Thank you for all your kind comments :) I'm still not quite well, but at least it's a bit better. Enjoy this next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries


I was staring at an empty classroom. All around me was that eerie silence right before the bell rang and a more familiar buzz spread through the hallways. I glanced at my phone. The class didn't start until in five minutes, so they'd start pouring in soon enough.

I lifted my phone up in front of my face and turned on the front camera. The bruise on my chin was gone by now, so I'd been told, but I guess my mind still made me see some discolouration in the skin.

Mrs. Cooper was coming back from her leave, so this was the last class I had. Well, as a long-time substitute, that is. I chewed the inside of my cheek absentmindedly. If Elena was here, or maybe Bonnie, I had to talk to them.

A few minutes after the bell rang the students trudged in one after another. It was kind of strange, I had to admit, to step back into the teaching role again when I saw Elena, Stefan, Caroline and Bonnie take their seats and place their books in front of them. So Elijah had kept his word about Stefan? He was obviously not stuck in a tomb anymore.

''Has anyone seen Tyler today?'' I asked as I took attendance.

''I don't think he's here,'' Isaac said.

''He's not,'' Caroline jumped in. I glanced at her, but her eyes were glued to the desk in front of her.

''Okay...'' I finished crossing off the rest of the names, before I placed the sheet on the desk and turned to the class. ''Alright, guys, this is the last lesson you'll have to finish your texts. So, let's not waste any time?''

When they sat working by themselves, I usually didn't have too much to do. Most of them didn't really need any help, especially at the end of an assignment, like now. It really did feel awkward to teach Elena and everyone, when they were teaching me on their end.

I wondered if Elena had gotten my text. I mean, maybe she didn't, and I was just fretting over nothing. Or she had to much going on. I wasn't in on everything that happened, and I still wasn't quite sure if I wanted to…. There were just so many questions running about in my head.

After class, Elena lingered behind.

''I'm sorry,'' she said before I had the chance to even open my mouth. ''There's just been so much happening, I forgot to talk to you.'' She looked like she was genuinely sorry.

I shrugged. ''It's okay.''

''No, it's not.'' She sighed. ''Are you okay?''

''Well,'' I began. ''Elijah payed me a visit. Two, actually.''

Elena stared at me wide-eyed. ''Two times?''

I hummed in reply.

''What did he want?''

''The first time he just... appeared,'' I frowned. I hadn't really made sense of it myself yet. ''Sarah's car broke down, and then he was just... there. And then the second time was yesterday at the Grill.''

''Okay...'' Elena said slowly. ''And?''

''I don't know,'' I sighed in frustration. ''He wants to know what I am. I don't even know that!'' If I were a cartoon figure, I'd be pulling my hair by now. I glanced at the clock on the wall, to make sure another class wasn't about to begin.

Elena looked deep in thought; her dark eyes penned to the floor.

''What is it?'' I asked.

She looked up after a second, a deep crease on her forehead. ''I just remembered what Rose said.''

''Okay?''

''That Elijah wants to know about everyone part in this whole mess.''

''But I'm not-''

''You're getting there,'' she interrupted me. ''Unfortunately. And besides, I don't think he cares.''

''What do you mean?''

''Well, he came across someone supernatural and he doesn't know what you are.''

''Hasn't he lived for a thousand something years?''

''I think that just it,'' Elena said. ''If you've lived for that long and bump into something you haven't encountered before, wouldn't you be curious?''

''I guess...'' I answered in a low voice. ''When you put it like that.'' My phone vibrated in my pocket but I ignored it. ''I still don't know what to make of it.''

''Elijah's up to something, I just don't know what.'' Elena chewed on her bottom lip. ''He got Stefan out, though.''

''I noticed. But what does that mean?''

She shrugged. ''I think he keeps whatever he promises.''

''Should I be worried?'' I asked. ''If he shows up again, I mean.''

''I don't think so,'' she said slowly, furrowing her brows. ''He's been very... surprising. But I still don't know what he wants, exactly. My guess though...'' she paused and looked right into my eyes. ''He'll do anything to make it happen.''

A shiver ran down my spine.

''But we're good?'' Elena asked after a while of silence and, frankly, I was grateful for the change of topic. I felt like I'd had my fair share of Elijah-related business these last couple of days.

I nodded. ''Yeah.''

''Shake on it?''

I stared at her reached out hand and, as I usually did in these kinds of situations, froze. ''Um...''

Her eyes widened and she wrinkled her nose. ''Sorry. I forgot.''

''Don't worry,'' I chuckled nervously. ''You're not the only one. I forget sometimes, too.''

''You do?'' she asked curiously.

I sat down on the desk and took the chance to swing my legs back and forth. ''Yep. When you can't really touch people, you realise how important physical contact is in social situations.''

Elena sat down opposite from me. ''Isn't it hard?''

''Yeah,'' I confirmed. ''It kind of sucks, actually.''

''But do you think you could, like... control it, somehow? I mean... what you did for Rose, that worked, right?''

