Elena got out of the airport and took a bus to a large town about 25 miles from Mystic Falls. After that she hitchhiked home. Elena was confused on what to say. The entire car ride she sat still thinking of the story to tell. Matt's death? Klaus? Elijah? Rebekah? Why she didn't come home? Kol? The witch? The truth? Her brain was so discombobulated.
She arrived at the front of the town at night. She passed by the nostalgic clock tower and hurried to the motel downtown. She stayed on the uncomfortable mattress and had a hard nights' sleep.
Elena awoke at around 11. She got up and changed into leggings and a cashmere sweater. She accessorized with a scarf and red leather hand bag. Her booties gave her a couple more inches in height. She brushed her brown long hair. Applied some mascara with a little foundation and blush. She put on a shade of light lip gloss and then left the room.
The entire town thinks Elena moved away to pursue her dreams but they were all wrong. It was the story that was made up in case she returned while still able to take residence in the town.
Elena walked through the town square she saw all the familiar local shops and restaurants. She smiled as she saw two kids in the streets skipping with vanilla ice cream in their hands.
Elena continued to walk she eventually stopped at the Mystic Grill. She entered the establishment and took a seat at a booth. She scanned the room. She ordered a burger from the waiter. She was eating her food when her phone rang. She saw the caller idea and then answered it.
"Rebekah," Elena said.
"Elena, hi," Rebekah greeted.
"Why are you calling?" Elena asked. She wiped her face with a napkin. Then twirled her fork into the sides of grilled carrots.
"He didn't mean it, Elena," Rebekah said. "He was hurt and he made a rash decision."
"Rash or not, he meant it. Rebekah I'm sorry for leaving you. You've been my best friend this last year or so. And I'm sorry I just didn't say goodbye."
"Not you're not, I bet you're in Mystic Falls right now. It's the only place where you as a human doppleganger could feel safe against the supernatural," Rebekah noted.
Elena hung up the phone leaving Rebekah on the other line. Elena finished her meal and paid the check, leaving it on the table. She rose up out of her seat and turned to the door.
There standing was Caroline.
Caroline's face was dead. She stood still as if she was so dumbfounded that she couldn't believe Elena was standing right in front of her.
Elena gulped. Not sure what to do at the moment.
"Elena," Caroline uttered. Her voice was quiet as if the words came through a single breath.
"Car," Elena said. Elena moved towards her old friend and hugged her. The hug felt warm and comforting.
"How, I mean Bonnie is still alive," Caroline questioned.
"She is, I didn't think I mean, I don't know," Elena lied. She knew the how and why but she couldn't tell Caroline that.
"So what did I miss?" Elena asked.
Caroline chuckled, "Back for two minutes and already asking questions. Well, Elena um I'm a teacher at the high school."
"Wow," Elena was surprised.
"Yeah after all the things that went down there I chose to go back," she giggled. Elena smiled. Caroline continued, "So Bonnie is um normal. She lost her magic and well resides as a shop owner in town square. Tyler left right after you went um away sort a say, we hear from him here and there but he's happy. Met a girl and settled down. Stefan and Damon said we have maybe a year or two before people start noticing our lack of aging. But I don't even know what they do."
"And you and Stefan?" Elena teased.
"Um we didn't really work I guess, I'm happy being single and stuff," Caroline responded. "Anyway tonight is a benefit at the town square for everyone. It's the a second annual town masquerade. It's stupid but I think you should come. We could get ready together like old times." Caroline suggested.
"Sounds fun but where's Jermey I should go find him," Elena noted.
"He left town a while back, I don't know where he is or what he is up to," Caroline informed.
"Oh," Elena took a deep breath. "Well then let's go get ready."
Caroline grabbed Elena's arms and moved her out of the restaurant and back to her house.
They are getting ready. Caroline wore a yellow dress with her hair pinned back. She accessorized with silver earrings and heals. Elena wore a long royal purple strapless dress with high heals. She placed diamond earrings on her ears. She was reminded of when Klaus bought them for her right when she was beginning no to despise the man. They shinned so perfectly. She wore black heels. Caroline went in the garage to find the masks she has. When she bought it, she bought for because she was unsure which one to wear.
Elena heard her phone ring.
"Klaus," she answered.
"Hello Elena," Klaus whispered with caution debating what's the right thing to say.
"Now you're speaking to me," Elena scowled.
"I'm sorry okay I overacted and I just," Klaus apologized.
"Why are you so pissed off about me sleeping with him?" Elena asked.
"You're kidding right," Klaus uttered. "Do you really have to ask? Your in Mystic Falls right?"
"Please, don't come for me," Elena begged and hung up.
Klaus heard the emotion in Elena's voice before she hung up the phone.
"What'd she say?" Elijah asked.
"Don't," Klaus said and left the room.
"Elena," Caroline said as she returned to the room. "You ready."
Elena and Caroline left for Mystic Falls town square.
Elena and Caroline entered the event. They were far the best dressed there.
"Everyone should already be here so we could meet them," Caroline suggested.
Fear struck Elena, she ran back to the parking lot. Caroline sprinted to her wondering what was wrong.
"Elena you okay?" Caroline asked. The two were standing in the middle of the parking lot.
"It's not fair, me just coming back into their lives, they are normalish, I mean as normal as they are going to get," Elena cried.
"Elena," Caroline tried to calm her down.
"No, I'm not ready to face them to face any of them, I left them, I left all of you. I walked out of your lives and I'm just supposed to expect to be welcomed back. I shouldn't work like that. Nothing should work like that. I don't to deserved to be here. I'm sorry for leaving Caroline. I'm so sorry," Elena cried again.
