I wake to the sound of the door slamming downstairs. The light is unwelcome and I try to cover my eyes. I hear footsteps on the stairs and another door slam shut. I get out of bed and go to Jeremy's room, but the phone rings as soon as I touch the handle. I head downstairs and pick it up.
"Hello?" The voice that responds sounds very soft.
"Hello, I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls High School. I'm looking to speak with a parent or guardian of Jeremy Gilbert." I close my eyes and sigh. Never a break...

"His legal guardian isn't present, I'm his sister, might I be of any help?" The voice starts speaking as soon as I stop.
"I think I might need to schedule a meeting with a member of the family. It appears he came to my class Stoned today. It's easy to tell when you have been around teens as long as I have. All the signs." I nod.
"I understand. I'm really, very sorry about this. Is this his... History teacher? Yeah. History?" I wait for his answer..
"Yes. Seems like you try to keep a close eye on him."
"I do. We are staying with our Aunt right now and we all have a lot on our plates and... he's my brother. You know, I have responsibility for him." Silence. I wait for a moment. "Hello?"
"How soon can you come in for a conference?" He asks. I look at the clock.
"Uh... 15 minutes?"
"Perfect. See you then."
"Wait wait... I didn't catch your name and classroom number." He chuckles.
"Mr. Mikaelson. Class S5." He hangs up. I shut off the phone and head upstairs pissed.
"JEREMY!" I pound on his door. "Open up! NOW." He opens the door and peeks from behind it.
"What? What's your problem?" I hit the door.
"Your history teacher just called me and told me that I have to come to the school for a conference because you came to class stoned. 'All the signs' stoned." He rolls his eyes and goes to shut the door.
"I'm cutting you a break because I see how much you have been through in the past year but that doesn't mean you get a free pass to screw up like this. Jenna has enough on her plate for all of us. I know this isn't easy Jer... But if we don't try to get better how can we?" He stares me down.
"You done?" I say nothing and just look at him as he shuts his door in my face, then get ready for the conference.

I look for the class and when I find it, I knock on the door.
"Come in." I walk in and see the teacher. He is so young looking, with brown hair, and a really great frame. He is wearing jeans and a short sleeve shirt and his muscles are so defined it looks like he's flexing.
"You must be, Mr. Mikaelson... I'm Elena."
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, please... have a seat." He is smiling at me and motions for me to sit in one of the desks. I go over and sit down, feeling his eyes follow me, and his gaze goes all the way up from my legs to my eyes.
"So my brother... Let's talk about him." He smiles and gestures to his desk.
"I get a lot of students who try to cheat, who text in class, talk to friends." I nod, listening closely. "But coming to my class blazed is a new one. I can't help but wonder if he thinks I am too lenient or if I just am too dumb to notice." I shake my head.
"Mr. Mikaelson... I know my brother. He has had a rough time. I don't think he cares about rules anymore. Our parents died, everything changed." Mr. Mikaelson looks away and then back at me.
"I'm sorry for your loss. How are you taking it?" I shrug.
"I lost my mom and dad four months ago. I feel abandoned. I feel like I have to step up. I feel like I haven't done my job as his sister by being here." I don't meet his eyes. He gets up and my eyes catch him, he is closer to me now, having a seat in a desk next to me. I shift my body towards him.
"You sound like you're doing well looking after your brother. You can't control his every move." I nod.
"I know, it's just, I don't know how to make any of this easy. I don't know how to to help... what to do." He nods.
"Teenagers act out. They feel a lot more exquisitely than we think. We have all been there, but seeing it secondhand is another experience entirely." He understands. He is an older, handsome gentleman, who is mature and completely understanding. He gets it.
"Yeah." I don't know what else to say.

"I think he and I may just need to get to know each other better, that's all." I smile at him.
"How about dinner? You can come over to our place. I can cook." He smiles but looks hesitant.
"I don't go to the houses of my-"
"I'm not your student." I cut him off. He sighs and closes his eyes shaking his head.
"I feel like..." I stand up and get my stuff.
"You're not my teacher." I grab a post-it note from his desk and write down my cell number. "Here." I hand it to him and he looks it over.
"What's this?" He asks. I think to myself for a minute.
"My cell. Friday at 7 would be good. I'm free. See you then?" He swallows hard and nods.
"Yes, that-" He clears his throat nervously. "that would be fine. Great." I grin and start to walk out.
"Great meeting you, Mr. Mikaelson." He stands and calls after me. I turn around and look at him as he speaks.
"Please... Call me Klaus."