Since 3:07 PM, Emilia had not moved from her father's favorite reclining chair by the fire place in their living room. Comfortably situated beneath her grandmother's blanket, she focused on the library book held in her lap, allowing her surroundings and the events of her day to recede from her mind, at least for a little while.
The chair was a faded shade of red, well-worn, and described as uncomfortable by most who sat in it. Despite everyone else's unfavorable assessments, it was still Emilia's favorite spot in the house. Before Grayson Gilbert died, Emilia had made a game of racing him to the chair and holding on for dear life when he attempted to pull her out of it, tickling her sides when pulling at her ankles didn't yield the desired results. More often than not, Grayson shared the chair with his youngest child, letting her perch on the arm of the chair or in his lap.
Emilia glanced towards the door at hearing footsteps on the front porch. There were two sets. She recognized Elena's footfall. Having the room closest to the stairs, Emilia was intimately aware of her older sister's presence. Elena had passed Emilia's door more than once during the silence of early morning as she snuck back into her own bedroom, her light steps echoing through the house despite her attempted stealth.
Over the top of her page, Emilia watched curiously as Elena came through the front door with her new guy. Emilia had seen them together around school over the last week. It had taken one day for Elena and Stefan to become an item, but today was the first that she had brought him by the house. Out of an innocent respect for Elena's ex-boyfriend, Matt, Emilia had avoided contact at school. She had made a habit of excusing herself from Elena's presence when she spotted the new guy coming down the school hallways. As long as Emilia could remember, it had been Elena and Matty Donovan. The boy was like a brother to her.
"Hi guys!" Elena breathed, face full of smiles as she looked at both of her younger siblings, "Jer, Emmy, I want you to meet my friend, Stefan Salvatore."
Emilia snorted lightly; it was barely audible. My friend. She folded herself more thoroughly into the chair, sinking back as far as she could into the fabric and pulling the blanket up though it was already just below her arms.
"Nice to meet you, man," Jeremy said, putting down his Xbox controller and standing up from his seat on the couch. Jeremy held out a hand towards Stefan. His initiative caused Emilia to freeze while she stared at her brother with wide eyes. Jer had become mostly indifferent since their parents' death, especially towards anything involving their big sister.
Emilia caught herself staring and set her feigned concentration back to the book in her lap. She didn't look up though she felt both Elena and Stefan's eyes were on her. Jeremy's game had started up again, the sound of gunshots filling the living room while Emilia continued to read the same paragraph over and over again. Emilia's aversion to engaging in conversation with Stefan battled with the distraction provided by their presence. She willed herself to focus on the words. She had had no trouble focusing on the short story for the four hours before while Jeremy shot at the living dead. But now the words on the page were nearly unreadable.
When I woke up it seemed to me that some snatch of a tune I had known for a long time, I had heard somewhere before but had forgotten, a melody of great sweetness, was coming back to me now.
"Em, did you hear me?" Elena asked, the tightness of her tone compelling her little sister to look up and make the eye contact Elena desired.
"It's fine, Elena, really. She's reading. I understand not wanting to be bothered." Stefan smiled at Emilia before turning to Elena and placing a hand on her arm, soothing her when he sensed the tension between the two girls. It was nothing more than a subtle glare that had passed, maybe a hint in the tone of Elena's voice, but the new guy had picked up on it.
Stefan's words had an immediate sedative effect on Elena. He turned back to the young girl who was now staring at him straight on from across the room. Stefan registered every detail of Emilia Gilbert's appearance in mere seconds.
The Gilbert girls looked alike only because they both had long, beautiful hair, but the similarities stopped there. Emilia had dark blonde hair, with eyes that were a green-blue rather than brown like Elena's were.
"Stefan, meet my baby sister, Emilia."
Stefan flashed a quick smile before directing his response across the room.
"Emilia was my sister's name, though we actually called her Mia. You look a bit alike, actually."
"What happened to her?" Emilia asked, marking her page and looking up to meet Stefan's gaze.
"Emilia," Elena scolded.
"It's okay, Elena. I don't mind," Stefan answered. He returned his gaze to the girl in the chair. "She died when she was twelve. It was an accident."
The four simple words 'it was an accident' settled heavily in the room. Jeremy stopped shooting in his game, his character dying with a gruesome noise within seconds. Elena's breath hitched. And Emilia stared straight into the fire in front of her, no longer interested in conversation as she felt a tight burning sensation in her throat. The Gilberts were silent as Stefan's mind wandered.
