Elena's mouth is wide open. She's in shock at the face before her. She starts shaking her head, a sudden rush of tears forming in her ears. Greg opens his mouth to say something, but doesn't know what to say.
"Are you okay?" Greg asks. Elena doesn't answer. She just continues to stare at Greg, her mind elsewhere.
She imagines a similar time when she was human, walking into the kitchen of her home as her Aunt Jenna cuts some peppers on the counter.
"Jenna… I—"Elena begins to speak. Jenna sits the knife down, giving Elena all the attention she needs.
"What's up?" Jenna says. Elena's mouth opens, and she raises a finger.
"I know it's only been two months, but Jeremy…" Elena licks her lips, taking a deep breath. "He needs to get out of the house. Something."
"I tried, remember," Jenna replies, picking the knife back up. "We got into an argument."
"He can't stay like this though. Our parents dead…" Aunt Jenna sits the knife down, looking up Elena. She was shocked. That was the first time Elena said that since her parents died. Jenna picks the knife back up and continues what she is doing.
"I just… I'm going to get him out of the house." Elena says.
"Well, good luck," Jenna says, unenthusiastically. Elena marches up the stairs and walks to Jeremy's door. She attempts to open it but it's locked. She knocks on the door. He doesn't answer. She bangs this time and he opens the door, annoyed.
"What?" Jeremy says to her, his head phones still on. She takes them off and he sighs, frustrated.
"You want to go to the mall?" Elena asks.
"No."
"Too bad!" Elena grabs Jeremy by the shirt and pulls him out of his room. He snatches away.
"I don't want to go!"
Elena looks in his room, smelling something awful. "Jeremy when was the last time you showered?"
He flares his nostrils turning away from her. "Are you done bothering me?"
Elena sighs and shuts his door. She folds her arms and narrows her eyes at him.
"Just this one time. I will not bother you again."
"That's a lie."
"Jeremy. Please?" Jeremy looks back at Elena, his face saddening. He really doesn't want to go. He looks down at the floor, tightening his lips.
"Okay." Elena smiles, hugging him. He pushes her off. "But, just this once!"
Elena walks downstairs and Jeremy, trying to fight the urge to smile, shakes his head.
Back in present day, Elena's eyes fall from Greg's flummoxed gaze. She takes a few steps back and Greg tilts his head at her.
"You need help," Greg says to her. She sits in one of the chairs against the wall.
Greg sighs, his jaw tightening. His foot taps against the ground as he looks around. No one else is in sight. He quickly walks to Elena and sits next to her.
"Did you hear what I said? You need help. So, stay here while I get some assistance." Greg's eyes wander the hospital hallways. "We are after all in a hospital."
Greg stands up and feels a hand clasp around his wrist. Elena pulls him back down and he is surprised at how strong she is.
"You're strong for such a small physique," Greg says, glaring at her. She looks back, blinking.
"Will you stay with me?" Elena asks as her mind descends back into that similar moment…
Jeremy sits outside of a dressing room with his headphones on. He's just staring at the tan, wooden floor when he feels a finger tap on his shoulder. He looks up and sees Elena showing off an outfit. He removes his headphones.
"So? How does it look?" She asks him. He shrugs. "Come on, Jer. Seriously."
"I don't know what to say without sounding like… your gay best friend," He says, chuckling.
"Real funny, Jeremy," Elena replies back to him. She rolls her eyes and walks back into the dressing room. She looks at herself in the mirror, wearing a black dress. The dress is strapless and is snug on her body until it is below her knees. She smiles. This was one of the dresser her mom had picked for her to wear at the annual Miss Mystic Falls.
Elena walks out of the dressing room. She walks pass Jeremy, who is lost in his music, and into the clothing area. She hangs the dress back up onto the rack, wishing she could purchase it.
She looks to her left and furrows her brow. She sees a lady, a brunette, who looks uncannily familiar. Elena's mouth opens in shock and her eyes fill with tears. She lets out a weak, passionate voice from her mouth:
"Mom?"
The lady walks towards the exit of the store, and Elena hustles to get to her. She says it again. She calls the lady Mom, unconsciously. Elena hears Jeremy call her from behind her, she looks back at him, but keeps running towards the lady. She reaches the lady before she exits, touching her shoulder and turning her around.
"Mom?" The lady turns around, startled. She shakes her head and hurries out of the store. "But you…" Elena sighs, looking around and hoping no one saw that. She's already embarrassed she did that. She licks her lips.
"What the hell was that?" Jeremy asks.
"Uh, nothing," Elena replies, sniffling. "You know," Elena begins to speak to Jeremy as she watches the lady walk away, "You can think about them sometimes Jer, there's nothing wrong with that. You just have to try not to let it consume your life. I mean, it's death—"
"Elena—" Jeremy cuts her off. He doesn't want to hear her, because it hurts too much. And coming to terms with it, pains him even more. It pains Elena also, but she's mature enough to know she needs to come to terms with it. She thought she was all well, but, if the events just happened is an indication of anything— it's that she hasn't even fundamentally began to move on.
"It's death, Jer!" Elena cuts him off. "It's life. It's inevitable… and it doesn't matter who you are. You can't escape it… We just have to find a way through it. Together."
Elena grabs ahold of Jeremy's hand, but he pulls away.
Elena opens her eyes to see Greg's piercing gaze.
"This isn't a coincidence…" Elena raises her hand up to his face. Greg's eyes avert to her hand, slowly closing in on his cheek. He slaps her hand away.
"I'm going to get you help!" Greg says, looking behind him. Elena grabs his chin and turns his face back to hers.
"Damon… you're all the help I need!" She says to him, fiendishly. Before he could get another word in, she takes him with her, disappearing from the hall. All that was left, was the echoed voice of Greg's.
