CHAPTER TWO: BRAVE NEW WORLD

❝ I just thought our dream would last longer than it did❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ mystic falls high [ parking lot ] ❞

THE TWINS ALONG WITH BONNIE were setting up for the school carnival. Neither Bonnie nor Maya had said a word about their fight, perhaps they had silently agree not to further damage the peace. "Katherine looked just like you, it was freakish," Bonnie explained to Elena as they held up stuff animals for the game.

"She was more your twin than I am," Maya added along. 

Elena just shrugged nonchalant, "She is our ancestor." Pointing at her clipboard the Gilbert switched topics, "Eh, I move the student booth into the cafeteria."

"Our vampire ancestor," Maya corrected manner a factly standing in front of her sister as they prepared for the carnival, "And she didn't just resemble you like a family member would. I'm a family, your twin, and she looked more like you than I ever could."

Slightly agitated and scared by the whole circumstance Elena told them, "I don't know, I can't explain it. It's creepy, that's all I got."

Bonnie and Maya shared looks knowing she was pushing away talking about everything that was happening. Being persistent with her questions Maya wondered, "How do you know she's not still out there pretending to be you?"

The elder Gilbert girl just kept moving around trying to get everything set up bouncing between booths, "I don't but I could sit here and be tortured by the not-knowing or I could get these prices to the ring toss."

"Have you talk to Damon since he killed Jeremy or tried to kill Jeremy," Bonnie corrected herself not really sure how to phrase that statement. 

Maya was still unsure how to even be around Damon without letting her anger get the better of her. If not for Stefan she wasn't sure what she would be capable of doing to him. Elena sighed answering, "No, I haven't and I won't and I don't want to talk about Damon or anything else that's vampire relating okay?"

She took the bag of stuffed animals and gave it to Bonnie who smiled pushing the stuffed animals towards them, "Copy that."

"We're human. We have to do human stuff. Otherwise, I'm going to go crazy," Elena added on as she explained to them.

Clapping her hands together Maya smiled looking at her, "Okay but while you guys are dealing with this whole set up I am going to assure Caroline everything is going according to plan."

"Good luck," commented Elena as her twin took out her keys leaving to her car.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ mystic falls hospital [ caroline's room ] ❞ 

Caroline had gone through her magazine, texted everyone on her phone, and yet the boredom would not cease. Once more she lifted her hand into the suns rays only to withdraws it painfully when it burned. She immediately was forced to recover as Maya entered the doorway of the room, "Your mom said you're not eating," she said worriedly.

"It's gross," she said sitting up in her bed.

The brunette chuckled, "It's hospital food; it's supposed to be gross." Doing as they had grown accustomed to Maya leaned down to kiss her and Caroline moves closer but suddenly stopped when she noted the ray of sunlight between them. Assuming that meant she didn't want to Maya backed away saying, "She also said you're getting released tomorrow morning."

Hearing the time of her release the blonde panicked, "Morning? I need to get out tonight."

Making the assumption it was for the carnival Maya sat down saying, "No, the carnival is going to happen without you, Caroline. I promise I made sure Elena and Bonnie were doing everything just right before I left and I will leave to ensure it does go perfectly." Grabbing her hand squeezing it she teased, "No need to worry of feel a tendency to be a little neurotic."

Tilting her head Caroline said, "I'm not neurotic."

"Not always, and always with good reasons. Which is what always makes it's cute so," Maya shrugged letting her know that was one of the things she liked most about her.

More agitated with Maya than she was used to Caroline snapped, "Look, it's not about the carnival okay? It's just that this place is just really depressing."

Not getting angry Maya stood going to the curtains saying, "It's because you're sitting in the dark." 

Just as she pulled them open she heard Caroline shout too late, " No don't!" 

The Gilbert turned back around to ask her what was wrong but Caroline had moved from the bed. She was at the opposite wall and pressed herself flat against it to avoid the light. "Care, what's wrong," she asked urgently.

"Just close it, please," she pleaded with her.

"What's wrong with you," she demanded to know worried about her sick at this point.

Once again, this time more firmly Caroline snapped, "Close it!"

Doing as she was told she closed the curtains her mind running to a thought she refused to accept. Instead, she said softly, "I think you're still exhausted from nearly dying... you need rest. You should take it." Silently the brunette grabbed her jacket and keys she put down. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the burger and curly fries she bought her from the Grill. "And you need to eat, I'll see you in the morning," Maya assured with a sad smile before leaving the room behind.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:· 

❝ mystic falls school [ carnival lot ] ❞ 

After leaving the hospital returning back to work with Elena was almost hell. It appeared that once someone got a clip board into their hands, they no longer remembered they were just a high school student, not someone organizing the Met Gala. She loved Elena but if she didn't blow off steam one of them was going to have a black eye and it wasn't going to be Maya.

