"Thanks again Mrs. Neal. I'll bring the money by when I pick her up." I said as I stood in the doorway of my babysitter's apartment. It was rare to find someone so perfect to watch your kids. I was lucky when I met her.
"There is no hurry Elena, I would do it for free if you'd let me." She laughed as Scarlett ran past me to sit at her coffee table where the colouring books were sitting. Scarlett absolutely loved going to Mrs. Neal's apartment. It was a perfect solution for both of us.
"I couldn't let you, besides I budget to make sure I can afford to pay you. What else would I do with that money?" I asked with a chuckle.
"Oh I don't know, do something for yourself maybe. You don't do much like that." She said sympathy in her eyes.
"I don't need much Mrs. Neal. I have Scarlett and she's happy and healthy, that's all I need." I told her.
"Well you should have a life outside of school and that perfect little girl of yours Elena. You're young, don't let life pass you by." She sighed. We had this conversation every single time I dropped Scarlett off and I didn't foresee it changing anytime soon. But every time I told her the same thing. Scarlett was my life and I didn't need anything else. Of course I had my Friday nights when Caroline babysat so I could go out and do karaoke. I got paid to do it to bring people in to Bonnie's. It was a perfect setup, I got spending money and a couple free drinks once a week and she got people to come in and do karaoke Friday nights. I even had a reputation now. I was Karaoke Girl.
"I have to go, I'll see you between 3 and 4." I told her and she smiled and waved as I started to walk out.
"Bye mommy." Scarlett called and I blew her a kiss before leaving. I liked getting to school a bit early so I could study in the library for a while before classes started. When I was at home I liked playing with Scarlett and by the time she went to bed I had housecleaning to do and other parental things. By the time that was done there was no time for homework. So Scarlett went to Mrs. Neal's at 7:30 each morning before school so I could get some schoolwork done. My life wasn't ideal but it was my life and I had to live it. Even through my fatigue and everything else I wouldn't change it for the world. Scarlett was my world and she was all mine.
"Mrs. Neal give you the talk again?" My best friend Caroline asked me and I laughed. Caroline lived with Scarlett and I, she had been there since the very beginning. I couldn't imagine my life without her in it. She was Auntie Caroline to Scarlett and she loved her like she was her own. I was so happy that Scarlett had Caroline too because she didn't really have anyone else.
"How'd you know? Besides the fact that she always gives me the talk?" I laughed as I got in the driver's side and started the car again.
"Maybe I'll take her up Monday so that you can have a morning off from her telling you to enjoy your life. I've given up on making you go out any other night besides Friday. I understand that is the best I'm going to get and the disappointment isn't worth it anymore." She sighed dramatically. Caroline was the kind of friend who was immensely dramatic but she would drop absolutely anything to be there for Scarlett and I. She had lost a few boyfriends because of us, ranging back as far as high school. I would have a bad time and I would need her either because Scarlett wouldn't stop crying and I had no one else to call, and she would leave her date no matter what was going on and come home to me. Normally I would ask her mom but if her mom was at the station late then Caroline was my only other option. I had no one else. I was disowned after I became pregnant committing to keep my child. My parents said I was too young and they were right, but that didn't stop me. I wanted my baby despite my relationship with her father. Scarlett's father was a whole other issue. He was in college when I met him and he was my way of stepping out of my parents shadows a bit. He was my rebellious side all in one. We started dating sort of and after a couple weeks I thought I was in love so I gave him my virginity. After that he started pulling away and I started doing more things with him to keep him satisfied. Looking back on it now I shake my head at how pathetic I was. When I found out I was pregnant he told me that he didn't want a child and that he was going to pretend I never told him because he wanted nothing to do with my child. I haven't spoken to him since. I want nothing from him and he hasn't tried contacting me since the day I told him which was more than fine with me.
"You should do that." I said in response to Caroline's question.
"Good." She responded flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. When I pulled into the student parking lot and flashed my pass to the security guard manning the post to make sure only students of the university parked there. I found a spot and turned the car off.
"So are you going to the library?" She asked and I nodded. I had a scene left to read in a play I was reading for my Shakespeare course.
"Yeah, I have Shakespeare to tackle, plus that paper for European History." I sighed.
"You know I can take Scarlett out any night of the week if you want to study." She told me with a frown on her face.
