Outlook on Life

Chapter 2:

Elena

It had been a month and Elena was ready to get out of there, but she had no place else to go. Tyler's life was different to how she pictured it when she first got here. It turns out he was selling for a drug dealer, it made him enough money to live a life he now accepted as comfortable even though for most people it was poor.

He had broken the first rule she ever taught him: no drugs. It wasn't that Elena judged people who did, sold or made drugs... money was money. She of all people understood that, you've gotta do what you've gotta do to survive. People like her couldn't be picky on how they made money. But drugs? they came with more risk than any other illegal activity. In her opinion if you could avoid them, you should, but who the hell was she to judge... she was no innocent herself.

Tyler and her had gotten high a few nights into her stay and slept together. Not that she had a problem with that, because she didn't, it was good sex. The problem was that Tyler was reading more into it and when anyone pissed Tyler off... he got violent. Elena was no stranger to a few beatings and probably had a slightly unhealthy comfort level with violence, but that didn't mean she liked him thinking he could knock her around.

The way her life had gone so far self-defence skills were necessary to survive and Elena was no stranger to kicking someones ass. The only problem is, if she was to stop Tyler than she'd be on her ass out the door. The homeless shelters are full and without a job she couldn't afford a hotel which even then would be difficult to find a cheap availability. As much as she hated to admit it: she needed Tyler.

That didn't mean she planned on needing him for long though, as soon as she had enough money Elena would be outta there faster than you can say 'Go Fuck yourself Tyler'. To do that though, she needed a job.

"Hello, I'm Elena" she introduced herself shaking the mans hand. Elena was looking for jobs so she could get out of Tyler's apartment and life. This was her 20th interview this month alone. She knew it would be hard to land a job once they looked at her background but she was trying hard this time.

"Hello Elena, I'm Stephen Salvatore" He introduced himself shaking her hand with a smile. The man was nice looking, he looked innocent, like the harshness of the world hadn't effected him. His light brown almost blond hair went nicely with his bright green eyes and pale skin. He was a tall man, taller than her and dressed in a suit. He had the look of someone in power or authority; it instantly triggered a gut warning and put her on the defensive side.

She couldn't help it, the trigger was from years of experience with people in power abusing it, the feeling was a natural instinct ingrained into her at this point. With Elena despised all people in power or authority...but she needed this job... and so she grit her teeth, plastered on her brilliantly mastered fake smile and followed him to a seat at the bar. Stephen sat down on the stool at the next to the one she did and shuffled his papers to the side.

Throughout her life she honed in her skill of deduction and analysis of human behaviour in order to protect herself. In fact even with strangers she could quickly pick up on their mannerisms that allowed her to read any person like an open book. This was one of the times that skill came in handy and she inwardly sighed already knowing the end result of this conversation - she wasn't getting the job.

Stephen sighed quietly before returning his gaze to her and for the first time she saw sympathy in someones eyes before they turned her down. That was new. "I just got finished looking at your employment and criminal background" he stated and she nodded for him to continue even though she already knew what he was going to say. "You seem like a nice woman..." he trailed off and Elena had to resist rolling her eyes.

Couldn't the man just get on with it already? Geesh

"But you can't hire someone like me" she filled in for him, not at all upset by the fact he wouldn't hire her. She had experienced this her entire life while trying to get a decent and honest job... it's the reason more people like her resort to illegal activities for money. "Well thank you for your time" she said causally getting up from her stool at the bar "If you reconsider let me know" before leaving the bar. Rejection wasn't something new to her and it wasn't something that fazed her.

But she knew what she had to do, she knew where she could get a job. Without a second thought Elena headed into the 'Electric Pony', it was a strip joint and required no qualifications but a hot body; something she knows she has.

Not that it came as a surprise, but Elena had been hired on the spot when she walked into the Electric Pony. Seth, the manager, was more than happy to have her especially with her previous experience in the industry. That was three weeks ago.

She'd had nothing to do in New York aside from working, the money at the Electric Pony was good enough for now. She knew if she didn't get a second job soon she would have to resort to getting the extra cash from 'extra services' at the Electric Pony. Walking towards the dressing rooms at the end of her shift she debated on whether or not she would be willing to ask Seth about it getting in on that.

"Seth is in the dressing rooms" a dancer named Katherine warned her before she opened the door. Seth was a sleezey manager and she knew if he cornered her that she would have to have sex with the man to keep her job. "Thanks" Elena smiled at the closest thing she had to a friend in years and hightailed it out the back door of the club after shrugging on a spare pair of old jeans and a coat.

The club wasn't too far from the apartment she was living in with Tyler. However it was on the border between the good and bad part of New York city. In fact in her opinion it was more on the side of the good, rich business area than the poor, dangerous side where she had to walk through to get to the apartment. On her walk home she mentally debated with herself. If she wanted Seth to let her work a few events or the 'extra services' then she would have to sleep with him. There were no if's or but's about it and certainly nothing she could do to change it. He was the gate way into earning more cash...enough cash to get her away from Tyler.

"Ty" Elena said sighing slightly in greeting as she walked into the apartment with the fake smile she had spent years perfecting. Tyler smiled back at her and pulled her to straddle him on the mattress as he kissed down her neck. "Ty" she repeated this time with warning when he didn't let her go. She knew how possessive he got over her even though they weren't in a relationship and so to avoid anymore beatings she told him she worked at the bar. "Tyler" She barked out annoyed and pulled out of his grasp, standing up and walking into the kitchen.

