Ivory hands tap against the wheel in time with Taylor Swift's Red that blasts through his Toyota Corolla's stereo speakers. Langston Murphy's attention is currently focused fifty percent on the road, twenty percent on the radio and the remaining thirty on how uncomfortable the tie felt around his neck.

The feeling was too restricting for his liking, he'd rather just go in a dress shirt and blazer but his mother passionately disagreed with his suggestion.

Linda Tate was never one to keep a steady job due to her unpredictable aggression.

So, when she had the money to spend on her son for a nice suit the year before, she would insist that he wore it every chance he got. He remembered the both of them having a themed dinner party between them and their dog, Ryan.

However, that was last year and surprisingly, he managed to grow two inches and bulk up over the previous summer. His once too big suit has become a little tight across the shoulders where if he moves too quick, he's certain he'll split the material and his pants were rolled up to avoid being trodden on.

The topic of money had always made the mother and son uncomfortable for different reasons. Linda was afraid her son felt left out as he watched his friends' financially carefree lifestyles. Whereas Murphy was ashamed of his lack of contribution to the household's finances.

From a young age Murphy had despised himself for placing further stress and embarrassment upon his mother. He was never a greedy child, so when he couldn't get the new video game his friends were bragging about - he didn't throw a fuss. Murphy was happy with a roof over his head, food on the table and the limited hot water.

When the electricity went out, Linda and Murphy would set up a fort and tell ghost stories over a bowl of stove cooked sweet and sour popcorn. The mother and son duo had become experts in turning dark situations into lively ones.

With that thought in mind, Murphy pulled into the Forbes' driveway and retrieved his phone from the glove compartment. Sending a quick text to Caroline announcing his arrival, he steps out of the car and shuts the door behind him softly.

Murphy stares up at the house in comprehension, wondering what his life had come to. He used to ride his bike to the Forbes' house and spend hours with Caroline, talking about anything and nothing all at once.

Growing up in a small town like Mystic Falls, Murphy's friend group had stuck to the same few people - Caroline Forbes, Bonnie Bennett, Matt Donovan, Elena Gilbert, Jeremy Gilbert and Tyler Lockwood. When he was approached by Caroline in preschool, he hadn't known he would be introduced to the world of supernatural when he accepted the friend request - none of the teenagers had.

The soft click of a latch opening catches Murphy's attention, his hazel eyes landing on Caroline's smiling figure as she exits the house.

Murphy smiles kindly at his closest friend. "You look stunning, Care."

She was wearing an off shoulder ruffle red dress which complimented her pale skin and her golden locks were in ringlets on her shoulders.

"Thank you, Murphy. Button up your suit and you'll look just as handsome," Care teases her hand reaching out to tug at his loose blazer.

"You and I both know we need to treat the suit gently. Any extra strain and you'll have to go without a date," Murphy huffs, his mouth forming a pout as his own hands slap hers away gently.

"Hmm, delicate, aren't we?" Was her response to which Murphy intentionally ignored.

"In you get," He bows playfully, holding open her door for her.

"Remind me why we aren't dating?" Caroline jokingly sighs, her hands tugging the bottom of her dress out of the way of the closing passenger door.

Murphy jogs around the front of the car and hops in himself, a grin stretched across his face. "Two reasons - one, you like Matt and two, I'm into dudes."

As Caroline pulls out a blood bag from her purse, Murphy's hands clench the wheel, his stomach turning. "Only the one?"

"I won't be staying at the masquerade for long so one will satisfy me for the time being. Plus, there are plenty of chips to snack on." Murphy takes this into consideration with a shrug, pulling out of the driveway and starting towards the Lockwood estate.

A small slurping noise fills the car which Murphy deals with by raising the radio volume wordlessly. Thankfully, the blonde was hungry and finished the bag within seconds and silently tosses it into his trash bag.

"Are Elena and Bonnie meeting us there?" Caroline noticeably tenses causing worry to build within Murphy. "Care?"

"I- well, Bonnie will be. Elena doesn't know but we have a plan to... take down Katherine," Murphy slams on the breaks, body thrumming in fury and catches Caroline's wince as he turns to her.

