Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight or Vampire Diary.
Matt was kind of quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable, it gave me a chance to view my surroundings and take in the different building I might want to explore later. I loved how green the trees were and how full they seemed, it made me think of the forest back home. Although I knew almost every inch of the forest there, I didn't know much about this forest and I couldn't wait to get out and do some exploring here.
I would see if Jeremy wanted to come out with me so that we could spend some time together. I couldn't believe how big he had gotten or how tall he had become. The Jeremy I knew was scrawny and short with a face full of freckles and thick glasses. This Jeremy was tall and lean, filled with muscle. A face still full of freckles, but you could hardly see them unless he was in the sunlight. The glasses were gone, and I wondered if he used contacts or if his eye sight improved, the doctor always said it was a great possibility.
Matt seemed really interested on the road though and it made me chuckle. What was so interesting about plain grey gravel? Did he not have faith in his driving? My chuckling got him to look at me quickly and smile. I could stare at him all day; his smile took my breath away.
"What's so funny?"
"You just seem...really interested in the road." He chuckled and turned the radio on low. It had been blaring before and although I thought it was a little high, I liked that it drowned out most of my thoughts.
"Sorry, I guess I just want to make sure we arrive alive. So how do you like Mystic falls so far?"
"It's just as I remember it, if not even more beautiful. When I was younger my dad would bring us here for the week in the summer and we would go to the beach every day. It was nice, I got to spend time with Elena and Jeremy and Charlie would get to spend time with aunt Jenna and aunt Miranda." I was saddened to think of my dead aunt. She had always been like a mother to me and at times I wished she would have adopted me and take me away from the hair brained lady who gave birth to me.
"I think I remember you." I didn't know how it was possible because I don't remember much about my time here with anyone other than the family. Elena, Jeremy, and I used to spend a lot of time in the woods when we were home and often times they would have friends over but I barely hug with them. I got a glimpse of his ring again and something pulled at my memory.
"I don't remember much about everyone I met when from when I would come here. What I remember moth though is being in the woods...a lot."
"Not even coming to my 8th birthday party. I remember the clown chased you and you ended up tripping over your own two feet." We laughed, and the memory flooded my brain.
(Flash back)
His eyes were blue like the sky with forest green specks. He was laughing at something the big clown was doing but all I could remember feeling was wanting to wet myself. I didn't find the clown the least bit funny, he just really scared me, especially when he would laugh. I didn't know what the other kids saw in him. Maybe I didn't enjoy him because I wasn't much of a kid myself, I had to act twice my age and do things a grown-up should have been the one to do.
He had a giant blue Afro for his hair with a couple streaks of yellow and red. White paint on his face with a blue cotton ball for a nose, he kept making honking noises whenever he or a child would squeeze it. He had painted on a way too big red painted smile on his face and diamond around his eyes. That wasn't what creeped me out, because I loved Halloween and was even a clown myself one year.
When he smiled you could see he was missing a tooth and he talked as if he had a frog in his throat. This guy either smoked too much or drank too much, either way he smelled as if he hadn't showered in a while. He was wearing a dark blue shirt with white polka dots on it that was tucked into a pair of yellow golf pants with different colored stripes on them.
He was blowing balloon animals for everyone, but I refused to let him make me one. Why would I want a balloon animal that he used his mouth to blow up, besides the thing would pop by the end of the day anyway. When I tried to leave, he followed me and before long everyone was laughing at me as the clown chased me around the backyard.
I could hear him as he laughed along with them and even though I knew we must look funny, I was very humiliated and just wanted to go home. I ended up tripping over my own foot and broke my wrist when I caught my fall.
The party ended for me when Aunt Miranda took me to the hospital. When I got home, Elena was there with Matt. He was being shy and sweet asking me if I was OK. When Elena left the room, he kissed me quickly on my cheek.
(End Flash back)
I opened my eyes and starred at him, he was staring at the road again. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. I want to believe I was still lost in the memory of my 7-year-old self but knew it was much more. He was the reason I wasn't scared of clowns anymore, he was the reason I was ok with having a broken wrist and wearing a cast for 6 months.
"What was that for?" I smiled at him and placed my feet in his lap as I settled back against the door.
