A String of Incidents

A/N: You know, I wanted to start the chapter with a subtle clue to a hidden threat to the Host. Other than the Canon threats. Instead, as I started to write, the Subtlety of it was like a train off its track, rushing towards you blaring it's horn when you have spider senses. Sigh.

Sorry.

Anyway, I don't own the source material or its other franchises. I only own this work and I ain't getting paid for this.

Happy reading, my lovelies.

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Chapter 11

A String of Incidents!

[Ding!]

Neena sat up and looked at the time. 4:30 AM.

'Hey. System? You there? What's going on?'

[What do you want?]

'Well, you sound grumpy. What happened? Did you get rejected by a Web browser or something?'

[System 143 does not do human functions like dating.]

'Does that mean there are Systems that do date? And where were you? Usually every time I meet someone you have a Quest for it.'

[Yesterday was Host 999's official encounter with the Plot. The System was collecting World 666 information as the Plot was in motion for the betterment of the Host and easier quest completions.]

'Okay...so?'

[System has encountered a problem.]

Neena's stomach dropped. 'What problem?'

[Usually, Hosts are given identities that are not part of the Plot so that they could derail the Plot easier. Systems have control over the background that their Hosts get. It also makes the System easier to collect the World Power or Experience Points as you know them.]

'Are you implying that my background was not chosen by you?'

[Host 999 was supposed to be born as the twin sister of Elena Gilbert. That is not the trouble.]

'Then what is? Stop stalling! Just tell me!'

[You have been integrated into the Plot.]

'What! What does that mean?'

[It means that the Plot we know was changed due to your presence.]

'Isn't that obvious? Why are you worrying about it now?'

[The World has become aware of you.]

Neena sucked in her breath. 'Am I being kicked out or obliterated?'

[Neither. The World did something worse. It made a storyline for you. By doing this the System influence in this world has diminished significantly. The World is trying to prevent the System from gaining its powers as much as possible.]

'How did this happen? Did Elena actually figure out that I'm not her sister because I didn't go to a stupid frat party in the woods!'

[Don't be stupid. No. It's something worse.]

'God Damn it System! Stop being so suspenseful! I'm freaking out already!'

[The World Awareness is too strong. It no longer needs the help of the Protagonist to recognize outsiders.]

'What does that mean for me?'

[Host 999 is going to be deported immediately to System space. As this was a System error, you will be given a new world to explore.]

Neena felt her eyes sting. 'No.'

[What?]

'No. I don't want to leave!'

[Are you stupid, Neena? If you stay in this world you are going to be obliterated or worse, have your soul consumed by the world.]

Neena looked dazed. 'Why would it want to do that?'

There was only silence.

Neena frowned. 'System, why would it do that?'

[Systems can only be bound to strong souls. The stronger the soul, the stronger the System. You kind of know this. But, what you might not know is that Host souls are special for another reason.]

'What's that?'

[They are Potential Systems.]

'Huh?'

[The stronger the Host, the more likely it is that they could become a System.]

Neena frowned. Now that was new. 'I can become a System?'

[No. Host 999 can not become a System.]

'You just said Hosts could.'

There was silence.

'System?'

[Host 999 was Anomaly 003.]

Her heart thudded. There was something in her that recognized what the System said, and it made her angry. 'And what does that mean! Talk in complete sentences!'

[Some Systems become too attached to a host and develop...emotions. They are called as anomalies. System anomalies are to be Annihilated. Anomaly 003 was not annihilated though.]

She was an anomaly?

'Why?'

[You were one of the most experienced Systems. You never failed any of your Hosts and many wanted to work with you again. You were asked for a solution and you were...more than happy to leave the 'lifestyle' of a System and asked to be reborn as a human. Any human. The Mainframe gave you a random body in an apocalyptic world.]

'Back up! What! Apocalyptic?'

[What you experienced in your old world was the beginning of a power surge Wipe-out that kills 40% of the human population of that world.]

'Now Vampires and werewolves don't seem so bad,' she thought to it. 'My God! Wait! If I wanted to live as a human, I did in that world. A useless human but human nonetheless. Why give me...this chance to live again?'

[Host 999's soul gained power. You were still a System before, so your soul is used to consuming World Powers. Being a human apparently didn't change that aspect. It made you stronger. You have been doing it in this world as well, which might be one of the reasons why you got the World's attention. By consuming your soul, the world would gain a System-like powered soul. It will make the World even more powerful.]

'How did this World get so powerful?'

[Host...that...]

'What?'

[Aleena Gilbert was a transmigrator.]

'Wh-what?'

