"Could you have been anymore rude?" Zeke scolds as he runs down his front steps toward me.

  It is late and I am surprised to see him, was he waiting for me? For a moment I am distracted with the thought of this possibility, so it takes a moment for his words to sink in. When they do, I know I am in trouble.

  "I'm-"

  "No Reza, seriously!" Zeke interrupts me. "I thought we talked about working on this! You can't just push everyone a way!" He is not yelling, but his voice is stern and unwavering.

  I know I was rude to Leo, and I know that's exactly what he is talking about.

  "I-" Before I am able to say anything he interrupts me once again.

  "He is a great guy and you just-"

  "I'm sorry!" I yell, interrupting him this time.

  "Really?" he breathes out the word, looking shocked. Seems he was gearing up for a battle.

  "Well yea, I know I was mean and I shouldn't have been" I cross my arms over my body feeling vulnerable.

  Zeke and I almost never fight, but since school has started we seem to be doing it much more often.

  "Oh" he says so simply. Letting out a big breath of air he shifts uncomfortably before me. "To be honest I was kind of expecting you to yell back at me" he averts his eyes, avoiding looking at me.

  "Of course not" I blow off the idea, not admitting that was exactly my plan before my time in the woods.

  "I just, I don't know. You were so irritated at school. It wasn't like I invited him just to upset you. But, I thought maybe you would be mad at me for it anyways." He speaks quickly, like if he doesn't get it all out I may change my mind and get angry after all.

  Without thinking I wrap my arms around him tightly.

  "No silly, I know you were just trying to help me make more friends. I'm just a loser who doesn't always think" I can physically feel his body become more relaxed, more like himself.

  "Yea your right, you are a pretty big loser" he teases as he returns my hug tightly.

  I pull away from him with mock hurt and slap him playfully on the arm. He laughs, which cuts right through my fake anger, and I burst out laughing as well.

  "So anyways, want to stay at my place tonight?" He takes my hand and leads me toward his house before I even have a chance to answer.

  I glance back at my place to see Dad's car in the driveway. Already I feel emotionally drained from today, I don't need to deal with any of that.

  "Mom not going to mind me staying over on a Thursday?"

  "She never does, plus she is already in bed"

  "Is it really that late?" Leo and I had a strange bonding moment, and apparently we completely lost track of time.

  Other than speaking about our parents we really didn't do anymore of the heart to heart stuff, but still feels like we are a bit closer. Don't know if I would say we are good friends or anything yet, but it's a step.

  "Yea, I've been watching out the window all night. Where were you anyways?" he asks as he holds open the door for me.

  "Actually, I've been hanging out with Leo" I am rather proud of this for I know it will be a big surprise for him.

  "No, really," he doesn't even hesitate to consider my statement.

  Without asking he leads me into the kitchen where I take a seat at the table while he goes to the fridge to start pulling out leftovers. Zeke takes after his mom in a lot of ways, probably because she has always been there for him. Not that his dad isn't, on the contrary his dad would do anything for Zeke, but he works a lot. His mom on the other hand, is in practically every other memory growing up with Zeke. One thing she really passed down to him is how to be a great host. Not that I am usually looked at as a guest, but still, when I am here food and drink is always offered. Zeke tends to skip that step when he knows I haven't eaten, instead he will just fix something up and set it in front of me.

  "No really" I throw his words back at him. His eyes dart up to me, the plate of food momentarily forgotten.

  "And no one died?" He teases, but I can see from the look on his face that he is proud of me.

  Deciding his comment does not deserve a response I just stick my tongue out at him instead, causing him to laugh at me as always. He shakes his head as he places the plate in the microwave to heat up. "I honestly thought you scared him away."

  "Why?"

  "Well he randomly said he couldn't go get coffee with us anymore. Just ran off with no real explanation," he sets the plate in front of me and my stomach grumbles at the sight of the meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

  "Yea, he came and found me." I say quickly as I dig in.

  "I guess makes sense now." Zeke nods as he speaks, taking a seat across from me. "Really sucks though. Because you both ran off Elena and Stefan decided to bail as well."

