Chapter 8: I think she jinxed us.

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I pull my car beside the entrance of the hospital, where Caroline and Matt were standing, waiting for me. They quickly got in and Caroline looked slightly upset. Choosing to ignore the tension, I took the way of Matt's house.

Finally, Caroline snapped out of it and turned back on her seat, towards Matt. "I can't believe you made me call Claire! Tyler could have taken us!"

Matt's eyes didn't move from his new plaster cast, "I don't want anything to do with him, Caroline."

She huffs and sits straight again. The rest of the trip was silent, and soon I left the boy in front of his house.

"I can't with him I swear. Between that and Bonnie and Elena, I don't know what to do."

"I can't really help you there…" I wince sympathetically, driving toward the Grill for dinner.

"I'm sure Bonnie is upset with Elena because of the Tomb, but it's not like I could tell her I know…"

I look sideways at her face, her sadness was killing me, and I knew that it was because of me, because I wanted to keep the secret.

We entered the Grill ten minute laters, Caroline's face light up when she saw Bonnie, but a frown barred her face at her expression. "What happened, now?" She muttered, grabbing my arm and walking toward Bonnie's table. "Hey Bonnie, are you okay? Something happened?"

We sat but the other girl stayed quiet. "Bonnie, you can tell us what happened, we won't judge you."

She looked up with guilt in her eyes. "I did something wrong, and I lied about it."

"What?" I asked.

"To who?" Caroline said at the same time.

"To Elena. I pretended to do something I didn't really do."

Oh. I have a really clear idea about what this is all about. Everything turned quickly in my head, and I took a quick decision. "It's about Jonathan Gilbert's device, isn't it?"

Caroline looked at me surprised, but somewhat hopeful, while Bonnie looked shocked, her mouth opening a few times without anything getting out. "How do you know about the device?!"

"We know a lot of things, Bonnie. Elena asked you to remove the spell but… You didn't."

"That was not right! Grams would have never…" she cried instantly, forgetting her other questions.

"True, Sheila always stayed out of Vampires business," I told her with a smile, taking her hand. "It wasn't good to lie to them, Bonnie, but I understand why you did it."

She looks at me before looking at Caroline. "How long did you know for… That?"

"A while," Caroline mutters. "I was waiting for you to tell me," she whispers, her voice broke on the word 'you'.

"I… I'm sorry, Caroline, I didn't want to drag you into this mess…"

"It's okay, I get it," she smiled at Bonnie, but I knew she wasn't okay. I squeezed her hand, slightly under the table.

"Umm, Bonnie?" The girl turns toward me, curious. "I would really appreciate it if you don't say to Elena and the Brothers that we know…"

She frowns, "why?"

"I don't really want to answer Damon interrogations, not yet." And all the dramas they seem to attract.

"I won't say anything, but if they ask me I won't lie." She frowns, looking into my eyes

Well, that was pretty hypocritical, but okay. I just smile, "thanks, Bon."

We're at the Grill, and I hate that. I wanted to be home, hiding Caroline deep into the closet of my room and not letting her out until tomorrow.

But Caroline was worried for Matt about his fight with Tyler. I can still hear her, 'Breaking up with him doesn't mean I didn't care about him anymore, Claire.'

I would have preferred, if you ask me.

But, yeah. Here I am, listening to the pathetic attempts of my sister to try to convince him to talk to Tyler.

"Oh, God, Matt please, talk to him already. He makes out with your mom, he didn't kill her." I finally snap, I just want to go home.

"Claire," she hisses at me, stabbing me in the guts with her elbow.

"Ouch, not fair. I just said what we all thought," I mutter under my breath.

Before anyone could talk, the mayor entered the Grill, and rush to his son. I stand quickly, I know how the guy treats his son. They whispered at each other and, surprisingly enough, he seemed worried.

The mayor suddenly grabbed Tyler's arm. "Let go of me!"

I put quickly myself beside him, "can I help you with something, Mayor Lockwood?"

He ignores me, dick. "Please Tyler; I need you to go home, now. Take your friends with you."

