She was back at the Grille the next day. She was as tired as can be after the long night, but she was there just like she had texted Elijah last night before she fell asleep.
Last night . . . last night had not been good. She had come clean to Klaus about everything that had happened to her and he earnestly seemed interested. She knew he probably only wanted to know so he could torture her in the time she had left. Araya knew that if she was going to tell anyone it should have been Elijah, maybe Tyler or Jeremy. They could handle it. They would hate it, but they could handle it. She assumed that Stefan could too. Bonnie would be prejudiced because Araya had killed on purpose. It wasn't an accident. Bonnie would hate that. She would turn against Raya just like she had on Caroline at first.
Araya sipped her soda and checked her phone. She was early so she knew she couldn't be a hypocrite since last night was sure to be one of the main subjects. Her time with Klaus would be left out of everything they talked about. That was for sure. Elijah was probably going to be mad and worried.
The werewolf heard someone slip into the both opposite of her and her head snapped up.
"I'm assuming that since I didn't get a warm greeting that you're Katherine."
"We both know that I don't care if you know who I am." She huffed. "Klaus made me stay at the boarding house last night."
"Figured that was why you were there." Raya forced a laugh."So, Katherine, what are you doing today? Besides being thrown out by Klaus?"
"I needed out of that wretched old house, brooding Stefan, martyr Elena and oversensitive Damon. I figured I would invite you to come shopping with me . . ." she spoke without reluctance, but it wasn't excitement either, "or perhaps, I could just find a delish man somewhere around here."
"I'll come with you after I talk to Elijah." Araya smiled. "He should be here soon, but in the meantime order anything you want. Klaus gave me his credit card. I'm supposed to 'live it up' evidently."
Katherine frowned. "Klaus gave you his credit card."
"Yep."
"Don't fall for it."
"Fall for what?"
"Don't fall for his sweet charming front that he puts on. He wants you to trust him and love him so he can look into your eyes a rip your heart out. Klaus wants you to feel the betrayal and pain."
"Whatever Klaus does to me will be better than some of the things I've been through. Trust me on that."
"Trust me when I say we have a lot to talk about alone." Katherine's eyes flicked over to the doorway where Araya could easily find Elijah waiting patiently for Katherine to leave. "Be at the boarding house at twelve-thirty."
"Will do." Araya smiled at Katherine, but as soon as the vampire turned her back she dropped her head to sit on her arms. She only had an hour of sleep last night. "Before you get mad at me, I do have a reason for not staying with you last night an—"
"And ignoring my calls."
"I don't have an excuse for that. I was freaking out about something, but like I said, no excuse."
"So this conversation is going to be about excuses?"
"Yesterday I fucking slaved in the kitchen trying to make a decent meal for the man I love. By the time five came around—like you said you'd be home by—I was in the most uncomfortable, skanky, see-through lingerie." She growled. "And I waited and waited until I was finally so pissed off that I called Damon."
Elijah ignored her declaration of love because of his jealousy pointed directly to Damon Salvatore. His eyes were full of fire and hatred as he said, "Damon Salvatore. Tell me, did he manage to get you in bed?"
"Not in the way you're thinking!"
"Oh so you got him in bed?"
"Elijah!" she cried out. "I didn't do anything with Damon that would jeopardize what we have together. I love you too much!"
A kiss wouldn't jeopardize anything, right?
Elijah calmed at her words. "I love you too."
Araya smiled, but quickly frowned. "Uhm, there's more about last night." Elijah raised his brows and waited for her to continue. "Well, I was going to come home, but I needed to go home so I could pick up some ta—" Her face flushed full of color. That was not on the menu of discussion. "Something. Tyler was there in my apartment and we got into a fight. He said he talked to Klaus and he would be in the sacrifice. You know that I can't let that happen. But Klaus showed up and for a long time he stood outside the door listening to us fight, but when Tyler left, Klaus just walked right in like he owned the place."
