Chapter Thirty

Ella's life had definitely taken a turn for the better. She was finally with the man she loved, something she had wanted since coming to Mystic Falls, she had great friends, she was doing well in school and her father was gone often enough that Jeremy practically lived with her. So why wasn't she happy?

She knew that she should be happy and whenever she was with Jeremy, which was a lot, it was easy to pretend that she was. It was those brief hours when she was alone that she felt the uneasiness curl in the pit of her stomach. Something was coming and it was going to be bad, it would change her life completely, turn it upside down and in the worst possible way.

Of course she couldn't tell her friends, everyone seemed so happy at the moment and she didn't want to ruin it. There were times when she would stare off into space pondering what was going to happen, how the universe was going to ruin her life, and her friends would ask her what was wrong. She would lie, tell them nothing that she was just daydreaming but she knew that they didn't believe her.

Her night time stalker had been very quietly recently and as they days stretched into weeks Ella couldn't help but think he may have something to do with the ill feeling. She still had the dream, the one in the graveyard, although not as often as before. It hadn't happened yet and she got the feeling that that was it…the beginning of the end. Ella was afraid that she was going to die.

"Ella?"

Snapping out of her reverie, Ella looked up at Jeremy where he sat on the couch beside her, her legs draped casually over his lap. He was frowning down at her, concern written all over his face.

"I did it again, didn't I?" she asked, smiling to put him at ease. "I spaced out again, I'm so sorry; it's just so easy to be comfortable with you that sometimes I just drift off."

"Bullshit," Jeremy snapped, pushing her legs away.

"What?" Ella was shocked. In the weeks since they started dating Jeremy had never once spoken to her like that, they never fought.

Jeremy had gotten to his feet and stalked over to the window. He kept his back to Ella, staring out of the glass. His back was ramrod straight and his shoulders tense. Ella could feel his anger and it scared her.

"Jer? What's wrong?" she asked, her voice small.

"You," Jeremy growled, rounding on her. "You keep lying to me, pretending everything is all right when it's clear that there's something wrong. I thought we were past keeping things from each other! It didn't exactly work out well last time; you ended up in the hospital!"

"Jeremy…"

"No Ella, I don't want to hear any more of your lies. If the next words out of your mouth aren't the truth I'm walking out that door."

"Jeremy please don't," Ella pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.

"Then tell me the truth Ella," he begged back. "I don't want to hurt you, but I won't let you lie to my face either."

"I…I don't know what you want me to say…"

"The truth Ella, I want you to tell me the truth!"

Ella couldn't speak, she knew what he was saying was right, she should be honest, and it's what she promised him. Still she couldn't make herself say the words, not when she knew the truth would haunt him just like it had been haunting her.

"Jer, there's nothing to say. I've never been happier than when I'm with you. Can't you just trust me?"

"I…I wish I could," Jeremy shook his head. Turning on his heel he strode out of the room, Ella heard the front door slam against the wall as he stormed out of the house.

Getting to her feet in one lightning quick move, Ella ran after him. She stopped at the door just as he was descending the porch steps.

"Jeremy! Wait, please."

He paused at her voice; she wasn't sure if it was the pain he heard there or if it was just a knee-jerk reaction to hearing his name. She didn't matter; she pounced on the small moment, leaning out the door toward him.

"I'm sorry," she rushed to tell him. "I did it again, made the decision to protect you myself. Please understand Jer that everything I do is to protect you, I love you."

"Then be honest with me," Jeremy said, turning to face her.

"When I said there's nothing to tell I wasn't lying, I don't know what's wrong," Ella explained. "I just have this feeling that something bad is coming…something really bad."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you waiting on edge all the time, you seemed so happy."

"Any time I'm with you I'm happy Ella, don't you see that. No matter what's coming as long as we're together we can face anything. I know that sounds really corny, but it's also true."

Ella opened her mouth to respond when movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. There was a streak for black across her vision and she watched in horror as a second later Jeremy crumbled to the ground.

Ella screamed.

TBC…