"Please do share why you're included in the plan considering Katherine killed you?" His voice is close to hysteria.

Caroline's transition hadn't been easy on either one of them with Murphy having been attacked by the blonde at the carnival. However, fangs and blood lust couldn't stand between them, nothing could or ever would.

Caroline quickly filled him in on the plan causing further doubt and worry to dwell in Murphy's gut as he drove. "The brothers are making you lure her out? Why can't they?"

"She threatened me this morning Murphy when I was stalking Matt - don't give me that look, you'd do the same thing if you ever found someone who you deemed good enough," Caroline protested.

Murphy open his mouth to deny her claim before accepting the fact that she knew him more than he did himself. In this town, all of the cute boys were taken or homophobic or both and so they were off limits.

"Are you sure you're okay with doing this alone? I can be your emotional support human," Murphy offers honestly, looking at his friend with what he hopes is a calm facade.

While on the inside he was sweating bullets and struggling against his entire being to not reverse out of the parking spot and drive himself and Care back to safety.

"I promise Murphy. If I feel like I can't go through with it, I'll run to you, pinky swear?" she grins and he can't help but smile back.

The two link pinkies and lean down, pressing a firm kiss to their own thumbs. "Let's get this party started!"

Murphy exits his car hesitantly, his nimble fingers straightening out his suit and shakily buttoning up the front. Why did the brothers always have to involve Caroline in their trouble? Murphy huffed as Care stopped in front of him.

"Murphy, relax. It'll be over before you know it, just hang out with Matt or grab a drink outside," Caroline soothes Murphy's worries as her hands lightly straighten his tie.

"Okay, yeah, please be safe," he begs, linking his arm with hers before they begin their walk up the Lockwood's driveway.

"I will - drink responsibly." Were her parting words as she allows Murphy to press a faint kiss to her cheek before walking away.

Murphy takes a quick glance around the room and spots an irritated Matt leaving the room with Tyler and Sarah. He looks away with a frown - he did not want to be apart of that situation either.

He makes his way over to the refreshments table, an ache in his throat ready to be soothed with the ice cool punch.

"Excuse me, sorry..." he mutters, palms up as he stumbles into the back of a brunette.

"Hmm, so courageous, Murphy," the familiar voice of Elena Gilbert slices the air, however, the tone throws Murphy off.

The brunette spins around, a black mask across her eyes, however the brunette curls gives away her true identity. "Katherine."

The vampire pouts in faux disappointment. "Is the difference that easy? Matt Donovan sure didn't see it."

Murphy stiffens at the name of his friend and glares heatedly at the vampire. "Leave him out of this, he knows nothing."

"Oh, and do tell what Stefan and Damon are up to tonight," she purrs, leaning forward with a sly smirk.

Murphy steps back and frowns uncomfortably. "I'm a human, how am I supposed to know?"

A twinkle appears in Katherine's eyes at his words and a laugh escapes her lips. Murphy wonders what could possibly amuse her at this time, especially since she must know by now that the Salvatore brothers weren't here for a social visit.

"Have fun tonight Murphy, there's much planned." Katherine trails her finger tips down his tie before stepping away with a wink.

Deciding against the drink, Murphy finds himself out the back of the estate, his blazer folded neatly on the porch railing.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here, Langston Murphy - the fairy," a familiar voice hisses in disgust. "How many times do I need to remind you that your kind isn't welcome here?"

Murphy spins around, heart racing. "Back off, Troy."

Troy Reed made it his life's mission to make Murphy hate his own existence every minute of every day and put him through hell. Murphy hated him and despite all of the suspensions and detentions Troy got because of his behaviour, he refused to let Murphy live his life.

"Hoping to suck some guy's dick under the porch like the dog you are?" Troy taunts, his quarterback frame slowly stepping closer to Murphy.

"Just leave me alone Troy, what I do in my spare time doesn't concern you," Murphy's voice wobbles and he curses himself for not staying strong.

"You see, that's where you're wrong. I don't want your kind in my town - it isn't right. For all we know, you're infecting every guy you get with and the town will be overrun by fairies. Now, I can't let that happen," Troy grins maniacally, his eyes twinkling just like Katherine's had inside.

