Hi, everybody :)
I won't be as long as last time, I promise :P.
First I want to again thank you all for your support; your reviews are so amazing and always seem to brighten my day.
I know I am (regarding my usual update time) quick with posting this chapter less than a week from posting the last one and I would love to be able to say that this will be our standard procedure from now on, but I can't do that. I am sorry. The next chapter will be a little trickier for me to write (a lot longer too)and I am going on holyday to the sea side with my family soon, so… Let's just say that it will be up as soon as I am done with it, OK? But let's focus on this one for now.
If you wondered what Jenna and Alaric think about the latest events as well as couldn't wait to see the first time Damon and our favourite history teacher will drink bourbon together in my story this one is for you. ;)
AGirlThatDaresToDream
P.S: If you don't have a profile on fanfiction and would like to know when the next chapter is going to be posted or if you have a question about the story visit agirlthatdarestodream . tumblr (without any spaces).
Chapter 21
"They are gone. They are gone. No, no! They are GONE!" Jeremey's heart-breaking cries echoed through the car mixing with Elena's soft whispers of reassurance, making it harder and harder for Jenna to just give them space and continue to look through the back sit window, while holding one of her niece's sleeves as tightly as she could, knowing that she needed every help she could get to be able to hold herself together. There was something different about her; she expected the glow she once had in her eyes gone, replaced by fear, sadness, anger maybe, yet none was there. Nothing like it, and it was this emptiness that scarred her the most as Elena's eyes met hers, a small smile planted on her lips in a thankful notion, for a moment covering her obvious exhaustion. It was always like that with Elena, ever since she was a child she was the first to sense someone's pain and to figure out how to help. She used to think it was a beautiful process, watching the face of the person who was in pain relaxing slowly as the girl's filled with tension, like she was literally taking it from him, making it easier but now she couldn't think of a worst way to send her over the edge too. The last thing Elena needed right now was to break down in the car driving in the middle of nowhere, so she only gripped her hand tighter, hopping it will somehow help, hoping that she was doing the right thing for once as Jeremy's violent sobbing eased down into crying and the girl broke the eye contact they were sharing to glance at the figures sitting on the front sits, probably to get a glimpse of where they were, not seeming to notice the obvious tension between the two man before turning the attention back to her brother again. How the hell will she do this? How does she act around a person who has been through more that you will ever be? Only a ghost of someone she used to know before, a completely different Elena.
….
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The ancient looking crystal bottle slipped from Alaric grasp as he stately turned around, the clanking sound of it hitting the one of the similarly luxurious glasses filling the room. "Just drinking a glass of this stuff is going to kill you." The vampire smirked coldly, clearly satisfied with what he had caused, taking the bottle and filling what looked almost like a small jug with its content.
"Well, you never know it might be worth it," the teacher smiled, pouring not more than an inch of the drink to himself. "I haven't seen a glass of a fine looking bourbon for a long time."
A short, controlled laughter flew from the vampire's lips, as he threw himself on the red velvet couch, motioning Alaric to do so at one of the armchairs in front of him as well. "More like moonshine. You never knew what they put in the mix in the 1930's, no matter how trusted your supplier was."
Alaric's eyebrows rose at the information. "So what's the occasion?"
The vampire's expression darkened instantly, turning into a growl while his eyes bored into him with annoyance as he raised his glass towards his lips. "Does there have to be one? Or is there a rule now that prevents a man to drink when he feels like it?"
"That is not how you wanted things to go down." It was more than obvious from the way the vampire was acting as he scanned him with a scowl, before answering with a snort.
"This is not how any of us wanted the things to go down." The man sitting in front of him drained the glass, before continuing. "We wouldn't be having this conversation right now if they would. I would have helped the girl as much as I could, before you would have snatched her from me and got her out. You would never be forced to spend a night at the house of a vampire or even talk to one."
"Maybe." Alaric frowned. "It could have been worse, thought. With everything going on we should just be happy that things played out as they did."