  "Oh I'm sorry, didn't mean to ruin the night"

  "Eh, it's OK," he pauses to make a dramatic pose with his hand to his head "I just sat here, all on my lonesome," he sighs and makes puppy dog eyes "all night!" I exaggerate my eye roll in response. He steals a bite of my meatloaf, his trauma completely forgotten.

  "So what did those two end up doing?" I change the subject.

  "Who knows." He pauses to steal another bite. "You notice they are actually really secretive? Like today, they whisper something to each other about needing to start looking or something, and then they are gone"

  His words bring my back to the day at the coffee shop. They had said something very similar then as well, having to get to work or something? I am usually not overly nosy about things, but I have to admit my curiosity is piqued.

  "So what did you two do together anyways" he brings the subject back around to Leo and I. Unsure really what to say I simply shrug and stand to take care of my dishes. "Oh no you can't just leave me hanging!" he bounces after me. I try to ignore him and just focus on my task at hand. "Come on Nereza!"

  I groan and shrug again but his nagging is relentless, finally I tell him simply "We just talked"

  "Talked?" he raises an eyebrow at me.

  "Talked" I confirm drying the dish and putting it away.

  "Mhmm, talked" he steps in front of me wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

  "No. We just talked" I throw the drying rag at him, maybe that will shut him up.

  "Mhmm," he crosses his arms eyeing me. "It would be OK for you to like him you know"

  I groan again, even more exaggerated this time as I walk past him to his room and flop back onto his bed. I close my eyes feeling my tiredness from the day crash into me.

  "I don't like him." I finally say as I feel Zeke plop down next to me.

  "Oh I know, you are too busy liking someone else."

  An image of Damon flashes in my mind and my heart quicken. My eyes snap open, erasing the image, that I will adamantly deny ever appeared. I turn to face him, glaring in an attempt to mask my growing blush.

  "I don't know what you're talking about" I try to keep my voice even, but even I can hear the quiver that is there.

  "Mhmm," is all he says again and grins down at me.

  "Whatever, go to bed!"

   I can't explain why I am suddenly annoyed with Zeke, but I am. Its not like he did anything wrong necessarily, but I don't want to talk to him anymore. Pulling the covers down I quickly slide under them and turn to face away. I can hear him chuckle but I say nothing more, this conversation is over. I close my eyes and pretend to fall asleep instantly. When he crawls into bed beside me I can tell it only takes a moment before he drifts to sleep. While he is lost in dream land I lay there for hours listening to his soft snores. I am so tired, and yet thoughts of life keep me wide awake.

  "This is far to much school spirit" Zeke's voice is flat as he stares down the hall that is currently being decorated.

  "I don't know, I think its fun" Elena is smiling, obviously a lot happier seeing the school getting covered in white and blue, our school colors.

"Homecoming isn't even until next week, why are they decorating now?" Zeke whines as he starts walking toward the front doors seeming eager to escape.

  "This is nothing, in my last school I had a friend who would make me come in after hours to spend all night decorating stuff." Elena laughs.

  Stefan glances at her with a look that I can't place, was that a warning look? Either way, Elena sees him but doesn't pay him any mind.

  "She would see this and throw a fit cause its not perfect enough. Now she had school spirit!" She laughs again at the memory.

  "Sounds like hell," Zeke mumbles and I giggle in agreement.

  We push through the doors and the wind eagerly greats us, sending a chill coursing through my body, fall is definitely here. Pulling the sweatshirt I borrowed from Zeke tighter around me I follow them as they head to our spot under the tree.

  "What are we going to do in winter? Can't sit out here in the snow." I drop my bag to the ground and plop down next to it.

  "Shush, why must you speak of such evil!" Zeke holds his fingers like a cross as if that would scare away the winter storms.

  I lift my arms in defeat, only to laugh at his ridiculousness. When we are all settled on the cool grass I can't help but scan the grounds. I tell myself I am just observing, but deep down even I know that's a lie.

  "Hey" I jump a little when Leo's voice comes from behind me, but cover it up by turning and smile at him.

