19

"You're leaving, right? Going back to school. That's what this is about," Elena pondered.

I looked down at my hands. "Is it that obvious?" I looked up at her.

She smiled. "Well, you don't usually call at seven in the morning and ask to meet. Who have you talked to already? Besides Damon, Bonnie, Tyler, and Matt."

"If you're asking if I'm going to talk to Stefan and Caroline, I'm still thinking about it."

"Come on, Ev. She's your sister. And Stefan is your - was your best friend. They both care about you, and they love you. They'll want a goodbye. Even if they don't know, it's a goodbye. You should make up with them."

I stared at her, trying to decide what to do. "You didn't hear the things he said."

She nodded. "He told me, actually. He didn't want to tell Caroline because you're her sister, and she would probably get mad at him." She tilted her head. "He's really sorry, Evelyn. It may not seem like it, but he didn't mean those things."

"I know," I looked at the table. "I just..." I gathered the words before looking at her again. "I don't know how to feel about them. It feels wrong to feel betrayed by them, but I can't think of anything else. Seeing them together like that last night or together in general, it makes me nauseous. I don't know what to do."

"Well, maybe if you let them explain, it may help."

I shook my head once, "I don't know."

"Try, Ev. You never know." She looked to the side, then looked at me. "I'm gonna go get a drink from the bar. Do you want anything?"

"No, thanks." She started to walk away. "Hey, Elena." She turned to me. "Don't tell anyone. About the goodbyes."

She smiled, "What goodbyes?"

I breathed out a laugh. She walked away. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to answer the text.

Kai:

You're leaving.

I started to text back when a voice pulled me from my phone.

"Hey."

I looked up to see Stefan and Caroline. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"Can we sit?" Caroline glanced at the seat opposite of me before looking directly at me again. There was hurt in her expression.

"Yeah," I answered hesitantly.

They sat down in front of me. I looked down at my phone to avoid looking at them. I turned my phone off and gripped it tightly.

"Did you get home okay last night?"

"Mhm," I answered Caroline.

"And Ryan?"

I looked at the table, "He's fine."

They didn't speak. I didn't speak. I waited for a word to fall from their mouths. I stared at the table. "I could be bleeding out in my room right now. And neither of you would be the person to find me." I sat my phone on the table.

"Have you been..."

I looked at them. "You wouldn't have noticed if I did. I found ways to hide it. But no, I haven't. I almost did. I wanted to. Then I realized I couldn't, and I dropped the suicidal thing." I laughed softly, "I never thought I'd say that. But I did. And the only person who I've told..." I shook my head once. "My point is that you two are together, and there's nothing I can do except have an attitude about that. And I can choose that attitude. So far, I've felt nothing except jealousy, anger, and sadness. I haven't tried to be happy for you, and I can't tell you I'm going to. I'm not trying to either. I don't want to." I took a breath. "I feel like something's been taken from me. I'm not saying I was entitled to whatever it was, but I do feel like I deserved it. Whatever it was." I glanced at my hands before looking at them again. "I don't hate either of you. I actually love you more than anything, probably. And I... I don't want to lose either of you just because I'm bitter. So, I'm accepting your relationship and acknowledging that I need to get over it." I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. "I will be okay."

"Who was it?"

I looked at Caroline. I smiled. "You'll find out."

She furrowed her brows. "What? When?"

I glanced at Stefan, then turned my attention to both of them. "I have to go. I'll talk to you guys later."

"Before you go," Stefan said, "Who would be the one to find you?"

I looked at my phone as it lit up from a call. Kai. I looked at him. I grabbed my phone as I got out of the booth. I answered the call as I walked outside. I put the phone to my ear.

"What was that text about?" I walked toward my car as I pulled my keys out.

"You're leaving. I'm going to be alone."

I paused, dropping my hand from the car door. "You won't be alone."

"But I won't have you."

"Evelyn!" I heard Caroline yell for me from across the street. I looked over at her. She was waving me over.

"Of course you'll have me. I just won't be a practical distance away from you."

"You're leaving me."

I furrowed my brows, "I'm pretty sure that's been established."

"You're the one who brought me back, and you're leaving me."

I laughed, "I didn't bring you back."

"I was a hopeless, psychotic, sociopath, who murdered his family. No one wanted to even speak to me. But you did. You made a deal with me. You trusted me. And I think it's safe to even say you cared about me."

