1,418The day after the Founder's Kick-off party, Josie went to see Anna and Pearl. Josie knew Stefan might be back on human blood, but she decided not to worry about it for now. Damon said he'd handle Stefan (with Uncle John back, Damon was determined to keep a low profile).
So, Josie decided to focus on saving Pearl. She remembered that Uncle John had been the one to kill Pearl, so now that he was in town, Josie had to warn her.
Josie drove over to the farmhouse, hoping Anna and her mother were still there.
Thankfully, Anna answered the doorbell. "Josie?"
"Is your mother home?"
"Yes," she said, looking confused. "You're here to see my mother?"
"And you," Josie smiled.
Anna smiled. "Come in."
Anna led Josie to the living room where Pearl was. "It's quiet here," remarked Josie.
"All the other vampires left town," Anna said.
"After what happened with Stefan, I kicked them out," said Pearl. "Except Harper."
Josie nodded. "I'm here to warn you. I don't know if you know, but my uncle John Gilbert is in town."
"I noticed," said Pearl, her face tightening.
"Well he's not all that different than the original jerk that stuck you in a tomb for 145 years," said Josie, not able to keep the anger from creeping into her voice. "Not all Gilberts hate vampires. My sister is in love with one. I'm friends with them. But my uncle… I overheard him talking on the phone. He… wants to kill you." Josie figured that was as good a lie as any.
"I don't know why he wants to kill you," Josie continued. "Maybe it's because of what happened back in 1864 with his namesake. Please don't kill him. He's not a great guy, but he's family. Unfortunately. Maybe you could compel him to forget about you? Not kill you or Anna?"
"He's on vervain, I'm sure," said Pearl. She looked furious. Josie couldn't blame her. Pearl hadn't done anything to either John Gilbert and they both were determined to see her dead.
"Vervain doesn't last forever, right?" Josie asked. "Maybe you could keep him here for a few days and then compel him? I know the original Jonathan Gilbert betrayed you in the worst way. And on behalf of my ancestor, I'm so sorry."
"Why should we show mercy to those who won't show it to us?" asked Anna, angrily. She wasn't wrong. Still, Josie was trying to save lives, not trade them.
"I didn't have to warn you. My uncle is a skilled vampire hunter. He'll succeed if he's determined. I'm warning you because I think you're better than him."
Josie could barely breathe, she was so tense. She was betting on Pearl's character. Josie remembered that Pearl had wanted to live in peace, hadn't sought revenge. She hoped her gamble paid off.
Finally, Pearl's face broke into a small smile. "I never thought I'd hear a Gilbert say I was better than a human."
Josie let out a relieved sigh and shrugged. "It's true," she said, honestly. "You could have slaughtered all of us the second you got out of that tomb for what Jonathan did to you. But you didn't. That makes you a million times better than either John Gilbert."
At that Pearl actually smiled. "Alright, I won't kill John Gilbert. I'll keep him here and compel him when the vervain's out of his system."
"Thank you so much," said Josie, getting up.
And while Uncle John disappeared for a few days after that, when he returned, the day of the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, Josie was sure it was without any murderous intentions towards Pearl or Anna.
That night, Josie had a great time with Tyler on their date. She was surprised how easy the transition from friend to something more was. After their meal, they took a walk. They held hands and talked about school, pop culture, sports, etc. until he drove her home. Wanting to take it slow, she didn't invite him in, but decided to embrace the high school cliché of making out in the car outside her house.
When he asked her to go with him to the Miss Mystic Falls pageant (his mother insisted he attend), she happily accepted.
Though Bonnie came back to school a few days before the pageant, Elena asked Josie to help her with her dress, hair and make-up, since Bonnie was avoiding her. Clearly, Bonnie thought Grams' death was the Salvatores' fault. Josie couldn't blame Bonnie, but felt bad for Elena. She tried not to think about her own role in the whole affair.
The day of the pageant arrived and Josie was helping Elena get ready when Damon came into the dressing room. He told them Stefan was back on human blood and wasn't controlling himself very well.
