Thank you for all your kind comments you guys :) I put the playlist on my profile, if anyone wants to check it out (and I'm going to quote some of the songs in later chapters).
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries
Sunday morning – I wanted to go for a walk. I was scared to go for a walk. Therefore, I ended up staring out the window instead. The trees were gorgeous in red and yellows like every year when autumn was in its prime.
Not wanting to go outside didn't work too well with the fact that I had to work at the Grill all day, but I knew I had to go. I glanced at the back gate for a second. There was no one there, I told myself, but the silhouette of someone standing there was etched in my mind.
Putting on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt for work I quickly checked the time. I didn't start until noon, but if I had to walk there then I didn't have much time to spare.
I went into the bathroom to rinse off my face and was met by my reflection in the mirror. My face had already turned a bit blue. It wasn't too bad though. What concerned me more was how tired I looked and how limp my hair was. I was surprised that mum hadn't really commented on it either – but on the other hand, she was used to both of us working too much.
''Ev, honey, are you up?'' my mother yelled from downstairs when I was finished in the bathroom. Without answering, I just walked down the stairs instead. She was in the kitchen doing the dishes from yesterday.
''How's the scrape?'' she asked when she heard me coming in.
''Okay, I guess,'' I replied and grabbed an apple that I started munching on.
She dried off her hands. ''Here, let me see.''
Submitting myself to her exam, she gently turned my head towards her and inspected at me closely. Then she gave me a pat on the shoulder telling me she thought it looked okay, before she got back to the dishes.
I sat down and ate my apple in silence.
''Do you want me to drive you?'' she asked over her shoulder.
I swallowed before answering. ''Yes please.''
''Is it twelve?''
I hummed to confirm and continued chewing.
I was really grateful. Sigh. I had to get my bike fixed. Sometimes the smallest tasks were the hardest, honestly.
When I got to work, I went to my locker and found Sarah there putting her apron on.
''Hey, you working today too?'' she smiled happily. ''Where've you been?'' She gasped when she saw my blueish face. ''Oh my god, what happened?''
I pulled the tie out of my hair and redid my pony tail so that it wasn't so sloppy-looking. Putting my apron on too, I met her gaze. ''Had a bit of a... '' I paused. ''Don't really know what to call it. And then I fell with my bike.''
''Looks like it hurt,'' she said.
''Nah,'' I shrugged. ''Not too bad. My bike's a complete mess though, I had to get my mother to drive me here.''
''Wow, that sucks,'' Sarah frowned. ''By the way, your mum asked for you.''
''Yeah, I know, she told me,'' I said. I was beginning to get the feeling she wouldn't stop fishing just yet. She was overly curious by nature.
''Were you somewhere interesting?''
''Girls!'' a voice shouted from the doorway. Saved by the Roberta. ''I need you out there!''
I quickly tossed everything into my locker and closed it.
''She's going crazy,'' Sarah whispered to me. ''Apparently we're undermanned, even though they brought in extras.''
There was a memorial being held in the town square for those who'd been killed recently. Some of them were victims of Rose just before she'd died, others, I didn't know. I hadn't really reacted to how many people actually got hurt in this town until I got involved in all of this.
The Grill was busier than usual. It was a Sunday, sure, but the memorial probably had something to do with it too. Carol Lockwood had planned it very quickly, basically in one day – and the whole town square was crowded with people who wanted to pay their respects. Pete had even set up a table inside the restaurant for people to put flowers and candles.
We were five working the tables; Sarah, Matt and I as well as two other girls who I hardly ever saw. They were probably called in for emergencies like this one.
I didn't really have time to stop and talk to people, except for taking orders, and I didn't keep track of who was coming and going either. I was actually kind of happy about that, because that meant that I didn't have any time to think or ponder about Elijah and that whole situation. Working was a much needed break.
Darting between the tables I grabbed finished dishes and asked if people wanted refills or anything else by pure automatism. I was in such a rush that I didn't even see that it was Jenna and Mr. Saltzman I was taking orders from.
''Oh, hi!'' I gasped in surprise. Then I immediately remembered Jenna taking a trip to the hospital after that knife accident. ''Hi, Jenna, how are you?''
''Fine, thanks','' she smiled. ''How's your mum?
''She's good,'' I looked to her company. ''Mr. Saltzman.''
''Evangeline,'' he said in greeting. I bet he knew all about me knowing all about him. The fact that he didn't say something had me guessing that Jenna was probably being kept out of all of this, which sounded like a good idea.
''What can I get you guys?'' I said and grabbed the notepad from the pocket in my apron.
''I'll take the burger,'' Jenna said, who'd obviously made up her mind quickly. ''And water.''