"I know, I just don't like giving up any of my time with her. She's at that age where she's always learning new things and I don't want to miss anything." I explained.
"I know that. But it would be nice if you could find the time to spend time with people your own age too. Hanging out with only me isn't the same as having friends. You and I are family, we're so past that friend stage it's ridiculous, but there are a bunch of other pretty cool people here that you could befriend." She told me.
"Why do I need friends when I have you and Scarlett? I don't need anyone else in my life ever." I told her and she laughed.
"Well sure Scarlett and I can provide you with the unconditional love and friendship but everyone needs romance." She told me wriggling her eyebrows.
"I really don't. My last experience really turned me off romance forever I think. Maybe after college I'll consider it. I have my hands full trying to pass organic chemistry so I can get into med school eventually." I told her and she laughed.
"And we both know that you'll get exactly what you want out of life Elena Gilbert. If anyone deserves it, it's you." She said kissing my cheek and starting to walk over to the quad. Caroline loved people and she wasn't happy unless she was the centre of attention at school. Everyone loved her and she had more friends than she could count. It made me feel good that she chose me over everyone else to be her best friend for life. I grabbed my bag from the trunk of the car and started walking in the opposite direction as Caroline.
"Good morning Elena, how are you today?" The head librarian asked when I walked through the swinging double doors into the massive library.
"I'm fine, how are you?" I asked politely. Aside from Caroline, no one knew about my situation and I planned on keeping it that way. I wasn't here to get the sympathy vote or to make friends. I was here to get the education that my parents were certain I was never going to get because of Scarlett. I was here to prove everyone from my old life wrong. I could do it.
"Oh I'm great. I just love knowing there are some students who still use a library. You give me faith that it's not all a technological era." She said and I smiled. She was a sweet woman who refused to adhere to the technology standards. The only technology she used was the computer that she was forced to adopt when they took the old library system away. As far as I knew she didn't own a cell phone which was unheard of. I walked to the back of the still deserted library and took my usual desk in the corner. No one ever bothered me and that was more than fine with me. No one knew me and I wouldn't give up my anonymity for anything. I didn't have time for anything else in my life.
When my morning classes were over I packed up my books and walked out to my car to pick up the lunch I made for myself that morning. Caroline always bought lunch in the cafeteria but I didn't like wasting my money on that. Money wasn't exactly tight but there was always something better to buy than overpriced food in the cafeteria. On my way to my car raucous laughter echoed to me and I looked over and saw the popular table. It consisted of the kids with all the friends and all the money. I could never be part of that group by default, not that I wanted to. Caroline was on the fringe of that group, she never sat with them but they all knew her and would say hi to her when they saw her. I grabbed my brown bag lunch and walked back across the quad where Caroline was sitting at our table waiting for me.
"How was your morning?" She asked when I sat down.
"Why the hell do I have to take Shakespeare? I could understand any other language course but not Shakespeare. Stupid humanities requirement." I sighed.
"Julius Caesar still eluding you?" She asked and I laughed.
"You have no idea, and if I fail I don't get into med school. I don't understand the point." I said rolling my eyes.
"Well you're done with Shakespeare for the weekend so don't even think about. Don't mention it, it no longer exists until Tuesday." She told me and I laughed. It was easy for her to say, she wasn't at risk of failing any of her courses.
"I'll try." I told her with a smile.
"That's all I ask. I'd love it if you would not even think about school Saturday and Sunday but I don't dare ask for it." She said with a dramatic sigh.
"Tell you what, I'll finish my organic chemistry paper then I'll avoid school for the rest of the weekend." I promised.
"I'm holding you to that. Are you still catering with me Saturday?" She asked. Caroline had a catering job and I was a casual applicant. Whenever they needed me I did it, but Caroline worked every weekend. Just a little more money to keep us afloat.
"Yeah it's that Governor thing right? Monica asked if I would work it." I told her and she clapped her hands.
"Yay. I hate all the other girls." She sighed.
"Mrs. Neal already told me to take the shift and just drop Scarlett off with her." I told her.
"Oh how I love Mrs. Neal. So since you're sitting here you have to let me practice my dramatic monologue on you." She said and I sat back with my sandwich and waited for her to start. When she started I listened carefully. I could see it now, Caroline Forbes would be a star someday.