Set after 2.22…
I woke up screaming, every night. Tears flooded my eyes, and left streaks of left on mascara down the front of my pillowcase. I want this nightmare to be over. But it will never be over. No matter what, something will be looming over our heads… I guess I'll have to get used to the screaming.
I woke up cold, and empty. My body felt rigid and my pounding headache got worse from last night. I don't know what happened. What my motive was, why I decided it would be okay. It was small, but not meaningless. I felt his pain, because I had experienced it before, not being able to be with the one you love. I felt for him.
"Elena, wake up!" I heard Jeremy yell from downstairs. I groggily turned over to my side to look at my clock. 9:45am, September 15th. My 18th birthday. I hated the sound of that, for more than one reason. I usually love birthdays, the festivities, the family, but since I knew I would never spend another with my parents, I knew that it would never be the same. Now that Stefan is gone, on the day I need him most, I would rather be spending my birthday in bed.
I dragged myself out of bed, and trudged to the bathroom, turning on the light to see the note that still guts me every time I read it. His signature scroll spelled out "Good morning my sunshine" on my once fogged up bathroom mirror. It's been nearly two months, and I cannot bring myself to clean it. I don't even remember him writing it, must have been after one of the many showers we shared here, and I was too caught up in other things to notice. The strange thing was, I noticed the note, the day after I knew he was gone.
I showered and blew my hair dry and got dressed in a typical outfit of mine- A v neck t-shirt and jeans with my converse that had I love you written on the toe, another reminder of Stefan. I walked down stairs to see Jeremy attempting to flip a pancake, with Alaric setting the table. I looked down at my spot to see a giant purple pancake with the words "Happy Birthday Elena" written on it sloppily in chocolate sauce. I chuckled at the attempt, and sat down, with Jeremy and Alaric joining me soon after.
"So Elena, how's it feel to be the big 18?" Ric asked me in between bites.
"Please don't mention which birthday it is please" I begged. 18 frightened me. Because even though I do not want to be a vampire, Stefan will always be 17, and now I will always be "older" than him, despite the 145 years he had after he was turned.
After my snarky remark, the table fell silent for a while, and I instantly regretted my attitude.
"I'm sorry Ric. I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that it's touchy, being technically 1 year older than Stefan" I confessed, not caring how that made me look.
"Oh Elena, I'm sorry. Wow, I really need to process things before they come out of my mouth" He said, lightening the mood a little. Jeremy cleared his throat, signaling he had something to say.
"Uhm Elena, remember how I told you that Caroline was throwing you a small party with just your closest friends?" He asked, avoiding eye contact.
"Yes" I said nervously, now wondering what kind of plan Caroline has concocted.
"Yeah, about the small part. Well, it's actually not so small" He said, now sipping his orange juice to attempt to get out of explaining more. I opened my mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Caroline and Bonnie walking through the door.
"Oh Jeremy, always ruining the good surprises" Caroline said, coming straight towards me, leaning down to wrap me in a comforting embrace. Bonnie soon followed, and took a seat next to Jeremy at the table, resting her hand on his, making me flinch a little.
"So, about that minor detail, well the back to school party is sort of moving in Dana's direction, so I decided to utilize the birthday to take Dana's lame ass party down. And I know you really aren't party ready, which is exactly why nobody knows it is your birthday but the small group of people you requested! See, still a genius" She declared, fluttering her eyelashes proudly.
"And exactly how many people will be gracing my presence at this take Dana down party?" I asked, joining in on the banter.
"Well, about 400 sans 200!" She said, making me figure out in my head that she invited 200 guests. I instantly pictured the Salvatore Boarding House and had a tough time picturing it that full. I know it could fit that many, considering the size, but usually seeing it with no more than 8 people in it is a rarity. I began to think about the boarding house, remembering that I haven't been back there since the night I found out Stefan was gone. The night I will regret for the rest of my life.
I had brought Damon home from the town square where he was hallucinating, and placed him in bed to help him calm down. The worst of the werewolf bite was kicking in, and I couldn't let him be alone. Stefan had instructed me to go home to watch after Damon, and I had wished him luck with Klaus, not knowing it would be the last time I would see him. I kissed him goodbye, and went along with the plan. After realizing that Damon was dying, I gave him the one thing he wanted. The one thing I had denied him for months. He wanted a kiss from me, and I gave it to him. I had not planned on it being anything but a goodbye kiss, because there was no cure to a werewolf bite, but when Katherine came back with Klaus' blood, I instantly knew something was wrong. I rushed to Alaric's where Klaus was staying, and came to find dozens of empty blood bags everywhere. Katherine had told me that Stefan had gone with Klaus to pay his debt for saving Damon, and I tried for weeks to track them down, but I didn't have the resources or the energy to take a worldwide trip to search. Since then I have not visited the boarding house once.
I drive up the familiar driveway, pulling around the roundabout to find it packed with miscellaneous cars I did not recognize. I walked in the back entrance, and tried to make it through the mass of people in the living room and foyer. I decided to let the party die down a bit before I looked for Caroline, and walked up the stairs to Stefans wing. Instantly all the emotions I had tried to bottle up inside for the past two months flooded to the surface, bringing tears to my eyes. His room was exactly how he left it. How we left it. I was living with Stefan at the time to ensure my safety, and the last night we shared together was the last time he was in his room. I walked around to see the half made bed he attempted while I was dressing, the picture of us on his nightstand, and his many guitars strewn around the room. I sat on his bed, and took in the sweet scent I had missed so much. Tears began to flow down my face when I heard a knock on the half open door. Damon walked in, and saw my face, stained with tears.
"Elena, don't cry it's your birthday" He cooed, trying to make me feel better, but actually making me feel worse. I stifled my tears, and felt annoyed by his presence. The whole summer, all he did was remind me of the kiss I regret more than anything. The kiss itself did not urk me as much as the thought that he was rubbing in my face that he gets to be here with me when his brother is off, probably addicted to Human Blood once again, all in the price of saving him, and he's mocking him for it?
"What Damon?" I asked coldly, not caring at how rude I sounded.
"Would you like your present from me or Stefan first?"He asked, making my heart skip a beat when he mentioned Stefan.
"Ssstefan" I stammered, watching as he pulled a silver box out of his pocket. He handed it to me, and I opened it gently, trying not to rip the paper. Once unwrapped, I opened the small box to find a silver locket that looked to be eclectic.
"It was our mothers before she died. Stefan begged me for it when we were splitting her stuff" He explained. He also handed me a card, making my chest pound.
"Elena, you now hold my heart. I know you said no birthday presents, but I did not spend one penny on this. When my mother died, she told me to give this to the girl I knew would wear it forever. You, Elena, are the girl who I know will wear it forever. Happy birthday, my love. Stefan" It read, on a simple sheet of parchment. I opened the locket to see it engraved with the letters "SGD". I furrowed my brow, not understanding the ingravement, until Damon said that it stood for Stefan, Giuseppe, Damon.
I closed the locket to see the letter S and E intertwined together on the front, which obviously symbolized Stefan and Elena. I felt butterflies in my stomach, and had Damon put it on me instantly, not ever wanting to take it off.
"So, mine will probably top his" Damon said smugly. I raised an eyebrow, and crossed my arms, not believing he could create a gift that would top this.
"I know where Stefan is" He stated, now placing his hands in his pockets casually. I felt my feet come out from under me, and that was the last I remember from the night.
YAY! New story! I don't know how accurate it will be, but I needed to write! Please R/R! 9 DAYS!