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Liz quickly pulls up to the hospital and parks, tears brimming her eyes. Bryce's entire side of her cheek bleeds from chewing chunks of flesh off on the ride, making herself absolutely miserable as she rode in agony. Not only that, but she feels entirely sick with guilt for her mom having to pick her up first before arriving at the hospital this morning.

"Can I have a minute in here?" Bryce asks, voice barely audible.

Liz pauses in thought, wanting to give her daughter her space, but also knows she was specifically warned not to leave her by herself.

"Why don't you come inside and you can use the bathroom, hmm?" Liz looks at her with glassy eyes, mustering up a smile trying to stay strong.

Bryce's ears ring as nods and follows Liz inside.

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"Liz." Damon calls out inside, heading over to the blonde Sherriff as she signs in. "I cam as soon as I got the message. Is she okay?" He asks, very worried.

"She's in surgery." Liz exhales. "It's... They're doing everything they can." She nods hopeful. "I need your help, Damon."

"Sure! Anything, Liz." Damon rushes out, holding his hands up before they step off to the side.

"Mayor Lockwood is dead." Liz tells him in a hushed voice. "They thought he was a vampire. They put him in the basement."

Damon's eyebrows pull together as he crosses his arms. "Mayor Lockwood was a vampire?"

"No, no, no." Liz quickly denies. "A mistake was made." She clarifies. "They said he dropped like the others when John's device went off, but he..." Liz pauses for a moment as someone walks by. ".... he couldn't have been a vampire! I've known the my whole life! And now Carol Lockwood is gonna want answers. And all I can think about right now is Caroline and... and I just picked up Bryce this morning."

Bryce. Damon's familiar with the name, knowing Liz has two daughters. She's mentioned Bryce many times since they started working together, but he had no idea she was coming to Mystic Falls today, though why wouldn't she when Caroline was in critical condition...

"And, um..." Liz chokes up.

"It's okay." Damon says gently. "Hey." He brings her in for hug, realizing just how many things are piling up all at once. "It's okay."

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"Bonnie, Gwendolyn, hey." Elena approaches the Bennet cousins, having only seen the latter maybe once since she's been back in Mystic Falls. "How's Caroline?"

"She's weak." Bonnie tells her.

"She's in surgery right now." Gwendolyn informs the Gilbert girl, jaw locking as she speaks. Gwendolyn knows she can't blame Elena for what all has happened since she's been away...

The Salvatore's are from here, her and Bonnie are witches, supernatural chaos was bound to happen at some point.

But then why does Elena always seem to come out unscathed while everyone around her suffers for it?

"They don't know if she's gonna make it." Bonnie's voice reaches Gwendolyn causing her snap out of it and come back to the conversation at hand. Damon's face drops as he listens around the corner.

"What?" Elena gasps. "Is there something that you can do like, like a spell or something? Either of you?"

Gwendolyn's forehead creases in thought as Bonnie's mouth opens to respond before another voice cuts in.

"They don't know how." Damon steps around the wall. "Do you?" He looks at Bonnie before his eyes fall upon Gwendolyn, who hasn't met yet.

Gwendolyn rears her head back at the tall, dark, and handsome man walking towards them. This has to be Damon Salvatore, she comes to the conclusion as fast as she proposed it.

"And who are you, to speak for me?" Gwendolyn tilts her head at Damon and his gaze amusedly falls upon her.

He puts on his charming smile. "We haven't officially met yet." He extends his hand out to her. "I'm Damon."

"Mmm." She hums, placing her palm in his she jerks his hand towards her, gripping tightly as she narrows her eyes until Damon feels a burning sting and his smile tightens. "Gwendolyn Bennett." She holds her stare as she releases his hand and he recoils fast.

"I don't." Bonnie speaks up. "We don't." She looks over to Gwendolyn.

"No, you don't." Damon echo's. "Because it took Emily years to learn a spell like that."

Gwendolyn wants to take that challenge, she really does, but Caroline could be gone by the time she played that gamble. And she hated that Damon Salvatore was right.

"Yeah, well, I can take down a vampire." Bonnie retorts sharply. "And clearly so can she." She nods towards Gwendolyn, referring to what she just did moments ago though that was nothing compared to what she could have done. "That spell was easy to learn." Gwendolyn smirks at her words.

Damon licks his lips, hastily turning to Elena. "I can give Caroline some blood."

"No, no way." Elena instantly shakes her head.

"No, just enough to heal her." Damon explains, sparking Gwendolyn's interest. Her and Bonnie glance at each other out of the corner of their eyes. "She'll be safe in the hospital and it'll be out of her system in a day." He states. "She'll be better, Elena."

"It's too risky." She argues. "I can't agree to that."

Gwendolyn nods subtly towards Bonnie.

"Do it." Bonnie says and Damon and Elena's heads snap to her. "This is Caroline." Bonnie stresses to Elena.

Gwendolyn shuts her eyes for a moment, trying to process everything that's hitting her so rapidly, it may knock her down completely. She couldn't lose anyone else she loved- she wouldn't.

"I agree." Gwendolyn nods. Her chest aches as she thinks about Bryce. Bryce. She wonders if someone would tell her where she was, or would it be too much a risk?

Gwendolyn hasn't seen Bryce in months, even longer than everyone else. She couldn't call, text, write even?! Nothing. No form of connection or communication like she had with Bonnie, Caroline, Elena... But not Bryce. And it hurt her, it was hard. But she knew it was for Bryce's own good.

"Okay? We can't let her die." Bonnie says strongly before looking up to Damon. "Do it." She repeats fiercely.

"If I do this, you and me, call a truce?" Damon motions between him and Bonnie. "You and I," He looks over to Gwendolyn, "Have a do-over?"

Gwendolyn raises a brow. He is persistent, she'll give him that.

"No." Bonnie answers with a shrug and Damon's smile falters. "But you'll do it anyway." She stares at him and he eyes her curiously. "For Elena."

Elena sighs as Bonnie's gaze shifts to her before nods and with that Bonnie takes off, Gwendolyn eyeing Elena and Damon before turning on her heel to follow her.

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello, hellooo!! And welcome back to Cardiac Cravinggg!!

Ever since last week's update I have been CRAVING (haha, no pun intended) this book so much, I have been SO excited to write for this!!

This chapter was alll Gwendolyn this timeee, & I'm living for ittt!! Ohhhh, her moment with Damon?! Like yes ma'am!! I love her so much alreadyyy!!

And poor Bryce, ugh, the beginning of this chap made me illl, & Liz😭😭 I love her & Damon's friendship sm!!

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter & I can't wait to hear what y'all think about Gwendolyn!! Until next time, mwah!! <3333

Don't forget to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions!! I love hearing from y'all & y'all's comments so far have been so fun & motivating!!