UPDATED FROM JULY 2020

SEXY SUDS CAR WASH

Aella had never seen someone look so shocked, "Sir, are you okay?"

Yet the man didn't look at Aella; his eyes bore down on Stefan, who was starting to become very uncomfortable, "I know you. How can it be?"

Aella had a feeling that the old man wasn't talking about Stefan like he resembled a celebrity, especially when the old man shook his head in disbelief. "You haven't aged a day."

Aella laughed uncomfortably as Stefan struggled to say anything, "I'm sorry, but I think you have the wrong person. This is Stefan."

"Yes," The old man nodded and finally turned his attention back to Aella. Stefan quickly made his way back to the car washing; he knew Aella could deal with this; she had a lifetime of covering up her abilities. "His name was Stefan too. He was just passing through to visit his uncle when I first moved here. I stayed at the Salvatore boarding house and met him. That's him."

"No, Sir," Aella sadly shook her head, she hated the fact that she had to lie to this lovely old man. "Stefan is only 17, but he was named after his Great Uncle Stefan because he resembled him so much. They are two different people."

When the confusion spread across his face, Aella felt like the worst person on Earth, but it had to be done. "He is? Oh, tell that young man, I'm sorry for scaring him."

"That's okay, Sir."

"Terrible what happened to his Great Uncle, just terrible," the man muttered.

"Terrible?" Aella couldn't help but wonder.

"Mm-mmm," he nodded, pocketing his change. "Joseph... 1953 if I recall. An animal attack, just terrible."

Aella slowly nodded; she knew that it was probably no animal attack, more like Damon attack, "I'm sure it was, Sir."

"-Grandpa, you gotta go. Mom wants you home. Okay?" Tiki came over and spoke to the old man; only then did Aella realize a queue was building up. The old man nodded and walked away.

"He wasn't bugging you, was he?" Tiki asked as she took some money from the next person in line. She looked over at Aella, who was watching Tiki's grandfather walk away. "He's a little alzy-heimer."

"No," Aella laughed awkwardly, her lying only adding to his confusion. "He was lovely. You're lucky to have such a wonderful grandfather."

Tiki smiled tightly at the brunette; then, she realized that she may not have Stefan or friends as Aella did. However, she did have her family who were alive and only a phone call away.

"Look, do you mind holding the fort for a few minutes?" Aella asked, oblivious to Tiki's guilt at her earlier thoughts, as the cheerleader nodded quickly and told her to go ahead.

Aella smiled in thanks and ran in the direction Stefan had gone. Stefan was using one of the tall SUVs as cover while he washed the car. Yet, Aella could see his mind was focused on something else as he watched Tiki's grandfather walk away. "Hey, are you okay?"

Stefan nodded; he had heard and felt Aella approaching. He looked over at his girlfriend, "Now you see the negative side of it all."

"I know," Aella smiled gently. She slid into his arms, and he did nothing to stop her as he let the cloth drop on the car bonnet and held her close to him. "I've not felt that bad in a long time, he was so sure, and I made him feel like he was crazy."

"I'm sorry," he pecked the top of her head and held her close.

Aella shrugged, smiling into his chest, "If that happens only a few times compared to all the positives we'll have together, it'll be worth it."

Stefan leaned down as Aella raised up on her tiptoes; she leaned forward, placing her face an inch from his. He took advantage of her proximity and leaned forward to kiss her, drawing his large palm that had been near to breaking someone's hand only an hour ago for her, around the back of her neck to hold her to him.

"Jeremy, no!"

The two broke away from each other as Bonnie squealed, running away from Jeremy, who was squirting her with the hose. From the wetness of his hair, Aella had to guess he hadn't been the one to start it. The two laughed and held each other closer watching the fun with smiles on their faces.

On the other side of the Car Wash, Vicky glared at the two teens playing. She hadn't seen Jeremy smile like that with her, ever. Looking past the two giggling girls, her eyes focused on Tyler, who had his arms around one of the dumb cheerleaders 'showing' her how to buff the car properly.

Vicky felt sick; they didn't need her.

