10. After School Special

"Carol Lockwood always said that togetherness, in times of tragedy leads to healing" Liz said.

Caroline and Aria sat beside each other in the school gym, a candle in each of their hand, last night when Aria was with Jeremy at the lakehouse, Liz called her saying Carol Lockwood was dead, Klaus then informed her that he killed Carol to get back at Tyler who manged to get all his hybrids unsired to him and even tried to take him down, though Aria wanted to stay with Jeremy she knew she had to pay her respects to Carol and Rebekah also wanted her back cause her and Caroline wanted to corner Elena and Stefan and find out what they know about the cure, so after leaving Kol and Damon in charge, April and Aria made their way back to Mystic Falls.

"That one community is stronger than a thousand of its members" Liz continued, "But how does a community stay strong after losing its leader? And Carol was so much more than just a mayor, she was an open minded friend, and a concerned mother, taken from us too soon, by a terrible accident", Aria and Caroline watched as Tyler ran out of the gym, though Aria knew Tyler had bought this on himself, she knew what losing both your parents felt like, and Aria sympathised with Tyler's pain, "Please join me in observing a minute of silence in her memory".

Elena, who was looking at Tyler, froze when she saw Rebekah standing in the corner, she closed her eyes and checked again, only to see no sign of Rebekah anywhere.

"You okay?" Bonnie asked.

"I'll be right back" Elena replied, standing up and going where she thought she saw Rebekah, who she knew had no job here.

"It's starting" Caroline whispered to Aria, as both the girls saw Elena get up.

Aria nodded, both the sisters slowly stood up and followed behind Elena.

***

Elena walked in the empty corridors of Mystic Falls High, when suddenly she heard a girl crying, confusing her. She turned a corner to see April standing there, "April?" Elena asked confused, "What's wrong?".

"Nothing, I'm fine" April assured.

"But you're crying" Elena said.

"It's just the whole mayor thing, you know, it's bringing up stuff with my dad" April replied, Elena nodded in understanding, "And I know that you're a vampire".

Elena looked at April in shock, not knowing that her brother and Kol were the ones who told April everything, "Wait, what?".

Suddenly, Aria speeded behind Elena, and snapped her neck.

"Nice acting" Rebekah said, as her and Caroline walked over to the girls.

"Thank you" April said, "So I guess I did good?".

"You did amazing" Caroline replied, they had assigned April with the task to distract Elena for a moment so Aria can snap her neck.

"Okay, let's get this over and done with" Aria whispered.

***

Elena slowly woke up from getting her neck snapped, she looked around in confusion, she realised she was in the school library.

Elena slowly stood up, while April walked over to her, "The assembly is over" April informed.

"What the hell is going on?" Elena asked confused.

"The school will be empty soon" April replied, "How many times have you tried to kill Aria? And don't lie, Jeremy and Kol say that you lie".

"Jeremy said that?" Elena asked shocked, April nodded, "Look April, Aria's not who you think she is".

"What?" April asked, "She's not a witch, banshee, vampire tribrid?".

"Listen, we can figure this out, but we have to get out of here" Elena replied, grabbing April's hand, she tried to walk away with her, but Rebekah, Caroline and Aria blocked her way.

"You are not allowed to walk out of this room" Caroline said.

"Rebekah, will you" Aria gestured towards Elena.

"Of course" Rebekah said, walking towards Elena and compelling her, "Why don't you take a seat? The rest of the class will be here shortly".

***

Back at the lakehouse, Kol and Jeremy were practicing to fight, while Damon stood at the docks, listening to Aria's voicemail.

"Hey, vampy", a smile came over Damon's face when he heard Aria call him vampy, it's been a while since she's called him that, "I'm back in Mystic Falls, me and the girls are planning to corner Stefan and Elena, oh and Nik is coming to the lakehouse to help you and Kol with Jeremy, good luck with him, I miss you, and I love you, see you very soon".

"All right, go ahead, make a move" Jeremy told Kol.

"We both know if I make a move, you will be on the floor crying" Kol said.

"Come on, I promise not to cry" Jeremy assured.

"Fine" Kol said, "You asked for it".

Jeremy went to punch Kol, but he easily blocked his punch and threw him on to the ground,

"Told you, I'm a badass" Kol said, a smirk on his face.

"Yeah, yeah" Jeremy laughed, standing up, he then turned to Damon, who wasn't even looking towards them, "Are you going to teach me anything or just stare at the water?".

"You and me both know Jer, without Ri his nothing but a grumpy old man" Kol replied.

Damon grabbed the stake near him and threw it at Kol, who easily caught it.

"Now you know that wasn't going to work" Kol said.

