I drove on the familiar gravel road that lead to my parents beautiful farm house. If there was anything about the unusually small town of Oak Hill, Tennessee that I actually liked was my parents' house. It was surrounded by green grasses, and patched flowers. On the edge of the grass, was evergreen trees that outlined the huge back yard we have. Let me restate : had. I didn't live there anymore. Nor did I want to. New York offered me a lot more than that tiny town did.
I was resenting this trip already. The mosquitos seemed to love my blood more than any one else's. Little fuckers. Not even the toughest bug spray could make them stop. They were ruthless. Ever since I stepped outside in the Tennessee atmosphere from the airport, the trip was hell. I was tired, and cranky, and let's not forget stressed the fuck out. The summer just started, yet I found myself trapped in homework due in 4 months.
Finally, the house appeared in my fission, and there stood the house itself. My father never let the house age. God forbid there was a crack in the paint. In the front yard, Millie ran around with Jeremy. Jeremy looked so big. In 3 months, he'd be a senior. He looked up, and waved and I waved back happily. He was beginning to look like my dad. I pulled into the drive way, and parked my car. Jeremy met me at the car door, and greeted me with a bear hug.
"Hey," I hugged him back.
"Hi Elena," he squeezed tighter. "I missed you."
When did my brother become this strong? His hug was actually making me lose breath.
"Hey Jer?" I managed
"Yeah?" he answered.
"I'm only so fragile. Loosen up muscle man," he finally released me, and I caught my breath. "What have you been lifting? 3 tons?" I grabbed his huge arm.
"Does it look like I'm getting big?" He smiled as he flexed his muscles. I nodded. "Yes!" he smiled.
"What's it for?" I asked. I made my way to the trunk of the car to get out my suitcases.
"Nothing. I've been working at Dad's shop with Matt and Stefan since April. I'm glad I'm getting bigger," he smiled at me and took a bag from my hands. "Mom and dad are inside, with some others."
Jeremy winked at me. I hated surprises more than anything. A coming home party was something I told my mom again and again to avoid. Obviously, her of all people wouldn't listen. I rolled my eyes as Jeremy walked towards the house. I was left alone, staring at the many places where I shared so many memories. I couldn't believe the tire swing was still up. It hung from the old rope just like it had when I was 7. I glanced toward the back yard, and the tree next to my window stood tall. I remember climbing down that tree many times from countless numbers of parties.
I grabbed 2 bags from my back seat, and began walking towards whatever was inside. I swung the screen door open, and a scent of Barbeque, Pecan Pie, and Lemonade filled my nose. My stomach rumbled and hunger teased me. Another thing I loved about here was the food. I made my way down the hallway, and into the kitchen. My mom was the first one to grab me.
"Hello, darling," she sniffled in my ear. When she pulled away, a tear fell from her eye, but she wiped it away. She didn't look a day older than when I left.
Beside her was my father, who gave me a kiss on the check, and whispered "There's more people outside." I silently nodded to him as a thanks for the warning.
Caroline stood against the island just behind my dad. She smiled brightly at me, and I couldn't help but smile back. She trapped me in her arms and rocked me back and forth.
"Don't even tell me about the friends in New York. I don't want to hear how much better they are then me," she said as she took me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes.
"What are you talking about? I could never find another you anywhere else," I responded. She tilted her head back and laughed.
"Bonnie couldn't make it," she said as she began to frown. "I guess the reunion has to be on Monday. She's with her dad's family. She said she couldn't wait to see you though!"
I smiled back at Caroline and nodded. I forgot how much I missed her optimistic personality. Everything about her was lively. He curly blonde her fell lazily but perfectly below her shoulders. Her bright eyes lit up all the time. I couldn't believe she stayed in Tennessee. She used to tell me about how she wanted to be a fashion designer, and start a huge company. Bonnie would be her business manager, and I'd be her publicist.
"Okay. Well I'll let you got outside and see everyone else. Your mom is working me to the bone. Can you believe I've been working since 10 and no pay. That's a whole 4 hours!" Caroline's sarcasm makes me chuckle.
"Your mom will love it! " My mom hit Caroline's arm with hers as she started chopping more pecans. "Go outside and see your guests! Now, young lady." My mom pointed to the back door. I hesitantly turned around toward the door before I finally opened it. Matt was sitting at the picnic table on the stone patio playing cards with my aunt Jenna. He stood up and hugged me before lending me to my aunt.
"Hi honey," she squeezed me and let me go. "How was New York?"
My aunt was really the only one who cared about New York. Everyone hated that I went. But Jenna supported me. "It was fun! School was good."
"I heard. Your mom has instant bragging rights. She is very proud of you," she said to me as she sat back down. "I know she seems disappointed you left home, but she knew it's what you wanted to do."
After about 10 minutes, I finally greeted everyone, and told them all the same things. "Yes, it was fun. There are a lot of people. I loved school." It was starting to get a bit annoying though. After I got the okay from my mom, me and Caroline walked out to my car and got the remainder of my bags.