Mr. Saltzman nodded in agreement. ''Yeah, me too.''
''Sure thing!'' I smiled and stuck the pencil behind my ear and walked off to deliver the order to the kitchen.
It was strange, seeing Mr. Saltzman now. I mean, there was no way I could ever look at him with the same eyes again – Alaric Saltzman, vampire hunter? I shuddered. All these new things being thrown at me had me constantly wondering if people actually were who they claimed to be.
The hours ticked by. I'd started working at around noon and now the clock was almost six. The place had been completely filled all day, and it was only now that the crowd started to thin out.
''Boy, am I gonna need a massage after this,'' Sarah complained and sat down on a chair behind the counter, rubbing her lower back in slow, circular motions. ''Those breaks we're allowed aren't helping.'' She yawned and looked at me. ''How are you even still standing?''
I shrugged. ''Maybe because you take your car everywhere and I have... sorry, had, my bike?''
''Right, when are you going to get that fixed?''
''As fast as possible?'' I said hopefully. I was thinking about bringing it in tomorrow, cause the place is closed on weekends.''
Sarah gave me the thumbs of from where she was sitting, before her face wrinkled in annoyance. ''I have to get back to work now, don't I?''
''Yep,'' I chuckled. ''But come on, we've only got two hours left.''
''I don't want to,'' she groaned, but she went anyway. I let my eyes sweep across my tables and found that Jeremy and Bonnie had sat down at one of them.
From the small amount of time I'd spent with Bonnie, I'd found out that she was really nice. And considerate. I mean, she didn't just assume that I would understand everything right away.
''Hey, Ev!'' Jeremy apparently decided to go with the nickname most people who knew me called me by – except for maybe my mother. I didn't mind.
I met his big grin with a smile of my own. One couldn't help but be affected by Jeremy Gilbert when he was happy.
''Hi, Jeremy – Bonnie,'' I smiled at the both of them. ''Nice to see you.''
''How are you?'' Jeremy asked. ''I mean, with everything that's been going on.''
''Okay, I guess,'' I said slowly, making a face.
''I hope they haven't been too intense,'' he chuckled and threw a glance at Bonnie.
''Hey!'' she reached over the table and slapped his arm.
Laughing, I grabbed my pen from behind my ear and brought out the notepad. ''What can I get you guys?''
While I wrote down their orders, Jeremy continued chatting casually. I noticed that he still had faint marks on his neck, they looked just like mine, from when he'd been crazy – or brave – enough to go into the tomb where Katherine was.
It was the smallest things, like the marks on Jeremy's neck or the mere sight of Mr. Saltzman – or just anyone with a scarf around their necks, that made me painfully aware of what was out there in the world.
''Hey, you there?'' Jeremy waved his hand in front of my face.
I blinked. ''Yeah.'' I cleared my throat. ''Sorry?''
He chuckled. ''Don't work too hard. You've been here a while already, haven't you?''
I nodded. ''Yeah, I guess. I should go drop this off,'' I pointed at the note in my hand, ''so you guys can get your food.''
''We won't keep you,'' Jeremy smiled. ''It was nice to see you.''
''You too,'' I smiled back at the two of them and scurried off to leave the note to Pete.
As it got closer and closer to the end of my shift, the amount of people started to drop as well. When I'd finally gathered my last glasses, I hurried to get out of my apron and finally go home. As I was untying the ribbon behind my back, Sarah came into the locker room and collapsed with the loudest sigh I'd ever heard. I would've laughed, if I weren't so beat myself.
''That was literally the worst day?''
I hummed in response, busy folding my apron.
''Hey, do you want a ride home?''
''Wouldn't it be a detour?''
''Nope,'' she said, popping the p. ''Come on, let's go.''
''No, no, no,'' she yelled. ''Come on!''
The engine rumbled one last time, before some very disturbing noises could be heard and then it just shut itself down.
''Well, that's just peachy,'' Sarah muttered sarcastically. ''I'm sorry, Ev.''
''Don't worry about it,'' I said. We weren't far from my house, but Sarah's car had broken down in the middle of the street. ''We should probably call someone.''
''Or knock on a door somewhere,'' she suggested. We were on a street with lots of houses.
''I don't know anything about cars,'' I said, a bit ashamed. I had a driver's license, after all, and I should know how the car in itself worked and all that. Except, I didn't.
''Me neither,'' she confessed. ''I just drive.''
We burst into laughter at the same time.
''Well... I'll do whatever you want to do,'' I continued after collecting myself, looking at her expectantly.
''Okay, then let's just call someone.''
She was just about to pick up her phone when there was a knock on the window. We both shrieked at the same time and I practically felt my heart leap into my throat. I couldn't see who it was, because it was on Sarah's side.