The humor was gone from the conversation. "I don't think we should do this over the phone."

"Great. I'm twenty feet away."

I looked over to see him walking toward me. I pulled my phone away from my face and ended the call. "Usually, when someone wants to have a conversation like this, they're in private."

He put his phone in his back pocket. "Fuck private. We've been private for months." He stopped a few feet from me. "I want you all the time and everywhere, Evelyn. I want all of you. This thing we have isn't enough for me."

I shook my head, "I'm going back to school, I'm leaving."

"Stay." He stepped closer. "Your family needs you. I need you."

I tilted my head, "That's not fair."

"What's not fair?"

"This! You ambushed me with your words out of nowhere! You know I'm leaving. You know I can't stay."

"Evelyn, please."

I put my hands up, "Where did this even come from?! You've been ghosting me since you left the other morning before I was even awake. You haven't answered my calls or texts, then you text me telling me I'm leaving. You can't spring all this on me right before I go."

"You said if. I don't want to live with an if, Evelyn. I can't. You're the only thing that's kept me from going back to how I was. I'm not a bad person anymore because you asked me not to be. Does that not mean anything to you?"

"Of course it means something to me! You mean something to me! But you need to figure out how to be a good person without me. You knew I wasn't going to be here forever, and that I would leave for college again."

He tilted his head, "I know." He shook his head. "I was just really hoping you'd change your mind."

My chest felt tight. I shook my head once. "That's not an option for me."

He nodded once. He glanced down at the ground then looked at my face. "Yeah." There was hurt in his expression. "Find me when you're in town, Ev."

I felt a smile spread across my lips. "For a clandestine meeting, right?"

He rolled his eyes, "You think you're so hilarious."

I crossed my arms, "Pretty much."

His eyes raked down my body, then found my eyes again. He stepped back. "Have a safe trip."

I took a breath. "Always."

He stared at me for a minute then turned. I bounced off my heels once before standing flat on my feet. My stomach dropped. I uncrossed my arms. "Kai." I rushed toward him.

He turned. I grabbed his face and pushed up on my toes to kiss him deeply. He grabbed my waist, keeping me firmly against him. He kissed me back harder. I moved my hands to the sides of his neck. He wrapped his arms around my body, putting his hands on my sides.

I pulled back from the kiss, easing myself back onto flat feet. He stared at my lips for a moment as he caught his breath. I slid my hands to his chest. He looked into my eyes.

"Fuck private, right?"

A smile spread across his lips. "Right."

I tilted my head and moved my hands to his arms. "Thank you for being there when I needed you. I don't think I ever told you that."

He shook his head, "You didn't have to."

My gaze shifted to his chest. "I should have."

He moved his hand from my waist. He tilted my chin up with two fingers. "I knew you were grateful, Evelyn. I'm the one who should be saying thank you. You gave me a chance. No one has ever given me a chance. You did." His lips were centimeters from mine. "Thank you."

My quiet laugh was cut off by a kiss. I tilted my head up further, allowing him to kiss me deeper. I leaned into the kiss, holding his arms tighter. He pulled back from the kiss, but just an inch. He stared into my eyes.

"Goodbye, Evelyn."

I inhaled sharply, my eyes filling with tears. Why is he the one I cry for? I haven't cried saying goodbye to anyone. I laughed softly. "Goodbye, Kai."

His palm was flat against my cheek. He pressed his lips to my forehead. His lips lingered against my skin for longer than I thought they would. He pulled back, his body leaving mine. I hugged my body, keeping the pressure he had against me.

He tilted his head as he took another step back. "Don't be a stranger."

I swallowed. I nodded slowly. I watched him turn away and walk. I took a breath to try to fill how empty my chest felt, but it was emptier than I thought it would be.

I gathered the willpower I had left to make my way into my car. I buckled up and started the engine. I put my hands on the wheel. I stared at my hands, trying to steady my breathing.

Why is this so hard?

I started driving away. Away from Kai. Away from the Grill. Away from Mystic Falls.

...

I stared at the microwave plate as it spun in circles. The popping filled my ears as the bag expanded.

"So he called you to tell you you're what?" Ryan's voice was closer now. He was sitting at the barstool.

"That I'm able to graduate this year."

"But it's your second year of college."

I turned to face him. "I skipped like three years of high school, Ryan. This was kind of expected."