Murphy had no time to think up a response as he felt a fist slam against his cheekbone. In agony and shock, Murphy stumbles back and Troy leaps forward.

Murphy dodges the next punch and delivers his own to Troy's ribs before he's sent to a world of pain.

Murphy drops to his knees, hands clutching his crotch in agony as his eyes well up. "Not cool man, come on!"

Murphy has no time to dodge the following punch to his face or kick to his ribs as he collapses against the wooden porch. He feels his breath quicken as he curls into a ball in an attempt to block the oncoming attack.

A shout of protest escapes his lips as a hand yanks his head back by the hair in a tight grip. Another fist slams into his nose, and another, and another.

Soon enough, Murphy is seeing black dots and he can barely breath without choking on blood. "S-Stop, p-pl-plea-se."

"Not a chance in hell." The words are backed up with a few more swift kicks to the ribs.

Murphy groans, his hands shoving at Troy's chest in an attempt to free himself, his vision blurry with tears and face covered in blood. "I said, back OFF!"

Murphy hooks his foot around Troy's ankle and shoves his chest as hard as he can with a breathless gasp. Murphy had expected Troy to stumble before leaping on him again, but instead, the opposing boy, falls down the porch stairs.

A loud thud has Murphy opening his eyes in shock as he peers at the fallen body. "T-Troy?"

There's no response and Murphy hauls himself up onto his shaky legs to stumble down the stairs himself. "C'mon Troy, this isn't funny."

No response. Murphy falls to his knees and shakes the boy's shoulders roughly and rolls him onto his back. A bloodied forehead with blank eyes stare back at him, the neck on an angle that Murphy knows all too well isn't normal.

"No, no, no! C'mon Troy! Stop being a prick and wake up! Please! Get up!" Murphy pleads, sobs escaping his mouth as he shakes the lifeless boy's shoulders continuously.

A piercing pain courses through his head and he grabs it with a pained scream. He didn't know what was happening? Why did his head feel like the bones were being crushed?

"Murphy? What's all the commotion?" the familiar soft voice of Bonnie pierces through the air.

Murphy's head snaps towards her, his eyes glowing amber and face bloody. A gasp escapes her and she pauses on the porch. Murphy blinks hazily before recognising her figure.

"Bonnie! He won't wake up! Why won't he wake up?!" Murphy sobs, his confused, teary eyes pleading for her to help him somehow.

Bonnie takes in the scene and rushes down the porch steps to kneel across from Murphy and takes Troy's head in her hands. A deep inhale catches Murphy's attention and he snaps his eyes to Troy who remains motionless.

"Murphy?" Murphy doesn't stir at his friend's hesitant voice. "Honey, he's dead."

"But, it was just a few stairs. I've fallen down them plenty of times. He's fine. He'll wake up any minute and I'll have to run before he continues to hit me," Murphy shakes his head in denial, raising his left hand to wipe mucus away from his nose and coming back bloody.

"Honey, we need to go to Elena before anyone sees. C'mon," Bonnie tugs Murphy to his feet with one hand as her left holds his blazer jacket and pulls his stumbling body with her around to the front of the house.

Murphy glances back toward's Troy's corpse and feels another onset of tears fall from his eyes and his ears ring and remorse fills his chest. "I'm a monster. What did I do Bonnie? How could I-"

Murphy cuts himself off as he pulls them both to a stop and hunches over to throw up his stomach contents. The acidic taste burns his throat until he is just dry heaving on the side of the lawn.

A light pressure on his back brings him out of his hyperventilating state. His red rimmed eyes meet Bonnie's warm, concerned eyes and he feels his face crumple again.

"Okay, up we get honey. Let's just get to Elena and you can both go home, yeah?" Bonnie suggests with a soft smile, grabbing Murphy's arm and throwing it over her shoulder.

As Murphy leans against Bonnie to walk around the back of the house, he can't help but sob. He just killed a guy. Sure, he was an ass but a human nonetheless. He was a monster.

"Bonnie? Murphy? What happened? Are you okay?" Elena's kind voice filters through Murphy's ears and he slumps in relief. This was the real Elena.