"I remember that day. Well part of it. I remember the horrible clown, being laughed at, my broken arm, and you kissing my cheek. You made me OK with clowns and my broken arm with that single thing." He smiled but didn't look my way. "I kind of remember little things, but they're foggy and when I try to remember, the memories fade away.
"What kind of things?" He glanced at me from the side of his face. Was he curious? Did he really want to know? Or was he trying to keep secrets? Secrets my brain desperately wanted to uncover but couldn't put the puzzle pieces together.
Sooner or later I will figure it out, I always do. I found out about Vampires and about Werewolves, didn't I? OK, technically Jake told me about Werewolves but if we had stayed together I think I would have figured it out on my own.
"Lots of different people. I can't make out faces which frustrates me, but I can make out most of Mystic Falls, some places feel foggy. When I think too hard I feel a surge of energy and then I get real tired. The memory fades and I go about my day." It always irked me when I tried to remember most of my time in Mystic, but I could never see anything clearly. I didn't know if something bad had happened to e and my brain was trying to protect me or if I knew a dark secret, someone was trying to protect.
"What usually brings these memories forward?" he wasn't too pushy but the single bead of sweat running down his face told me he was hiding something. The ac was on in the car and it was nowhere near hot enough to have him sweat.
"Little things. Most of the time if I look at something or someone that belonged in the memory, it'll pop up. It'll start off foggy but the more I stare the clearer the picture gets. Like just now you brought up your party and the memory came. Whenever I would look at a clown I would see it, but it wasn't clear." I shrugged my shoulder, I was getting a headache." It doesn't matter, I was young then and it feels like a lifetime ago."
We were pulling into a parking lot and I could see the others taking their bags out of their cars. As I looked at each one I could remember them as children. Did they remember me? I wonder if, as time went on, we would go back to being great friends or would we remain strangers. I knew at one point or another, each one of them had an impact in my life and although I couldn't remember now, I was sure with more time I would.
Although Stephan and Damon wouldn't be in any memories from my childhood, I was sure I would remember something. I could feel the close connection I had with them. It was like I was connected to them from a long time ago. Maybe we knew each other in another lifetime and part of my feels it.
Damon's car was missing, and I wondered where he went. Matt was already out of the car with his bags when I didn't even have my door open. I walked over to the group remembering that Stephan put my bag in his car. They were in a conversation when I approached them, Elena pulled me to her side. She was hyper, I could feel it in the way she was smiling. Why did I feel like this was all a show?
"Where's Damon?" Caroline asked, I knew she asked on my behalf. She was looking at me when I looked around for Damon when I was still in Matt's truck. I gave her a small smile and she nodded her head in turn. It was like she wanted us to be together or something…maybe she knew something that would change everything if Damon and I were together.
Even though I felt a connection to Damon, I don't think we would last as a couple. He was too wild and too much a free spirit and I was loyal to death. Literally. I ran away and flew to Italy just to save Edward from killing himself after he left the first time.
It happened after James attacked me 2 years ago. We had broken up about 2 weeks after I was released from the hospital. He blamed himself for what happened to me and I couldn't take how he was making me feel. So, I told him if he couldn't take it then he needed to leave, and he did. The family had stayed behind and took care of me and stuff. Then one-night Alice rushed to my house to let me know what Edward had planned on doing and I blindly rushed after him. I needed to save him, to forgive him, to love him.
When we came back, things changed, and I thought we were happy, but I was wrong. We were far from that, but I refused to give up. Until he took matters into his own hands and ripped us apart and took the family I had gained with him. Leaving me alone to die inside…and then Jake happened.
I loved him to this day and all he did in the end was break promise after promise. I know that we will never be together but that still didn't stop me from believing I was dreaming and Jake would come sweep me off my feet and we would live happily ever after.
"He went to the store we passed on our way here. Said he wanted some snacks, a few beers, and then he muttered off a couple other things." I mouthed her 'thank-you' and she gave me a warming smile and mouthed 'your welcome.'
We walked to the beach where the guys carried mostly everything. Us girls set up our little spot while the guys headed off for a hike. They said they wanted to check out a few trails before we set got lunch going and went swimming. We chose a spot near a tree that way if we needed too we could have some shade. After applying sunblock, I laid on my blanket and opened my book, but the girls had another idea.