"Elena, you were looked in a freakin box, were not judging you leaving. You didn't leave you were taken and now you're back," Caroline comforted.
"'You're wrong Caroline," Elena admitted.
"What,"Caroline wondered what Elena was getting at. She was getting more and more confused.
"Never mind. You're right, it wasn't my fault," Elena hid.
Elena stood up and walked into the the party, Caroline again followed. As soon as she rode into town square she spotted Stefan. Her heart stopped for a second. She wasn't able to lie to Stefan, powers or not, Stefan knew her well enough.
Stefan glanced to the left. He saw Caroline and another women walking over. He turned back to the man he was interacting with. Then he looked back at his left trying to make sure what he thinks he saw was real. It was. He ran up to Elena and held her before he could say anything. Elena put her arms around him as he embraced her. Stefan then pulled her face close and stroked her cheeks. "You're alive. Elena you're alive," he uttered.
Elena nodded, "Yes, Yes I'm alive."
Stefan hugged her again and Elena felt warmth from the man she once loved.
Stefan asked Elena how she got out since Bonnie was there as well so she can't be dead. Elena told the same story she told Caroline. Stefan in a way believed her but he sensed something was up and he figured he'll work on that later right now Elena is here and he missed her.
Caroline went off to converse with other people. Stefan linked arms with Elena and guided her through the party.
"She told you about Matt going missing right?" Stefan asked.
"Yeah," Elena hesitated. That's the story they know and she isn't going to alter it. They know for sure he went missing but they are pretty sure he's gone. Bonnie did locator spells and they tracked people down from his work because they were the last people to see him but nothing. Elena knew the truth but she just couldn't.
A slow song came on and Stefan held out his hand for Elena. Elena graciously accepted and they danced together. Elena remembered all the times that dancing with Stefan felt right.
Damon walked into the party. He was drunk as usual, and he was hitting on the innocent women. He strolled through the typical Mystic Falls party and then he caught sight of his brother dancing with a brunette. He couldn't picture her face but smirked in annoyance.
He stepped up to him and separated the two without looking at the girl. "Hello brother," Damon greeted.
"Damon," Elena said.
Damon heard the voice and paused. He slowly turned around and saw her standing their and stood their frozen- analylizing the girl. "Get away," he demanded.
"Damon," Stefan said shocked by his unnatural reaction.
"No Stefan, she can't just come back when it's convenient. She can't," Damon cried.
"What are you talking about?" Stefan questioned.
Elena stood there. She knew what Damon was talking about but had no idea how he knew. She was speechless.
"Ask her where she's been these last 11 months or more if I know, how long Elena?" He asked with great anger.
"Wait you've been the town drunk for last couple months, is she why?" Stefan asked but he already knew the answer.
"How long?" he asked again.
"Almost 17 months," she answered. Elena eyes began to get red and puffy, ruining her mascara.
"17 Months, Elena. I went looking for you, thinking you were taken or maybe you don't remember. Any reason you wouldn't come home, any," Damon recalled.
Elena didn't want answer, but she knew she had to. "You want know what happened," she paused. Elena looked in Damon's hateful eyes and then she looked at Stefan's. His were filled with confusion and hurt. "I was taken 17 months ago by a man."
"You're lying I found you in New York shopping with Rebekah Mikaelson. You didn't look like a hostage. You looked like you were having fun with a girl who ran you off a bridge," Damon corrected.
Elena knew how betrayed he felt. "Yes, but I was taken. The first couple months I was miserable. I was looked in the basement except when I was used and taken places they need me to go. Eventually I got to know them. Soon trust was I don't know. I got my own room and they let me out of the house without them. They always compelled me to return until a while they didn't care. Then Klaus said he didn't need me anymore but I stayed because I couldn't face any of you," Elena explained. Tears were streaming down her cheeks but she continued, "I thought of you guys constantly but it was pointless. And the longer I waited the worse I knew you guys would react and then Matt," Elena whined.
Matt's name stood out to both the Salvatores. "Elena what do you know?" Stefan asked.
Elena appeared paralyzed. Her fingers tingled fearing the idea of Matt. "Matt's dead," Elena confirmed."
Stefan began to tear up while Damon's face turned red with anger.
"I was kidnapped by Kol, and stuck in a room. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Kol took him from Vegas. He ran into him and tortured him mercilessly. I was then shoved in a room where I found him hanging there covered in old and new blood. He was dead inside. Then Elijah came in and rescued me, he went back for Matt but it was too late. He was dead. He was on the floor lifeless. I couldn't move for weeks. I couldn't breath. I still picture his face every time anything happens. So I'm sorry, I'm sorry Matt's gone and you didn't know. I'm sorry I woke up and you had no idea. I'm sorry when I finally was allowed to talk to you I didn't but in my defense I called Jeremey but the second he answered I couldn't speak. I was too terrified. Cause that's all my life has been constant loss and confusion and denial and hurting those I care about. I heard you were happy. I was caught up. i'm sorry if I didn't want to walk through the door and say I'm back. Since all I ever do is hurt every one I care about," Elena rambled.
Stefan felt sorry for the girl but Damon didn't. He walked away grabbing a beer from a pile and went home. Elena was left standing in front of Stefan who looked devastated.
"Elena," Bonnie came running.
Elena didn't say anything. She watched Stefan as he walked away.
"What's going on?" Bonnie asked confused.
"I'm sorry this was a mistake," Elena walked away from the witch and went back to the motel room she had. She opened the door and found Klaus standing in the middle of the room.