"Let's get this party started!" yelled Caroline
"Easy Car, Let's get checked into the hotel and get ready first." I explained with a slight giggle.
We had arrived in the wonderful City of Angels and everyone was buzzing to get the party started. It was my best friend Caroline's bachelorette party and we had travelled from our home in Mystic Falls to LA to give her the send off she deserved. Ever since we were 5 years old it had been Caroline, Bonnie and I against the world, and they had both been there for me in the worst time of my life.
When I decided to call off my wedding two years ago they stood by me absolutely. They had known that the relationship was abusive without me even telling them and everyone in town knew he was an alcoholic. I had been with him for three years and he was always a bit heavy on the drink even when we first got together but I was 16 and going through my "bad boy phase" as Caroline puts it. He was three years older than me, and that just added to the attraction. But as soon as he turned 21 everything changed. It was like it was suddenly his duty to drink as much as he could, which I get everyone goes through to a certain extent when they turn 21 but he took it too far. He was constantly drunk and the days he wasn't, he was severely hung over.
I finally caught up with what everyone had been telling me for months and decided to leave, and then I got the news. Possibly the worst timed news in the world but I can never say it was the worst news.
I was pregnant.
18 years old, with someone that I didn't want to be with and I was pregnant, and suddenly I was the most scared I had been in my life, I didn't know what to do. There were three options, 1. Have it "taken care of" which was swiftly taken off the table because I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror without being sick. I am completely pro-choice but I just personally wouldn't be able to do it. 2. Have the baby on my own, which scared the living shit out of me or option 3. Stay with him and try to work on our issues together, which I didn't really want to do but I'm not just thinking about myself now. So it was between 2 and 3 so whichever I chose I was going to have this baby and he deserved to know.
"Babe can you come here for a sec. We need to talk." I shouted to him.
He came into the living room and slumped onto the couch. I was slightly relieved that I got him on a hangover day and not a drunk day. At least he would remember what I had said.
"What's up Hun you sound nervous?" he asked
"I have some news...I'm ... Pregnant." That's it I had said it. It's out there and now his reaction will help me decide which option I take. But he was just sitting there looking at me with his mouth open. This was not making it any easier.
"Nik?... Say something!"
"Oh my god" He whispered and a smile creped onto his face "That's amazing news are you telling me I'm going to be a dad?" he said slightly louder.
"Well that's up to you" I said still as serious as before. But now his smile was being replaced by a frown.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he barked
"Well we have to address the fact that your drinking has been spiralling Nik and I have to admit it has started to scare me. Now I am going to have this baby, that's not going to change. However you have to decide whether you are going to be there with me or whether I am going to do it on my own! I can't go on like things have been lately Nik; you have to cut down on your drinking. I'm not saying you have to stop cold turkey but you have 7 months to at least cut it down to weekends!" I explained everything as calmly as possible.
"What do you mean? My drinking has been fine it's no different to how it's always been!" he was visibly confused.
"Really? Have you really not noticed that you have been pretty much constantly drunk for the past 6 months?" I asked completely baffled.
"It hasn't been that bad!" he said with a slight giggle hiding behind his words. When he looked at me and saw how agitated I was getting he quickly added "But if it has been bothering you that much then I can stop. Don't worry yourself to much sweetie you have my baby in there to look after" he said pointing to my stomach "and I am going to be there for you and the baby. I love you and I have said to you many times that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Ok if you think you can do it... That's all I wanted to hear. I'm going to call Bonnie and Caroline" I said giving him a quick smile and kiss before jumping up to grab the phone.
Later in the Mystic Grill the local bar we met up with Bonnie, Caroline and Caroline's new boyfriend Stefan. It was busy because it was a Saturday night but everyone decided that this couldn't wait we needed to celebrate.
"A toast. To Elena and Nik, now I know I haven't known you very long but this is such a joyful occasion and I am completely honoured to be a part of it. A baby is a blessing congratulations. To Elena and Nik!" Stefan toasted and everyone repeated.
"Now we need drinks so Nik do you wanna give me a hand at the bar?" asked Stefan as he got up to head to the bar and Nik followed.
"I like him!" I whispered to Caroline as they left ear shot. "I mean like seriously a keeper"
"Yeah I know" she beamed at me. But suddenly her face went from happily in love to her we-have-serious-talking-to-do face. I could always admire how she could switch between emotions so quickly when needed. "But are you sure you know what you're doing? I mean last time we spoke you were breaking-up with him and now suddenly you are having a baby? What's going on Elena?"
