I let out an ear piercing scream hoping someone, anyone, can hear me.
He is right in front of me now, bending down. I tug on the seatbelt but it's no use I am stuck. I look back over at him and see him disappear down the road. I lean forward out the window a little to see if he's gone but suddenly I see someone appear in front of me. I scream and close my eyes, fearing the worst.
"How you doing in there?" I open my eyes and am so relieved to see him and not some murderous vampire.
"Damon." I croak out.
"You're stuck." he looks up at my seatbelt frowning. He stands up and rips the door off.
"It's my seatbelt, I can't...." I'm trying to cry and talk at the same time and it's not working well.
"Shhh." Damon tries to calm me down. He leans down looking into my eyes to make sure I focus on him. "I'm gonna get you out of here. I want you to put your hands on the roof." I do as he says and slowly place my hands on the roof. "Ready 1...2..3." as he says 3 he breaks my seatbelt causing me to fall but he easily catches me. He picks me up bridal style and gets me out of the car.
"Are you okay? Can you stand? Is anything broken?" he asks. I groan and shake my head telling him there is nothing broken. He sets me down on the ground but I can't hold myself up and fall to the ground. "Woah." Damon says catching me before I hit the ground. "You're fading fast Aria." Damon announces, "Aria, look at me. Focus." Damon instructs gently taking my chin and lifting my head up so I am looking him in the eye.
"I look like her." I whisper starting to feel myself fade.
"What?" Damon asks but it's too late. I finally give in and pass out.
------
I open my eyes slowly and see the beautiful green landscape passing me by quickly. I open my eyes a little wider and sit up looking around. Uh, I'm in a car with Damon. Uh, how did I even get here. I look over at Damon and he smirks at me. "Morning."
I look out the window and realize there is no way this is Mystic Falls. "Where are we?" I ask running my hand through my very tangled hair.
"Georgia." Damon smirks.
"Georgia? No, no we're not. Seriously Damon, where are we?" I demand, starting to get a little bit nervous.
"Seriously, we're in Georgia." Damon rolls his eyes then looks over at me, "How you feeling? There's no broken bones, I checked."
I shake my head, "My car....there was a man.....I hit a man! But then he got up and.....who the hell was that?!"
"That's what I would like to know." Damon sighs and I swear I hear a little bit of anger in his voice.
"Ugh...where's my phone?" I question searching through my pockets. "Okay, we really have to go back, nobody knows where I am. Elena is probably freaking. Pull over." I command but Damon ignores me and keeps driving. "I mean it Damon, pull over. Stop the car!"
"Ugh, you were so much more fun when you were asleep." Damon rolls his eyes, finally pulling over. I open the door and get out of the car groaning as I do so.
I lean over not feeling that well and suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look over into Damon's worried eyes and smile a little bit.
"I'm fine." I tell him and stand up taking a few steps. The pounding in my head slowly fading away. "Damon we have to go back." I insist turning around and facing him.
"Oh come on, we've already come this far." Damon smirks, taking a few steps towards me.
"Why are you doing this? I can't be in Georgia, I wrecked my car. I have to go home." I frown. "You know this is technically kidnapping."
Damon puts his hand on my shoulder, "That's a little melodramatic, don't you think?"
"Haha, you're hilarious." I say sarcastically, glaring at him and shrugging his hand off my shoulder.
"You know I could just compel you to have fun." Damon baits, leaning against the car. I frown and look down at my wrist not seeing the green bracelet. Shit! I gave it back to Stefan. I hear a phone ringing and I see Damon try to ignore it.
"That's my phone." I glare at him. He sighs and pulls the phone out of his pocket. He looks at the caller ID before smirking.
"It's your sister." I shake my head not wanting to talk to her or Stefan since they're with each other most likely. "Aria's phone." Damon smirks answering it.
I can only hear half of the conversation so I walk away not really interested. Damon talks for a few more moments before hanging up and walking over to me. I look at the beautiful scenery around me and turn around smirking at Damon.
"You know what, I could use a break from my drama filled life. I mean all my problems will be there when I get back. But I have one condition, you do not compel me."
"I accept that condition, now get in the car." Damon commands before using vampire speed and getting into the drivers seat. I sigh and walk over to the passenger seat slowly getting in.
"No fair, you use your speedy vampire powers while I don't even get powers." I glare at him as he pulls away.
"Yup, perk of being a vampire." Damon grins. I scoff, having no urge to be one ever.
"So where did you put my car?"