When Stefan interrupted them, Damon grabbed Josie and they made a swift exit. Not satisfied, Josie pulled him into an empty room, determined to get answers.
"How bad is he?" asked Josie as soon as she'd shut the door.
"What do you mean?" asked Damon.
"I mean, how bad is he?" she repeated. "Like is he just on edge or is he full-blown ripper?"
In the show, Josie remembered this time Stefan hadn't been so bad, but she knew she couldn't count on that being true anymore. And Ripper Stefan terrified her.
"How do you know about that?" Damon asked, looking shocked.
"I've been talking to Lexi," she admitted. "She didn't tell me everything, but she did tell me that Stefan has major control issues with human blood. She mentioned he'd been in Monterey in 1912. Google told me the rest." She had been corresponding with Lexi ever since the blonde vampire had been in Mystic Falls.
"He's not that bad," said Damon.
Josie let out a sigh of relief.
"At least not yet," he amended. "We need to either get him off human blood or get him to control his intake."
Josie nodded. "First we need to get through today. He hasn't attacked anyone, right?"
Damon shook his head. "Just blood bags so far."
"Good. You'll keep an eye on him in the meantime?" asked Josie.
Damon smirked. "I'll make sure he keeps his fangs to himself."
They went downstairs, where Damon got drinks for both of them and Josie went to find Tyler. She didn't realize anything was wrong until Elena was introduced and Stefan was nowhere to be found. When the last girl on the court, Amber, was also MIA, Josie realized what had happened. Crap, she had forgotten about that.
As if to underscore her poor memory, at that moment she was hit with a vision. Stefan was feeding off Amber in the woods outside. He was clearly trying to control himself and failing miserably. He kept feeding and feeding. He fed on her until she stopped breathing and her body dropped to the ground. He pulled back, mouth full of blood, and ran, leaving Amber dead on the ground. Josie was shocked. She was pretty sure the girl had lived in the show.
Josie came back to reality and felt that Tyler had a grip on her arm.
"Are you alright?" he whispered, as the announcer called for Amber once again. Josie paused to realize how odd that was. Maybe a second or two had passed, but her vision had been at least a three minute scene. Clearly, these visions, though they seemed like scenes from the show, were more like dreams.
"I'm fine," she whispered back. "Just… a headache."
She told Tyler she was going to the restroom and went to find Alaric. She pulled him aside and explained the situation, but didn't miss the intense dance that Damon and Elena were sharing. She knew then that ending things with Damon had been the right decision.
After the dance ended, Josie and Alaric grabbed Damon and told him about Stefan and the missing girl. Damon thought they should search the house first and wouldn't listen to Josie about going outside. Unfortunately, the house was large and Josie didn't feel comfortable waiting that long, given what she had seen in her vision.
So, Josie decided to look outside for Stefan and Amber, figuring she could text Damon when she 'found' them. She walked into the parking lot and spotted Stefan and the girl standing beside his car. She pulled out her phone and texted Damon.
Remembering her vision, Josie made the decision to approach them, figuring Stefan probably wouldn't hurt her, as she was Elena's sister.
"Hey, Stefan," she called, walking up to him and Amber. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, trying to sound casual. Looking at Amber's neck, Josie winced when she saw the blood dripping down. Damon would come soon. She just had to keep Stefan from attacking until he arrived.
"We're standing in the parking lot," said Amber, in that monotone voice Josie had come to associate with compulsion.
"I can see that," said Josie, standing beside Amber.
"You shouldn't be here, Josie," said Stefan, though he moved in front of her and Amber, blocking the way back to the party.
"I just needed some air," Josie said, ignoring him, desperately trying to think of things to say. "It's such a nice day. It's too bad you missed the ceremony, there was this really funny moment when…"
Josie was cut off by Stefan's strong hands gripping her shoulders. She felt a ghost of movement around her wrist and realized he'd removed her watch. Oh god, the watch that held the only vervain she had on her person.
