A Pocketful of Secrets
Hello there Mystic Falls, AN here and boy, do I have a story for you. Elena Gilbert is back from the dead. After performing a disappearing act last year the famous Gilbert has returned. How long will she last this time?
Xoxo
AN
Elena Gilbert got off the train next to town. Almost as soon as she'd gotten into the cab her phone buzzed and her face was staring back at her. People knew she was back. "Here we go again." she muttered numbly. It seemed odd to be back in Mystic Falls after everything that had happened. She'd debated on even returning, but something had told her she had to come back. It was home.
She got out of the car, pulling her luxury suitcases out from the back of the cab. Her stilettos clicked on the ground as she walked up to the house that she'd fled from so long ago. Before she could knock she was greeted by their maid and ushered inside the house to meet her parents who were sitting in the den. They stood and hugged her with bright smiles as if nothing had happened, but she knew better. In a few days they'd go back to ignoring her very existence.
She walked upstairs to her room and looked around. It remained untouched. Even her bed was slightly rumpled and her drawers still open with clothes strewn all over the floor. She left them there and scrolled through her phone to dial a number. "Please answer." Elena mumbled, hitting send to call her best friend.
Xoxo
Back in the Bennett Manor, a diamond encrusted cellphone vibrated. Bonnie Bennett chewed on her lip nervously, enlarging a picture of Elena on her laptop. Was it possible? Could Elena Gilbert really be back?
Elena's departure a year earlier had been infuriating and untimely. Elena hadn't written a single letter in the time she'd been gone. Elena was her childhood best friend though. Just as the call was about to go to voicemail, Bonnie snatched it up.
"Bonnie?" It was Elena's butter sweet voice.
"Hey." Bonnie's response was cautious.
"I'm back." Elena hesitated.
"Yeah, I saw it on AN. It was completely shocking, to say the least."
"I know. You must have a lot of questions."
"A few." Bonnie bit back a scoff.
"Well, why don't we meet up later? I just have to finish unpacking."
"Sure. The Grill at 6?"
"Yeah. See you there."
Bonnie hung up and flopped back onto her bed. She sighed. With Elena back, things were definitely going to get interesting.
Xoxo
A few hours later, Elena made her way into the Grill, warily ignoring the looks and whispers shot her way. She scanned the place, looking for the short brunette. Instead, her gaze fell on a familiar dark haired guy sitting at the counter.
"Damon?"
He turned to face her, "Well if it isn't the famous Gilbert. How nice of you to return." He mocked sarcastically.
"Yeah nice to see you too." She rolled her eyes, "Seriously though, how are you?" She asked taking a seat next to him at the bar. Before she'd left Mystic Falls, her and Damon drank together all the time. He offered her something, but she turned it down.
"Clean. Sober. Back in Mystic Falls... Hmm well I'm doing pretty good. How are you?"
"Im fine. Just kinda crazy. Everyone stares at me everywhere I go. Almost want to run away again." She laughed lightly.
Damon's features darkened, "Thats not even funny."
"What's wrong with you?"
"If you don't know then maybe we shouldn't be talking. Goodbye." He stood and left her sitting alone.
She grabbed her jacket and purse and turned to see Bonnie standing in the doorway. Elena rushed over and hugged her tightly, "Bon! I missed you"
Bonnie was hesitant to hug her back, "me too... But I need some answers, E." Bonnie sat down across the table from her. "Where did you go?"
"I went to a boarding school in England."
"Why did you leave, E?!" Bonnie snapped. "What was so bad that you had to drop everything and just disappear?" Her cheeks were flaming red and tears formed in her eyes.
"I-I can't exactly tell you what yet, but just trust me when I say that it was better for everyone. It was only getting worse by me staying. I had to get out. And for everyone's safety I couldn't tell anyone where I was going or bad things could happen.".
"Elena... If something was going to put me in danger I deserve to know."
"I know you do, but I can't tell you yet. Not till its over. Just trust me okay?" Elena begged.
Bonnie frowned, hesitant and uneasy. She still had so many questions. Finally, she exhaled.
"Alright. I trust you. But you have to understand that it won't be easy. You did leave for a year without even saying goodbye."
"Of course." Elena nodded. "I'm really sorry for that."
