Hi everyone... I've had a really bad past month, that's why I've been MIA. To make a long story short, I've been really sick and went to the hospital two times, and I've had to put everything on hold for a while. I'm recovering, though – hopefully. So, that's why I haven't updated in a while.

Oh, by the way, 300+ follows! Thank you so much :)

Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries


''Evangeline, you need to get up – you don't want to be late for work!''

Mum wasn't working today, but I was. That is, if I could get out of bed sometime soon. I hadn't gotten much sleep. By now, I'd been awake for over an hour, just staring at the ceiling with my security blanket of a teddy bear in my arms, and thinking about last night. I still couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I'd been victim to a blitz-visit from Elijah. Out of all the ways he'd make contact, he chose that moment? Why?

I really needed to get myself together.

The way I'd reacted last night, it must've been shock. I never lost it like that, never. I think that it was the fact that I knew how dangerous he was, and that I didn't know what to expect from him. It was the not-knowing that had me going crazy. I mean, I didn't even know if he'd kept his word and gotten Stefan out of the tomb...

I finally mustered the strength to roll over and reach out for my phone. Still no text from Elena. I sighed, rolling back onto my back again.

The only other number I had was Damon's and I really didn't feel comfortable talking to him. I knew that I wasn't really a part of their group – but this was making me anxious... the not knowing anything.

''Evangeline!'' my mother shouted again and knocked hard on my door.

''I'm coming,'' I mumbled and rolled over, burying my head in my pillow. I stayed like that for a minute, and then I basically just kept on turning and fell straight out of bed. I stood up and brushed myself off. I really needed to get some vacuuming done in here.

When I got downstairs, mum was sitting by the table having her usual ten o'clock coffee.

''You should cut down on your coffee consummation,'' I commented and dragged myself across the floor to get a bowl of cereal. How was I going to get through this? I was beginning to feel like I had a headache coming on, too.

''And you look like you could need some coffee,'' she retorted. ''Are you tired?''

I nodded slowly. Sitting down next to her, I began munching on my petite breakfast. I could see mum's eyes drifting from the morning paper to the bowl in front of me.

''Don't forget to eat.''

''What does it look like I'm doing?''

Mum sighed. ''You know what I mean.''

I kept my eyes down, avoiding her gaze. ''I know. Sorry.''

''Do you want me to drive you?''

''Sure,'' I answered shortly.

She immediately put the paper down completely and took one last sip from her coffee mug before putting that down as well.

''Okay, what's wrong?''

Yeah, I was for sure getting a headache. I placed my fingers on my temples and rubbed slowly.

''Are you sick?''

I shrugged, finally meeting my mother's concerned eyes. ''Headache.''

It was often quite obvious when I had had enough of something, or if I was feeling under the weather. At least if I was around people I was completely comfortable with. Like now, I usually resorted to one-word-sentences.

''Do you need some aspirin?'' my mother frowned. I shook my head. Maybe it would pass. Hopefully.

Mum rose from her chair and walked out into the hallway. I could hear her rummaging through our medicine cabinet and when she came back the pushed a small carton in my hand.

''Bring this,'' she ordered, ''in case you need it.''

''Thanks,'' I mumbled.

When mum went to get dressed so she could drive me to work, I glanced out the window. It was raining. Normally, I enjoyed rain, but not when I had to bicycle in it to get to work and home.

Mum and I both sprinted to the car and slammed the doors shut as soon as mum had gotten dressed and I'd fetched my coat.

''I can drop your bike off at the shop if you'd like,'' mum offered and glanced at me from the driver's seat.

''Oh,'' I said in surprise. I'd actually forgotten about that. ''You don't have to...''

''Don't worry, honey,'' she smiled at me and then turned her eyes back to the road in front of us.

I was quiet for the rest of the ride. Mum tried to start a few conversations, keeping on asking me how I was. I didn't know what to answer, and I didn't have the strength to answer, so after only getting a few short answers she gave up.


Business was slow today, because it was work and school hours. On weekdays, we usually had a few people in for lunch and then some strays picking up coffees or something else to go. Not many actually sat down and had a drink or meal.

So, what I basically did for money on days like these – besides waiting on eventual customers – was sit by the bar and try to look like I wasn't falling asleep from boredom. And this was after walking around the tables and making sure the cutlery and salt and pepper cellars were perfectly aligned to the edge of the tables. If I had known how to make swans out of napkins I would have.

