replied, "Did he say what he wanted?".

"No, he was too busy trying to kill Aria" Elena snapped.

"And you have no idea who this is?" Stefan asked Damon.

"No" Damon replied, Stefan gave Damon a look that clearly showed he didn't believe him, "Don't look at me like that, I told you we had company".

"You think there's more than one?" Elena asked, worried for her best friend.

"We don't know" Damon replied.

"Damon, he was invited in" Stefan reminded.

Damon nodded, "Then we go get him tonight", Damon looked towards Aria, who hadn't said a word since his arrival, "You up for it?".

Aria took a deep breath and nodded, "What's the plan?".

"The plan is to let Stefan take Elena to the dance while I take you, we'll see who shows up" Damon explained.

"That's a bad idea" Stefan said.

"Till we get him, this house isn't safe, for anyone who lives in it" Damon retorted, "It's worth a shot".

"I'll do it" Aria said, "I'll do anything to keep the people I care about safe".

"You sure?" Damon asked Aria.

"I'll be with you Damon, I'll be safe" Aria said, giving a small smile to Damon which he gladly returned. 

Stefan and Elena looked at the pair in suspicion, something had changed between them, ever since they've come back from Georgia, the equation between Damon and Aria had changed and even though they themselves couldn't sense it, people around them easily could.

***

The two Salvatore brother's along with Elena and Aria entered the decade dance, Elena had her arm wrapped intertwined with Stefan's, while Aria was holding onto Damon's hand.

Caroline and Bonnie walked up to Aria and Elena when they were alone.

"Having fun?" Elena asked the two girls.

"Mm, no, but this took about two hours, so I'm at least stay half of that" Caroline said, pointing to her dress, she then turned to Aria, "Wow, you look hot".

"All thanks to you Miss Forbes" Aria said, "And honestly you looking banging Care".

"I know right" Caroline said, laughing along with Aria, while Bonnie and Elena just shook their head at the pair.

"What's Damon doing here?" Bonnie asked in disgust.

Aria turned around to see both Stefan and Damon looking around the dance for any suspicious activity.

"He's my date" Aria explained, Bonnie looked at Aria in shock while Caroline looked at Aria with a mixture of shock and excitement, Aria gestured to Caroline that she will explain everything later, "Don't worry, he'll behave".

"So what is this, a foursome? The unofficial twins with the Salvatore brothers?" Caroline asked, Bonnie and Elena immediately thought that Caroline was bitter about Aria bringing Damon to the dance, but Aria knew better, this was just Caroline being her blunt herself, she wasn't bitter, not even one bit.

"No, but if I'm gonna be with Stefan then I have to learn to tolerate Damon" Elena said.

"And what about you?" Bonnie asked Aria, "You brought him as your date, seriously Aria?".

"Bonnie, I know you don't like Damon, but trust me when I say this he means you no harm" Aria said, "He's just here to enjoy himself, that's it".

"Yeah, and it's not like we can kill him" Elena said.

"There's a thought" Bonnie said, glaring at Damon, while Aria and Caroline looked each other, Caroline finally realising why Aria was so hesitant to tell Elena about the development in her and Damon's relationship.

***

Damon walked up to where Caroline and Bonnie were standing.

"Hi Bonnie" Damon greeted, "Wanna dance?".

"I'm out of here" Bonnie said, walking away from Damon, but Damon quickly stopped her.

"Please give me another chance" Damon pleaded.

Bonnie didn't say anything just simply walked away.

Damon turned to Caroline, who was already looking at him, "Something you want to say to me?".

"Actually yes, I want to say a lot of things to you but Aria will kill me if I do" Caroline said, turning to leave but suddenly stopped and turned back to face Damon, "I don't know you".

"Oh, I know" Damon replied.

"Good, then you should also know I'm Aria's best friend and I want the best for her" Caroline said.

"Look Blondie, if you're going to tell me to stay away from Aria then get in line" Damon said.

"Actually, I'm telling you to not let her go" Caroline said, shocking Damon, "Like I said Damon, I want the best for Aria, I want her happy, and for some reason that's when she's with you, she told me about her running away after you guys kissed, you need to understand that Aria's whole life she has been in love with Jeremy, she has never had feelings for anyone else until you came along, she's confused, you need to give her time, because trust me she has feelings for you, but if you hurt her fragile little heart then I will torture you so much that even the devil will be shocked seeing it".