"It's okay. You're here now." Bonnie squeezed her hand reassuringly. "And we have a lot to catch up on."
Xoxo
"You'd think I'd be used to it by now but all of these people are really freaking me out." Elena sighed and licked the yogurt off of her spoon. "They're acting like I rose from the dead or something."
"Actually, everyone thought you were dead for a while." Bonnie said. They made their way through Mystic Falls Academy's silver gates.
"What?" Elena snorted.
"AN even had a whole thread about it where people posted their theories about what had really happened. They were awful." Bonnie shuddered. "Anyway, how are you feeling on your first day back?"
"Fantastic, actually." Elena grinned. "I have you. Though there is one person I can't wait to see."
"Ooh and who would that be?" Bonnie teased.
"Good morning, ladies."
Stefan and Damon appeared beside them, each holding different Starbucks cups.
"Caramel mocha with extra whipped cream." Stefan handed Bonnie one of the cups.
"Thank youuu." Bonnie sang. Stefan leaned close and planted a kiss on Bonnie's lips.
Elena's eyes grew wide and she had to bite down to keep from gasping.
Stefan. Her Stefan…
It was true that she had broken up with him a month before she'd fled to Boarding School but that had been under crucial circumstances. Her heart still belonged to Stefan. The green eyed man currently cuddling her best friend.
Bonnie hadn't mentioned Stefan once during their heart to heart yesterday. Of course she'd try to keep it from her as long as possible. Bonnie might think that Elena didn't have feelings for Stefan anymore but she wasn't dumb and knew that ex's were off limits.
"I brought you a coffee too." Damon broke her from her thoughts. He smiled at her. "I wasn't sure what flavor you like so I got vanilla."
"Thank you." Elena took the coffee from him and turned to Stefan and Bonnie. "So you two happened?" She forced a smile.
"Yeah." Bonnie watched her carefully. She slapped her forehead in feigned innocence. "I completely forgot to tell you about us yesterday."
"Right." Elena said. "Well I'm happy for you and I wish you the best."
"Thank you. That means a lot." Stefan smiled at her, his arm encircling Bonnie's shoulder.
"I have to go now." Elena abandoned their circle. "I have to talk to the Headmistress before first period. Thanks for the coffee, Damon."
With that, she fled to the safety of the girls restroom.
Xoxo
Elena wanted to avoid meeting with Bonnie and Stefan. Seeing them together made her sick to her stomach. She spent most of the day hiding. In fact, she didn't go to any of her morning classes. She just sat on the bathroom floor locked in a stall and drank from a flask she had in her purse.
At lunch time she stumbled out of the bathroom and met up with her friends. Maybe with the alcohol in her system she could stomach Bonnie and Stefan. Wow it's a lot harder to walk in these heels. Elena thought walking down the blurry hall. She came up to Bonnie, Stefan, and Damon chatting at the table. "Hey." She smiled, "I just wanna say again that I am so happy for you both. Really. Just great that me leaving led you to each other." Her words were slurred.
Bonnie could smell the alcohol radiating off of Elena's breath, "Oh my God! Are you drunk?" She gasped.
Elena giggle and hiccuped, "Maybeee. Why don't you mind your own business you st-"
"That's enough for you." Damon huffed, interrupting her before she said something she'd regret. "Lets get you home." He pulled her from the school and got her in the car. As he drove she leaned over and placed her head on his arm.
"I just don't understand. He forgot about me. How could he forget about me?" Tears slipped down her cheeks, pulling her mascara with them.
Damon's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "I don't know, Lena. Honestly, I don't know how anyone could forget about you."
"I thought we had something special." She whispered.
"Shh. Go to sleep. You're drunk." Damon smirked, but his heart was breaking on the inside.
Xoxo
"I cannot believe that Elena was drunk!" Bonnie exclaimed as they made their way to their next class.
"I know. I hope she's okay."
"It was her choice. You'd think she'd change now that she came back. And I wouldn't worry about her. Your brother's with her." Maybe she'll tell him all her secrets. Bonnie thought bitterly.
"Still, something is up with her. Maybe whatever she was running from is still a problem." Stefan suggested.
"Who cares? Can we talk about something else? Like the charity ball next weekend?" Bonnie smiled brightly.
