SYNOPSIS:
It's been six years since Elena Gilbert's parents passed away, and four years since she's stepped foot in her hometown of Mystic Falls.
But now, suspicion was calling her back.
21-year-old recent college grad Elena returns to her hometown of Mystic Falls, VA in search for the answers surrounding her parents' deaths. Everyone is stunned that Elena has returned to town after swearing she'd never do so. Desperate for answers, Elena assures herself that nothing will get in her way. But when she meets her twin sister Katherine's Fiancé Damon Salvatore, things take an unexpected turn. Elena finds herself instantly drawn to him despite the fact that she knows it's wrong. Yet, while their chemistry is undeniable, the ever-moral Elena still attempts to resist the pull between her and Damon for her sake-and her sister's. But how long will she be able to resist him?
DISCLAIMER~ I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORYLINE. THE CHARACTERS BELONG TO L.J. SMITH & THE CW.
"Where the is desire, there is gonna be flame; and where the is a flame, someone's bound to get burned." ~ P!nk
~*One*~
The Return
April 2006- Mystic Falls, VA
Elena sat across from her three best friends in their family's guest house out back as Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" boomed from Kat's iPod the background. They were all having a sleepover. There was Caroline Forbes, a perky and excited blonde with one heck of a personality. The second girl was a petite raven-haired girl, Bonnie Bennett. She was the smart and logical one who Elena saw going Ivy League one day. And finally, there was Elena's twin sister, Katherine.
Elena loved Katherine dearly, however, to be honest, Katherine was not the friendliest person in the world. Katherine in fact, was just about the opposite of Elena. Kat had wanted to be the queen in the kingdom that was their school, their social circle, their life. Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline were honestly, only popular because of Kat. She had helped them rise their stars, become icons at school. However, Elena knew that deep down, Kat was a good person. It was in their blood, whether Kat deny that birthright or not, was not up to her.
"Do you guys want to call April?" Kat smirked, her dark eyes looking at the others.
April Young was the pastor's daughter, the good religious girl who so desperately hoped and dreamed to be apart of Katherine's circle. Elena felt guilty whenever Katherine would prank call her, or trick April into thinking that she was actually their friend. April was the mouse to Kat's vicious feline.
"Oh, my god!" Caroline squealed as she grabbed a handful of popcorn and gaped at the flatscreen in the guest house. "Turn it up, Elena, quick!"
Elena sighed as she leaned forward and reached for the remote, her pink highlights peeking up at her as her medium length chestnut hair fell down her shoulders. She turned the volume up and looked up through her thick glasses at the screen. A story was on about some pop singer that Caroline and Kat were crazy obsessed with.
"Oh, my god, there he is!" Kat and Caroline squealed in harmony as they blushed at the brunette fifteen year old on the television set.
"God, he's so cute!" Kat fanned herself.
Elena silently rolled her eyes. She just didn't understand all the hype about these boy bands and pop singers. She never saw much of anything in many guys, and Kat often teased Elena about missing the 'boy-crazy' gene. However, Elena knew that that was wrong. At nearly fifteen years old, she had certainly been into boys once or twice in her life.
She just didn't tell Kat or Caroline.
She only trusted Bonnie to keep her secret crushes locked away in their friendship vault.
"Ugh," Bonnie groaned as she fell back against her sleeping bag, which had been some flower design that they had all went to pick out together once.
"It's just a guy," she said, and Elena saw the icy glare that Kat gave toward Bonnie.
"Just a guy?" Kat scoffed. "Buzz off, Bon," she waved off as she and Caroline continued to fawn over the television.
"Can we do something else?" Bonnie asked Elena quietly, and Elena sighed as she nodded.
"Once their asleep, we can go up to the treehouse," Elena promised softly as Kat and Caroline squealed.
Bonnie nodded, and Elena sighed as she stuffed her face with popcorn.
"Elena, don't eat all of the popcorn." Kat hissed. "Eat the other stuff that Jenna brought out," Kat scolded, and Elena sighed as she set the popcorn in her hand back into the bowl.
Four high-pitched screams pierced the air as Elena and the girls turned to the opening door. A bright light pierced their eyes, and Elena squeezed hers shut.
"Damn it, Jer, beat it," Katherine hissed, throwing a pillow at their little brother. Elena opened her eyes to see Jeremy shielding himself.
"Alright, alright," He held his hands up. "Chill," Kat," Jeremy said as he walked away.
"God, he's such a loser," Kat scoffed.
"Kat-" Elena began.
"Damn it, Elena don't start with me," Kat hissed. Deciding to take the high road, Elena sighed as she stood up silently. Bonnie followed quickly, and Elena walked out of the guest house.
"I wish she'd stop being such a-" Elena scowled once they were good distance away from the guest house. She had decided to hold her tongue. She knew shouldn't swear, let alone call her sister that word.
"A 'B'?" Bonnie gasped, and Elena giggled.
"Yes," Elena nodded.
Bonnie sighed as she lay down on the grass. It was a beautiful summer night, and Elena slowly lay back as well.
Suddenly, a cry came from the inside of the house, and Elena jumped up.
"What is it?" She asked when she and Bonnie had reached the door.
"God, you two are such scaredy-cats," Kat scoffed. "Can't take a joke?"
Elena blinked.