''Don't open!'' I whispered frantically, but she seemed to think that it was okay.
''Hello. I live just over there and noticed your car breaking down, and I thought I'd come see if I could be of assistance.''
I knew that voice.
''Sarah, Sarah, pull down the window,'' I urged her, desperately reaching over her body to try and reach the button on the door.
''What are you talking about, it's fine?'' she looked at me like I was crazy. ''I've seen him around before.''
''No, you don't-'' I tried, but it was no use. Sarah had already gotten out of the car to speak with him.
''Ev, come on,'' she called through the still open window.
The only reason I got out of the car was to make sure that Sarah was okay. That was the only reason. My instincts told me to stay in the car, and if not that, run.
''Hello,'' I heard a melodic voice say from in front of the car. I was scared to look at him. Ever since being kidnapped, I'd only thought I'd seen him. I had decided not to pass it off as just hallucinations, but this still wasn't the same. If I looked at him, then it would truly become real.
''Ev, this is Elijah. He's gonna take a look at the car,'' Sarah explained. ''So that we can get home.'' She looked at me pointedly.
I finally dared to raise my gaze, and there he was.
Elijah.
He was wearing what looked like the exact same outfit as last time I saw him – a dark suit jacket and shirt, and his dark hair combed neatly. He doesn't live here, he couldn't. But what do I know? Maybe he does, maybe he...
''Pleased to make your acquaintance,'' he nodded, the hint of a smile on his lips.
I didn't answer. I must've gone into shock or something. Sarah nudged me in the side. ''What's up with you?''
''Let me take a look at your car,'' Elijah said, and lifted the hood in one swift motion.
My instincts were still telling me to run – but Sarah had no idea. She was still giving me worried looks, probably thinking I'd gone mad. And I couldn't tell her what it was.
''You would most likely be best off calling for a mechanic.''
I bet he didn't even look at the engine, he just opened the hood.
''Okay, great, then let's do that. Sarah?'' I rushed around the car, not turning my back against him, and opened the door to the drivers seat for her.
She stared at me, and I stared right back, not budging. ''Fine.''
But before she got into the car she looked to Elijah with a smile and thanked him.
''I sincerely hope help will arrive soon,'' he smiled back at her. Gosh, he looked almost human.
When I finally dared meet his eyes again, he looked right back at me, lifting his chin a little. ''Have a good night.''
I kept my eyes on his back until I couldn't see him anymore.
''What was that about?'' Sarah hissed.
''I-I...'' I gulped, trembling. I was being backed up against a wall and didn't know what to say.
''Seriously, he was being perfectly nice?''
''Look, let's just call someone.''
Sarah made the call, and we had to wait for about twenty minutes until a tow truck came and got her car. Me, refusing to walk home, managed to get offered a ride to my house and then Sarah went with the mechanic and her car.
We didn't talk much, mostly because I was in what I guessed was a shock. I'd just not just seen, but met, Elijah. And he'd appeared and went away so quickly. Just like all the other times – except, this time, he didn't just watch me.
I thought that I had forgotten his voice, but when I heard it again, it was like the day in that horrible old house came all back. He hadn't done anything to hurt us, but that didn't matter. Just the fact that I somehow seemed to have gotten stuck with him – because he had some master game plan that made him want to know every player in that game – made a cold shiver dun down my spine.
When I got home, I ran into the house, locked the front door, and then hurried up the stairs and into my bed. I sent a quick text to Elena:
Just ran into Elijah.
I waited and I waited, but I didn't get any answer. Eventually, I was practically drenched in cold sweat, but my phone hadn't lit up at all. I desperately threw it on the rug beside my bed.
I started wringing my hands. I could feel my heart beating in my ears and it only went faster, and faster. Shivering, I thought that an extra blanket might help, but it didn't. My breaths were getting shorter and more ragged and the sound of the sweep hand on the clock on my wall stressed me up even more, for some reason.
I'd never had a panic attack in my whole life, but this was as close as I think I'd come to one. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where to look, what to think, if I should sit or lie down and everything was chaos in my head and I couldn't sort any of it out.
Eventually, being after about ten minutes or so, my breathing calmed down.
I was still scared. I had barely been aware of throwing my phone away, so I slowly, with a trembling body and shaking hands, bent down to pick it up. It wasn't broken, thankfully.
At first, I had trouble making out what the screen said. All I could tell was that it lit up – but after a few seconds my eyes managed to make out that I still hadn't received an answer from Elena.
Putting it away, I gingerly brought my knees up and hugged them close. I tried to take as deep breaths as I could, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
I didn't know what to do.
I really didn't.
Yeah, I know - a little strange... But hopefully it will make sense in the long run :P
