Chapter Fifteen: Sugar, We're Going Down
Am I more than you bargained for yet?
I've been dying to tell you anything you want to hear
Cause that's just who I am this week
Lie in the grass, next to the mausoleum
I'm just a notch in your bedpost but you're just a line in a song
Drop a heart, break a name
We're always sleeping in, and sleeping for the wrong team
We're going down, down in an earlier round
And Sugar, we're going down swinging
I'll be your number one with a bullet
A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it
~Fall Out Boy
Nilin had spent most of the day in the book store. Not many people came in, which allowed Nilly to talk with Magnolia and Shellie. Nilly followed Shellie as she rambled about which entomology books she'd recommend, pulling out her favorites which mostly contained butterflies. Meanwhile, Magnolia made jokes about how abnormal it was for her to play with dead bugs.
Nilly found it fascinating though, the fact that there were so many different kinds and how people spend their entire lives looking for them. She wouldn't mind a job like that— secluded in some Brazilian rainforest working with butterflies all day.
Magnolia knew a lot about books, she could tell you specific quotes from books she read months ago. Pick a genre and she'd tell you her favorite books in it. She could rattle off author's names and tell you exactly where they were in the store. It was pretty impressive. Nilly ran her fingers along the spine of the book she was holding. "I better get going," she said to them. "Thanks for letting me hang out here."
"No burden on us, you can come back anytime." Magnolia offered.
"Besides, sometimes you just don't want to go home. We get it." Shellie commented, coming up next to Magnolia.
Nilly stared at her, questionably. How did they know she was avoiding going home and talking to Elena? She hadn't said a word to them about it. Nilin just blew it off, not having enough brain capacity to think about it. She smiled at them and said goodbye as she left the store and head for her Jeep.
That had been a little strange. There was something up with those two but she wasn't really focused on it at the moment. Her brain was preparing itself for the conversation she was about to have when she got back to the house and back to a questioning Elena.
Nilin had an idea on how to prolong their inevitable talk though. She stopped to pick up a few things and made a few calls. Then she was ready to head home. She walked in the door juggling three brow bags full of groceries. When she sat them on the counter Jenna asked, "What's all that for?"
"I thought I'd make dinner for everyone and, if it's okay with you, invite some people over?" Nilly said, pouting her lip and batting her eyes.
Jenna laughed at her, "Sure, I actually had a date tonight, though."
Nilly eyebrows lifted as she hoisted herself on top of the counter, dangling her legs, "With who?" she asked.
"New history teacher," Jeremy said walking into the kitchen. Jenna's eyes shot a warning sign at him.
"Really? A teacher, go Jenna." Nilly said laughing, "Go out tonight, I'll save you the leftovers."
"Are you sure?" she asked meekly as she walked over to Nilin. Her aunt framed Nilly's face with her petite hands, checking her over.
"Positive." Nilly answered as Jenna then moved on to checking her bruised knuckles. Jenna was gentle as she went through the medical checklist in her head.
"Who were you thinking of inviting?" Jeremy asked.
"Not a lot. Just Bonnie, Matt, Tyler and Stefan. I haven't seen Stefan since the dance and I wanted to thank him for helping me out. You can invite that Anna girl, if you want, too," she said.
Jeremy ducked his head, and Nilly wonder if he was blushing. "I'll ask," he said as he pushed off the counter, leaving the kitchen.
Nilly and Jenna looked at each other and laughed. Still chuckling, she pointed at Jenna, "You go get ready for your date, I have to start cooking," Nilly said.
"Fine." Jenna said, "But if you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded sit down, understand? I still don't think you're back to one hundred percent."
"I will, promise," Nilin told her. Jenna just smiled before going upstairs. Nilly turned around unpacking the groceries and laying them on the counter. Humming to herself, she began to pull out pots and pans.
"What are we having?" she heard Elena ask behind her.
Nilin would be a liar if she said she didn't release an inner groan. It was the moment she had been waiting for since she got home from the hospital. She didn't turn around when she answered, "I thought I'd make Italian. You can invite Stefan over too, if you want? I'd like to thank him, anyway."
