𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

- - -
❝Lay back and groove with mine
You gotta feel that heat❞

Rock With You
~Michael Jackson
- - -

As far as handling news of all her story monsters being true went, Kat Gilbert was fucking acing it. At least in her opinion.

But some things said otherwise. Like for example, Caroline's face when Kat demanded a snuggle by calling her when she was in the middle of the night. That didn't mean she didn't get a snuggle though. Elena and Jenna were surprised to see Kat go back to her pre-accident version, as if something was lighter in her eyes.

It really was surprising how much a promise could change.

Stefan had taken the next whole day to explain to Kat, what had happened in the lighter times of his life and what the side-effects of vampirism were. She was particularly thrilled with the 'vamp-whoosh' as she liked to call it. But compulsion.... not so much.

"Did you go to Tanner today?" Kat narrows her eyes at air as she walks back home with two bags of groceries in her right hand and her phone manoeuvred carefully between her left fingers and her ear. She just got her bandage removed a while ago and honestly, it was a relief that she won't have to wear it to the Founders' Party that night. It was also called the Park Night Dance probably because they couldn't come up with anymore ideas to name one of the few thousand occasions people chose to get drunk.

"No... Damon did" Stefan sighs on the other end of the line. 

"Stefan... that means he compelled Tanner to believe he was attacked by a mountain lion!" she whisper-yells and sits on the bench with a relieved roll of her shoulder joints. "Well... At least Tanner's leaving town, did you know that the—"

"Shh" he cuts her off.

Kat freezes in the middle of her hyperventilating episode at the side of a road metres away from her house "...He's around isn't he?"

Stefan just hums, making her fume "I know you can hear me Damon, and I can't wait to look you in the eye and get rid of you. Stay away from Caroline!" she snarls and cuts the call. Staggering onto her feet, she enters her own house to see Jenna glaring at the TV.

Everything in the house had gone back to normal after Kat had returned to her mother hen bickering. They offered to sign her up to therapy, but there was only so much Kat could tell the school therapist before he would burst out laughing. So she denied.

Despite it being blaring afternoon, the TV was blaring with the town news among some other mumbles. 

"Jenny! I got that gum you wa— you're not supposed to do that!" Kat trails off in an exclamation as she noticed just who was being brandished on TV. Jenna rolled her eyes, taking one bag from her niece. But she never peels her eyes off from the television screen. 

"Scum ball"

Just then, Elena walks down with the cardboard box of family antiques "Who are you talking to Jenna?"

"Him" Kat rolls her eyes and points to the news reporter. He was hot enough, but he knew how to be a jerk, like half of the Mystic Falls population. Jenna plops back onto the bar-stool with an exasperated roll of her eyes "Logan Scum Fell. Did your mom ever tell you why I moved away from Mystic Falls?"

Elena narrows her eyes "Oh, no way. You and him? He's cute" 

Kat groans and squashes her forehead against the cool marble platform of the kitchen. She just found out that her new best friend, sister's boyfriend is a 162 year-old vampire whose brother is a 169 year-old homicidal vampire. The last thing she wanted to talk about was Jenna's dick of a boyfriend.

"He is not cute. There's nothing cute about him. What are you doing with that?" Jenna gestures to the box. 

Kat perks up, thankful for the topic change, "That would be for me... I got that from the safe-deposit box yesterday. Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood she would loan it to the founder's council for their heritage display" she proudly states. She palms through the stuff, two gem-bracelets and a studded ring and a weird old pocket watch.

"Is that grandma Beth's wedding ring?"

"Actually... It was great-great-grandma Mary's wedding ring..." she trails off when Jeremy bounces down the stairs. 

He smelled quite not drunk, for once. Though his hair was still a mob of unruly teenage goth angst, he was more presentable than he looked before he was grounded. He snatches some stuff from Elena's hand, weighing it like some sort of jewellery collector "How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on eBay?"

Kat narrows her eyes, snapping the carton shut forcefully "Oh good morning Jeremy, you sister, whom you hurt two days ago, just carried home two very heavy bags of groceries. Thank you so much for the help" She glares and tries to run a decent hand through his ruffled hair - which he just jerks off.

"Oh and about the very antique ancestral pocket watch? You're not going to find out how much it's worth on eBay... or any other bay" 

"That stuff is mom and dad's. You can't just give it away!" he protests.

Elena sighs "We're not giving it away. It's called a loan, Jeremy"

"And it's just for one day, chill yourself bro" she imitates his stoner talk. He just huffs and tries to go back up, only to be caught back by both his aunt and sisters "You're helping".