"Why? What's going on?" Matt asked, worried.

The Mayor looks between us, "I can't explain. All of you need to get home, now." He looks at his son, pleading. "Please."

"You know what, what about we all go at our house," I began with a smile. "I have my car and like that Caroline could continue with her awful plan, right?"

The Mayor looks at me, relieved when his son agreed.

We were all taking the way of the door when I saw her. "Care," she turned toward me curiously. "Take the key to start the car, I will be here in a second."

She frowned but agreed, knowing she can't really ask anything in front of the boys.

I was quickly by her side and grabbed her arm, she turned toward me with surprise. "Hey, Anna."

Her surprise turned into suspicion, "I don't know you."

"But I do. And I know that the device still works, they will grab you as soon as they can." I whisper, looking sideways at the deputies standing by the door.

"How… Why are you telling me?" She stutters.

"I can help you. They know me, I'm the daughter of their boss. They won't suspect you if you get out of here with me. I could hide you until it's all finished."

"Why?" She frowned, suspicion clear in her voice.

I smiled, "I think I have something for saving sad vampires," in love with Jeremy. Well, I'm not going to say that aloud. "But we have to go now."

She nodded and we took our way out. "Get in the back, Anna. Oh, my name is Claire, by the way." I sat behind the wheel, "sorry guys, but I had to get Anna, she is coming with us."

I pull the car out while they introduce each other, Caroline looks at me curiously but went with it.

We're almost at my house when Anna suddenly screams, her hands around her head. Matt, who is sitting in the middle, grab her shoulders. "Anna?! What is happening?!"

Tyler looks around him with panic, "what is that noise? Aargh! That hurts!" He grabs his head with both hands, blood coming out of his ears.

"Claire! You need to stop the car! Or take us to the hospital!" Matt was panicked, too.

"I can't do that," I stutter, looking at the deputies who were running around. "We're almost at my home, okay? I'm sure they'll be okay!"

"What?! Claire!" Matt began to protest.

"It's okay, Matt," Caroline said, turning toward him.

"No! It's not! She's crying like she's possessed and Tyler lost consciousness!" He screamed over Anna.

"I'll explain everything, Matt, okay?" I plead, trying to concentrate on the road.

"What there is to explain, Claire?! They need help!"

"Matt, please," Caroline whispers when I finally parked in front of my house.

Anna screams stopped and we all turned toward her. Well, except Tyler who was still unconscious.

Her vampire face briefly showed and Matt screams, and tries to back away from her but hits Tyler. "Thank you, Claire. I owe you."

"What are you gonna do?" I ask her, choosing to ignore the dumbfounded expression on Matt's face.

"I need to get out of town before John Gilbert finds me. He wants to kill me." She said, with a sad expression. Looks like Jeremy has a gift with girls…

She looked at Matt with a frown and then grabbed his face, looking into his eyes. "Nothing wrong or weird happened in this car, Claire stopped by my house and I got out there." She said before I could stop her.

Matt repeats what she said, and she disappeared.

I share a look with Care while Matt shook his head. Well, as much as I hate compulsion, that makes one less explanation.

Mayor Lockwood is dead. I feel like I should have known, but I didn't really care much. As cruel as it could sound, I can't let myself feel guilty for each death I can't stop.

Right now, the only thing that counts for me is that I succeeded in saving Caroline from her car accident. Hopefully, that would be enough to save her from being stuck at 17.

We were in Mom's car, going to the Lockwood's for the Mayor's funeral. Caroline took my hand and squeeze it. I smile at her, trying to be convincing. Worrying my little sister is the last thing I want to do.

Mom didn't talk with us, she looks preoccupied. She does since yesterday, when she gets home, with Carol Lockwood in tow. They were looking for Tyler, who was at our house.

After Anna had left, we discovered that her compulsion on Matt also comprises Tyler outbursts. He seemed to think that Tyler was only asleep, and tried to wake him up. When he succeeded, Tyler didn't mention anything about noises again, and Care and I decided to humor him and did as nothing happened.

