My heart dropped the second I saw him walk in. One look at his face told me he wanted to be anywhere else - even if it meant hell itself - than here. And even though the major reason of his distaste was probably the brunette girl sitting next to me, I found that he was only able to look at a fidgeting blond on the other side of me, Caroline.
Next to him walked the breathtakingly beautiful Original, a smug smile on her face.
"Stefan...," Elena mumbled as she made to meet him.
"Did I say you could move?" Rebekah quipped cheerfully, forcing her to drop back down on her seat.
I tried to control my heartbeat as he sat down in front of me. Oh, why was it so hard to be around him? Why could I not focus on anything when I was around him? Why did my heart burst out of the carefully constructed shell I had built up for its protection - why was my heart always against me when it came to him.
He belonged to her after all. Everything and everyone belonged to her. Not only him, but his brothers affection as well. Any other girl was simply not good enough.
Me - a normal, not supernatural human being was just not good enough. I had the luck or misfortune to even know about the supernatural world thanks to the fact that I befriended the right people for it.
I looked at the still restless blond beauty next to me. Caroline, I thought fondly as I tried to give her a reassuring smile. She couldn't even look at me, her eyes moving anxiously between the brunette and the newly arrived company in front of me.
Elena, a voice echoed in the halls of my brain and the fondness vanished from my eyes. There was no reason to hate her and I did not wish her the death and transition she had to go through. No, I didn't wish her anything like that, but once again I had no control of my heart. I could not control that burning poison seeping into the depths of my pulsing living line whenever I thought of her, not the almost blind jealousy I felt whenever she had been with him.
But of course there are always two in a relationship. He could have not loved her. He didn't have to. She didn't force him to, he chose himself to do the same thing he did over a hundred years ago. Fight with his brother for the affection of a woman. It wasn't her fault, which was why I had to swallow every bile of hatred and pure envy I could feel building up inside me whenever she would talk about the things he did for her and she for him.
He could have moved on after the first mistake. He came to the school to start anew, not to repeat history. He could have seen other girls, he could have seen me. Why did he not see me?
I remembered the first day I met him...
Another year of high school. And another step closer to graduation. Another step closer to the golden eighteen years...and I was running late. There were still some people lingering on the school grounds, so that had to be a good sign. Funny, how I knew every single detail of that day, but I didn't even know what I ate for breakfast the day after.
Running up the stairs I quickly scanned my new timetable, groaning as I saw what I had first; History. Well here goes nothing, I thought as I sauntered into the hallway. Throwing my rich red hair over my shoulder I winked at some guys - mostly jocks - feeling as good as always about myself. I remembered how unique I felt, because of my hair colour and blue eyes. I remembered how alright I was with myself and the whole world. I remembered how I didn't know it would all crash down as soon as I walked into the class.
"Ms. Saltzman, you are late," the history teacher stated.
"It's nice to see you again too, Mr. Tanner," I grinned at him, to which he only gave me a death glare. "Sit down," he ordered.
I remembered when my eyes scanned the room for my usual place as my feet automatically led me through the familiar path. I remembered how I had narrowed my eyes at him, blocking his view from wherever he was looking as I placed my hands on my hips. Later I would find out he was looking at Elena's direction, but for now...
"That's my seat," I stated. He had blinked up at me, seemingly innocent, but I would not get distracted by those - I admit - amazing moss green eyes.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, confused.
I raised my eyebrow. "That's...my...seat...," Maybe he was autistic.
"Oh come on Haz," Tyler Lockwood said impatiently, trying to look past me from his place right behind the rude guy, who was sitting on my place. "Just sit down, you are blocking my view." Briefly following his line of sight I noticed some blond chick giggling at the black haired guy. And right behind that girl was- "Wow I didn't know you were into Mr. Tanner."
He glared at me as I smirked and focused my attention on my seat thief. "As I was saying..."
"Haz," Caroline piped up quickly with a sweet smile. "Stefan is new here, cut him some slack." Looking at my friend confused I noticed the dreamy look she sent him.
"Oh a newbie," I taunted lightly, deciding to be easy on him since my friend had a crush on him. "Well then I will make an exception...but only this once!" And with that I sat down on the unoccupied seat next to his, ignoring the rolling eyes of my best black haired friend, who quickly focused his attention back on the chick.
