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CHAPTER EIGHT
thriller
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( haunted )

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Monday, October 31, 2009

Harper's POV.

*Mystic Falls High School*

There's nothing worse than Halloween being on a Monday, I swear, because don't the calendar people care that we still have to go to school the next day? Nobody likes having to wake up early after a night of partying and candy, but they still make us do it anyway. It's so unfair.

As Bonnie closes her locker, Caroline comes up to us with a large shopping bag in her hand. "I have got your costume!" she announces in a singsong voice. "It's all here," she says, handing Bonnie the bag.

Eager to know what it is, Bonnie immediately takes out the costume.

It's a witch's getup complete with a pointed hat. How fitting, considering Bonnie's past obsession with the possibility of her being a witch.

Bonnie frowns at Caroline's choice of costume. "Seriously?" she scowls.

I guess the idea of being a witch doesn't appeal to her anymore. Glad that's over.

"Come on!" Caroline complains. She leans back against a locker in frustration. "Can someone please be excited that it's Halloween? I just wanna have fun, you know, just some silly, fluffy, Damon-free fun."

"I'm excited that it's Halloween," I speak up, not only to make Caroline feel better but because it's true. Holidays always just hit different and put me in a good mood, regardless of the occasion.

Caroline crosses her arms. "Well, you're the only one." She sighs then something seems to click in her mind. "Oh, and by the way, I bought an extra costume for you just in case you need it."

"Oh thanks," I tell her. "But I'm good. My mom bought me a new one."

Before Caroline gets the chance to ask me what it is, Bonnie interrupts by holding up an amber necklace. "Hey, isn't this the necklace you got from Damon?" she asks Caroline.

"Yep," Caroline responds. "Wear it. Toss it. I don't care. I just want it gone," she emphasizes.

Bonnie doesn't say anything else and just puts the necklace back into the bag.

"Hey, have you guys seen Elena?" Caroline suddenly pipes up. She removes her back from the locker she was leaning against. "Do we know what she's wearing?"

Bonnie is the first to answer. She shakes her head. "I was with Grams all weekend. I haven't talked to her."

Caroline turns to me.

"I don't know." I shrug. "I haven't seen her today. I don't know if she's going to the party."

"Maybe she's with Stefan," Bonnie offers.

Caroline returns to leaning against the lockers. "Riding to his castle on his white horse," she snarks, an obvious hint of jealousy in her voice.

Luckily for me, I think I'm over Stefan. I guess dating Damon didn't completely extinguish Caroline's crush on the younger Salvatore. But then again, Damon did turn out to be a jerk.

"Don't be bitter," Bonnie chastises Caroline. "It provokes wrinkles," she adds teasingly.

Caroline humphs playfully in return just as the bell for first period rings. The three of us go off to our respective classes.

I can't help wondering where Elena and Stefan are though, but they're probably just running late to school.

*Later That Night at the Halloween Party*

Elena didn't show up to school today, and neither did Stefan, but then again, I don't think I even saw Jeremy today either, so I figured it out. My dad said they were organizing a search party for Vicki down at the police station. That's probably where they all were today.

I wish I could have gone too, but, of course, school came first.

Screaming girls, skimpy costumes, underage drinking—the Halloween party is in full swing. I'm standing next to Bonnie and Caroline in front of a witch's cauldron filled with candy. They're wearing their witch costumes while I'm wearing my new pirate costume.

I look pretty nice if I do say so myself. I know I'm not supposed to desire any guy's attention right now, but a little confidence booster doesn't hurt, right?

My eyes find Tyler Lockwood in the crowd. He's dressed up as a Sparta warrior. I'm not surprised by his choice of costume at all. Tyler will do anything to show off his abs when he gets the chance . . . not that I'm completely complaining though.

He approaches us. That's when I notice he has two drinks in his hands. Knowing Tyler, they're probably spiked with alcohol.

He holds the cups out to us. "Cider for the ladies. It's a Lockwood special." He grins.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Bonnie quickly shakes her head. "No way. Last year I was hung over until Thanksgiving."