"Bite me" Damon taunted.

"No thanks, I don't like bitter blood" Kol said, making Jeremy laugh.

Damon speeded over to Kol, but Kol, already predicting that, ran over to where Damon was standing.

"Don't be so predictable" Kol said.

"Did you wake up and decide you wanted to do anything to get on my nerves?" Damon asked.

"Believe it or not Damon, getting on your nerves is my current favorite hobby" Kol replied.

"Oh trust me, I believe you" Damon said.

"If you two are done, can one of you teach me something useful?" Jeremy asked, 
"We've been here for days and so far all you've both done is bark orders".

"Hey, I've also kicked your ass" Kol said, sitting on top of the table.

"Okay" Damon said, ignoring Kol, grabbing a another stake and throwing it towards Jeremy, who easily caught it as well, "Well?", Jeremy went to charge at Damon, but he easily dodged him and held him by his neck, "Now, all I have to do is apply a little pressure under the jaw", Damon and Kol looked towards the driveway where the pizza delivery girl has just parked.

"Great" Kol said, sarcastically, "More greasy pizza".

Damon let go of Jeremy just as the delivery girl came out of the car, "Double pepperoni three days in a row" she said, "You guys eat anything else?".

Damon speeded behind her, "Why, are you offering?", the girl jumped and quickly turned to face Damon, "Here's a little something extra to cut off the pizza pipeline for a couple days", Damon handed the delivery girl some money, "No matter how much they beg, don't come back".

The delivery girl looked back at Kol and Jeremy, "Sorry guys" she said, and walked away.

"I didn't even order the pizza" Kol snapped.

"You're gonna starve me now?" Jeremy asked.

"If that's what it takes to make you a hunter" Damon replied, "Now run around the lake, twice".

"Told you his grumpy without Ri" Kol whispered, knowing all to well Damon could hear him, "Hey Damon, when's the last time you got laid?".

Jeremy bursted into laughter while Damon glared at Kol.

"That's it" Damon said, putting the pizza on the ground, "You are so dead".

"First catch me" Kol said, running away.

"Kol!" Damon yelled, chasing after Original.

"What did you leave me with Aria?" Jeremy whispered, a smile on his face, while he grabbed the pizza and watched Damon and Kol chase each other around the lake.

***

Stefan sat in the Grill, drinking away, when his phone started ringing.

"What?" Stefan snapped.

"Guess who?" Rebekah replied, "Me, Aria and Caroline are holding Elena hostage at the high school, just thought you should know".

"Why?" Stefan asked confused.

"We'll be asking the questions today, see you soon" Rebekah replied, hanging up on Stefan.

***

Stefan walked in the empty corridors of the school, looking inside the empty classrooms, hoping to find where Elena was, Stefan stopped walking when he heard someone behind.

"Hey Stefan" Aria greeted.

"I'm here, what do you guys want?" Stefan asked.

"We want to know what exactly do you and your pet know" Aria replied.

"About what?" Stefan asked confused.

"Don't pretend to be oblivious Stefan, we both know what I'm talking about" Aria replied.

"The cure" Stefan realised.

*** 

The library doors barged open and in came Aria and Stefan.

"Stefan" A relieved Elena said, standing up.

"Did I say you could move?" Rebekah snapped, causing Elena to quickly sit back down.

"Finally" Caroline said, "Now we can start".

Rebekah walked over to Stefan and started compelling him, "Have a seat Stefan, don't get up until we tell you to and answer all of our questions honestly, without any lies".

"Great, now that you've both been compelled we can actually start" Aria said, "We don't want to hurt you so just answer our questions and we will be out of here before you even know it, okay?".

"April, my sweet, take notes, this is how you get answers in this town" Rebekah said, "Let's start with a little quiz, in the year 1114, my brother learned, thanks to yours truly, about a brotherhood of vampire hunters with tattoos that grew with each kill, these tattoos revealed what, Elena?".

"A map" Elena replied.

"Which led to what, Stefan?" Caroline asked.

"A cure for vampirism" Stefan replied.

"How did you find out?" Aria asked, "None of us told you, who exactly told you about the cure and Jeremy?".

"Professor Shane" Stefan replied.

Aria groaned, "Of course he did".

"What is your plan?" Caroline asked curiously, "How are you going to get to the cure?".

"After you guys help Jeremy complete the map, with the help of Bonnie we were going to kidnap him" Elena revealed, making Aria and April glare at her.

Aria grabbed the back of head, and smashed it on the table, "You are one disgusting person Elena Gilbert! Kidnapping your own brother, seriously?!".

"Well we know what we wanted to know, can we go now?" Caroline asked.