I frowned. ''It did, yeah... but I wasn't really sure of what I was doing. And besides that, I've tried... a few times. But I really can't move past like an 30-70 percent chance that I might or might not accidentally transfer what I'm feeling to someone else.''

''I wish I could help you,'' she mumbled.

Smiling slightly, I jumped off the desk and got to gathering my things.

''I really don't know what there is to do. I mean, Bonnie didn't find anything, so...''

''Are you sure you aren't just afraid to practice because you've always it at a distance?'' a voice sounded from the doorway. We turned our heads towards the girl speaking, and my heart skipped a beat. That was pure instinct, and I didn't like it. I didn't want to jump, not even for a second, at the sight of her.

''Hey Car,'' Elena smiled, but I noticed her throwing a quick glance at me. I had reconciled with Caroline... sort of.

''Hi,'' the blonde replied chipperly. She then carefully turned to me. ''So?''

''Huh?''

''What I said,'' she repeated. ''Maybe you can't control it because you're scared of using your powers.''

She had a point. I'd spent my whole life suppressing my emotions and never really tried to practice properly. What control I had was most dependent what I had to learn. Like: don't touch others, try get to keep a low profile and stay away from extremely sad or angry people.

''I am.''

''Scared?'' Elena asked.

''Yeah.''

I hugged the binder in my arms. ''We should probably get out of here, class starts soon.''

Elena frowned at me worriedly. ''Okay...'' She could tell that I didn't want to talk about it anymore. ''Can I call you tonight?''

Nodding, I erased some things I'd written on the board during class and started walking towards the door.

''Good,'' she smiled.

''Oh!'' Caroline blurted out suddenly. ''Are you going to the Grill now?''

''Mhm,'' I confirmed and looked at her. ''Why?''

''I was just wondering...'' her blue eyes met mine, and I could tell she hesitated. ''If you see Matt, could you tell him I've been looking for him?''

She looked so nervous and sad that she almost didn't seem the same person. I mustered the warmest smile I had to offer. ''Sure, no problem.''

Caroline let out a relieved sigh. ''Oh, thanks.''

''Now, scoot.''

''Teacher mode on, we get it,'' Elena laughed along with Caroline, and when they headed off to their next class, I took the bike to the Grill.


Matt wasn't at work when I got there, but Sarah was. She greeted me with a grin. ''Hey, didn't you get my text?''

''I haven't checked,'' I said and pulled my phone out. When I skimmed it my hands went cold.

''He's really nice, but he's at your table and haven't ordered yet so...'' Sarah made a face.

I looked over her shoulder and sure thing – there he was. ''Again?'' I whispered.

''What, he's been here before?'' Sarah asked, clearly interested. ''You've got something going on?''

''Oh, no,'' I shook my head quickly. ''Nope. No.''

Sarah laughed. ''Yeah, right.''

I ignored her. I tried to ignore Elijah, too, but after a while Roberta had thrown me enough angry looks to make me think she'd cut down on my shifts if I didn't attend one of the customers.

''Hello, Evangeline,'' he greeted politely.

I braced myself. ''Elijah.''

''What would you like?''

''Polite,'' he noted.

I looked at him, grey eyes meeting brown. ''I... I like to think that you should treat people the way you want to be treated.''

I saw the ghost of a smile appear on his face. ''Well, then. A cup of tea, if you would.''

''Green, black...?'' I trailed off.

''Black, please.''

I nodded. ''I'll be right back.''

As soon as I'd left I let out a heavy breath. But the feeling didn't last long. I was back at his table after a minute or two with a steaming cup in my hands. When I put it down, a wave of relief washed over me because my hands had been so shaky that I might've dropped it.

''Would you like to sit down with me?'' he offered and gestured toward the chair in front of him.

''I'm afraid that I'm working,'' I mumbled.

Elijah looked around. ''There is no one else here. And two waitresses.'' I looked around as well. He was right. I sat down, albeit reluctantly. A part of me knew that I... I kind of had to.

''So, Evangeline,'' he began. ''What is your role in all of this?''

I frowned. I hadn't gotten that question before. ''How do you mean?''

He took a sip from his cup of tea. When he put it down without a clink, he said: ''Well, there are the vampires. And then there are the werewolves and the witches... this town really is a hot spot, is it not?''

''I guess...''

''And somehow, you got yourself entangled in all of this. A human.''

I tried my hardest to keep a straight face, but it was hard. With his excelled hearing and vision, he had to hear my heart beat, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could see the tiny drops of sweat on my forehead, too.

I stayed quiet. Elijah tilted his head slightly.

''Hm... You want to know what I think?''

I didn't answer, but he continued anyway.

''You're not like the other humans involved,'' he stated, leaning back in his chair, and keeping his eyes locked on me. ''You are human, for certain. Yet, you're different.''

''Well...,'' I said slowly, surprising myself again with what came out of my mouth, ''I'm a girl.''

''I know,'' he stated, and I felt a crease creep up on my forehead.

Elijah leaned forward over the table, his eyes piercing mine. I was almost too afraid to look away. ''I have a feeling... that you are not telling me the whole truth.'' Hadn't we already had this conversation, a few times even?