His protests are cut off by the bell ringing. "Ooh, that must be Stefan" Elena hops off to the door to let her boyfriend in. They rush up, but not before Stefan looks at Kat sheepishly 'later' he murmurs right before his face disappears up the stairs.

Sighing, she tries to ignore that funny pang she felt whenever she looked at Stefan. Ordering Jeremy around some, she settles her chin on Jenna's shoulder with a small grumble matching her aunt's. 

"Scum ball. Scum bucket."

Finally, she goes up an hour later to find Elena and Stefan... fondueing. Kat mock-gags for an introduction, scarred by what was going to happen in the room. "Glad to know I'm not disturbing anything important, speaking of, I need Broody to give something to his uncle."

Elena glares and puts her hand possessively on Stefan, making her twin scoff "Stealing your man is the last on my list for tonight, this thing is important for Zach's whole archaic house macho thing - the perfumes are in the attic if you'd want to check" she provides.

"It's okay..." Stefan gets up after pressing a kiss to Elena's lips with a tentative smile "Zach asked me to do it anyway"

"Right this way Broody, running out of time, and oh Elena?" she mutters sweetly to her sister "The orange one," she winks at one of the dresses hanging from the chair and leads the Salvatore boy up the attic. 

"You know, if I wasn't a vampire, I'd think you'd want to murder me up here," Stefan jokes, making Kat cringe.

"Note number 1, vampire jokes? Too soon" Her fingers fumble for the switches and when she turns the lights on, Stefan freezes.

"You've, you've been growing vervain?"

"Damon Salvatore's going down tonight"

▻▻▻

"I can't believe this..." he gently puts the vervain water jars into a bag "How, how did you...?"

"My dad grew it and then I got his diary up here... Along with these dying plants... And then Zach, your... What did you say he was? Your great-great-great grand step-nephew?" she pouts, mockingly checking off each finger with every 'great'. Stefan shakes his head "Whatever... What did Zach do?"

"He helped me grow these back, and all of them were buddy-buddy in the Council" she palms one of the leaves and hisses. 

Stefan's face immediately swivels to her illuminated hand with a frown "Why does vervain burn you?"

"Oh come on Stefan," she scoffs, waving it off "I'm just allergic to it, at least that's what Zach used to say when I drank my first actual vervain water" 

Silence rings through the musty air as Stefan sits down gently, pulling Kat down with him "Vivi... Only vampires are allergic to vervain"

"Oh nonsense, I'm pretty sure I saw Jenna sneezing at—"

"No, really..." he holds her shoulders firmly "I've never heard any human burn from vervain"

"So are you that I might be a freak?" her eyes widen, lungs so ready to freak out and her glasses so ready to crack under an impending opera scream, "Are you saying that I'm not normal and that I might want to kill Caroline?"

"No, no." Stefan rushes to reassure her "It's, it's just a coincidence. You know what? I'll ask Zach, 'kay? No big deal."

She shakily nods, getting up and handing him the boxed materials. She had other things awaiting her— bringing down Damon Salvatore to his knees...

In a very non-sexy way.

"Spike his drink or stab him..." she shows Stefan a syringe filled with light greenish liquid. He gulps and nods. 

▻▻▻

She's stress-chomping on homemade pizza when her phone dings with a new message.

Broody: Spiking his hand drink didn't work

She sighs "Wasn't counting on it... See u @ the party"

The bell rings just then, Jeremy rushing to open it. His eagerness told her that he was expecting his new video game delivery on the other side. However, something way less appealing to him was waiting on the other side. Jeremy almost shuts the door to a close when Tyler gruffly stops it. He bore a vindictive glare for Jeremy, which dimmed at the sight of Kat standing expectantly behind her brother.

"I'm here for my mom. I was supposed to pick up a box of stuff" 

"Coming right up" Kat rushes to the cardboard, stopping just once to look inside. The pocket watch glistens in the kitchen light, making her reconsider what she thought earlier. Sighing, she quickly hides the watch in her pocket and gives the box to Tyler.

"Be careful"

"Yeah, be careful with it, dick" Jeremy snarks out, earning a smack from Kat. She groans and palms her left hand with a cringe. Tyler looks over apologetically before addressing Jeremy, "Hey. Would it make a difference if I told you I actually like Vicki?"

The youngest Gilbert scoffs, stomping away "Not even if you meant it."

Kat right about bids him goodbye when Tyler gently holds Kat's wrist over the threshold, "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Um... Will it include an apology?" 

He nods vigorously,  relieved when she closes the door behind her. They walk over to his car in the sunny driveway.

"I'm sorry that I hit him. Over Vicki... It's just that I felt so angry all of a sudden that I couldn't see anything else. I don't know what happened Kat, I'm sorry," he sighs out. 

