Chapter 10

Before the first lesson started, Stefan explained to Elena about his and Damon's deal with Elena's uncle, John. They stood at school's area, keeping their distance from other students.

"In this morning, John mentioned about wanting to talk with me about some important matter. I

guess this is it, and I also guess he knows that I know about vampires."

"Anyway, I make sure that you'll be safe. Damon too."

"Thank you." Elena gave him a little smile. "Even though I'm surprised that Damon is bothered to be my bodyguard."

"You know I think Damon counts on killing some people while protecting you, and you know how Damon loves to kill."

"Yes, this is all Damon," Elena agreed.

"Matt, come here," Stefan called.

Elena turned to see Matt's rather surprised expression. At first, he hesitated, but after Stefan smiling at him encouragingly, he approached them. Matt avoided Stefan's look, though.

"I understand you were the one who told the sheriff about me and Damon," Stefan continued before Matt could respond, "I want to let you know that we came to terms with sheriff Forbes, and about any fear you have regarding us, don't worry. I can promise you I won't turn anyone into vampire or kill an innocent person."

"What about Damon?" Matt asked sharply.

"I can promise you I will watch my brother, so he won't do anything stupid. I also would advise you to keep your distant from him. I had to convince him for few hours not to kill you."

"But you did convince him, right?" A fear appeared in Elena's eyes. Damon was unpredictable. He could easily kill Matt especially now when he had told the police on him and Stefan.

"Yes, I did. It wasn't easy, but I managed it."

"I need to go to class." Matt shifted his gaze at Elena. "I hope you know what you're doing." Matt walked to the school building.

"I guess we also should go," Stefan said.

Elena stood still. She pulled her elbows closer to her sides, feeling a little shiver coming through her body due to the November wind.

"What is it?" Stefan looked concerned at her.

"The first lesson is history with Ric."

"Oh yeah, the new history teacher. Is he so bad?"

Last night Elena hadn't had much sleep as her mind had been occupied with the fact of her being adopted. She just couldn't imagine her walk in to the Saltzman's classroom and pretend as nothing happened. Most likely, she wouldn't even be able to focus on the lesson. She wondered how Alaric dealt with one of his students being his daughter whom he had once left. Was it as awkward for him as it was for her?

Elena shortly described the situation to Stefan. To her surprise, he wasn't as shocked as Elena would expect him to be.

"Don't tell me you knew about it?"

"I didn't know about Alaric, but I knew that you were adopted."

Elena rose her eyebrow. She stared at Stefan with her open mouth for few seconds. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

"I wanted, but I just wanted to wait for the right moment. You had already too much-"

Elena raised her hand, her eyes disappointed. "The right moment would be when we've became friends, because friends don't keep secrets from each other."

Before Stefan could give her any further explanation, Elena turned on her heel and head into the school building. She couldn't focus on the history lesson, at all, as she still thought of Stefan lying to her. The bright side of it was that her anxiety of spending in one room with her biological father seemed to vanish, at least, for now. She didn't even notice the few glances that Alaric gave her.

As Elena had expected, John already waited for her to talk about the big secret that her parents and the other members of the town council kept. Elena was thankful to John that he went straight to the point. He assured her that she would not need to worry about her safety as he, the sheriff's department, Stefan, Damon and Alaric would protect her.

"Wait, Ric knows about vampires?" Elena looked at John surprised.

"Of course. You even saw his skills already when he shot Logan."

Elena widened her eyes. "Wait, he was the hunter who saved my life."

John nodded.

Elena wasn't going to deny it, she was impressed

Bonnie came to Elena's house as Elena had asked Bonnie. As Elena decided, she would first tell Bonnie about vampires, and ask her if she should tell Caroline about it.

Bonnie gaped at Elena for few seconds, after she revealed that vampires exist and Damon and Stefan were one of them. Elena also said about someone being after her life, but she reassured Bonnie that she would be fine as Stefan, Damon and the Town's Council would protect her.

"I'm glad. It still surprise me that there are more supernatural in this world, though. Soon it's gonna turn out that werewolves exist too."