He looked her in the eye and compelled her, "You came out here and didn't see anybody. Go back to the party and don't come out until it's over."
Josie blinked and just looked at him. She didn't feel any different. She felt no desire to go back to the party. She definitely remembered everything that had transpired in the parking lot.
Stefan tilted his head in confusion and asked, "Do you understand?"
Still, she felt nothing. Could she not be compelled? She didn't get another second to think about it because Stefan was ripped away from her and thrown across the parking lot by Damon. Looking past him, Josie saw Elena and Alaric.
"Stefan!" called Elena, as Stefan tried to attack Damon.
Elena managed to distract Stefan long enough for Damon to stab Stefan with a tree branch. Stefan groaned and Alaric was able to get close enough to bring Stefan down with a vervain syringe.
Alaric went to check on Amber while Damon, Josie and Elena talked about what to do with Stefan.
"We can't just let him roam around," said Josie, shaking her head.
Elena nodded. "It's not safe. He's not himself."
"There's always the basement," said Damon.
"Until he's better," said Elena, nodding. "Maybe we should call Lexi. Hasn't she helped Stefan with this before?"
"No!" exclaimed Josie, perhaps a bit too forcefully as she remembered her vision of Lexi burning on Founder's Day. "Lexi's all the way in Europe. Let's give it a few days and see if he can't work this out on his own. He's not going anywhere."
She just hoped Stefan got over it as quickly as he did in the show. She remembered he'd been back to his old self by Founder's Day, which was only two weeks away.
So, Damon healed and compelled Amber and then he and Alaric took Stefan back to the Boarding House. Elena and Josie took Amber back to the party to get her cleaned up and into her dress for the announcement of the pageant winner.
As they walked back to the party, Josie thought about earlier. Why couldn't she be compelled? Had she somehow imbibed vervain? She didn't wear perfume and was pretty sure all her toiletries were store-bought without additives. It was probably the same reason the witches' spells didn't work on her. Of course what that reason was, she had no clue.
After they'd helped Amber, Josie went to find Tyler. She excused her prolonged absence by complaining about how long the line was for the ladies room and they stood together while Caroline was crowned Miss Mystic Falls.
The party was nearly over and Josie found Jeremy with Anna.
"You need a ride, Jer?" asked Josie. "Jenna and I are leaving."
"I think I'm gonna stay for a bit longer," he said, eyeing Anna.
Josie shook her head. "What have you done to my brother?" she asked Anna. "He hates these things."
Anna smiled. "It's all about the company, right?"
Josie nodded.
"Hey, did Damon tell you that your uncle's looking for some device that Jonathan Gilbert invented?" Anna asked.
Josie shook her head. "What device?" Though she knew it must be the vampire-disabling one.
"I don't know," replied Anna. "Apparently your uncle told Damon about a vampire that stole something from Jonathan Gilbert back in 1864. A vampire he was friendly with."
"He doesn't know it was your mother right?" asked Josie.
"She took away all his memories of her," confirmed Anna. "Your uncle has no idea the vampire is her."
"Good," said Josie.
"Whatever it is, I don't think we want Uncle John to get it," said Jeremy.
Anna smiled. "That's what Damon said. I'm going to talk to my mom tonight and see if she has it."
Later that night, Anna texted Josie and Jeremy, letting them know that Pearl had given the device to Damon. Still, Josie knew that with the tomb vampires still out there, it was important that Uncle John get it. If they attacked during Founder's Day, like on the show, it would be needed to protect the town. How had Uncle John gotten it from Damon though? The answer came a week later, when Isobel showed up.
In the days after the pageant, Elena was gone most of the time, helping Stefan with his human blood detox in the Boarding House basement. Thankfully, Stefan recovered fairly quickly so nobody brought up Lexi's name again.
Anna had started attending school with them and, thanks to Josie's warning and Pearl's compulsion, Uncle John was still bothering Damon about the vampire device and had no recollection of Pearl's involvement.
