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Nora and Mary Louise: Back

2 YEARS AGO

I sped away quickly. I had to fulfill Valerie's wants in order to hide what I had done. Every day, I wished I could take it back, but of course that could never be done. I killed them. I didn't care about their deaths, but I cared about what Nora's reaction would be. I feared she would somehow find out and then realize it was me who had done it. And she would never look at me the same way again.

….

It had been nine months since I had left Nora and the entire family. I spent every waking moment trying to find Stefan Salvatore. I tried as many locater spells as I could, but every spell told me a different location. One day he was in a place called Mystic Falls, another he was across the country. He was always on the move, making my life miserable as all I wanted was to return home to Nora. I had no idea what Valerie had told her regarding my sudden absence, but I hoped that whatever it was, she wasn't mad at me.

….

After another two months, I finally got a clear read on where he was located. He was in Mystic Falls, for good this time. Once I found him, I realized that that was just the beginning. Although I was not very fond of Valerie, I always kept my promises, and I promised Valerie I would find out exactly how he was. I, therefore, intended on keeping a close eye on him, watching his every move, and seeing exactly how he was living his life.

To be completely honest, in my eyes, his life was pretty boring, but I knew Valerie would want to know every detail, so I watched him for a while. And I owed it to Valerie to do everything she wanted since she was helping me keep my secret—a secret which could quite possible cause Nora to hate me.

….

After another month, I was done with my job. I was finally able to return home—to Nora—to my love.

PRESENT DAY

"Nora!" I pleaded as I knocked on her door. "I'm so sorry. You have no idea how much I have regretted that since the day it happened,"

"When did it happen?" she suddenly interjected through the door.

"Does it matter?" I said, not wanting to tell her how long it had been.

"Of course it matters!" she screamed.

"I don't know. Maybe about a year ago now,"

She opened the door almost immediately after I said that.

"You've kept this a secret from me for a year?"

"Yes, but only because—"

"Only because what? Because I'd hate you? Because I'd never forgive you? Well if you didn't want that to happen, then too bad! It just did! I hate you and I will never forgive you!"

She slammed the door in my face. I started hysterically crying. I sat down on the floor in the hall, my back pressed up against the door to Nora's room.

"I'm so sorry, Nora. I'm so sorry," I whispered.

1 YEAR AGO

I finally returned home from my search for Stefan Salvatore. The first thing I wanted to do was to see Nora, but I knew I should speak to Valerie first to tell her my findings, and then to ask her what the situation regarding Nora and the rest of the family has been for the past year while I was gone. I needed to know what she told them for my reason for leaving.

I walked right up to the house, breathing in the smell of the place I used to live. The familiar scent gave me comfort as I walked up onto the porch. Suddenly, the memory of killing Adam came into my mind. It happened there—at that spot on the porch right in front of me. Then, Adam's family came into my head. Even if I hadn't killed Adam's family, Nora could still be mad about my killing Adam. I had just hoped that she hadn't found out about his family. A wave of nervousness ran through my veins. Suddenly, I heard Valerie's voice from behind me.

"You're back, I see,"

I turned around to face her.

"Yes, I am,"

"Come with me,"

We headed towards a secluded place—somewhere she knew we would be alone. We both sat down on a log on the forest ground.

"So tell me. How is Stefan? What did you find?"

"I found out everything you could possibly want to know. But first, how is Nora. Is she alright?"

"First tell me about Stefan and then I'll tell you about Nora,"

"Fine," I agreed, rolling my eyes. "He had been traveling a lot—not staying in one place—making it hard for me to find him. But I finally did. The reason for his travels I still do not know, but I didn't think it was important enough to find out. Anyway, he is with a woman; I think her name is Katherine. He seems to be in love and really happy,"

"That's it? A year away and that's all you tell me?"

"Well if you want to know every single detail, then that might take a little bit longer,"

"Then you might as well start now,"

"Please tell me how Nora is first," I pleaded.

