💫
Rory's outfit

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Rory and Stefan sat on her bed in her room
"My only question is who was that man in the road?" She said
"I don't know. Do you remember anything else about him?" Stefan asked her
"I wish. I never really saw his face. He was wearing a hoodie. All I can remember is that there was these black boots coming towards me." She shivered at the thought.

"I brought some vervain for, um—for you and Jenna." Stefan grabbed a box and opened it for her
"And, um, I made this bracelet for Jeremy, few extra ones for friends." He said and handed it to her.
"You can put it in jewellery, or you can even put it in food or drink, but as long as it's in you or on you, a vampire cannot control you." He handed her a small vile of vervain.

"Wow. Got to have a strong memory huh?" Rory twirled the dried up plant between her fingers
"I know, but there's another vampire in town. So until we find out who it is and what he wants, we have to be careful." He said and Rory nodded and they were about to lean in.
"Elena, I need the money!" Jeremy shouted from downstairs.

"Why does my family need to be so loud." Rory groaned and Stefan chuckled then kissed her.

💫

The next day out in the front courtyard at school, Rory and Caroline are walking across the lawn together. Caroline is observing the necklace around her neck which Rory just gave her.

"It's so pretty. Thank you. God, it'll go with, like, everything. What's the occasion?" She asked
"No occasion. Just a little friend gift." Rory said as they sat down
"Lesbian friend necklace? Cause we're freaky like that?" She winked.

"Of course, my love." Rory said and Elena approached the table
"Your friendship is important to me." She said
"Why are you being so mushy?" Caroline asked.

"Because you've been avoiding me, and I wanted you to know that whatever is going on with you and Matt, it's ok." Elena asks and Rory stood up.

"Right that's me going. Way too awkward." She said and left the two girls while shivering

💫

Rory set down the tray of empty glasses and plates
"Thats my shift done for tonight." She said and one of her co workers waved at her, Rory walked out of the Grill and towards her mom's car.

Suddenly her phone rang and she picked up her phone
"Hello."
"Hello, Rory." A voice came from the other end
"Hey, who's this? Ghostface? Gonna ask me what my favourite scary movie is?" She asked.

"I'm surprised you don't remember me. You hit me with your car." He said and Rory froze
"Is that a new one?" He asks and she quickly looks behind her to see a man in a hoodie walking towards her.
"Yes it is and now I am not afraid to run you over a next time." She said and unlocks her car and gets into it.

"You got away from me. You won't next time." He said and she hangs up the call and speeds off.

"Never fucking driving again." She sighed.

💫

Rory sat on the couch as she drinks from Damon's bourbon
"You should have heard it. It was straight out of fucking Scream." She said
"We're predators, Rory. We hunt. We stalk. It's often as exciting as the kill. I want you to take this." Stefan sat down on the table in front of her and pulled out a compass then hands it to her.

"This is Jeremy's pocket watch. How did you get it?" Rory asked
"I took it from Damon, who took it from Logan, who must have taken it from you're house." He said and Rory carefully opened it
"What happened to it?" She asked.

"Well, it's not just a watch. It's a...it's a sort of compass, but it points to vampires." Stefan gently took out of Rory's hands, showing her how it works. Out of nowhere the needle whirs around on the compass and finally clicks into place, pointing at Stefan.

"Why did my Uncle Grayson have it?" Rory asked observing the compass
"Gilberts were one of the founding families, and back in 1864, they were among those who sought to eradicate the vampires. The compass was used to find us." He said
"You knew them?" She asked.

"Yes. I want you to keep this. That way, you'll know if you're ever in danger." He said and kissed her
"Now, you've had alcohol, let's get you home." He said
"Damon really needs to tell me where he gets his bourbon." Rory drank the rest of the glass and walked out with Stefan.

💫

Rory was in the kitchen when her mom walked in
"Spoke to the insurance company. Car's totalled. You can keep using mine for now." Jenna said
"So you're coming to the dance?" Rory asked
"Alaric asked me to help chaperone." Jenna said and Rory gave her a look.

Before she could say anything Elena walked into the room and picks up an apple then looks at Jenna
"Why didn't you tell me, Jenna?" She asked and Rory stood up again.

"Nope. Not dealing with this. I'm out. I'm gonna get ready." She said and quickly walked out the room.

