CHAPTER VI ―

ARGENT!

𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐀 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑, Colby found herself walking down the halls of Mystic Falls High School on a Friday, late to her third period class. Her mom wanted her to wait another week, but her dad and aunt both said it was a good idea to head back. To avoid any confrontation with her fellow peers, she decided to come back to school late in the day, surprising everyone in the office of the high school. She just wanted everything to go back to normal. She wasn't made of glass and she wanted everyone to see that. She was stronger than that.

She'd only told one person of her coming back to school and that was Diana, only because her friend had helped her make the decision of when. In fact, Diana had been with her through almost the entire ordeal. Sure, she'd gotten a visit from Bonnie, Matt, Tyler, Stefan, and even a few people she didn't even really know... but Diana and Elena had been the two by her side nonstop.

Sleep had become something that Colby only did if she absolutely needed it. Every time she fell asleep, she saw him. His dark, azure eyes. His smirk, widening every time her heart thumped faster and faster. His voice, melodious and soothing. It was a trick. All of it was. Each dream had been different, sometimes he'd go after her right away... other times he played with her. It was those dreams she hated the most. He made her feel like he cared, like she was in love with him or something, but the end result was her dying every time. 

There was just one thing wrong with it all... she didn't know who he was.

No matter how much she thought about it, she could never remember his face or his name after every dream. She'd only remembered the pain and the way he played with her, but she could never put a face to the voice. It was driving her insane. She felt powerless, weak... she wanted to feel stronger than that. 

Perhaps after everything went back to normal, things would change and all of it would go away. At least Colby hoped it would.

...

"How are you feeling?"

"Are you okay?"

"Did you get the card?"

"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay, Colby!"

The migraine that throbbed in between her temples made Colby's teeth grind, her nerves getting the best of her. She had heard the same thing over and over and over again throughout the entire day at school, no matter how much she tried to avoid it.

Elena and Diana had been nice enough to be at her side as much as possibly, trying to ward off all the students that "tried" to know her. They knew they were just trying to be nice, Colby knew that... but she just wanted to be left alone.

Her teachers had given her a pass for the last week and a half, probably due to her father having a "word" with them. She was glad to find that she wouldn't have much to catch up on, most of which Elena and Diana both said they'd help her with.

Over lunch, Elena had informed her that her and Stefan had almost "broken up" due to Stefan not sharing much about himself, which Colby had understood. Stefan really didn't seem like the type to just drop everything on someone right away, which is what Colby had told Elena. In the end, the two had made up and the Stelena ship, as Bonnie had said, was moving on.

It was as the end of the day approached, that things got interesting.

...

"This isn't like Caroline," Bonnie Bennett sighed, looking around the football field. It was the third day of cheerleading practice since school started and Caroline Forbes was late. She was never late, especially since she was Captain of the cheerleading team.

"I don't know, Bonnie." Elena sighed, stretching. Bonnie sighed.

"I'll give her another call."

Their head's turned to the side as a loud car pulled in the parking lot. Elena's eyes narrowed to see a blue Camaro arriving in the parking lot, a familiar blonde leaning over to kiss the guy. She frowned.

"Uh..."

Bonnie grimaced. "Who's that?"

"That must be the mystery guy from the Grille," Elena mumbled.

"That's not a mystery guy," Colby said, standing next to Elena now. Both girls turned to her, surprised to see her in a change of clothes. They didn't think she'd show to practice. "That's Damon Salvatore." Their eyes widened.

"Salvatore, as in Stefan?!"

Elena was shocked. Sure, Stefan had told her about Damon, but she had yet to meet him. All Stefan had told her was that Damon was super bitter about a relationship they'd both had with the same girl and he hadn't been the same since. In fact, Stefan had told her that Damon was a little dangerous and to stay away from him.

Caroline had jogged over, a cocky smirk on her face as she faced Elena.

"I got the other brother, I hope you don't mind."

Colby's eyes had watched as Damon smirked, as if hearing Caroline. She frowned. Just as she was going to get into formation as she heard Caroline's shouting, a gasp was held in her chest when she made eye contact with him - Damon.

Those eyes.

She knew those eyes.

