Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or any of its characters, I am not that talented.
-Chapter Seven-
You Are What You Say You Are
Elena's POV
Bonnie, Caroline and I had been living in New York City for 10 months. We had become pretty accustomed to the New York City way of life; every morning was warm bagels, coffee and jacket weather. That's why it felt been strange to be back in Georgia, even if it was only for the long weekend. I told Caroline and Bonnie that I was going to Mystic Falls to see Jenner, Jeremy and Ric, who I hadn't seen in over six months. Instead I booked a flight to Atlanta, where instead of being picked up at the airport my Jenner or Ric, I hired a car and drove around the city of Atlanta for ten minutes until I pulled up at my destination. I parked the car and walked across the busy road to a brown brick building on the outskirts of Atlanta. I entered the building through the automatic doors and walked to the front desk. The receptionist behind a black desk greeted me, before I greeted myself and stated my intentions as to my visit. She started searching her calendar on the computer and looked at me quickly once she had finished her search.
"Is there a problem?" I asked, curious as to why she was looking at me in that manner.
"I just can't find your booking!" she stated; the quizzical look never leaving her face.
"I spoke to someone yesterday and they said I could come. I made the booking yesterday and I have come a long way!" I pleaded; trying to make her cave in.
"Just give me a minute and I'll ring the supervisor who deals with this area." She started pressing a few buttons on her phone, while I waited patiently. She started speaking to someone on the other end and then put the phone down when she got her answer.
"Ok, I'm sorry Elena, your fine to go in, just go down this corridor and there is a large door second on the left," she said pointing down the hallway. I made my way down the never-ending corridor until I finally got to the large doors she described. I turned the door handle and pushed open the large doors; opening it just a small amount in order to not disturb anyone. I continued to open the door small amounts until it was wide enough for me to walk through. The room emitted a pale pink colour with a white tinge. A desk greeted me when I walked in, as did a smiling woman behind it. "Hi are you Elena?" asked a woman in a's looking uniform.
"Yes, that's me!" I stated.
"I'm Lisa, we spoke on the phone, you stated on the adoption papers that you wished to be notified when there was someone interested in adopting your child!" the woman said.
"Yeah I did" I replied.
"Well there is a couple that have signed the adoption papers and they will actually be adopting her on Wednesday, so we called you to see whether or not you would like to see her before she will be permanently adopted." Said the nurse.
"Yeah I would love, to I guess" I replied.
"Ok well follow me then," said Lisa, leading me down the short hallway to yet another large door. This door however was at the back of the building and when the nurse opened it, it lead to an outside area with a playground and sandpit. There were a few young kids that looked about six or seven. They were playing on some play equipment that was surrounded by sand. The nurse lead me out to them so that I was in amongst their fun.
"Are all of these kids waiting to be adopted?" I asked, shyly in an almost whisper.
"This building houses all the children that have been adopted, but are waiting for the documents to be finalised," Lisa replied.
"So where is she?" I asked, whilst the nurse lead me to a bench that was directly opposite the play equipment.
"I called for one of the infant nurses to collect her and bring her down," she said again. The door the nurse and I exited, opened and a woman holding a toddler exited. The girl was dressed in a pink dress, further confirming that she was a girl and that she was my girl. I stood up as the nurse got closer and closer to us. The nurse smiled and introduced both herself and the toddler she was holding. "My name is Anna and this precious little one is Thea; it means goddess of the light!" she stated proudly.
"We thought the name appropriate, given that she will have so much potential and she is always happy," Lisa said, who took Thea from Anna and gently bounced her up and down. Thea, giggled and started reaching for Lisa's necklace, before Lisa sat down and took the necklace from her hand that was probably choking her. Lisa gently placed giggling Thea on the sand. Thea made her way to some of the plastic toys and started throwing them around and biting others. My smile never left my face as she continued to rummage around. I looked down at her beautiful face and smile; she had Damon's mesmerising blue eyes and my brown hair. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her, as Lisa began to describe what she had been up to. "So she has started walking, well sort of," she said smiling at Thea. "She is such a happy little girl Elena, you should be very happy for her. She has her little friends here and she has very much warmed to her adoptive parents."
"That's great!" I exclaimed, rather tearfully, "I wanted to know why it has taken a year though, for someone to adopt her? I mean I thought babies were usually adopted pretty quickly." I said, my eyes never leaving Thea.