It was a few days after the pageant, and Tyler and Josie were on their third official date.
"Josie, uh, there was something I wanted to talk to you about," Tyler said. He looked nervous.
"What is it?" she asked, confused.
"This past week has been fun. I thought it might be weird, since we dated before, but this time feels different."
"Yeah," she said, smiling, even though she had no recollection of their previous time dating. "I've had fun too."
And she had. She really liked Tyler. He was easy to be with and they had a lot in common. He was definitely more exciting than Derek had been. Not as dangerous as Damon, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Though she did miss Damon sometimes.
"I know I make fun of all the 'we' people out there, but maybe being a 'we' person wouldn't be so bad if you were one with me?"
Josie almost laughed. That was the weirdest way she'd ever been asked to be in a relationship. Still, she knew how difficult it must be for Tyler. "Are you… asking me to be your girlfriend?"
"Well, yeah," he said, still nervous. "Do you not?"
"I do," she said, quickly.
She was surprised to realize it was true. She knew she was going to be in this world for a while and she liked Tyler. She was starting to feel whole again. Ready for something… real. She figured she should at least try and be happy while she was stuck here.
They finished their meal and Tyler drove her home. She thought about inviting him in, but decided to take it slow, for now. They'd only just started going out. All part of the plan for something… real.
The next day, Josie was sitting with Tyler when Alaric announced that Tyler was going to lead the historical float project. Josie was happy for him. Even though he acted like it was no big deal, she could tell he was proud he'd been chosen.
It wasn't all good news though. Elena pulled Josie aside after lunch and told her that Isobel had come to Alaric and wanted a meeting with Elena. Josie agreed it was best to figure out what Isobel wanted, but insisted she be there for support. So, Josie played pool with Stefan while Elena spoke with Isobel. She wasn't able to catch the entire conversation, but she knew what Isobel wanted without Stefan's whispers: the Gilbert device.
Elena was visibly shaken and near to tears after Isobel left and Josie ran to give her a hug. When Josie had watched the show, she had found Elena's drama annoying at times, but seeing it for herself in person, all she felt was pity for the girl.
Josie was glad when Bonnie showed up to the Gilbert House the next day. She said she'd come to make amends with Elena, so Jeremy and Josie left the two of them and headed to the school parking lot to help with the floats.
They met up with Anna and started helping Tyler and Matt with the historical float. Josie was just coming back from the bathroom, when she heard shouting. Matt was pinned underneath the float and while everyone was looking in his direction, Josie felt someone grab her from behind and put a hand over her mouth.
She struggled, but was dragged and roughly shoved into a car. She screamed once the hand was removed, but was told to be quiet or the man who'd taken her would gag her. As soon as she was thinking clearly, she realized that she had been taken hostage by Isobel instead of Jeremy. Probably because Jeremy was with Anna. Must be nice to have a vampire bodyguard, she thought dejectedly.
Even though she felt she was on the verge of a panic attack, she forced herself to remain calm. Jeremy had survived this, so Josie could too. She tried to focus on her breathing and not on the fact that she was now a hostage to a murderous vampire who had her humanity switched off. She had snuck into the farmhouse full of tomb vampires. She had faced Damon Salvatore alone. She could survive this.
Josie was brought to a house and shoved into a chair. Isobel entered the room with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Josie Gilbert," said Isobel. "Elena will be so worried."
Josie just looked stonily at her.
"I won't hurt you," she said. "As long as I get what I want."
Josie scoffed, but remained silent. What the hell was she supposed to say?
"Believe it or not, I do care for Elena," said Isobel.
Josie was skeptical. She was pretty sure that Isobel was trying to protect Elena from the Salvatore brothers, in addition to helping Katherine, but couldn't remember Isobel's exact motivations.
"You have a funny way of showing it," said Josie, finally unable to keep silent.
"If I didn't, you'd already be dead," snapped Isobel, suddenly in Josie's face. "Elena has no shortage of people she cares about." Yeah, maybe taunting the murderous vampire wasn't a great idea.