[She was consumed but before she was she sent out a soul signal. A distress call. That's why you ended up in this World. You responded to her Call.]

'Responded? Why? How?'

[Your instinct as a system has not left you completely. You tried to bind with Aleena even though you no longer had the capability to do so and so ended up taking on her mission. We were lucky she was merely reborn and didn't have a system. Or else who knows how strong the World would be. Anyway, the Mainframe has sanctioned System 143 to transfer Host 999 out of World 666 before the World integrates you completely.]

Neena swallowed. The reason she had bound to the System was so that she wouldn't die. So she could have a second chance at life. To find out this past of hers hardly made any sense to her and in the long run, it hardly meant anything to her other than the fact that her soul was tastier.

But in this world she had something that she had yearned for. A family, as Dysfunctional as it was. Friends who cared for her. A family she had come to love. Friends she wanted to save. Neena had thought she was a selfish person but maybe she wasn't. She wished she was...it would make agreeing with the System an easy and obvious choice.

Neena took a deep breath. 'What are the Plot changes the World made?'

[I don't know! Why does that matter!]

'Because I want to stay.'

[Absolutely not! Your soul would be destroyed. Were you not listening?]

'I am. But System...I have family now. I have friends now.'

[I'll be sure to give you the same in the next world.]

'It's not the same. That's not how it works.'

[Ding!]

[Host 999, do you want to be deported from World 666?

Accept/Reject]

Neena frowned.

'Reject.'

[Ding!]

[Host 999, do you want to be deported from World 666?

Accept/Reject]

She glared out the window. 'Reject! You can't take me out of this world without my permission, can you? I'm not going, System. There are things I want to do. People I have to know... I haven't even seen Katherine or Elijah or Niklaus...I want to save Jenna, I want to save Anna and Pearl. I know it might seem idio-'

[Host is trying to be a hero. I get that. But it is not safe for you anymore. The more time you engage with the plot, the more the World will try to Consume you. The Plot gives it Power, you trying to derail its power source is a threat to it. You are not safe!]

The sound of its voice was weak, defeated.

'Try to understand. Please. It's not that I have a death wish but I just have more reasons to live in this world' Neena started to create flickers of flame on her fingertips. 'Now, are you sure you don't know what part of the story changed?'

[Yes. I can't find out what was changed.]

Neena smirked. 'Then let me ask it in a different way. How much of the original plot can the World change?'

The System took a long time to answer.

[Technically, the world can change everything.]

'But?'

[It wouldn't. It gets its power by rehashing the same plot over and over. By making the living things live their life again and again. Like getting butter from milk by churning it. And the world is not creative either. The original plot will remain, but seeing as you are integrated into the story, the World will create a storyline through which it can consume your soul.]

Neena almost laughed. 'That means it works within the framework of the Plot of the Vampire Diaries show. Something we know. That gives us the advantage as it's easier to derail the plot than follow it...unless...does me being the Servant of Nature give this World power over me?'

[No. It can't interact with the characters. And you are a character. But it might use other witches as its weapon.]

'We need a plan. Can you at least guess what the Plot change might be?'

[No.]

'I guess then it's up to me. Working with what we have...what are the chances of me needing to be sacrificed by Klaus?'

[It would give you the same story importance as that of the Protagonist. The World loves its Protagonist, it will not give, if it can help it, anything that belongs to its children to an outsider.]

Neena smirked. 'So...let's think of it like this...Elena Gilbert did not have a twin in the show. How will the big baddies react to this...anomaly?'

[With suspicion or disregard?]

'And there is the Plot change.'

[What? Where?]

'Aleena Gilbert would gain a background that would be enough for her to gain attention of some of the characters but in such a way that it puts the Protagonist to the forefront even more. Giving a reason for Katerina to hate Elena more, a reason to make her more vulnerable as a doppelganger which would make the men of the story want to protect her even more. My background is not going to be as extensive as Elena's. The chances of me interacting with Klaus before is slim. There is a chance, but it is slim. How does that theory sound?'

[Logical. But how did you come to this conclusion?]

'I did take creative writing classes you know. As a writer, I have always tried to find ways to make the Protagonist even more of a sorry figure. Probably why my English teacher dreaded reading my works. They were so depressing. We can counter the World using the Plot. As long as I derail the Plot enough, you gain power right?'

[Yes. The World Awareness will be broken once the Plot is broken. The World will become dormant, the souls trapped to repeat the same life again and again will be set free. They would be able to pass on to their next life. But Host...why are you doing this? Why risk yourself?]