And before she could say or do anything, Damon Salvatore and his azure eyes had driven off.

...

Later that evening, Colby found herself sitting at the dining room table of the Gilbert household. She didn't exactly know how she'd gotten wrapped up into it, but Bonnie had told Elena she refused to go unless Colby would be there. So, Elena had agreed without hesitation. She just wanted Bonnie and Stefan to get along. Sure Bonnie would see how great Stefan really was.

The tension in the room was so thick that someone could cut it with a knife, it was exactly why Coby was stuffing her face with the pasta Elena had ordered from the Grille

"Why don't you tell Stefan about your family?" Elena asked, trying to get Bonnie to open up.

"Um, divorced. No mom. Live with my dad." Bonnie said, feeling awkward.

"No, about the witches. Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool." Elena said continuing to make her friend to talk, gesturing towards Colby to try and help her. The Montenegro girl just shrugged, eating more pasta.

"Cool isn't the word I'd use." Bonnie mumbled, receiving a glare from Elena. She was trying to make Bonnie friends with Stefan and she wasn't helping.

"Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed, but I do know that there's a history of Celtic druids that migrated here in the 1800's." Stefan said, trying to make friends with Bonnie.

"My family came by way of Salem!" Bonnie exclaimed, smiling proudly.

"Really? Salem witches?" Stefan questioned, impressed.

"Yeah." Bonnie nodded, awkwardly.

"I would say that's pretty cool." Stefan smiled.

"Really? Why?" Bonnie asked, smiling.

"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity," Stefan explained to Bonnie. Elena, Colby, and Bonnie smiled at each other.

"Yeah, they are." Bonnie agreed with a wide smile.

As they continued to talk, the attention fell onto Colby when Elena had asked her to share something about her family.

"Oh," she swallowed the water she'd taken a drink of to clear her throat. "uh, well... my family's not nearly as interesting as Bonnie's, but my mom came from a family that hunted a lot, like wolves and so on. Her parent's actually bought a lot of guns and stuff from my dad's parents, so naturally that's how my parents met, but yeah. My dad's an arms dealer and so is my Aunt Kate, so..." Stefan swallowed.

Elena smiled slightly. "What she means to add is that she's freakishly good with a bow and arrow." Colby flushed.

"I'm not that good," she mumbled.

Elena laughed. "You made State, twice!"

Stefan chuckled. "You sound like you're really good at it, then." Colby looked up from her food and smiled gently at Stefan, nodding. "What did you say your mom's last name was again?"

Colby shrugged. "It's Argent, but my dad's is Montenegro."

Suddenly, all the dots connected in Stefan's head and he knew right then in there, as he watched the Montenegro girl push back a curly tendril of hair behind her ear, that his brother had messed with the wrong girl.

Before the conversation could continue, the doorbell had rung and everyone's heads turned to the front door with a frown.

...

"Surprise! Bonnie said you were doing dinner, so we brought dessert." Caroline chimed with a bubbly voice, holding out a chocolate cake. Next to her stood Damon Salvatore.

"Oh." Elena said to Caroline not knowing what to say.

"Hope you don't mind." Damon smirked.

Shaking her head, Elena sighed. "Uh, I don't mind. Why don't you-"

"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked Damon, jaw clenched.

"Waiting for Elena to invite me in." Damon explained.

"Oh, yeah, you can..." Elena started to invite him in, but Stefan stopped her.

"No, no, no. He can't, uh... he can't stay. Can you, Damon?" Stefan said looking at his brother, better yet, glaring at him.

"Get in here." Caroline ordered, smiling.

"We're just... finishing up." Stefan concludes, trying to stop his brother to get in the house. He didn't want Elena to be in danger.

"Stefan, it's fine. Just come on in." Elena invited Damon in.

"You have a beautiful home, Elena." Damon said to the doppelgänger.

"Thank you." Elena thanked him, holding the cake from Caroline. "Uh, I guess we can eat the desert in the living room..." she said, an awkward smile on her lips. Something about Damon did not rub Elena right. She sighed. Well, for Stefan she'd try to get along with him.

...

"I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team! Tyler must be seething. But good for you. Go for it." Caroline grinned, sitting next to Damon in the Gilbert living room.