"Lena, I killed him. I pushed him and he's dead," Murphy admits, his throat and eyes burning as they walk up to the doppelgänger.

"Bonnie? What is he talking about?" Elena gasps, rushing forward to cup Murphy's swollen face in her cold hands.

"Troy's dead. He broke his neck falling down the porch stairs. It was an accident Murphy, we all know that, okay? Stop blaming yourself," Bonnie side hugs Murphy with slow movements as to not irritate his ribs.

Murphy lets out a small groan but the pain is bearable as he accepts the group hug from both girls.

"Elena, how about you two wait out here while we finish up?" Bonnie suggests, giving time for Murphy to shift his weight onto Elena and slips Murphy's jacket around his shaking shoulders before stepping away.

"Wait, Bon. Could you give Care my keys so she can get herself home?" Murphy calls out, fumbling for his keys before throwing them into Bonnie's awaiting hands.

"Murphy, look at me," Elena whispers and he does so, hesitantly. "This isn't your fault, okay? Katherine must've been behind it and even if she wasn't, it was self defence. Don't blame yourself, Murphy."

"But Elena, I did it. I pushed him. I broke his neck. Me!" Murphy hisses, pulling himself out of her grasp. "Don't you understand? I'm a killer, Elena!"

"It was an accident, Murphy. You would've never done this on purpose. I know you, I know who you are," Elena promises, eyes meeting Murphy's hazel ones fiercely.

It's silent between the two friends as Murphy leans against the a random car with Elena, both lost in their thoughts.

Murphy coughs, breaking the silence and a thick string of blood splatters on the ground. "Stefan! Quick, he needs your blood, please!"

Before Murphy can look up to see the vampire approaching, a bleeding wrist is pressed against his mouth. Murphy instinctively swallows two mouthfuls before stepping away.

He takes a deep inhale and smiles in relief as the pain disappears and he feels the cuts on his face stitch themselves up. "Thank you, Stefan."

"Are you okay?" Stefan questions, his blue eyes burning with worry.

"I killed Troy but I'm better now."

Murphy watches as Stefan exchanges a look with Elena and she nods towards the backyard. He blocks out their lovers quarrel before the vampire disappears.

"Everything okay?" Murphy questions in concern, noticing the saddened look on the doppelgänger's face.

"I will be when we get to mine and stuff our faces with ice cream," she grins and pulls her phone out of her pocket. "Let me just call Jeremy to see where he is."

"Hey Jer, where are you? Are you safe?" Elena questions, her arm wrapping around Murphy's waist and allowing the younger boy to lean against her in exhaustion.

Murphy sighs, the pain having left his body thanks to the miracle workings of vampire blood but the exhaustion and terror is still imbedded in his bones. With fumbling fingers, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and sends Caroline a text of his and Elena's plans.

"Yeah Jeremy, I've got my car. Tell Bonnie that whatever she did, I'm starting to feel better. Oh, and let her know that Murphy's had some of Stefan's blood and will be okay. Yeah, you can drive her home. I'm just gonna go straight to bed. Okay." Elena hangs up and slips into her back pocket.

"You are okay, right?" she worries, her eyes scared and voice small as she glances over his bloody face.

"I'm okay, your boyfriend's blood is magic," Murphy winks.

Elena shoves him away from her with a giggle and he laughs along with her.

She glances back at him and her eyes widen. "Duck!"

Murphy's head is still fuzzy and his reflexes slow causing his head to get slammed against the car window. The shattered glass imbeds itself in his skin and he gasps as he falls face first onto the gravel.

Murphy stretches his arm towards Elena as she meets the same fate as him and his eyes flutter shut in exhaustion and trauma. He should've tried harder in convincing Caroline to stay home with him. He could've avoided all of this.

Murphy lets out a shuddered groan as a hard kick to the head pinches the cut on his forehead more. The sharp stabbing continues inside his head for what feels like hours until he succumbs to the darkness.

( N O T E )

Please let me know if you liked it or not. Feedback is appreciated.

Happy belated Valentine's Day.

I hope you are all staying safe.

Love you.

(15/02/21)