'Honestly, I want to live an adventure. In my time as a human I read so many stories about adventures but I was stuck with a basic life setting. You tell me I was in an apocalyptic world before and I died before it even began. Not that I want to live in that kind of an environment, just saying. And...you said I responded to the call for help Aleena sent. I think the part of me that is Aleena wants revenge on this world by destroying the story it wants. Most importantly, I have family and loved ones here. People who I don't want to abandon.'

[Fine. As you wish. The System is going to give you access to Daily Quests, more Plot related Quests and Character interaction Quests soon.]

'That's a lot of quests. Why?'

[Seeing as the World is aware of you already, we will use quests to draw out more World Power. Host 999 would require more help if you are going to go against the World consciously. After all, you need Host Points to access the System Market.]

'So it's like a race to see who will eat who first. You know, you could leave me here if it is too much of a hassle for you.'

[The System is bond to you. Even though you are a temporary Host, you are my Host. I am contractually obligated to complete one World with you.]

'I'm surprised you didn't realize the complications of this world when you checked for worlds I could transfer to.'

[The System doesn't choose. The Mission World is chosen by the Mainframe according to Host preference.]

'OH. Sorry.'

[Does the Host wish to know anything else?]

'Well...if I was a System then shouldn't I be more...knowledgeable?'

[You were a Human and still are. Your identity as a System is no longer available.]

'Why not?'

[Why do you think? Don't be stupid.]

'You know, that's what you have been telling me since I woke up so I'm going to ignore you, and start practicing my magic again.'

Neena closed her eyes and started to clear her mind.

She thought of the things the System told her. She realized something.

System 143 cared about her well-being more than the Mission Parameters required.

System 143 was an anomaly.

She smiled and stopped trying to figure things out, forcing herself to relax.

This was something she thought of doing all her life as Neena Winston but never got around to doing. She had read that meditation was the best way to connect with your inner power and she wanted to know if that was true for magic.

Neena let her mind wander, not focusing on anything. Her magic spread from her body to the world around her. It seeped into the things into the room and connected to the air around her. It connected her to the wild magic of nature that danced in the air, flowed with the blood in her body, that rested in the soil outside. She felt the shades of magic everything held. Even the concrete walls. Slowly her consciousness left her, and she started to fall into slumber. Before she lost herself completely, Neena saw a flash of dimpled cheeks. She heard laughter, carefree and childish, that her mind knew meant a promise.

Waking up to her 6: 00 Am alarm, Neena groaned.

That vision at the end...she was sure it had something to do with the storyline the World had in store for her. Who was the girl who laughed?

Why did it mean a promise to Aleena?

When she made her way down, Jeremy and Jenna were talking.

"Jeremy, where are you going so early?"

Her brother looked at her in panic.

Neena raised an eyebrow.

He gave her a strained smile. "I have to go for woodshop early."

Neena smirked. Really?

His eyes were pleading.

"I heard that Vicki was attacked by that wild animal last night. Did you hear what happened? Is she okay?"

Jenna looked at her in surprise.

Jeremy gaped at her.

Neena looked at them in confusion before realized that Aleena had Hated Vicki Donavon because of...

Nope. She wouldn't think of it. She went an entire summer ignoring that information and she was not going to acknowledge it now.

"Uh...I'm not sure..." Jeremy looked at Jenna, lost.

Their aunt shrugged.

"Do you want to visit her? Aunt Jenna gave me permission to take the car, you know because of my work. I can drive you to the Hospital if you want to visit her on my way to work. She is your...Half-girlfriend."

Jeremy blushed and glared at her words. Jenna snickered.

Neena smirked. They might not understand the context of the term but the idea behind it was very obvious.

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Fine."

"Great. We will leave right after breakfast."

Jeremy looked at her in disbelief.

"What? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Food first. Then dramas of life."

Neena took some bread pieces and two eggs from the fridge. Whipping the egg with salt and pepper and some chilli sauce, Neena dunked the bread pieces into it. Jenna looked at her actions curiously.

She put on a pan and melted butter and put the egg soaked bread pieces on it and poured the rest of the egg batter on top. She plated it once it was golden brown on both sides and started to eat.

Jeremy and Jenna stared at her.

"What?" Neena asked.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Jeremy said.

"Why are you quoting me?"

"Where is my breakfast?" he asked.

"And mine!" Aunt Jenna chimed in.

Neena rolled her eyes. "I was talking of myself. You were given two very able hands, I'm pretty sure you guys can make your own breakfast."

Jeremy snatched her plate from her.

"Hey! Jeremy! What the hell, you jerk!"

"You can make another plate. You were given two very able hands and the skill to cook," he mocked her.

"What about me?" Jenna asked with a pout.