We spent the time watching movies in the living room. That's how Carol and Mom found us and announced us of the mayor's death.

Caroline told me about her idea of what happened when we were alone again, and I feel really stupid for not thinking of that sooner. Logically, if Tyler was affected by the device because of the werewolf gene, his father would probably be too. That answers from what side of the family he got it, at least.

Tyler was standing by the door of his house when we got there. Mom took him her arm, told him again how much she was sorry, and entered the house to find his mom.

I stopped in front of him, looking at him in his eyes. "Your dad was a dick, there is no denying that," I state plainly, Caroline facepalms with exasperation beside me. "But he was your father; I don't know what it feels like to lose a parent, but I do know you, Ty. You will get back from that in no time."

I can't swear it, but I'm sure something akin of gratitude passed by his gaze. "Everything she said, apart for the dick comment," Caroline says with a smile.

"Thanks, Claire, Caroline." He nods at us. Our attention suddenly turned toward the car that was parking in front of the house, letting out none other than Mason Lockwood. "If it's not the black sheep of the family," Tyler comments with sarcasm. I can't hold back a smile, sheep is the last term I would use to describe Mason Lockwood.

Mason looked at us with surprise. "No way… Tyler?" He took his nephew in his arms. "And if it's not the Forbes' princess themselves, what did you drink in this town? You're not, like, twelve?"

"First, no one calls us that anymore, Mason," I told him with a pout. "Second, we were twelve years old like, five years ago."

"But you still have your wit, Clairedzilla," he chuckled and ruffles my hair, knowing how much I hate that and his stupid nickname. He turn his attention toward his nephew, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's good to see you again, Tyler."

"Good to see you too, uncle Mason. Mom is inside." Mason smiled at us and entered the house to find his sister-in-law. I can't count how many times Mason crashed Jenna babysit session before he fled for a surfer's life.

We smiled one last time to Tyler before entering the house. When we were out of Tyler's earshot, I leaned toward care and whisper in her ear. "I'm like 90% sure he activated it." I backed away, my eyes flying toward Mason quickly.

"Don't you say… I was beginning to think that we don't have enough problems." I laugh at her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Now, if you could excuse me," she said before ditching me and walking toward Matt. Honestly, sometimes I doubted of their rupture, but I know how much Caroline cares about this friendship.

I walked around for a while, answering to people who talked to me, probably only because of my mom, searching for Jenna and stealing one or two glasses of whiskey. Or more, I don't really count.

I finally find Elena talking with Stefan. "Hey, princes Gilbert," I call her, jokingly and don't hold back my laugh at her lost expression. "Sorry, Mason reminds me of those awful nicknames of his. Stefan, we never had the chance to talk much."

"Uh, yeah, Claire, sorry about that," he said between his teeth, looking nervously between me and Elena.

"Don't be so nervous, Angelius, I won't eat your girlfriend," I'm trying to make him relax but it didn't seem to have the wanted effect. Surprisingly, Elena chuckles at my Buffy's joke. "Anyway, I'm not there for that, Jenna came with you? I have to keep her as far away from Mason before he reminds her of Clairedzilla. I swear, he will never get over that tiny, little bite. I mean, I was six years old, for fuck's sake." I ramble and, okay, I think I'm drunk.

"Sorry, I came alone. But I think she will be here soon," she smiles, apologetic.

"Oh, okay… I thought she told me she was coming with you. Anyway, I'm going to look out for her, thanks, Elena. Stefan, I think it was our longest conversation… Well, sort of." I nodded at them one last time and took the way of the front door.

When I got there, I found Jenna entering the house with Jeremy. "Hey, Jenna!" I hug her, avoiding the food in her hands. "You need to stay far, far away from Mason, Jenna!" I whisper in her ear but, judging by Jeremy's mocking expression, that wasn't really a whisper.

"Claire, don't tell me you're drunk… Oh god, your mom is here, Claire!" She shoved me into Jeremy's arms. "Keep her there while I go see Carol, I'll be back in a second."