"No" Aria replied, "I still have a question for Elena, why'd you do it?", Elena looked at Aria in confusion, "Why'd you kiss Damon?", Stefan looked at Elena in shock, he didn't know she had kissed his brother, "Was it to hurt me? Was it because of the sire bond? Tell me Elena, why did you think it was okay to go after a person who already had a girlfriend?".

"I didn't kiss Damon because I'm sired to him" Elena snapped, "I kissed Damon because I'm in love with him".

Aria chuckled, "So let me get this straight, you kissed Damon in hopes that he would choose you over me?".

"Because of you Damon lost his brother" Elena snapped, "Your love is toxic Aria, and deep down even you know it".

Aria frowned hearing Elena, she didn't want to let Elena's words get to her, but she couldn't help it.

Caroline glared at Elena, "Elena, tell me how it felt to be in a relationship with someone who was in love with someone else?".

Elena glared at Caroline, "Shut up Caroline".

"What, you don't believe me?" Caroline asked, "Let ask Stefan then, come on Stefan tell us who you loved more, Elena or Aria?".

Elena looked towards Stefan with a hopeful expression.

"Aria" Stefan whispered, avoiding eye contact with the two girls, "I've always loved Aria more".

Rebekah smirked seeing Elena's devastated face, "Tell me Elena, how does that make you feel? Angry, sad?".

"Okay, stop" Aria said, no longer wanting to hear about Stefan and Elena being in love with her and Damon, "We know what they know and their plan, let's just go".

"But--".

"Please Care" Aria pleaded, "I don't want to here anymore".

Without hearing anything else, Aria walked out the library.

"I'll see if she's okay" Caroline said, running after Aria.

Rebekah turned to Stefan and Elena and smirked, "You two don't think you're getting out of here this easily, do you?".

Stefan and Elena exchanged an uneasy look.

***

Jeremy sat on the table outside loading the gun with wooden bullets, he then handed the loaded gun over to Damon.

"Good" Damon said, he then unloaded the gun and handed it back to Jeremy, "Now, do it like your life depends on it, because it does".

"Look who cares about you Jer" Kol teased, laying on the table with his eyes closed and an arm over his head.

"He cares more about the Hunter's Mark and curing Elena so she's not sired to his ass" Jeremy mumbled.

"Both require you to be alive" Damon retorted, "Which is why I've updated our relationship status to it's complicated".

"How adorable" Kol mocked, "You guys have a relationship".

"Do you ever shut up?" Damon asked.

"Nope" Kol replied simply.

"I'm sorry, did I interrupt playtime?" Klaus asked, walking over to the trio.

Kol groaned, he sat up and glared at his older brother, "I was hoping Ri was lying when she said you were coming here".

"Thanks for the warm welcome brother" Klaus said, giving Kol a mock smile.

"It wasn't a welcome" Kol mumbled.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jeremy asked confused, Damon and Kol forgetting to inform him about Klaus arriving.

"I'm simply appreciating the sights and smells of nature" Klaus replied, "Neither of which presently include rotting vampire flesh, so I'm a bit concerned, how many vampires has he killed?".

"If we throw Jeremy out into the world right now, he's chum" Damon replied.

"Yeah, see, that's not a number" Klaus said, "Twelve, that's a number, that's how many of my hybrids I slaughtered with my sword, three, that's how many days it took to quell the urge to kill your brother after he knowingly watched as I walked into a death trap, one, that's the number of purposes you both serve, you both are here to grow Jeremy's mark, so I'll ask again, how many vampires has he killed since he's been here?".

"Zero" Damon replied.

Klaus chuckled, "That's a pity, I'm gonna need that cure sooner rather than later, hybrid shortage and all".

"Shouldn't have killed them then" Kol snapped.

"How can I help?" Klaus asked, ignoring his brother.

"You know actually you can brother" Kol said, picking up the gun and loading it with wooden bullets, "Jeremy, this is how you piss of a immortal hybrid", Kol shot at Klaus multiple times.

"I will dagger you!" Klaus yelled.

"You can't, Ri destroyed the daggers" Kol said, smirking, "Now, if you're staying here brother, your working on our terms, not yours".

***

Tyler sat in his house when suddenly his phone started ringing, picking it up, he realised Elena was calling him.

"I told you I don't want to talk" Tyler snapped, answering the phone.

"I heard, and you're keeping all that rage bottled up inside" Rebekah said, "Elena and Stefan are worried sick about you".

"Rebekah?" Tyler asked confused.

"Hello, Tyler" Rebekah greeted, "I heard my brother made a real mess of your life, my apologies, now why don't you come down to the high school so you can accept them in person?". 