It became worse when Aella jumped on Matt, her Matty, forcing him into the water fight. Vicky felt as if she shouldn't even be on this Earth anymore; that was how she and Matt used to be before the drugs. Holding back the tears, she stumbled away and began making her way back to the cemetery; she had come alone, everyone more focused on getting high than doing anything else.

She was just about to leave the school grounds when she heard the happy tones of Elena Gilbert and Caroline Forbes. God, how she hated those two - not as much as Aella Bennett - but it was pretty close.

"It was so nice of the nurse to let us store all this in her office so we wouldn't have to walk across half the school to get supplies," Elena laughed, hands full with two boxes.

"She offered when she was looking at my cut," Caroline explained, smiling with Elena at the kindness of the school nurse. "But only you, me, and Aella know it's open today. Don't want anyone getting into the school's supply of drugs."

Vicky's interest peaked as Elena scoffed, her voice growing softer as the two walked past Vicky, not seeing her from her crouched down position. "Or letting Aella at the suckers. I swear she only knocks herself in gym class, so she gets a sucker and a sticker."

Vicky saw the door to the school closing and ran out from her hiding spot quickly, just able to catch the door handle before the door locked itself.

'Thank you, MFHS, for buying the expensive soft closing doors,' she thought, not noticing the black crow above her as she made her way into the school.

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Aella was finishing the SUV Stefan had hidden behind. While Stefan moved onto the next car with a peck goodbye, Aella headed back over to the money desk to relieve Tiki before Caroline got back. She switched with Tiki just as she saw Sheriff Forbes walk over to the counter, "Good afternoon, Sheriff! Caught any bank robbers today?"

Liz laughed; it was a running joke between her and Aella when she first came after her parents died. She had introduced herself as Sheriff Forbes, and Aella, for the first time in weeks, according to Sheila, had gasped in delight at meeting a Sheriff. Apparently, she and her father had loved old westerns, and because they had always lived in big towns with Sergeants and Captains. She had never met a Sheriff before and assumed that her main focus was catching bank robbers like in the westerns. Of course, Aella knew that wasn't what Liz actually did during that first meeting, but it triggered the happy, sarcastic, fun, energetic girl to appear; for just a moment, and Liz just wanted her to meet her daughter immediately after that.

She could never imagine that Aella would become almost a second daughter to her, the best friend to her daughter, and a loving member of the community so quickly.

"Not today Aella, but you'll be the first one to know if I do."

"Awesome!" Aella did a little dance in her seat. "Here for a car wash?"

"I've got to support Caroline. Could you imagine if I didn't show up?" Liz sighed at the thought, while Aella only laughed at it.

"That'll be $20, Sheriff," Aella told her, and when she handed over the cash, Aella looked around for Caroline, "C, was just getting towels with Elena, are you okay to wai-"

"-...Sheriff... you okay remove some kids.... smoking up at the cemetery?" Liz's radio crackled as the Sheriff looked down at Aella guiltily. She could only think to herself, 'at least you made it this time, Liz; hopefully, your kid won't be too mad at you.'

Aella handed back Liz's money with a sad smile when Liz went to answer it, but Liz shook her head and whispered, "Let's call it a donation." Turning around, she responded to her call, heading to her cruiser.

Aella sighed in disappointment. Caroline let down by her mom... again.

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Vicki stormed into the school, one thing on her mind; drugs. She practically ran towards the nurse's door when she felt a presence behind her that made her stop her wide stride walk.

"Vicky."

Vicky felt her body freeze up.

"Vicky help me."

The hairs on her skin stood up as the corridor suddenly felt colder.

"Help me. Help me."

Vicky felt a cold breath on her neck and spun on the spot; she gasped as her eyes met a pair of tired blue eyes.

"Help me, Vicky."

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Aella approached Caroline after she had handed out replacement towels and shimmies, "Hey, C?"

"Mmmm?" Caroline answered, eyes on her clipboard.

"You missed your Mom."

Caroline's head shot up, a smile on her face, "My Mom was here? Who did her car? It wasn't Cara, was it? Great body to draw the drivers in, but her cleaning techniques are questionable."