Caroline saw Stefan, Elena and Aria making their way towards the two, Caroline quickly turned and went in the direction Bonnie had left in, she didn't want Aria to know what she told Damon, knowing she wouldn't be happy.

"Where did they go?" Elena asked confused, while Aria looked at Caroline's retreating figure in suspicion, she had seen the shock face on Damon's face after Caroline had finished saying whatever she was saying, making Aria wonder as to what exactly were they talking about.

"I don't know" Damon replied, his eyes landing on Aria with Caroline's words spinning around in his head.

"What'd you say to them?" Stefan asked his brother.

"I was perfectly polite" Damon said, "Instead it was Blondie who said she will torture me so much that even the devil will be shocked seeing it".

"Oh no" Aria whispered, that was something Caroline always said to any boys that came near her, slowly but surely Aria was realising what Caroline was talking to Damon about.

"Caroline said that?" Elena asked shocked, "But why?".

"Doesn't matter" Aria said, quickly speaking before Damon could, "Guys we are at a dance, you two should be dancing, not talking".

"Aria's right", Elena turned to Stefan, "May I have this dance?".

Stefan smiled at Elena and offered her his hand which she gladly took, and the pair went off to the dance floor.

Aria turned around to go find Caroline and give her a piece of her mind, when Damon suddenly grabbed her by her hand and pulled her to the dance floor, "Damon! What are you doing?" Aria asked, as Damon pulled Aria closer and both of them started swaying to the music.

"I'm dancing Aria" a smirking Damon simply said.

"Smartass" Aria mumbled, "Damon, what were you and Caroline actually talking about?".

"That's for me and blondie to know and you to never find out" Damon teased, knowing not knowing something really pissed Aria off.

"Seriously?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes at Damon, "Are you seriously not going to tell me?".

"Nope" Damon replied.

"Fine, I'll just ask Caroline" Aria said, knowing Damon was just as stubborn as her.

Damon didn't say anything, he just spinned Aria and dipped her down, causing Aria to let out a laugh.

Damon pulled Aria back up and pulled her closer again, Aria laughed once again, "That was unexpected".

"I like doing unexpected things" Damon said.

"Trust me, I know" Aria said, smiling at Damon, after a minute of silence and just peaceful dancing, Aria looked into Damon's eyes, "Damon".

"Hmm".

"We need to talk about what happened last night" Aria reminded.

Damon sighed, "I know we do Aria, just not right now, right now me and you are just going to dance, all the rest of things can wait".

Aria didn't say anything just nodded her head in understanding, Damon and Aria continued to dance in silence, both just enjoying each other's presence to the fullest.

*** 

After dancing for a while, Damon and Aria stood to the side and were just messing with each other when the new history teacher made his way over to the two.

"Hey, I don't recognise you, how'd you get roped into chaperoning?" Alaric asked Damon, who looked at him in confusion, wondering why he was talking to him, "Alaric Saltzman, I'm the new history teacher".

Damon shook Alaric's hand, "Oh, the cursed faculty position".

"I wonder why" Aria mumbled, which Damon heard causing him to smirk.

"So I've been told" Alaric said, "Hey Aria".

Aria waved at Alaric, "Hey Mr Saltzman".

"Damon Salvatore" Damon introduced himself to Alaric.

"Salvatore? As in, uh Stefan?" Alaric asked.

"He's my little brother" Damon informed, "I'm his legal guardian, hence the chaperoning, I'm also Aria's date".

"Really?" Alaric asked, looking between Aria and Damon in shock, "So what, are you both together?".

Aria nearly chocked on the drink she was drinking while Damon just smirked.

"I, um, we, we're not together" Aria said, stumbling with her words.

"We are a work in progress" Damon said, thoroughly enjoying Aria's flustered state.

"That's putting it lightly" Aria mumbled, Alaric not hearing her but Damon did, whose smirk just got bigger.

Alaric nodded at the two, he could tell there was definitely something between the two, but he didn't care about that, he only cared about getting to know Damon, "So Stefan, I hear he's very bright, not that I've had a chance to see for myself".

"Well, his attendance record's a little spotty, family drama" Damon lied.

"No parents?" Alaric asked.

"It's just the two of us now" Damon said, giving Alaric a forced smile.