Elijah was still as stone. "Is there anymore?"
"He told me that Greta had stolen some of my stuff for some spell and while she was there she invited him in. That's it."
It wasn't it. Not at all, but explaining what was the main topic of conversation . . .
"I just want you to know that last night at Damon's we were buying frilly underpants and having them sent to Klaus. I think we bought some Twilight ones too. They should be getting in today . . . which is one of the reasons why I'm taking cover by going shopping with Katherine."
Elijah started laughing. "Why am I not surprised that you would do that?"
"Which part? Because on a normal day I wouldn't shop with Katherine. She's so . . . skinny and pretty, just like Elena, except Elena is nice. I'm not skinny or pretty. And Katherine flaunts what she knows she has."
"You are the most stunning and beautiful woman I've ever met, my dear Araya."
Her soft hazel eyes melted fractionally as she looked up at the man she loved. "I still don't forgive you for not showing up last night. Where were your manners?"
"Absent, I suppose."
"So we're okay?"
"Better than that."
"Even if I tell you something else that I did last night?"
Araya didn't want to lie to Elijah completely. She wouldn't tell him about how she talked about her past with the brother he hates but she would tell him that they talked more than she originally let on.
Elijah watched her as she squirmed in her seat. "It would depend on what you did."
"Klaus and I talked more than what I told you about. He, um, stayed all night and we talked."
Dead silence followed.
"Okay," he said calmly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. Klaus has a dark side that calls out to you. It's understandable that you would want to talk to him."
"But—"
"No, Araya. I knew this would happen. It's fine." He checked his watch. "I suggest that you eat before you go with Katerina. She isn't as considerate to the needs of humans."
"I'm not human."
"You have a heartbeat, do you not?"
"I do, but Elijah, we both know that the definition of human is to be distinguished from animals. I'm an animal once a month."
"Does it bother you that much? Being what you are?"
"Yes."
"You're trying to distract me from making you eat."
"Yeah."
"You've failed."
One bacon cheeseburger later, she walked out of the Grille hand in hand with Elijah. Araya still had forty-five minutes before she had to meet Katherine and she wanted to take advantage of it. They walked aimlessly around sometimes talking about the most trivial things and other times they walked in silence. Slowly the couple passed the small candy shop and Jenna walked right out of the store.
"Hey, Elijah," she said, not noticing who the girl was until she turned with Elijah. "Araya! What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Jenna."
Jenna saw their hands intertwined and her expression quickly jumped to disapproval. This hadn't been the first look that they had received when they were walking It just happened Jenna's opinion mattered to Araya.
"Oh. Oh my god."
Araya's face turned red with anger. Jenna did not have room to judge. Her relationships never turned out well.
"Is there a problem, Jenna?'
"No. Not, not at all."
Araya looked up at Elijah sadly before looking back to Jenna.
"So, Jenna, how're you doing? I haven't seen you in a while."
"I'm doing good. I'm having a dinner party tonight. Would you two like to come? Tyler and the mayor will be there."
Araya knew Elijah wouldn't want to, considering what went down at the last one, but she agreed anyway. She needed to talk to Tyler in the worst way. The way they left things hadn't been good.
"Of course, I would love to. What about you, Elijah?"
"Anything for you, love." He kissed her cheek
"Well, I have to go, but uhm, it's at seven-thirty tonight. I'll see you both there." Jenna walked off briskly.
"Well, that was sufficiently awkward," Elijah said in his always calm tone.
"Yeah . . . It was . . ." Araya grabbed his arm that contained his watch. "Ooh! I have to go! Katherine is waiting."
"You realize she was compelled by Klaus to do this?"
"Yeah, but I can't sit around and think anymore. Shopping or sobbing? I choose shopping with Klaus' compelled girl and his credit card!"
"Why would you have his credit card?"
"He gave it to me and I fully intend to reach it's limit." Araya looked up at her boyfriend. "Can you give me a ride to the boarding house?"
"Of course."