"Thank you," he said and now that I didn't feel that threatened about my territory anymore I actually heard the velvet tone in his voice.
"Don't get used to it...I'm Hazel"
"Stefan"
Stefan, Deep in thought as I was I didn't realize I was staring at him the whole time until his eyes finally focused on me. Those beautiful green eyes that sadly only held unrequited love for a girl, who was falling for his brother due to a foolish sire bond. In some way we were in a similar situation. He was in love - so desperately in love - with a girl he couldn't fully have and I was in love with a boy - a man - I could never have at all. No matter what we did together, how much we talked and forgot the time, how many times I told him I was there, available, waiting for him and only him...he never took the hint, never took the chance.
I quickly looked away from those beautiful eyes and instead focused on the speaking Original.
"Class is in session. You've all been compelled; you know the rules. Answer my questions honestly, no disobedience, no one leaves," she was enjoying this way too much.
"At times like this I always wonder why I ever thought of being friends with you," I noted, hating the fact I couldn't move due to her compelling me to my seat, stripping me off my freedom. She knew how much I hated loosing my freedom, I could see it within her smirking eyes as she crossed her arms. "You know you love me," she turned away,
"April, my sweet, take notes. This is how you get answers in this town," she quickly went back to business, ordering the dark haired girl sitting between Stefan and Caroline around like the queen she was not born to be. "Let's start with a little quiz. In the year 1114, my brother learned, thanks to yours truly, about a brotherhood of vampire hunters with tattoos that grew with each kill. These tattoos revealed what, Elena?"
"A map."
"Which led to...Caroline?"
"A cure for vampirism." There was obviously no use of disobeying. But at least I knew what this all was about now.
"Perfect, so we're all caught up. Stefan Salvatore, the last time we saw each other, you had a vampire hunter, but in order to decode the map, you needed the location of the hunter's sword, which you got out of me using some very...dirty...tricks...," That stung. I frowned at her words, looking at Stefan in disbelief. Everyone but me...
"Assuming you found the sword, you also found the cure, and yet, three of you all are still vampires, which means something went wrong." Sending April away, Rebekah focused back on us as Stefan spoke up for the very first time. And I wish he didn't for even if his words were spoken cold and detached from any emotion, I could not prevent the shiver running up and down my spine as I heard his raucous voice, "You're wasting your time. We don't know anything."
"So what?" Rebekah asked further. "You just gave up? I thought you would do anything to save Elena? Even if it meant taking the cure yourself, so you could grow old and die with her?" I looked down at the table in front of me, trying to control the jealousy and hurt building up yet again for the thousandth time. All in vain, every single time.
I almost scoffed as Elena looked at him shocked. She doesn't even know.
"Why do you look so surprised?" Rebekah noticed, but none of us answered. "I'm missing something! What is it?"
"...they broke up!" Caroline finally burst out. That was it. The truth. And even though Rebekah smiled delightfully we both knew the youngest Salvatore still loved her.
"Broke up? Wait! I'm confused," Rebekah said, sitting down on April's seat. "I thought Elena was your epic love, Stefan? What happened?"
"...she slept with Damon." My head snapped up simultaneously to my jaw dropping. Now that I had no idea of. Well, I did know Elena and Damon had feelings for another, but they always used to keep those feelings in check for the sake of their brother/lover. And even if Elena had broken up with Stefan, she would never do that to him. I knew her to be not that cruel, even if I did despise her more than I was fond of her. Yet, here the truth came out of Stefan from all people. And once again, my heart went out to him. I even dared to think Rebekah looked sympathetic, but she quickly masked it with a smirk.
"So, vampire Elena is a trollop who likes bad boys, which explains why Stefan reeks of alcohol," she stood up to walk towards said brunette bending down to look at her face, which she was trying to hide. "But what it doesn't explain is why sweet, loving, innocent Elena could be so heartless towards Stefan." As she didn't answer, the Original looked back to Stefan. "How could she hurt you like that? Answer please."