"Uh, I pulled it off to the side of the road. I don't think anyone will bother it." Damon looks over at me.
"What about the creep in the road?" I ask more to myself then him, "Was he a-" Damon cuts me off.
"From what I could tell, yeah." Damon frowns not liking another vampire in town.
"And you sure you didn't know him?" I question.
"If I never met him, I wouldn't know him. I mean it's not like we all hang out together at the vamp bar and grill." Damon teases. I crack a little smile but I don't want to give him the satisfactory of making me laugh. I'm about to respond but Damon pulls the car over in what looks like the middle on nowhere.
"Where are we?" I ask but then look over to my right and sigh. "You brought me to a bar?" I get out of the car and glare at him but inside I am kind of happy. "Unfortunately I am not old enough, they won't let me in."
"Sure they will." Damon smirks then inclines his head in a gesture of come on. I sigh and follow him into the bar. It's called Bree's Bar and Grill. It's bigger than the Mystic Grill but not very big for a big city bar.
Damon starts rubbing his hands together and smiling at the tall, dark skinned women behind the counter. She looks up at us and smiles at Damon. "No, no it can't be. Damon?" she asks in disbelief jumping over the counter. She has very large black heels on. She jumps to the ground and walks in front of Damon, towering over him. She is like 6 feet tall! "My honey-pie." she smiles before they start to kiss passionately.
I look up at them with wide eyes trying to suppress my jealousy. I sigh and shake my head. This is going to be some night.
------
"Here's to the man that broke my heart, crushed my soul, destroyed my life, and ruined any and all chances of happiness." Bree places the shots in front of Damon and I. "Drink up." she smiles. Damon and I both drown our shots and Bree looks over at me impressed I drank it.
"So, how did he rope you in?" Bree asks me pouring me another drink.
"I'm not roped in, I am a single lady." I say.
"Honey, if you're not roped, you're whipped. Either way just enjoy the ride." she smiles completely ignoring my first sentence.
"Okay." I drown my drink and look back up at her. "So how did you two meet?"
Bree laughs, "College."
I look over at Damon in disbelief, "You went to college?"
"I've been on a college campus, yes." Damon does that eye thingy then drowns his drinks.
"It was about 20 years ago when I was a sweet young freshman. I met this beautiful man and I fell in love. Then he told me about his little secret, made me love him even more. Cause a...you see, I had a little secret of my own that I was dying to share with somebody." Bree explains almost making me puke.
"She's a witch." Damon leans over whispering to me.
"You changed my world you know?" Bree smiles over at Damon.
"I rocked your world." Damon smirks. I roll my eyes at his arrogance.
Bree laughs, "He's as good as a sack isn't he?" I just look at her like she is crazy. "But mostly he's just a walk away Joe." she finishes her drink and slams it down on the table walking away. She turns to us, and glares at Damon. "So, what is it that you want?"
I look over at Damon asking him the same question with my eyes. What does he want?
"Aria why don't you go let your Aunt know you're alright." It's not a question, it's a command. Damon hands me my phone and I stand up, heading out the door. Why can't he tell me what he is planning on doing. I sigh and dial Jenna's phone.
I hear the phone pick up and I immediately apologize. "Hey, Jenna. I'm so sorry."
"Where are you?" she asks not very happy. "Why didn't you call?"
"I was so tired last night, I fell asleep at Caroline's and this morning I just....wanted to get to school." I lie easily.
She sighs, "Are you okay?"
"You know Tyler and stuff." I frown even thinking about him. "Look Jenna I'll see ya later." I hang up not caring about her response. I start to head back inside but I hear my phone ring. I look down at the caller ID and see Elena. I take a deep breath and answer the phone.
"Aria? Is that you?" she questions.
"I'm here." I answer stiffly.
"Where are you?" Stefan questions, so obviously they have it on speaker phone.
"You lied." I say, barely containing my anger.
"Wait just let us explain. Stefan just told me about it this morning." Elena says.
"So Stefan didn't lie?" I demand.
"Just tell us where you are, so we can come get you." Elena pleads, her voice cracking.
"How am I connected to Katherine?" I ask.
"We honestly don't know." Stefan sighs.
I laugh bitterly, "Yeah and I'm a fricken pineapple."
"It's the truth listen.." Elena starts to say but I hang up pissed off. How could Stefan keep such a big thing from Elena and I? How can Elena forgive him so easily? I turn around to go back to the bar and Damon is right in front of me.
"You okay?" he asks, tilting his head.
"What have I told you about tilting your head?" I sigh, avoiding his question.
