"Elena," Elijah called coming up around the corner to see her standing where Stefan had left her. He jogged to catch up with her when she tried to run off. "What's the rush?" He stood in front of her to block her hasty escape.
"Nothing." Elena held the bongos in front of her as Miranda's angry words echoed through her head. "It's just a small matter with the wedding." She tried to push around him.
"Listen, Elena, about the – " Elijah leaned forward when he saw what she was holding. "Are those my old bongos?"
"Uhhh," Elena narrowed her eyes at the item in her hands. I should have gotten rid of these years ago. "They scare off the unwanted visitors."
"You really don't need those for that," Elijah laughed.
"Of course I don't," Elena raised an eyebrow to stare at him. "My bite is worse than my bark."
"You don't have to remind me," Elijah smirked mirroring her motions. "I've still got the scars." He reached for his collar as his brows raised, "Would you like me to show you?"
"What do you want, Elijah?" Elena chewed on her bottom lip. She could remember the scars he was referring to, and the heated circumstances that had led to them.
"I," Elijah rubbed the back of his neck, now was not the time. "I had an idea for an extension of the tavern."
"I don't want it!" Elena turned on her heel to go around the long way. She tensed when he came around to stand before her again. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't you remember, Elena?" He motioned to the tavern he had designed so long ago. "You're living my dream; the island, the tavern it was my dream."
"Yeah," Elena snorted, "but the reality. Hard work every day, and a crippling mortgage; I don't want an extension."
"Ok," Elijah nodded slowly. "Will you at least let me take a look at the roof; it won't last you the winter."
"I'll do it myself," Elena dropped the bongos onto a bench and crossed her arms, "thank you, very much."
"You don't have to do this on your own, Elena," Elijah felt his jaw tick with annoyance. "I have daughter too, I know how hard it is. You don't have to do everything alone."
"Maybe I like doing it on my own," Elena leaned back to glare at him. "Did that ever occur to you?" Elena laughed pressing her lips together in a tight smile. "I get up every morning, and I'm grateful that I don't have a middle-aged menopausal man bothering me." She rolled her eyes and turned away calling over her shoulder to him: "I'm single, and free; it's great."
Elijah watched her go before following slowly behind her.
Where are those happy days
They seem so hard to find
I try to reach for you
But you have closed your mind
Whatever happened to our love
I wish I understood
It used to be so nice
It used to be so good
So when you're near me
Darling can't you hear me
SOS
The love you gave me
Nothing else can save me
SOS
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on
Elena peeked over her shoulder to find Elijah following 10 paces behind her. She'd come so close to slipping into an area of comfort with him, but she couldn't let it happen again.
You seem so far away
Though you are standing near
You made me feel alive
But something dies I fear
I really tried to make it our
I wish I understood
What happened to our love
It used to be so good
So when you're near me
Darling can't you hear me
SOS
The love you gave me
Nothing else can save me
SOS
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on
"Elena?" Elijah reached out to take her arm and spin her gently to face him. "Why didn't you tell me about Miranda?"
"It was none of your business," Elena snapped pulling back from him again. He had lost any right to touch her 21 years ago.
"And what about this, Aaron?" Elijah sighed through a clenched jaw. "Is he good enough for her?"
"Again," Elena stabbed a finger into his chest, "it's none of your business."
So when you're near me
Darling can't you hear me
SOS
And the love you gave me
Nothing else can save me
SOS
When you're gone
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on
When you're gone
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on