"I wish they hadn't. That we wouldn't ever meet, that someone else would get assigned to her, stuck to the rules, ran tests and do whatever, until you would have your master plan crafted and reunited her with her family. Or that the accident wouldn't even happen. It would be best for all of us." The teacher's eyes shot to the vampires as the weight of his words finally hit him, for a second rewarded by the sight of an emotion swirling into the bright blue debts, before disappearing. A sight that he, despite the open mind he tried so hard to keep, never thought he would witness, before the vampire's head snapped towards the top of the stairs, breaking their eye-contact and not even a second later Alaric could hear the doors upstairs closing, glancing there himself and being surprised by Elena cautiously making her way into the living room, probably in hope that she didn't disturb their conversation, a pair of snow white wings gently flapping on her back.
For the way he imagined her time in the centre was like she certainly looked good, not a scratch on her arms and her hair falling in waves down her shoulders, well –slept, not too skinny, her steps soft, but determined as she sat herself on the couch next to the vampire, the only thing giving away that she was trying to ease her brother's breakdown for the last two hours her tired expression and her almost invisibly shaking hands.
"Are you all right?" The vampire asked, his voice soft, worried, so different from when he was speaking to him, his arm sneaking behind the girl to rub her back comfortingly.
"I am fine." Her response was immediate, almost automatic, causing a sad smile to appear on the vampire's lips.
"Do you want me to get you a glass of water? It really does help, you know."
The girl thanked him, nodding as he headed towards the kitchen, leaving them alone. Elena's attention instantly turned to him as she smiled at him, even though the shadow of worries was still clear on her face.
"So… Long-time no see?"
"Quite a while." Alaric smiled. "It is good to see you, Elena."
"Nice to see you too, professor Saltzman," she replied, just as the vampire set his foot back through the doorway. She took big, slow gulps as she drank, the expression changing with every one of them, softening, loosening, relaxing, like the water would actually be able to just wash the things that troubled her mind away. The teacher couldn't help but notice how their legs were brushing against each other, their gazes meeting and how his hand found the small of her back without hesitation when she leaned her head against his shoulder, her heavy eyelids closing. During the whole conversation he was looking for a sign, just a small giveaway maybe, that the girl was acting, hiding her fear in hope for a better outcome, yet he couldn't seemed to have found it, only now realising why. There weren't any signs, or giveaways or hidden emotions. This is how they were, relaxed, open, casual. The simple motions they used while talking to each other naturally and the only thing he could think of was that the next day just became even more interesting than he thought it might be.
Hey petrovaaa :)
Wow, a dentist in the making? That's awesome! I just finished my second year at high school so college is only two years away for me now. I am not really sure what I want to study yet, though and am trying to get as much information as I can get about the schools and professions that might suit me. Thank you so much for your understanding as well as your wonderful compliments about the chapter, your love for story means so much to me. Congratulations on finishing your school year whit what (regarding how hard you have been working) I am sure was an amazing result. Now enjoy your winter break as much as you can, OK? You most definitely deserved it. :) :)
Love you,
AGirlThatDaresToDream
Hi sondrex76 :)
Thank you, I am so glad to be back too! :D Jeremy did learn about Elena having wings already, first through all of the hearsays and then when Lynn mentioned it when she told the group about what was written in the data about the accident she was meant to falsify at her job. You guessed wrong with the "hunters" taking Elena to their base for now, as Damon and Ethan came to the agreement that she can stay in his house until they talk to her, but send Alaric with them just to make sure they stay there and to feel Damon out a bit, if you know what I mean. Their talk with Elena, however will take place in the upcoming chapter and I guess you will have to see what will happen then…
Much love,
AGirlThatDaresToDream
Dear jairem,
Thank you! Yes, they have bonded indeed. You will have to wait a chapter or two to find out what Jeremy's and Jenna's reaction to her bond with him will be thought, sorry.
Love,
AGirlThatDaresToDream
Dear vladelena,
I am glad you like the story and that you equally enjoyed this chapter. Don't worry about the story ending any time soon; there is still a long way ahead of it. Thank you for reading! :)
With love,
AGirlThatDaresToDream
Dear delenalu,
Hi there, thank you for your awesome reviews! The amount of passion you have for this story almost threw me from my chair! I love it! The moment of light as you called it will certainly make its appearance in this story again, just not quite yet. Your English is amazing by the way! I really hope that I reach your stage of vocabulary knowledge one day.
With love,
AGirlThatDaresToDream
A special thank you also goes to all of the guest reviewers.
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