Chapter 11: Winter break - Renee again
Stefan whispered shocked and Elena seemingly woke up and handed me her car keys instructing me to go to her house. Still in shock I could only nod and without my permission my feet moved to the parking lot and got in Elena's car.
Only there I realized what I really wanted to do. Get comfort and solace in my mothers arms. I turned the ignition on and drove to the boarding house to get my bags and then headed to the town limits where I had seen a bus station. I checked when the next bus for Florida was, got a ticket and moved to the bathroom where I changed my skirt for a pair of dark jeans and sat down to wait.
30 minutes later I got in the bus and only then tested Elena to tell her where she'd find her car and that I needed some alone time. She replied a few moments later saying ok and that she'd call me later to update me about Damon. Stefan had ordered her to go to his house while he was with Damon and Katherine.
I was silently watching the scenery and got out of the bus when we got to Jacksonville. Knowing my mother she would be at the beach so I simply dumped my bags in the living room and headed to her favorite bench. I was right she was there drinking her coffee and staring at the waves. Still silently I sat next to her and put my head on her shoulder. If she was shocked I was there she didn't show it. Simply held me and after a moment guided me to the water and threw me in. I shrieked and grabbed her arm throwing in turn in the water. After a lengthy water war I was laughing and shivering. I removed my clothes glad that I had picked black underwear and we sat on the white sand.
"What happened?"
"I caught him making out with his ex"
true enough
"I just wanted to get out of there"
She remained silent and then burst into laughter. I didn't find funny at all but she explained she was laughing at my face. I pulled the small make up mirror from my purse and joined her in laughter. I had mascara runs down my cheeks, my reddish-pink-silver eye shadow was gone and my lip-gloss was smeared on my chin. I let her drive me at her house where I took a lengthy warm shower, cleaned my face and applied a fresh layer of makeup to simply cover the dark shadows under my eyes and a few drops of eye-wash to deal with the redness. My favorite lip balm and I headed back downstairs. Renee was suspiciously silent watching TV and I joined her.
"did you call Charlie?"
"no"
"why are you so silent, then?"
"No reason"
"Mom..."
"Fine, I'm upset with myself for letting you go with him when he turned around and did that"
"oh mom, it's not your fault. And if anything, I'm glad it happened here and not in Forks. Somehow I don't think dad would be ok with Damon living with us if he kissed someone else there"
Mom nodded and we spent the day being lazy. Around dinner time I send her off to a grocery store to buy the needed things for pasta with meatballs. Phil must have known I was back because he didn't seem at all surprised to find me cooking. After dinner he washed the dishes while mom went to rent a movie and I fought down the urge to call Elena and ask for news.
"Do you want me to get some guys and play ball with his balls?"
I burst into laughter both with Phil's question and the serious look on his face. After a few moments, I was able to breathe again and I shook my head. It's not like Damon could be harmed anyway.
"No Phil, it's ok. Thanks though"
He nodded and I was touched by his willingness to get in the way to help me. For a moment I imagined Charlie's reaction and wondered how you could revoke the permission for entrance of a vampire. On the other hand though Charlie could simply tell him to leave. Anyway I had to talk to Damon and see what the hell happened. The fact he didn't call me yet was not lost on me anyway.
the next 3 days were spent on the same pattern as the previous ones with Renee and Phil with the only exception I was calling Elena regularly but never got an answer. I was miserable and there weren't much that Renee didn't do to lift my spirits. She even re-invited me to live with them but too many things have changed. Me, my memories of Forks and mostly the fact that while I love the beach I didn't want to bail out on dad. I made a promise to bond with him as much as possible during my stay in forks and I hadn't held it. Instead I let too many people to distract me. First Edward and the Cullens in general, then Damon... No I had to suck it up and find a way to make up with my father.
Starting by this afternoon when I'd be boarding on the plane home to Forks. As for Damon he made a choice and apparently wasn't coming back.