I sat completely still for a second or two. He looked very... very predatory, and I wasn't keen on getting him angry. I knew what he was capable of. Eventually I broke eye contact and felt a chill down my spine.

He leaned back again. ''You asked me what I wanted.''

''Huh?'' I let out a confused sound, involuntarily.

''The night when you fell with you bicycle.''

So it was him.

''I want to know what you are,'' he said simply. He'd said that before, I knew that he wanted to know, but...

''I've tried to find it out pretty much my entire life,'' I finally let out. ''So I promise, I don't know.'' I'd already told him that, too.

''What can you do?''

I frowned. Elijah cleared his throat and continued. ''Let me rephrase... What powers do you possess?''

''Why should I tell you?'' I dared, but my voice shook, and by the look of the small smile on his lips, he heard it.

''Ask me something.''

''What?''

''Ask me something. Anything.''

''Um...'' I paused. If he was serious about this 20 questions deal, then I shouldn't waste it on trivial things. But what to ask? I glanced at him, and his dark eyes were still on me, waiting. Challenging.

''Why are you here?''

''I am here to speak with you,'' he answered shortly.

''I didn't mean here, here, but in town,'' I retorted, slightly irritated.

''You got one question,'' Elijah said. ''And one answer.''

I sighed. ''That hardly qualifies as-''

''We never did call it a deal,'' he stopped me mid-sentence.

By now, he'd almost stopped scaring me and just started driving me mad. I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him, when I got into it.

''Any questions you have, I will answer,'' Elijah promised. ''If you do the same.''

I swear, when he reached out his hand over the table I stopped breathing.

Elena had said that he kept his promises – but I couldn't read him. And it was unnerving. Then I realised his hand was still in front of me, and he studied me intently.

''I...'' I breathed. ''I don't know.''

''Think about it,'' he said and pulled his hand back. He rose from his seat, and slipped his hand in his pocket.

''Thank you for the tea, and talk,'' he said with a secretive smile. He pulled a hand through his hair, and my eyes couldn't help but be drawn to it. ''It was delightful.'' With that, he put something on the table and left.

I leaned forward and picked the bill up. I felt my whole face drain of blood when I saw how much it was. Minus the tea, he'd tipped me a hundred dollars. I let out a surprised yelp and quickly looked around to see if he was still there, but he wasn't.


Ring. Ring. Ring.

Sometimes I wondered if I should change my ringtone into something a little more forgiving. The piercing sound of someone calling right next to my head had me jump where I lay on the bed reading.

''Hello?''

''Hi, it's Elena.''

''Hi.'' I put the book down and sat up, crossing my legs. ''I talked to Elijah again.''

''What?'' she gasped. ''When?''

''Right after I left school. He was at the Grill.''

''Why? What did he want?''

''''It feels like maybe he's making one of my table's his second home,'' I cringed. ''He wanted to... well, exchange information, I guess.''

''What exactly did he say?''

''I don't...'' I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. ''Something about, if I answered his questions then he would answer mine.''

''Huh.''

''What?''

''I don't know,'' she trailed off.

''I mean, I feel like he'll do like you said, and keep his word, but...'' I groaned. ''I can't read him.''

''He's a mystery,'' Elena agreed. ''But he kept his word when it came to Stefan. I think he can be trusted. To keep his promises,'' she quickly added.

''So, what do you think I should do?''

''I don't know if it's a good idea to tell him about you,'' she began. ''But on the other hand, he hasn't really told me much when I've talked to him either – and that was like one time.''

''Yeah,'' I mumbled.

''So if he answers anything...'' She was quiet for a while.

''Ugh,'' I groaned. ''I don't know what to do.''

''Do you think he'll be there the next time you work?''

''Don't know,'' I admitted. ''Three times a habit, I guess? I've got another shift tomorrow.''

''If he does, call me?''

''Yeah,'' I sighed and closed my eyes. ''Sure.''

''Oh, and Ev?''

''Yeah?''

''You should go by Stefan's tomorrow and get some vervain,'' Elena proposed. ''For your mum.''

I crinkled my nose. ''I haven't even thought of that...''

''Don't worry,'' she comforted. ''Just slip it into her drink or food and she'll be safe.''

After we hung up a short while later, I picked my book up again – only to put it down a second later. If Elijah did come tomorrow, what would I say? I didn't want to tell him about me. None of us really knew why he was there. And what would he do with me if he found out what I was capable of?

What Caroline had said earlier in the day got me thinking that, maybe, I didn't know everything about my abilities yet. I was scared of using them, because I didn't really know how. And because of that, maybe I hadn't discovered everything I could do. Maybe there was more?

I let my hair down before I got under the covers. At night was the only time I felt like doing that, because it annoyed me when my hair stuck on my face. I sighed. Even if I wanted to practice, or whatever, how would I do it? With whom? If there was even the slightest chance of it leading to me being able to control myself better, or even completely, then I wanted to. Despite my head being on the verge of exploding from unanswered questions, I knew that much.