"I will tell you everything. But you must go first,"

….

After about an hour, I had finished telling Valerie all that I had seen back in Mystic Falls.

"Alright. Now you know that Stefan is safe and happy, so now it's your turn to talk,"

Valerie looked away, as if she was trying to hide something or was afraid to tell me something.

"What is it?" I asked nervously. "Is Nora hurt?"

"No. Nora is quite alright. In fact, she's great,"

"Why are you saying that as if it's bad?"

"Something has happened that you may be upset about…"

I nodded my head, telling her to go on.

"Well, when you left, I went back to the house with a plan of what I was going to say your reason for leaving was, but when I got back, I changed my mind,"

2 YEARS AGO

"Nora, what happened?" Valerie said, pretending to play dumb to the situation at hand.

"Mary Lou and I got into a fight. And she ran off about an hour ago—I have no idea where she went,"

"Well I'm sure she will come back soon. Don't fret,"

"She killed Adam right in front of my eyes. She has become so protective lately—ever since my illness. But she has to understand that I don't need her to protect me so much. I know how to protect myself!"

"Well she is your girlfriend. And that's what people in a relationship do for each other,"

"You think I'm being too harsh on her?"

"Perhaps. I mean she did have you almost die in her arms. Literally,"

"Maybe you're right. I guess I should give her a break,"

Valerie looked away, realizing she was helping to fix a relationship that probably wouldn't survive as Mary Louise had just gone on a long journey and wouldn't be back or speak to Nora for a while.

1 YEAR AGO

"She was so upset and I just—" Valerie got out.

"What did you tell her?" I asked.

"Well first let me just say that what I wanted to say was that you had—"

"I don't care what you wanted to say! What did you say?" I demanded.

"I said that you ran away! I said that you felt so bad about Adam's death that you couldn't face her so you told me to tell her that you were leaving and that you wouldn't be back—at least for a little while," she blurted out.

I stood up from the log we had been sitting on and started screaming at her.

"I thought I could trust you!"

"I know, I know. I am so sorry! But when I saw how upset she was, it just came out. I guess I just didn't want to see her sitting around, waiting for you, doing nothing with her life. I wanted her to move on—at least until you came back,"

"Well, I'm back now! And she thinks I just left her! Great. So where is she? I need to see her and clear all of this up,"

"No, wait. You can't ever tell her the real reason for your leaving. Lily and Julian must never know what I made you do,"

"Why?" I asked.

She didn't respond, so I didn't continue that conversation as I couldn't have cared less about the answer. All I cared about was Nora and making her understand what happened, but if I had to keep Valerie's lie then I had no idea what I was going to say.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"You can apologize and then maybe she will forgive you for not saying goodbye,"

"This is all your fault, you know! You were the one who made me believe that you would take care of Nora while I was gone, but you just made me look like a coward. And you were the one who said I had to leave straight away and I wasn't able to say goodbye to Nora. But I guess I am the fool who went along with all of it and trusted you!"

"Mary Louise, enough. I made you do this for me because I am willing to keep your secret. And think about it; what would you have said if I let you go say goodbye to Nora? Nothing you said would have been any better than what I said,"

She had a point even though I was unwilling to admit it.

"Where is Nora, anyway? I need to see her. I've missed her. I'll apologize and then we'll pick up where we left off. I know it,"

"I'm not so sure," Valerie quickly said.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that—"

Suddenly, we heard a loud stomping noise from inside the house. I looked through the kitchen window, but nobody was there. Then, I saw a woman's figure with blonde hair rush by the upstairs window—Nora's bedroom window.

I turned back to Valerie: "Who was that? I know that wasn't anyone in our family,"

Then, I heard some laughter and, suddenly, I heard two voices. I turned towards the house again, then back at Valerie.

"Do you know who else is in there?"

"Yes, I do,"

"Well, who is it then?"

"Nora's…"

"Nora's what?"

"Girlfriend," she said.

My heart stopped.