Chapter Twenty-Three

By the time Friday night arrived, Ella was a bundle of nerves. It was her first official date and she was beginning to regret the decision. Every fibre in her being was telling her it was a mistake, that something unpleasant was coming. Not to mention that it just felt wrong to be going anywhere with a boy who wasn't Jeremy.

"Get over it," Ella snapped at her reflection in the mirror.

Caroline had been over earlier that day to help Ella pick something to wear. While her friend had been with her she had felt calm and relaxed. Now that she was alone however, all of her insecurities and bad feelings had come flooding back.

"I can do this," she whispered, appraising her appearance in the mirror. Caroline had applied her makeup, just a little mascara and lip gloss, her hair was loose and straight down her back where if fell to her waist.

It had taken a lot longer for them to decide on an outfit. Nothing in Ella's closet had been satisfactory to Caroline and so she'd brought a few things of her own over, most of which had been a little too revealing for Ella's tastes. She was new to the whole dating thing and had told Caroline she wanted to take it one step at a time.

Used to wearing baggy sweaters and t-shirts that gave away absolutely nothing she wasn't ready to be going out scantly clad it lacy tops or mini skirts. In the end they had settled on a pair of black jeans, stiletto heeled boots and a baby blue halter, topped off with a black, fitted leather jacket with the sleeves pushed up to her elbows.

Taking a deep breath, Ella finally turned away from the mirror and left her room. Downstairs she re-read the note her father had left on the table in the entryway.

Ella,

Sorry I couldn't be there to see you off for your first date, but I'm having to go down to Georgia this weekend. I hope that you have a good time honey. Be Safe and I will see you on Sunday night.

Love Dad x

Part of Ella was glad that her dad wasn't going to be home. She could just imagine him asking Jamie to come inside and asking embarrassing questions. It was a lot easier this way, just her.

Still she couldn't help be wish her mother were here. This was the kind of thing a girl needed her mother for, it should have been her who helped Ella get ready for her first date, not Caroline. Plus if her mother was here then maybe she'd know what to do about Jeremy and the fact that even though she'd been trying to deny it she was hopelessly and desperately in love with him.

Ella sighed and placed the note back on the table just as someone rang the doorbell. Grabbing her keys, Ella opened the door for Jamie and smiled at the wave of nervousness she felt from him. In that moment all of her regrets and trepidations vanished. He was nervous too, maybe Caroline had been wrong and Jamie genuinely liked her.

"Hi," Ella smiled in greeting.

"Hi," Jamie grinned back. "You look great Ella."

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."

Jamie laughed and stepped aside as Ella joined him on the porch and locked the door. He led the way down the path to his waiting car. They were quiet as Jamie drove through the streets toward the party which was being held out at the woods. Caroline had told Ella that a lot of the parties were held out there. No adults about so that people could get drunk and party.

"So how are you liking Mystic Falls so far?" Jamie asked. It was the same question most people asked when they didn't know what else to say to her.

"I like it fine," Ella gave her standard response.

"You seem to have settled in ok," Jamie observed.

"Yeah, a big part of that has to do with Caroline. She's been a great friend."

"Cool."

They lapsed back into silence and a voice at the back of Ella's mind nagged at her.

You shouldn't be with this guy, it said. He's as boring as watching paint dry. You know he's wrong for you Ella, you know who you really want. Get rid of this idiot and tell Jeremy how you really feel.

Ella did her best to ignore the voice. She wanted to scream at it to shut up, but she swallowed against the impulse, she didn't want Jamie to think he'd asked out a crazy woman.

Who cares what he thinks? You heard what Caroline said the other day. Jeremy's as miserable as you are. You two belong together; you're made for each other. Stop trying to fight it and just accept it.

Finally they arrived at the party and Ella was relieved that she'd have something to block out the annoying voice. She knew the only reason she hated that voice was because it was telling the truth, but she was too much of a coward to be honest with Jeremy.

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Someone had brought a stereo which was blaring music through the air. A fire roared in the middle of the group throwing light over all of the people milling around and there was a keg set up just at the edge of the group.

As they exited the car and made their way toward the crowd, Jamie took Ella's hand in his. Ella looked down in surprise, his skin was soft and warm, but still it felt wrong. They entered the crowd together, people called out to Jamie as they spotted him, but Ella wasn't listening. She was scanning the crowd for someone she recognised.

There didn't seem to be one person she knew there, she couldn't see any of her friends and the same nervousness that had plagued her hit her again full force. She had been counting on her friends being there, even if she wasn't hanging out with them, just knowing they were there was enough.

Now though, not being able to see them made her stomach churn. She didn't want to be there anymore, she wanted to let go of Jamie's hand and run away as fast as she could. She'd be home faster than they had driven there if she ran, no one knew why she could move so fast, but at that moment as the idea of leaving filled her mind Ella was grateful for the talent.

"Do you want a drink?" Jamie asked, breaking through her thoughts of escape. He was pointing toward the keg a few feet away.

Ella had never had a drink of alcohol in her life, but she nodded. Maybe having a drink or two would make her feel better about being at a party full of strangers. Dutch courage she believed they called it. Jamie smiled and let go of her hand so that he could get their drinks.

With him gone Ella suddenly felt vulnerable and exposed. People were staring at her, she could see a couple of girls to the side by a tree that were whispering and looking over. Ella could feel their jealousy from where she stood waiting for Jamie to return.

Not wanting to see them talking about her any longer, Ella turned her back on them and resumed scanning the crowd for one of her friends, or at least someone she recognised. That was when she saw him, leaning against a tree about fifty feet from where she stood.

He was drinking for a red cup and watching her through the throngs of people and Ella felt her heart leap into her throat. He was the last person she had wanted to see, but at the same time she was glad he was there. Jeremy was there and Ella relaxed instantly. Even if they weren't speaking she knew he'd never let anything bad happen to her.

She gave him a small smile, not wanting to be completely rude, but he didn't return in. Instead he turned away to talk to someone beside him and Ella realised it was the girl she had seen him with in the hall the same day Jamie had asked her out.

Ella's heart constricted in her chest. She felt as though the air had been sucked out of her lungs and she couldn't breathe. Everything was spinning and she knew what was happening. She was losing control, the carefully constructed wall she had built to keep all of the emotions around her from caving in on her was coming apart and she was drowning in them.

She'd never been drunk before but she knew that was how most of the people around her felt and she could feel it too. She felt dizzy and nauseous and she wanted to lie down and close her eyes until it all stopped.

And then everything went black.

TBC…