"You know what?" she scoffed. "I think Bonnie and I are going to continue our sleepover inside.
"Katherine and Caroline didn't say a word as Elena and Bonnie headed into the house.
Elena didn't expect them to.
Suddenly, Elena looked up to see Jenna running toward them, looking frantic.
"Jenna?" Elena asked, frowning.
"Elena, get Kat," Jenna said breathlessly when she caught up to them in the middle of the yard. "Bonnie, why don't you and Caroline head home?"
Bonnie nodded as she rubbed Elena's arm comfortingly. Elena watched in confusion as Bonnie walked back toward the guest house.
"Wait, what?" Elena frowned, turning back to Jenna. "Why, what's happening?"
"Elena, get your sister, now. Jeremy's inside. We need to talk." Jenna said as she ran back to the house.
Elena knew that something was very badly wrong. Her stomach was now a giant black hole, sucking all of her unease and calmness.
Elena swallowed as she ran back to the beach house to get Kat.
It's nearing eleven when I press the stop button on my treadmill. It slows down immediately, and my sprints evolve into strolls as I hop off of the belt. As the last few seconds of "We Come Running" by Youngblood Hawke drowns out, I pull my ear buds out as I press the pause button on my phone. Wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead, I sigh. I glance down at the stop watch in my hands, and when I see the time 15:00 flashing, I sigh in relief. That beats yesterday's record by five minutes.
I walk over and grab the water bottle that's resting against the mantle on the fire place. As I unscrew the lid, a popping noise cracks, and I gulp the whole thing down.
It's been nearly two days since I've arrived in town from Charlottesville. I've been studying English Literature there at Whitmore. Growing up, I've always wanted to be a writer. My mother had pointed me in the direction, and I instantly fell in love with it.
I bend down and grab my thick black glasses and slide them on. I've always had glasses since elementary school, though when I entered High school, I had gotten contacts. However, I accidentally left them at school. So, for now, I have to wear my glasses until my contacts come into the store.
"Elena," Grayson, my uncle's voice floats down into the basement. I shake my head as I jog over to the railing of the staircase.
"Yeah?" I holler back upward.
"I need to talk to you," he replies back.
Sighing, I make my way upstairs. The doorknob rattles as I turn it, and suddenly, my eyes sting as the bright kitchen lights pierce my eyes. It's dim in the basement, so I was well-adjusted to the light down there.
"That was quick," he smiles and I pout as I slap my bare feet against the tiled floor, making my way over to the chair near the island. I hop up on it, my eyes half-open. Grayson sets a plate of lunch in front of me, and I instantly light up as bright as the room is.
"So, how'd you time?" he sighs as he leans against the island.
"Alright," I sigh, sensing something as I pop open the yogurt in front of me. "Thanks. What's up?"
Grayson clears his throat. "Listen, Ellie," he says, his nickname for me growing up and I smile at the endearment. "Do you remember Pastor Young?"
I nod. "Why?"
"He passed away last night from cancer," he sighs.
"Oh, my god," I say, my hand covering my mouth. "That's awful,"
"Anyway, the funeral's tomorrow, and I'd like it if you went with Jer and I," he says. "I was a good friend of Pastor Young."
"Alright," I sigh.
"There is one more thing," he says warily, and I frown as I look at him.
"What?"
"Your sister will probably be there, and Isobel." he says softly, and I swallow. "Your aunt was a friend of Pastor Young."
My sister, who I have not made contact with for six years, will be at this memorial service tomorrow in the town that I've been away from for six years.
"Look, I know that you're not exactly as close as you once were with her, but-" Grayson begins.
"I'll go," I nod.
"Really?" His eyebrows raise.
"Really," I repeat. "I need to see her,"
"Alright," he nods.
"I'm going to go upstairs," I say. "I'll see you around."
Once I'm in my room, I shut my door quietly and lock it. Grayson can't know what I'm doing. I walk over to my bed, reaching beneath it for my MacBook.
I open my computer, and once I turn it on, I type in my password and open my Email. I immediately click on the one that I've read many times.
From: Anonymous
To: Me
Sub: No subject
Date: 3/14/10
YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THE DEATH OF YOUR PARENTS.
YOU DON'T.
A FRIEND
I take a deep breath as I hover the arrow over the attachment file, a video that I've seen too many times. Once I click it, I wait for it to load as I stare at the screen. Suddenly, the media player pops up.
The footage is from one of our family trips up to the lake house. Mom and Dad come onto the screen laughing by the dock, wrapped in each other lovingly.
I shut my laptop. I had received this email message in my sophomore year of college, and ever since then, I'd tried and tried to understand what it meant, what the video meant. However, the answer was right on my screen.
"You may think you know the real story behind the death of your parents. You don't."
It's been six years since they'd suddenly passed away in a horrible plane crash.
I never thought that I'd have to come back to this town.
But I need to know the truth about what happened to them.
And that's what I'm here for.
That's why I've moved back to the town I can't stand to be in.
To find out what had really happened to them.
And I won't rest until I do.
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~*Songs that were mentioned or that inspired this chapter*~
Theme Song: Bad Things ~ Meiko
The Sweet Escape~ Gwen Stefani
We Come Running~ Youngblood Hawke
Where The Lonely Ones Roam~ Digital Daggers