"It's a long process Elena and it also takes a while for the parents to start to get used to the idea their going to be parents and getting everything ready at home. Usually its easier for new parents to adopt the child when they're about a year old," said Lisa, who to was staring at Thea. Lisa and I sat on the bench, watching Thea for half an hour before Lisa said it was time for Thea's nap. I got up off the bench and bent down to Thea's level, I watched the little girl study me with her eyes and point at my necklace.
"She has a thing for jewellery!" I stated, whilst unhooking my chain and letting it sit in the palm of my hand. "Do you think I could maybe give this to her?" I asked Lisa, motioning towards my necklace. "I would love it if she could have a part of me, even though she won't remember me."
"I'm sure that would be fine!" stated Lisa, who scooped Thea up and asked if I would like to carry her to her coat. I smiled at Lisa and opened my arms out; which Lisa filled with a warm little bundle of joy; that was Thea. I bounced her in my arms a few times and started walking towards the large doors. When we got to the coat, Lisa said she was already meant to be down half an hour ago and that it was probably time to go. My eyes started to tear up slightly as once again I had to let this beautiful child go. I placed a kiss to her forehead and whispered "I love you" to her ear, before placing her in her coat. Lisa handed me back my handbag, which I had asked her to carry whilst I held Thea. I rummaged through it and found what I was looking for.
"When I was young" I began to explain, "this was the toy that I held onto all the time, it was the toy I couldn't live without and it would mean the world to me if my daughter," I shook my head before continuing "um, I mean Thea, if Thea could have it!" I said smiling at my toy bear; that I was given when I was younger than Thea and that I still love to this day. I placed my necklace into the small opening in the bear's stomach that used to house sunglasses and lipstick that I would decorate my bear with. After a few minutes of staring at Thea, who had drifted off to sleep, whilst Lisa and I were talking I placed the bear in the cot next to her. I looked down at Thea's beautiful sleeping form, before thanking Lisa multiple times for allowing me to see Thea, for the first time after giving birth and for the last time, before she joins her family. Mia, the other nurse came and relieved Lisa, who asked to walk me out. I turned around on my heel and began walking out with Lisa. She opened the door for me at the end of the hallway, although before walking through I turned around one last time to look at Thea, who I couldn't see but knew was asleep in the cot. I knew I had to go and instead of running back to the cot and taking Thea into my arms held open for me. Lisa guided me down the long hallway, past the secretary and out the front door to my car. I bid Lisa goodbye and unlocked the car. Once in I turned on the ignition but didn't go anywhere. Instead I sat in the car, with the radio on low, whilst the tears rolled down my cheeks; creating a small pool on my jeans. For an hour I just sat in my car, crying and thinking about Thea and her illuminating smile and rosy red cheeks, thinking about her silky brown hair and her icy blue eyes. I thought about how much she looked like Damon and how he didn't even know she existed. My tears started to dry up on my skin and left a salty residue. I brushed my jeans with the back of my hand and padded my eyes. I put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot and drove the half an hour to Mystic Falls. Driving down Highway 20, passing the lines of identical looking trees and following the continuous yellow lines until I got to my destination. I pulled up outside my family home; which looked exactly like it did when I left it. I pulled the hire car up outside the house and stepped out. Taking my bag out of the backseat, I made my way up to the dark house. The white exterior and large roman columns greeted me and brought back amazing memories of child hood and simplistic times. I walked up to the front porch and knocked on the front door. After a few minutes of know one answering, I made my way to the porch swing. My legs pushed my body back and forth, whilst I looked down to the front of the house where my car was. I remembered not to long ago, Damon dropping me off right there where my car currently is. He told me how much he loved me and how we were going to have an amazing future together and despite me knowing that I was pregnant then and how he would freak out, I believed him. I believed everything that Damon was telling me, because I loved him with everything I had and for some reason it is gone, Damon is gone and I am left, feeling utterly alone. Deciding that Jenner and Ric must be out or that they had forgotten, I pulled out my phone and dialled Jeremy.
"Hey Elena, how are you going?" asked Jeremy.
"I'm good Jer, I'm at the house, where are you guys?" I asked.
"Oh shit" I heard Jeremy mutter, "Your already there? We thought that you were coming on Sunday."
"No, Jer I specifically told Jenner that I was coming today and that I would drive back on Sunday?"
"Oh sorry Elena, I think Jenner must have got the dates muddled!" said Jeremy.
