Guilty Until Proven Innocent
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Summary: Recently released from prison for a crime she didn't commit, Elena returns to Mystic Falls to clear her name to the people who matter, one of whom includes a blue eyed, raven haired man who once stole her heart, but will he listen to her after believing for two years she was the sole reason his family fell apart? DE. Angst aplenty.
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Chapter 12
Pour a Little Salt, We Were Never Here
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"Ugh, look at Damon and his latest conquest: Madeline Bishop." Caroline turned up her nose with disgust. "She clearly could do so much better. Damon is just so...UGH."
"I'll thank you not to talk about my best friend like that," Elena shot back, but she also twisted her face with disgust as Damon leaned forward to whisper something Madeline's ear, something that made her blush fifty different shades of red. "But he's such a man whore, so what do I know?"
"I can't believe Madeline is even his type. She's shy, nervous... sweet even, and she actually has morals," Bonnie chipped in. "Not something he usually goes for."
"Yeah, it's bizarre." Caroline cocked her head to one side, visibly puzzled. "I wonder why he's stayed away from the skank pool this year?"
"It's 'cause he loves Elena," Jeremy said, breezing past, smirking at his sister who scowled at him in response. "That's why he's upped up his dating game instead of doing what he does best: attempting to impregnate half of the female population."
Elena looked scandalised; Bonnie and Caroline merely looked smug.
"First of all, that pregnancy scandal was just Amber trying to stir up shit because she was jealous of how close me and Damon are, so shut the hell up about that," she said, with the kind of undertone that whispered of instant yet painful death if this topic was unnecessarily elongated. "Secondly, there is nothing going on between us. God, everyone seems to think we're in love, and I don't know why."
" Really? You don't know why?" Caroline huffed. "You two are off-the-scales nauseating. That's why we KNOW you will eventually hook up. One way or another." She grinned. "Don't hate me 'cause you can't handle the truth."
" You guys really do make me feel sick," Jeremy agreed, looking at Bonnie and Caroline before adding, "I've banned them both from being in my presence at the same time, it's gotten that bad."
"Jeremy!" Elena smacked his arm. "Damon and I are friends. Just friends."
"Gotta run to class but I will be sure to quote that line if we're asked to give an example of a total bullshitter." Jeremy leaned in to peck Elena's hair playfully, and then in the same move knocked her lightly against the locker. She could've put the move down to sheer playfulness had she not seen how glazed over his eyes were, and had she also not known that he generally tended to avoid her in school if he could help it. "See ya later, sis!"
"Well, he's surprisingly perky," Caroline noted suspiciously, watching Jeremy run down the hall.
"He's stoned, that's why." Elena rolled her eyes. "He keeps talking about this girl, Vickie, like she's heaven and hell. One minute he wants her, the next he wants nothing to do with her. He calls me a liar, but he's got a pack of lies at the ready whenever I ask about what's going on with her." She sighed. "I know this is just a phase, and today happens to be one of the rare good days I get with him, but it still sucks it has to be this way."
"He'll be fine. Siblings are a pain - not that Caroline and I would know - but that doesn't mean you love them any less," Bonnie said wisely. "He'll come out of this stronger than you could hope for. He's a Gilbert. It's in his DNA."
Elena smiled. "Thanks guys."
"You sufficiently got us off topic on Damon, so let's return to the subject, shall we?" Caroline said, wiggling her eyebrows in Elena's direction to prove to her she'd not missed the fact they'd circumnavigated the topic that Jeremy had oh-so-casually dropped into their laps, admittedly only because they'd been discussing his love life in the first place. "Maybe he's dating decent girls because that's the only way to get your attention."
"What?!" Elena balked. "That makes no sense."
"Sure it does. Boy likes girl. Girl remains oblivious to her own feelings towards boy so he starts dating everything with a vagina, regardless of their nature or personality. Boy then realises maybe she'll never take him seriously until he starts to man up so he starts to date serious and actually marriage-material girls until girl starts to notice and finally awakens to the love she feels for him, and then... babies." Caroline sighed dramatically, causing Bonnie to burst out with laughter. "What? It's in like every romantic comedy film ever."
"Only the crappy ones," Bonnie corrected, rolling her eyes.
"You are both so, so wrong."
"My psychic senses are never wrong. They've been flaring up particularly strong since you and Matt broke up, and they're telling me you're going to marry that guy."
"You and your psychic senses." Caroline snorted with derision. "I mean, they're totally right in this case, but it seems strange how they never can get the lottery numbers right."
"Being a psychic doesn't work like that, and you know it."
Elena left them squabbling, knowing that Caroline -as the alpha female - would always win whatever argument she started, even if she was completely in the wrong. Bonnie would relinquish the fight in a few moments, and it wasn't because she was less strong willed but rather because she knew her victory would come later down the line, and that whilst words very often never prove your point but actions always would.