"Yeah, he was already coming over." Elena said. There was a pause as Nilly focused on cutting up tomatoes. "I know you've been avoiding me all day, Nil," Elena said finally. "I just want to know what was going through your mind, that's all."
Nilly put the knife down and braced her hands on the counter. "At what point of the night, Elena?" she asked.
"You know exactly what point," she answered.
Nilin turned around and looked at her cousin. "I was stuck in a crowd of people, I started panicking a little. He helped me get outside and asked if I was alright. I was close to having another attack, Elena. I was going to leave when he asked me to dance."
"Nilly, what did I tell you though? You should have said no. I asked you to stay away from him. He's a bad person," she said.
She shook her head. The dull pain at the base of her neck was beginning to throb as if it was keeping up with a tempo. "I didn't see the harm in it, a public place packed with people who were already staring at me. I was confident nothing bad was going to happen. Besides, I like talking to him, he's sweet to me," she said.
"That's an act, he's not really like that. He's dang—"
"He's dangerous, yeah I got that one." Nilly said, cutting Elena off. "I also got down that he's using me, he has hidden agendas, I can't be trusted to make my own decisions and I'm just as shitty a person as he is," she snapped. Nilin was offended by Elena's words— it was the same thing Caroline had said to her— and it caused her to lash out. "I can take care of myself Elena, I know you're just trying to look after me but I've been doing that on my own for a while now."
"I just don't want to see you get hurt," she said.
Nilly almost laughed. "I already got hurt, and it wasn't because of Damon," she said. Elena paused, her mouth opened as if to say something, but then she closed it. Nilin turned back around and moved on to chopping up the garlic. "Would you like to help?" she asked Elena.
"Of course," she answered softly. They had said what they needed to and were saving the rest for another time. The tension was blown over as Elena started setting the table. There was a weight off of both their chests, which was a good thing because Nilin was already finding it hard to breath.
She went to boil the noodles when she felt Elena's arms go around her. Nilin turned around and hugged her tighter, "I love you, kid," she said into Elena's hair.
Elena laughed against her shoulder. Just then Jenna came down, wearing a very hot navy blue dress. "How do I look?" she asked, posing in the door way.
"Amazing," Elena said, unwrapping her arms from around Nilin.
Nilly smiled and crossed her arms over her chest, she nodded to Elena, "What she said."
Jenna laughed then asked, "What should I do with my hair?" She motioned to her auburn hair that hung around her shoulders as she pulled it up.
"Sexy stewardess," Nilly said.
Then Jenna laid her hair down again. "Or Boozy housewife," Elena said, grinning.
"Up it is then," Jena said, laughing. "You two are in good mood," she said.
Nilly and Elena looked at each other and shrugged. "Guess so," Elena said. Nilin just shrugged again.
Jenna eyed them suspiciously then looked at her watch, "Crap, I'm late. I'll be back later, okay?" she said, grabbing her purse. "Love you guys," she yelled scurrying out the door.
"Love you," Nilly and Elena called after her simultaneously as she heard the front door close.
Elena turned to her, "Why don't you get ready I'll keep an eye on everything."
"Sure," Nilly smiled, glad that everything was seemingly returning back to normal. She bounced up the steps to her room singing to herself as she massaged the back of her neck.
She went passed Jeremy's room and saw his door open. She popped her head in. "Is your friend coming?" Nilly asked.
He was sitting at the desk in his room, sketching something. He looked up to answer her. "No, she said she couldn't make it tonight." Jeremy said.
"Awe, well next time then," she said, winking at him. Jeremy just rolled his eyes at her but laughed anyway.
Nilin went into her room, closing the door behind her. She straightened out her bangs on her forehead and braided the rest of her hair in a French braid down her back. She pulled on a black lace tank top and dark red cropped shorts. She put in black studded earrings and fixed the chain on her bracelet then headed downstairs to finish up dinner, content with the few minutes of alone time she got.
A few hours later, everyone was there. Tyler and Matt were sitting on the couch, talking about summer training for football, and Elena and Bonnie were putting finishing touches on the table in the dining room. Nilly stood in the kitchen mixing the sauce and pulling garlic bread out of the oven.