Obviously, when I had nothing to do, neither did the rest of the staff. At least I wasn't alone. It was only me and two others working, and I was the only waitress.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Pete nudging my shoulder before he did it a second time.

''Hey, there's a guy over there, don't fall asleep,'' he chuckled.

''Huh?'' I blinked.

Pete grabbed the top of my head and turned it towards one of the tables by the far edge of the restaurant. He was right, there was someone sitting there, but I couldn't see who it was.

''Oh,'' I made a surprised sound. Collecting myself quickly, I stood up and tightened my pony tail. ''Sorry. Thanks. Um...''

Pete looked at me with a worried look in his eyes. ''Hey, you okay?''

''Yeah,'' I forced a smile. ''Yeah, just tired.''

''I don't blame you,'' Pete replied with a grin. ''It's dead here.''

Pete headed back into the kitchen, and I managed to muster some energy so that I could get to work again.

''Hi, can I get you anything?'' I asked as I came up to the man, who was sitting with his back towards me. I greeted him before I saw his face, but when he spoke my whole body went cold as ice.

''Please, sit down.''

Elijah smiled at me politely, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Did he ever smile like that?

I stared at him. I had so many things to say at the tip of my tongue, so many questions on why he was so interested in me, but I was too afraid to say anything.

''There is no one that needs tending to,'' he raised his eyebrow and gestured towards the empty tables. ''Sit. Please.''

''We aren't supposed to sit down with guests,'' I practically whispered, because I was still in a bit of a shock.

Elijah looked at me solemnly. ''I don't think that is a problem,'' he said, yet again referring to the empty restaurant.

I reluctantly obliged, almost in a daze, and sank down on the chair farthest from him.

''It's a pleasure to meet you again, Evangeline.''

''You remember my name,'' I said in a weak voice.

''Of course,'' he said as if it was obvious. My eyes went to his hands, as he was playing with a ring on his finger. Not many men wore rings now-a-days if they weren't married.

He must've heard my heartbeat or something, because he raised his eyebrow at me. ''I'm not here to hurt you.''

I let my eyes meet his briefly. The times I'd met him, he'd always seemed so calculating, and that was something you especially noticed in his eyes. But I couldn't for the life of me figure out what else he was thinking.

''You're one of the one's on Elena list of loved ones to protect,'' he continued, keeping his dark eyes on me.

That actually surprised me a bit. Part of me almost thought she'd forgotten about me, but apparently she hadn't. If one could trust whatever came out of Elijah's mouth, of course – but I think that I did. Trust him, that is. At least, if I followed my gut feeling.

''Did I frighten you?''

I frowned. ''What?''

''At the mansion... Last night.''

''Yes,'' I replied truthfully after a few seconds. I really wasn't sure how to behave around him. I mean, just last night I had a total mental breakdown, and now I actually managed to speak to him in a somewhat coherent way?

Elijah studied me intently. His brown eyes felt like they saw every tiny little part of me, like nothing went unnoticed. ''Are you frightened now?''

''A little.''

''Only a little? I'm surprised.''

''What normal person wouldn't be?'' I shivered.

''Ah,'' he said, and leaned back. ''But you are not normal, are you?''

I didn't answer. Instead, I looked down at my hands which unconsciously had formed into fists, and my knuckles were turning white from how hard I squeezed.

Elijah chuckled.

''What are you?''

''I already told you,'' I mumbled. ''I don't know.''

''And I'm not sure that I believe you,'' he challenged.

''Well, you should. I'm a terrible liar.''

I don't know what came over me. I was supposed to be frightened – I mean, I was – so where did that come from? I didn't think I was brave enough to let stuff like that out, but it had happened several times now. I didn't like that he both had me afraid and comfortable enough to let out my true self at the same time.

''Is that so?'' Elijah asked.

I nodded. Elijah was still spinning the ring on his finger. When he noticed my eyes darting towards it, the corner of his mouth twitched.

''An answer for an answer.''

I felt my forehead crease. ''Excuse me?''

''An answer for an answer,'' he repeated simply. ''I know you have questions.''

''I already gave you an answer.''

Elijah cleared his throat and looked away for a second, making me let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding in. When he looked back at me again, his eyes were darker. At first, I thought he was going to try compelling me again – but he already knew that didn't work. No, that's not was he was doing... But I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Was he angry? Confused? Frustrated? I rarely met people who were this good at controlling their emotions.