No shit I said to myself, "well it doesn't matter, I'll just see you guys when you get home from work and school."
"Um, yeah the thing about that is that, we um" Jeremy continued stuttering, trying to find the right words to explain.
"Where are you guys, Jeremy?" I asked, starting to get annoyed at myself for not just going back to New York after I saw Thea.
"We're in Charlotte!" he stated shyly.
"WHAT!" I exclaimed a little louder than I should have "You're in Charlotte, as in Charlotte, North Carolina?"
"Yeah, Jenner and Ric came to watch me play football!" he said again.
"Ok, well that's just great, Charlotte is like a four hour drive or a one to two hour plane ride away, how am I going to get to see you guys?" I asked Jeremy, expecting him to have all the answers.
"I don't know Elena, I don't know what to tell you, listen I'll put Jenner on, she's here, so bye" he said, handing the phone to Jenner.
"Hey Elena, sweetie I'm so sorry that we messed up the days, I completely forgot you said Friday, anyway how are you?" Jenner asked.
"Yeah I'm fine and don't worry about, look why don't I drive up and meet you guys, that way I can see Jeremy play?" I asked, not 100% excited for the four-hour drive I was about to complete.
"Are you sure Elena, I mean I can leave Jeremy here with Ric and drive down to see you?" she asked.
"No, no that's fine, I'll come up and see you guys, what time is Jeremy's game?" I asked.
"Its at seven!" stated Jenner.
I glanced down at my watch; it was three o'clock, which gave me enough time to see Jeremy's game. "Ok, I'm leaving now, so I'll see you guys soon" I told Jenner, getting up off the porch swing and making my way back down to the car. I got in the driver's side and started the car, pulling out from the curb I made my way to Charlotte. Driving threw Mystic Falls and making my way once again onto highway 20; passing identical looking trees and following the yellow lines to my destination. Pulling off the highway as I entered Charlotte after three and a bit hours of driving, I made my way to the stadium my brother was playing at. I parked the car in the parking lot and made my way into the extremely busy vicinity. I made my way up the set of stairs into the seating area, where Jeremy and his rival team were playing. The game had started and Jeremy's team were loosing 7 to nil. I walked down a few stairs to the bottom where I could see Jenner and Ric, holding banners with Jeremy's team name sprawled over it. I made my way down, passing people with banners, pom poms and drinks, who were cheering for both teams. "Jenner!" I exclaimed, once I had reached the front row.
"Elena!" she exclaimed with just the same amount of enthusiasm. I squeezed my way through the numerous people cheering and booing for the different teams until I reached Jenner and Ric. Jenner immediately threw her arms around me, squeezing me against her body until it became uncomfortable, instead of breaking the embrace I nestled further, until Ric broke us up. My arms then went around Ric's and we stood holding each other for a few seconds before Jeremy's team must of scored and he broke away and began cheering.
"How are you doing?" Ric asked, whilst in mid clap.
"I'm fine, I'm happy to be here and see you guys," I answered.
"Well, we are happy to have you and Jeremy will need some support seeing as the idiot just got pummelled my our rivals!" Ric stated in annoyance, although continued clapping.
Jenner's hand came around my waist, whilst Ric's hand came to my shoulder and handed me a drink of coke. The three of us watched Jeremy throw the ball to the end of the field, where the recipient ran and scored a touchdown; in affect causing all the Mystic Falls Timberwolves to cheer in happiness. The three of us jumped up and down cheering for Jeremy and his amazing throwing arm. Once the game had finished, Jenner, Ric and I walked to our cars and decided to drive home; as there wouldn't be much traffic. The three of us talked whilst we waited by our cars for Jeremy to come out of the changing room with the rest of his team. Jeremy rounded the corner of the changing rooms and walked to us, waving at me and smiling with just as much enthusiasm as Jenner and Ric. I ran up to him and he grabbed me into a tight embrace; the two of must have looked like the army officer who had just got back from war and the girlfriend he hadn't seen in years.
"Hey, how are you?" Jeremy asked twirling me around in his arms and bringing me to a halt back in the position I had started from.
"I'm good! You did so good out there Jer! You were the best out there as usual!" I stated, breaking the embrace. Jeremy and I walked back to where Jenner and Ric were and loaded our cars with Jeremy's gear. The four of us decided that Jeremy would come in my car and Ric would go with Jenner. As we pulled out of the stadium carpark, Ric in front of me, the traffic became thicker as we got further and further to the entrance.