"Okay what about it?"
Bonnie pushed Stefan playfully, "Aren't you going to ask me?" She laughed.
He rolled his eyes, but took both of her hands in his, "Bonnie Bennett, will you go to my family's lame charity ball next weekend?"
"Yeah. I have to think about it." She smirked and walked into her next class, her hips swaying as she walked.
xoxo
Elena woke to a dark room and a pounding headache. She sat up and groaned. I need some water, she thought and made her way into the kitchen.
"Good morning, sunshine." The velvet voice came out of no where and Elena almost jumped out of her skin.
"Damon?" She rubbed at her eyes. He was sitting at the kitchen counter drinking out of a glass of wine. He gestured to another cup of milk in front of him and she sat down.
"How bad was it?" She groaned. "Tell me the truth."
"Pretty bad." Damon pursed his lips.
Elena dropped her face into her hands. "I ruined my first day back at Mystic Falls Academy and any chance I had of fixing my friendship with Bonnie."
"It isn't all your fault, Elena." Damon said. "Bonnie could have at least warned you about Stefan. She knew what she was doing by keeping their relationship from you."
"I wish I didn't have feelings for him. But I do and there's nothing I can do about it."
"Give it time." Damon placed his hand over hers. "Talk to Bonnie about it."
"No." Elena jerked away. "I'll make something up. Say it was AN and her posts that made me act that way. I don't want Bonnie to find out. I would never want to come between Stefan and her."
Damon nodded. "Just know that you'll always have someone to talk to."
"Thank you, Damon." Elena leaned over and gave him a hug.
Damon swallowed and ruffled her hair. "Always"
Xoxo
The next day Bonnie met Elena at school and things were icy between them to say the least. Bonnie was still upset about Elena being drunk and Elena was too stubborn to talk to her either, but she wanted to fix things. They both did. Finally Elena spoke, "Bonnie can we talk? I'm really sorry about yesterday... Just all those things on AN were really getting to me and I fell back into old habits. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Bonnie's jaw tightened, "I don't know okay? I know that things have changed since you got back, but you can't just let yourself get screwed up again. I mean what about Jeremy? He needs you. I'm your best friend and I'm telling you, you have to get it together for him and for yourself. You talk about some kind of danger here that you were running from but if you can't even stay sober how are you going to help anyone?" Bonnie turned on her heel and stormed away leaving Elena to her thoughts.
Bonnie was right. She needed to be there for Jer and for everyone else. What the hell was she thinking?
Xoxo
The days came and went and finally it was the Friday before the charity ball at the Salvatore's. Bonnie was over helping Mrs. Salvatore organize the event, Stefan and Damon sat watching football on t.v. "Boys have you not started getting ready? Have you even picked up your tuxes?" Mrs. Salvatore asked coming over to them. Both boys looked down, blushing. She grabbed the remote, "Get up. Lets go. Go pick them up now. Damon, are you bringing a date?"
"No." Damon replied.
"What about El-" Stefan started but Damon elbowed him roughly in the ribs. "We'll go get the tuxes." he huffed, dragging Damon out of the house.
"Oh those boys." Bonnie rolled her eyes.
"They're something aren't they? I'm glad that you're with Stefan." Mrs. Salvatore smiled, "You really make him happy."
"Elena didn't?" Bonnie dared to ask.
"She did... But she has a wild side... Something that bothered Stefan. She was always ready to take off at the drop of a hat. Then she did. I don't know... I'm just glad you're with him." Mrs. Salvatore smiled and hugged Bonnie, "Lets go get ready."
xoxo
"The place looks great." Bonnie told the Salvatore parents.
"Thank you, darling." Mrs. Salvatore said. She touched the fabric of Bonnie's dress. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you. So do you. As usual." Bonnie kissed her cheek, curtsied and left.
"Stefan!" She called her boyfriend over and smoothed her halter strap silk gown. "You look dashing."
"You look amazing." Stefan dug his face into her neck, causing her to blush and giggle.
A throat cleared.
"Oh, Matt, hey!" Bonnie greeted her blonde friend. "Why weren't you in school today?"
"I was helping someone out with something." Matt said, straightening his tie.
"What's with all the secrecy?" asked Stefan. "You've been acting weird lately."
