Elena Gilbert sat at a picnic table outside, her earbuds in her ears, studying a notebook on the table in front of her. The faint breeze stirred her dark hair and she hooked a lock of it behind her ear to keep it out of her face.
Around her, students greeted each other, excited after a summer apart, but she focused on the skate diagrams and listened to the latest bit of music from her coach, while she waited for her friends to show up. Damn, but her coach really wanted her live up to her nickname, 'The Cobra,' a title given to her because of her hypnotic grace coupled with powerful leaps.
About fifteen feet away, Matt Donovan and Tyler Lockwood threw a baseball back and forth, as hard as they could, the sound of the ball striking their skin echoing sharply against the bricks.
"What are you working on?" Caroline Forbes asked as she sat across from Elena.
Elena looked up from her notebook and pulled out her earbud, a lock of dark hair coming loose as she did so, "What?"
"You can't have homework already, it's just the first day of school!" Caroline laughed.
The ball bounced off a tree as one of the boys missed, taking off bark as it ricocheted, and hit the ground not far from where the girls sat.
"Watch it, Tyler!" Caroline glowered at them.
"Sorry!" Tyler called, but his attitude suggested he was anything but.
Elena's lips thinned at the boys, then turned her attention back to her friend and replied, "I haven't placed lower than third in Nationals in four years. I'm not going to let myself slip now. With the Winter Olympics next year, I've got to remain on the top of my game or my coach is going to kill me." Elena tapped her pencil against the page and chewed on her lower lip.
"Oh, my god." Caroline leaned forward, her eyes excited with whatever gossip she knew. "Have you seen-"
Suddenly, the baseball slammed into Elena's temple and she hit the ground, unconscious, blood dripping from her nose.
"Elena?!" Caroline screamed as she ran around the table to kneel beside her friend.
Fumbling for her phone, she dialed 911.
Elena blinked slowly, her brows furrowing as she focused on her surroundings. A hospital bed? What was she doing here? When she turned her head the oxygen hose tugged on her ears and she reached up, touching her face in surprise.
What was she doing here? She wondered as she fumbled for the remote on the side of the bed to summon help.
A few moments later, Dr. Fell walked through the door.
"What happened?" Elena mumbled, still confused.
"You got hit pretty hard on the head courtesy of a baseball," Dr. Fell replied as she read over the check sheet in her hand. "But you should be able to go home soon, just as soon as your father clears you for sure. You really scared him."
"It'd better be soon because I've got practice this evening."
"Not anymore."
"I feel fine though," Elena objected.
"Head injuries are nothing to mess with, Elena. You're an athlete, so you know this." Dr. Fell looked at Elena, her dark eyes serious. "Take it easy for the next few days and you'll be back on the ice before you know it."
"Ah, she's awake," Grayson said as he stepped into the room. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
"Annoyed. I wanna go to practice." She needed to be on the ice. How was she expected to compete if she didn't put in the time?
"I talked to your coach and she and I both agree that you should take three days off to make sure there's no lasting damage."
"Three days? Are you serious?" Elena sat up, fighting with the oxygen hose as she moved. "Dad! Competition season is coming up!"
"Elena. That's enough."
Elena lay back and stared at the ceiling, her mouth pulled into a frown.
"Elena, get that look off your face. Your health is more important than you being perfect, okay?"
"Fine," she said with a resigned sigh. "So, when can I go home?"
"As soon as your mother gets here."
"Good. I hate hospitals." Picking at the oxygen hose on her face, Elena asked, "Could you at least get this off me?"
"Sure."
Dr. Fell turned the machine off before helping Elena extract herself from it.
Grayson's phone dinged and he pulled it out and read the message, then said, "Your mother is on her way. She wants you to know that she's bringing you a fresh change of clothes."
"Tell her thanks."
Both doctors left the room and Elena lay there staring at the curtained off window, frustration roiling through her. Skating meant the world to her. It was the only time she didn't have to repress what she felt, when she didn't have to pretend. When she performed, her emotions were encouraged, celebrated even. There was no pressure about being a member of a 'Founding Family,' and putting up a front. Out there, it was just her, the ice, and the music.
Someone knocked on the door and then it opened, revealing Miranda Gilbert, with a bag in her hand.
"Hey, honey."
"Hi, Mom." Elena sat up, brushing her hair behind her ear as she moved.
"Here are your clothes." She held out a pile of folded fabric. "Do you need any help?"
"Nope." Elena took the clothes and hopped off the bed.
