Hello, my lovely readers. This chapter would have been a bit longer, but I was in a mood—thanks to Election 2020 chaos—and I am still not very happy. This chapter was meant to be lighter—after events of the previous chap… On with the show…
Chapter 12: Do You Want Fries with That?
My eyelids snapped open at the sound of a grumbling, from down the hallway. It was early, on a Monday morning, and there should have been an hour, or two to rest. However, I had not rested well since the crash of Wickery Bridge. My mind worked out random, horrific things that could cost me those I loved, and my thoughts kept me awake. I laid on my back, waiting. The grumbling ceased, for a moment before it began, again.
Giving up on the possibility of sleep, I rose, flipping my legs over the side of the guest bed. I had not stayed with the Lockwoods the previous night. Instead, I spent the night at the Gilberts. Someone had to be there after the family of five had returned home. And I was not alone.
I ran a hand through my curls and let put a yawn as I made my way down the hall. Stopping in front of Jeremy's room, I twisted the knob and eased the door open. The boy slept on his back, one hand thrown over his face while the other had fallen off the side of the bed, dangling above the rug.
Closing the door, I turned and moved two feet to the opposite door. It was cracked open already. I pushed it wide enough to see Elena squashed between Bonnie and Caroline. The girls were still asleep, too.
Another door down, I found the nursery was empty. My brows rose and I frowned. Where are Nadia and Davina?
Striding to move further down the hall, I found Katherine's door open. She stood in front of a full-length mirror. She twisted from side to side, glaring at the uniform she'd donned for her new life. Taking hold of her mass of curls, she twisted it, and held it in place, behind her head, pursing her lips at her reflection.
Mt hand came up, and I rapped on the doorframe. "Katherine... The girls aren't in their room..."
"Duh." Kat rolled her eyes as she picked up a bracelet and snapped the clasp into place. "Jenna and Ric are here." She gave me a look in the mirror. "Did you think I didn't know where my kids are? What kind of Mother do you think I am?" Uncapping a tube of lipstick, she applied a coat of red while I thought about how many times Miranda had no idea where Kat was. Would I say this to Kat: NO!
"Right." I turned to go when Katherine continued. "Since Jenna and Ric are here; you guys won't have to keep hanging around." I turned to stare at her as she capped her lipstick and tossed it at her bag. "Plenty of help now," she muttered, not looking at me. She returned to the dresser and pulled her hair back up, shoving a pair of hair pieces in to keep it up. Her eyes found me in the mirror. ""Don't you have school, or something?"
"Yes." I nodded and headed back to the guest room. It did not take me long to dress or to pack my things before I headed back down the hallway. I noted Kat had closed her door, but I could still hear her grumbling within.
Going downstairs, I found my old friends: Alaric Saltzman and Jenna Sommers. Jenna was flipping bacon in a skillet while Ric held Davina above his head, blowing air into her belly as her little legs kicked in the air.
"Me next!" Nadia cried from the floor. She held her arms up, hopping up and down.
"Off we go to Klaus!" Alaric carried Davina, making airplane noises. "Whoosh!" he cried. "Going in for the landing!" He held Davina out to me. Davina took a fist-full of my hair and yanked my head down until we were nose to nose. Then she smiled. Alaric got the better deal as he scooped up Nadia who laughed hysterically while he made slow circles above his head and she pretended to be Super Woman, or some such thing.
"Coffee is in the pot, and food is coming up," Jenna said, nodding at a plate of toast, butter and jam, and a bowl of fruit laid out on the table, along with two high chairs, and eight plates, forks and blunt knives.
"Coffee!" Kat cried. She appeared behind me and went straight past Davina who held out her arms. The child made grabby-hands while Kat sat a thermos down and uncapped it. She poured out the coffee until all but a dribble remained.
"Mommy!" Davina called out.
Kat came over and took one of Davina's hands in her own, smiling. "Do you like Mommy's uni, because she thinks it's super ugly!"
Davina laughed, her face wrinkling up. Then Kat turned. "Ooo. Toast." She went over and grabbed a slice. "Hate to grab my grub and run, but I can't be late." She mock-pouted at everyone.
Just as Kat started to go to the door, Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline came in. "Breakfast is ready!" Jenna called to the girls.
"I'm not hungry," Elena said, hugging herself. She had not been talking since her parents died. Today did not seem any different. "Are you leaving?" she asked Kat.
"Yes. Got to get to work." Kat rolled her eyes and faked a smile.