I rolled my eyes and looked at Bonnie "It does all seem a bit weird if you ask me." She said
"Well I was going to break-up with him but then I found out about this. It wasn't like 'hmm I could break-up with you or I could have your baby?' it all happened at the same time it must have when I was getting over the flu last month, the pill didn't work." I sighed deciding not to tell them the only reason I was even sleeping with him lately was so that he would get tired and pass out at a reasonable time. "I told him that I'm going to have this baby with or without him but I raise a baby in the environment that it's been in the apartment lately. He says he is going to change for me and the baby"
"And you believe him? Elena he has a drink problem it's not like him saying 'I'm gonna give up pancakes' it is an addiction and with you being pregnant as well ... we're just worried about you that's all" she said placing her hand on mine, the gesture was warming.
"Yeah I mean I know I don't want anything to happen to my little niece in there" Said Bonnie placing her hand over my stomach, and now I had tears in my eyes.
"How do you even know it's a girl?" I laughed blinking the tears away.
"Oh didn't you know ... I'm psychic" She explained we all laughed.
"Yeah sure you are" Caroline said giggling. After that we were went to a much lighter topic of finding out the juice on Stefan.
"Ok ok" she laughed "he has a small family just him and his older brother, his mom and dad. His parents came here from Italy like 25 years ago and they live in New York because his dad is some big shot lawyer and he was sent here to live with his uncle for his senior year because his mom thought it would be good for him to have quiet surroundings for his finals. His brother is some sort of actor or dancer or something like that"
"What are we talking about girls?" Nik asked as him and Stefan came back with the drinks.
We all looked at each other awkwardly for a second before Caroline quickly announced "We were just saying how if you hurt our girl over here me and Bonnie will have your balls for lunch" She fluttered her eyelashes which somehow made it slightly scarier.
We finished the night at around 11 and headed home, and everything was good for about 3 months we even got engaged and set the date, I couldn't have been happier. But then it all went downhill. Nik didn't stop drinking like he said he would he just started hiding it from me. I let it go for a while but then whenever I did bring it up he would start yelling and throwing things at the wall. It escalated more and more over the coming months until one day when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant when he finally struck me.
"Get away from me" I screamed at him as he came and stood over me.
"You see what you did! I didn't want to do that but you just wouldn't let it go" He whispered with tears in his eyes, bending down to see if it had made a mark.
"I said. Get. The. Fuck. Away. From. Me" I slowly got to me feet and headed to the door. I wasn't going to stick around for this. I wasn't this girl. How had I let my life become this? All I did was fight with him and dodge on coming plates and glasses.
"Where are you going?" he yelled at me. "Elena get your ass back in the apartment now!"
"No Nik I told you to get your life sorted and you didn't so that's it." I calmly explained "I don't want my child to be around this and you just crossed the line and there is no coming back from that Nik. The wedding is off. We're done. If you want to see this child you need to get your life sorted and get a lawyer because I am not going to just take your word for it and let you just take my child on your own. It's not going to happen" After that I ran as fast as I could until I ended up at Bonnie's grams' house. I knocked on the door praying to god that it was Bonnie at not her grams that answered. And then after what seemed like forever the door opened.
"Elena what are you doing here?" She asked and then her eyes drifted over my face and then settled on my slightly swollen and bleeding lip. "Oh my god!" She dragged me into the house and as soon as the door closed I felt like I could finally let it all go and I burst out into tears. She sat me down on the sofa and pulled me in to a hug and I sobbed on her shoulder.
Then after what seemed like seconds and hours all at the same time there was another knock on the door and I started to panic.
"Elena honey calm down I texted Caroline... It's just Care" she quickly said as she went towards the door.
She opened the door and didn't even get to say "hey" before Caroline burst through the door. "Where is she?" Bonnie pointed over to me and Caroline ran over and pulled me into a bone crushing hug.
"Caroline? ... Baby!" I grumbled before she let go.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry is she ok?" she asked apologetically. I nodded and looked down at my protruding stomach. "Right ok now tell me everything Elena what the hell happened?"
"Would you believe me if I said I walked into a door" I asked sheepishly, I looked over to Bonnie and I don't think I had ever seen her look so furious. I looked back at Caroline her eyes had widened so wide I could see white all the way around the colour of her eyes.
"I'm gonna kill him" she said as she stood up and ran out the door, Bonnie following suit. I ran after knew what happened, and in all honesty I would do exactly the same if this had happened to either of them.
My apartment was only down the road from Bonnie's so with them both being ex cheerleaders and ... not 8 1/2 months pregnant, by the time I caught up with them to tell them not to do this, they were already knocking on my door.
"Nik open this door now!" Bonnie screamed through the door.
"Nik I swear to god I'm going to kick the door down if you don't open it now" Caroline shouted.
"Girls what can I do for.!.." he was cut off with a punch in the nose from Bonnie and a kick in the crotch from Caroline simultaneously.
"You son of a bitch. You stay the hell away from her. You are a danger to her and her child and I'm pretty sure there is not a judge on earth that will allow you anywhere near that baby" Caroline said relatively calmly. I felt a tinge of pride watching my friends defend me to Nik. But then I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my abdomen and ... something else.