Kat didn't know what to do. She didn't want to forgive Tyler so easily, but she didn't want to punish him any longer. This was her Tyler— her Tyler who would just pick a fight with her so that she could vent out on him. That was a feat not everyone in Mystic Falls was willing to volunteer for. So, instead of replying to his apology, she sighs "Have you talked to Uncle Mase recently? It seems like ages..."

Mason Lockwood was Tyler's young uncle, considered the black sheep by his own family. Yet, he was the most trusted youngster for the kids to be around. He was practically like family to Kat, her godfather who loved to take her to archery arcades. However, every man has the desire to discover himself out of his world. That was why Mason had left town five years ago to Florida, leaving Kat and Caroline waiting for his fatherly presence. 

A wave of homesickness and guilt washes over Tyler's eyes at the mention of his uncle, "Nah, he's busy somewhere, surfing it out in Florida I guess."

Without either of them filling the silence with conversation, the air around them became embarrassing. Tyler was the typical jerk jock who slept with anything with a vagina that threw itself at him. But over the summer, something changed. Instead of Kat having to mentally cuss the new skinny assed Caroline-wannabe on his arm each day, Tyler only talked and hung around one girl.

"So, Vicki huh?" Kat says with a hum. Caroline had always called that hum Kat's insecurity radar going off.

Tyler smiles brightly, "I invited her to be my date for the party," 

"Wow! Tyler Lockwood!" Kat perks up with a proud smile, which threatens to fade as soon as the real theory behind it sinks into her. So they really liked each other. From where she stood, Kat had two choices: she could be jealous of her good girl friend for liking someone to stick around, or she could be happy for them. 

Kat smiles softly, patting Tyler on the back, "Don't screw up okay? And let me know if you guys need any help at all."

Tyler scoffs playfully as he got into his car "What are you talking about! Me? The Tyler Lockwood wanting help? Ha!"

Kat raised her eyebrows sardonically. It was a look that made Tyler reconsider each and every decision he made till now.

"Okay..." he sighs "I need your help"

Kat chuckles at his admission, asking what she could do.

"I just... Could you go by Vick's and help her? You know, convince her that my parents aren't as superficial as they look like?"

She nods, before frowning oh so innocently "But they are superficial Ty," 

He shakes his head in a laugh before speeding off "Just— okay, I want her to smile alright? Be able to be in her own skin out there. So please?"

"Alright alright, you don't have to beg Lockwood, I'll go there..." she smiles, waving him off. 

Now, time to give Jeremy his rightful inheritance.

▻▻▻

An hour later, at the Donovan's house

Matt opens the door "Kat?"

Smiling brightly, she barges in, calling out to his sister "Is Vicki here? Vick? It's me Kat!"

He wasn't surprised that the elder Gilbert had showed up there at such a peak hour. After all, Kat was the only girl Vicki sought out for girl talks. In fact, Matt was quite relieved that Kat had showed up just when he was failing incredibly at dealing with Vicki. 

He frowns helplessly, pointing to the closed door on his right "She's been cooped up there for hours and won't let me in,"

Kat purses her lips in thought before jumping up from her place "Matt! How about you go on an ice-cream run? Sound good? Here's..." she looks over the refrigerator for his money "—your wallet, and off you go!" she pushes him out the door as quickly as Elena shooed out Jeremy out of the bathroom everyday.

Closing the door, Kat tiptoes to Vicki's room with a gentle whisper, "Vick? Matt's gone out, what's happening?"

"He called you didn't he? I'm gonna kill him!" Vicki screeches on the other side of the closed door, the sound followed by a vibrating thumps of some things thrown at the wood. 

Kat rubs her whiplashed cheek with a sigh. She speaks loud over Vicki's outbursts to reassure her, "No. Tyler told me that he asked you to be his date... So I'm here to get you ready"

"Go away Kat!"

"Hey! Easy there Vicki. Let me in, and we can talk shit about him if that's what you want" silence "Vick? Listen, you don't have to go—" 

Kat gets interrupted when the door gives under her and she falls into the room with a thud. Vicki giggles, pulling her friend up. 

"Sorry"

They both start laughing right when Matt comes in with bags of ice-cream, harried and wide-eyed. His posture relaxes at seeing code red vanish with both the girls' snorting laughter.

"So, what next?" he takes in deep breaths. 

Kat smiles widely, hugging Vicki's shoulders "Now, we show those Lockwoods who's the doll" 

3 whole hours later, Kat proudly lets loose the last of Vicki's honey-blonde locks down her shoulder, "There you go, one beautiful Donovan" Vicki admires herself in the mirror, wearing a yellow and white sundress that found her smiling like she was a princess. Kat packs up all her make-up, looking at the watch.