Which lead her to sneak of the second Matt texted asking her to come to the ring toss. A game she was getting 10 dollars for each time she won, she won seven times already. She could always count on the arrogance of men to assume a woman just couldn't have good aim. Boy after boy was willing to bet her to see if she would lose. Her roll was cut short when she noticed someone coming closer to her. Just in time for her head to turn she saw it was Caroline who kissed her suddenly. 

She immediately broke contact with the ring she was meant to toss placing her hands on Caroline's hips. This was a complete 360 from her attitude earlier in the day. As they pulled apart Maya couldn't wipe her smile as she asked, "What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at the hospital 'till the morin'?"

Finally, Maya was able to look at her closely, she noticed she was wearing much darker eyeliner than she usually wore. Caroline usually went for a soft makeup look.  "They discharged me. All better," she said a little too cheerfully.

"How do you feel," Maya asked moving them off to the side stuff the money in her pocket.

"I feel pretty good," she told her trying desperately to get her to believe her.

With her narrow eyes of skepticism MJ replied, "Yeah, cause earlier you were--"

Cutting her off the blonde insisted almost manically, "I'm all better." Before Maya could even think Caroline had kissed her again, "All better!"

Looking back at the game seeing Matt still offering the rings Maya caved, "Okay, um, you want to give it a shot?"

"Yeah," Caroline said happily as Matt handed her the rings once they walked back to the tent.

Maya stood by her side while Caroline mentally mapped out where she was trying to land. After a moment she tossed the ring, apparently far too hard because she broke three bottles. The brunette laughed unsure how she had done that, "Whoa, hey, nice shot, killer!"

"Yeah, have you been watching Maya practice," laughed Matt just as surprised she could do that as Maya was. 

Caroline nervously chuckled reaching out to hug Maya instinctively, "They must already have already been broken." As they embraced Caroline felt the familiar sense of safety that was always offered in Maya's presence. That was until she noticed the pulse from her neck, then she only felt hunger. "Oh no," she mumbled into MJ's ear.

 Pulling back slightly the Gilbert teen asked, "What's wrong?"

Forcing herself free from her girlfriend's arms Caroline suddenly said, "I got to go."

The blonde tried walking away only for Maya to follow right after her protesting, "Wait Care, are you okay--"

Suddenly, just as angry as she had been that morning, Caroline snapped, "Just leave me alone!"

Maya froze in her path completely taken aback by Carolines hot and cold all day. Remembering she follow Maya forced her feet to walk rushing after her, but she was already gone. Not knowing what else to do Maya pulled out her phone and called her sister. It was only two rings before she answered, "Elena, look, if you see Caroline can you ask her to call me. I think the accident really shook her up more than she is saying."

"It is affecting her; she doesn't know how but Damon thinks he does. Come to Mr. Saltzman's room, Stefan Damon and I are on our way there now," said Elena.

"Okay. I'll be there in five," Maya said ending the call immediately making her way to the other side of the campus. 

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

"How did this happen," demanded Maya angrily after hearing Damon's belief that Caroline had become a vampire. 

"Well, I fed her blood and Katherine obviously killed her and a plus b equals," Damon trailed off sarcastically leaning against the teacher's desk.

Rolling her eyes at him Maya snapped, "Maybe we can table your sarcasm about my girlfriend being murdered by your psychotic ex for another night, huh?"

Damon playfully glared at Maya as Elena interrupted from her seat in one of the desks asking, "But why? Caroline wasn't involved in any of this at all."

"Because Katherine is a manipulative nasty little slut," the blacked haired man proclaimed bitterly.

Stefan paced back and forth pondering ideas in his head while everyone spoke. Repeating the words Caroline had said to his brother Stefan questioned, "And she said, 'game on?' What is that even mean?"

Damon stopped for a moment before he figured, "It means she's playing dirty, and she wants us to know."

"But why Caroline," asked Maya exasperatedly, "She has got to be freaking out by now. She doesn't even know what's happening to her."

Damon scrunched his face together in regret telling them, "Oh I think she does. All of my compulsion from the past sort of wiring of the minute she was in transition."

The brunette put her hands in her face distressed, speaking loud enough to be heard in the halls even Maya barked, "Great! Another stupid thing you've done coming back to bite us in the ass. What else could you have done to make this worse?"

Knowing them talking wasn't getting anything done, Stefan announced, "We have to find her."

The dark hair vampire agreed adding, "Yep and kill her."