Alaric nodded in understanding, "You, uh, live here your whole life?".

Aria looked at Alaric in suspicion, not knowing why he was so interested in Damon's life.

"On and off, travel a bit" Damon replied.

"Really? Where? Around the States?" Alaric asked, Damon looked at Alaric, who suddenly chuckled, "I'm sorry, I'm nosy, I don't mean to pry, look it was nice meeting you".

"You too" Damon replied.

"Enjoy the rest of the dance" Alaric said, patting Damon's arm.

"I'm not the only one who found his questions unsettling, right?" Aria asked Damon, after Alaric had left.

"No you're not" Damon said, staring at Alaric's retreating figure in suspicion.

***

Aria walked over to Stefan and Elena while Damon went to do god knows what.

"Hello lovebirds" Aria greeted.

"Hey" Elena said.

"Nice moves out there" Aria teased Stefan.

Stefan groaned, "You saw?".

"Oh I didn't just see, I recorded" Aria said, showing Stefan her phone.

"Oh no you didn't" Stefan said, going to grab the phone off of Aria, but Aria quickly hid it behind her.

"Nope" Aria said, "I'm not going to let you delete such a good video, it's all about the memories Stefan".

"Ugh, just don't send it to Damon please" Stefan pleaded.

"Opps" Aria said, smirking at Stefan.

"I hate you" Stefan said, smiling at Aria.

"No you don't" Aria teased.

"You're unbelievable Aria" Elena said, smiling at her best friend, "When did you even take the video?".

"When you were too busy drowning in Stefan's dreamy green eyes" Aria teased.

Elena playfully pushed Aria, while Stefan just laughed.

"Aria on a serious note, have you seen the guy anywhere?" Elena asked, still very worried for her best friend's safety.

Aria's smile immediately dropped hearing Elena, "No I haven't, maybe he isn't coming".

"Maybe, but still keep an eye out just in case" Stefan said, Aria just nodded.

Aria then started looking around to find out where Damon had disappeared to, that's when her eyes landed on the back corner, Aria's eyes widened in fear when she realised who it was.

"Stefan, Elena, back corner" Aria pointed.

Stefan and Elena looked towards the back corner, only to see a guy with a black hoodie looking right at Aria.

"Get Damon" Stefan told Elena and Aria, running after the hoodie guy.

"Elena, let's spilt up, we will find Damon faster that way" Aria said.

Elena nodded and went the opposite direction from Aria. Aria pushed through the people trying to get even a tiny glimpse of the older Salvatore, but it was proving harder then she anticipated. While Aria was looking for Damon, her phone started ringing, Aria answered her phone thinking it was either Stefan or Elena.

"Hello Aria" The mysterious vampire said, making Aria freeze, "Here's what you're going to do, there's an exit door behind you, you have five seconds".

"No" Aria said, refusing to die at a school dance.

"Or your best friend's brother died".

Aria looked to where Jeremy was standing only to see the vampire standing right behind him staring at her, "I can snap his neck so fast, I bet there's not even a witness, now start walking".

"I'll go, just don't hurt him" Aria pleaded, slowly walking towards the exist door.

"Keep walking, through the door" The vampire said, walking towards Aria.

Aria quickly hanged up and ran out the exist door, really hoping Stefan and Damon will realise that she's gone.

Aria ran through the empty school corridor as fast as her legs could take her, she ran up to an door and tried opening it but it was locked, Aria turned around to see the vampire right behind her, Aria quickly ran to the cafeteria and tried opening the doors but all of them were locked, the vampire entered the cafeteria, Aria tried to run again but the vampire speeded towards her and grabbed her by her hair and threw her on the table.

The vampire walked towards Aria, he grabbed her and pushed her to the wall and went to bite her neck, but Aria used her magic to push the vampire away from her. While the vampire was struggling on the floor, Aria grabbed a mop and broke it into half, she went to stab the vampire but he grabbed her hand and took the wood from her, and went to bite her again when Stefan entered the cafeteria and grabbed the vampire off of Aria and pushed him to the floor.

The vampire got up, ready to charge towards Aria again, when he heard Damon, "Hey dickhead", the vampire turned to face Damon, "Nobody wants to kill you, we just wanna talk".

The vampire smirked at Damon and went to charge at Aria again when Damon threw a wooden stake towards Stefan who stabbed the vampire in the stomach, causing him to fall down on his knees.