Aella laughed uncomfortably, "That's the thing C, she came but-"

"-but she got called away?" Caroline realized sadly, a smile gone and hands turning white from her grip on the clipboard. "God! That is so typical of her! Why can't I, for just once, be a priority?!"

Aella knew words wouldn't help and just pulled Caroline into her arms, Caroline quick to wrap hers around Aella as she hid her water-filled eyes in her best friend's shoulder. "Hey..." Aella shrugged as she rubbed Caroline's back in comfort, "She still donated $20 without having her car washed, bonus."

Caroline chuckled into her shoulder and pulled away, eyes still a little teary, but she now had a small smile on her face. "There's that, at least."

"You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah," Caroline nodded and then gestured to her, clipboard, "I'm just going to fill in these forms in some peace."

Aella's eyes went wide, "You're not going to put me in charge, are you?"

"You wish," Caroline snorted and then saw her tall cheerleader teammate walking past. "Hey, Tiki, do you mind keeping an eye on things for a little while?"

Tiki saluted her captain in answer and continued on her way by them, a smirk firmly on her face unseen to the two friends.

Aella looked at her best friend in shock, "You don't put your faith in me, your number one person, but you trust the cheerleader bimbo?"

Caroline bent her knees slightly so she could look into her best friend's eyes, head-on, "Aella, I love you, but I trust a lot of other people when it comes to events like this. Knowing you, you'll just put on horrible music related to cars and tell cheesy and dirty jokes about vehicles!"

Aella smiled tightly; it looked like her dirty joke from earlier hadn't reached the ears of Caroline, "You got it, dude."

Caroline rolled her eyes as she started walking away, "And I'm way too annoyed with my mom even to mention that Full House reference."

"Phew!" Aella fanned herself, "Crisis averted." She pointed her finger at the sky and sang out loud, "I've got the power! Whoo!"

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"Sweeper duty."

Bonnie looked up from her nails to Tiki, who held out the large floor broom towards her, "What?"

"We have to clean the pavement," her teammate practically sang smirk wholeheartedly on her face.

"It's a car wash," Bonnie slowly responded, was this girl that dumb. "By definition, the pavement's clean."

"But not dry," Tiki shrugged without a care in the world.

"And I'm doing this, why?"

"Caroline put me in charge while her and your tiny cousin gossiped," She passed Bonnie the broom and sauntered off.

"Fabulous," Bonnie groaned. "Thanks a lot, cuz!"

Bonnie looked to the water flowing on the ground; why the hell couldn't it just dry up itself? Almost in a daze, she couldn't take her eyes off the water and the towel in it; she didn't notice the water start to boil and steam, or when the cloth and water caught on fire. She only felt the power, beautiful power. She didn't really notice the fire following the water stream to the last car that was cleaned, but Aella did, and so did Jeremy.

Aella ran over to Bonnie and saw the trance her cousin was in, stepping in front of her so no one could see her closed her eyes and grabbed onto her cousin's hands, stopping the fire just before it entombed the car. When she felt her cousin's power leave her body and the sounds of the fire disappearing, only then did she open her eyes and shook her cousin.

"Bonnie! Bonnie!" She saw Stefan jog over with a concerned look on her face, and Aella could only shrug helplessly as she shook her cousin once more, "Bon Bon!"

Bonnie's eyes suddenly focused on her cousins, "Aella? What happened?"

Aella could only stare for a moment, "What happened? You were in some kind of a trance. What the hell happened?"

Bonnie looked past her cousin's shoulder and saw the burnt car and the chaos surrounding it. Tears started to fill up in her eyes, "Did I do this?"

Aella didn't answer and pulled her cousin away from seeing eyes while taking hold of Stefan's hand and pulling him along until they reached her car. She helped Bonnie get in the front while Aella while Stefan stood at the open door to make sure no one was listening in on them.

The realization hit Bonnie hard.

"Oh my god. Oh my god! What the hell happened?!" Bonnie exclaimed to herself as she wiped the tears that had now started flowing.

"It's oka,y B," Aella stroked her back. "It's stopped."

Bonnie quickly turned to Aella, "Yeah, because you stopped it! What if you weren't there, what if I hurt someone?!"