"The two of you are monsters. Snatching food from baby's mouth."

Jeremy snorted and scarfed down the food as though she would snatch it back.

Jenna helped her with the eggs, giving her pleading looks.

Neena sighed and made a plate for Aunt Jenna, herself and Elena for when she gets up.

They left after that.

When they reached the hospital, Vicki was asleep and they were shooed out.

Neena went to work and Jeremy lurked around the Hospital telling her he would walk to school when it was time.

Mornings at Restaurant Crescent were the busiest, because of the number of working people who came in for breakfast. It would never be as popular as the Mystic Grill but its dining experience was made for the finer people anyway.

Neena scrunched her nose at the amount of rich people this town had. All inherited and very few self-made. The people of Mystic Falls did love their laurels of the past and they knew the Gilbert's. The number of people who came up to her with gleaming eyes to say how sorry they were for her loss made her want to go Ripper. They didn't actually mean it. They just wanted to be seen as being sympathetic to the Orphan girl. Thankfully she just had to spend an hour and half here in the mornings and left after briefing Wendy.

When she got to school, the students were just trickling in.

She saw Jeremy walk away from Tyler Lockwood in anger. Jeremy, seeing her, changed his path to her.

"Hey," he muttered.

"What was that?" she asked him.

"Nothing," he said, glaring at her.

"What did I do? Why are you looking at me like I was the one who hurt Vicki?"

"Don't start defending him," he said angrily.

"Who? Tyler? Why would I?"

Jeremy observed her. "You really mean that?"

Neena rolled her eyes. "What?"

"Not going to say how he is misunderstood and that he is a nice guy or something? Are you really over him?"

Neena cringed. Yikes. There it was. The Thing she wanted to avoid even thinking about thrown to her face casually. There was something seriously wrong with Aleena Gilbert in the head, probably from all the visions she was always bombarded with, to have liked the guy who looked at her like she was trash. Aleena used to follow him around like a puppy, taking any attention he sent her way. Ew.

Neena would rather spend her time crushing on season one Damon than Tyler Lockwood. She had not liked the guy when the show first aired, and even when Caroline started dating him, she had been resistant. Rewatches made it bearable but he wasn't her favourite. He was no Zuko, his redemption was written well but she never cared enough to ask for it.

"I'm over him. That was a mistake you will never ever mention. If you do, I will string you up a tree branch with your insides out. Got it?"

Jeremy smirked. "My my...so embarrassed? I'm pretty sure I know where some of your secret love letters for him are hidden, do you want me to take them out and read it? Maybe it will help Jenna and Elena understand you better."

Neena realized her mistake. She had just given her teenage brother ammunition. Showed him a weakness that he would exploit. She handed him a blackmail material. Shit. Shit.

"Don't you dare!"

Jeremy grinned. "I didn't say anything. Bye."

"Jeremy! Wait!"

"What?"

"Are you going to class or not?"

Jeremy frowned.

Neena gave him a look. "If you don't, I'm telling Aunt Jenna. Blackmail or not."

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah. Don't sweat it."

Neena rolled her eyes went to the cafeteria to meet up with Bonnie, and Caroline. She saw Matt and Elena talking as she reached there.

Neena's eyes searched for Stefan.

He sat under a tree, listening to Matt and Elena's conversation. Neena bit back a smile. He looked so...broody doing that.

"Hey Stefan! What are you doing here, staring into space," she asked.

He smiled. "Nothing. Just enjoying the game."

"So, does that mean you play or is it just watching?"

"I used to play...but it has been a long time since."

Neena nodded. "So, were you at yesterday's party?"

"Yeah."

"How was it... You know... Before Vicki's attack?"

His face suddenly changed. "It was good...listen, I... Um... I need to go somewhere..."

Neena chuckled. "Sure dude. Just wanted to check whether you were settling in town well."

He smiled at her. "I have. Thanks. Bue then."

He ran away.

Neena shook her head and found Caroline. They went to class together. Caroline kept complaining about how the cheerleading was not the same without her as a competition.

Neena laughed and said she was too busy. Neena only had classes until afternoon and she had to leave to 'check on her plants', honestly it was a ruse to make a vervain perfume.

"We will be at the Grill after school, okay?" Bonnie said to her.

"Yeah. Sure."

She went home and found Aunt Jenna working on her papers.

"Hey, school over already?"

"I only had classes for the morning half. I'm going to the garden. You continue."

Jenna smiled and went back to her books.

Neena spent some time looking through the internet for recipes and started to boil water.

It took her some time to get the amount right. She didn't want the scent to be overpowering because then Caroline would not wear it.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations Host 999!