"Yeah." Elena chuckled. "There's more."

"Werewolves or fairies?"

Elena said to Bonnie that she was adopted and Alaric was her father, and her biological mother was dead, most likely killed by a vampire. Moreover, her biological father was a vampire hunter who had saved her life from the mysterious woman. She also mentioned about Stefan knowing the truth that she was adopted. Elena didn't hide her disappointment in Stefan.

Bonnie gave her a hug and told her she would always be there for her.

"So, do you think we should tell Caroline about vampires?"

"She already knows witches do exist, so I don't think it will do much of a difference if she find out about vampires too."

"That's true, but it still can be dangerous for her."

"Not knowing can be dangerous for her too. Besides, you saw Caroline when she saved you from Emily. She's a badass."

"I know, but-"

"No buts. Besides, you shouldn't be angry at Stefan, then," Bonnie said.

"What do you mean?" Elena asked.

"You're angry at Stefan, because he kept the truth from you, and now you're going to do the same thing."

"It's different!" Elena said.

"You don't want tell Caroline about vampires, because you're worried about her, and Stefan didn't tell you about your parents, because he was worried about you too. See, there's not much of a difference. I also think Stefan should tell you sooner, but he's still a good guy. It would suck to lose a friend like him."

Elena sighed. "All right, but I'm still upset with him."

Someone knocked on the front door.

"I'll see who's it?"

It was pizza's delivery man.

"Jeremy, did you order the pizza?" Elena called.

"Yes, I'll be down in sec," Jeremy responded.

"Please, come in," Elena said.

The pizza's delivery man took a step forward, and crossed the threshold of the house. He took a quick glance, with his brown eyes, around him. "You have a nice house."

"Thank you," Elena smiled.

Jeremy and John came down stairs. John offered to pay for the pizza. After, the pizza's delivery man left.

"All right. I'll leaving too. I'll bring those journals to you, Jeremy, tomorrow."

"OK, thanks."

"What journals?" Elena asked.

"Ours ancestor's, Jonathan Gilbert. I found one in our dad's stuff, and uncle John told me he has more."

Jeremy returned with his pizza to his room, while Bonnie and Elena stayed in the living room further discussing about supernatural. Around five, they left for the career fair. Jeremy told them he would come later.

At career fair, Elena went to Stefan, while Bonnie decided to look at different career choices.

"I'm sorry," Stefan started. "I should tell you before it's just I didn't want to see you hurt."

"I understand, and I'm sorry too. I shouldn't act like this, especially when I'm basically in the same situation as you."

Stefan gave her a confused look.

"I consider to tell Caroline about everything. I had my doubts like you, but Bonnie convinced me that I should tell Caroline."

"Well, if that you decided, then I'll support your decision. So does it mean we are friends?"

"Yes, we are friends."

They both smiled.

Jeremy was watching the drawings of his former friend, Tyler. Most of them presented a wolf-beast, though there were some that showed a strong man with ripped clothes. He expected to see Tyler here, but he had found out that Tyler didn't come. It wasn't the first time when Tyler didn't show up. Last time, it was during the football match. Come to think of it, Tyler, at least, once a moth, didn't come to school. Jeremy, at first, thought, Tyler simply skipped school, but it became too regular.

Jeremy, busy with his thoughts, didn't notice Bonnie.

"Hi."

"Oh, hi, Bonnie."

"How are you doing? Elena told me about Vicky leaving. It must be hard for you."

"I see you and Elena have an interesting topic to discuss."

"Hey, she's just worried about you. So, those drawings, are those werewolves?"

Werewolves? Maybe?

Jeremy glanced at Tyler's drawings. The realization started to hit him. "Today's a full moon."

"Yes, it is."

Jeremy turned towards Bonnie, concern on his face.

"Are you all right?"

"Uhm." Jeremy bit his bottom lip. He still tried to process the possibility of Tyler being a werewolf.

"You can tell me," Bonnie said.

"It's – crazy and I doubt you'll believe it."

"I may think it's crazy, but I'll believe it. No matter how crazy it is," Bonnie said, her voice confident.