"Now you feel like talking?" Stefan asked.

"Screw you".

Stefan glared at the vampire and pushed the stake further into the vampire's stomach, causing him to groan in pain, Aria turned away not wanting to see all this, "Wrong answer, why are you doing this?".

"Because it's fun".

Stefan pushed the stake further in, "What do you want with Aria?".

"She's Natalie's descendant, I sensed her magic".

Damon looked at the vampire in shock, "You knew Natalie?".

"Aw, you thought you were the only ones who knew Katherine and Natalie, you don't even remember me".

"Tell me how to get in the tomb, hmm?" Damon asked.

"No", Stefan twisted the stake, causing the vampire to yell in pain, "The grimoire".

"Well, where is it?" Damon asked.

The vampire didn't reply which caused Stefan to push the stake further in, "Check the journal, the journal, use Johnathan's journal, Johnathan Gilbert's".

"Who else is working with you?" Stefan asked.

"Who else is there?" Damon repeated, when the vampire didn't reply.

"No" He vampire said, "You're gonna have to kill me, but just remember the others are gonna come for her as well".

Damon looked towards Aria who was looking at the vampire in confusion, "Why would they come after Aria?".

"She's the key to opening the tomb".

Stefan, Damon and Aria looked at each other in confusion, not knowing how Aria could be the key to opening the tomb.

Damon nodded at Stefan, who took the stake out of Noah's stomach and staked him right in the heart.

Aria looked at the desiccated body in shock, "What, why, how are you gonna find the others now?".

"He had to die" Damon told Aria.

"Aria, he's been invited in" Stefan said.

"But what did he mean by I'm the key to opening the tomb?" Aria asked confused.

"I don't know" Damon said, "But don't worry we will find out".

Before Aria could reply, they all heard a bang and saw someone walk past the door, Stefan turned to Damon, "Go, I got this".

Damon gave Aria one last look and went to see who the person was.

Stefan hugged a shocked Aria, "Come on, let's get you home, Elena's waiting for you in the car".

Aria nodded and after giving the dead vampire one last glance, left the cafeteria with Stefan right by her side.

*** 

"No way that idiot was working alone" Damon told Stefan, as he and Stefan stood in the empty school corridor after Stefan made sure Aria and Elena went home safely.

"You are" Stefan said.

"Am I the only one who heard him say the others are also going to come for Aria?" Damon snapped.

"I heard" Stefan assured, "So the grimoire, it was Emily's, right? That's what you need to reverse the spell? The founding families burned her, took her things and you were hoping that dad's journal would tell you where it is".

"Look at you putting the pieces together" Damon mocked, "Good for you, I was half right, well it's out there now, let the games begin".

Stefan shrugged, "My offer still stands".

"With some hidden caveats, no doubt" Damon said.

"No, nothing hidden about it, no lies, no deception" Stefan said, "I'm there when you open that tomb, you and Katherine go and the other twenty six vampires die".

"If I agree?" Damon asked.

"I'll help you" Stefan replied.

"Why should I trust you?" Damon asked.

"Because I'm your brother" Stefan replied.

"No, that's not gonna cut it" Damon said, not trusting Stefan will help him just because they're brothers.

"Because I want you gone" Stefan finally revealed.

Damon looked at Stefan, trying to see if he was lying or not, after a moment he finally nodded his head, "Okay".

"One more thing Damon" Stefan said.

"What?" Damon asked.

"The vampire said Aria is the key to opening the tomb, you need to know that if opening the tomb means Aria's put in harms way, then I won't let you open the tomb" Stefan said, walking away from Damon.

What Stefan didn't know, is that if opening the tomb meant Aria would be harmed, then Damon himself wouldn't open the tomb, his desire to protect Aria was much more than his desire to get revenge from Katherine.

***

"Is Aria doing okay?" Stefan asked Elena, while she sat in the living room while he made her some tea.

"Is it weird if I say yes?" Elena asked.

"Is it true?" Stefan asked. 

"Usually when Aria sees someone die she loses it, but this time she wasn't that upset, or even scared but instead I think she feels kind of exhilarated" Elena explained.

"It's the adrenaline, she'll crash soon enough" Stefan said, bringing Elena her cup of tea.