"No thanks," I say joining in and shaking my head. "I'm good."

"Lightweights," Caroline comments. She takes a cup from Tyler. "I am going to drink until someone is hot enough to make out with."

Tyler nods at her. "Sounds like a plan."

The two of them clink glasses.

*Time Skip*

It's been a while since Bonnie and I have seen Caroline. I'm guessing she found someone "hot enough to make out with," and now Bonnie and I are here working the candy cauldron alone.

The night has gone on for too long, and I'm growing bored. I turn to Bonnie and ask her out of curiosity, "What do you think about the whole Vicki situation?" I say to make conversation.

Bonnie thinks for a moment before answering my question. "I mean, yeah sure, I'm worried about her, but this isn't the first time she's gotten into trouble. I mean." She pauses. "I think she just needs to get some serious help already, you know? So we can all stop worrying about her."

"Yeah." I nod. "I agree."

A silence flows between us. I scan our surroundings for something else to talk about. I have to do a double take on a man wearing a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt.

You have got to be kidding me.

I quickly grab onto Bonnie's arm to get her attention. "Damon is here," I hiss.

"What?" Bonnie snaps, her eyebrows furrowing together.

Damon isn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to have left town. He shouldn't even be allowed to show his face around here anymore after what he did to Caroline. What could he possibly be doing here?

I want to go hide somewhere so he doesn't see us. But as if he heard us talking about him, he subtly changes directions and heads our way.

Of course he spotted us.

Panic starts to arise in my chest. What does he want? What is he going to do? The closer he gets, the more and more I hope he's not actually planning on paying us a visit. Maybe he's just walking in our general direction and is going to pass us by any second. Maybe he hasn't even noticed our presence.

My prayers don't get answered.

Damon casually walks up to the candy cauldron. He gives me and Bonnie a friendly smile before reaching into the cauldron and taking out a candy.

There's a tension in the air. I can feel it. It's not like we can just ignore the elephant in the room, the type of person he is. He's manipulative, clearly, since he's still somehow able to walk around Mystic Falls freely without a care in the world.

As he fiddles with the candy in his hand, Damon seems to have his mind elsewhere, like he's searching for something. "So where . . ." He looks from his left to his right. "Where'd Caroline run off to?"

His question ignites something within Bonnie. She snaps at him, "Do yourself a favor, Damon, and don't ask me about Caroline."

I suddenly feel extremely uncomfortable. The fact that he's asking about Caroline's whereabouts is disturbing. He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near her — or here — at a family-friendly party for that matter.

Damon shakes his head in amusement. "Oh, Bonnie, so loyal." He grins.

Without warning, his eyes flicker to mine, and I quickly look down at the ground. Awkward. Awkward. Awkward. Please just ignore me. Please just ignore me.

"Nice costume," he compliments, his eyes looking me up and down.

I blush profusely, confused by my reaction. I shouldn't be enjoying his eyes on me. I should be disgusted and repulsed, and yet, I still want to tell him thank you of all things. I don't know what else to say.

"Thank you," I mutter shyly, despite every bone in my body screaming at me not to be nice to him. I immediately regret the words as soon as they leave my lips.

Probably having noticed my uncomfortable state, Bonnie says, "You know what, Damon? Go away. No one wants you here."

Her words don't faze him at all. His grin turns into a cocky smirk, one that I want to smack right off his face. I've never met someone so insufferable before.

Suddenly, Damon's eyes narrow. They're focused on Bonnie, but I have no idea what he's looking at.

"Where'd you get that?" he questions her seriously.

I watch as Bonnie looks down at the necklace around her neck, the one that Caroline gave her. She touches the amber pendant with her fingers. "From a friend," she answers truthfully.

Damon raises his eyebrows in realization. "Caroline," he deduces. "You know that's mine, don't you?" he tells her.

"Not anymore," she sasses.

"Funny," Damon mocks. He snaps his fingers at her. "I'd like it back, please."