"And why would I do that?" Tyler asked.

"Because I have your friends" Rebekah replied, "Maybe you have a better show at saving them than you did your mother, bye now".

***

Damon and Kol sat by the fire, whittling wooden bullets, when Klaus came over to them.

"If you're here for revenge brother, go for it" Kol said, "You will just be starting a never ending cycle".

"But then you'll be stuck here babysitting the little hunter that could" Damon told Klaus.

"You know" Klaus started, sitting next to his brother, "If you both adjust your angle a little bit, you'll find the sharper edge".

"We know how to whittle" Kol snapped.

"Don't forget, I taught you" Klaus reminded.

"As if you would let me" Kol said.

"Now I know why those hybrids hated you, you are annoying" Damon said.

"What's gotten you in such a grumpy mood?" Klaus asked confused.

"His away from Ri" Kol replied, making Damon roll his eyes.

"That's makes a lot of sense" Klaus said, a small smile on his face, "Also, I'm just perplexed, as to why Jeremy hasn't killed any vampires?".

"Darwinism, Klaus" Damon replied, "He needs to be able to protect himself before we hunt down his first vampire nest".

"And here was I thinking you both were the fun brothers" Klaus taunted.

"Just die" Kol groaned.

"Let's play a game, shall we?" Klaus asked, "Jeremy needs more victims and there's a whole town of people down the road just waiting to be turned into vampires for the slaughter".

"You don't think that occurred to us Klaus?" Damon snapped.

"The tragedy is, Damon, it did occur to you both and yet you both chose to ignore it" Klaus said, "My guess is, it's because of Ari's influence, you both know she will never want Jeremy to kill innocent people".

"If you know then why bring the topic up?" Kol asked, glaring at his brother.

"Because I've already made the necessary corrections" Klaus replied, confusing both Kol and Damon.

"What did you do?" Damon asked.

***

The girl who delivered the pizza this afternoon, knocked on the front door of the lakehouse, confusing Jeremy.

"Did Kol order another pizza?" Jeremy asked, opening the door.

"No, I'm just an idiot, I ran out of gas and my phone's dead, you think I could use yours?".

"Yeah sure, come in, I'll grab my phone" Jeremy replied.

The girl stepped inside and smiled at Jeremy, "Thanks".

***

Aria sat on the floor, looking at a picture of her and Damon on her phone, Caroline came and sat next to her.

"You okay?" Caroline asked.

"I'm okay" Aria replied, "I just miss him and being around Elena for too long just makes me grumpy".

"Elena makes everyone grumpy, also Kol texted me, saying that without you Damon has been very grumpy, Jeremy even sent me a video of Damon chasing Kol around the lake" Caroline said, making Aria laugh.

"Leaving those two with Jeremy was a bad idea, wasn't it?" Aria asked.

"Yeap" Caroline replied, "But at least we know they will protect Jeremy, cause they don't want to upset you, specially Damon".

"But Nik's also there, god knows what his going to do" Aria said.

"Knowing him, he will probably turn the whole turn into vampires" Caroline joked, not realising how true her words were.

Aria laughed, "True".

"Caroline, Aria" Rebekah said, walking over to the duo, "Come on, I'm about to spice things up".

Aria and Caroline exchanged a confused look, "What are you planning Beks?" Aria asked.

"Emotional torture" Rebekah replied.

Aria and Caroline ran back into the library with Rebekah, wanting to know what she was planning.

"Where's April?" Aria asked, entering the room but finding no sign of the younger girl.

"I told her to go home, it's about to get dangerous here" Rebekah replied.

"How dangerous are we talking?" Caroline asked.

"Really dangerous" Rebekah replied, she then turned to a vary Stefan and Elena, "Still glued to your seats? Oh, it's thick with tension in here, let's spice things up a bit, Elena, truth or dare?".

"We're done playing your stupid games Rebekah" Stefan snapped.

"She asked you something Elena" Caroline snapped, "Truth or dare?".

"You're compelled, answer" Rebekah ordered.

"Dare" Elena replied.

"I dare you to tell Stefan the truth about Damon" Rebekah said.

"Do I have to be here for this?" Aria asked.

"Yes" Caroline and Rebekah replied.

"Being with Damon makes me happy" Elena said.

"Being with Damon?" Aria asked, "You've never been with Damon, he hates you, he can't tolerate you, so how has he made you happy Elena?".

"You don't know anything Aria" Elena snapped.

"I know Damon!" Aria yelled, "His not Stefan, he doesn't fall for two girls at the same time".

"Clowns make you happy Elena, dig a little deeper" Rebekah said, enjoying Aria insulting Elena.