Either way, they squabbled like a married couple, and she was happy to leave them quarrelling because it had successfully driven them away from the topic of her and Damon.
All the same, she kept her eyes glued to Damon and Madeline, who were still talking, Damon's arm leaning on the locker just above her head, feeling something inside her clench tightly, forcing her to turn away.
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When she'd been sixteen, unlike most of her peers, Elena had had a life plan.
Go to college.
Study medicine.
Become a doctor just like her father.
Travel the world before finally settling down for marriage and kids.
The thing with a life plan, however, is that people rarely stick to one. Life just happens, and it doesn't care about plans, or schedules, or promises sworn in the heat of the moment. Events shaped the course of the future, as did the ever changing nature of people. The first love of a girl in her teenage years may well not be the love she swears forever to under a gilded arch in front of beloved family or friends, and the love she swears forever to may not be the one she eventually grows old with.
Even though her life plan had a few details change over the years, Elena had never doubted Damon would be a part of her life, her future, and that hypothetical porch. His role had changed as their relationship had evolved, naturally, but she'd never believed for a second anything could tear the fabric of them apart. She'd have a better time believing the sun could blink itself out of existence, or that the moon could turn into a giant white cube, than believing he could weave himself out of her life.
Trying to find part time work to get herself back to even a semblance of a plan was proving extremely difficult. Everyone had a different excuse as to why she wasn't suitable for a certain position, but she knew they all had the same reason in mind, so she didn't bother contradicting them.
After her last rejection, Elena sat on a park bench, staring aimlessly out at a bleak scene, and contemplating an equally bleak future. Her hands shook a little, not out of sadness but out of anger. Sadness had long since deserted her repertoire of emotions, because what did sadness ever reap? Pity, maybe, but as far as rewards went, it was low down on the list. Anger could drive you to action, even if it wasn't necessarily the right course of action. Maybe she needed to be a little more angry towards the people of this town, perhaps even get a little bit threatening. Hadn't prison taught her that to survive in this world you needed to be tough as nails, hiding away your heart and any sign of weakness to ensure nothing held you back?
She was interrupted with this train of thought by the motion of someone sitting next to her. When she chanced a look to see who it was, she was pleasantly surprised to see it was Elijah, and her heart - the one she was supposed to be hiding away - made a little jump of surprise.
"Something tells me this is not your day today, and you're currently hovering between being angry and being sad," he surmised, and god damn it if his accent didn't feel like honey on the ears.
"What gave it away?" Elena grumbled, tearing up a spare bit of tissue from her pocket into pieces, her fingers still shaking somewhat violently.
Elijah smiled gently, "I know this isn't easy, Elena. I won't pretend to know what you're going through, but if it helps, I caught wind of your most recent problem and believe I can offer a solution." In response to her raised eyebrow, he clarified, "I can find you a job."
Not even daring to take the bait, Elena replied, "Where?"
"Since arriving here, and I know it's been quite a quick process, I've set up a business just outside of town," Elijah said smoothly. "It's just a book store, but it is specifically for first editions. I don't expect to drum up much business, but I have enough to keep it floating for however long I so choose, however I shall need an assistant to help me run it. You know, helping me with general administration, greeting customers and tailoring your service to their needs, every task that comes with running a shop." He looked at her, clearly testing the waters before he felt comfortable enough to proceed. "I am happy to negotiate on salary, providing the amount we settle on suits us both, and I will ensure you can choose your own hours."
It sounded tempting, but Elena had been burned before by temptation. Okay, her previous temptation had been a dark haired, blue eyed man who could steal your heart with just one look, and even then that hadn't been so much a temptation as a full blown sin she'd engaged in without regret, but even still she knew to tread carefully, particularly since, if she was reading him right, this job could easily involve mixing work and pleasure, and she didn't want to be the kind of girl who'd got her job just because her boss had fancied her.
"I don't know, Elijah," she said, sounding torn. "I'm flattered, I really am, but I would hate to think the only reason you're offering this to me is out of pity, or worse, because you fancy me."
"Admittedly, my intentions may not entirely be pure when it comes to offering you this job," Elijah confessed. "I have been intrigued by you ever since I first met you, so for your to question me, it only confirms what I already began to suspect about your character: that you're honourable. However, this job is yours regardless of what happens between us, and I am not just saying that to persuade you to take this. Maybe I should've gone down the route of presenting you with a formal interview, but from what I've seen of the town, and its residents, I don't think there's anyone more qualified for the job, and that is without even checking your credentials."