Tyler followed her clenching his fist at his side "Elena" he spat and she ignored him filling a glass of water and drinking it. She needed to change first but she couldn't let on that anything was up "Whats wrong with you?" He demanded to know and she rolled her eyes slightly "I'm not in the mood" shrugging innocently hoping today was one of his good days where he would just let it go.

By the look on his face, she knew it wasn't and she braced herself for his reaction. Elena stiffened on her spot knowing that backing away or leaving would only enrage him more. As she predicted Tyler grabber her arms "not in the mood?" He mocked incredulously before punching her sound in the jaw and leaving hand print bruise's on each of her arms.

Elena wasted no time changing and hiding her Electric Pony clothes before going straight to sleep.

"Hello, beautiful" a man smiled at her as she entered the building ready for her first days volunteering work at the Veteran outreach centre. Volunteering was something she had always done since before she could remember. It was a habit that brought her peace and no matter the city she always found a place to volunteer. It gave her balance in her life, one which a person can easily harden and shut out all emotions when times are tough.

It helped her hold onto her humanity.

"Hey" Elena smirked back at the man as her eyes flickered to the very flustered psychologist who was trying her damn best to get rid of the blush that covered her face. Likely from something this man had said. This was one of the thing's she loved about helping returned soldiers, they were always the most interesting personalities and the thing they all had in common - was their need to throw off the shrinks.

"You're new here" he pointed an accusatory finger at her and Elena raised her eyebrows as if to say 'Really?' and he laughed out right at that. The man was tall and muscular with sandy blonde hair and brown eyes, he smelt of bourbon and by the looks of him, he was gonna have an interesting sense of humour. "What's ya name sweet thang?" he drew out each word and Elena could here the slight southern accent in his voice but his smooth moves and flirting had no effect on her.

"The names Elena" she smirked up at him before her eyes flickering back to the shrink who was now clearing her throat "Alaric, Like I was saying we really should talk about this" her seriousness was back and now Alaric's mischievous smirk was trained on her. "Like I said, doc... You're too beautiful for me to talk too about this, i'd distract me" he smugly purred at her, his grin widening as her cheeks turned a bright shade of red again and she seemed at a loss for words.

I stepped closer to the doc with a highly amused chuckle "You must be Lexi, the head doc" I said gaining a nod from her even though I couldn't hep the disgusted scrunch of my nose with the mention of her job. "Names Elena" I shook her hand in greeting and exchanged smiles.

"Ain't a fan of dead doc's?" Alaric laughed standing next to me and i shook my head at him automatically wrinkling my nose in dislike "Nothing, personal doc... just ain't me...I'd prefer to tell you what you need to know" I explained giving her a slight smile even though Alaric burst out into a fit of laughter.

When Alaric's laughed subsided he cupped his hands around his mouth "Boys" he called out getting the attention of all the other Veteran's in the small hall "New volunteer ain't a fan of head docs" he announced and the other men in the room burst into cheers for 'the new volunteer'.

"You boys ought to go easy on her, poor thing's as red as a tomato" I mock chastised them as we all headed over to the circle of chairs.

"I have a feeling you won't be as easy to scare off" one of the men Elena heard get called Mason said more to himself than anyone else, she shot him a grin chuckling lightly. This wasn't her first time volunteering with veterans - a group who had trust issues as bad as her own - she knew they'd test her but that was what made working with them fun.

When the group all took their seats, Alaric made sure she was sat right between him and one of the other EX-soldiers, Klaus, who seemed to be as thick as thieves with Alaric. "You boys planed on scaring me off?" she asked with a pout that elicited a round of laughter. Elena placed a hand over her heart "Ouch" she shook her head in mock hurt.

"Alright everyone" Lexi stood up and took her seat at the head of the circle. Conveniently? opposite to where Alaric chose to sit? probably not. "Let's start with progress" she started the session. It went rather smoothly...well as good as such things can go. The stories they told sounded painful and traumatising. Elena didn't miss the constant eyes watching her for her reaction and if she were anyone else, she might have had one. If her life had prepared her for anything, it was not to be fazed by violence. So, she kept perfect composure as they told their stories and problems, because she knew the vulnerability they were showing even if outwardly it didn't seem like vulnerability.

It takes strength to tell a story that causes you pain and she knew if she reacted or even showed too much sympathy it would only make it worse. It was a balance that only people with complete control over their emotions could manage...luckily her life demanded complete control of her emotions.

When the talk was finished the boys went back to hanging out in the hall and Elena and Lexi opened the food that had been brought over for the end of their session. Elena had her back to the boys as she unwrapped packaging from the muffins but she could feel someones presence behind her, she could feel them watching her. "You gonna stare or just ask?" she wondered out loud without turning around to see who it was.

A deep chuckle sounded from behind her but she didn't turn around yet, "You didn't get scared" he said said in almost an accusatory tone. Sensing the need to show him her honesty she turned around to see Enzo starting at her in surprise. She met his gaze even though she picked up on his slight intimidation tactic, but she held his eye contact firmly "And i'm not going to" she told him honestly but with a one shouldered shrug. Enzo nodded in acceptance but Elena didn't fail to pick up on his doubt.

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