All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, all things Vampire Diaries belong to L.J. Smith and I guess the CW too . . . The rest well that's all us lol, Sabi'sSookie and I decided to try something different and we hope you enjoy it.

Yep, so Nostalgicmiss covered all the legal stuff. Now on with the show!

Chapter 1: Stumbling Toward Disaster

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife, edgy and blunt
Put a six inch valley through the middle of my soul
Oh, at night I lay at home with the sheets soaking wet
And a freight train running through the middle of my head
But you, you cool my desire

I'm On Fire by Bat For Lashes

Have you ever had one of those days when you just know the shit is gonna hit the fan? I just happened to be having one exactly like that, which really pissed me off because it was one of the few times that feeling had come to me since I had moved to Virginia after I from graduated Forks High School two years ago.

I was majoring in Folk Lore and Urban Legends, something that had been a given after my two years in Forks. Of course, it all started with Edward Cullen. The one man I'd thought was the love of my life, my destiny, the one person I couldn't live without . . . What a crock of shit that turned out to be. He was a vampire, and his cold impenetrable body had immediately lured me in. Of course, as my luck generally inferred, he left and I realized his dead heart was just as cold and impenetrable as the rest of him was, and it was all because of a stupid fucking paper cut.

You'd think, seeing as it happened every other day to someone as klutzy as me, they would have had some kind of contingency plan so that the natives wouldn't go Neanderthal and try and eat me; yet, apparently it wasn't so.

Jasper, although a vegetarian like the rest of them (which was actually them eating animals and not humans), had been known as the God of War prior to meeting his soul mate, Alice. I didn't blame him for his actions, he'd always been quite feral compared to the rest of them, and I knew that he beat himself up over it, but it wasn't his responsibility. They knew how fucking unbalanced I was. I couldn't walk in a straight line without tripping over thin air.

My arm ached as the thought of that crystal cutting through my skin followed up the memory. It hadn't been pleasant, but at least the Vamp daddy had been a doctor and sewn me up. I had a pretty little six inch scar on the inside of my arm to prove it.

So anyway, them being vampires was part of my urge to study Folk Lore, but there was more to it.

My best friend, Jacob.

After the Cullen's had left me alone, I was heartbroken and desolate, my dad, Charlie, had been freaking out about me because I'd been throwing myself a little pity party for over three months, and if I was honest I learned to hide it well after that. Then Jacob came onto the scene; my poor, loyal, best friend Jacob. It turned out he was a shape-shifter that took on the form of a giant wolf due to the Cullen's habitation close to the Indian Reservation, La Push, which he lived on. He seemed to get through that thick head of mine and made me see what an asshat Edward was for leaving under the pretense of keeping me safe.

It was actually nice having someone to hate on the Cullen's with. He was bitter about them kick starting the shape-shifting gene, and I was as bitter as a jilted bride left at the altar. Together, we spent hours talking some cash shit about them. It was nice.

Jacob and I got closer, and as my impending graduation grew nearer, all I could think about was getting the fuck outta dodge, but Jacob decided that he was in love with me and put a shadow on all of that. I made out with him a couple times but couldn't find that deep love for him that I'd expected. I was planning on letting him know and before I could he went an imprinted on the new girl at the school in La Push and made it easy. Well, it should have been easy, but of course I took it as another rejection and left for Virginia earlier than I'd planned, and ignored him for almost six months.

Thankfully, my studies had made me realize he had no choice in who he imprinted on, and I soon realized I was simply happy that he was happy, and we finally got back to being BFF's without all the bullshit in between. It actually made my life easier.

Then, about six months ago, Alice had decided to find me. Somehow she'd managed to get a hold of my email address and sent me an email apologizing for leaving it so long. I had no interest in hearing her out initially. After all, she'd left me too.

It took me a month to warm up to her again. I knew it was petty of me but I could have cared less, I felt justified in being pissed off. In fact, sometimes I still do.

It was nice having my friend back, and when she wouldn't mention Edward, we always had a laugh on the phone. Being the persistent pixie she'd always been, she badgered me for my location. I couldn't seem to bring myself to give her my address. Something had told me that she would put all of her effort into reuniting Edward and I, and I didn't want that. I'd moved on, got over it and him. Time had been a balm to the open wound he'd left behind. Now I was living my life as he'd so desperately nagged me to do.