Elena nodded. "Can you walk with me?"
Kat checked the clock on the microwave. "Get your stuff."
"But..." Caroline looked from Kat, to Elena. "She hasn't eaten. Lena, you have to eat, first!" Her wide eyes went to me.
I bounced Davina on my hip who grabbed at my nose. "Nooo!" I said, trying to keep it out of the girl's grip. She was strong for a child under three.
"Nose!" Davina cried, still grabbing for it.
Elena came back downstairs with her bag on her shoulder. "I'm ready!"
"No! You are not! Someone has to tell her she has to eat something!" Caroline looked to Jenna who placed a hand on her hip while Ric plated food on it.
"Ric and I can walk you. Come on, Elena. Take a seat." Jenna nodded at the dining table.
Frowning, Elena looked to Kat. "I can go?"
"Sure." Kat looked at her nails, seeming to note the toast in her hand.
"She needs to eat!" Caroline snapped, folding her arms over her chest.
"Picasso!" Bonnie blurted, covering a laugh. She was staring at me as Davina grabbed my nose and twisted it.
"Pee!" Nadia cried and Ric's face twisted.
"Someone needs to change her!" Ric called, holding Nadia out.
Kat shook her head. "Bye!" She opened the door and moved to leave.
"Katherine!" Jenna shouted.
Kat paused. "Ugh! Fine. Elena, get some toast, and then we're gone!" She exited the house.
Glaring at Caroline, Elena stomped over to the table and took a price of toast. She then stomped to the front door, and slammed it closed behind her.
"I'll take her." Bonnie went over to relieve Ric of Nadia. "New Pull-Up, and some pants? Huh, kiddo?" Bonnie was saying as she headed up the stairs. Jeremy was headed down at the same time.
Entering the kitchen, Jeremy was still in his PJs. "Bacon!" He looked happy as Ric set a plate in front of the boy. He picked up a piece and bit into it.
"You mean: Hello, Jenna, and Alaric. I missed you!" Jenna retorted, taking a seat across from Jeremy.
"Hey!" Jeremy continued to eat, forking up scrambled eggs. Them he looked up. "Are Kat and Lena gone?" He looked at us before he set his fork down. "They forgot me..."
"We can take you to school." Caroline said, moving to sit down beside Jeremy.
"Thanks," Jeremy muttered as Jenna set a glass of milk in front of him.
Bonnie returned while I tried to place a resistant Davina into a high chair. Giving up, I sat her in my lap and Ric scooped up some fruit for Davina to eat. She chewed on a strawberry, making a grab for a slice of my bacon. I dipped a slice of toast in milk and she chewed on that instead.
Overall, breakfast was quiet once Kat and Elena had left. But I could still feel Caroline's fears as she ate, her eyes on her plate.
Alaric took Jer upstairs to make sure the kid got ready in time and came down to hand Jer a bagged lunch. "Hope you like PB and J," Ric said.
"You remembered the apple?" Jenna called as Jeremy followed me to the door.
"Yes." Ric nodded.
"Have a good day at school, kids." Jenna waved to us as I closed the door.
"Jenna is such a mom." Jeremy kicked the sidewalk as he walked between me, and Caroline. Bonnie was in front of us, reading a book in one hand, and sipping a coffee drink in the other.
"She is..." Caroline shot me a look. And she did not have to tell me that she was worried about what would happen to the Gilbert household when Jenna and Ric returned to their lives.
~0~
School want by fairly quickly. Of course, it helped that my focus was on the end of the day, and not the rest...
"What are we doing after classes?" Caroline asked me. Our fingers were interwoven and we were breaking many of Mystic Falls High's no-PDA rules. It made me smile as our ankles wound one 'round the other. Bending over, I nestled my nose into her neck. "I thought perhaps we could drop by The Grill." Raising my eyes, I looked at Caroline.
Caroline nodded, dipping her head down and kissing me on the lips. She pulled back, several minutes later and nodded. "Yes."
I sat back, drawing Caroline's knuckles to my lips. My thoughts paused as the sound of a quiet argument made its way to us. "Lena, she's our friend-"
"We can sit with some her other day!" Elena Gilbert shot Damon a dark look. She had a tray of food. Well, it looked like she would eat lunch, at least. Her eyes flicked to us and then away. I watched her try to go in a different direction when Caroline called out: "Elena! Damon! Over here!" We always sat at this table. Caroline must know that Elena was trying to avoid us.