"Yes, Mutt, do tell us all about your private life." Damon joined them. He took a tray of wine glasses from a passing waiter and handed one out to everybody.
Matt shot Damon a glare. "You'll find out soon enough." He turned to glance at the double doors of the crowded Salvatore mansion.
"You expecting someone?" Bonnie asked.
"I invited Elena." Damon said nonchalantly. "Hope you don't mind." He looked pointedly at the brunette.
Bonnie narrowed her eyes at him. "Of course not. Why would I mind?"
Damon raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know you two aren't on speaking terms."
"We were talking earlier but even if that were the case, we're both mature young women. So no, there's no problem."
"Everyone, there's someone I want you to meet." Matt had left and returned, a dark haired beauty by his side.
"Meredith Sulez." The girl extended her hand. She was tall, exotic, and beautiful, even dressed in a cheap cotton dress.
One by one they introduced themselves.
"Is she your girlfriend, Matthew?" Damon whistled softly. "I'm shocked. She is way out of your league."
"No." Meredith interjected. "We're just friends. But just so you know, there's nothing wrong with Matt. Not only is he handsome, he's also a really sweet guy, which is more than I can say about you.."
Stefan and Bonnie burst out laughing as Damon fumed. He wasn't used to anyone talking back to him.
After he'd regained his composure Damon took Meredith's hand and planted a kiss on it. "Beautiful and bold. I like that."
"Hey guys." Elena was fashionably late, dressed in a gorgeous cream gown. She turned to Meredith, "I'm Elena."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Meredith."
"It's a good thing you all get along so well with Meredith." Matt said suddenly, a mysterious twinkle in his eye.
"Why's that?"
"Meredith is the friend I've been helping."
"Matt was helping me win a scholarship." Meredith smiled shyly. "To Mystic Falls Academy. I'll be starting there tomorrow."
"Wow! That's great. Congratulations." everyone smiled at her, all but Damon who was still trying to figure her out.
Music started to play behind them and couples made their way on to the dance floor. "Dance with me." Stefan smiled at Bonnie, holding out his hand. She gladly took it and let him lead her to the dance floor. Matt and Meredith followed soon after leaving Damon and Elena standing alone.
"You look beautiful." Damon commented.
"Thanks! You don't look so bad yourself." Elena smirked.
Damon took a deep breath. This was his shot, "Dance with me." He stated. She raised an eyebrow, "You heard me Gilbert. You owe me a dance, time to pay up."
She thought back to that day she left. The way she'd left him. She pushed the memory away, "I don't dance."
"So I'm still second best to you, Elena? Damn it... I can't do this anymore." He walked away leaving Elena standing on the side alone. She watched the other couples dance and gulped her glass of wine.
Xoxo
Stefan swayed to the music with Bonnie and when another song began he felt a tap on his shoulder. "May I borrow Bonnie for a dance?" It was Tyler. A sweet, innocent smile was plastered across his face.
"Sure." Stefan stepped away and danced with a blonde girl as Tyler took Bonnie into his arms.
"So. I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you all night." Tyler whispered close to her ear.
"I don't think that's appropriate." Bonnie said dryly.
"I can't help it. You're the most beautiful girl here." He pulled her closer and Bonnie tried to step back. They weren't dancing anymore. She pushed against his chest, trying to put as much distance between her and Tyler as possible.
Stefan stepped away from the blonde girl and pushed Tyler away from Bonnie, "I think you're breaking some boundaries, Tyler." Stefan glared.
"No. She was coming on to me. I tried to-" he didn't finish his sentence before Stefan's fist collided with his jaw. There was a universal gasp from the guests around them. The music halted as Tyler stood to grab Stefan by his jacket.
Damon appeared out of no where and separated the two. "I think it would be best if you showed yourself out, Lockwood." Damon spat, grabbing Tyler by his jacket and pushing him towards the door.
Hello Mystic Falls,
AN here with your daily gossip update.
I hear Mystic Falls Academy is getting a new student this week. A scholarship girl... Wonder how well she'll fit in with our founding families. In other news, T.L. was seen leaving the Salvatore Charity Ball with a broken jaw. Guess that will teach us all to stay away from S's girl.
Xoxo
AN