Chapter Thirty-Five:

Caroline dropped me home, I was too scared to be by myself, she even walked me up to the door before leaving. Jeremy and Elena were both out. Elena at the Salvatore's and Jeremy at Bonnies. I fell onto the couch.

"Hey Jordy, how did you sleep?" Alaric asked me.

I screamed, jumping to my feet.

"Whoa! I'm sorry." Alaric said, hands in the air as he slowly stepped forward. I took a few deeps breaths before looking at him.

"I thought I was alone."

"I should have made some noises." Alaric laughed.

I nodded before grinning at him.

"What are we doing today?" I asked.

"I have papers to grade and lessons to prep. I don't know about you."

"Are you staying here?" I asked sounding hopeful. Alaric shook his head and my heart sank immediately. I was going to be alone, here in this house. Maybe Kol wouldn't come by. Fat chance, my phone had blown up with messages and missed calls from him. I hadn't had the heart to read them yet.

"I will see you for dinner. Elena said she was making a roast." Alaric kissed my forehead before walking out. I sighed, sitting back down. I heard a knock on the door and gasped in fear. I slowly stood up before peering around the corner at the front door. There was another knock. I bit my lip, maybe they would go away? Another knock was sounded, I edged my way closer to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it.

"Did you forget you promised to help me today at the Grill?" Matt barged in.

I blinked before remembering to help him while they were short staffed in exchange for the meals that he had given us while at the lake. I groaned.

"Yes. Do I have to?" I whined.

"Yes. I really need your help. Can you be ready in fifteen?" he asked, placing his hands on either shoulder. I bit my lip and nodded. I jumped into a quick shower before throwing black short skirt and black tee. I quickly put some make up on before throwing my hair up in a ponytail. Grabbing my earrings, I raced downstairs, Matt shaking his head with a laugh.

"I said fifteen." He chuckled.

"Yeah?" I questioned.

"It's been twenty."

I locked up, following him to his truck before jumping in. as we drove, I stuck my earrings in.

"Aren't those things heavy?" he asked.

"Nope." I shook my head with a grin. I loved these earrings. I had found them when mom and I had gone shopping. We had celebrated my first period and gone shopping. Elena loved them too and would try and steal them. After we parked, I jumped out the truck before remembering I had a skirt on. I pulled it down a little before following Matt inside the Grill.

"I want you to just grab the empty glasses and plates….please don't drop them." Matt said while pulling a face. I snorted.

"It's me, not Jeremy." I answered with an eye roll.

I had been here a few hours; the Grill was slowly picking up. I had finished the small run, walking back onto the floor when I froze spying Kol. My heart froze and I felt my feet freeze to the ground. he turned to face me before blowing me off with a roll of his brown eyes. I felt a stab in my chest.

"Jords, can you grab those glasses?" Matt's voice yelled to me. I pulled my eyes from Kol and to Matt. He pointed to a few glasses that were on the table in a booth. I nodded before walking over, grabbing them up. I heard a loud female laugh. Turning my head to see some beautiful blonde laughing at something Kol said. I felt my eyes narrow before I shook my head. I walked back to Matt and offered him a smile.

"Can I take a break?"

"Sure, can Jordy. See you in half an hour. Want a lift home tonight?"

"Nah, I'm fine." I smiled.

I walked to the small back room and grabbed my phone before walking out to head down the street to the café. I was dying for a tea, hopefully it would calm my nerves enough.

After grabbing some tea, I walked back before someone fell in step beside me. I shrieked. The tea dropping from my hands and splashing on the ground, barely missing my exposed legs.

"I'm sorry Jordan. I didn't mean to frighten you." A male voice I knew spoke. I smiled instantly.

"It's ok Peter. I didn't mean to scream."

"Here, let me get you another one…..what was it?" he asked, pointing back to the café, I checked my phone for the time, I still had fifteen minutes.

"It's ok, it was my fault…." I mumbled, feeling my cheeks go a little red. I had a massive crush on Peter. He was handsome, smart and also nice, considering recent company.

"Please Jordan, I insist."

"Ok…ok." I laughed, walking back with him. we ordered our drinks, standing and talking about a few things we have been up to over the break. Peter walked with me back to the Grill.

"Well, this is me." I said.

"I think a few of the guys are here.." Peter commented, opening the door. I ducked under his arm as he motioned me to go in. I laughed, feeling this happy feeling wash over me. Peter held a door open for me.

"What time are you finishing?" he asked.

"I think at 5…maybe 6?" I said with a small look of confusion.

"Come get dinner with us, we are also heading to the movies later too."

"Yeah, sounds good." I nodded.

I walked out the back, chucking my phone into my bag before I headed back out to grab the empty glasses. I saw a few near Kol and the blonde. I narrowed my eyes at them and decided to ignore them. I purposely kept my distance; I could hear a few laughs. I walked over to Matt who was serving behind the counter. To my relief, Stefan and Damon walked in. I grinned and gave them a small wave.

"Hey."

"My favourite little Gilbert." Damon smirked at me. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm the only little Gilbert." I laughed.

"Can't believe Donovan suckered you into this." Stefan joked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I know…..serves me right." I smiled. I motioned for Stefan to come closer. he leaned down so I could whisper to him. "Can you grab those glasses near Kol? I don't want…" I trailed off, looking away. He nodded, walking off in that direction. Damon leaned down whispering to me.

"You ok?" he asked. I heard the concern and I gave him a small smile.

"Kind of." I shrugged.

Stefan walked back, handing me the glasses. I thanked him before doing the run around. Time flew by and 5 o'clock hit. Another waitress arrived, allowing me to leave.

"You need a lift?" Stefan asked. I turned to see Peter and a few others from school standing, getting ready to leave. Peter waved at me, asking if I was coming. "Never mind then." Stefan chuckled.

"Thanks though."

I grinned, running out the back to grab my bag, I plucked my phone out my bag, a few messages on there. Damon, Damon, Elena, Jeremy, Jeremy, Kol. My heart froze when I saw Kol's name. I clicked on it.

Glad to see your phone is working, darling.

I took a massive breath before, taking a few steps to the small group from school when another message came through. Kol's name again flashing on my screen. I chucked my phone away quickly, not reading the message before smiling at the group.

"Hey guys."

"Jords!" a few said in unison.

"Nerd." Alex said. I rolled my eyes at him before playfully shoving him. Alex and I were both top in our classes. Sadly, he had beaten me in the last test by one answer.

"Like you can talk…you beat me in the last test." I whinged.

"So, everyone down to see Batman Vs Superman?" Peter asked.

"Team Superman, right here." I pointed at myself with a big smile.

"Get lost, Batman is WAY cooler." Alex argued.

"Dream on, Alice…" Alex scowled. It had been a running joke with the class when Alex's grandmother had visited. Her strong accent was hard to understand but every time she would say his name, we heard Alice and not Alex.

"I will honestly never live that down." Alex muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. I laughed, patting his shoulder in sympathy.

"And we won't let you."