Chapter Nineteen

Ella burst through her front door, slamming it closed behind her, just as the dam broke and tears flooded from her eyes. Leaning against the closed door, Ella sank to the ground breathing heavily. Harsh sobs wracked her small frame and she wrapped her arms around her knees.

In nearly eighteen years Ella had only ever felt a pain like this once in her life and that was at her mother's funeral. She couldn't remember the night her mother had died but she remembered everything about the day they buried her. She had clung to her father and cried and called out for her mother to come back but she hadn't...she couldn't.

Over the years the pain had never lessened, she'd never forgotten her mother and she had never stopped missing her. She missed her more at certain times, especially when she needed someone to talk to about things that were awkward discussing with her father. But Ella had never missed her more than she did at that moment, her mother was the only one who would understand, she was the only one who could answer her questions.

"I miss you momma," Ella whispered against her knees. "I really wish you were here right now because I need you mom. I'm scared."

There was no answer, her mother was gone and she would never be coming back. Ella was alone and scared. Scared of what she was, what she was becoming and she was terrified of those who were after her, but more than any of that she was afraid that she had lost Jeremy forever. He had been the one person who made her feel safe, the one person she had felt she could tell anything and he hated her.

A sudden knock on the front door made Ella jump, her head whipped up so fast that she almost hit it against the door. She sat frozen to the spot, her heart pounding in her ears.

"Who is it?" she called out, her voice was thick with tears.

"It's Caroline," her friend answered. She sounded worried.

"Go away," Ella told her. She didn't want to see anyone.

"No. I'm not going anywhere Ella, please let me in."

They argued like that for a few minutes, but Caroline resolutely refused to leave. Accepting defeat, Ella finally got up off the floor and opened the front door for her friend. As soon as Caroline saw the devastated look on Ella's face she stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.

It was then at Ella realised that maybe she wasn't so alone after all. She may not have had her mother or Jeremy, but she had Caroline. Her best friend, she could tell Caroline anything and she would understand.

"Stupid question, but are you all right?" Caroline asked when she had dropped her arms and stepped inside.

"Not really," Ella sighed, closing the door again.

"I'm sorry about what happened with Jeremy."

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault. It was mine."

"No," Caroline shook her head vehemently. "It wasn't you're fault Ella. You were right earlier. Damon's your friend and that's completely your choice, I had no right to jump to conclusions or tell you to stop being friends with him and Jeremy had no right to react the way he did either. I heard you two last night, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop but I'm still getting used to the whole vampire hearing thing. He asked you to the Grill as friends, he told you he didn't want to rush you in to anything and then he treated you like that for having lunch with a friend. It was unfair and cold and he had no right to speak to you the way he did."

"Thank you," Ella smiled softly. "But I can understand why he reacted that way; you yourself thought that I was on a date with Damon. I told Jeremy last night that I liked him and wanted to be with him and we agreed to take things slowly then he walked into the Grill today when he was supposed to be meeting me to hang out. If you thought we were on a date I hate to think what he thought when he saw us especially after everything that was said last night. I wish he'd let me explain and that he hadn't reacted the way he did, but I can understand it. Right now I think it'll be a good thing to put a little distance between me and Jeremy. Too much is going on right now; I can't handle boy drama on top of it."

Caroline smiled at how sweet and understanding her newest friend was. If it had been her she didn't think she would have been as forgiving. In fact she was pretty sure if Tyler ever spoke to her that way she'd kick his ass.

"I have a great idea," Caroline beamed.

"What?" Ella asked cautiously.

"We should have girl's night. We can watch movies, eat popcorn and talk. You need cheering up and it'll take your mind off all the drama. It'll be fun, just the two of us."

"You know what?" Ella smiled. "That actually sounds pretty good."

"Great!" Caroline exclaimed happily. "I'll just run home and grab a few things. Will you be all right for a little while?"

Ella laughed. "I'll be fine. I have been alone before, plus if my newly acquired stalker is a vampire I doubt he's going to be able to do anything in the middle of the day. Those rings you guys wear are pretty rare right?"

"Yeah, as far as I know there are only 4 vampire's alive with them. Me, Damon, Stefan and Katherine."

"Well then I think I will be pretty safe for an hour or so."

"All right," Caroline nodded. "If you need anything or anything happens while I'm gone just call me all right?"

"I'll be fine Caroline, I promise. Just go and I will see you when you get back."

The two girls said goodbye and then Caroline left. When Ella closed the front door this time she was smiling. With a friend like Caroline maybe everything would be all right after all.

TBC...

A/N: So Ella's life has been pretty much full of the drama lately. Will her girl's night with Caroline really be the fun filled affair they both expect?