Bonnie came up behind them. "Hey!" she called. Now, Elena had no exit. She was trapped between Damon and Bonnie. The look of misery on her face made me pity her as she allowed Damon to pull her by the elbow to our table.
Damon sat across from me and Elena moved to the other side, to avoid having to sit across from Caroline. Bonnie's brows rose, but she sat down across from Caroline without comment.
Tension filled the air as Elena picked up her spork and twisted it to-and-fro in her mashed potatoes. I couldn't blame her. Our cafeteria wasn't known for its gourmet excellence.
However, Caroline sat forward, watching Elena intensely, until Elena dropped the spork, and looked back at Caroline. "What?" There was a challenge in Elena's eyes and in her tone.
"Elena, you have to eat." Caroline picked up her own spork. She scooped mashed potatoes, wrinkled her nose, but swallowed the food anyhow. She smiled at Elena who rolled her eyes.
Damon opened a package of potato chips. He pulled out a sour scream and chive flavored chip and popped it into his mouth. Then he noted Caroline staring at Elena. "What am I missing?" His blue eyes flicked from one side of the table to the other. When neither female would speak; Damon looked to me.
"Elena is not eating. Caroline is concerned," I summarized.
Damon looked to Elena. "You gotta eat, baby." He wrapped his free arm around the back of her chair and watched Elena.
Elena folded her arms over her chest. "I do eat. When. And how much is not anyone else's business."
"Elena!" Caroline cried. "Hurting yourself is not going to bring them back!" The blonde and the brunette glared at each other before Elena shoved her chair back and strode away.
"Caroline..." Bonnie shook her head.
Caroline blew out a breath and tossed her spork down. "This food sucks!"
"Let's skip this meal. We'll eat at The Grill." I watched Caroline nod.
"You're going to The Grill?" Damon's brows rose. "Sounds interesting."
"Could be." I shrugged.
~0~
When I came up with the plan to go to The Grill, it was only supposed to be me, Caroline, and Damon. Damon being Damon, decided to make it into a dare. And our group arrived it parts.
I walked in with Damon and Caroline. We moved towards a booth. Within ten minutes, I found myself a spot over in the corner as Bonnie and Enzo came to join us. Matt and Tyler were not far behind. "What's up?" Tyler asked cheerfully.
None of us answered him. The sound of an argument by the bar did. "You stole my tips!" A tall, blonde waitress snapped at Katherine. Both waitresses stood by the bar which had only two patrons because the dinner crowd had not come in yet. This made it all that much easier for my group to hear the entire exchange.
"The hell I did!" Kat snarled back. "Who do you think was hauling all of those refills back and forth! Huh? Maybe if you weren't too busy in the bathroom, not touching up your roots; you would have noticed!" A tiny smirk played at the corners of Kat's mouth.
The blonde scoffed, "New Girl, you have no idea how this line of work goes, do you?"
Kat shrugged. "Seems to me that people ask you for stuff and you bring it to them. Any child could do it."
"Really?" The blonde's brows rose. "Well, while you were hauling all of those refills, I had already taken those tables their drink orders. Their meals. After they changed their minds, gave me the wrong information and called me 'sweetheart' way too many times."
Kat rolled her eyes. "They must have liked me better, because I got the tips."
"From shaking your ass!" The blonde snapped.
"At least I have one to shake!" Kat moved to walk away when the blonde grabbed her by the elbow. "Get off me!"
"Give me my tips!" The blonde said, again, while Kat yanked out of the other girl's grip.
"What is going on here?" Elijah had just arrived, tying his apron around his waist.
Damon leaned toward me. "This should be good."
I inclined my head to the side, unsure what my brother would do.
"Elijah!" Both Kat and the other girl cried at the same time before giving each other dark looks.
"Elijah, can you, please, explain to Newbie, that you cannot just go around taking the tips of your fellow waitstaff?" The blonde asked, fluttering her eyelashes at my brother.
Kat pressed her hand to his arm. "Elijah, you know I don't steal petty cash."
"She was in my area!" The blonde snapped, glaring at Kat who stared back.
"Katherine, a word." Elijah waved to the other end of the bar. Kat smiled and made her way to the other end of the bar.
Now, they were too far away from me to catch what they were saying, but Kat's hands began to wave. Elijah ran his hand through his hair. The conversation ended and Kat did not look happy. She stomped to the end of the other end of the bar and dug a wad of cash out of her shorts' pocket. She slammed her closed fist on the bar top and then turned away. Her fellow waitress scooped the cash up and pocketed it. But this was not the end. Elijah came to join the blonde.