"Again, you're saying all the words that makes me think this is a means to an end for you," Elena argued, but again the temptation was there, beckoning her with its twisted little finger. "I like you, Elijah, I do, but I've had my heart broken, and I've been falsely accused of a crime I didn't commit and sent to jail. I've seen things inside that I can't erase. That has been what has sent every other potential employer in the other direction, and part of why I'm terrified of taking this is because any business you do drum up, they'll go running the other way the moment they see I'm serving you."
"Then they will not be the kind of customers I want to serve," Elijah stated. "As I said, this is a store outside of time, and I've already acquired a list of clientele I will be serving. They will be coming from places like New Orleans, so they will neither know nor care what has gone on this small town."
"But - "
"As to your other concern," Elijah smoothly interrupted, "I will keep our work relationship strictly professional. I can't deny I like you, Elena. More than I've liked anybody in a long time. Please believe me when I say, regardless of how I feel, I would not have offered you this job if I didn't believe you were the right person for the job." Still seeing her hesitation, he added, "We can start on a trial basis, if you wish? Give it a month, and see how you feel. If it doesn't work for you, you can leave and there will be no hard feelings, and if you wish to stay, I'll draw up a contract with terms to suit us both for a permanent position. What do you think?"
If she'd been a smart girl, Elena would've said no. There were so many reasons against taking a job from a suave, handsome Englishman, but she couldn't go through the day she'd had today again and again. She needed to move out of town and to do that she needed money, and to get the money needed she would have to get a job. She refused to let Jenna and Jeremy help her anymore than they had done already.
For once in her life, Elena chose not to be smart.
"Then I accept," she said, wishing she felt more happiness than conflict at the decision.
"Splendid." Elijah rose to his feet. "Call me when you're available to start. I do have my other sister, Freya, lending a hand for the moment so it is down to yourself when you wish to start." He gave her a smile. "And should anything happen between us before then, Elena, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."
With that, he was gone, leaving her with a smile on her lips - the first smile of the day in fact.
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"If you were going to go to prison, what would your crime be and why would you commit it?"
"Come on! That's such a dumb Truth! Everyone uses that one!"
"Bonnie Bennett, stop questioning everything and learn to live a little!" Caroline giggled. "It's my sleepover, at my house, for my birthday, so answer the question."
Bonnie stuck her lip out and blew a stray curl from her eyes, pondering the question sincerely for a moment.
"Mine would be for indecent exposure," Caroline answered before she could. "Like the time I flashed Sam Anderson at that party, remember? He was so shocked he fell off that wall."
"And broke his collarbone," Elena reminded Caroline. "I don't know how he managed that, given the way he fell."
"Well, at least he got a peek at heaven before he was rolling around in hell," Caroline said, smirking.
This was why Elena loved Caroline Forbes.
She said outrageous things in such a way that you couldn't get mad at her. She was blunt, a little shallow at times, and often quite judgemental, but she was also spirited, and knew how to have a good time, and always threw the best parties, which had over the years become an undisputed fact.
She also knew how to have a good time. During the course of the evening, Caroline had already completed a dare involving her to enact phone sex to a random stranger, who'd stayed on much longer than he'd needed to even after clocking on it was a prank, Bonnie had admitted kissing one of Caroline's exes which had almost started an argument until it got to Elena's turn, and she'd completed a dare involving her running up and down the street in just a long t-shirt and no bottoms...and no panties either, which had all the fun of streaking without all the exposure.
The three girls had become quite notorious for being good fun, but also quite wicked when they wanted to be, and it was through their sense of humour they'd managed to stay together, even throughout everything, plus they shared a bond no one could rival.
"If I went to prison, my crime would be murder," Bonnie said bluntly, which sent Caroline's eyebrows skyrocketing.
"No way! You're too goody-two-shoes to do anything illegal. I once caught you hyperventilating because you were two minutes late for school, and don't even get me started on the time you pitched a fit when I suggested ditching school to go see the new Channing Tatum movie. Who the hell would you go down for murdering?"
"Jason Lockley." Bonnie grimaced. "Caught him cheating on me."
Caroline gaped at her. "When?!"
"Last week. With Charlotte Hill, of all people. The girl who once pulled another girl's hair out just because she'd flirted with her boyfriend at the time."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Elena demanded.
Bonnie shrugged. "Because I was ashamed," she said hotly, her face flushed with embarrassment. "If a girl gets cheated on, it usually means she's not doing enough to keep the guy she's with. Either that, or there's something wrong with her."
"Not true!" Elena and Caroline chorused at one, immediately indignant.
"If a guy or girl cheats, it doesn't mean there's something wrong with you, it means there's something wrong with them," Elena said fiercely.
"I gave Charlotte Hill my vote for student council president as well," Caroline said, looking disgusted. "Wish I'd shoved her vote up her ass now."