Only to scream a second after the time registers.

"Oh my God! Half an hour left! I got to go Vick!" she shouts and kicks up her scarf and staggers out, almost falling face-first if Matt hadn't caught her "Easy there"

"Oh my God! Half hour Matt! God no... Good time Vicki! B-Bye" she waves and rushes out, running out to her house... which is 3 blocks away.

When she stumbles into her house almost limp with running, she's met with a hysterical yet completely dressed Jenna, "Why are you so late! Elena already left with Stefan and Caroline left with her boy toy."

Kat throws her bag on the floor and peels off her ballet flats. She was too freaked out to notice the mention of Damon. 

"I'm late I'm late I'm late! Where the fuck is my dress?!" she screeches, still looking around the kitchen for her outfits. Her aunt hooks her arm, equally panicky, "It's upstairs. Upstairs! Let's go, Jeremy—" 

Kat doesn't let her finish her instruction as she yanks her off upstairs.

Everything in the room looked messy, just like she had left it before. Caroline had even written instructions for her to follow with her hairstyle and had arranged a matching hat in case of Kat wanted to choose among outfits.

"This or this?" Kat frantically throws two of her planned outfits on either of her shoulder. On one shoulder was a shimmery blue-green dress with golden flowers.

On the other shoulder was a darker outfit, even a bit longer. Its colour bordered on dark violet and maroon— Kat liked it.

"Blue! It brings out your eyes," Jenna nods, rushing off to snatch her compact case. 

Kat contemplates the declaration with a frown, "But I like the violet one, it even goes along with my hat"

Jenna groans at her niece's irresistible pout, giving in "Fine, wear the maroon one!" 

Fifteen minutes later, Kat fumbles out of her casual clothes after her nails are done. The dress slips over her like a second skin, too comfortable and all too beautiful. Jenna hands over the accessories - sighing in relief at the time.

"Well, good news, you're not that late" Jenna's eyes roll up, as if thanking God. 

But Kat did not find any solace at the hour, "Bad news!" she shakes her head, "We don't have a ride! Oh God!" she rushes down, her curly locks bouncing with her every steps. 

She slips on her black strapped heelsin record time, pulling out her phone, a small vial of vervain water and her vervained cologne from her bag. She shoves them into her clutch instead and looks up when she hears a metallic cling. 

Silver keys dangle from Jenna's outreached hand.

"What?" Kat frowns, wanting to take a step back at how one piece of metal could make the world stand still in her breath.

Jeremy comes up behind Jenna with a small smile "They're the Camaro key—"

"Oh no no no no no, did I mention.... no!" she rolls her eyes and gets up. 

"Listen Kat... You have to do it one day or another. And we're running out of time,"

Kat woefully ignores their words and pulls on her coat and hat, feeling odd not seeing the familiar keychain dangling off the right hook. Her eyes dart from the empty space to her aunt's hand. Sighing, she rubs the bridge of her nose, "I haven't cleaned it for a week"

Jeremy smiles brightly, smugly crossing his arms over his proud chest "It's cleaned... You can thank me later."

Jenna chuckles, pushing the keys into her hands. Kat bites her lip and stalks into the garage, flooded with light illuminating the car she loved - a car that was her father's memory.

She breathes out slowly, Jenna wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "You can do this"

Kat imitates her and nods with mounting confidence "I can do this" she runs a swift hand over the hood of the car, a smile automatically creeping up her light lips. Glancing at Jeremy one last time, she unlocks the car and slips in, finally bursting out in breathy giggles at the touch of the familiar leather under her fingers.

"I'm doing this. I'm really doing this!" she shouts out of the window.

Jeremy opens the garage shutter completely, waving out in a flourish "You're getting late!" Jenna blows her a kiss and Kat drives off, feeling the drum of the engine in her veins.

𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫

Kat's father's car - a 1967 Chevy Camaro

Hey guys! How're you liking the story so far? I know this chapter wasn't much on the action, I just thought it would be better to write about Vicki and Kat, Kat and Tyler and Kat and Stefan for now.
When I was editing this chapter, I noticed that a lot of people (by a lot I mean every person who commented) liked the violet-maroon dress better. And wanted a hat. So here goes to them!
She's wearing the hat (You're Sherlock Holmes, wear the damn hat!) and she's all decked to go take the party by storm.
Just picture this people: Nina Dobrev in that dress, smiling, with her curled hair let loose under the rim of that hat.
Yeah I think I just drooled a bit...
And how's the car?!
What're your thoughts on Kat's reaction to vervain? Lemme know people because what I have planned and what you might be thinking might be very different and interesting!