Elena just wanted to drive. She needed to clear her mind. All of these questions were racing around her, racking her brain. Everything just seemed so impossible. Things were fine yesterday, and now suddenly everything is gone. Her family and home taken from her, her memories gone too apparently.
No matter how hard she tried, she could only remember leaving Matt and Caroline at the Grill and arriving home. Without a doubt her family had been up, she talked to them before she went upstairs to bed. But Jenna is saying that it couldn't have happened? Elena didn't know what to believe right now. She wished she could get answers, especially from her parents, but now that was never going to happen again.
Elena pulled up to Mystic Grill and stopped in her usual parking spot. It may as well have her name engraved into it, she was there every single day. She looked in her rearview mirror. She looked awful. Not as bad as Jenna this morning, but she looked like she just rolled out of bed. Jenna must've been up crying all night. Why hadn't she been? That's the normal reaction. She still hadn't leaked a single tear yet. Maybe it was going to hit her later.
Matt embraced her into a hug as soon as she walked through the wooden double doors.
"Lena, I'm so sorry about your family. I saw on the news this morning. I'm so glad you are okay! What are you doing here?"
"Uhm..thanks. I'm just trying to run from things I guess." She wasn't too sure how to react to the sentiment just yet. He let go of her.
"Matt, was I drunk last night?"
"No, not at all. Caroline was the tipsy one, but me and you were just fine. Not a single drink. Why?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just have a bad headache is all," She lied.
"Well, I gotta get back to work. Find me if you need anything at all..I mean it Elena."
Poor boy, he was still head over heels for her, but he didn't stand a chance. She wasn't into his type anymore. Many girls would swoon over his amazingly good looks and perseverance to settle down, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't love him like that anymore.
Elena spotted Caroline over in a booth sitting with some guy. All Elena could see at the moment was sandy brown hair, a muscular build, and a leather jacket. Typical Caroline, she thought. She walked over toward the two. At the sight of her Caroline automatically jumped to her feet and grabbed Elena.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I was so worried about you, I have called you a hundred times today! Are you hurt? Do you have somewhere to stay?" Caroline was ecstatic.
"I'm sorry, I must've not even checked my phone today. It's probably dead from last night. To answer your questions, no and yes. I'm staying with Jenna. But I need to talk to you. It's about last night," Elena eyed Caroline's mystery guy.
"Oh, right, I'm sorry. You remember Stefan don't you? From last night. Him and his ridiculously hot brother partied here with us?" Caroline was blushing.
"No, actually I don't. That's what I wanted to talk to you about though. I don't remember hardly anything from last night except leaving you and Matt, going home, seeing my family very much alive, and then going to bed. I wake up this morning and Jenna is here and telling me that my family died last night BEFORE I got home. Nothing is making sense." Elena was sure she sounded insane. But this was her best friend. Maybe she could shed a little light onto this. The two girls slid in next to each other in the booth.
"Well..Elena. I don't know, but before you left last night you and I were trying to figure out a way for you to sneak in without them noticing. Kinda the whole point of sneaking out, is to not let them know you went out, so I don't understand why you'd talk to them when you got home." Caroline was giving her this look of curiosity.
Stefan looked puzzled, but didn't respond. Elena looked at him for any input. Stefan kept glancing away, and said nothing. There was an awkward silence.
"Look I'm sorry guys, I'll just get out of here. It's probably nothing but an intense case of shock anyways. That or I'm just going nuts." Elena got up and turned to leave. Stefan grabbed her arm.
"Hey Elena, I know what it's like losing people you love, if you ever need to talk to someone. Please keep me in mind." He slid a napkin containing his number into her hand.
"Elena, you can stay. We can get your mind off of things," Caroline pleaded.
"No, it's fine Care. I probably won't be the most fun person to be around today anyways. I'll just call you later. You too Stefan." With that, Elena threw a small wave towards them and walked to the door.
Just before she reached the door handle it swung open forcefully. A man walked in behind them. Elena eyed him with an annoyed look on her face. He was stunning. His jet black hair was short and messy. His skin was a pale, but flawless. He had a lean, built stature. And those eyes! His eyes were ice. The lightest, sharpest blue she had ever seen. Before she knew it she was lost in those eyes. Elena stood there gawking like an idiot.
"Hey watch-" The man stopped short.
"Elena, I believe?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.
All she could do is nod her head. All of her stress had left her mind. Actually, for the moment. Everything was gone. Not only could she not remember the events from last night, but she could hardly remember where she was now. This man took her breath away. And he was talking..to her. He knew her name. But reality came crashing back in as she realized. She had no idea who he was.
"Damon..from last night? We drunk together, and danced a lot. Well actually I drank a lot, then we danced, and then I drunk more," he laughed.
"I'm sorry Damon, I'm having a hard time remembering much from last night," Elena said halfway embarrassed.
How in the world could she forget this face? She danced with him last night? Oh my god. Elena had no idea what could ever possess her to forget him. Even just looking at him now, he was burned into her memory. Hopefully.