I noticed a small frown appearing on his face, and just when I did, he stood up in one swift and elegant motion. He looked down at me, a stray piece of hair falling down from his otherwise perfect hairdo.

''Remember. An answer for an answer.''

And then he was gone.

I sat there for what seemed like forever. Completely in a daze, I forgot all about work and I didn't pay any attention to anything around me. An answer for an answer. What did he mean? That we were going to play twenty questions?

One thing was certain. I wasn't going to be rid of Elijah anytime soon, not by the sound of him.

It was the strangest thing. The more I saw of him, the more I began to let loose and speak my mind. I wasn't frozen in fear, despite it always being there, keeping my guard up. Breaking down yesterday seemed ages away. However, that was probably also due to a massive amount of built of stress... I knew that I was able to get a pretty good idea of people's honesty and however they were feeling even without touching them – but with Elijah, that was impossible.

''Hey!'' someone shook me suddenly.

''Huh?'' I looked up and found myself staring straight at Pete, standing by the table with his hands on his waist.

''If Roberta saw you like this...'' he began, and I tried to get rid of the icky feeling I had in my whole body as I stood up.

''I know, I know,'' I groaned and rubbed my forehead. ''It won't happen again.''

Pete smiled. ''Want to play some cards before people start coming in?''

I got myself together surprisingly quickly. It was easier when I had something to focus on. ''What if Roberta saw us?'' I joked.

Pete met my gaze with a dead serious look on his face. ''Then we're toast.''

''You know she'll just tell us not to do it and then go back to her own work?'' I laughed, feeling a little lighter, despite the slight tremble in my voice.

He grinned. ''Yeah, but she can be really terrifying when she means business.''

Luckily, Roberta never left her office until later in the day, when my shift was nearing its end, so Pete and I got away with playing cards and chatting for quite a long period of zero customers. It was a good distraction, and at some times I actually didn't have Elijah on my mind at all. And even though he never came back, I still found myself throwing glances at the door every now and then.


The raining had stopped by the time I finished work, so I decided to walk home just so I could be alone and not have to cope with my mothers questions. When I got home at eight, I saw my bike leaned up against our garage door. I walked up to it to get a closer look – and it seemed almost brand new.

I rang the bell by the door, because I was to lazy to dig up my keys. My mother let me in after a few seconds.

''They fixed it fast,'' I stated, referring to the bike, hanging up my coat and bending down to take off my shoes.

''Yeah, it took like twenty minutes,'' mum answered.

''Thank you,'' I said and locked the door before giving her a quick hug. ''I was going to do it myself, but...''

''Ah!'' she interrupted me quickly. ''I told you not to worry about it. Want to watch TV?''

I smiled in relief. Anything to get my mind of Elijah, I would agree to. Well, almost anything. I just needed a break from my own mind sometimes, no matter how important whatever was stuck in there was.

''Yeah, that sounds good.''

When we were both nestled in under a blanket on the sofa watching our usual shows, mum asked me how I was doing.

''Better,'' I said slowly. ''I've just had a lot on my mind.''

''Is it that guy?'' she pried, eyeing me curiously.

I debated whether or not to talk to her about it. Leaving out certain details, of course. Finally, I decided to just go with it.

''I can't tell what he's feeling.''

I could tell mum wanted to smile by the twitching in her face muscles, but she controlled herself.

''Do you mean his feelings towards you or...''

''No, no,'' I hurried to cut her off. She thought I was seeing someone, I knew that, but I there was only so many lies I could come up with, and I really didn't want to go down that road. ''Like, overall. I can't tell if he's irritated or happy or whatever, you know?''

She hummed. ''Some people aren't as open as others, honey. Not everyone show their feelings to others.''

''I know,'' I sighed. ''But it really bugs me.''

Mum put her arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to her. ''Don't worry, honey. The more you hang around someone, the more you get to know the real them. You just have to get to know him better, that's all.''

I was glad she couldn't see my face when I grimaced. Get to know him better, yeah, sure. That really sounds appealing.

Instead of fretting too much about it, I turned my attention back to the screen. Elijah was stuck in my head and I didn't like it. And what I especially didn't like was how I couldn't tell what his intentions were because I'd never met anyone with that kind of control over themselves. I guess that's what a thousand years of living does to people. If I was to get any sleep tonight, I knew I had to get him out of my mind... so thank god for reality shows.