He picks up on it right away, "Don't answer a question with a question."
"Fine! I'm not really all right, okay?" I glare at him.
"Alright...but are you hungry?" he smiles.
I laugh, "I'm starving." he takes my hand and we walk back to the bar. It's getting a little busier because it's getting later at night. We go back up and sit at the bar.
"What can I get you two?" a bartender asks.
"Two cheeseburgers with fries." Damon says ordering for me.
"How do you know that I even like cheeseburgers?" I question as the guy walks away.
"Who doesn't?" he smirks.
"Elena." I shrug, "She does the whole healthy thing."
"Maybe you should start too Ari." Damon teases.
"Did you just call me fat?" I gasp faking hurt.
"Of course not. I think you're actually too skinny." Damon says.
"Coming from chicken bones over here." I smirk.
"Hey! I am muscular." Oh yes you are.
"Ha! You wish." I smile.
"Watch your mouth Ari. I could easily bite you." Damon shrugs smiling. I laugh and roll my eyes. I look over and notice Bree watching us but as soon as she sees me looking at her, she looks away. The bartender brings out our cheeseburgers and a beer for Damon.
"Awww! Why don't I get a beer." I whine to the bartender then look up at him with puppy dog eyes. "Can I please have one, my good sir."
He sighs, "Fine." he disappears then brings back another beer. I smirk taking it from him. Once he's gone I look over at Damon still smirking.
"God, you men do anything a women asks." I smile.
"Only if they're pretty." Damon winks. I roll my eyes but I'm pretty happy that he thinks I am pretty.
I pick up a fry and stare at it for a moment, "Say I am descended from Katherine, does that make me part vampire?"
Damon shakes his head, "Vampires can't procreate but we'd love to try." I look over at Damon, glaring. "No, look if you were related that would mean Katherine had a child before she was turned."
"Did Stefan think he could just use Elena to replace her?" I say angrily and shove a fry into my mouth.
"It's kind of creepy, if you ask me." Damon states. I look down at my plate, shaking my head. "Come on you don't like pickles? What's wrong with you?" Damon reaches over and takes the pickles off my plate.
"How can you even eat? If technically your supposed to be...." I trail off not really wanting to say it out loud.
Damon looks behind him, "Dead." he whispers smiling a little. "It's not such a bad word. As long as I keep a healthy diet of blood in my system, my body functions pretty normally." Damon pops a fry in his mouth causing me to smile.
I can't help what I say next, I just kind of blurt it out, "Do you really like me for me? Or do you just want to be my friend because I look like your dead ex-girlfriend?"
Damon looks over at me and is about to respond but Bree interrupts him. I sigh and feel a sudden need to strangle her. "Here are two more for ya." she smiles setting two more beers in front of us.
"Cheers?" Damon smirks holding up his beer. I smile back at him and do cheers then drown my drink quite easily.
Time to get drunk.
-------
"Ready? Go!" Bree yells as we all pick up our shots and drown them quickly. I am finished with mine first and set it quickly down on the table. I do a mini happy dance then smirk at Damon. "That's three." I say as Bree laughs impressed. I see some of the shot running down Damon's face and I laugh at him. "Do you need a bib?" I make my voice all small and cute. Yup, I am completely hammered.
Damon wipes his mouth then looks over at me, "I'm sorry I can't unhinge my jaw like a snake to consume alcohol."
I laugh, "Whatever. So...who's next." I hit my hands on the table, grinning like a mad women.
"You should be on the floor by now." the lady next to me slurs.
"I am not even drunk. My tolerance is like way up here." I say and jump holding my arm up to show them. Damon smiles at me and I smile back. This is really fun.
"Fine one more round." Bree smiles filling up our shot glasses. "Okay, go!" she yells and I win again easily.
"Easy as turning the TV on." I smirk. Everyone laughs and Damon pokes my on the shoulder.
"It's supposed to be easy as pie." Damon smiles.
"Yeah but that makes no sense. I mean what the hell are they actually talking about? Mine makes soooo much more sense." I say.
Damon laughs, "You are a very random drunk."
"I've already said, I am not drunk." I state but slur my words just a little.
"Yeah you are." the lady next to me smiles. "But hey, so am I!" we laugh even though it's not very funny.
"Let's go play pool." I grin seeing the pool table. Most of the people head over to the pool table but Damon doesn't move. "Come on Day, live a little." I pout.
"Nah, go on with all your drunk friends. I'll stay over here on the sane side." he smiles.
