Thursday, January 1, 2009
Dear Diary,
When is something really exciting going to happen?
I spent last night at Caroline's house, with her and Bonnie. We watched some old monster movies and attempted to bake cookies. They came out slightly burned and slightly edible. Then we played this fortune-telling game that Caroline came up with. It seems that she's going to meet the love of her life this year, and Bonnie's going to fulfill her career ambitions. And Elena, you ask? I'm going to "find peace and serenity." I think I already have enough serenity. My life is as serene as the lake under Wickery Bridge.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Dear Diary,
Mom and I walked down Main Street today, hoping to have lunch somewhere, but everything was closed except Dad's office. We went in for a minute. Old Mr. Hadley (as opposed to his son, Young Mr. Hadley; people really call them that), was just finished with his appointment. He spent the next two hours telling us how Dad's office used to be an apothecary (whatever that is), and the high school was built on the site of an old Indian village. When we finally left, Mom said, "I hope I don't end up like him when I'm his age, so lonely that I start lengthy conversations with total strangers."
And those depressing thoughts ruined the day. I don't think Mr. Hadley's all alone or anything, though. He has his son and his grandkids.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Dear Diary,
Could I be any more angry at my brother?
First of all, I woke up this morning and poured myself a bowl of cereal to find that he had dug every marshmallow out with his gross fingers and placed the box back into the cabinet. Then, this afternoon, Bonnie called and asked if I'd seen what he'd done on YouTube. No, I had not. So I looked at his channel and saw that he had sneaked into my room in the middle of the night and made a video of me sleeping and drooling all over my pillow. And he'd put a thought bubble over my head with the words "Matt Donovan" in it. So I calmly told him I would murder him if he didn't delete it immediately, and he just laughed. I had to wait till Mom came home and forced him to delete it. And he'd put these tags on the video, like "Mystic Falls High School," just to make sure everyone I knew found it. This is what happens when he has too much time on his hands.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Dear Diary,
It snowed four inches last night. I bundled up and walked to Bonnie's house. The streets hadn't been cleared and the sun was so bright that it hurt my eyes. We went out and built a snowman, and talked about how much we missed being little kids. I can do more now, but I think I was happier then. Around the time I started high school, time started moving so fast. Why can't I have both? Why can't I be eight years old one day, and sixteen the next, and then eight again and then sixteen?
Because you have to grow up and find out that magic isn't real, that's why.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Dear Diary,
Today was the first day back at school after Christmas break. I saw Matt Donovan and he wasn't acting weird around me or anything, so I guess he didn't see Jeremy's directorial debut. We had cheering practice in the gym after school. Why does Caroline always have to be, both literally and metaphorically, at the top of the pyramid? Sometimes allowing someone else to have a tiny little bit of attention isn't going to kill her. And she talked me and Bonnie into working in the school's recycling program, which means I'm now going to spend my free period in that little room next to the cafeteria, where the garbage cans are kept, crushing sticky half-empty soda cans with my foot.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Dear Diary,
Bonnie couldn't drive me home today, so Matt saw my poor little self walking forlornly down the sidewalk and stopped to give me a ride. When there was a tiny little break in his soliloquy about football I asked him how his mom was, and he just mumbled something and didn't really answer. I think his mom and Vicki are nothing but a great embarrassment to him. It's hard to believe that Kelly Donovan used to be my mom's best friend, before she "got all messed up," as mom says. Kinda makes me wonder what people my age are going to be like in 25 years.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Dear Diary,
In history today, before the bell rang, Caroline sat down next to me and said, "So you and Matt are like, driving-home-together buddies?"
I can't believe she even noticed it. It really sums up her entire personality. She pretends like she's just asking a nice question, but there's this undertone of jealousy mixed with hostility. So I said, "Well, why not? We used to sleep together, after all," and her mouth dropped open and two or three other people turned around to look at me. So I explained that our moms were friends and that when we were babies, they would sometimes put us down for a nap in the same crib. So, technically, we slept together.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Dear Diary,
During dinner Mom noticed that I wasn't saying very much and asked what was wrong. Caroline Forbes, that's what's wrong. So she said that I shouldn't take anything she says personally, and that she's just unhappy because her father left and her mother's not the most nurturing person in the world, and I should appreciate my Happy Two-Parent Home.