"So was there anyone cute there?" Caroline was glowing with expectation.
"Eh, not really. I mean there was this one kid named Ralph. He was okay. A little nerdy.." I began to trail off.
"Oh no! Don't lower your standards! I hear there are a lot of hotties in the city. You just have to look at the right places," she gave me a knowing glance. "Like in Starbucks!"
I laughed as Caroline went on about how to pick up hot guys. "How do you know so much, yet manage to stay single?"
"Ok, bitch. Don't put it lightly!" she yelled in a joking way. "It's hard, but I resist the ways of men. Until, of course, I find prince Charming."
"Prince Charming isn't real, Care," I laughed. We finally reached my room, and it was empty with my made bed, an empty drawer, a vacant closet, and my plain bureau. I began to unpack, and Caroline continued.
"A girl can dream!" she shaid as she unzipped a suitcase.
"A lot of dreams for one girl, don't cha think?" I laughed.
"Nope. I don't. I have high expectations. That will make my life much more happier," she said as if it were obvious. Caroline did have high standards. She dated one of the hottest kids in our school; Tyler Lockwood. After his parents moved to Ohio, and he got excepted to Ohio state, he left. Caroline got over it quickly, even though I heard her crying in the bathroom the night it happened.
"Holy shit, Elena. How much stuff do you have?" Jeremy came into my room almost toppling bags on his arms.
"Just… basic necessities.." I murmured. A bad of lip glossed fell from on bag and spilled onto the floor. Jeremy looked down and chortled.
"Basic necessities my ass. That's about 12 lip shit in one little bag.," he dropped the bags on my bed and smiled at me. "Enjoy. That was the last of it."
I continued unpacking my bags, when I realized I forgot my purse. "Jer! You forgot my purse!" I yelled out.
"No, I have it," I heard a voice say from outside my room door. He leaded on the frame of my door. His arms were folded and one hand held my bag. His arms bulged out of his short sleeve shirt, and his V-neck T-shirt showed enough to know what was laying under the shirt. Stefan smiled, with his sandy hair on top of his head. "Look at you, Miss. Elena Gilbert."
I took my bag from him and smiled "Hello Salvatore."
He raised an eyebrow. Looking at Stefan brought so many memories back to me. Too many to count, yet too many to forget. I blocked out each of those moment, and made my way back to the bags that looked like Mount Everest on my bed.
"Did you pack for the rest of your life?" He said letting himself in my room.
"Ha-ha Stefan. I'm staying for the summer. If you knew any better, you'd know it's better to take more than less," I returned.
"Oh yeah. You're staying this summer. You think you can handle it? You seemed to go from small town girl to city girl in the matter of a month. Will you survive?" he mocked me, an I gave him a harsh glance.
"Of course I will," I said. Although I missed New York, how bad could Tennessee be? It was only for 4 months. Even though I did hate it here, I could handle it for my parents.
"Whatever," Stefan put his hands up in defeat. After sitting silently on my bed, he finally got up and went to my door. "I give you a month 'til you're in denial,"
"Oh shut up, Stef!" Caroline laughed.
"How long do you think, Care?" She stayed silent folding shirts.
"I give her a month and a half," she finally said. I looked at her in disbelief as her and laughed.
"You guys suck!" I finally laughed. Caroline nudged me.
"Care! Come down! I need help!" My mom yelled up the stairs. Caroline looked at me with fear.
"She's back!" I laughed at Caroline as she walked out of the room. My eyes caught a glimpse of Stefan as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
When Caroline finally got downstairs, Stefan let out a sigh.
I looked up at him and laughed. "May I help you?"
"No," walked next to me and helped me un-pack. "Are you excited to be back?"
The question caught me off guard. Was I excited to be back? There were parts of Oak Hill I missed, but I hated it here. No one asked me this question yet. I sort of knew Stefan would be the one to ask. He was the first one I told when I got excepted to Bradshaw University. He was also my boyfriend before I left. But right now wasn't the time to think about that. He was just a friend. I talked to him may times during the school year. He told me about a girl named Katherine, and since we were best friends before, I listened. Even though I was completely heart broken, I was happy for him.
"Sorta, yeah." I smiled. "How's that girl Katherine?"
"Eh," he said. "Haven't really talked to her. She's been in Florida since April Vaca. She's coming back in a week though. So I'll tell you then!"
I smiled, because he seemed like he was doing good. I wasn't, but he was. That's all that mattered. I heard my mom call our names from the first floor. He gave me a look and I gave him the same look back.
"She calls," He laughed. I laughed along. As we started to walk out of the room, he turned around and hugged me. "I missed you Elena."
Every nerve in my body sang. I eased into his hug, and then he let me go.
"I missed you too, Salvatore," I smiled, still stiff from the hug. He turned out of the room, leaving me standing there still high off his smell.