Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is just an exercise in boredom for your entertainment.

Chapter 3

The next morning there was a man in the kitchen talking to Elena, she called him Damon. I had to admit that he was pretty hot but the attitude was a major turn off.

"So, is she going to be a problem," he said darkly.

"No, Damon," Elena scoffed, "She's family, she isn't a problem. She doesn't have anything to do with this so she's safe." Damn, money on the ball with this one. So maybe this boring small town isn't so boring after all.

"I just want to know if she's going to get Klaus-napped. That's all," Damon said irritated, "Because we don't have time to play babysitter." All right, so I was going to go back upstairs and pretend that I hadn't heard all that to save myself the awkwardness.

When I got back up there I decided to unpack. My clothes were all put away and I was beginning to put up my posters and pictures. There were photos of my friends everywhere and Sailor V posters on the walls. Not to mention the painting that Michiru had done for my birthday.

It was out of this world. A temple submerged in water with mermaids and everything. I loved it, it wasn't exactly her style but it was mine.

"Hey, I thought that I'd come check up on you," Elena said with a big smile that was hiding so much tension that it made me want to reach for the chocolate.

"I was just doing some unpacking and decorating," I answered with as much cheer as I could muster, "I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all," she replied before catching sight of the painting, "That's beautiful, where did you find it."

"Oh, a friend of mine paints, she did it for my birthday," I said offhandedly. I knew that the dreaded conversation was about to come up, but I was hoping to put it off a little longer.

"I enrolled you in school, you start tomorrow," she said seriously, "I know you weren't attending all the time back home, but I'd appreciate it if you tried here." It didn't take much to see what she thought of me.

She thought that my friends had been convincing me to skip school. Even though none of us were failing anything, Ami wouldn't allow it. I wanted to respond with; gee I'm sorry that yoma don't attack when it's more convenient for you.

"Sure," I replied blinking as if I was wondering why she was even asking the question in the first place.

"I have to get to school, I'll see you after," she said awkwardly.

"Yeah," I said waving, "I might have a look around town. I have money to go get lunch or something." If I didn't know that something was up already, the sheer look of oh god no on her face would have cinched it.

I left the house five minutes after she did and it didn't take a genius to figure out that someone was following me. I wound up at the Mystic Grill. Breakfast time for me, I thought to myself. Not to mention I would be able to see my mystery stalker if they were cocky enough to come in…. and it appears that they were. It was that Damon guy.

So something was going on in this town. Simply because A. my parents had spewed some crap about me being a delinquent to Elena and she's making sure I'm not doing drugs, or B. there's something dangerous here and Damon's stopping me from running into trouble.

I ate quietly and made small talk with the random the guy that came and started to take my order. Damon got complacent and I climbed out of a window in the girl's bathroom. He was definitely following me, I decided as I listened to him ring someone and complain about me giving him the slip.

Elena was home when I got back after lunch and I was tempted to call her on the bodyguard bullshit. Then again how is she supposed to know that I could kick Damon's ass and that I had nothing to worry from normal humans.

"I thought you said no skipping," I said looking at her. She looked like she was crumpling from the inside and I couldn't help but enjoy it a tiny bit. If it weren't for her saying yes, I'd be in Japan right now. I gave an internal sigh. I couldn't really blame her; she was trying to be helpful.

"I felt bad about leaving you here alone all day," she said looking slightly relieved that I'd made it home.

"I wasn't alone, I went out," I told her, "I went and ate at the grill." It was then that her blonde friend Caroline came in and started to talk… and talk… and talk.

The next morning I was dressed and being dragged to school. I stuck close to Caroline, she was the easiest to get along with and she reminded me of my friends. In the last twelve hour's I'd made a decision.

It didn't matter what kind of secrets these people had or how bad they're hiding them, it wasn't any of my business. I was going to leave it alone unless I was told. That way should I become suspiciously… well anything, I'd have there own shifty behaviour to fall back on and the reminder that I haven't been prying.

"You must be missing your friends," Caroline said sympathetically, "What with this being a new school." I looked down sadly.

"Yeah, but on the plus side I can wear what ever I want," I retorted cheerfully. I refused to be the sad girl that moped about in misery, I just wouldn't.

"There is that," she said looking horrified when I described what passed for a school uniform in Japan. "So do you have a boyfriend?" she asked. I just laughed and shook my head and watched as the glint in her eyes faded into disappointment.

"No, what about you?" I asked, "Do you have a partner?"

"Partner?" Bonnie asked me with a strange look on her face. I stared at her blankly, how many meanings could that have?

"Yeah, a boyfriend or a girlfriend?" I continued blithely. She pulled a face.

"Are you asking if Caroline's gay?" Elena asked in a revolted tone. I stilled, she was my cousin but some things just aren't right.

"Do you have a problem with gay's Elena?" I asked back in a deadly quiet voice. Caroline looked particularly uncomfortable with where the conversation is headed. Elena didn't answer and a strange silence descended before Caroline broke it.

"I'm not gay, I have a boyfriend named Tyler," she babbled, "He's out of town now though. What about you, gay or straight."

"Loves love," I said shrugging, "I'm personality over gender. If I love someone I love them, not their equipment." Elena and Bonnie looked kind of uncomfortable but Caroline let out a beautiful laugh and gave me a sunny smile.

It was nice to know that there was at least one person in this town that I liked.

So, sorry about my little gay-versus-straight thing but I needed something to base issues in Elena and Mina's relationship.