"Yeah, I guess" Elena said, a small smile forming on her face, "She fought back today, and I know she feels good about it".

"I wish she didn't have to fight at all" Stefan said, sitting next to Elena.

"Still, I think the fighting helped her get rid of some of the frustration she has kept in her about her parents death" Elena said.

Stefan nodded, he paused and with a sigh faced Elena, "I need to tell you something, and I don't know how you're gonna feel about it?".

"What?" Elena asked confused.

"I told Damon that I'd help him get into that tomb, get Katherine back" Stefan said, "But it was a lie, I let him believe that he could trust me".

"Well then why would you be worried about telling me?" Elena asked.

"Because you need to hide this from Aria" Stefan said.

"What why?" a confused Elena asked.

Stefan sighed, he knew this wasn't his thing to say but he promised Elena no secrets, "Elena, there's something about Aria and Damon you need to know".

"What?" Elena asked worried.

"A long time ago a group of witches tried to curse the Connor witches, they tried to make it that whenever a vampire came across a Connor witch, they would automatically want to kill them, but something went wrong with the spell and instead every Connor witch, past, present and future ended up being connected to a vampire, the vampire and witch would feel extremely protective when it came to each other, they would even kill if it came to the safety of the other" Stefan informed.

"But what does this have to do with Aria and Damon?" Elena asked confused.

"Elena, the vampire Aria is connected to is Damon" Stefan revealed.

"What?" Elena asked shocked, "Oh my god, that's why Aria gets so defensive whenever I tell her to stay away from Damon, wait does Aria even know about this?".

Stefan nodded his head, "The night Emily destroyed the crystal and Aria decided to stay back with Damon, I decided to check up on her in case Damon hurts her, and that's when I heard their talks, Damon was so open to her, he told her the real reason he wants to open the tomb, he told her things he never told me, seeing the way Damon talked and looked at Aria made me realise what Aria really meant to Damon".

"Wait, what do you mean the real reason Damon wants to open the tomb?" Elena asked.

"Elena, Damon doesn't want to get Katherine out because he loves her, it's because he want's revenge from her" Stefan informed.

"Revenge?" Elena asked, "Why would Damon want revenge from the girl he loves?".

"Turns out, what I thought was the truth for all these years, was actually far from it" Stefan revealed, "Damon never loved Katherine, all this time he was in love with Natalie".

"Natalie, Aria's ancestor?" Elena asked.

Stefan nodded, "Damon and Natalie kept their love hidden, Damon pretended to be in love with Katherine so she wouldn't harm Natalia, but I'm guessing Katherine found out, which is why she compelled Natalie to protect me no matter what, in doing so, Natalie ended up getting shot, she died in Damon's arms".

"That's why Damon wants revenge" Elena realised, "But Stefan you told me that vampires can't compel other supernatural beings, so how did Katherine compel Natalie?".

"Connor witches are the only supernatural being vampires can compel, it's part of the old witches curse" Stefan explained.

"Aria knew about Damon's real reason to open the tomb all along?" Elena asked Stefan, who just nodded his head, "And she hid all this from me, how could she hide all this?".

"I don't know why Damon and Aria haven't told anyone, all I know is that Aria won't go against Damon, she is going to help Damon open the tomb and get his revenge from Katherine, Elena you can't tell Aria about us not really helping Damon, because she will go and tell Damon everything" Stefan said.

"Okay" Elena nodded, "I won't tell Aria, but I just--I just don't get why Aria will hide such things from me, I never hid anything from her but she hid such a huge thing from me, about her and Damon being connected, why will she hide this from me?".

"I don't know Elena, look you can't let Aria know you know the truth, just wait when all this is over then you can ask her why she hid this from you, I'm sure she'll have a good reason".

Elena sighed and nodded, "If Aria's going to help Damon, then I'm going to help you, no matter what it takes".

 Stefan nodded his head in appreciation, he did feel guilty for telling Aria's secret like this but it wasn't fair on Elena not knowing the whole truth.

***

Presenting 1x12 of Cold Hearted!

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Caroline's reaction on Damon and Aria's kiss?

Thoughts on Damon taking Aria to the decade dance?

Thoughts Caroline telling Damon to not let Aria go?

Thoughts on Stefan telling Elena, Damon and Aria's secret?

Published: 23rd September 2020
Edited: 26th July 2024