She looked at me as much exasperated than amused and goes to see the mayor's widow.

Jeremy looked down at me, amused and I frown. "How is that you're so tall… It's that why Vicky and Anna loved you?"

Surprise crossed his eyes. "How do you know about Anna?"

I thrust my finger into his chest. "That's because I look out for you, Little Gilbert. I saved both your girlfriends from death, you know? But shuuut, that's a secret," I whisper, my index now on my mouth, he needs to understand how the secret is important.

"What do you mean? Anna is alive? Damon thinks she was in the fire." Jeremy told me, grabbing my shoulders.

"Shut! It's a secret, Jeremy, do you know what is a secret," I pout, he doesn't understand anything. "They can't know that I know, because if they know that I know they would want to know what I know and I know… They know… No, I know... Pffff, I don't know anymore."

"Okay, we'll need to have this conversation another time, because you're definitely drunk…" He said, looking around him.

"No, I'm not. I wouldn't, I would have you know that I'm responsible, Little Gilbert," I said arrogantly.

"No, you're clearly not responsible, Claire," Jenna said from behind me. Jeremy left me with his aunt, looking at me with a frown before walking toward the next room.

"That's not cool, Jenna. It's your fault anyway, if you'd come with Elena, I wouldn't have to wait for you."

She frowned, looking at me curiously. "What do you mean? I came with Elena, she's outside with Damon. I don't really approve, not after the kiss they shared yesterday but…"

"Wait," I cut her, the distress I was feeling sobering me up. "You came here with Elena…" Suddenly, the nervous behavior of Stefan, that I was too drunk to really understand, made sense. "Jenna, I think we have a little problem."

Jenna frowned, worry entering her eyes. I grabbed her hand and took her where I saw them last. They weren't in the room anymore, but I could see them through the French windows. I turned toward Jenna, and motion the couple with my head.

"Look at Elena, did she changed clothes since you came here?"

Jenna looks toward them surprised, probably by my stupid question. "Uh?! Yeah, you're right, she changed. When did she found the time? And clothes?"

"She didn't… Remember that doppelganger I told you about? Look like she's in town."

I looked back at the couple, just in time to see her stabbing Stefan with a bare. "Ouch," Jenna winces beside me.

What was Caroline saying about problems? I think she jinxed us.

The doorbell woke me up less than one hour after we finally slept. I look at Caroline, my eyes half-open, and sighs loudly. "You're not going, are you ?" We spend most of the night talking about the day's event and planning our next moves. We'll probably be forced to reveal our knowledge soon… We both slept in her bed, I was too tired to go to my room.

She mumbles something, I'm not even sure what, and I take that for an answer. Breathing heavily, I made my way to the door, ready to kill whoever that comes at this time of the night.

I'm welcomed with the sight of Elena, sitting on our front stairs and sobbing heavily. "Elena? What are you doing here? You want to see Caroline?"

She looks at me with watering eyes, "oh my God, Claire, I'm so sorry! I didn't want to... It's Stefan… He is…" She trails off, sobbing.

"Oh my, Elena..." Did something happen to Stefan because of the change that I did? I grabbed Elena in a hug, ready to comfort her, but was instantly pushed against the wall, Elena's-

No. That was Katherine's hand around my throat, a smirk on her lips. "Wrong name, sweetheart. Say something to the Salvatore for me, will you ?"

I tried to push her back, scratching her hand and her arm, but she wasn't paying me attention. Choking me with only one hand against the wall, she showed her vampire's face, fangs out, and bit in her wrist. She released my throat to grab my jaws and forced her blood into my mouth.

That took less than a minute, but I felt it like an eternity.

Then, she brought her mouth to my ear, and whispered: "The game is on."

And that was it.

A/N: Hey! Sorry for the delay, I have computer problems right now, and it's not pleasant at all! I'm borrowing my sister's but she needs it for school so that's not really a long-term solution. Anyway, I hope you loved it! Don't hesitate to tell me what you think! Thanks for the Follows/Favs/Review!

Stay safe!

XxxX Miss Dragonish