Awesome reviews! So glad ya'll like it so far.
Now this story won't be as dark as others, right now I have a pretty defined line I plan on keeping it at, but there are dark themes.
So if this triggers you, or makes you uncomfortable, please don't read.
Other than that, I'm going to try to post pretty regularly.
Some chapters will jump through their age, but it should be easy to keep up with :)
Thanks again!
Jenna was glad that Alaric had taken the lead this time.
The children were being extra rambunctious, and while it was nice to see the life back in their eyes, she was running on little sleep, and less food.
Of course, she had a good reason.
She looked over at Elena.
The girl was listening patiently as Caroline rambled on about something, but what caught her attention was that Damon Salvatore was sitting next to Elena.
And he was looking at her curiously.
On an average day, this wouldn't have meant much, but it was Damon, and the boy hadn't shown interest in anything or anybody in the year he'd been at Second Chance.
She kept a trained eye on the two, as Alaric moved on to his next topic
Elena liked Alaric's "class" but she was glad when it was finally over and they were allowed to leave for free time.
She decided to go to dinner early, and hoped they were having baked chicken again. She had been surprised to find how much she liked it, and was even more happy when the lady at the counter gave her seconds.
She hurried to the dining hall, too hungry to wait for Caroline and Bonnie.
There were only a few people sitting at the tables, but from what she could tell, the meal of the evening was pizza.
She was okay with that, too.
It took less than ten minutes to get her tray and drink, and soon she was sitting down at the end of the back table, staring out the glass wall, at the other kids running around the village, enjoying free time, before it began darkening.
She ate as she watched them, wondering if she'd ever be able to play like that, without thinking of Jeremy.
A tray slamming down next to her broke her concentration.
She looked up, surprised to see the same dark haired boy from Alaric's session sitting down next to her.
She opened her mouth to ask him why he'd chosen to sit by her, when there were clearly so many other seats, but he spoke first, turning to face her.
"You're new here."
She blinked, confused by this statement. He said it, not as a question, but as a fact.
She nodded, "I'm Elena."
He seemed to observe her, the scar on his face tightening as his eyebrows furrowed, "I didn't ask you what your name was."
Her mouth opened, then closed again.
This boy was confusing.
"You didn't ask me anything," she noted.
He cocked his head, "You didn't ask about it."
Now her brows creased, "I didn't ask about what?"
"About my scar," he said, as though it were a simple explanation.
Elena wasn't sure what he was getting at as she eyed his torn skin.
"Was I supposed to?"
He looked at her blankly, before a light smile came across his tight lip, "You're the first new kid that hasn't."
She wasn't sure if this was a good thing, and she didn't want to seem rude, "I'm sorry?"
His eyes weren't so cold this time, "Why didn't you? Ask about it?"
She thought about his question, wondering why it wasn't obvious.
Looking at his scar, she pursed her lips, "I have scars too."
If she wasn't mistaken, he turned a little red, "Yeah, but yours aren't where everyone can see."
She felt a twinge of sadness, "Aren't they?"
He blinked at her, as if unsure how to respond.
She took another bite of her pizza, looking back to the window.
The blue eyed boy cleared his throat, "Damon."
She glanced at him, "What?"
"My name," he explained, "It's Damon."
Elena wasn't sure why Damon stayed, but she was glad.
He didn't press her for conversation, or try to engage her.
He just sat next to her, and for the strangest reason, she felt like talking.
So she did.
"How long have you been here?"
Damon answered without looking at her, "About a year."
She smiled a little, "So they don't make us leave?"
Damon looked at her now, "You say that like you want to stay."
She blushed, "Don't you?"
"No," he stated.
She placed her elbow on the table, pushing away her now empty tray, "Why not?"
"Does it matter?" He asked, clearly uncomfortable.
Elena bit her lip.
She knew what it was like to be bombarded with questions, and she didn't want to do the same to Damon.