"For a thousand year old Original, you sure are a sucker for romantic dramas," I commented, wondering if that would help ease the tension a bit, even the tension within me. But I was simply ignored as Stefan was still forced to answer.
"She didn't know it at the time, but she was sired to Damon," he said, looking at Elena. I breathed out some air slowly, fuming silently. Of course, he would find an excuse for her actions. He would find anything to prove her innocence, if only for himself. Why can't you see the truth? She doesn't love you. But I do. I DO love you! I longed to scream out, longed to reveal what has been stuck inside me for a much too long time.
"A sire bond. That's fascinating. And what do you think about that, Elena?"
"I think you are bored," Elena defiantly. "And sad. And in a desperate need of a hobby."
Rebekah simply compelled her, unperturbed. "You are hiding something. What is it?"
"...I didn't sleep with Damon because of the sire bond. I slept with Damon because I'm in love with him." A deafening silence followed after the bomb was dropped. I could almost see his heart breaking in his chest, breaking into million pieces. He snapped his eyes to her widened ones, visibly hurt as he breathed through his nose slowly - a look no one ever wanted to see on his face. Elena looked down and I couldn't help the sick satisfaction upon seeing the guilt on her face.
"OK! What does any of this have to do with the stupid cure?" Caroline broke the silence in a desperate attempt to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.
"You are right...," Rebekah drawled, still looking between the two former love birds. "We got off the point. Stefan, how do I find the cure? Unless, you'd rather talk about Damon and Elena all day?"
As she went off to find the professor Stefan talked about, an awkward silence settled in so bad I wished she would come back and annoy us with questions. I used to like her when I first met her even though she always seemed to be an Original waiting for her knight in shining amor, a perfect gentleman she could spend her live with.
Flashback
I had watched her prepare for the homecoming ball. She was talking about some nonsense she herself wouldn't remember an hour later as she tried different earrings that would match her blood red dress.
"Oh my, this is so exciting!" she mumbled anxiously, not being to stand still for a second. "My first homecoming. Which earring suits better?" Holding up a pair in each of her hands, she turned to me sitting comfortably on an armchair. "The right one," I answered.
"Yes I thought that would match, too! We really have the same taste. We s-"
"Rebekah," I interrupted. "You don't have to hide it from me. I know you are anxious because of Klaus." Or rather, what was about to happen to him. As heartless and at the same time devilishly charming as he was, he was still her brother and I didn't know if I could do the same if I were in her position. "It must be hard for you," I commented softly, watching her poker face crack slightly. "I cannot actually relate to how you probably feel, but I can imagine it to be really, really hard for you."
For a second I thought, she would cry there. The tears were already swelling up in her eyes and I was pondering whether to hug her or not when her words cut me off, "He killed my mother. He killed her and made me run away with him for hundred years...I don't care..."
"Rebekah-"
"I don't care!" she shouted and I flinched back, once again being aware of how much different we were. How original she was and how simply human I was. I sure hated to feel this weak. And we both knew she was lying.
"Keep trying to fool yourself," I tried to joke lightly and the tension left her shoulders as she chuckled dryly.
"I know. It's just...I- Just be careful."
"Right...," the silence unbearable and I could see she was trying to regain the control of her emotions again. Deciding I should give her a moment, I spoke up. "Hey, you know what? Maybe I can try and get your mother's necklace from Elena...if she has it, that's it." A small, beautiful smile blossomed on her face and she nodded slightly. "You get finished getting ready. If you keep going at this rate, the ball will be over before you arrive," I commented as I walked out of the room, smiling at her laugh.
Flashback end
I would later find out that Elena stabbed her to avoid any fails. Yet - at the end - it turned out that Stefan was the weak point of the plan as he saved Klaus from the brink of death. I looked up at the hurtful stare he was giving the table. At that moment all I wanted to do was go around the table and squeeze him tight, hoping to squeeze the pain out of him, wondering if he was as broken as me everytime I had to endure their loving couple moments.
He looked up at me and I felt my heart stop. Sometimes I had the feeling he could read our every thoughts and was just hiding that fact from us. I once questioned him about it but all he responded was "I'm not Edward." Still, I feared he could at least read everything off my face as I adverted my eyes from his mesmerizing ones, my turn to stare at the table.