"Miss Mia, come and enjoy yourself a little," Katherine called out to the young girl. That summer, Emilia Salvatore was all freckles, tanned skin, and bleached blonde waves courtesy of the sun filled days Emilia had spent following their new house guest around town.
Katherine was out in the back-garden tossing a ball with Stefan and Damon. Mia sat on the back porch steps, a book open in her lap. She had borrowed it from one of Mystic Falls' college boys. An unknowing charmer of older boys despite her young age and obliviousness.
"I'm reading!" she answered, not bothering to look up from the page.
"Actually, my little Mia, you are being dreadfully boring. And I shall require some help from a certain little golden-haired girl if I am to win this game."
Mia looked up, ready to roll her eyes though both of her brothers despised the act. Damon was already by her side, his shadow screening her from the sun.
"Damon, you're supposed to be an adult," the girl pouted.
"And you, my sister, are supposed to be a child. You spend far too much time with your books and not enough time having fun. Look where books have gotten Stefan," he answered with a smirk. Mia couldn't help but smile up at her eldest brother. Damon was always teasing at Stefan.
"I won't have my little sister growing up to be a moody, dull little book worm." Damon took the book from her hands and tossed it to the side. He lifted her over his shoulder and carried her out into the garden despite her protests as she tried to hide her giggles.
"Books are fun! You put me down this instant, Damon Salvatore!"
"Dostoyevsky is not fun, little sister. I will put you down when you agree to have some real fun."
"Damie, stop it!" she squealed as Damon tickled her and lowered her to the ground where she continued to thrash about in her dark green dress.
"Steffie, help me!" she called out, reaching in his direction.
"Only if you agree to play on my team," Stefan answered, though he pulled Damon off their little sister and tackled him to the ground without Emilia providing an answer. Emilia stood up quickly and ran towards where Katherine stood at the far end of the garden.
"I think not, silly brothers. Sisters before misters. That's what Miss Kat taught me," Mia answered. Emilia took Katherine's hand, running from the boys. It wasn't long before Stefan and Damon had caught up with them. Stefan took his sister into his arms, tickling her relentlessly, Mia waging continued protests through her laughter.
Emilia's quiet voice broke Stefan from his reverie. The eerie stillness of the room became too much for her to handle.
"I'm sorry about your sister. It's nice to meet you, Stefan."
"It is very nice to meet you as well, Emilia."
Jeremy had made himself scarce prior to dinner time, but Emilia had no place to go. Ashley and Tyler Lockwood were stuck at home for a dinner. Matt had a shift at The Grill. Rosalie was having dinner with her boyfriend. Jenna was staying at school for the night to work on her thesis.
Emilia sulked in her room for hours while Bonnie, Stefan, and Elena monopolized the kitchen. She reluctantly joined them when Bonnie knocked on her door, pleading with Emilia to join them. At the table, Emilia sat beside Bonnie and across from Stefan. She stayed quiet throughout conversations about Bonnie's family history, school, and cheerleading, focusing on pushing the pasta around her plate.
"Emilia, what do you—" Stefan began. It was the first time that evening that anyone had spoken to Emilia directly during the dinner, but everyone was more interested in the knock at the door than whatever Stefan had been about to ask.
"I wonder who that could be," Elena said as she stood up to answer the door. Stefan stood up to follow her and Emilia glanced at Bonnie, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. She could tell that Bonnie was not a fan of Stefan, but he had seemed pleasant enough to Emilia.
"Well, this is fun," Emilia whispered and Bonnie broke a smile before her eyes grew wide.
Emilia felt a hand run through her long wavy hair and jumped.
"Hey there, baby Gilbert, cute hair," Caroline said, kissing Emilia on the cheek as she set a cake down on the table, "We brought dessert." Caroline took a seat on one of the stools by the counter top.
"Who's we?" Emilia asked. She stared up at the man who had followed her in.
"Oh, how very rude of me!" Caroline said, "This is Damon Salvatore, Stefan's older, more charming brother. Damon, this is Elena's sweet baby sister, Emilia."
Damon stared at Emilia for a moment before offering a smile. Or maybe it was more of a smirk. Something in his face didn't seem genuine and Emmy noticed that the smile did not quite reach Damon's icy blue eyes. "It is a pleasure to meet you, little Gilbert."