Sadly though, the girl couldn't take a hint.

In fact, when my phone dinged, signifying a new email, I knew what it would say.

To prove my point, I pulled out the savvy techie phone I'd bought myself and opened up the email server. Apparently, I knew her too well.

Bella,

I miss you, I wish you would at least tell me where you are so I could come and visit you. I spoke to Edward yesterday, he was somewhere down south hiding out in a dingy motel because he refuses to accept help from us. I told him I was talking to you and he sounded hopeful.

I know that you're still hurt that he left, but cutting him out of your life completely won't prove anything. You and Edward deserve to be together. Which is why I asked him to come home. I told him that I would do everything in my power to have you talk to him.

Please Bella, he hardly hunts, and every vision I have of him is diluted and unreliable, he's so lost and I know that you still love him too. I saw the love between you.

I love you, and I will text you later!

Alice

xxxx

"Fucking vampires," I mumbled, exiting out of the screen and throwing it back in my purse.

There was a chuckle off to my right and it startled me, making me do that trip over thin air thing. I hadn't even noticed the guy leaning up against the wall, it was definitely a PSA to not text and drive because I was oblivious, and I was simply walking. I looked up and away, but it didn't last long, my eyes were back on him a second after they registered the nice, stationary pillar in front of me. He was gorgeous, his skin luminescent against the raven black hair that was styled to a messy perfection. His eyes, a pale icy blue, seemed to follow every move I made, and that was just the start of it.

He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest arrogantly. I could see through the simple black sweater he wore, thick bands of muscles that no doubt hinted at what was hidden behind the material. If I was in a giving mood I would have given him a sultry smile. But what was the point? I was pissed off at the male species perpetually these days.

"Hey," he called out and I stopped. Don't ask me why, I couldn't answer that question if I'd wanted to, but I did it anyway. His voice was deep and raspy, the kind that could undress you if it was tangible enough to have hands.

I waited impatiently as he approached me with a sardonic smirk and a swagger that could have been misinterpreted as shitting in ones pants.

I knew I was being a bitch, but these days it was like a reflex action . . . Man, meet sarcasm. Sarcasm, meet man. It just kinda sucked that I was scorned with my V card fully intact. The way things were going I'd have it in possession for quite a while.

If this beautiful (and he was beautiful) man couldn't make me shed panties and hop into the sack, then there was a chance I just wasn't ready for any man. My dear friend Alice had a rude awakening coming at her if she thought I was gonna roll over like a good girl.

The guy circled me slowly, which only seemed to test my patience more. His fingers flicked the hair I had up in a ponytail patronizingly as he returned to his spot behind me. It almost reminded me of James' predatory stalk, and that just pissed me off further, because I didn't want to remember the weak little girl I had been. She was a victim, a damsel in distress waiting for her prince to save her. Of course that time there had been, and he had saved me, and I'd eaten it up. How naive could one person be?

Agitated, I shifted, this was why I didn't like being reminded of this shit, because then I had to think about him, and I didn't want to think about him. Ever. It was really that simple.

"What do you know about vampires?" the stranger asked in deep voice that actually managed to get past my metal block for a second. I could hear the taunting behind it, and if I hadn't known better I would have said he'd been flirting in some form or fashion.

He moved in front of me and held my eyes with his and I was intrigued with that almost white blue, they were amazing really and they drew me in, for a moment, I was open for anything. Then he opened his mouth.

"What's your name, and when are you taking me to your room?" he asked, his voice calm and even. Smooth and intoxicating, which was sadly wasted on me.

"None of your damn business and for the record . . . That's the worst line I have ever heard. You were doing better with the mysteriously silent thing. Tip for the future . . . Keep your mouth shut."

His eyes almost flickered as he stepped closer and I stepped back out of his reach.

"So, damn Vampires? Is that the only way to get some action?"

The fascination was now completely gone and any chance this guy may have had, which admittedly was miniscule, had now evaporated with a nice little pop.

"Fuck you," I said curtly, flicking him the bird before side stepping around him and heading in the direction of my apartment. Apparently, the day wasn't going to get any better, so it only seemed fitting to call it quits.