"Cassandra, Katherine is new. Please, allow her to learn. This does not need to be trial by fire." He shot the blonde pleading eyes. "She just lost her parents."
"Elijah, honey, that girl can not even marry the ketchups. She spilled so much of it, Ray had to go to the store, and buy some new ones. And would you like to know who cleaned up while Princess took a break 'cause her feet hurt?' ME!" Cassandra folded her arms over her chest. "There is only so much bull I will put up with, and that girl is full of it, and then some."
Elijah sighed. "I will talk with her."
"Talking won't make her do this job." Cassandra followed Elijah as he strode off.
The room was beginning to fill up and I wondered where our waitress was. Cassandra pushed away from the bar and spotted us. A big smile crossed her face. She strode over and pulled put a pad of paper and a pen. "Hello! What can I get you?"
"Nothing!" Caroline pushed at me until I was forced to move. Bonnie and Enzo vacated the booth and Caroline moved to sit three booths down. The rest of our group took our seats and waited. Cassandra appeared, again. "How about drinks?"
"Um. Could Katherine wait on us?" Caroline asked, peering around for Katherine.
Cassandra placed a hand on her hip and stared down at Caroline. "She's doing the outdoor area!" She pointed to the doors. "But... I could ask..." A slow smile formed on her lips that I did not like.
Soon, Kat came in and moved to our table. "What do you want?" she snapped at us. "I just got a table with good tippers!" She touched her pad with her pen, glaring at us.
"Cokes!" Caroline said.
"Chicken salad, with ranch dressing." Bonnie folded her menu.
"That's not food!" Caroline said.
"Bonnie opened her mouth when Damon held up his hands. "Cheeseburgers for all. And fries. And milkshakes!" Damon fell back in the booth with a smile.
"Damon will want chocolate-" Caroline began.
"Make that three!" Enzo held up an index finger.
"I want mint. Nik likes the Peanut Butter Blaster. Why, I don't know." Caroline looked to Bonnie.
"Strawberry with extra whip cream." The witch nodded and Kat rolled her eyes.
It took a long time to get our order. Part of this was because Kat forgot two Cokes. She brought water during the second round. "Coke!" Damon edged the water cup towards Kat who looked like she might bite him.
"Sorry, sir!" Kat snapped. She returned with the Cokes. Sitting one in front of Damon, she smiled before taking off.
"So, Tyler, enjoying the perks of being Head Jockass, yet?" Smirking, Damon brought the straw to his lips. He took a long sip and then he began to cough, his face screwing up. "Diet! Ew! Katherine!"
"Don't, Damon!" Caroline called, but it was too late. The manager had come over to stare at us.
"Is everything alright?" The manager inquired.
Caroline stared at Damon while I shook my head.
Damon grinned up at the manager. "Everything is just fine. Thank you, sir. I wanted to tell our waitress what a great job she's doing!"
Katherine saw her boss standing over us. Hurrying over, she sent our group a long look before she smiled widely. "I think I mixed up the drinks. Here. Let me exchange these." She sat a new drink in front of Damon.
Damon looked at the Sprite and smiled. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. The fries should be right up." Kat took off.
We watched as Cassandra managed to wait on tables and Kat nearly dumped our fries on an elderly woman. Bonnie lifted a finger and the tray stayed upright. "What is magic for?" Bonnie said.
Another thirty minutes later, we all had a sandwich in front of us. "Who wants the BLT?" Damon asked. Caroline took it. "Grilled chicken?" Bonnie took that one. "Bacon burger?" Tyler. "Hmm? Toasted cheese and tomato?" That one went to Matt. And the rest were what we ordered.
When the milkshakes came, we had another set of problems. Kat gave Bonnie my milkshake. She gave Tyler a half-chocolate and half-vanilla that no one had ordered. Enzo received a strawberry milkshake. Caroline got a root beer float. And I got a chocolate milkshake. Damon found himself empty handed.
We switched the desert aound in until everyone had what they'd ordered, or would eat. Kat came back with the check. Elijah followed her with a chocolate shake which he placed in front of Damon.
"Thank you, Elijah," Kat said, placing a hand on his arm. "You have been such a big help since you made me give away those tips."
"Katherine-'" my brother said, following her.