Did she know? Jeremy wondered.

"Are you aware of... uhm..."

"Vampires?" Bonnie finished for him, while she lowered her voice.

Of course Bonnie knew. She was Elena's best friend. The girls always share their secrets between each other.

"So, were you shocked when you found out?" Jeremy asked.

"I was surprised, yes, but not as much shocked as you expect people to be. I guess being the witch lowered my level of being shocked."

"You're a witch? Cool. So, do you know any magic tricks? Spells?"

"Just few. I'm still a newbie."

"Could I see you perform magic sometimes." Jeremy was already interested in vampires being real, but seeing a real witch and her using her magic powers would be something new and beyond interesting.

After few seconds, Bonnie responded, "Yeah, sure. Just warning, don't expect anything big."

"Okay." Jeremy smiled.

Bonnie smiled back.

"So, do you think werewolves do exist too?" Bonnie asked.

"I don't know."

However, Jeremy would find out soon.

Elena and Stefan passed different stalls. Stefan mentioned to her how he had wanted to become a doctor. Unfortunately, it hadn't worked out for him. Elena mentioned about wanting becoming a writer, but after her mother's death, it seemed it had been more her dream than Elena's.

They noticed Alaric and Jenna talking with each other. They were quite far, so Elena couldn't hear

what Alaric and Jenna talked about. However, Elena guessed she must be the topic. Stefan suggested that maybe she should go there and talk with Alaric. However, Elena wasn't sure if she was ready. From what Elena had seen, Alaric seemed like a nice guy, and it shouldn't be too hard to talk with him. She still was afraid, though, and a little angry that Alaric appeared just now, and that she had been lied for so many years. However, she didn't want her anger to get the best of her.

Her mobile phone rang.

"Hello? Who is it?"

"Come behind the school. Alone. Don't try anything stupid otherwise your brother, friends, and some more people would lose their lives before anyone would be able to see it. Do you understand."

"Y-yes." Elena's stomach knotted. Her chest falling up and down rapidly.

"I need to go to the bathroom. Wait for me here" Elena forced a smile.

"Okay," Stefan said, his face concerned.

As told, Elena went behind the school. She could see the figure from afar. Was he working for that woman who wanted to get her? When Elena got closer, she recognized the man.

"You're the pizza's delivery man!"

"I just pretended to be. Now, you'll come with me, gorgeous."

"I don't think so."

Elena turned and saw Stefan. Did he hear that man over the phone?

Stefan rushed at the man with his vampire-speed. However, the man was prepared for it. He grabbed Stefan, before he had any chance to attack him, and injected a vervain into his neck.

"Stefan!"

Stefan grunted and fell down on the ground.

"Good, now, we alone."

Elena, her heart beating fast, saw dagger passing her. The man caught it. "I guess I spoke too soon."

Elena turned around, and saw Alaric with the crossbow. Few meters behind him, Bonnie and Jeremy were running towards her.

"We saw Stefan's worried face, and we decided to follow." Bonnie explained. "What's going on."

"It seems there's more people who wants to die."

"Run!" Elena shouted.

Neither Bonnie nor Jeremy moved.

The man's eyes focused on Jeremy. Before he could kill Jeremy, he got shot in his leg. Angry, he turned towards Alaric.

"I guess, I'll take care of you first." The man took the dagger out of his leg. Before, he could reach Alaric, Alaric got down and shot the dagger in the man's another leg. The man grunted, his eyes filled with anger. Alaric, back on his feet, took few steps back. The man, again, took out the dagger out of his legs.

Bonnie started to chant some spell. However, before she could finish it or the man could again attack, Damon appeared and snapped the man's neck from behind.

"And this is how, children, you must deal with a vampire." Damon looked at Stefan laying on the ground, his face pained. "Oh brother, you have a bad luck with the vervain."

"Thank you, Damon, you saved us," Elena said.

"Don't mention it. I'm always at your service. So, who's our friend."

Damon's eyes widened. "No way! Enzo?"

"You know him?" Elena asked.

"Yes, we'd been buddies in the twenty century."