Elena and Maya both looked at him in shock while the older girl argued her voice stern, "You're not gonna kill Caroline."

"She knows who we are, she's officially a liability, and we've got to get rid of her," Damon tried to justify.

Maya scoffed looking at the vampire, "I'm sorry, do I seem like the type of person who is going to let you kill their girlfriend? Killing Caroline is nowhere near an acceptable option for us."

Agreeing with her Stefan warned, "Damon, absolutely not."

"Need I to remind you the tragic little story of a girl named Vicki Donovan," Damon reminded all of them. Maya looked down hearing her name for the first time in a long time. She couldn't fathom a world where Caroline would end up the same way as her, she just couldn't. Damon continued on warning them, "Caroline, of all people, won't not make it as a vampire. Her mother is a vampire hunter. Guys come on, we all know how this story's gonna end, just flip to the last chapter and..."

The Gilbert girl shook her head refusing still, "It's not an option Damon. I know Caroline, she'll make it as a vampire. You will not kill her just because you can't handle the consequences of your own actions."

"No," Damon challenged before looking over to his brother who sat in silence, "Your silence is defining, Stefan. Wait, wasn't there a school carnival the night you staked Vicki? Looks like a town where story repeats herself. You know I'm right."

Stefan looked to his brother knowing he could be right and instead of agreeing with him he said, "We're not gonna kill her." The former ripper glanced at his brother before leaving with Elena.

Maya followed behind them and Damon said, "It's the only way," as she passed.

She turned around facing him assuring him, "I won't let it be, it's Caroline. If she dies, I'll kill Katherine myself, Caroline is going to live."

"You won't be strong, or clever enough to kill Katherine no matter what you think you're capable of. She's been around a long time Maya," he warned genuinely caring that Maya didn't get ahead of herself. Katheirne was ruthless and wouldn't hesitate a second to save herself and kill Maya.

With a slight smirk she told him confidently, "I don't need you or her to be afraid of what I can do. All I need to do is protect Carolien, and if you force me to, avenge her. Don't force me to hurt you, because I will."

The Gilbert stormed out of the room slamming the door open; Elena quickly stood to her feet rushing after her sister as she left. Stefan gave his brother one last warning look before he too followed after them. The second they were all alone Maya looked back at Stefan asked, "You agree with Damon, don't you?"  Maya could see he wheels of frustration turning for him when he suddenly punched the nearby wall.

His outburst made Elena try and reach for him, "Stefan," Elena called out to him as he leaned against the wall.

"Damon's right," Stefan began furious, meeting Maya horrified face he immediately added, "Not about what we should do but about what's gonna happen. Katherine has decided Caroline's death sentence."

"We can't let it in that way," Elena told him looking between her boyfriend and sister, "She's doing this to us isn't she?"

Stefan laughed bitterly thinking about Katherine, "No, she's doing it to me."

"It doesn't matter why, what matters is where could Caroline be," Maya asked Stefan just as they took off trying to find Caroline. Stefan, and the twins were walking when Maya noticed he stopped looking around, "What is it? Do you hear her? What's going on Stefan, what is it? Is Caroline alright?"

"Blood, I smell blood," Stefan answered before taking off. Elena and her sister shared scared looks before following behind him quickly.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:· 

When they caught up to Stefan, he had found Damon, and Caroline. The older vampire held a stake up ready to stab her in the back. Seeing what he was about to do Stefan swooped in grabbing her pulling her over by Maya who immediately took her into her arms soothingly, "Damn it Stefan," he scolded.

Elena went to comfort her blonde friend, but she screamed pushing her away, "Get away from me! You killed me," she cried seeing her friend. 

Maya rushed to her girlfriend pulling her back from her sister letting her know she was safe. Despite the fact the nearby body and blood over Caroline's mouth said she was the danger. "No, no, no, no Caroline! That wasn't me," Elena explained to her. "You know that! That was Katherine," she finished trying to get closer, but Caroline pushed her away again.

"No! Then why did she look like you?! And why, why did she do this to me?" Maya grabbed her girlfriend making her look at her, she hadn't noticed her there before. The blonde sobbed harder nearly falling to the ground pleading, "MJ...please don't hate me cause I'm a monster."

Maya shook her head with tears brimming in her eyes, "I don't hate you; I could never hate you." Looking up towards the younger vampire she told him urgently, "Stefan, we've got to get her inside, now." The brunette tried moving Caroline closer to the door leaving the rest of them to argue.

He nodded as he went to grab Caroline and do the same while telling her, "It's okay Caroline, come with me."

"She'll die, it's only a matter of time," Damon yelled at his brother.

Stefan shook his head shouting back, "Yeah but it's not gonna happen tonight."