"It's because you don't have a life. Ever since you got back you don't go anywhere. No parties, no spring break, no sex, no alcohol. You're always working ahead. I mean, you didn't even leave over the summer. You just stayed here and worked on school. No one even knew that was an option until you asked the admissions office."

I shrugged, "I don't get it. Why are you so pissed off about this?"

"This is our last year as roommates!"

I pulled the popcorn out of the microwave and walked toward the counter. "So stop using the time to be mad about me graduating early." I opened the bag and poured it into the bowl.

"Didn't you come to college to actually get the college experience?"

I scoffed, "Yeah, the college experience where I have to carry a rape whistle everywhere I go is the one I wanted. I came to get a degree, and move on with my life. You came to go to parties that have free beer."

He tilted his head. "All I'm saying is that you used to go to parties with me. Then you came back from home, and you were super serious. I want you to have fun and not regret your younger years."

"I am having fun."

"You're sitting here on a friday night watching depressing movies about dogs dying."

"I enjoy movies, Ryan."

"Do you enjoy animal cruelty too?"

I rolled my eyes. "Go to your stupid kegger and leave me alone." I looked down at the bowl of popcorn.

"Fine." He pushed off the counter as he got up from his seat. I looked up to see him lean closer. "Don't come crying to me when you become a spinster who is also a hermit."

I smiled, "Wow, what high hopes you have for me."

He scoffed. "Call me if you need anything."

"Mhm."

He walked out the front door. I looked down at the bowl.

The possibility of Ryan being right is very low. Me staying home to not exert myself with people I don't even know is helping me in the end. I'll graduate in the spring and be able to move on from this school. There's a lot of work left to do, but it will be easier to do if I'm able to think without the effects of alcohol or drugs or men who go off the high you give them from cumming.

I picked up the bowl of popcorn and made my way to the couch.

...

I finished putting on my mascara. I put on my lipgloss. I got up and walked over to my bed. I sat down and grabbed my shoes.

There was a knock on my door before it opened. "Ready to go?"

I looked up at him as I finished zipping my boots. "Almost."

There was a knock on the front door. "I'm gonna go get that."

I nodded. He walked away and I walked to my phone. I checked my messages.

I started walking out of my room as I clicked the message from Caroline.

Care:

Happy New Year's Eve! I would've called, but I've been super busy. Love you! XX

Me:

Love you! Happy New Year's Eve.

I turned my phone off as I looked up. Ryan was putting on his coat. "Who was it?"

He grabbed my coat. "Tim from upstairs. He wanted to know where you were. I told him you were still in Mystic Falls."

I pulled on my coat. "Right, but I didn't go to Mystic Falls."

"He doesn't need to know that."

I laughed, "Did it ever occur to you that he may be at this party?"

"The party hosted by the school? He hasn't been to a majority of his lectures. He showed up drunk to class. He streaked through the corridors!"

I cringed at the remembrance. "Thanks for reminding me."

He smiled. "My pleasure."

I fixed my hair. "And thanks for being my date tonight. I know you could be, and would probably much rather be, anywhere else tonight."

He pulled open the door. "Wouldn't dream of it."

I laughed softly as I followed him out the door. I put my arm through his as we walked.

"Why didn't you go back for the break? I'm sure your sister was bugging you the entire time trying to get you to come."

"She thinks I'm still upset about her and Stefan so I got a pass, which I'm going to use for the rest of my life. I didn't go back because I never told anyone except Elena and Kai that the goodbye was actually a goodbye. I'm sure they caught on eventually, but I've been as distant as possible. The minute I'm around any of them they'll ask a compiled list of questions, and they will undoubtedly start with the ones about why I was kissing Kai in the middle of a parking lot then crying after."

"Right. Awkward confrontation."

I nodded, "Exactly. And speaking of Mystic Falls, specifically the people there..." I looked at him. "Stop talking to Damon. I know you still talk to him and tell him things about me. It's really annoying and distracting. They don't need to know about my life. That's kind of the reason why I left."

He stopped walking and I turned to face him. "They're your family, and they worry about you. Besides, me and Damon are friends. Pretty good friends, actually."

I tilted my head, "Fine, just keep me out of it."

He nodded once. "I will try."

"Thank you." I grabbed his arm, "Now let's go."

He smiled and we kept walking.

...

I groaned and sat back, running my hands down my face. I've read the sentence ten times, trying to make sense of it, but it's incoherent. No part of it was written by a sober man.

"Cut yourself some slack, Evelyn."