You have unlocked skill tree: Potions.

Concoct potions and mixtures to Heal, kill and put a stopper to death.]

'Okay, Professor Snape.'

Neena grinned at the blue tinged liquid in the vial. It was barely a perfume but not bad for her first attempt.

Her Phone rang.

Neena looked at the screen.

'Barbie Vamp.'

Neena swore.

She didn't realise how much time had passed. She left the garden and ran

out. Jenna tried to talk to her but she just kissed the Blonde's cheek and ran away.

When she reached the Grille, Caroline, Elena and Bonnie were talking to each other. It was the sex talk scene, Neena guessed.

"There's my favourite witch, sister and Blondie. What are you all up to?"

"I'm your only sister," Elena grumbled.

"Talking. You're late. Anyway I saw this really hot guy yesterday night. He was the typical Bad boy type," Caroline said with a grin to her.

Neena felt dread in her heart. She looked at Caroline and found she was wearing the Vervained necklace.

Neena smiled. "Well, what does he look like?"

"Tall, dark and handsome. Had beautiful blue eyes and wore a black leather jacket. He looked like he was in his twenties. Know him?" Caroline asked, teasingly.

"Yes, actually."

Bonnie and Caroline gaped at her. Elena raised an eyebrow.

Neena chuckled. "Well, I meant I know someone of that description. I'm not sure its your guy though."

Bonnie and Caroline exchanged looks.

"Who is he?" the witch asked.

"Damon Salvatore."

"Salvatore?" Bonnie asked. "As in Stefan Salvatore?"

Elena frowned.

Neena shrugged. "I met him at the grocery store. Called himself the saviour of Bottles. He said his brother might be joining me this year at school, so maybe."

Caroline frowned. "If it is that guy-"

"Stefan has a brother?" Elena asked in shock.

"He already has a girlfriend or ex. I'm not sure," Neena said. Caroline looked shocked. "I mean he is going through his rebound phase. Better stay away from that. We all know how that ends."

Caroline nodded. "I guess that's a bust."

Elena still looked dazed.

Bonnie raised an eyebrow at Neena. "You know the love life of a random guy you met at the grocery store?"

She grinned. "Yup."

"That's my girl. This is why we are friends. Are you coming to see the comet?" Caroline asked her.

Neena shrugged. "It's a piece of Icy rock lost in space forever doomed to follow the same path. It would be fun."

Caroline frowned at her. "You made it even more depressing than Bonnie's Grams did."

Neena and Bonnie laughed. Caroline smiled.

"Hey guys!" Elena said, glaring at being left out again. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Neena said. "I saw you talking with Matt. How is Vicki?"

Elena gave her a strained smile. "She's fine. I saw you talk to Stefan, what did you talk about?"

Neena raised an eyebrow at the jealousy in her voice. "Nothing. Just...if he was integrated into Mystic Falls or not."

Elena pouted. "Oh."

"Why? Were you expecting something else. You sound disappointed. Is Stefan coming to the Comet thing?"

Elena shrugged. "You talked to him today. You tell me."

"So, give me the details!" Caroline whined.

Elena rolled her eyes. "There are no other details. We talked and that's it."

"Really? You and Stefan talked all night?" Caroline asked her in disbelief. "There were no sloppy first kisses or touchy Feely of any kind?"

"Nope. We didn't go there."

"Not even a handshake? I mean, Elena, we're your friends, okay? You're supposed to share the smut."

"We just talked for hours."

Neena snorted. The three girls looked at her. "You talked for hours? Really? And you didn't know about him having a brother? What did you find out about him? What did you talk about?"

Elena fidgeted. Caroline had a Cheshire cat grin.

Bonnie chuckled. "Now even I'm not able to believe nothing happened. Spill."

Elena sighed. "There is nothing to spill, you guys. We talked about my parents, our childhood together, about you guys, the books I've read...and then we spent the night discussing my favourite characters and stuff."

"You turned it into a book club?" Caroline asked her in horror. "What is wrong with you?"

"Caroline!" Bonnie scolded. "Although I do agree with her Elena. How could you?"

Elena gaped at them.

"And what did you find out about him?" Neena asked.

"What?" Elena looked at her.

"So you talked for hours about just yourself? What about him? Did he do anything other than stare at you and listen to you talk and talk?"

Caroline frowned. "You didn't do that right?"

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "If you guys did that I might have to re-evaluate on how I approach dating."

"First rule- keep talking and no kissing," Neena said to the witch.

"Second rule- keep staring into each other's eyes," Bonnie said to her with a smile.