Jeremy had to repeat that her father left her mother for another man, as if we don't already know that. It was big news in this small town. I've heard people call her father the f-word, and I know that really bothers her. But she's not the only person in town with a gay parent. Allie and Henry Parker have two moms, and I think most people accept it, and they really don't seem to care about the people who don't.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Dear Diary,
I met Bonnie at The Grill for dinner, and Caroline was there. I've been so mad at her all week that I'd made up my mind to say exactly what I thought about her. But she started telling this funny story about something that happened in home ec, and we were all laughing and I just stopped being angry. You know, we never even talk on the phone and we never see each other unless Bonnie's also there. Bonnie and I are best friends, but I think Caroline considers Bonnie her best friend, but Bonnie considers me her best friend, and Caroline's more like her second-best friend. And I realize that I sound like I'm in third grade.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Dear Diary,
Bonnie, Caroline, and I went to see Bedtime Stories, that Adam Sandler movie. We ran into Matt and Tyler coming out of the theater. When we stepped outside, the wind hit us and Caroline shouted, "Oh, I'm freezing!" and snuggled right up to Matt. I told everyone that I actually remember my parents telling me bedtime stories about vampires. When I was really young, like three or four. Normal parents tell their kids about teddy bears and unicorns, but my parents made up stories about vampires.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Dear Diary,
I walked into the kitchen today and saw Mom locking that cabinet where she keeps her diary. I asked her who she thought would read it, me or Dad or Jeremy. She just sort of said, "Aren't I entitled to my privacy?"
I guess, but today it struck me as weird that my mom has a Secret Cabinet where she keeps who-knows-what.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Dear Diary,
Today in history, Mr. Tanner talked about the Lockwoods and the founding of Mystic Falls. He's really big on local history, but I guess everyone is around here. At the supermarket and the drug store they sell these little homemade pamphlets about the Gilberts and the Lockwoods and the other Founding Families. They sort of gloss over the slavery issue and try to portray our ancestors as heroic without glorifying the South.
In cheering practice I attempted a cartwheel and crashed head-first into the bleachers. I have a big red spot on my forehead which I think is turning purple.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dear Diary,
In the morning before school Matt saw me crossing the lawn and said, "Wow, what's that on your head?"
Thereby dashing my hopes that the layers of makeup I'd put on covered my bruise. He pulled up his pants leg and showed me this big nasty football injury on his leg. Bonding over ruptured blood vessels. How romantic.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Dear Diary,
I just got off the phone with Bonnie. We talked about Matt for about two hours. She kept saying things like, "You two should go out, it would be so sweet."
But is that a reason to want to go out with someone? Because everyone thinks we would make a great couple? Yes, we've known each other since we were infants. But most people have in this little town. Yes, he's cute. And I have dark hair and he has blond hair, and we'd look so good together. Just think of those prom photos we can save to show to our grandkids. And that's really all I'm expected to do: finish high school, probably go away to college, and then come back to Mystic Falls, get married and have kissed and carry on the Gilbert legacy.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Dear Diary,
Mom was at the kitchen table today, writing in her diary. Her phone rang and she went to answer it, so I sat down and glanced at the pages. There was some boring thing about the Town Council and the Lockwoods, and then she shouted, "Elena!" and came back into the room. I didn't think it would be that big a deal to her, but she snatched up the diary and locked it into the cabinet. Then she said, "How much did you read?"
Hardly anything, really. Then she said, "Are you sure?"
So I asked her what her big secret could possibly be. She said, "I'll tell you when you're older," and left the room.
I told Jeremy about it, and he surmised that our mother is really a member of a secret society, as are all the oldest members of the Founding Families, and all those Town Council meetings are really just a front for the Illuminati.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dear Diary,
It's a three-day weekend. When the last bell rang today, Tom Melton shouted, "Thank you, Dr. King!" I'm sure giving everyone a day off was what he had in mind when he was sitting in a jail cell in Birmingham.
Anyway, The Grill was packed tonight. When I went in with Bonnie and Caroline I saw Matt and Tyler playing pool. After we ate I went over to the jukebox and Matt came up behind me. We argued about what song to play, and I finally said, "My quarters, my decision." We played pool and kept ordering more sodas and pretzels from Vicki. We had to combine whatever cash we had to come up with a tip. Does it make sense for Matt to tip his own sister? I kinda get the idea that their Mom doesn't contribute much to the household finances, and they have to share everything they make.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Dear Diary,
I noticed that the lock was off Mom's "secret cabinet" today, so I looked inside and found it empty. Apparently, she's found an even more secret location. What could be so private that she has to put so much effort into hiding it from me?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Dear Diary,
Tyler Lockwood's parents were out of town, so he had a big party. I hadn't been to the Lockwood mansion in a long time - I think the last time was for some Girl Scout event - and I'd almost forgotten how grand-scale it really is. I saw Matt, but it's not like you can really talk with a million people around and loud music playing. I came home really late (early?) and Mom was kind of mad. But really, what does she have to be worried about? What could possibly happen between Tyler's house and home? This is Mystic Falls, where everybody's happy and/or pretending to be.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Dear Diary,
Jeremy almost died. He was eating an apple and started choking, and Dad had to reach down his throat to pull the piece of the apple out. Then he was taking really deep breaths and Mom was really freaked out. She kept shouting, "How many times have I told you to chew your food slowly?" and "What if you'd been home by yourself?"