"I don't think Damon is going to give you the device," said Josie, trying to bring the conversation back to neutral territory. "He doesn't care if I live or die."
She knew that wasn't exactly true, but she didn't think Damon would give up an anti-vampire weapon for anyone. Except maybe Elena. And Stefan. Definitely not her.
"But Elena does. And Damon cares about Elena. Plus, I doubt he wants his little plaything dead." Isobel's words hit the mark. How did she know? Katherine? Oh, god.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Josie, trying to sound casual.
"You know what I mean," said Isobel, smirking. "I enjoyed him too. But sleeping with a man's that's in love with your sister? Even I've never done that." She almost looked impressed.
"I'm not sleeping with Damon. Not anymore."
"Pity. He was one of the best I've ever had. And I've had plenty."
"I know. Damon, Alaric… Uncle John." She said John's name with a measure of disgust. "I can't believe he's working with you and Katherine."
"He tries to be a good man."
"Yeah, the road to hell and all that," said Josie, shaking her head. "He would have killed Pearl and Anna just to get that device."
"So, you're the one who had him compelled to forget about Pearl and Anna?" asked Isobel, raising an eyebrow. "To never hurt them. To never think of them again."
"Anna is my friend and Pearl just wants to live in peace. Not all vampires are evil."
"I may have underestimated you," said Isobel, tilting her head as if seeing her for the first time. Then she suddenly got up. "You have a visitor."
She reappeared with Uncle John a few minutes later.
"What are you doing?" Uncle John asked, when he saw Josie sitting there.
"Getting what I want," answered Isobel
"Yeah, well she is my niece. And you're gonna let her go right this second."
"That gaudy ring on your finger… It comes off," said Isobel.
"Come on, Isobel" said John. "I know you. You can't hurt a kid."
Josie tried not to be annoyed. She hated being called a kid.
"I'll kill her to prove you wrong," smiled Isobel.
"Her humanity's off," said Josie. "She would totally kill me. Please don't provoke her."
Had Uncle John ever met a vampire? The man was such a hypocrite.
"I would listen to your niece," said Isobel. "She's smarter than she seems. Smarter than you."
In spite of the situation, Josie was mildly flattered, and insulted at the same time. Did she not seem smart?
"Look I know you've changed," said John. "Ok? But the old Isobel is in there somewhere still. Isn't she? Come on, let her go."
Isobel looked like she was agreeing, but then John got beat up and his ring was taken away. He passed out and Isobel left, leaving Josie alone with no one except unconscious John for company.
Finally, after what felt like forever (Uncle John was not a great company, even when awake), they were allowed to leave and Uncle John took Josie home. They fed Jenna a story about Uncle John hitting his head and Josie grabbed something to eat from the kitchen- damn Isobel hadn't fed her all day. Then Elena called to make sure Josie was home safe.
Later, Elena told her about her bargain with Isobel, Bonnie's supposed de-spelling of the device and that Uncle John would have the device soon.
"Guess I'm lucky Damon was feeling generous," said Josie, shaking her head.
"I would have gotten the device no matter what, Jo," said Elena, pulling Josie into a hug. "You're the only sister I have. Plus who else is gonna get me into my dress for the Founder's Day parade?"
Josie smiled too, but it didn't reach her eyes. Oh, Founder's Day…
The week before the big day was quiet. Eerily so. And all the while, Josie was torn about what, if anything, she should do. She was seriously considering just staying out of it mostly. With the exception of Anna, all the 'good' vampires had survived.
And, honestly, if the tomb vampires were planning an attack on the Founding Families, then it was best they died. She hated feeling that way, but when she looked around her, at the people she'd come to care about in her fake, but real life, she understood Grams' sentiment: she would protect her own.
She decided to just try and get Anna, Stefan and Damon to leave before the device was activated. She knew Pearl wouldn't be caught dead at the celebration.
Josie watched the parade with her friends, cheering Elena and Stefan on, as well as Tyler and Jeremy. He really did a great job with the float. She was proud of him.