"Who let Socrates say things? He was probably a drunk who slept with men in secret." I pushed my hands back into my hair.

The living room floor had become my library. There were papers scattered but also in piles. Books were piling up, while also being open. Things were marked, and post-its were stuck everywhere. I dropped my hands to my lap, rubbing my thumb into my palm to ease the cramping.

"When was the last time you took a break, or drank some water?"

I didn't look away from the passage I've been reading. "If I do that, I lose momentum."

"Any time you lose momentum, you just build it up again."

I grabbed the pen I had been writing with and the stack of post-it's. I wrote down a few words of the interpretation I had thought of. I grabbed my notebook and pulled it onto my lap. I started writing down the rough draft of the introduction.

There was a knock on the front door. I felt hot. I kept writing as I moved my notebook from my lap. I dropped my pen and quickly clipped my hair up. The two, shorter front pieces of my hair stayed out of the front of my vision. I grabbed the notebook again and started writing.

"Evelyn."

"What?" I paused my writing. I mumbled the thought so I wouldn't lose it.

"You have visitors."

"No I..." My sentence was cut short as my eyes landed on Stefan and Damon. "...do."

Ryan turned to them. "She's in the middle of finishing her finals, so she's on the verge of a breakdown. Thank Socrates."

"Is that a metaphor or something," Damon asked.

"No. Her philosophy final is about Socrates."

"It's actually about ethics. Socrates just talked about ethics, and he's well-known. I just put two and two together. What are you two doing here?"

"You're a philosopher, you figure it out."

I gripped the notebook tighter. "Just answer the question."

"If you don't answer her directly, she'll throw whatever is in her hands at you. Our upstairs neighbor is in the hospital right now because she had my laptop in her hands."

"You need to be admitted to a hospital," Damon commented as he looked at me.

"We're here because we need to talk to you," Stefan finally answered.

I looked at him. "I don't have time."

"You haven't had time in a year."

"Exactly."

Damon furrowed his brows, "You don't have ten minutes?"

"No! I'm in the middle of something. You can wait."

"Wait where," Damon asked.

"I don't care, just stop talking to me." I turned my attention back to the notebook. I kept writing.

"Here."

I looked up. I took the water bottle from Ryan's hand. "Thanks." He walked back over to Stefan and Damon.

I reread the last section before opening the water and taking a drink. I closed the bottle and sat it to the side.

"What happens when someone calls her," Stefan asked.

"She makes me keep her phone while she's doing this. I answer her call or let them ring. If it's an emergency, which hasn't happened yet, I'm supposed to wait until she flips out and covers her ears because her thoughts are too loud."

"Right now, you're being too loud."

I heard him sigh. "Take a break, Evelyn."

"I already told you no."

"You haven't eaten in ten hours."

I held the pen in my hand tighter and looked over at him. "Go see your three-hour girl and leave me alone."

"What's a three-hour girl?" Stefan asked.

I turned my attention back to the notebook. "It's this girl Ryan slept with. It took three hours for him to make her cum."

"You haven't slept with anyone in months-"

"Completely different situation. I'm choosing not to sleep with people."

"Did you join a convent," Damon asked.

"No. I'm taking away distractions."

"Wouldn't that make you more distracted?"

I lifted my head, "You would think." I looked at them. "But, no. My choosing not to have sex is like you choosing to not have humanity. It's like a switch."

"Seriously?"

I rolled my eyes and looked back at the book. I read over what I wrote. Better than the first three rough drafts. I clicked the pen and tossed it to the side.

"I would've thought it would be because of Kai," Damon continued.

I felt my heart sink.

"We're not allowed to say the 'K' word."

"The 'K' word," Damon inquired.

My chest felt tight and the air felt suffocating. I grabbed my computer, then I started typing in what I wrote. "There are a lot of words we can't say. The 'K' word is at the top of the list."

"Why can't we say it," Damon asked.

"Why is it at the top," Stefan asked.

I continued typing as I replied. "The last time there was a discussion about the 'K' word I ended up locking myself in my room for a week. It's at the top of the list because if I hear it again I will probably shoot myself." I finished typing then slammed my computer shut. I sat it on the floor and looked over at them. "Why are you here?"

They were staring at me in shock at what I said before. "Maybe you should take a walk first," Ryan offered.

"Maybe I should just leave." He looked down at the counter. I looked at Damon and Stefan. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Nobody's seen you for a year, Evelyn. The last time we did you were..." Stefan stopped himself. "We want you to come home."