"But you didn't," Stefan soothed her. "That's the main focus, no one was hurt."

"What do I do?" Bonnie desperately asked her cousin.

Aella took hold of her cousin's hands and placed them on her lap; she looked Bonnie eye to eye, "You go to Grams. Now. Our magic is different. She can help you."

"Okay," Bonnie nodded. "Can I take your car? I came with Elena."

Aella handed her keys over without thought and pulled her into a hug, "Love you."

Bonnie held onto her tight, "I love you too. Thank you."

SALVATORE BOARDING HOUSE

Vicky walked towards the Boarding House; she had never been anywhere close to this building before. Somehow, though, she knew exactly where she was going as she bypassed the front door and headed to the conservatory in the back.

"Vicky, help me."

Trying the doors at the rear of the house, she found an open one and entered the large house, walking down the darkened halls. She followed the corridor until she reached a door and hesitated.

"Vicky. Help me."

Opening the door, she traveled down the stairs and made her way past the stored furniture.

"Hello?" She walked to the end of the room and turned into an old section of the house until she saw a door with bars in front of her; she had no clue why she asked out loud, "Is anyone here?"

"Vicky."

Stepping towards the door, Vicky looked through the bars and saw a strange but familiar man sat on the floor; then, she realized this was a cell. "Oh, my god! What is this? How did I know that you were here? Why do I feel like I know you?"

Damon stretched from his place as he slowly rose to his feet, "Because I wanted you to. Very, very badly." He stumbled to the bars, "Let me out of here. Please."

Vicky stepped back when she saw his face, her hand going to her neck that still was tender, "You bit me."

"You liked it. Remember?" Damon smirked.

"Why do I know you, but I don't know you?"

Damon looked deep into her eyes, "You remember what I want you to remember. And once again, you won't remember what you're about to do."

In a small voice, Vicky shakily asked, "What am I about to do?"

"You're gonna open the door," Vicky looked down at the bolt on the door as Damon repeated, "You're gonna open the door."

Her hands shakily started to pull the bolt back when a desperate voice shouted, "No! No!" He grabbed the bolt handle from her hand, but it was too late, the door was open, and Damon, even in his weakened form, was able to overpower Zach as he pushed at the door. "Get out of here. Run! Run!" Zach shouted at her, and she ran.

Running back to the stairs, she didn't miss the sound of a neck being broken, and as she ran up the steps, she felt a tug on her leg. Looking back, she saw the psycho had hold of it, but he looked weak. She hit him with the heel of her combat boot and ran through the house, desperate to find a door out of the freak show house. She could feel him stumbling and gaining on her as she finally saw the massive front door and pulled it open, only to hear the psycho scream in agony as she ran outside, not looking back once.

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"Who's idea was it to walk back?" Stefan chuckled as they reached his house.

"Ummm, mine?" Aella tiredly laughed.

"So how come I'm carrying you?" Stefan smirked as he pushed her into the air, eliciting a joyful giggle from his girlfriend.

"No comment," she smiled against his shoulder, and he only squeezed her in response.

When they reached the front door and saw it open, Stefan stopped in his place, as Aella slid off him, "Not how we left you," Aella muttered.

Stefan looked over his shoulder, "I smell blood."

"Well shit," Aella sighed and raised her right hand up, palm facing the door, as they both stepped forward. Stefan, not even bothering to ask her to wait, he knew she had the power and no patience to be left behind.

"Okay, ew!" Aella winced as they both discovered the dead crow on the floor.

Stefan didn't have to tell her where he was going as he vamp-sped down to the cellar, Aella running as humanly fast as she could know exactly where he was heading. But she didn't expect to find Stefan holding Zach's dead body, "Oh Stefan, I'm so sorry."

"This is only a glimpse at the destruction Damon can do when he's allowed to," Stefan told her, eyes on Zach's pale face as Aella glanced at the open cell door.

"What are we going to do?"

Stefan had to smile a little at her choice of words, we, not you. Standing up, he made his way past Aella and towards the number of shelves in the cellar, Aella following. He found a small box and tore off the lid and covering until he removed a brown stake from it, turning to Aella, he confessed, "I'm going to kill him."