Bonnie shakes her head. "I'm not giving it to you. I'll give it to Caroline, and she can give it to you if she feels like it."

"Or," he drawls, "I could just take it right now." Without warning, he reaches forward and grabs the necklace.

I gasp and take a step back, suddenly very afraid of him. If he has no problem taking a girl's belongings out in public, who knows what else he'll do.

I expect him to just rip it off her neck, but instead, he appears to struggle a bit. An angry look forms on his face before he grunts and lets go.

Bonnie stumbles back in shock, and Damon huffs out air like he just went through a major struggle.

How tight does Bonnie have that necklace on?

Time freezes for a moment, and no one makes a sound.

"Run," Bonnie says in a low voice. She turns back and scrambles away.

I'm hot on her heels, but not as fast as her because of my dressy boots. I barely get ten feet away from the candy cauldron when a hand grabs my wrist and roughly holds me in place. Knowing that it's Damon, my mind rushes in a panic. With all my might, I try to flop my arm around and wiggle my wrist out of his grip, but it doesn't work. He's too strong.

"Stop it," he demands firmly. I'm not prepared for it when he tugs on my arm, forcing me to face him.

Our eyes lock on to each other, trapping me in a daze. Where his hand is around my wrist, it stings as if an electric current has passed between us. I don't dare move a muscle. We remain in this position for I don't know how long.

I notice his eyes flicker to my lips for a mere second, sending all kinds of tremors through my body. I don't know what's happening. I don't know what he's thinking, but I'm confused and scared.

My fear must show on my face because I swear I see his face soften. He blinks his eyes and purses his lips together. "I need you to forget this happened, okay?" he says softly.

I blink my eyes.

What am I doing away from the candy cauldron? I look from my left to my right. And where's Bonnie?

I walk back over to the cauldron. Well, that was weird. I know I zone out from time to time but never to this extent. But seriously, where did Bonnie go?

I sigh. It's not so bad that it's just me working the cauldron alone now. I love a little peace and quiet when it's just me and my thoughts — even if there are screaming girls in the background.

*Later That Night in Harper's Bedroom*

I finish reading chapter eighteen of New Moon when I get a text from Bonnie.

BONNIE BENNETT: Hey im sorry I left you alone at the party, it's just damon really freaked me out

Damon? What is she talking about? I thought he left town.

HARPER LACY: What r u talking about, I thought damon left town

BONNIE BENNETT: He came to the part-e remember? He tried to steal my necklace

HARPER LACY: I dont remember that, r u sure i was there?

BONNIE BENNETT: Ya pretty sure

HARPER LACY: I'm sorry, i don't remember that

BONNIE BENNETT: Ummm ok

BONNIE BENNETT: Maybe I made a mistake

HARPER LACY: Ya I think u did

BONNIE BENNETT: Ok

BONNIE BENNETT: Good night

HARPER LACY: Goodnight

3rd Person POV.

*Grams' House*

Was it possible?

Was it possible that Bonnie had somehow erased Harper's memory of what happened with Damon at the same time the necklace burned Damon's hand?

Bonnie knows for a fact that Harper witnessed the whole ordeal. She remembers telling her to run from Damon and everything.

The young witch sighs, fiddling with the amber pendant of her necklace—or she should say—her ancestor Emily Bennett's necklace. Maybe it's for the best that Harper forgot what happened. She isn't supposed to show her powers to anyone yet, and Harper had witnessed it firsthand.

Although, even if Harper did remember what had happened, she may not have understood what she saw. It's not like Bonnie really understood what happened in that moment either.

But Bonnie knows, Harper is a smart girl. It may have been only a matter of time before she figured out what really happened.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

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a/n:

I love how Harper is just living her life while all hell is breaking loose behind her back. She has no idea that Elena is knee deep in vampire drama, not just skipping school to be a good citizen. She also has no clue that Vicki got turned into a vampire by Damon, or that Stefan killed her. She's gonna be in for a doozy in the future. Let's just say that lol

-- roxy

( word count: 2.4k )