"You're the one who ended up as president, Care, so what does it matter?" Bonnie pointed out.
"I know, Bonnie, but it's the principle! What a bitch!"
Elena couldn't help but laugh at her friend's ferocity towards this injustice.
"If you, Bonnie Bennett, want to murder Jason for being a rotten boyfriend, and a pathetic excuse for a human being, me and Caroline will have your back," she promised.
"Hell no! We'll be sitting in jail beside her laughing about it!" Caroline pointed out, prompting all three of them to burst out laughing before falling into a group hug.
"Not likely," Elena fired back. Then she relented, "Alright, I'll be sitting there with the weapon in my hand, whilst Caroline threatens to sue, claiming prison is damaging her freshly done manicure."
To that, Caroline threw a well aimed pillow at Elena's face, and the girls exploded with laughter.
"I love you guys," Bonnie declared, smiling through her tears.
"Just FYI, if I do end up in jail, it'll only be because I've done something stupid in the name of helping one of you bitches out," Elena said, smirking. "I won't risk my ass for just anybody you know."
"Damn straight."
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It was amazing how quips made in the follies of youth could suddenly bite back with a new bitterness, Elena mused, as she cleaned up the kitchen after making herself a sombre soup-for-one. Sweet memories could turn sour in the blink of an eye.
There was a sudden rap at the door which brought her away from memory lane.
When she opened it, she wasn't sure who was having a bigger laugh more: fate, or the past.
There stood Caroline and Bonnie, both wearing twinned looks of guilt, hovering there like they were not sure whether to run or stay.
She felt like she'd been punched in the gut.
"Before you shut the door," Caroline said suddenly, as if sensing the volatile mood Elena was suddenly in, "we need to talk."
It took a whole minute before she could summon the composure to let loose the first thing that came out of her head.
"Wow. I barely recognised you. Betrayal doesn't look so good on you these days, Caroline," she hissed, dragging a nervous hand across the top of her head, a habit she'd developed behind bars. "Give me a damn good reason why I should listen to a word you say. What right do you have coming back and demanding that we talk? It doesn't work that way and you know it."
"We owe you a damn lot more than the truth, that's for sure," Bonnie said, taking over, her eyes bleeding apologies her mouth hadn't decided to cash out yet. "But please just hear us out. I know it sounds like the most clichéd sentence in the world, but what we have to say could change everything."
"Maybe not your opinion of us," Caroline amended quietly, an unusual tone for her to adopt, "but it'll at least give you some answers as to why we abandoned you."
"And, more importantly, why we're back now."
Elena glared at them, torn between wanting to know and wanting to shut them out of her life for good. Some truths she just wasn't ready for, but maybe this time it wasn't about being ready. She was pushing forward, not looking back, so maybe the least she could do was get closure on the things in her past that had been haunting her mind.
"Five minutes," she snapped. "Tell your damn story, then get the hell out of my life." She whirled around, leaving the door open enough for a nervous Caroline and Bonnie to shuttle through.
Feeling inexplicably wound up, Elena wondered what good could come from knowing the truth, even if it explained everything. An explanation bought many things: forgiveness, understanding, trust; it didn't buy back time, nor did it wipe away six hundred plus days of anger and sadness and endless waiting. She would hear them out, but that was all she was prepared to do.
She wasn't quite ready to relive those days before her arrest, trial, and sentence, and she didn't see how any explanation Bonnie and Caroline could give justified her leaving her alone and friendless in a world that pounced on the vulnerable and changed them completely, not always into stronger people. At least with Damon, she knew his reasons, even if they were pathetic and vague at best. She couldn't pretend to understand his lack of loyalty, but in a twisted way she kind of got it. He was finally on the same side of his father, something he'd secretly craved for years though he would never admit it, and he was also a man of logic, so he couldn't dispute what his eyes had seen, even if deep down he knew it made no sense, so it was easier on the whole to drop her in what would prove to be the biggest gamble of his life to preserve a toxic relationship and his dignity.
But Bonnie and Caroline?
There was no justification.
But Elena was, once again, to be proven wrong in a way that would, as Bonnie had said, change everything.
A/n: I would say I'm sorry for including an apology every chapter for taking too long to update but I'm not (see who I quoted there ;)) If I take forever to update, it's only because I want each chapter to flow well and to make sense, but also to be the best it can be. I also have work and constant writer's block to battle with. As an avid fanfic writer believe me I know how frustrating it is for an author to update their work. But I am going to try to get a new chapter for this out next week, as the next chapter will be the chapter that answers a lot of questions, so hope you're ready. There will be Delena next chapter, and things that have been set up in previous chapters should come in to play later on in the fic. I don't plan to drag this out to long but we still have a way to go. Thank you for faving/reviewing/alerting my fic. You are truly the best. See yo
