Chapter Thirteen

Ella stood alone in her kitchen as she waited for the milk on the stove to boil. She was trying to keep busy, so she was making cocoa for her visitors. Alaric, Stefan, Tyler and Damon had all gone home, Caroline, Bonnie, Elena and Jeremy had stayed behind. Elena had tried to convince Jeremy to go home with the others, but he'd refused. Ella wasn't sure if he wanted to stay because of her or because his sister was here.

Things in Mystic Falls weren't as simple as Ella had first believed they would be. She had thought it would be like any other small town she'd ever lived in, but she couldn't have been more wrong. This town had taken her boring life and turned it upside down, but even with the stranger or strangers trying to scare her and possibly kill her, Ella couldn't regret moving here with her father. This place had brought her something she'd never had before...friends.

The people who had all come running when she needed them made everything else worth it. Being a Fae, being hunted, all of that she could deal with as long as she had her friends with her. No matter what she knew that her friends would never let anything bad happen to her, they'd protect her and that realisation made her feel a little less scared.

"Hey."

Ella gasped and whirled around at the unexpected voice behind her. Her heart leapt into her throat and pounded loudly, her blood rushing noisily in her ears. She barely had time to register who had spoken before strong arms wound their way around her and she felt instantly calmer.

"Sorry," Jeremy rushed to apologise, his hands on her waist he looked down into her warm eyes. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to know if you needed any help."

Opening her mouth, Ella tried to formulate a response but her brain was like mush. Wish his hands on her waist and his body so close to hers she couldn't think straight. Taking a deep breath, Ella planted her hands on Jeremy's chest and pushed him away. He looked hurt and confused and Ella turned her back on his pain, bracing herself on the counter top.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears springing to her eyes. "I just can't think straight when you do that."

"Do what?" Jeremy asked.

"When you're so close to me, when you touch me," Ella explained. "I don't know if you do it because we're friends or if you feel something more for me. I don't know how to do this Jer, I don't know how to be around a guy. I've never had feelings for someone before and I don't know how to handle it. Then there's everything that's happening right now, with this whole Fae business and whoever has decided to try and scare me to death and I may be way off base here but I feel something when I'm around you."

"I feel it too," Jeremy admitted, he reached out to put his hand on Ella's shoulder but thought better of it at the last second and dropped his arm.

"I like you Jeremy," Ella told him, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're sweet and kind and funny and I want to be with you. You have this affect on me, I always feel better when you're with me and that scares me."

They were both silent, processing everything that had been said. Jeremy could tell how hard it had been for Ella to be honest with him and that she was new to having friends. He wanted to make it easier for her; he'd do whatever she needed him to if it meant he could be with her.

"Go to the Grill with me tomorrow," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"What?" Ella asked, turning to face him.

"We'll play pool and hang out, just as friends. We'll get to know each other better and just see where things go," Jeremy smiled. "I don't want to rush you into anything."

Ella was thoughtful for a few moments before her face broke out in a beaming smile. "All right," she nodded. "I'll go to the Grill with you tomorrow...as friends."

"Great." Jeremy's answering smile was just as bright.

Their happiness was short lived however when the phone rang. Frowning, Ella went to the wall phone in the corner and lifted the receiver to her ear. The other end of the line was silent.

"Hello?" Ella spoke into the mouthpiece. There was no answer. "Hello? Who's there?"

There was more silence, it sent a chill down Ella's spine and she suddenly felt like she was being watched again. Reaching out, Ella took Jeremy's hand and pulled him out into the hall, away from the kitchen window. She held a finger to her lips and motioned for Jeremy to go and warn the others.

"Who is there?" she asked her mystery caller again.

This time a cold laughter answered her. It was maniacal and made Ella's stomach turn, a few seconds later Jeremy returned with the girls and they huddled around the phone, listening to the cold laughter.

"You look so beautiful when you're sleeping Ella."

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"Your friend's won't be able to protect you forever," the voice told her, ignoring her questions. "Sooner or later they'll have to leave you alone, and when they do...I'm going to rip out your throat."

The line went dead then and Ella met the eyes of each of her friends. She could feel the mixture of fear and anger coming from them and Ella felt sick to her stomach.

"Why me?" she asked them.

"I don't know," Caroline replied. "But I promise you Ella we won't leave you alone, not for a second."

"You can't protect me forever Caroline."

"We don't need to protect you forever," Caroline explained. "Just until we find out who is trying to torment you."

"And then what?"

Caroline exchanged looks with Bonnie and Elena before looking back at Ella. "We kill him."

TBC...