I shook my head, "That's not an option. I'm in the middle of finals. I have to get ready for graduation. I can't come home."

"Graduation?"

I looked at Damon. "Yeah. I'm graduating early. Never leaving your room pays off in college." I sighed. "Why do you want me to come home?"

"Ric's getting married," Damon answered.

I smiled, "To Jo?" He nodded. "That's great."

"The wedding is in a month."

I looked away from them, looking at the work spread out in front of me. "I'm happy for them. I really am, but I can't come back."

"Because of the 'K' word?"

I scoffed. I pulled my knees to my chest. "I'm fine with the 'K' word. If I saw him, I would be fine. It's the fact that I've been ignoring everyone for the past year that's throwing me through a fucking loop." I put my hands over my face and thought for a minute. I moved my hands to my knees. "I left everything behind because I wanted to move on with my life. I wanted to do something that was just for me. And I'm doing that. I'm almost done with that, actually. Three weeks and I'll have completed the goal I've been reaching for since I could defend myself." I felt a lump in my throat.

"Breathe, babe."

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I shook my head. I looked at Stefan and Damon. "You drove ten hours to invite me to a wedding."

"Well, you weren't answering your phone," Stefan responded.

I nodded. I glanced at my knees. "I'll be there." I pushed myself to my feet. I turned to face them.

"When are you graduating?"

I looked at Ryan then at Damon. "You already know."

He tilted his head. "So does everyone else."

I smiled, "Thank you." He nodded. He and Stefan both got up. I watched my feet as I stepped over papers and notes. I looked at them, stopping a few feet away. "You don't have to go."

"We do, actually. There's some people we have to talk to about you."

I stepped closer, hugging them one at a time. I walked them to the door. I put my hand on the door and looked up from the floor. The flash of a camera on Damon's phone blinded me. "Who's that for?"

He started typing. "Your sister." He looked at me. "She needed to know you were actually breathing." He looked down at his phone. "Take your hair down."

I furrowed my brows. "What?"

"She wants one with your hair down."

"No. Tell her she can see it in a few weeks."

He started typing. "Bye, Evelyn. Answer our calls next time." He started walking away.

"We'll see you later."

I looked at Stefan. "Hey." He stopped walking and moved closer to me. "Is Kai okay?"

He smiled and nodded. "He misses you. It's fairly obvious."

I sighed, relief filling my senses. "But he's okay? Not killing people or anything."

"He's great, Ev. He's a completely different person." He nodded. "He told me to tell you thank you."

I laughed, remembering our last conversation. "Thank you."

He smiled. His eyes scanned my face. "It was good to see you. You look good."

I tilted my head. "I am good."

He nodded once. He took a step back. "Congrats, by the way."

"Thanks," I responded.

He turned and walked away. I went back inside and shut the door.

"You took a break."

I walked over and sat on the barstool. "Because I know everything's going to be fine. I finished the second draft. I just have to tweak it and finalize it. I can do that in an hour. They would've left if it took too long. Then how else would I know Ric's getting married?"

"I ordered a pizza."

I crossed my arms on top of the counter. "I thought you had a date."

"Had."

I shook my head, "He tells me as if I'll know what happened."

He rested his hand against the counter and leaned against it. "I called to cancel. She said her dad died."

I nodded, "That'll do it."

He laughed softly. "Absolutely."

He started talking about some girl he ran into on his way home yesterday that he wasn't able to tell me about because I was in the middle of studying. My mind ran a train filled with thoughts about going back home.

A year changes people. A year changed me.

...

The party popper made my ears ring. I punched Ryan's arm. "That's why you're not graduating early! You have no common sense." I turned to him.

"I was just trying to be nice!"

I rolled my eyes and turned away from him as I loaded my last bag into the car. "Don't you have somewhere to be?" I shut the trunk and turned to him.

"I want to take you to dinner before you go."

I tilted my head. "I'm already behind schedule. I need to leave so I can make it to Mystic Falls before 3."

"What's another hour?"

"Another hour of my sleep taken from me."

"So let me come with you and we can get dinner there."

I shook my head, "Last time you came back with me you were almost killed."

"You almost died like five times and you're going back."

"Because I know I won't die."

He stepped closer. "Please. I'll be your date for the wedding."

"You're not even packed, and it would take you hours."