Before I could get much further, his arm swung out and caught the one I'd used to give him the one fingered salute. His skin was cool and clammy against mine as his fingers tightened around my wrist. Just my luck. A guy who obviously didn't hear "no" often.

I was suddenly glad of the self-defense lessons Jacob had given me. I was almost excited for this guy to try something. I was ready to annihilate his ass. If it hadn't have been for my dad and the Quileute boys, I would have given up on men completely, but then I couldn't really contemplate the other either.

I shivered as the strangers fingers ran over the scar James had left on me, I'd been so caught up in my own head and planning my attack I hadn't been paying attention, which of course was rule number one in Jacob's book.

I moved to pull my arm from him, but his hand clamped down harder, holding me in place.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"What is this?" he asked, his finger brushing over the scar tissue again.

"None of your damn business. Let me go, asshole."

His brow puckered into a frown as his eyes ran over the scar again. I could see he was going through the motions, putting two and two together. It was hard to hide exactly what it was, when you scrutinized it that closely.

I tugged against his hold again and finally managed to pull my arm free of his hand. With the frostiest look I could manage I glared at him. Shook my head, and then stormed away. This was a bad day that I was more than ready to have end.

Damon

My day had been nothing but boredom on top of boredom. Katherine, the bitch, had decided to turn tail and run to a coven of Purebloods. What she thought they could do for her was beyond me. Either way, I was driving a stake through the spiteful cunt's heart the next time I laid eyes on her. But I digress… Due to her little flight of fancy, I was being subjected to rounds of searching for anything that could be found out about these Purebloods – the Volturi. Apparently, they were the rulers of the vampire world and Stefan's melodramatic ass was worried about what this meant for his sweet Elena. And since I shared a fondness for her, I allowed myself to be roped into the research. Damon, thy name is pussy.

So, after pouring over books and through journals at the University where good old Alaric's undead wife used to work, hoping to find answers, I needed a break. Between Caroline's whining and Stefan's mooning over Elena, my patience was at its end. That is how I found myself looking into the eyes of the hottest little piece of ass, this side of the Mississippi. I couldn't help but watch her little ass sashaying across the lawn, but what grabbed my attention was her murmurings about "Fucking Vampires".

After a little verbal sparring, I had enough and made an attempt at compelling her to tell me. As you can imagine, I was quite surprised to find that it had no effect on her whatsoever. Seduction? Nada. Force? Zip. This girl was locked down tighter than Fort Knox.

You could feel the anger rolling off this tiny girl in waves as she basically told me to shove my head up my own ass, and I found myself a little intrigued and a lot turned on. A challenge was just what I needed to pull myself out of the funk I was in. Shouldn't I have had enough rejection to last a lifetime? Sure. Was that going to stop me? Hell no!

Now, I wasn't what most would consider particularly bright; this fact was proven by my failed attempts at wooing the wrong women and my general lack of normal thought process, but the bite on the girl's wrist was cold. Now, a Half-blood such as myself would have simply left fang marks, and no human's bite would have left a cold scar. I had a hunch that this girl knew much more about Purebloods than we were ever going to find in some damn book.

As I watched her walk away, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy. Not only had I found us a possible key to the end of all the Pureblood research, but a nice new toy for myself. She was a firecracker and I would actually have to work to bed her. She pissed me off, which I liked, and my dick agreed. I whistled as I walked back to the office where Stefan, Elena, and Caroline were holed up.

"So, who wants to give me a big ol' kiss?" They all looked up and rolled their eyes before turning back to their work. I hated how they always ignored me.

Jumping up on the desk they were using I smirked and waited for one of them to snap. Caroline, of course, was always willing to have a go at me.

"What the hell, Damon? Some of us are trying to work here! You know; those of us worried about being destroyed?" Stefan shook his head but never looked up from his book at Caroline's outburst.

"Well, Blondie, I suppose none of you are willing to hear about what I discovered then?" I picked at my fingernails, feigning indifference.

"Damon, if you have something to say could you please just get on with it?" Elena sighed, trying to reason with me. Silly girl. She knew I couldn't be reasoned with. Not anymore.