I glare at him. "Go screw some pineapples, duck face."
Damon laughs, "Like I said, very random drunk."
"And like I said, I'm not drunk." I say before I skip away to the pool tables. Yes, skip. I get over there and everyone is already waiting for me to take my turn. I grab the pool stick from them and smirk. "I'm gonna beat your asses." they laugh, obviously not believing me. I walk up to the pool table and align my shot.
I hit the ball perfectly and four go into the holes. "Yay!" I scream jumping up. I hear a phone ringing and realize it's mine. Crap! I run over to the phone and pick it up right before it hangs up. "Hello?" I answer.
"Aria." Jenna answers.
"Jenna!" I yell playfully and grab my jacket. "Hold on it's loud in here." I say and start heading for the back doors.
"Where are you? Are you okay?" she asks worried.
"What? Yeah, everything's fine." I answer and can't hear her answer. "Hold on, I can't hear you." I say stepping out the back door. When I get outside I trip on my own two feet and drop the phone. Ow, that hurt. I bend down and pick up my phone. As I am about to answer Jenna someone puts there hand over my mouth, and starts dragging me away.
I drop my phone and try to fight against the attacker but he/she is really strong. I try to yell for Damon but his hand is over my mouth. Shit! This is not good. I am quickly becoming sober. He/she keeps dragging me away from the restaurant and I am starting to become more nervous.
Please Damon, help me.
------------------------------
I stand there unable to move become it turns out the guy that compelled me is a vampire seeking revenge on Damon. I can not move until he gets back. Now I really hope Damon doesn't come for me, or else he will be killed.
I mentally curse myself when I hear footsteps coming. I see Damon step into view. "Damon, no!" I yell, tears in my eyes but it's too late the guy speeds out of nowhere and hits Damon with a baseball bat. He just keeps hitting him and I can hear Damon's groans of pain.
"What the hell?!" Damon groans pained as the guy pours gasoline all over him. Oh God, this is bad.
"No!" I yell running up to them. The guy pushes me back and I fall down scraping my elbow on the pavement. He shows me his fangs and the veins under his eyes causing me not to move.
I see Damon eyes flash with anger because he hurt me. I think? Actually I think he is just pretty pissed in general right now. "Who are you?" Damon grounds out.
"Perfect. You have no idea." the guy says his voice cracking.
"What are you talking about? What did he do?" I ask standing up.
"He killed my girlfriend." he tells me before continuing to pour oil on Damon. "What did she do to you! What did she do to you, huh!" he screams furious.
"Nothing." Damon says and I just want to slap him. Now is not the time for any of Damon's natural personality to shine.
"I don't understand." I yell trying to stall him in anyway I can.
"My girlfriend went to visit Stefan and Damon killed her. Got it?!" he says glaring at me. Damon starts to get up and the guy kicks him back down. Lexi! That was his girlfriend.
"Lexi? Lexi was your girlfriend? She told my sister about you, she said that you were human." I say. That night Elena told me everything that Lexi said to her. Thank God for that.
"I was." he states with tears in his eyes. He turns back around to Damon and pulls out a lighter. Oh God, think Aria.
"Lexi turned you?" I ask.
"If you want to be with someone forever, you have to live forever." he says kicking Damon back down again.
"She loved you, she said that when it's real you can't walk away." I tell him.
He spins around fuming, "Well, that's a choice you're not gonna have to make!"
"Don't! Please, don't hurt him!" I beg as he turns around lightning the match.
"I'm doing you a favor!" he growls.
"Lexi loved you and she was good which means you're good too. Be better than him, don't do this. I'm begging you, please." I cry. He looks at me for a second before hauling Damon up and holding him by his collar. He stares at him for a few moments before throwing him all the way across the lot. Damon hits the wall hard and groans on the ground.
"Thank you." I say to him as he faces me once again.
"It wasn't for you." he whispers before disappearing. I run over to Damon and put a gentle hand on his back. I look back up at the place the guy stood a few seconds ago. I can't help but to feel sorry for him, he's just a heartbroken man that lost his girl.
---------------------------
"So, why did you bring me with you?" I question Damon as we are in the car on the way back to Mystic Falls.
"Well, you're not the worst company in the world, Aria. You should give yourself more credit." Damon smiles at me.
"Seriously?" I ask disbelieving.
"I don't know you were there on the road all damsel in distress like. And I knew it would piss off Stefan and Elena. And.... you're not the worst company in the word, Aria." Damon says, causing me to smile a little.