"Have you been talking to Bonnie?" I asked Jeremy, breaking the silence.
"No not much, I mean we sort of stoped talking a few months ago. I mean it was a long distance relationship and it wasn't going to work. I guess when I go to college and if I get in, in New York that is then we can reconnect then," said Jeremy, turning up the radio, so that it was just enough to hear.
"Well she hasn't started dating anyone if you were wondering, at least know one that I have heard of yet!" I stated, actually unsure of what I just said.
"Gee that's reassuring Elena, thank you for your input and your reassuring words of wisdom, they are greatly appreciated," said Jeremy.
"Your most welcome!" I stated, gleaming at Jeremy, who was scowling at me. The two of us continued to drive, following Ric; whose car lights illuminated the way home. Jeremy continuously asked me about Matt and when I didn't answer asked about Damon; which I declined to discuss. We arrived in Mystic Falls at midnight and decided on all going straight to bed. Sleeping in my old bed and in my childhood bedroom last night was quite surreal. It felt like being back in high school, back being a teenager and back being a cheerleader. I made my way downstairs at nine am and found the kitchen busy with Jenner making breakfast, Jeremy making coffee and Ric setting the table. "Hey!" I announced as I walked into the busy kitchen, taking one of the mugs that Jeremy had set out on the kitchen bench.
"Good morning!" my family sing songed back to me.
"What are we eating?" I asked, the smell of toast mixed with egg and other breakfast condiments wafting into my nasal passage.
"Have a look!" stated Jeremy.
"Sorry" I quickly apologised, in a wounded tone. I sat down at the table, with my coffee in hand and waited until breakfast was served.
"Well that was delicious!" Ric exclaimed once we had finished eating.
"I second that" stated Jeremy.
"Yeah, that was amazing!" I said, in recognition. Once Ric and Jeremy had unset and cleared the table, both announced they were going out, but never stated where they were going. The clock on the wall said ten thirty and Jenner and I were the only ones left at the dining room table.
"So we never got to talk," said Jenner breaking the silence.
"Talk about what?" I asked, completely dumbfounded, although had the slight inkling of what it was Jenner wanted to talk about.
"Well, you told me that the adoption agency called you and that you were thinking about going before you came to see us, so did you end up going or didn't you" Jenner asked, whilst taking a sip of her coffee.
"I did go, I saw her Jenner, I saw her," I repeated.
"Tell me what she is like, I mean she's a year old and you haven't seen her for a year, so" Jenner said looking in to my eyes.
"She's amazing Jenner, her name is Thea and she has this amazing smile and this amazing personality. Her eyes are just like Damon's and her hair is just like moms and mine. She's always laughing as well and she loved Mr. Brown the bear I gave her."
"Well, she sounds amazing!" Jenner exclaimed.
"Yeah, she really is amazing!" I exclaimed.
"I wish I could've seen her," said Jenner.
"Yeah, I wish you could have seen her too!" I said again. The two of us sat at the kitchen table for the majority of the day and the entirety of the weekend. On Sunday, I drove back to the airport in Atlanta and flew back to New York, to my apartment I shared with Caroline and Bonnie. Bonnie and Caroline were out when I got home, so I opted for my warm bed. When I woke up that morning, there was no smell of pancake batter, toast or even coffee that awoke my senses; instead the uproar outside and the busy New York City vibe awoke me from my deep slumber. As my eyes adjusted to the newly sunlit room, a blonde and dark head of hair sat comfortably on my bed, their smiles irradiating the room. "Hi!" I spoke, groggily.
"How you doin?" Caroline asked in her best Joey Tribiani accent. The three of us started laughing at Caroline's spot on impersonation of our favourite male Friends character.
"I'm very well, how are you guys doing?" I asked my two best friends.
"We are hot, like usual!" stated Caroline as again. The three of us started laughing again, this time at Caroline's expense.
"How was being back home?" Bonnie asked.
"It was just like it was when we left, only I somehow seemed quite old" I replied, my eyebrows knitting together as I suddenly became confused as to why I felt that way. "But you weren't really asking how Mystic Falls was, are you?"
"Ok, so maybe I wanted to know how Jeremy was doing, is that so wrong?" Bonnie asked, looking completely innocent.
"No its not, but you could maybe call him yourself, I mean he would love to hear from you Bon!" I stated.