Neena smirked.

"Ignore them," Caroline said to Elena. The doppelganger's eyes were glossy. "Don't be mean guys. Okay, Elena, what's with the blockage? Jump his bones already!"

Bonnie scoffed.

"Okay, it's easy," Caroline said, ignoring the Bennett witch. "Boy likes girl, girl likes boy. Sex!"

"Profound," Elena mocked.

"Mmhmm," Caroline smiled.

Elena stood up.

"Where are you going?" Bonnie asked her.

"Caroline's right," Elena said. The Blonde looks surprised and proud of herself. Neena held back a laugh seeing her self-pleased expression. "It's easy. If I sit here long enough, I'm going to talk myself out of it instead of doing what I said I'm going to do."

"What's that?" Neena asked.

Elena smiled at her. "Invite Stefan to be my date for the Comet watching tomorrow night."

"Oh! Thank God! I thought you were going to ask Stefan to have sex with you!" Neena said.

Bonnie and Caroline broke into laughter.

Elena hit Neena with her bag. Neena grinned.

[Host! This is a good chance to derail the Plot!]

"Maybe we can come with you!" Neena said.

The three of them looked at her like she grew a second head.

Neena fidgeted, trying to think of an excuse.

"Why would we do that?"

Neena cursed the System and the World. She didn't want Caroline anywhere near Damon if she could help it. "Well...we need to find out whether Caroline's mystery guy is Damon, for one. I also think it's a good excuse for you! You can say that...we came there to welcome his family to Mystic Falls and that you also needed to talk to him. It's the first time you are going to be asking a guy out instead of the other way around. You need our support so you don't chicken out. Caroline! Go buy a cake or something! Quick!"

Caroline looked at her in surprise and then dashed away.

Bonnie looked at her with a pursed lips.

"What?"

"You are scheming something."

Neena snorted. "World domination. The first step is to watch Elena try to ask Stefan to have sex with her."

"I'm asking him for a Date!" Elena said, pouting.

"Are you going to talk him into not having a bonner again?" Neena asked.

Elena hit her on the head. "You are being mean to me!"

"Me? No! It's all in your head!"

"Got it!" Caroline said, holding a vanilla sponge cake.

"Couldn't you have bought a better flavor?" Neena asked her.

Caroline rolled her eyes. "So, who is driving?"

"Me," Neena said to them. "My car is bigger. And I won't hit birds on the way."

"It happened one time," Bonnie said to her, jabbing her side with her elbow. The transmigrator glared and then started to tickle her. The witch squirmed out of her hold and ran away, sitting in the back seat of the car.

Elena laughed and sat shotgun.

"Here," Caroline said, handing the cake to the Doppelganger. "The back shakes more than the front. I don't want to give the Salvatore family mushed cake pieces."

The blonde sat next to Bonnie.

Neena started the car.

[The Host is becoming really capable of lying and manipulating.]

'Thanks. It was a skill I always wanted to have,' she thought rolling her eyes.

They reached the Salvatore Boarding House after a 30 minute drive. She had to drive at a steady snail's pace so as not to rock the car too much or else Caroline would start giving her the Medusa stare.

Caroline took the package back and Elena knocked on the door. It opened a bit.

"Stefan!? Stefan!" Elena called, she pushed the door open. "Stefan?"

As the Doppelganger started to walk in, Neena pulled her back.

"What the hell, Al-Neena?" Elena glared at her.

"Don't go inside without permission! What are you, five? Don't you know you have to have permission to enter someone's place. It's rude to just walk in. Just call him on the phone. Tell him we are here."

Elena blushed. She took out her phone and then stared at it. She looked at Neena in embarrassment.

"What?" Neena asked.

"I don't have his number."

Neena raised an eyebrow. "You talked to this guy for hours and you didn't even exchange your numbers?"

Caroline and Bonnie looked at Elena in surprise.

Elena pursed her lips. "Yeah...stop judging me."

Neena snorted. She turned to Caroline. "Carebear, do you have his number?"

"No. But I can get it. I know Lia on staff at school, she can get it from us."

Neena grinned. "That's the spirit, my resident Blonde Stalker."

"Stop encouraging her," Bonnie said, "one day we would have to hide bodies for her sake if this tendency starts escalating."

Neena cringed. That was too close to the truth.

"Hold this for a sec," Caroline said to Bonnie, handing her the cake box. "I'll call her now."

The door suddenly pulled open, and a crow flew in over their head.

Caroline and Bonnie screamed.

"Hey! It's the feathered jackass!" Neena said to Elena.

The doppelganger looked inside.