"Same to you. And for future reference, you can call me Emilia or Emmy."
Damon held up two hands in surrender, scoffing lightly as he did so. Emilia could sense the tension in the room, between Stefan and Damon, between Elena and Caroline. She felt bad for leaving Bonnie, but she had no desire to stick around. Emilia pushed her chair away from the table. "And with that, this party has become a little too big for me. I'm going for a run."
"Isn't it a little late for a run?" Elena asked. Emilia glanced back at the clock on the stove, noting it was 9:17 PM.
"Just going to The Grill and back. I'll check in with Matt and Jer and I'll come straight home," Emilia answered.
"It's dark out and you're—"
"I'm what, Lena? It's Mystic Falls, not New York City. I'll be fine."
"She has a point there, Elena. Mystic Falls is pretty safe comparatively," Damon offered.
"See?" Emilia stuck out a hand towards Damon. "Thank you, Damon," Emilia answered, "My sister is just mildly overprotective sometimes. I'll text you when I get to the Grill, okay?"
Leaving no room for Elena to provide any further argument, Emilia headed up the stairs to change. It was helping her through the days since the accident. She wasn't going to let Elena's paranoia interfere with that.
Jeremy Gilbert had taken to drugs and drinking.
Elena Gilbert had taken to writing in her diary.
Emilia Gilbert had taken to running. She wasn't fast; it distressed her lungs and her muscles. After a month, Emilia started to feel a distinct sense of release mingled with the pain. It didn't hurt that the long, hard sessions helped her to fall asleep more easily at night. It also didn't hurt that she had gained a running partner a few weeks in.
She wasn't fast; it distressed her lungs and her muscles. After a month, Emilia started to feel a distinct sense of release mingled with the pain. It didn't hurt that the long, hard sessions helped her to fall asleep more easily at night. It also didn't hurt that she had gained a running partner a few weeks in.
Most days, Emilia met Tyler somewhere between his parents' mansion and the Gilbert house. They always took the same route, doubling back when they reached the cemetery. Their route ensured that they would meet up at some point if they were both out at the same time.
Tyler wasn't waiting for her outside the gates when she reached his house. Emilia continued on her way to the cemetery, taking her time until she heard the steady fall of footsteps behind her. "Hey, Gilbert." Tyler caught up to her quickly, his breathing easy and light.
"Hey, Lockwood," Emilia answered, picking up her pace.
"Angry today? I'll bite." he asked, "I bet my story is better." Tyler picked up the pace and sped away in front of Emilia, making her to sprint to catch up.
Emilia punched Tyler in the arm when she matched his pace. "You're an ass, Tyler. You know I can't go that fast."
"You just did go that fast. You're getting better," he answered casually. Tyler sounded sincere but he had this stupid cocky grin on his face and Emilia couldn't stand it. She couldn't trust most of the stuff that came out of Tyler's mouth. It was one trait of his that Emilia loved to hate. Tyler Lockwood was a blatant jerk sometimes, but at least he was honest about it.
"How's Vicki?" Emilia asked. It was something Emilia was sure Tyler wasn't interested in discussing with her. He had made that clear lately.
"Well, if you must know, she's currently caught in a very exciting love triangle with your stupid brother and me."
Emilia huffed, "If Vicki liked nice guys this would be no contest because, as I said, you're an ass."
"Well, she's with me because she apparently likes hot assholes." Tyler went quiet for a few paces, allowing the only noise between them to be the sound of the dirt crunching beneath their sneakers.
"Your brother's a dirtbag."
"Fuck off, Tyler."
"You're a little bit nastier than usual today. What's your deal?"
"You just called my brother a dirtbag." Tyler looked skeptical.
"It's nothing. I was formally introduced to Stefan and Damon Salvatore today," she answered. Emilia was casual about steering the conversation.
"Now, you want to talk about a couple of assholes," Tyler mused.
"They seemed fine to me."
Tyler didn't answer her. Over the last few months, he had learned that Emilia always gave more when he held back a bit. He wasn't sure if she just needed the time to sort it all out internally or if she simply hated the silence, but it always worked.
"Elena and Jeremy are driving me nuts lately."
"What did Elena do?" he asked.
"Oh, you know. She's just being herself. Overprotective, motherly, nagging, but thankfully Jer causes more trouble than I do."