💫
Rory's outfit

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Rory was in her bedroom, adding the finishing touches to her '50s hairstyle. She walked into the bathroom and took the curlers out of her hair as she pulls a round brush through it. Once she had brushed out the curls, she went back into her room.
"Shit." She muttered as she forgot her shoes in her closet. She opened her closet to see her shoes and quickly grabbed them.

She sat on her bed when she noticed the compass needle spinning continuously. She picks up the compass then her phone and quickly walked out the room, down the stairs and called Stefan.

"Stefan's phone. How may I help you?" Damon picked up the phone
"Where is he?" Rory asked as she walked into the kitchen grabbing a wooden spoon
"He's on his way to you. Forgot his phone." He said.

"Oh, thank God. This compass was spinning. Stefan must be here. Thank you." Rory sighed in relief and turned to put the spoon away
"Anytime. You're welcome." Rory hung up the phone when she heard a thud, she turned to see the vampire with his fangs out.

He lunged at her when she quickly broke the spoon and stabbed him in the shoulder, he groaned in pain. Stefan then appeared and the vampire sped out of there. Stefan then wrapped his arms around Rory.
"Are you ok? Are you ok?" He asked and she nodded while looking at the front door.

💫

Damon paced around the living room while Stefan and Elena sit on the couch next to each other
"How did he get in?" He asked
"He was invited in." Rory groaned with her head in her hands
"He posed as a pizza delivery guy last night." Stefan said.

"It was like out of My Babysitter's A Vampire." Rory said
"Well, he gets points for that. Did he say what he wanted?" He asked
"No. He was too busy trying to kill me." Rory looked up at him.

"In which you stabbed him with a wooden spoon." Damon fired back
"Remind me to replace that, mom's gonna be pissed." Rory nodded
"And you have no idea who this is?" Stefan said to Damon.

"No. Don't look at me like that. I told you we had company." Damon argued
"You think there's more than one?" Rory looked at the both of them
"We don't know." Damon sat on the arm of the couch.

"Damon, he was invited in." Stefan said and Damon nodded in understanding
"Then we go get him tonight. You up for it?" Damon looked at Rory
"What do I have to do?" She asked.

"Let your boyfriend take you to the dance. We'll see who shows up. Maybe bring some more wooden utensils." Damon teased and she lightly hit his thigh
"That's a bad idea." Stefan said.

"Till we get him, this house isn't safe. For anyone who lives in it. It's worth a shot." Damon reasoned
"I'll do it." Rory said and Stefan gave her a worried look. She then grabbed both of their hands
"I'll be with the two of you. I'll be safe." She said and Stefan nodded, Rory then stood up and turned to them.

"Now, let's West Side Story this shit."

💫

Rory stood by the punch bowl, nervously fidgeting with her ring when Elena, Caroline and Bonnie approached her
"Having fun?" Rory asked the three of them
"No, but this took about two hours, so I'm at least staying half of that." Caroline said and they laughed.

"What's Damon doing here?" Bonnie then asked and they all turned to see the Salvatore Brothers standing together
"He wanted to come. I promise. He'll behave." Rory reassured
"So what is this, like, a threesome now, you and the Salvatore brothers?" Caroline asked and Rory absently chuckled as she looked at them both.

The flashes of the dream she had of both of their lips on her. The moment when Damon helped her after Vicki attacked her. The look on his face when he parted her legs to get the first aid kit out the cabinet.

"No, but if I'm gonna be with Stefan, then I have to learn to tolerate Damon. It's not like I can kill him." Rory dismissed
"There's a thought." Bonnie said with a drink in her hand
"Mmm. I'll help." Caroline said.

"Me too." Elena agreed and they all clink their glasses together as they laugh.

💫

Stefan and Rory approached the table the three girls were at when they see them talking to Damon and they left.
"Where did they go?" Rory asked
"I don't know." Damon turned to them
"What did you say to them?" Stefan asked.

"I was perfectly polite. Rory...Would you like to dance?" Damon looked at Rory
"I would love to dance." Rory smiled at him then looked up at Stefan
"Shall we?" She asked and Stefan holds out his hand which Rory takes.

Rory gave Damon an innocent look before blowing him a kiss as they go onto the dance floor. Stefan twirled her into his arms and she wrapped her arms around him. They continue to dance while Stefan looked around the room for the culprit.
"Shouldn't you guys be able to sense each other like werewolves?" Rory asked.

