Founders Day

"Okay," Caroline said, a little too cheerfully, "today is all about finishing up plans for the Founders' Day display. I want it perfect!" Her excitement was obvious, and I was grateful for the chance to focus on something that felt so routine.

Elena rolled her eyes but grinned, nudging me as we followed Caroline and Bonnie inside. "Looks like she's got you on decoration duty," she teased.

I smirked. "Guess I'm in for a paint-and-glue marathon." 

In English, we settled into our usual seats, notebooks out but minds elsewhere, Bonnie beside me and Elena next to her. The hum of the room seemed to fade a bit as Bonnie leaned over.

"Have you guys thought any more about… you know, the weird stuff from the other night?" Bonnie asked in a low voice, her eyes darting around like she was worried someone might overhear.

Elena and I exchanged a quick glance. The journal, the prophecy, and that eerie encounter with Damon were still fresh in our minds. I wanted to shrug it off, pretend it was just some bizarre coincidence, but the memory of it lingered too vividly.

Elena sighed, fidgeting with her pen. "Honestly, it's been kind of haunting me."

Bonnie nodded slowly, her gaze shifting between us. "You think it was just a weird joke, or is there something more to it?"

I hesitated. "It's hard to say. But the guy—Damon—he showed up out of nowhere, and it was almost like he knew us, or… knew about us."

Bonnie's eyes widened a little, and Caroline, who had been eavesdropping, leaned in, her curiosity flaring. "Wait. You mean *that* guy from the event? The intense-looking one?"

"Yeah, him," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual, but I knew my nerves were showing.

Caroline's expression was all too interested. "Do you think he's… someone significant? Or just some stranger trying to freak us out?"

Elena shook her head slowly, frowning. "I don't know. But it didn't feel random."

Bonnie sighed, her expression going thoughtful. "Maybe it's worth looking into… you know, finding out if he has any connection to Mystic Falls or the whole Founders' thing?"

As we finished up with the class, I couldn't shake the thought of Damon and what he might be hiding. Caroline's enthusiasm about the decorations was like a lifeline, giving me something else to focus on.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of schoolwork and event prep until we found ourselves back at the gym, sorting through decorations with Bonnie and Caroline in full planning mode. We dug through piles of decorations, half-jokingly arguing over which banners to use and whether or not a fog machine was "too much."

"So, about that guy," Caroline said, breaking the usual chatter and glancing at me pointedly. "Are you gonna, like, see him again?"

I shook my head quickly. "Nope, absolutely not. I don't know who he is, and I'm not exactly trying to figure it out."

"Not even a little?" she teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Look, even if I wanted to, I don't think I'd know where to start. He's some mystery guy who showed up out of the blue, said a bunch of cryptic stuff, and then disappeared. I'm chalking it up to 'weird things that happen in small towns.'"

But as I said it, I knew I was just trying to convince myself. There was something about Damon—something that lingered in my mind, no matter how much I tried to push it away.

Just then, the gym doors creaked open, and a voice echoed through the gym. "Guess who's here to lend a hand?"

I turned, half-expecting to see another friend or maybe a teacher. Instead, my breath caught as Damon strolled in, hands tucked casually in his pockets, with that same intense gaze and faint smirk on his lips.

Bonnie's eyes widened, and Caroline's jaw dropped, but I was frozen, completely caught off guard. Damon looked around the gym, giving a slight nod, as if he were inspecting our work.

"What… are you doing here?" I finally managed to say, my voice a mix of confusion and suspicion.

He gave a lazy shrug. "Heard you were putting on a little party, thought I'd stop by to see if you needed any help."

"Help?" Caroline echoed, clearly as surprised as I was.

"Yeah," he replied, glancing over the decorations. "Looks like you could use some."

There was a quiet tension in the air, and I could feel Bonnie and Caroline exchanging glances, unsure what to make of him.

"Uh, well," I said, crossing my arms and trying to keep my cool, "I think we're fine, actually. But thanks for the offer."

Damon just smiled, that mysterious, unreadable smile. "If you say so. But if you change your mind…" He let the sentence trail off, his gaze meeting mine in a way that felt like he was searching for something.

Elena had walked in at that moment, taking in the scene with wide eyes. "Damon… right?" she asked, her tone careful.

He nodded, acknowledging her with a slight bow of his head, but his eyes kept flicking back to me. It was as if he was looking for some reaction or clue, but to what, I couldn't tell.

"Well, if you're going to stick around, at least make yourself useful," Caroline said, clearly not as fazed by him as the rest of us were.

Damon chuckled, giving her a playful salute. "Yes, ma'am."

I found myself sneaking glances at him as we worked. He moved with this strange confidence, like he was perfectly at ease, but every now and then, he'd look over, his gaze locking with mine, and that chill would crawl down my spine again.

As the final touches came together, Damon made his way over to me, lowering his voice. "You seem tense, Amara. Something on your mind?"

I swallowed, looking away. "Just… everything."

He tilted his head, a knowing glint in his eyes. "If you ever want answers, all you have to do is ask."

And with that, he slipped away into the crowd, leaving me feeling like I was standing at the edge of something big, something I couldn't quite understand yet.

The gym looked perfect as we turned on the lights, casting eerie shadows across the decorations, just as Caroline had planned. But as I watched everyone enjoy the event, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, that Damon's presence had shifted everything.