"Guys?" I asked trying to be heard over their shouts. "GUYS!" When they looked over at me I told them "My water just broke"
"I can't believe that Rosalie is nearly 2!? Where did all that time go?" Bonnie said while we were unpacking our stuff in our room.
"I know sometimes I can't believe that I was able to make something so perfect." I said hanging up my costume for the following night "But I guess Care is thankful for my timing because now she is the perfect age to be flower girl." They laughed as Caroline entered the room.
"As if I would have anyone else as my flower girl!" Caroline smirked "Elena we were there when she was born and we have all been living together for the past 2 years. We are practically her parents too"
"Right as you guys are both here I'm going to say this now instead of making some lame drunken speech at 3 am. I am so grateful for both of you. I really don't know where I would be if it weren't for you. There are not many 18 year olds who would agree to get a house with their friend and her baby but you guys did and if it wasn't for that I don't think I would be able to give Rosalie the life she has. I mean you guys made it possible for me to go to college which was a dream I gave up on after I found out I was pregnant. So I would just like to say thank you both from the bottom of my heart." I said tearing up and gave them both a hug "And now let's get these T-shirts on give Caroline the send off she deserves and go get wasted in LA." I laughed.
"Hey what do mean send off I'm not going anywhere. We are just moving down the road" Caroline stated looking almost offended.
Bonnie and I both laughed "Shut up Care you know what I mean"
The rest of the night was as eventful as expected from a bachelorette party, Caroline was in a stunning white dress that would have been a perfect dress if she were having a beach wedding and bright pink sash saying 'Bride' with a princess tiara and veil, The veil seemed to procure more and more condoms with every trip to the bathroom. All the girls were wearing black leggings with a bright pink tutu's and black T-shirts with pink writing saying 'Caroline's girls' across the top on the front and a nickname of Caroline's choice along the back. Bonnie and I had sashes saying 'Bridesmaid'. There was Caroline, myself, Bonnie, Caroline's mom Liz, my aunt Jenna. Stefan's mom Lucia was supposed to be there as well but pulled out at the last minute because of health problems.
By 11 we were all wasted and in the best karaoke bar in LA, singing along to "I'm coming out". We stumbled out of the club around 2 and I in the stupidly high heels fell onto the road catching my head on the curb.
"Oh my god Elena are you ok?" Caroline giggled
"Yeah I'm fine just a little sore" I said rubbing my head, glancing over Caroline's shoulder eyes wide as I notice someone. "Oh my god! I knew we chose LA for a reason look over there!"
Everyone turned to look at the raven haired man just entering the club across the street.
"Oh my god is that...?"
"Damon Valenti!" I cut Jenna off we were all in shock. One of the biggest names in television was just there 10 feet away from us "We are getting into that club!"
The next morning I started to wake up feeling a little groggy, nowhere near as bad as I possibly should but I wasn't complaining about that. I open my eyes just a sliver and see that the sun was rising. I couldn't remember much after getting into the club after karaoke last night but there was nothing new about that I found that since having Rosalie, good nights out are few and far between because of a combination of lack of money or lack of babysitter, so when I did manage to get out I made sure it was worth it.
I opened my eyes a bit more and realised that I didn't recognise the room I was in, it defiantly wasn't my hotel room and then I felt it someone's arm wrapped around my waist. Well last night obviously went a lot better than I thought but now I have to have the awkward conversation with this man that I don't remember who the hell he is.
"Morning baby" he said I turned around to look at him and couldn't believe my eyes.
"Damon Valenti?" I gasped in shock he looked confused
"Elena Salvatore? What's with the full name baby?" he asked and now I feel guilty I slept with Damon Valenti and I couldn't even give him my real name? Hell I slept with Damon Valenti and I couldn't remember... Oh god I wish I could remember that
"Oh god is that what I told you my name was?" I asked "I'm so sorry I was really drunk last night I can't remember a thing after 2. You see it was my best friend's bachelorette party and I don't get out that often because I have a 2 year old little girl at home and..."
"Elena what's going on you weren't at any bachelorette party last night" He asked and starting to look worried? Why was this guy worried?
"Um ... Yeah I was I'm technically still on it we are on a weekend party here in LA." I explained "It's my friend Caroline's party. Are you ok you look kinda off?"
"Elena who am I?" He enquired. Ok this guy was starting to piss me off does he really need his ego massaged this badly?
"You're Damon Valenti!" I replied rather nonchalant but the look in his eye was messing with my head.
"No ... What's my real name? Who am I to you?" He asked. I am getting more and more confused with each moment with this guy. This must be why people warn you off sleeping with celebrities.
"I don't know" I whined "Why don't you just tell me what you want to hear?" and then I looked at him and for a moment I thought he was going to cry...
"My real name is Damon Salvatore. I am Stefan's brother and I am your husband"
"What?"