Chapter Two: Maple Street

"So what is this about exactly?" Jenna asked Dr. Fenton as she put a warm cup of herbal tea in front of me, smiling as she did so.

"Ms. Miller has seemed to have a slight case of amnesia, what doctors have diagnosed as a juvenile case of Alzheimer's. What my theory is, that she had some kind of traumatic experience that has been blocking most of her memory," Dr. Fenton explained in an orderly manner like she was talking about the medical marvel of finding an Ebola strand on the sidewalk.

My mom went to explore the house. I kept my eye on her as she looked at pictures on a coffee table. "Long story short, she can't remember anything after she left here, but she does know that time has passed. She doesn't remember me," I admitted softly.

My mom popped back into the room holding a picture of her and Jenna in high school. Two men were in the background making faces behind their backs. "Remember this one Jenna?" my mom asked.

"That was when you were very taken with Zach Salvatore," Jenna said pointing.

"And don't think I forgot about your Logan Fell days," my mother teased back.

Well it really wouldn't be surprising if she had. Wow, since when was I this snarky? It must be this small town, it killing me. It's suppressing the horrible thing that was my childhood.

"Mhmm," Dr. Fenton said behind me. I shot a glare at her dissecting every sentence that came out of mom's mouth.

"She isn't a lab experiment, Doc," I hissed at her. Making my point known, I put down my tea and walked over to my mother.

"Was there anything else that you wanted to do today, Maria?" I ask.

"Not really. I'm very tired, do you think that we could go home?" she asked.

"Sure. After all, it's only a hundred feet away, Mom-" I stopped when I realized my mistake. Luckily she didn't catch it and chuckled softly walking out of the door. I looked over to Dr. Fenton who was about to follow her out. "Doc, I'm going to stay back for a while if that's okay with Jenna?"

Jenna nodded, smiling at me again. Both of us stayed quiet in the kitchen sipping on the lukewarm tea until we heard the front door close shut. How awkward, this woman was best friends with my mother and I barely know her. In all fairness I barely knew my mother and she sure as hell didn't know me.

"Hey, I know that this might sound weird coming from some kid that you barely know, but..."

"I was there when you were born. I think I know you plenty," she smiled warmly at me. I was tempted to bark out a snarky comment because of a reflex that I had when people thought that they knew me, but Jenna's smile was too nice to be mean to. I set down the ceramic mug on the table and looked up to her.

Dead serious, now. This was about mom... about Maria. "Could you tell me about her?" my voice was barely audible at a whisper. "Maria, I mean."

"She is happy and bright. Just the fact that she has so much lost time with you breaks my heart because the second you popped out of her she instantly loved you, of course she was only your age, but I've never seen the woman more sure."

I gnawed on the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. Shutting my eyes, I imagined anything other than what Jenna was saying. Stupid traumatic experience. I need my mom!

"Anything else?" I coughed out trying to hide the fact that my voice got thicker.

"She went to school at Mystic Falls and was a cheerleader with my sister. They were best friends before we even met," Jenna admitted.

I nodded slowly. Mentally list that, this whole family is linked with Maria. "Could I go and talk to her? If you write down an address..."

The look on Jenna's face made me stop. She was biting her lip and shook her head while her eyes drifted down to the countertop. "Those two kids you saw earlier, they're my niece and nephew. They recently lost their parents in a car accident this past summer."

I covered my mouth with my hand. Those poor kids. Oddly enough, it brought up some very painful memories with the death of my own father. "I lost my dad, too. He jumped off of a building when I was three," I said simply. I knew everything that I needed to know about my father and it was my mother who I was really interested in.

Jenna nodded still looking down at the table. "I'm sorry for you loss," I said as I reached over and squeezed her hand. She squeezed back smiling half-heartedly.

"You are a very sweet girl, Evelyn. If there is anything that you need I'm always here," Jenna said.

"Thank you. I should get back now. Doc's just about to leave and I don't want Maria at home alone," I said quietly getting up from my seat. "Thank you, for everything," I said graciously walking towards the front door. She followed me there.

Jenna opened the door. The girl from before, shoot what was her name, she was standing there quietly. It scared the living daylights out of me and apparently the same happened to her. "Oh Elena, this is Evelyn. She was with-" Jenna began.

"The two other women here earlier," she gave a small smile to Jenna and then looked to me holding out her hand, "I'm Elena Gilbert."

I shook her hand, "I'm Evelyn Miller. Sorry to be a nuisance, but your aunt was telling me more about my mom. Speaking of which, I have to go so sorry."

Elena's hand dropped freeing me as I turned to Jenna. I smiled at her, "Thank you, really. It was nice meeting you..." I almost forgot about Elena, "... both of you."

Then without warning Jenna hugged me tightly. I felt hidden tears brimming my eyes. No crying, dammit! She let go of me and I awkwardly walked away back to the house. Once their door shut I turned and ran away, not caring who saw me sprint into the large house.

I forgot how nice an actual hug was. How much I missed it, and it was dearly missed. I was panting leaning on the front door shut nice and tight behind me. I heard Dr. Fenton and Maria shuffling around the house, but the rooms were so large that it was difficult to pinpoint exactly where the sound was coming from.

There were two stories to the house and it was all painted a dull beige color. To my left was the stairway, which led to where Dr. Fenton was with Maria. Instead of sparing the shrink any family drama, I wanted to explore a little. The house didn't look new or empty, in fact. This was all pictures of Maria and her parents... my grandparents.

Pictures of friends who probably didn't look as photogenic in real life decorated the mantle. As I took a sharp left to go into the kitchen I couldn't help but dig through the fridge. When Dr. Allen said that we would be set, she wasn't kidding. There was enough food to last us through months.

Bringing my nose away from the fridge, I took notice of the back door. There was some heavy lockage there, meaning that at least six different styles of locks were screwed into the door. I wanted to touch them. They gave off a herbal smell that made me curious as to why Maria would douse her door in some perfume.

A soft voice called out my name behind me, "Evelyn?" I saw Maria and she was doctor free, but the confused look in her eyes made me worry. "Sweetheart, I think that you should sit down cause we need to talk," she said slowly.

I cautiously approached her. "Look, I don't know how or why you look like me, but I think that I could be your long lost aunt or something. I want you to know that Dr. Fenton has assured me that you'll be taken care of. And you can live with me until I get my act together."

I frowned briefly, not letting her see it. I thought that her epiphany would miraculously happen and she would hug me. I really loved hugs, after what Jenna put me through. Without warning Maria ambushed me with a hug and kissed my forehead. "We'll get through this," she whispered.

We'll get through this...