"When I'm with him, it feels unpredictable, like I'm free" Elena said.

"Yeah, you've lost your mind" Aria said.

"And how do you feel when you're with Stefan?" Rebekah asked.

"Lately, I feel like I'm a project" Elena replied, "Like I'm a problem that needs to be fixed, I think I make him sad, and I can't be with someone like that because, when he looks at me, all he sees is a broken toy".

"Do you still love Stefan?" Rebekah asked.

"Yes" Elena replied.

"Are you still in love with Stefan?" Rebekah asked.

"No" Elena whispered.

Aria glared at Elena, she then waved her hand and suddenly Elena started coughing out blood, "Let's get one thing straight Elena, yours and Stefan relationship is none of my business, but stay away from Damon, I swear to god if I see you near my boyfriend, you won't be alive to see the cure, I hope we understand each other Elena, otherwise your going to have a problem".

Aria stopped her magic when Tyler entered the library.

"Ah, good, you're here, it was just getting depressing" Rebekah said.

"What the hell is going on?" Tyler asked confused.

"Listen to the rules carefully" Rebekah said, ignoring Tyler, and turning to Stefan and Elena, "Stay in the building, no vamp running in the hallways".

"Vamp running from what?" Elena asked confused.

Rebekah turned to Tyler, and started compelling him, "Turn".

"What?" Elena asked shocked, "He'll lose control".

"That's the whole point" Rebekah said, "We've exhausted all your knowledge, you're just competition, whoever finds it first gets to decide what to do with it, use it, share it, destroy it, save it, I want that to be our group, not yours".

"But if I turn, I'll kill them" Tyler said.

Rebekah smirked, "Yes, you will, turn, but remember you are not to attack me, Aria or Caroline".

After giving the group one last glance, the three girls left the library, while Tyler started to turn.

***

Jeremy ran upstairs and grabbed his phone, not realising the pizza delivery girl was right behind him.

"Did you find your phone?".

Jeremy turned around just as the delivery girl pounced on him, she tried biting him, but Jeremy quickly went on top of her, he took a stake out of his back pocket, and staked her.

Damon and Kol entered the scene and looked at Jeremy impressed, while Jeremy looked at his hand, as his tattoo started to grow.

***

After the whole incident with Stefan and Elena, Aria had enough and decided to head back to the Forbes household, she sat on the porch, talking to Damon.

"So what I got from everything you just told me is that Elena and Stefan are idiots who don't know the meaning of not interested" Damon said, "Please tell me Tyler killed them".

Aria laughed, "Unfortunately no, they managed to dodge him".

"That sucks" Damon said.

"Yeah" Aria whispered, "So, how's Jeremy?".

"That depends on how much you trust me" Damon replied.

"I trust you more then I trust myself" Aria assured.

"Then I think he's gonna get through this just fine" Damon said.

"Are we?" Aria asked, slightly scared of Damon's answer.

"Of course we are Ria, we've been through too much to give up now" Damon replied.

"Damon, I don't know what's going to happen to Stefan and Elena, but I don't want them to come between us" Aria said, "You and I, we're real, you know that and I know that, we're soulmates Damon, you're my forever, and I love you, I can't lose you".

A smile came over Damon's face hearing Aria, "Look, I'm gonna get this cure, and we are going to shove it down Elena's throat so she can leave us alone, and I'm gonna have to do things you're not gonna like".

"Damon--".

"But listen carefully" Damon interrupted, "Get in your car, right now, come to me Ria, I need you to be here with me, I'm losing my mind without you".

Aria smiled, "I'm coming Damon, wait for me?".

"Always" Damon whispered.

***

Damon, Kol and Jeremy entered the bar, they looked around in shock when they saw dead bodies everywhere, and Klaus sitting on the bar, drinking.

"I was beginning to worry you boys wouldn't find the place" Klaus said.

"What the hell" Jeremy whispered, looking around shocked, "Did you kill all these people?".

"Not exactly" Klaus replied, "They're in transition, killing them is your job".

"You both said you were gonna convince Klaus to do this another way" Jeremy snapped, looking at Kol and Damon.

"Have you met him?" Kol asked, "Do you think he listens to anyone but himself?".

"And, we thought about it" Damon said, "And then we realised his idea was better".

Jeremy looked at the two vampires in shock, just as everyone around them started walking up.

***

Presenting 4x10 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Kol and Damon's love hate relationship?

Thoughts on our golden girls trapping Stefan and Elena in the school library?

Thoughts on Klaus turning random people for Jeremy to kill?

Thoughts on Damon and Aria's phone call?