AN: So I wanted to write this story that was the essence of Elijah, you know, smoking hot but chaste and smooth and did someone just turn on the furnace? Where was I? Yes, I want this story to be true to its characters but the snag is I'm used to doing it quick and dirty. I have tons of material for the tortured, Bridges of Madison County part of this story but trying to finesse the beginning is giving me writer's blue balls.
After eating breakfast by herself and cleaning up by herself and packing her things away by herself Elena was feeling pretty lonely. So when she spotted Trevor coming she went running out to meet him. "Good morning Miss Elena," Trevor bowed.
"Good morning neighbour," Elena curtsied, "What troubles you?" she asked when she saw his sad expression.
"Nothing," Trevor tried to wave his guilt away.
"Would you like to take a walk with me?" Elena wanted to cheer her new friend up. She felt she would cry if he kept looking like that.
"I actually came here to invite you to a party," he smiled.
"A party is just what I need," Elena answered right off.
"Good," Trevor tried to sound enthusiastic through his disappointment, "It's tomorrow."
"But that's barely notice at all," her hand flew to her heart, "And I have no one to help me prepare. I would love nothing more than to attend a gala but I see no way to do it."
"I could help," Trevor offered with an almost genuine smile.
"Thank you Trevor but you are a man and what little you may know about practices of beauty I dare not trust enough to get me through an evening in company," she laughed.
"You underestimate me Miss Elena," he chuckled, lifting the basket that remained unnoticed till now. Trevor lifted the cloth that covered it. "I came prepared."
"I still don't see what possesses you to think I will agree to this all," Elena pulled a small vile out of the basket and opened it, "That smells divine," she inhaled deeply.
"Perhaps you trust me a little more now?" the not so young man smiled.
"Not a chance," Elena snatched the basket and ran for the door of the small cottage. Trevor chased her, stopping at the threshold. As soon as Elena could no longer hear his feet pounding behind her she stopped and turned. "Would you like to come in?"
"I would love to," he said honestly, not knowing if he could indeed enter. Rental lodgings were not as cut and dry as private dwellings. Hit foot passed the wood and he smiled.
"What is all this?" she placed the basket on a bench.
"A few things that can't be procured at short notice," Trevor pulled out a bottle of perfume and held it up for Elena to see. She studied the pretty purple bottle. It looked as though it were crafted from diamonds. Trevor squeezed the small pump, dispersing a fine mist.
"That's incredible," Elena closed her eyes as she inhaled.
"The oil is for your hair," Trevor took the other container out of her hand and shook it a little, "I have perfumed soap as well."
"Trying to turn me into a bouquet Trevor?" Elena laughed. Her friend seemed less in his own head.
"I like your humour Miss Elena," the young man said sincerely. It was almost childlike. Having interacted with so many vampires Trevor had grown accustomed to the dry, sometimes dark humour that came with centuries of life. The innocence of Elena was refreshing.
"Please stop calling me that," she touched his hand, "We're friends, aren't we?" she looked at him with these big, hopeful eyes.
"Yes Elena, we are," he matched the brightness of her smile, "Would you like me to braid your hair?"
"Make fun, why don't you?" she slapped his shoulder.
"Here," he pulled a black cloth tied with a piece of string out of the basket and opened it. Inside was a necklace and matching earrings.
"I couldn't possibly," tears sprang to Elena's eyes. Trevor took a breath and moved closer to the brown eyed girl.
"There is a nobleman who would like to meet you," he told her. Elena just sat there gaping like a fish, unable to voice all the questions she wanted to ask. "I am to help with the preparations," he stood, "I will pick you up tomorrow evening," he bowed and ducked out. Elena did not move for over an hour, worrying the inn keeper to no end. When she finally got up she went to her room. There she sat, thinking about her father's rules and all the precautions he'd take in this situation. There was no way Grayson Gilbert would have allowed her to go unaccompanied save for Trevor. Her mother would have helped her look the part. Miranda mourned when her daughter was with child. Elena had not been out in society long enough to have experienced many things. There was so much they would never get to do together. Yet again Elena found herself crying. She didn't eat her midday meal and stayed in her room till she was to sup.
Eating alone again made Elena miss home even more. This party would be a good thing. The sooner she made friends here the sooner she could feel like this was her life rather than her punishment. She washed her hair and rubbed some of the oil Trevor had given her through it then braided it. By the time she was done it was late enough for her to go to bed. The entire next day Elena spent scrubbing and trimming and rubbing wonderful smelling things all over herself. The woman who kept the house helped her into her corset, an experience she never enjoyed. The last touch was undoing her braids and separating her hair just enough to give her hair the bouncing curls her brother was never able to keep his hands (or the dirt on them) out of. She put on the jewellery Trevor had provided and even found the studded hair pin he put at the bottom of the basket and used it. Now was not the time to fret about her possible future with some nobleman or the implications thereof. He may not even like her. She just wanted to enjoy herself.
When Trevor arrived at sunset to pick her up his breath was taken away. He wouldn't be the last to have that experience that night.