"Well we tried doing the whole long distance thing and it wasn't working, so I think calling him and asking him how he is, might be a bit awkward; considering we technically broke up."
"Ok guys, enough talking we need to get going to class" said Caroline, glancing at her clock and calculating the time that we had left.
"What's the time?" I asked.
"Well put it this way, we have 55 minutes to get dressed, eat and be in the classroom!" said Caroline, jumping off the bed and onto her feet. Pulling the covers from my body, I got up and made my way into the bathroom. I showered put on makeup and a crisp white shirt that I tucked into my black skinny jeans; fastening them around my waist with a black leather belt. Pulling my straightened brown air into a high ponytail I made my way out of the bathroom and got my bag and required books.
"Are you guys ready?" I asked, my two friends who were in the kitchen drinking freshly brewed coffee.
"Here" Bonnie said, handing me a cup.
"Yeah, we're ready!" announced Caroline, who started washing her used cup in the sink. I skulled my coffee and headed out the door that Bonnie was holding open for me. The three of us walked down the stairs to the bottom of our building and onto the main road. We walked up Columbus Avenue, past Central Park with forty minutes to spare. Walking up Columbus Avenue, past Central Park made me realise just how much I appreciated this city; 'the city that never sleeps'. I loved living here and there was nowhere else that I would want to spend the rest of my life. The three of us arrived at school with ten minutes to spare, which gave Caroline the opportunity to go makeout with Tyler behind one of the Medical buildings, whilst Bonnie ditched us for her seminar. Matt arrived a few minutes before the class, his hands wrapping around my waist and his lips connecting to my forehead.
"I love you!" he whispered into my ear; I shivered at the sudden cool feeling on my neck. After almost one year of dating, I had become pretty accustomed to Matt's proclamations of love and despite loving what I was hearing; somehow it felt like I was hearing it from the wrong person. There was apart of me, a feeling that was deep down that didn't reciprocate those feelings. Don't get me wrong, I did love Matt, I loved him for everything he had done for me. He had helped me out when I felt at my absolute worst, he lifted me up from a really bad place; a place where I felt isolated and completely alone. Once our class had finished, Matt asked Caroline, Bonnie, Tyler and I if we wanted to go to 1Oak bar, Caroline, Tyler and Bonnie declined, all of whom said they had too much study to do. I knew Bonnie was the only one that would actually go through with that excuse, while Caroline and Tyler would probably be having sex in his king sized bed. Matt and I left my apartment at eight o'clock and got in a cab that took us to 1Oak. It was eight thirty by the time we arrived, due to the heavy traffic and long line to get in. The two of us made our way to the bar and ordered a few drinks. We were there for two and a half hours, the entire time, Matt's arm never left my thigh.
"So," Matt started, his sudden words breaking me from concentration on the straw in my glass. "You haven't spoken about how being back home was?" he asked.
"Yeah it was fine, it was the same old Mystic Falls I guess," I said, answering his question with complete honesty.
"So have you thought about my offer to move in with me?" Matt asked.
I laughed, emitting my teeth before answering, "I want to, I do, but I just don't know if I can leave Bonnie and Caroline. I mean they are my best friends and we have wanted to study in New York and share an apartment since were, like ten. So I'm not sure if I'm ready to let that go or not," I told Matt, my hand resting on his arm and my leg rubbing against his.
"Well," Matt began again, "If you change your mind, my apartment on 54th would love to have you!"
"I am going to think about, but in the mean time, why don't we get another drink and then we can walk home and you can get me an ice cream and then we can go back to your place and I can sleep over, how does that sound?" I asked, my hand moving up to Matt's face and my lips moving to his.
Matt's mouth opened, allowing my entrance, "That" he began kissing me, "sounds" kiss, "amazing!" he stated, our mouths fully moulding together, creating a certain amount of friction. The two of us ordered another drink each and continued inappropriately making out at the bar, before leaving 1Oak and getting in a cab and going to Matt's. I opted out of the ice cream and instead decided that we would just go home and have an early night. Due to our slightly intoxicated minds Matt and I both fell asleep after making out on his bed for a few minutes. His body hugged mine, tightly throughout the night and tonight, more than any other night, I felt more connected to Matt than ever.
Sorry for the lack of Damon but he will be in it next chapter so thankyou for reading and reviewing and please continue to give me feedback so I know that I am going in the right direction.