"I'm sorry."
He sighed, "It's okay...I'd just rather not be here."
Elena looked at him, "Well I like it here. Miss. Sommers is nice, and so is Ric and the other counselors. And my roommate aren't mean, and the food is really good."
Damon didn't argue.
Elena tried to imagine why he wouldn't want to stay.
"Do you miss your family?"
Damon's eyes darkened again, and she was afraid she made him mad.
But all he said was, "Nothing to miss."
Elena looked back to the glass window, and noticed that the room was getting more full as the others came in for dinner.
"I miss my brother," she admitted quietly.
But Damon heard her, "Did he get sent to a different village?"
Elena shook her head, "No...he...h-he's..."
She couldn't make her lips form the words, as it quivered against the tears that roared each time she remembered that Jeremy was dead.
Flashes passed through her head, like a nightmare on replay.
It was late, and dark, she was sleeping.
But then she heard it.
A sound she was so intuned with, the smallest hint of it had her on alert.
Her uncle's drunken voice, arguing with her mother down stairs, something about money.
Elena clutched her teddy bear, praying they would just go to bed.
But then her mother screamed, "John, please! Not now, please wait until morning, he's asleep! John!"
Elena now understood why they were arguing this time.
Jeremy had been coloring, and the marker had leaked through the page, onto the table. He was too little to know it was permanent.
Mommy had scrubbed the table, trying to get it off, but nothing worked.
And now Jeremy was in trouble.
Elena glanced across the room, where Jeremy was asleep in his bed.
Uncle John sounded so mad...And now he was coming to their room.
With a deep breath, she got up, and ran over to Jeremy's bed.
He stirred some, as she climbed up next to him.
Her uncle's footsteps were louder now, he was up the stairs.
A moment later, the door burst open.
"Jeremy!" Uncle John's voice vibrated the room.
Elena felt Jeremy jolt behind her, immediately responding.
"Come here!" Their uncle demanded, "Don't make me drag you out of that bed!"
Jeremy was shaking now, and Elena reached back, forcing Jeremy's body behind her own.
"What do you think you're doing?!" John demanded, seeing her movement, "Get in your bed, Elena! This is between me and Jeremy!"
He stalked over, and grabbed for Jeremy's arm.
Elena forced her whole body back, pushing Jeremy against the wall, out of John's reach.
"What did I fucking tell you?!" He demanded, enraged, his hand wrapping around her arm, "Get. Your. Little. Ass-"
She kicked as he pulled on her, and her foot connected with his shin.
He grunted, before squeezing her arm tightly, and yanking.
She fell to the ground in a tumbling heap.
His hand was in her hair then, using it to pull her to her feet.
She cried out as he spat, "How many times must I show you what happens to bad girls who don't behave?!"
She wasn't sure what her punishment was about to be, but for the moment, Jeremy was forgotten, so it was worth it.
"Shh, don't cry," a voice was lulling, and Elena clung to it, letting it ease her back to the present.
Damon was still sitting in front of her, and her face was now burning.
She lifted a hand up and felt the hot tears that lingered there.
Damon's expression eased, and she got the impression he knew exactly what had just happened to her...where she'd gone.
She watched as his hand lifted slowly, his finger touching her cheek.
When he pulled it away, the last of her tears were there, glistening the skin.
"I hate it when girls cry."
He didn't say this in a mean way, but she still flinched a little, dropping her gaze.
He sighed, "I can't promise it'll stop...but it gets easier, after a while."
She swallowed, "The crying, or the memories?"
A pause, then, "Both."
Elena closed her eyes, not feeling very reassured.
She wasn't sure the memories really ever would fade.
"Damon?" She asked hesitantly.
He looked at her, waiting.
She took a shaky breath, "Do you believe in angels?"
He seemed confused by her question, but considered it.
"No," he finally said, "Not anymore."
Okay, chapter 3!
Let me know what ya think! :)