"Au contraire." He walked away from me and rounded the corner. He came back to me bearing the three bags he prepacked. "I planned ahead."

I tilted my head, "Seriously?"

He looked behind me. "There's room, right. I mean, I know everything you own is in there, but this is just three bags."

I stepped back and he gasped with excitement. He walked to the trunk and put his stuff in. I walked to the front seat and he shut the trunk. Once he was buckled I started driving.

My phone started ringing, and I pressed the answer button on the steering wheel. "Hey."

"Hey, Ev. I know you're driving so I called instead of texting. When are you supposed to be in?"

"3 or 4, Care."

"Okay! Do you think you could meet at the Grill? Or we can drive together if you want."

"We can meet you there."

"We? Is Ryan there?"

"Hey, Caroline," Ryan answered.

"Oh, hey! Okay. I'll see you when you get here, Ev."

"Okay, bye, Care."

She ended the call.

...

I parked the car outside the Grill. I unbuckled and got out. I checked my reflection in the car window.

"Is that why you dressed up? You knew she would have a party."

I reapplied my lipgloss before running my hand back through my hair. "Precisely." I stood up straight and pulled the back of my dress down further. I tossed my lipgloss in the window. I handed my phone to him as we walked to the door. "Caroline likes to celebrate the little things in life so imagine the celebration for her sister graduating two years early from Harvard."

"Right." I felt his eyes on me. "Your boobs look great by the way."

I laughed, "Thanks."

He pulled the door open for me and I walked in. I looked up from the floor to see balloons and confetti floating to the floor as there was a collective shout: Congratulations!

I laughed at the sight of so many balloons. I scanned the crowd for the one person I was hoping to see, only to be missing the 'K' word. Caroline ran over.

She lifted my hair off my shoulders. "Highlights!"

I pulled her hands away. "Cool, right?"

"Absolutely."

"Evelyn." I looked over at Elena as she walked over. She hugged me and I hugged her back. "It's good to see you."

I pulled back from her, "You too."

She smiled at me. "How have you been?"

"Good," I answered. "Stressed, but good."

I felt two hands on my shoulders before a voice shouted, "Shots!"

Everyone cheered. I ducked away from Ryan's hands, and the shots coming toward us. I made my way to the bar. Matt was standing behind it drying a glass. He looked up at me and smiled, "Hey, stranger."

I laughed softly. "Hey. Could I get some water?"

He nodded before filling a glass. I took it from him and took a drink.

"Lightweight."

I turned to see Tyler. "I didn't let myself drink for an entire year. I feel like if I drank a shot of tequila I would have a stroke."

He laughed softly. "It's good to see you, Ev."

I smiled, "You too."

"Word on the street is you're a certified nerd now," Matt pitched in

I nodded, "With a Bachelor's Degree in psychology."

"Congrats. If anyone could've done it, it was you," Tyler cheered before taking a drink of his beer.

I took another drink of the water before leaving it at the bar and walking away. I walked right into a firm body. I looked up to see Joshua. I felt my heart pause. "I'm- I'm sorry. I didn't see where I was going."

He chuckled and stepped back. "It's not a problem." He held out his hand for me to shake. I was hesitant to shake his hand, but I did it anyway. "I'm Joshua. You must be Evelyn."

I nodded slowly. "The one and only. Hopefully."

He laughed softly and pulled his hand away. "I've heard a lot about you. Congratulations on your degree. Psychology, correct?"

I inhaled shakily. "Yeah..." I swallowed.

He furrowed his brows, "Are you alright?"

I shook my head, "I'm fine. Long drive."

"Are you sure? You're a little pale... and flushed." He laughed. "I didn't think that was possible." He looked over at the bar. He put his hand on my arm, "You should take a seat."

I stumbled a step back from him. "I just need some air. It was nice to meet you, sir." I walked away from him as quickly as possible. I grabbed Ryan's arm. He turned to me. "I'm leaving. Come with me or find a ride."

He stepped closer and put his hand on my arm. "Slow down. What happened?"

I gasped for air. "Joshua, the Gemini Coven guy, he's here and he just talked to me. He had three men sent after me the last time I was in town. I can't be here."

He nodded once. "Okay. We can go."

"Everything okay?"

I looked over at Damon. "Terrific. Thanks for the party. It's been a great 15 minutes. I'm going home."

His mouth worked to form words, but nothing came out. I dragged Ryan with me as I made my way outside. He drove us home.