"No. Doesn't work that way. See him anywhere?" He asked
"Not unless he has a pompadour." Rory shook her head
"Wow. Not one of the better fashion trends." He chuckled.

"Come on. I'm sure you looked great back then. Are there pictures?" She asked
"No. Burned. Buried." He said
"Seriously, what was it like, the fifties? Cause in my mind, I have this picture of somewhere between American Bandstand, Grease. It's all varsity sweaters and milkshakes." She said
"Well, that and, you know, McCarthyism and segregation and nuclear arms race." He said and she winced.

"Ok, but there were poodle skirts?" She asked
"There were poodle skirts." He nodded and spun her around then back into his arms.
"You're so teaching me how to do the hand jive?" She asked.

"No. That's not gonna happen." He shook his head
"You're so mean." She rested her head on his shoulder then looked up at him
"Maybe he's not gonna show." She said.

"You mean we did all this dancing for nothing?" He asked and she hit his shoulder
"The horror." She looked up at him and they both smile at each other
"I'm really sorry for all this." He said.

"Don't apologise." She put her finger to his lips as they continued to dance
"You know what I have just realised." He said and she lifted her head from his shoulder,
"We're still not dating."

"Stefan. You took my virginity. I think we are."
"No, as much as that was a special moment. I realised that having the person you like asking you out can be as special as that." He said.

"So," Stefan spun her into his arms and kissed her, "will you, Rory Sommers, be my girlfriend?" He asked
"Stefan Salvatore..." She took a step closer to she was pressed up against him as she brushed her lips against his.

"Yes."

💫

Rory was getting a drink when Damon walked up to her,
"Will you do the honour of dancing with me?" He asked and she rolled her eyes
"You're not gonna stop until I do?" She asked and he nodded; she then took his hand and he walked her to the dance floor.

His hands wrapped around her waist as hers found his neck
"So I heard it's official. You're dating my brother."
"Yes, so if you decide to go North or South of the Equator, I will not hesitate to cut your hands off." She said and he squeezed her waist.

"I would never." He leaned closer to her and she turned her head to look at Stefan when she sees the vampire in the hoodie
"Back corner." She looked away and Damon took a glance.

"Go find Elena and stay with her." He said and she nodded as he went to walk over to Stefan. Rory walked through crowds of people when her phone rang, she took it would of her bra and answered it.

"Hello, Rory. Here's what you're going to do. There's an exit door behind you. You have five seconds." The vampire said
"Why would I do that?"
"Or your cousin dies." He threatened and Rory turned to see Jeremy serving punch and the vampire in the hoodie behind him.

"I can snap his neck so fast I bet there's not even a witness. Now, start walking." He said
"Okay." Rory started to walk through the people and to the door
"Keep walking. Through the door." He said and she walked through the door and she hung up the phone.

Rory tried to run through a set of double doors but quickly realised the doors were chained shut, she turned to see the vampire and quickly ran into a science classroom with him following her. She grabbed a flask as he stalked towards her, she ended up hitting him across the face causing it to smash leading her to stab it into his shoulder and quickly make an escape.

Rory ran into the cafeteria, her eyes scanning the place to find something she could defend herself with. Suddenly she felt someone grab her hair and push her to the ground. Rory coughed but the vampire lifted her up and went to bite her neck when she hit him with her heel.

"Do you see this?" She asked him and continued to hit him with the heel,
"You fucking broke my shoes. These were my favourite." She hit him in the nose and he let go of her giving Stefan enough time to push him away from Rory.

"Hey, dickhead. Nobody wants to kill you. We just wanna talk." Damon said and the vampire tried to rush to Rory when Damon there the stake to Stefan who stakes him in the stomach. He fell to his knees and Damon walked over to the two standing up.

"Now you feel like talkin'?" Damon asked
"Screw you." He replied which led to Stefan digging the stake deeper into his stomach
"Wrong answer. Why are you doing this?" Stefan asked.

"Because it's fun." He replied leading Stefan to do the action again
"What do you want with Rory?" He asked
"Katherine told me about her." He choked out.

"You knew Katherine?" Damon asked
"Oh. You thought you were the only ones. You don't even remember me." The vampire chuckled and Damon leans over towards him
"Tell me how to get in the tomb. Hmm?" He asked.