"He doesn't know anything. He's just looking to get a rise out of someone. Now can we please just ignore his sorry ass?" Caroline spat.

"Fine, Blondie. Ignore me. Keep spending hours upon hours, poring over this shit, when a few minutes would do the trick," I taunted.

"Fine." Stefan gives in. "What did you find?"

"Ah, brother, the more appropriate questions would be who did I find?"

"Okay, then who did you find? We're wasting time here." I could tell that he wasn't taking me seriously, so I decided just to throw it out there.

"Just a girl with a Pureblood bite. A human girl with a Pureblood bite." I smirked as all their heads snapped in my direction.

"And I suppose you ran the girl off with your charming personality?" Caroline quipped.

"Hmm… something like that. I tried compelling her, but it didn't work. She was also muttering something about vampires, but for some reason wasn't willing to share why."

"Damon, we don't have time for your games. If you really found a girl like that, then I would think you could have controlled yourself long enough to at least act normal and not run her off." Stefan sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Now what would be the fun in that, baby brother?"

"Great! Dipshit over here finds someone who could help us and he scares her off! God, you're such an asshole!" Caroline bared her fangs as she fought to control herself. What can I say? I have always brought out the best in people.

Caroline continued to yell as I noticed a familiar brunette walking past the office.

"Hey, sweetheart! Would you mind showing us that love bite?" She stopped for a moment before dramatically rolling her eyes and walking away.

"Dammit, Damon!" Stefan slammed his hand on the desk.

"Testy, testy," I chuckled.

"So that's the girl?" Elena asked with a smirk.

"That would be her."

"And you couldn't charm her into telling you anything? I like her already." I wasn't used to such cheek from Elena and I gave her a smile.

"Well, I think maybe she knew I was too much man for her to handle. She is a tiny little thing, after all." I winked and Caroline made a gagging noise.

"I don't remember you disagreeing when I was giving it to you on a regular basis, sweet cheeks."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't in my right mind," she growled through clenched teeth.

"Jealous that I moved on? That's sweet," I cooed to which she slapped me.

"Could both of you please stop? We have much more important things to discuss. If this girl knows about Purebloods then we need to speak to her, so Damon, please stop pissing her off. Caroline, we all know that you hate him. We get it. But can you try and ignore him until we get past all this?" Stefan was always the level-headed one. Oh, how he pissed me off.

"I could talk to her," Elena suggested.

"I don't want you to get involved, Elena. If she has any connection with Purebloods… well, we just don't know the danger."

I ignored the rest of what Stefan had to say as a very nice girl-on-girl fantasy played in my mind. Hmm, Elena using her feminine wiles to convince the tiny brunette…

"Damon!" They all three yelled.

"What?"

"Can you agree to that?" Stefan asked.

"What exactly am I agreeing to?"

"To stay away from her. We need her to be agreeable, and you just seem to piss her off." Elena giggled and I shrugged.

"Damon, for once, just do as you're told!" Stefan shouted, obviously fed up.

"Wow, little brother, that's some attitude. Did Elena stop giving it up?" I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout as Elena threw a book at my head.

"Personally, Stefan, I think you just might be a tad bit worried that Elena is jealous of me and our new little friend." I winked at Elena who barked out a harsh laugh.

"Oh give it up, Damon. Elena is never going to have a thing for you!" Caroline was giggling and I wanted to smack her.

"Just agree to leave the girl alone, Damon. Please, just do this one thing!" Stefan sounded tired and I reluctantly agreed.

But since when was I the type of man to keep my word?

A/N:

Nostalgicmiss: Thanks for reading! What do you think? Sabi and I took a character each and just had some fun. We've had a blast writing this and I have to say it is a pleasure writing with you Sabi! You're awesome and I love ya chick! You share my brain and my passion for the characters!

Right on with business . . . We'll be posting every Monday and Thursday, and we'd love to hear your feedback. Did I forget anything Sabi?

Sabi'sSookie: Um, you forgot to tell them how awesome you are! You guys, if you don't already know this, then I'm telling you now… Nostalgicmiss is the queen of all things awesome! You have to check out her stuff. She is my sister from another mister. Love ya' girlie! I hope you all have as much fun reading this as we have had writing it!