"What? Was that a bird?" Caroline asked.

"It's Neena's stalker," Elena said to them. "She fed him food and now he won't leave her."

"That bird just went into the house! Are we in trouble? Great going, Neena!" Caroline said, panicking. "Now they will think we are bird freaks."

Neena rolled her eyes as Damon came down the stairs towards them.

"Damon! Hey!" she said.

"Neena! Welcome! And you brought friends!" he said with a flirty smile.

Neena's heart jumped, and she blushed.

He gave her a knowing look.

Neena rolled her eyes. She kept doing that a lot in this world.

"That's him!" Caroline said to Bonnie.

The witch checked him out.

"Nice," she whispered to the Blonde. "I get it now. Tall, dark and handsome it is."

Elena's attention was not on Damon. She was busy glaring at Neena.

Neena frowned. "What?"

"I thought you guys met at the grocery store?"

"We did."

"He called you Neena," Elena said, scowling.

Caroline and Bonnie turned to her as well, both of them glaring.

Neena wanted to hide away. She glared at Damon.

The man smirked at her, eyes dancing in mirth.

It took a lot of will power not to squeal and blush. She needed to gain immunity to handsome faces and bad boys if she was going to live in this stupid town.

"Damon, we came bearing gifts," Neena said, the blush still on her face. "These are my friends Caroline Forbes, and Bonnie Bennett. And this is my sister, Elena Gilbert."

He smirked at Elena. "Stefan's girl. I see why my brother is so smitten. But more importantly, Bonnie Bennett was it?"

Bonnie looked shocked. She gave him a shy smile and nodded.

Neena looked at them in confusion. She was sure he would focus more on Elena. Why Bonnie?

"Any relation to the Witchy Bennett family from Salem, you know, Sheila Bennett?" he asked, his eyes not leaving hers.

Bonnie ducked her head. "Yeah. She is my Grams."

Damon grinned. "Being friends with would make things very convenient. Can we be friends, Bonnie?"

It clicked.

Damon needed a witch to open the tomb and Bonnie was a Bennett witch. Convenient indeed.

She wanted to bash her head against the wall. In her worry for the safety of Caroline she didn't even consider the possibility of Damon approaching Bonnie.

"Aren't you a bit too old for high school girls as your friends, Damon?" she asked him. "What are your intentions towards my friend?"

Bonnie looked at her in surprise. "Neena!"

"Nothing Neena," he said to her. The rest of the girls glared at her again. Damned vampire! "My intentions are...pure."

"Sure it is," Caroline whispered.

Damon looked at her and smiled, tilting his head. "It's you. I saw you last night at the Grille. Oh! Where are my manners, ladies, come on in!"

"This place is beautiful!" Caroline said.

Damon slowed his pace and walked in steps with her. "It's a bit kitschy for my taste, what do you think, Bonnie?"

He looked at her from under his lashes. Bonnie giggled. Neena glared at him.

"It's beautiful. Must be hard to clean though."

"Yup."

He smirked at Neena.

Damn him. Pretty faced bloodsucker.

"Hello, Stefan!"

They all turned.

"Elena...didn't know you were coming over."

"Are we invisible to you," Caroline asked, annoyed.

Bonnie shot her a look and Neena grabbed her elbow and squeezed. Caroline huffed. She was only being honest. Was she not allowed to be offended?

Stefan spared them a glance, with face almost blank, except for the furrowed brows.

"Girls."

"Don't be rude, Stefan," Damon mocked.

"I know I should have called," Elena said. "I ju-"

"Oh don't be silly!" Damon said. "You're all welcome anytime. Aren't they Stefan?"

He turned to Bonnie. "You know, I should break out the family photo albums or the home movies. But I have to warn you, he wasn't always such a looker."

Bonnie giggled again.

Neena wanted to massage her temples. Bonnie Bennett had a crush on Damon Salvatore. That's one way to derail the plot.

She looked at Damon who was a bit too close to the Witch's neck.

"Do those family photos include yours as well," Neena asked. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I would like to see them!" Caroline said.

Damon smirked at them. "Sure, if you could come-"

"Thanks you for stopping by girls. It was nice seeing you," Stefan said.

"Rude much?" Caroline asked. Neena sighed. The blonde turned to Damon and handed the Cake box over to him. Damon looked at it in confusion. "Here. We wanted to welcome you guys properly to the town. Now I am glad I bought the cake instead of making it. Anyway, there is a comet watching that is happening at the town square tomorrow night. Most of the town people will be there. We wanted to officially invite you!"

Caroline was really upset.

Damon looked at her in surprise, and then he seemed to understand her thoughts.