Just another Gilbert Family Miracle.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Dear Diary,
We watched Barak Obama's inauguration in school today. Bonnie keeps going on and on about how she's psychic and she knew he would be elected. I think everyone who heard Oprah say, "He's my fayyyy-vorite senator!" knew he'd be President some day.
So, end-of-semester final exam season is upon us, which means we don't have cheering practice this week.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Dear Diary,
No time to do anything except eat and sleep and study.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Dear Diary,
I had three finals today. Mom asked me how I did. I won't know until my report card comes in, will I? I really think Mr. Tanner threw in some questions that we have never discussed in class, but he thinks we're just supposed to know.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Dear Diary,
Today we had our other three finals. After school, almost everyone celebrated at The Grill. Matt and Tyler, however, were nowhere to be seen. I've just now realized that I'm starting to look forward to seeing him, and feel disappointed when I don't.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Dear Diary,
I woke up today with a massive headache and when I went down the hall I was fully awakened by the sound of Jeremy vomiting into the toilet. Hopefully, if I stay away from him I won't get really sick. I took some aspirin and spent most of the day at the library just to get out of the house. I sat down with a stack of magazines and saw this girl sitting on the floor by the windows, reading one of the Twilight books, with tears running down her face.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Dear Diary,
Matt texted me this morning and said, WUT R U DOING? I wasn't doing much of anything. So he asked me if I wanted to "go to the field and practice." Apparently, football players do that on Sundays. He picked me up and we drove to school and parked on the street near the field. It was weird to be at school, alone, on Sunday. The field was covered with a couple of pristine inches of snow, and I almost hated to mess it up. He got a football out of the trunk and we played catch for a while. Then I worked on some cheers, and I hadn't realized that I felt really out of practice after only one week.
We had a little argument about what's harder, football or cheering. I said that football players don't lift each other into the air and vault off each other's shoulders to the ground, and he said, "How hard can it be?" So he attempted to lift me into a cupie stunt and I ended up falling on top of him and into the snow. We were all tangled up together and both of our faces were frozen and wet. He pushed my hair aside and we kissed.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Dear Diary,
Matt was the first person I saw in the hall this morning. We walked to his locker and were talking, and Bonnie came in and saw us. She sort of jokingly gasped and kept walking. Then she texted me during homeroom and asked, MELENA OR EATT?
Melena, or course. How would you even pronounce Eatt?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dear Diary,
When Caroline sat down beside me in history today, she said, "Oh Elena, why didn't you tell me about you and Matt? I had to hear about it from Bonnie. I thought we were better friends than that."
So, let's analyze her statements. First, she acknowledges me and Matt. She feigns excitement. But then she has to find a way to portray herself as the victim of the situation. I have to be harming her in some way. So she decides that the way I'm harming her is that I didn't tell her about it. So I said that we hadn't even officially gone out yet. And she said, "But you're all coupley now, aren't you?"
I guess.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Dear Diary,
Report cards came today. Jeremy got straight A's, and I got the first report card C of my life. I don't have to tell you what class it was in, do I?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Dear Diary,
Matt and I saw each other on the school walk this morning, and held hands until we got to his locker. On the way home, he's all Bonnie and I talked about. Everyone else seems more excited about it than I do. He called me after school, and we actually talked. Talk-talked, rather than texting. I was complaining about Mr. Tanner, and he said, "You have no idea." Apparently, he's even worse on the field than he is in history class.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Dear Diary,
I guess Matt and I are officially going out now. At lunch, he asked, "What do you want to do tonight?" instead of, "Are you doing anything tonight?" So, we've officially crossed the bridge into couplehood.
Anyway, we went to The Grill and ate, and then he drove me home. We sat in his car, in the driveway, in the dark, listening to the radio for a while.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Dear Diary,
Mom wanted to have Matt over for dinner. While we ate, she asked him a lot of embarrassing questions that he obviously didn't want to answer. Finally, Dad mentioned the broken-down Camaro in the garage, and he, Matt, and Jeremy went out to look at it while Mom and I cleared the table. We have our gender roles worked out so well in this house.
When they came back in, I popped some popcorn, and Matt and Jeremy and I stayed up late watching TV while Mom and Dad went to sleep. I woke up in the middle of the night, on the floor. Jeremy was on the couch and Matt's head lay on my stomach. I really, really had to pee, so I had to wiggle out from under him, which I did without waking him up.
I went upstairs and lay down for about an hour, but I didn't fall back asleep. Matt woke up while the sun was rising. We went out onto the porch and talked for a while (and made out for a while) before he left.