As the bathroom door closed behind her, Miranda said, "I thought we might go to Charlottesville."
"Sure," Elena agreed, less than thrilled.
"Elena, I know you're upset about not being able to go to practice, but you'll be back in fighting shape sooner if you don't push yourself now."
"Yeah, I know. I'll get over it." Elena pulled her shirt over her head and freed her hair from her collar. "It's just, I feel fine. I wish I could at least just skate around, to keep limber and all that. Dad'll never have to know."
"Doctors orders, Elena." Miranda laughed.
Tossing her hair up into a tight ponytail, she opened the bathroom door and threw her hospital gown onto the bed. Grabbing her shoes and socks, she sat down and put them on.
"Ready?" Miranda asked.
"Let's get out of here."
They walked out of the hospital, towards the SUV.
"So what's the plan exactly?"
"I was thinking about picking up Jenna from campus and doing some shopping."
"Sounds good."
They climbed into the SUV and pulled out of the parking lot.
Elena pulled out her cellphone and texted Caroline.
I'm fine. Just need to take it easy for the next few days.
Caroline replied a few seconds later.
Good. I was so worried. OMG! A hot guy just started school here. I'll tell you about him when I find out more. ttyl
"Earlier today Mrs. Lockwood asked me if you were going to sign up for the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, because the deadline to sign up is this weekend."
"Seriously?" Elena looked up from her phone, surprise written across her face. "If I make it to the Olympics, I'm not gonna have time for anything else. Just going to school will be hard enough between practice and everything."
"That's what I told her." Miranda laughed and shook her head in fond exasperation. "I suppose to her, becoming Miss Mystic Falls is the epitome of achievement. I don't think she's used to teenage girls having lives that don't revolve around this little town."
Miranda flicked the blinker and made a turn.
"Is Jenna ready?" Elena brought her knee up to her chin and looked over at her mother.
"She should be. I texted her before I signed you out."
When they arrived on campus, Elena looked around.
She knew her parents hoped she might attend here after she graduated, but something about it twisted her stomach. No matter how many times she came here, this place always felt wrong. A full shudder passed down her spine when they passed Whitmore House and she clenched her fists to her sides with her elbows as a sense of dread settled between her shoulder blades.
"Elena? Are you okay?" Miranda asked, worried. "Do you want to go home?"
"I'm fine." How could she explain this to anyone this sense of dread clawing at the back of her mind?
They arrived in front of Jenna's dorm to find her waiting for them. She waved when she saw them and walked quickly over to them.
Jenna climbed into the back seat and buckled herself in.
"How'd you manage to get them to let you out of school?" Jenna teased. "Jeremy's gotta be jealous as all get out."
"Unfortunately, skipping school means skipping practice too."
"You and your skating. You'll never get a date if you focus on that too much."
"Or I could date a fellow skater, eventually." Elena folded down her sun visor and examined the side of her head in the mirror.
"Aren't they all gay?"
"Wow, Aunt Jenna, way to stereotype." Elena looked back at Jenna through the mirror.
"Yeah, that was bad." Jenna leaned back in her seat.
"There's absolutely no bruise whatsoever," Elena muttered as she poked at her temple. "It doesn't even hurt."
"That doesn't mean there's no injury, Elena," Miranda sighed.
"I know, I know."
As they put the bags into the back of the SUV, Elena's stomach started growling.
"Can we get something to eat?" Elena asked. "I'm starving!"
"I second that," Jenna said.
Miranda considered for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Dinner before we head home."
"There." Elena pointed to a restaurant across the street that featured a grill. "That should have a menu my coach won't yell at me for eating off of on a non-cheat day."
With that, the three ladies made their way over to it and the hostess greeted them at the door.
"Table for three?" she asked with a bright smile
"Please," Miranda said.
"Follow me." The hostess picked up three menus and led the way over to a table near the front window. "Your server will be right with you."
The three ladies sat down and opened their menus, looking over their options.
A curvy redheaded girl approached them with a notepad in her hand. "Hello, my name is Jazzy and I'll be your server this evening. Can I get you something to drink?"
"I'll have a regular coke," Miranda replied as she read over the list.
"Diet Coke," Jenna said.
"Water with lemon," Elena added.
"Are you ladies ready to order your food? Or do you need a minute?"
"I think we still need a minute." Miranda smiled at her in dismissal.
"I'll get your drinks and be right back." Jazzy left then.
"I was thinking about possibly getting some new style of costumes for you this season," Miranda said once they were alone. "You're getting older and preparing for the Olympics. It's time to show people that you're growing up and ready to compete on that level."