After the parade, she spent most of the day with Tyler. She couldn't remember exactly when the attack happened (except it was dark), but when the Mayor approached Tyler and told him to leave before the fireworks started, she realized they were going to turn on the device then. There was time. It was five and the fireworks started at eight. She had to make sure Stefan, Anna and Damon were out by eight.
Tyler nodded at his dad's warning, but ignored him and dragged Josie to the Grill, where they played pool with Matt and Caroline for a while. Thankfully, Jeremy and Anna were there as well, talking in a corner booth, so Josie could keep an eye on them. It was quarter to eight and Josie was just about to go find the Salvatore brothers when the mayor approached Tyler again, and more forcefully this time, told Tyler to leave immediately and take Matt, Caroline and Josie with him. Tyler agreed and took Josie's hand.
"I'm not leaving without Jeremy and Elena," said Josie, firmly. Or Stefan, Anna and Damon she mentally added. Tyler looked annoyed, but let her go.
She went over to Anna and Jeremy.
"Something's happening," said Josie, sliding into the booth beside Jeremy. "The Mayor just came over to us and insisted we leave now, before the fireworks."
Anna nodded. "I was just telling Jeremy that I saw two of the tomb vampires out in the square." She pointed out the window. "There goes another one."
"You think they're planning an attack?" asked Jeremy.
"If they are, the Council must have found a way to deal with it," said Josie. "Otherwise, the Mayor wouldn't send only his own kid away. They would be getting everyone out."
"The device," Anna whispered. "They're going to try and use it against the vampires."
"Not try," said Josie, biting her lip. "Look, I didn't know if I should say anything, but I overheard Bonnie talking to Caroline. She didn't de-spell the device. It's working."
Anna and Jeremy looked shocked. "We have to get you out of here," said Jeremy, grabbing Anna's hand.
"Damon and Stefan too," said Josie, checking her phone. "The fireworks start soon."
At that moment, Tyler approached the table. "Let's go, Josie."
"I can't," said Josie, shaking her head. "I need to find Elena." That seemed a good pretense to find the Salvatore brothers.
"We'll find her," said Jeremy, standing up.
"Yeah, we've got it," said Anna, following him. "Don't worry, we'll take care of it. You go with Tyler, Josie."
Josie hesitated, but then decided to let Anna and Jeremy handle it. She trusted them. But she did want Tyler to get out of there, in case some of the tomb vampires decided to seek out the Mayor's son personally.
"Fine," said Josie. "Let me know when you find them… her?"
Anna and Jeremy nodded and exited the Grill. Tyler took Josie's hand and led her out the back of the Grill, to the alley. As she climbed into the Mayor's car with Tyler, Matt and Caroline, she felt uneasy. As if she was missing something important. She trusted Anna and Jeremy to warn the Salvatores, so it wasn't that.
It wasn't until they'd been driving for a few minutes and Tyler asked, "What the hell is that?" that Josie realized what she'd forgotten: the device affected potential werewolves too. Oh, shit. How the hell could she have forgotten that?
"Are you okay?" asked Josie, putting a hand on Tyler's arm.
"That noise," he said, frowning.
"Wait, what noise?" asked Matt from the back seat.
"Tyler, maybe you should pull over," said Josie, remembering that he had crashed the car in the show. She felt like an idiot.
Before anybody could say anything else, Tyler was shouting and had covered his ears with his hands, leaving nobody driving the car, which served dangerously along the road. All the supernatural beings in this world and she was going to die in a damn car crash!
"Josie, the wheel!" shouted Matt.
Josie grabbed the wheel and tried to stabilize the car, as Tyler continued to cover his ears in pain. Matt was still shouting something, Caroline and Josie were screaming.
Josie looked ahead and saw another car coming straight toward them. She jerked the wheel to the right to avoid a head-on collision, but she overcorrected and sent their car careening into a parked one. Josie heard a sickening crunch to her right and then, nothing.