  "Hey Leo," My voice is sweeter than I mean for it to be.

  I still feel bad for how I treated him before, so I may be over doing it a bit. I make a mental note not to be fake either. He drops his bag next to mine and sits between Stefan and me. Glancing back to the rest of the group Elena is looking at me curiously and Zeke is doing his eyebrow wiggle thing at me again. I have to stop myself from letting out a groan of annoyance.

  "Um everyone OK?" Leo asks, he must have noticed all the weird looks being passed around as well.

  "Our friends are just losers!" I jump in quickly before anyone else can try to explain what was going on in their minds.

  "And the two of you fit right in!" Shouts Zeke as he throws my baggy holding a meatloaf sandwich to me.

  I curse my lack of hand eye coordination as I reach out trying to grab it, but predictably, I completely miss and it hits me square in the face. It's silent for a second as the baggy drops and lands in my lap, then everyone bursts out laughing.

  Stefan is the first to stop, he not only stops but his entire body goes tense and his face contorts to a glare. Elena is only a half second behind him, suddenly sitting straight up, her gaze stern at something behind me. That's when I feel it, I feel him. I don't need to turn around to know Damon was suddenly there. My body goes rigid and I bite my lip, resisting the urge to turn and look at him as well.

  "Oh don't let me stop the fun" his voice is dry and sarcastic. "Really stay here and play while I actually work"

  It is obvious that he isn't talking to everyone in the group, just Stefan and Elena. They exchange looks and Elena motions with a nod of her head for Stefan to go take care of him. With a tight nod he stands and moves toward Damon, all the while never breaking eye contact with him. I still refuse to turn, but I can feel when the two of them walk away from the group. The air itself seems to relax with their disappearance.

  "Are they seriously brothers?" Leo asks watching them go.

  "Unfortunately" Elena mumbles as she readjusts, trying to get comfortable again now that Stefan is not there for her to lean back on.

  "How can you handle living with him?" Zeke is paying more attention to his food than anyone else, but I know this is a question he has been dying to ask for a while.

  "He has his moments. I try to think he isn't that bad, and sometimes he really isn't." She's not looking at any of us, instead her eyes follow them. She has a look so intense it's as if she could only focus hard enough she would be able to hear them or something.

  "I think no one is all bad, we all have moments of each." Leo comments, more to himself than anyone else.

  Losing interest in the scene as well, he also starts to unpack his food. Glancing around I make sure no one is paying any attention to me before I slowly turn to look at them finally.

  Damon is in all dark as usually, and also as usually looking as handsome as ever. His stance at first glace could be taken as relaxed, but if you really look at him he seems to be on high alert. Stefan definitely looks to be on the defense, his body still looking ridged, his arms crossed. He shakes his head as he speaks and Damon smirks as he responds.

  Suddenly they both turn to look at me and my heart stops. My face flushes as I quickly spin back around trying to seem as if I was just casually sitting here. Glancing up I see Elena is also looking at me now instead of them, only making me blush harder. Keeping my eyes down I open the baggy still sitting on my lap and distract myself by starting to eat. I don't taste a thing, which is rather disappointing because I know its delicious, instead I focus my entire self on trying to calm down.

-------------------Damon's POV-------------------

  "What are you doing" Stefan scolds leading me out of normal ear shot, but I know although Elena is not standing with us she is listening to every word we say.

  "What, are you to cool to be seen with your older brother?" I smirk.

  He does not respond just crosses his arms and glares more intently at me.

  "I've been gone all night running your errands and I don't even get a thank you. Really not feeling the appreciation now Stefan." I continue to dig at him, but his stance does not change. Letting out a breath of annoyance I give in.

  "Fine, but just so you both know if either of you would answer your phone I wouldn't have to deal with finding you here." I roll my eyes annoyed with playing this pretend game of being a teenager.

  "We are at school Damon, you know classes, blending in?" He says simply and shakes his head.

  "Yea school, like that's real important. Thought you got enough of the human experience back at Mystic Falls."