"Oh yeah it is," he picked up the stake and rushed over them, but Elena put herself in front of Caroline, Maya's breath hitched watching the scene before her eyes.

"Damon, she's my friend," Elena begged him as she stood between him and his stake.

Not being able to hurt her he pulled away dropping his weapon telling them, "Whatever happens, it's on you guys."

Before anyone moved, they heard Bonnie call out, "Caroline." Turning around Maya saw how the witch stood in horror watching the four of them, but mainly Caroline. If anything, she was only looking at the blonde, she couldn't believe what she had become.

Stefan looked to their blonde friend about to pull her away from everything, "It's okay, come on."

The witch looked at her friend in fear, "No, you're not, it can't be." She ran up to Caroline grabbing her arm using her magic to confirm what she already knew to be true.

"Bonnie," Caroline questioned her voice shaky and hurting before Stefan pulled her away and into the school to clean herself up. 

Maya went to follow but Stefan pleaded, "Just give her a second, you can drive her home when she's cleaned up." She nodded still clinging to Caroline's hand until they couldn't anymore.

Maya watched as Bonnie hovered over the body of the dead boy crying. Seeing how upset she was, Maya joined her twin trying to comfort the witch who said, "I can't believe this is happening."

Damon came back with the shovel he took from the janitors, "Come on, don't pout about it, I've got a body to bury." Bonnie looked at him and instantly gave him a headache; he took his head between his hands and fell on the floor in pain.

Realizing what was happening Maya protested, "Bon..." She opened the faucet with her powers and water was going out from the hose letting it go towards him.

"I told you what would happen if anyone else got hurt," Bonnie warned Damon.

Damon, still clutching his head yelled in his own defense, "I didn't do this!"

"Bonnie, it wasn't his fault," Elena yelled at her best friend.

Maya stood next to Elena watching taking deep breath wanting to stop, "Bonnie! Bonnie stops it! Stop it now! He didn't do anything Bonnie! If you're going to kill him for something he did let it be something he is actually responsible for!"

"Everything that happens is his fault Maya, everything," she told her tears flooding her eyes.

"So, what are you going to do? Kill him," Maya asked her as the witch created fire letting it go towards Damon. "Bonnie stop it," she screamed as Damon caught on fire. Looking in the back of the truck she pulled out a blanket trying to put out the fire, "Bonnie, stop! You're going to kill him?!"

Not knowing what else to do Elena jumped over the fire grabbing Bonnie distracting her from her spell. "Why did you stop me," she yelled at her.

"Because this isn't us," Elena explained as Bonnie looked at her with sad eyes. "Bonnie, this can't be us." Elena walked over bringing her into a hug as Maya brought her hand up to her head crying worried sick about Caroline.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the forbes house [ caroline's bedroom ] ❞

The whole way back from the school Caroline didn't say a word, she just stared out the window mindlessly. Maya wanted to say something, but she figured it was probably best to just give her a moment. But as they found their way back to Caroline's bedroom Maya caved and said, "If you need anything I can get it for you before I head out..."

"I'm fine," Caroline said placing her bag down on the bed.

Maya stood nervously by the door asking, "I know tonight was a lot for you...do you have any questions? I'm not Stefan but I don't think I'm useless either." The blonde didn't say anything, so Maya stepped toward her but the second her hand touched her shoulder Caroline recoiled. "Care," she said softly pulling her hand back.

Turning around to face her Caroline confirmed, "You knew...you knew all of this was going on the entire time and you never told me."

"I couldn't," explained Maya who began digging her nail into her palm.

With her head tilted in disbelief the Forbes retorted, "I get that, until we started dating. How could you keep a secret so big from me?"

"I didn't know how to begin," admitted Maya fearful of where the conversation was going.

Caroline nodded saying, "Well I don't know how to trust you."

"But you know how to trust Elena still, right," countered the Gilbert knowing if it came down to it, Elena would be forgiven.

"That's different," she tried.

"Not really. She knew as much, if not more than me," said Maya trying to be understanding despite how hurt she currently was. The blonde didn't say anything back, "See the only difference is how long you've known us."

"And the entire context of our relationship is different than my friend," argued Caroline, "I like you, a lot. And I'm not saying we break up; I'm saying give me a few days."

The brunette couldn't speak at first, her mouth became completely dry. "O-okay, yeah...fine. I get it," Maya mumbled making her way to the door. Before leaving she said, "For what it's worth, I never wanted to keep things from you. And I did everything within my power to protect you, I'm sorry it didn't work out." Caroline didn't have a chance to say anything before Maya had left her bedroom quickly making her way down the stairs and out of the house.

maya's outfit next chapter