The Return.

Samantha- Hello !! Second Chapter is UP !! And the third chapter has been written and will be posted soon. The attention has been slow to this story which is understandable it is a pretty ' OUT THERE' kinda plot, so I get that. But I hope that when this starts to get going it will become more popular.

Chapter Two - A Presence In Town.

Elena eventually fell asleep on her dresser, her head laid uncomfortably on her jewlerry box. She hadn't planned on falling asleep again, she had planned to sit and watch as strand by strand her hair curled into perfect ringlets all by themselves. Even though it was more than a little but scary, it was... kind of cool. It kind of reminded her of Claudia's transformation in one of Aunt Jenna's favourite movie's

" Interview With A Vampire ", she was a heavy Cruise fan and that movie just kind of stuck with her. Something about a sexy accent. Elena couldn't remember when she had fallen asleep but she sure did remember waking up.

Her face had been pressed against the decorated lid of the jewlerry box, the delicate swirls and zig zags danced across the left side of her face, indented from the pressure of lying on it. When she first glanced in the mirror, she wasn't suprised to see a full head of perfect ringlets, it had finished off as she suspected... In her sleep. After taking time to style her new curls and apply a light make-up, Elena marched over to her closet and picked out a pair of Black acid wash jeans, black boots, her luck brand lace tank top and her brown leather jacket. She looked presentable for school. Her clothes didn't scream glam, and that conteracted nicely with her hair which did scream GLAM !

Elena could now smell the morning's breakfast, the sugary aroma of fresh cooked pancakes and syrup. Jeremy was going to try and steal her serving if she didn't hurry up and get down to the Kitchen soon. Without much thought, Elena left her room and jogged down the stairs and into the Kitchen accepting the plate of pancakes from Aunt Jenna's outstretched arm.

The soft sponge mingled with the smooth syrup was just what she needed to sooth her worrying mind, momentarily. Jeremy reluctantly pulled himself into the Kitchen too, only he looked as though he had pulled an all nighter and crashed every illegal party in the area, judging by his pasty skin and puffy eyes. He accepted his own plate and dropped it on the table, munching away on the stack before the plate had even hit the wood.

" You look terrible, Jer. " Elena commented with concern between mouthfuls of her own breakfast, " Did you stay up all night ? "

Jeremy stayed silent and continued to eat his stack in large mouthfuls, Elena was suprised he didn't choke. That was all the confirmation Elena really needed, he had pulled an all nighter but why he did, she didn't know. It wasn't for homework, that was for sure. Although Jeremy's grades had went up and his homework average had doubled, he still wouldn't stay up all night to finish a project or complete an essay.

" Why'd you stay up then, Jer ? " Aunt Jenna tried as she pulled her hands from the dishwasher and kicked it shut with her foot, turning to face Jeremy with a mock parental kind of look.

" Because I wanted too, Okay. "

" Jeremy ... " Aunt Jenna could never really be completely serious, it just wasn't in her nature. She tried but... It never lasted long.

" Look Aunt Jenna just leave it will you ? " Elena seriously hated it when Jeremy acted like this, he was like a hurricane. Once he started you had to just let him go until he eventually stopped.

" Probably reading his porn collection again. " She joked but Jeremy didn't see it as a joke and exploded.

" God Elena, just shut the hell up will you !!? " He yelled, kicking back his chair and slamming his hands on the table, " You always gotta stick your nose in everything ! " Then he left, taking his bag off the floor and storming out the front door.

" I uh... I better get going... " Elena stuttered slightly shocked by her brother's ferosity in Jeremy's words.

" Don't mind him, Elena. He is in ass mode. " That did make her feel slightly better, Aunt jenna always knew the right thing to say.

" Before you go Elena, I really like the hair... You should curl it more often. "

" Uh, Yeah. " She hated lying. But this wasn't something she could easily explain, she was even considering keeping what had happened the previous night from Stefan, and Damon. Just until she could figure things out. " You might be seeing a lot more of it. " She continued as he grabbed her own bag and made her way out the door and to school.

The morning was warm and the air was just a light breeze. It was pretty much perfect. There were still some streamers kicking around the tree's which just added colour amongst all the green. It would be today that the town would find out which street won the competition. Elena had a good feeling that it would be her own street, they had put a lot of effort in and it was a pretty good idea.

School was busy, as usual.

Kids ran from one point to another, not really paying attention to who was around them. Most would just push people out of the way and shout a distant apology.

Elena caught sight of Stefan.... And Damon talking in what appeared to be a heated conversation across the parking lot on the grassy area. It would be rude to just interupt but Elena had developed a new found curiosity, most likely an attribute of Katherine's. She made her was over slowly at first, then fast as a cluster of cars searched for an empty space, narrowly missing her. Damon was first to notice her, he made a shifty eye movement to Stefan who turned around to face her. He looked momentarily shocked. Damon on the other hand looked... Happy ? Exited ?

" You look... Different- " Stefan started but didn't continue.

" Thanks. " She replied, her smile touching her eyes. She shifted her warm gaze between the two brothers, happy they were both here... Together. " What were you guys talking about, Has something happened ? "

" Someone's in a nosy mood. " Damon stated and moved forward slightly, his eyes borrowing deeper into her. It was beginging to get annoying.

" Last night, there was a pressence.. We both felt it. It was someone we hadn't felt in a while. " Elena tensed and Damon noticed straight away.

" Katherine ? " She blurted.

" Yes, actually. And how did you know ? " Damon was getting even closer, he was almost as close as Stefan was now. Stefan moved to her side and wormed his arm around her waist. He had his eyes locked on his brother.

" Its called an assumption, Damon. " He blinked and stepped back finally, seemingly coming back to himself. " Is she here, in Mystic Falls ? "

" We don't know for sure, it was unusual. It was strong for a while but then simply died away. But we think so... We don't know where though. "

Elena nodded trying to pretend that this was new news. Deep down she could feel a tearing need to tell them. She needed Stefan's comfort. But she was scared to see how they would react.

" What are you gonna do ? " She tried out of curiosity.

" Damon wants to go look for her, naturally. He really wants to see her. " Stefan began, but thats all Elena needed to hear. There was going to be no hostility. She couldn't keep the secret forever so might as wll get it out in the open.

" I need to tell you something. " Elena said finally as two pairs of eyes locked with her own, one loving and ready to listen the other... Hopeful. Did damon know already ?