  "You know how important fitting in is"

  "You're trying to fit in, so you sit with tweedle dee and tweedle dork. Makes perfect sense" I glance back at the tree.

  Without meaning to my eyes go right to her, Nereza. She is looking at us as well, with our sudden attention she turns red before jumping back to her previous position. My ears perk up as I can hear her heart quicken, hearing her brings the smirk back to my face. I am ashamed to admit she is becoming a secret addiction, one that I need to either kill or quit soon. She will drive me crazy otherwise.

  "Damon," Stephan brings me back to reality. He is warning me to behave, oh if he really knew what I was thinking.

  "Oh sorry you now have a third in the group, guess I will have to come up with another name now won't I?" He just stares at expectantly. "Oh your right, why waste the effort. He can just be the traditional tweedle dumb."

  "What do you want Damon"

  "I want to leave this town, seems like I am the only one!" I don't try to hide my annoyance. Stefan lets out a sigh, his impatience taking over now.

  "Did you find something out?" He finally comes out and asks.

  It's an easy enough question, especially for someone who was able to laugh it up here. That old hag was supposed to be able to give us a clue, send us in the right direction. A days drive, having to try to convince her I was not there to harm her, resulting in two hours of mind splitting hell, after all that to leave disappointed. For supposedly being some super powerful witch, she didn't seem anymore gifted than some teenage girls I've met.

  "No" I run my hand through my hair trying not to feel defeated. "I mean technically yes but nothing helpful"

  "Well what was it?" he is fully intrigued now.

  "Our head start is over, others have stated to look as well"

-------------------Nereza's POV-------------------

  "Looks like they are fighting." Zeke states, pulling everyone attention to the brothers once again.

  Carefully, I spare a quick glance over my shoulder to confirm the two are still standing in pretty much the same way. Although Stefan seems to not have changed, Damon no longer has his cool collectiveness about him. Something about him has definitely shifted, something has managed to bothered him. Not wanting to get caught looking again, I turn my attention away quickly.

  "Well not that I have siblings, but isn't that what they are supposed to do?" I ask trying to keep a conversation going.

  "I can vouch for that." Elena laughs and we are all taken aback.

  "I didn't know you had siblings." Zeke blurts out.

  "Yea a little brother." She glances around and her smile turns a little sad. "He didn't move here with me, but we are close."

  "Well that's cool your able to stay connected" I nod and smile at her all the while trying to think of a subject change.

  I noticed before things got awkward when discussing siblings, I would bet that's why. It didn't seem like something she wanted to talk about then, so probably not something she wants to linger on now.

  "I am so excited its Friday. I need a break" I stretch my arms above my head and let my self fall back onto the soft grass.

  "We should do something" Zeke says as I hear him also flop back to the ground.

  "Like we need to plan something, don't we always?" I giggle.

  "Well go on Stefan, back to your little friends" Damon suddenly steps into my view, standing practically right over me.

  I jump up with surprise, bolting upright again. I hear a soft chuckle from behind me and I keep my head down hiding my blush.

  "I will see you later Elena, And I will see you in class Nereza" A shiver runs through me at the sound of my name rolling off his tongue. With that he is gone.

  "You know, I don't even think he realizes I am in the same class as you." Zeke sounds annoyed as he watches Damon go, now resting on his elbows rather than laying back.

  I don't pay him much mind, instead I watch Stefan walk back to Elena. They look intensely at each other a moment before turning back to the rest of us.

  "We are going to walk back to class early, see ya guys" Elena smiles at us, but it seems forced. Standing they say nothing to each other, just turn and walks away.

  "You guys ever notice they are actually all pretty weird?" Zeke asks watching them go now.

  "I don't know, but I've only really hung out with them here so who am I to judge" Leo shrugs.

  I don't respond, instead I too watch them walk away. Zeke is right, on what he is saying now as well as before. They are most definitely weird, and obviously hiding something. Feels like they only ever give little bits of information about their life, and even then it feels like they are so careful and keeping everything as vague as possible.

  My curiosity was piqued, but watching them now, I have this strange feeling that their secret should stay that way.