"That's what I always tell him. You have to engage. You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you. You have to go get it." Damon grinned, trying to charm his way.

"Yeah, Elena wasn't so lucky today. It's only because you missed summer camp. God, I don't know how you're ever going to learn the routines." Caroline said without a single tact.

Bonnie narrowed her eyes, sitting next to Colby. "Colby and I will work with her, Care."

"I guess we can put you in the back..." Caroline suggested, leaving Bonnie and Elena looking at her with shock.

"You know, you don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena." Damon raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, it's just 'cause her parents died. Yeah, I mean, she's just totally going through a blah phase. Elena used to be way more fun! And I say that with complete sensitivity." Caroline shrugged, not even bothering to apologize.

"God Caroline, do you ever shut up?" It was Colby this time.

All the eyes in the living room turned towards the girl with shock, although Damon's eyes held mirth. She swallowed. "I-I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." Standing up abruptly, the Montenegro girl walked off into the kitchen.

"Well she sure's got spunk," Damon laughed.

...

"Thank you," Elena had said as she entered the kitchen, finding Colby leaning against a counter, staring outside. "I know you didn't mean to say it, but still."

Colby shrugged. "She just doesn't know when to shut up, and it's not like I don't like Caroline... She just needs to learn what a filter is."

"I know," Elena nodded, gently pulling her friend in for a hug. "Thank you, though."

The two girls hugged for a moment, feeling like two kids again before they pulled away. "Want help with these dishes?" Colby smiled, gesturing to all the dishes from the evening.

Sighing, Elena nodded. "If you could."

...

"One more."

Colby looked up from the dishwasher, eyes wide. "Oh," she breathed. "sure." 

It was those eyes again. Colby knew those eyes. She just couldn't pin point it.

Damon smirked, handing the glass to Colby, only for it to be dropped. Before Colby could comprehend, Damon held the glass in his hands and she laughed. It wasn't just a laugh, but a hearty laugh. One that lit up the room, made you feel warm and couldn't help but make you smile. Damon could see why Colby was so well liked, it was sad that he was the one pulling the poor girl apart at the seams.

"Nice save!" Colby smiled, grabbing the glass from Damon to put in the dishwasher.

Damon smirked. "I like you." Colby frowned and before she could say something, Damon continued. "You know how to laugh, and you're not afraid to tell Caroline to shut up." Colby sighed, grabbing the rags to start folding them up.

"I'm normally not that mean."

Damon shrugged. "Doesn't mean you weren't right."

Colby turned to Damon, raising her eyebrows. "Aren't you her boyfriend?"

Damon nodded. "In terms, but still. You weren't wrong."

Colby frowned, but didn't press the matter, folding up the last rag.

"How's your wound?" Colby paused, holding her breath. How did he know? "Stefan told me about it." Oh.

"Uh, I'm getting better." Her hand went up to the small bandage that covered it. "It's healing up really nice, actually. Just kinda fatigued."

Damon hummed, nodding.

"Oh, well. I'm glad you're feeling better."

Colby nodded, swallowing.

"Yeah, me too."

It was Elena coming back into the kitchen to help again that saved Colby from having to talk to Damon Salvatore by herself anymore.

...

"They are people, Damon. She's not a puppet. She doesn't exist for your amusement, for you to feed on whenever you want to." Stefan said after Caroline had left the room with Bonnie.

"Sure, she does. They all do. They're whatever I want them to be. They're mine for the taking." Damon said, taunting his brother with a smirk.

"All right, you've had your fun. You used Caroline and Colby; you got to meet Elena, good for you. Now it's time for you to go." Stefan ordered his brother. He needed to leave town before they connected the dots. "Do you have any idea what family you're messing with Damon?"

"That's not my problem. Because... I've been invited in, and I'll come back tomorrow night and the following night and I'll do with Elena whatever I want to do, because I finally have my cheerleader, just like you have yours. Caroline was only a distraction until I met Elena. Because that is what is normal to me." Damon threatened his brother, patting his back with a smirk. "And Colby? Well, let's just say little Bambi has no idea what's in store for her after Elena."

With that, Damon sauntered out of the room.