"I saved your life." I smirk, proud of myself.
Damon looks over at me, "I know."
"And don't you forget it." I playfully glare at him causing him to smile. Despite the fact Damon almost got killed, it was a pretty awesome night.
------------------------
I walk up the steps to Stefan's room, dreading this talk. I walk into the room and am surprised to only see Stefan. I guess Elena went home?
"Hi." I say as he stands up.
"Hi." he answers.
"You could have told us." I glare at him.
"I wanted to." he says.
"You told Elena and I, no more lies, only the truth. We can handle the truth Stefan, as crazy as it sounds I can handle the fact that you are a vampire and you have a vampire brother and that my friend is a witch. I can accept the fact that the world is a much more mysterious place then I ever thought was possible but this....this lie, I can not take." I seethe.
"What is Elena to you? Who is she to you?" I ask harshly.
"She is not Katherine, she is she opposite of everything she was." Stefan says.
"And what about me? That picture looked a lot more like me than Elena!" I say, my voice cracking a little.
"You're more like her than I would care to admit but you're still you." Stefan says, not helping very much.
"Thanks Stefan, for that vote of confidence." I shrug. I hear footsteps behind me and spin around to see Elena. "Elena." I cry while hugging her so tightly I might bruise her rib or something.
"It's okay." she whispers in my ear pulling away. She gives me a little smile before glaring up at Stefan.
"I have one question for you, when did you decide I wasn't Katherine? After you kissed me? Or the first time you met me?" Elena asks furious.
"It wasn't the first time Elena." Stefan states.
"Then when was it?" Elena questions.
"May 23rd, 2009." Stefan answers.
"But that was..." I trail off.
"That was the day your parents car went off the bridge." Stefan says.
"You were there?" I whisper.
"Every couple of years I come back here, to see Zach and see my home. Last spring I was out in the woods by old Wickery Bridge when I heard the accident. I was fast getting there but not fast enough. The car was already submerged. Your Dad, he was still conscious, I was able to get to him but he wouldn't let me help him until I helped you two." Stefan explains.
"Oh my God." Elena sobs.
"When we woke up in the hospital, nobody could figure out how we got out of the car. They said it was a miracle." I say tears flowing down my face.
"I went back for them, but it was too late...I couldn't save them." Stefan says. "When I pulled you two out, I looked at your faces and you two looked like Katherine. I couldn't believe the resemblance. After that I spent months making sure Aria wasn't Katherine, and watching you Elena. I learned everything I could about you two and I realized you guys were nothing like Katherine. After that I wanted to leave town but Elena, I couldn't leave with out knowing you. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you two, you guys were just so sad and..." he trails off.
"Why do we look like her?" I question.
"Aria, you guys have been through so much-" I cut him off quickly.
"Why do we look like her Stefan? What are you not telling us?" I question done with his games.
"It didn't make any sense to me. You two were Gilbert's and she was a Pierce but the resemblance was too similar. Than I learned the truth, you and Elena were adopted." I gasp and look at Elena. That's not possible. Elena walks over to the couch and sits down in complete shock. I just stand there paralyzed from it.
"How do you know this?" Elena asks quietly.
"Your guys birth certificate both says Aria and Elena Gilbert, Mystic Falls General. But there is no record of your Mom ever being admitted or ever being pregnant." Stefan says.
"What else do you know?" Elena questions.
"For me to go any deeper I would have had to look into the Pierce family and I can't do that. It's too much of a risk. If someone found out I was asking about Katherine....listen to me, it doesn't matter. You are the women that I love. I love you." Stefan admits. I really shouldn't be here right now. I start to see them lean so I just walk out the door without saying goodbye.
I walk down the steps like a zombie, I feel like I'm dead. My entire life has basically been a lie.
------------------------------
As soon as I walk in the door Jenna is pounding me. "I don't lay down a lot of rules Aria, not with you. I trust you to tell me the truth. Where were you and why did you lie to me about it? I thought we were closer than that."
"Now is not the time you want to talk to me about lies." I glare and start heading up the stairs.
"Don't do that, don't turn this back to me. I didn't do anything." she seethes.
"Okay, question: Am I adopted?" I ask, I see her eyes go wide. "I trust you to tell me the truth too Jenna. How could you not tell me Jenna? I thought we were closer than that." I seethe before storming up the stairs.
"Aria...they...they asked me not too." Jenna yells while I walk up the stairs.
"I don't want to hear it." I say before walking in my room and slamming the door shut.
Am I really Arianna Gilbert?