"Oh, blue. Your first new costume needs to be royal blue," Jenna said, excited. "That color looks fantastic against your hair and eyes and just pops on the ice. And it needs to show a little cleavage. You've got a great chest and it's time to show it off."
"People with any sort of chest need to be more careful on the ice," Elena commented. "Without proper support it can throw off a performance, literally, so we'll have to make sure it's all fabric."
"And if it is all fabric, your dad won't have any reason to freak out, even though you looks like you're bare. Small town ideals sometimes need to be left off the ice."
"Blue does look especially good on you," Miranda agreed.
Their waitress brought back their drinks and set them down in front of the ladies.
"Are you ready to order?" Jazzy asked.
"Yes, I think we are," Miranda replied. "I'll have the steak sandwich, medium well, all the fixings, mashed potatoes and gravy, and steak fries."
"I want the chicken fried steak and mac and cheese, with steak fries." Jenna handed her the menu.
"Grilled chicken breast, steamed broccoli, and a small house salad with the raspberry vinaigrette on the side."
The waitress looked at Elena and raised an eyebrow, but wrote her order down.
When she left, Jenna asked. "What the hell's her problem?"
"I'm already slim and eating like that."
"Rude."
"It's happened so much, I just don't even worry about it anymore." Elena squeezed the lemon into her water. "People don't realize that skaters need to watch every calorie even during the off-season. Because there really is no off-season for people like us."
The waitress came back to see to a table not far from theirs, and Jenna got a conspiratorial look in her eye.
"So what is your plan for preparing for the Olympics?" Jenna asked a little louder than strictly necessary. "I mean, figure skating is highly competitive."
"Just do what my coach says." Elena laughed. "She hasn't led me wrong yet."
"You've placed in Nationals enough times. What do you think will happen if you take gold though?"
"I have to actually make it into the Olympics first, Aunt Jenna." Elena twirled her straw around in her water.
Jazzy stared at her, her eyes wide, before she headed back to the kitchen.
"Maybe that'll teach her to stop assuming things about people." Jenna gave the waitress one last dirty look, then grinned at Elena.
"That wasn't very nice."
"Yeah, well, for all we know, you'll be representing the U.S. at the Winter Olympics."
"We'll see." Most competitive skaters dreamed of that and she knew her competition this time around would be the fiercest she'd ever faced. But she couldn't stop herself from picturing herself on that podium, draped in an American flag with a gold metal in her hand.
It was well after dark when they finally arrived on campus to drop Jenna off.
"I had fun today," Jenna said as she unbuckled her seat belt. "We really need to do this more often."
"I don't get hurt enough for that to happen," Elena joked.
"Well then, I'll just have to enjoy it whenever we can get together." Jenna gathered up her bags and climbed out, closing the door behind her.
Elena rolled down her window and called, "Bye!"
Jenna waved in response and Elena waved back. Something about this moment felt so final, as if she needed to keep waving until Jenna opened the door and waved one last time before stepping inside.
After the door closed behind Jenna, Miranda put the car into reverse. Elena rolled the window back up as they headed towards the front entrance.
Once they got onto the main road, Miranda pressed down on the gas, picking up speed. Elena rested her head against the window, staring out ahead of her. The headlights caught on a deer grazing along the road and the startled animal leaped into the woods.
"I hope you're not too upset with having to miss practice," Miranda said, breaking the silence.
"It was nice spending time with Jenna. I don't get to see her as much as I'd like."
She gave all her time to the sport she loved and she was fortunate that her parents could afford to allow her to pursue her dreams. Unfortunately that meant she almost had no free time to spend with her family, but that was the price she paid to be a competitor on a national and international stage.
"I think I can convi-"
They came around a curve and a car rounded the bend at top speed, speeding directly towards them in their lane, a police car behind them, sirens blaring and lights flashing.
"Look out!" Elena screamed, but it was too late. The fleeing car slammed into them head on, sending glass flying and both vehicles spinning into the ditch.
When they came to a stop, Elena gasped, struggling for breath against the metal spearing her lungs and the blood rising in her throat. Blood poured from the cut across her forehead, blinding her, but she didn't have the strength to wipe her eyes.
Mom, where was she? She turned her head slowly, desperately trying to look around. She blinked hard and focused on where her mother was supposed to be. Tears trickled down her cheeks, mixing with the blood when she saw Miranda's head resting at an odd angle, her eyes blank.
"Mom." Her lips barely moved as her own life slipped away from her.