"Bathroom!" I muttered before getting up to spy on my brother and his ex. I found them in the stock room.
Kat shook her head. "I tried to get another job. The dentist did not want me as a receptionist. The library did not need me to stock shelves. Hell, the pet shop thought I might scare the puppies!"
"You did steal some, to sell for a new purse our sophomore year." Elijah's comment made Kat roll her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're trying. That is all you can do. This is not an easy job." He moved to wrap his arms around her. That was my cue to get the hell out.
Returning to our booth, I found that Caroline had begun to drink my milkshake. "Love, I thought you didn't like those."
Picking up a napkin, Caroline shrugged. "It was melting."
"You wouldn't let me eat it!" Damon told Caroline who rolled her eyes.
"Who's ready to go?" Damon asked, twenty minutes later.
"Me!" Everyone else said.
Bonnie moved to open her purse. "I dare you not to tip," Damon called.
"What? Why?" Bonnie's brows furrowed and she frowned.
"Trust us." Caroline waited until Bonnie and Enzo got up and I followed her. No, none of us left a tip. And soon we heard the reason why.
"You took the tips, again!" Cassandra called to Katherine.
Katherine shook her head. "No. I did not!"
"Then who did?" Cassandra placed her hands on her hips.
"We didn't tip!" Damon called to the waitresses.
"Oh! Those kids suck!" Cassandra said to Kat.
"That one dates my sister! He's horrible! And the girls are eating all the food in my fridge, like I'm made out money! I just got a job!" Kat grumbled.
"Poor you!" Cassandra took Kat's arm. "Let's go on break and split a plate of fries."
"You could use some!" Kat laughed.
"Look, we made them bond." Caroline said with a smile and the smile froze. "I don't think we can eat here when they're on shift." I grinned. It would be a good idea if we didn't. Who knew what those two would get up to.
~0~
Arriving back at the Gilberts, we found Elena and Jeremy sitting on the couch. They were watching a Halloween movie and sharing a bowl of popcorn. Although it looked like Jer was eating most of it. Damon moved to flop on the couch next to Elena. "Hey," he said.
"Hey." Elena continued to stare at the TV screen. Looking back at me and Caroline, Damon got up and made his way into the kitchen. Pulling the door open, he found a Coke and popped the top. "Lena, you want something to drink?" he called.
"No." Elena did not even bother to turn to look at her boyfriend.
"She hates me," Damon groaned.
"No. She doesn't," Caroline said, shaking her head.
Glancing at Elena, I reached in my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. "I Dare us all to make up for not tipping Kat." I pulled out a twenty, which was much more than I owed, but this was not about a real tip.
Soon money piled up and Bonnie produced an envelope from her backpack. She stuffed it and then ran upstairs to place the envelope in Kat's room.
Less than an hour later, Jenna, Alaric and the girls returned. They were followed by Kat, and Elijah, who carried a bag from The Grill. "We brought strawberry cream pie," Kat announced.
"Two," Elijah said.
"I could go for a slice," Enzo said.
"You drank a whole milkshake at The Grill." Kat rolled her eyes. "Fine." She walked into the living room. "Lena. Jer. Dinner."
Jeremy got up, but Elena continued to stare at the TV. E-len-a!" Kay snapped, "get off your ass!"
"I'm not hungry!" Elena said.
"I don't care. Get up. And go in there! If I have to, I will stand here all night!" Kat pointed at the kitchen.
Elena finally looked up. "I hate you!"
"Good!" Kat watched Elena as Elena got up and stormed into the kitchen.
"And anyone who wants to stay the night is welcome to!" Kat said, going into the kitchen. She took a burger, biting into it and groaning. "So good!" she moaned.
~0~
That night, I found my brother sneaking into Kat's room. He had an envelope in hand. Smirking, I went down to the guest room and gathered up a blanket. Damon and Enzo were staying over tonight. We'd decided to camp out in the living room. On the way back down the hall, I ran into Elijah. "Niklaus," he greeted me.
"Elijah," I nodded and went past him.
~0~
In the morning, Kat came down. She seemed to be in a good mood as she leaned down to press a kiss on Elijah's cheek. He'd made the decision to stay and catch up with Jenna and Alaric. "Good morning," she whispered to him.
"Good morning." They stared at each other for a long moment before a wail came from upstairs and Bonnie started to get up. "Go back to sleep," Kat called. "I've got this." And it seemed that she did.
Thank you for reading, following, reblogging, and following.
Be safe,
-J