"Yes, of course. Because you're some perfect little angel?" Tyler laughed as his arm reached out to nudge her.
"Oh, whatever, Tyler," Emilia answered.
"You think I don't know exactly what happened to my father's alcohol stash this summer? I may have taken the fall for it, but that has your name written all over it." Emilia smirked and ran a little faster.
"You want to race?" Tyler asked pulling ahead of her. Emilia caught up, maintaining his pace, but she wasn't able to pass him. He slowed to a stop in front of The Grill, knowing she needed to stop. Emilia headed inside to find Jeremy or Matt while Tyler waited in the square. Matt spotted her while she was standing by the front door looking around.
"Hey Em. You want something? Kitchen closes in 10." Matt was wiping down a table but stopped to walk to her side.
"No thanks. I told 'psycho sister' I would check in here before finishing my run and heading back home. Can you text her for me? Tell her I'll be back in 20 minutes?" Matt looked hesitant.
"C'mon, it's been four months, Matty."
"Yeah, four months that I've spent thinking that she needed space. She is clearly cozying up to Stefan and doesn't need any more space," he answered.
"Fine, fine. I was the best girlfriend's little sister that you ever could have asked for, but fine." Matt didn't even crack the slightest hint of a smile. "I'll ask Jer to do it. Have you seen him around?"
"If you can find Vicki, I'm sure you'll find him."
"Thanks, Matty."
It wasn't long before Emilia spotted Jer at a table that Vicki was clearing. "Hey," she said, stepping up next to her brother.
"What are you doing here, Emmy?" he asked.
"Out for a run. They were driving me nuts back home. Text Lena for me, ok? Let her know I'm on my way back."
"You're out running alone?" he asked surprised, "It's almost 10:00."
"I'm safe. I've got my reflective gear." Emilia twirled, showing off the jacket while Jeremy rolled his eyes.
"Fine, be careful, sis. I'll see you home. I'm on my way soon."
"Thanks, Jer." Emilia headed back outside to the spot where Tyler was waiting for her on a bench.
"Took you long enough." Tyler sprinted away down a side street. Emilia grumbled at the pace but followed after him regardless.
Tyler Lockwood and Emilia Gilbert weren't supposed to be friends. Jeremy wouldn't like it. Elena wouldn't like it. Her best friends, Ashley and Rose, wouldn't like it. Emilia told Tyler more than she told either of them these days. In the real world, the age difference between Emilia and Tyler didn't mean much. The fact that they were in different circles was irrelevant, but Emilia still understood that the basis of their relationship was inherently strange. When Emilia caught up to him, Tyler slowed to a more comfortable pace.
"Well, your best friend still has a complex about my sister. And my brother has a complex about your best friend's sister, so that takes some time to navigate. We should take the back streets. Jer says he's heading out soon. I'd rather not be seen wandering around Mystic Falls late at night with the likes of you." She took a deep breath after getting the words out.
"That's funny, Gilbert. Who exactly would you like to be seen around town with late at night? You seem to get me to talk about all of my girl troubles and I can't seem to get anything out of you."
"That's easy because I don't have any boy troubles."
"Fine. Girl troubles then. I don't discriminate."
"I don't like anyone right now. I have other things on my mind."
"I doubt that. You're fifteen."
"And the boys in Mystic Falls are idiots. Case in point, you and Jer just to name a few," she spat, "I'm not interested in any of it. I want to read my books, get good grades and go to college far, far away from this place."
"And, here we are, the nerdy Emilia Samantha Gilbert is back."
"How do you know that?" Emilia snapped.
"Because little Emmy Gilbert could never sit still and behave herself at any town events. You had to roam and touch everything. All your Dad had to do was say your full name, not even yell it, and you would go scurrying back over to his side, acting like a perfect angel…" Tyler answered, rolling his head to the side and grinning, "for about five minutes."
Emilia smiled at him, letting out the briefest of laughs. "I seem to remember hearing Tyler Richard Lockwood's name yelled on several occasions." She stopped running as they reached the point where Emilia and Tyler went their separate ways. "Again, tomorrow night?"
"First off, don't call me that ever again. And we have a game, remember?"
"Right, of course, I remember. Your new teammate mentioned that tonight at dinner. I'll see you later, Tyler Richard."
"Don't think I won't kick your ass because you're a little girl."
Emilia smirked at him as she ran off towards her house. "Goodnight, Tyler."