How many times have I hinted that I liked him - how many times did I bite my tongue to prevent myself from blurting out my feelings for him, my yearning for him. No matter how much I saw every little meeting we had alone as a date, he would always crush my hope - crush my ego - to the point that I stopped inquiring those meetings.
"Still glued to your seats?" Rebekah's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Ahh, it's thick with tension in here. Let's spice things up a bit. Elena, truth or dare?"
"We're done playing your stupid games, Rebekah," Stefan demanded half-heartedly, knowing it was him losing the moment he spoke up.
"Truth or dare, Elena. You're compelled, answer."
"...Dare?"
Rebekah leaned forward with a smug smile, placing her hands on the table. "I dare you to tell Stefan the truth about Damon."
I grimaced and Caroline let her arms drop noisily. "Seriously?!"
"...Being with Damon makes me happy."
"Makes you happy? Clowns make you happy, Elena. Dig a little deeper-"
"Oh shut up already Rebekah!" I burst out, glaring right back at her as her eyes flashed darkly. "Don't be so impatient. I will get to you in a second," she smirked as if she could sense my blood run cold.
"Go on Elena."
"When I'm with him... it feels unpredictable, like... like I'm free," Elena continued, this time looking more like she actually wanted to say this and not being compelled to.
"And how do you feel when you are with Stefan?"
"Stop," Caroline attempted, desperately. I pressed my lips together, remaining quiet.
"She can't, she's compelled."
"Lately, I feel like I'm a project, like I'm a problem that needs to be fixed. I think I make him sad, and I can't be with someone like that, because when he looks at me, all he sees is a broken toy." Stefan stared at her, letting all his emotions play freely on his face like he hadn't done for a good while. You could clearly see hurt, but also understanding and - still - adoration as he looked...at the love of his life. I swallowed hard.
Rebekah smiled, enjoying herself in a twisted way. "Do you still love Stefan?"
"Yes." I hated the hope flashing across his face.
"...Are you still in love with Stefan?"
"...no," Elena forced out on the verge of tears as she couldn't look into his eyes. Well I could and I could also see the life slowly vanishing from his beautiful, beautiful eyes.
Suddenly the door banged open, successfully crushing the thick tension in this room. I straightened up as I saw my best friend rush in. "Tyler!" He focused on Caroline and me, relief causing his facial features to relax. Not for long though.
"Ah, good, you're here. It was just getting depressing," Rebekah commented, pushing away from the table as she stepped closer to him.
"What the hell is going on?" Tyler requested, nervously looking between the Original and us all.
Rebekah smiled at him before twirling back around. "Listen to the rules carefully. Stay in the building, no vamp-running in the hallways."
"Vamp-running from what?"
Rebekah looked into Tyler's eyes. "Turn!" I felt my heart drop.
"What!" Elena exclaimed.
"You can't, he'll loose control!" Caroline shouted.
"That's the whole point. I've exhausted all your knowledge. Now I have the professor to help me find the cure, you're just competition. Whoever finds it first, gets to decide what to do with it. Use it, share it, destroy it, save it. I want that to be me," the blond Original smiled, sickeningly sweet.
I could already see Tyler trying to control his breathing. "If I turn...I'll kill them."
"Oh well, there is always a way they find a protector, isn't it?" Rebekah mused as she suddenly flashed in front of me, forcing me into a standing position. "You will not run. You will fight against him."
"What! You can't do that!" I vaguely heard Stefan yell out as her words sunk in.
Rebekah smirked as I felt the blood run out of my face. "This is for backstabbing me before the Homecoming ball, bitch." My eyes widened. She thought I stabbed her with the dagger.
Letting go of my arm she stepped back, clearly satisfied. "Have fun!" With that she was gone and with her the only source that could save my life tonight. I turned to Stefan, but the lost hope on his face told me everything I knew. He couldn't compel me out of Rebekah's demand.
Sucking in a breath shakily, I slowly looked at my best friend.
And I saw his eyes turn gold.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP, MY FIRST ONE-SHOT! Hope you enjoyed it and if you did, tell me in some way of communication pleaaaaseee. :D