Elena was sitting outside at the grill with Bonnie, completely lost in her own thoughts closing everything else out. "Elena" Bonnie said louder this time, getting more and more frustrated with her friend. Elena gazing distantly into the sky, being far away on a green grass field filled with flowers, stunningly deep red roses to be exact. Watching something getting closer and closer in the direction of her, the shape of a figure with the beautiful sunset in the background but it was too far away for her to see what it was. She got up from the meadow, feeling the grass tickling her bare feet as she started walking towards the mysterious figure. "Rick" she said surprisingly, narrowing her eyes to see if it really was him. Alaric was just standing a few meters away from her now, a white light shined so brightly around that ridiculously handsome man as he stretched out his strong firm hand for her to take. When Elena reached out her hand for him to hold, she felt a rapid pain in her arm, and suddenly found herself back to reality, sitting outside mystic grill, feeling like the entire crowd of people sitting there sipping on their coffees was eyeing her.
"Ouch, that hurts". Elena looked furiously at Bonnie while softly stroking the red mark on her upper arm. Pinching her arm was the only way to get Elena back from her day dreams. After Elena and Alaric had taken a step forward with their relationship, every minute she was away from him he always twirled around in her mind.
"Welcome back", Bonnie smiled teasingly at her while playing with the car keys lying on the table, "with him again?" she asked her curiously.
"I never should have told you," Elena rolled her eyes as she got up from her chair, and threw some money on the table for the coffee. Bonnie took a firm grip around Elena's arm, trying to hold her back, "seriously I was only joking, I'm sorry". But Elena was stubborn, and jerked her arm away, not even as much as looking at Bonnie she turned around and started walking towards her mini cooper parked on the other side of the road.
As she turned in to the driveway at the Gilbert house, Alaric was standing outside with the lawn mower. He was extremely good looking today, with his tight white t-shirt outlining his muscles, and the sweat dripping from his forehead. Just the site of him made her all giddy inside.
"Hey there good looking." He said as she walked passed him, while giving her that look that made her feel like she was fourteen again. She didn't know what It was. But every time he laid his eyes on her, her knees turned to jelly. The closest thing to describe the feeling was like a kid waking up Christmas morning, the joy of finally getting to open up the presents they had been waiting all year to get. That's how she felt every time those beautiful eyes gazed into hers.
Quickly Elena scanned the yard to see If Jeremy was anywhere in sight. He still didn't know anything about the romance that had been blooming right in front of him. At least that's what they thought.
He probably took the loss of Jenna worse then anyone in the family. Mourning his aunt had led him to start smoking marijuana again. And even though he didn't admit it, Elena could smell the strong scent of the drug from his clothes. And I guess that's what she was afraid of. That her brother would go back to that again. Shutting everyone out, and go down the destructive path he was heading towards. But as Jer was nowhere in sight. She blew Ric a kiss before heading inside the house.
The first thing that met as she stepped inside was the sound of someone singing. "Jeremy? "she asked loudly, but no one answered. Following Jeremy's voice, she entered the kitchen. The look of her brother standing in front of the stove took her by surprise. Hearing him singing, with a big smile on his face was a rare sighting. At least now a days. Elena couldn't even remember the last time she had seen him happy. Rubbing her eyes a few times in disbelief. "Whats going on?" She asked him softly. He threw her a kitchen towel. "Can you take the out the food from the microwave sis?. Bewildered Elena walked over, grabbing the plate from the microwave. Out came three small cakes. As the scent swirled inside her nostrils she knew exactly what it was. As kids their mum used to make these extremely tasty cakes in a cup. It didn't quite look the same. But that smell she will never forget. Even though it had been years, she still remembered.
"Jer? whats going on?" her thoughts spinning in a million directions trying to figure out what was going on. He looked different somehow. What was the word she was looking for, she thought to herself as she glanced over at him. Happy! That's it. His entire face lit up. Almost glowing somehow. Ignoring the question again, he smirked. "Hope you're hungry sis." As he left the room to get Alaric. She took a glance over at the stove. This was probably the first time Elena had ever seen her brother cook anything other then noodles. To be honest she didn't think he could even make anything else.
As Elena and Alaric sat down. His hand carefully touching hers under the table. The goosebumps almost instantaneously spread through her body. It was moments like this that kept her going. Making the hiding well worth it. She never thought she would ever meet someone else like Stefan. Who would come into her life and completely sweep her off her feet. Even though what Elena felt for Stefan was real. This felt different somehow. It felt completely natural. Everything with Ric felt so easy. Like this was how it was suppose to be all along.
Jeremy was standing in front of the table dining table. staring at both of them back and forth. But that happy, glow like smile Elena saw just a few minutes ago had changed. She could see her brother was nervous about something. That twitching from his left eye was a total give away. That's how she always knew when something was making him nervous.
But before any of them got the chance to say anything. Jeremy said what they had been wanting to say for a long time. But being the straight forward guy they knew. He said it short and simple. "You dont have to hide anymore". Elena stared wonderingly at him, at his face. For any traces of either happiness or if this was upsetting him. As Jeremy let out the biggest grin she had seen in a long time. It felt like a big weight suddenly raised from her shoulders.