"No." Stefan drives the stake even deeper into his stomach
"The grimoire." He groaned
"Where is it?" Stefan pressed it in deeper.

"Check the journal. The journal. Johnathan's journal. Johnathan Gilbert's." He gasped
"Who else is working with you?" Rory asked but he ignored her
"Who else is there?" Damon asked this time.

"No. You're gonna have to kill me." He said and something in Rory snapped, she didn't know what possessed her
"Okay." She shrugged and took the stake from Stefan, took the stake from the vampires stomach and stabbed him in the heart then watched him fall to the floor and desiccate.

"Well that was surprisingly easy." She turned back to the two who gave her a certain look
"I know. It was hot. You both need to have some cold showers." She motioned down to their pants and they coughed uncomfortably.

"I'm staying over at yours right?" She asked her boyfriend who nodded
"Then let's go." Rory said and they hear a door open then they turned to see Alaric through the door's window.
"Go. I got this." Stefan said and Damon followed Alaric.

💫

Rory coated the top of her heel in super glue and pressed it onto the shoe
"Doing ok?" She looked up to see Stefan
"I'm having an adrenaline rush so I'm fine for the moment." She said and he sat next to her.

"I told Damon that I'd help him get into that tomb to get Katherine back. But it was a lie. I let him believe that he could trust me."
"I think we should help him." Rory said and he looked at her confused
"Why?"

"Because if this girl is his true love. Why should we take that away from him? I promised him that I would help him when Emily destroyed the crystal. I also mentioned helping him get over it by helping him find a date." She said.

"The thing is..." Stefan trailed off and she looked at him
"What?" She asked
"The way he looks at you... it's the way he looked at Katherine. But more. With you being close to him..."

"You're worried I'll have the same fate as her or worse." She finished then looked at him
"I'll admit it. There's a tether. With you and him and to be honest I have no fucking clue why I have it or what it means. But if helping him get to Katherine subsides it... then why not give it a chance." For some reason she hated talking about Damon being with someone else. It was like a pit in her stomach or her heartstrings being pulled.

"Guess you're right." He said and kissed her head
"I'm tired. Let's go to bed." She said and he nodded, holding out his hand and they went to bed.

💫

Rory's eyes fluttered open when she felt lips tracing her skin. She then felt water on her skin, she looked up to see the shower head above her pouring water onto her. She turned her head to see Damon kissing her wrists as she felt Stefan's presence behind her.

"You love us, right?" Damon looked up at her
"Yes." She gasped
"Good, because you're our soulmate." Stefan whispered in her ear.

"Your soulmate?" She looked at both of them
"Well, not just ours. Theirs as well." She noticed where he kissed her wrist there were marks of initials.

D.S
S.S

Damon and Stefan Salvatore.

F.M
F.M
E.M
N.M
K.M
R.M
H.M

She had no idea who they were. She turned her head when she felt multiple pairs of eyes on her when she saw 7 people looking at her as Damon and Stefan kissed her.

"You're all of ours." She heard Damon's voice echo in her head

"Our soulmate."

Rory sat up from the bed. A thin layer of sweat covering her skin. She looked over at Stefan to see him sleeping, she quickly and quietly slipped out the bed and down the stairs. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water then proceeded to chug it down.

"Careful. Don't want to drown." A voice came from behind her,
"Fuck me." She quickly turned around to see Damon leaning against the doorframe
"Time and place." He winked at her and she rolled her eyes.

"So whats keeping you up at this time of night?" He asked
"Do you believe in soulmates?" She asked him
"No." He said.

"Invisible String Theory?" She asked him and he gave her a confused look
"The theory suggests that everyone has someone in their lives who is attached to them by an unbreakable string that transcends time, distance, and geography. Like a tether to another person." She said and he looked at her.

"It could be possible."
"But you don't believe in soulmates?" She asked him
"I believe that I am having hyperrealistic sex dreams about you and I believe you're having them too." He said to her.

"What?"
"Don't do that. Don't act as if you have no clue about what I'm talking about. The flushed face. The erratic heartbeat. The other heartbeat." He eyes slowly going down her body
"And you know what else I believe." She looked up at him.

"That this isn't the first one." Before Rory could say anything he disappeared.