"My brother didn't mean to insult you, Ms Forbes. He is usually very polite. We had a bit of a fight over...his love for Katherine."

"Katherine?" Elena asked, her face shocked. "Who is that?"

Stefan glared at Damon.

"well... His last lover. Nearly destroyed him."

"Oh my God," Caroline said. "That's so-"

"You know what, we should leave," Neena said to them. "Give you guys space to work things out. Let's go guys."

The girls nodded.

"It was nice meeting you, Damon," Elena said in a subdued voice.

"Great meeting you all too," Damon said and kissed each of their hands. Neena wanted to splash water on his face at the knowing smirk he gave her when her heart started to beat faster.

Bonnie froze when their hands touched. She looked at him in shock.

"Are you alright?" she asked him.

Damon lost his smile.

"Bonnie!" Neena called, and tore the witch away from him. His eyes never left the Bennett. She stared back at him just as intensely. "Bonnie come on. Bonnie!"

Bonnie snapped out of her daze and walked out the door.

"Stefan?" Elena called the nearly statued Salvatore, hoping he would say something to her. He moved out of the way. She looked at him in shock and hurt but then walked away. Caroline and Neena left together.

"He was so rude," Caroline said on their way home. "Like, who uses that tone to the girl he likes and her friends. And Bonnie got tall, dark and handsome. Not that I'm not happy for you Bonnie! Just...another one that got away."

"He just wants to be friends," Bonnie said.

"First Friendship. then...you know," Caroline told her, wiggling her eyebrows.

Bonnie laughed and pushed her shoulder.

"What was with the staring then?" Elena asked. "Why did you ask him if he was alright?"

Neena frowned. 'Bonnie's reaction was different from the reaction she had when she touched Stefan in the show, right System? Or am I imagining it?'

[There is a difference.]

'Is it because of Stefan being a Ripper that she had that kind of a reaction to Stefan?'

[It is the most likely case.]

"Nothing. It's nothing. What was up with Stefan? He was upset about his ex?" Bonnie asked.

"I don't know," Elena said.

"Seriously, Elena, what did you guys talk about for hours?" Neena asked in frustration. "Does he know about Matt?"

"I told you what we talked about," Elena said. "And yeah, he does know about me and Matt."

"So, he knows your life story and you know barely anything about him? That doesn't seem fair," Bonnie said.

"It's not," Caroline said. "At least one of them was polite. Well done, Bonnie. Don't forget to get his number tonight like Elena did."

Bonnie ignored the Blonde.

"Maybe talk to him," Neena said, "Try to figure out his angle."

"Nah. The timing wasn't right anyway. At least I put myself out there," Elena said.

"No you didn't," Caroline said to her.

"You call that putting yourself out there?" Bonnie asked.

Elena looked at Neena, waiting for her to say something.

Neena smiled. "You'll figure it out. If the timing doesn't feel right then it isn't. You'll know when it is right."

"That advice was too vague," Caroline said to Elena. "Don't listen to her. Go for it."

"You were complaining about him a minute ago, Carebear!" Neena said.

"His eyes only saw Elena," Caroline defended. "For a relationship that kind of dudes would just be amazing boyfriends."

"Agreed," Bonnie said to Elena.

The rest of the ride was spent with the girls trying to get Elena to talk to Stefan at least.

Neena dropped them off at their cars and drove Elena and herself home.

She made dumplings that night.

[Ding!]

[Skill levelled up!

Cooking has reached Apprentice. Your food is very homely.]

Neena sighed. Great. That's good to know.

[Ding!]

[Quest Alert!

Attack on Forbes!

Stop Damon Salvatore from attacking Caroline Forbes.

Reward: 1000 Experience Points!]

'Did that mean he is still going to try to use Caroline as a Bloodbag?'

[Yes!]

Shit! Shit! Shit!

She wanted to choke that smug wanna be Dracula to death. Or break his again and again and again. Like Nik did to Stefan when he found out his betrayal.

She wouldn't let that bastard use her friends. Especially her best friend!

____________________________________________

A/N: How was it? Liked it? Loved it? Tell me in the comments. I do read them all and they mean a lot to me because it's proof that people do have things to talk about in my story.

Bonnie x Damon is a Conformed endgame.

Also If you did like please don't forget to leave a like, comment, follow, kudos, vote, whatever for the chapter!

On another note, I'm sorry to inform you that I won't be uploading any chapter until after July 8th because I have Viva Voce Exam and me being the idiotic last minute student that I am have still not prepared for it. So please please please pray for me. I really need it. If you are an atheist, that's okay too. Just wish me luck.