Chapter 4: Conformance

As much as for other people's and her own sake, for the next few days Elena tried to concentrate on normality as she knew it before meeting Stefan and that included pretending that her impending graduation was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to her. Bonnie was still ignoring her at school as well and the fact that Rebekah turned up at physics class didn't do much for heightening her enthusiasm for studies. So when she was ordered to Mr. Salzman's office at lunchtime, she had to contemplate, "you aren't calling me here about my grades, are you?" She asked somewhat amused as she stepped into the room wondering. They usually tried to keep all supernatural stuff out of conversations in the school, besides if something was up he could've said it to her at their breakfast table.

"Sit down Elena," Ric said gravely and shut the door behind her, not leaving any doubt that this wasn't to do with overdue assignments.

"What happened?" She turned towards him, grabbing his arm in apprehension, "is it Damon?" She winced. Judging by Bonnie's attitude the day before when she tried to approach her witch, now ex friend, it could very well be that she had started using that doll again.

"I want you to sit down," Ric led her to the chair and Elena noticed that there was an untouched glass of water placed right at the edge of the table, as if somebody would need it pretty soon. Equally as disturbingly, Alaric had a half finished bottle of whiskey out in plain sight on the study as well. By this time, Elena was frozen with dread.

"There's no way of saying this gently," her guardian didn't let go of her hand as he faced her, leaning onto his desk, "Caroline just called. She has to stay with Damon just now and she didn't want to say this to you on the phone. Elena, Stefan killed Bonnie."

The young woman stared at him, eyes glazing up in the momentary disbelief of the shock where she did not allow herself to feel, freezing inside. It was how she stayed calm for the time being, "how do we know that for sure?"

"Caroline was there right after. She had tried to give Bonnie her blood, but it was too late. I'm so sorry Elena," Alaric frowned, hovering in between the glass of water and keeping hold of her hand. He knew he couldn't offer her real comfort, but he had to at least pretend he could, for both their sakes.

Elena held herself rigid. It registered with her that someone said something important about Bonnie and Stefan, and that the two events were related, but her mind couldn't quite process the implications. She couldn't deal with any of that right now. And then, there was something about Damon too? "Where's Caroline?" She wanted nothing more than hug her tight. It was her and the blonde only now and she would be just as upset as she herself was. They needed each other.

Ric groaned despondently. Of course Elena could not remember details of what he had told her in the horror of the situation, not to mention there was something else he wasn't looking forward to tell her. "She's helping Damon."

Caroline? Helping Damon? None of this made sense. "Why?"

"Becaused what..what Stefan did, didn't break the black magic spell.." He paused. How much could a barely adult girl take?

Elena nodded, standing up and turning purposefully. Concentrating on the practical had always been her coping mechanism and all the psychological hardship would eventually sort herself in her head, well, to the extent as it ever did. Her body didn't quite agree with her instinct, she had to consciously direct her jello legs and the ice cold, yet shivering block of ice that was her heart into the direction of the door. She didn't hear Ric anymore, not until she grabbed her shoulders, outside on the corridor. "Where are you going?"

"I have to see Damon," she whispered, not meeting his eyes. Something drew her there, how much was it for her own comfort from a vampire who always knew what she needed and how much was out of concern for his wellbeing she didn't know and it did not matter.

"I'll drive you," Alaric said without hesitation. Teaching became such a charade, his alibi for a normal life and at this moment in time he did not care whether he was fired for not turning up at his classes.

Elena had no objections. They went silently down the stairs, Alaric finding he was not being able to say anything that would've made a difference, Elena in a daze, struggling for a glimmer of hope till she remembered something, "where is she?"

"Who?" Alaric frowned. Didn't she already ask about Caroline twice already?

"The..the..." Elena didn't quite manage to utter the word "body" and neither did she feel strong enough emotionally to say Bonnie's name out loud. "She would've never drank vampire blood willingly, I know that, but maybe there's a slight chance she died with vampire blood in her system?"

Alaric hang his head sighing. He knew it was false hope as well, but he didn't want to take that away from her as well, "you'll have to ask Caroline. Rush hour's by, we'll be at the boarding house in no time."

Elena stopped, turning towards her guardian, "Ric. What if..what if Stefan's at the boarding house? What are we going to do with him?"

The teacher ignored the last part of the question. He knew what a vampire hunter should do about an out of control ripper, but hopefully that conversation could be done another day. "He won't be, I'm sure," he encouraged Elena, guiding her into the parking lot.

Tbc