"Smells great," someone said behind her. Nilly jumped, and gasped. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," Stefan said, leaning in the kitchen door way.
"It's okay," Nilly said, "I spook easily. Frayed nerves, a perk to being a part of this family," she explained to him.
Stefan laughed and walked over to the island, resting his elbows on it. "Elena said you wanted to talk to me," he explained, smiling at her. Nilly notice his eyes, they were a deep green color, so unlike Damon's… She shook her head, trying to get the older Salvatore out of it.
"Yeah, I did." Nilly said, clearing her throat. "I wanted to thank you. Elena told me you went looking for me in the woods and carried me out, and well… First, I'm really sorry you had to do that," she said, scrunching up her nose in embarrassment. Stefan just smiled at her though, chuckling as well. "And second, I just really wanted to say thank you."
"You're welcome, Nilly," he told her. "I just wanted to make sure you were safe." She could see what Elena liked about him. This Salvatore brother was sweet and very charming. He wore genuine emotions on his face, there was no guessing or wondering with him.
"Yeah, I tend to get myself into messes," she confessed, looking down.
"Elena might have mentioned that once or twice," he chuckled.
Nilly smiled and walked over to the island to stand across from him. "I bet she did," Nilin shook her head. "She tries to be the over protective cousin, but I already claimed that title."
That got Stefan to grin. "She's really happy you're here. I've seen the difference in her," he told Nilly. "Elena's just doing her best at watching over you. She wants everyone to be happy that a lot of the time she forgets about herself."
"Well," Nilly said, pushing off the island, "she has her work cut out for her, doesn't she?"
"She has help, don't worry." Stefan said, pushing off the island as well.
Nilin smiled again. She was really starting to grow fond of him. "One more thing Stefan," Nilly added.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Why…" she was going to ask why they thought Damon was so dangerous, when she realized he'd only tell her what Elena would. Nilin knew there was more to it, so instead she said, "Could you take these out to Elena and Bonnie, please?"
"Of course," he said taking the bowls from her and leaving the room. Nilin stood there leaning her back on the kitchen counter, thoughts scrambling.
The timer on the oven went off, making her jump and snapping her back into reality. She pulled the last dish out of the oven. Chicken Parmesan with a basil tomato sauce, it was her mother's recipe. She set it on the counter as Elena walked in.
"If they want, they can come to the table and start eating. This is almost done." Nilin said, adding a few finishing touches.
"I'll tell them," Elena said. She went to leave, when she stopped in the doorway and turned around, "Everything looks amazing, Nil. This was a really good idea."
"Thanks," Nilly said smiling. Then Elena left, she could heard the guys get up, all rowdy and starving, Bonnie making a joke about something and Elena's laughter. She smiled to herself, all her friends under one roof, smiling and laughing. It made Nilly feel good and erased all the hell she had gone through the past few days.
She put the final touches on the chicken and carried it out to the dining room. She got whoops and an applause as she set it down on the table. Nilly shook her head and rolled her eyes at them, then she noticed someone missing.
"Did you tell Jeremy that the food is done?" she called to Elena.
She shook her head and said back, "I think he's still in his room, want me to get him?"
"No, I'll get it," Nilly said, "Start eating guys. Monja, monja."
As the animals began to descend on the meal, Nilin left the room and walked upstairs to Jeremy's door. "Knock, knock," she said, leaning on the door frame. Jeremy was still at his desk, but now he was staring at an old journal. "What's that?" Nilly asked walking up behind him and looking over his shoulder.
Jeremy looked up at her, moving the journal closer so she could get a better look. "I found it in a box of my dad's stuff, it's an old Jonathan Gilbert journal. The man was a wackjob."
"You mean one of our ancestors who lived here during the 1800's?" Nilin asked, her fingers brushing over the faded writing.
"Yeah, he went crazy the last few years of his life. He rambled on about vampires and demons. Pretty strange stuff," he explained.
"Interesting," Nilly mumbled, flipping a page of the journal. "Do you mind if I take a look at this later?"
"Sure, go head." Jeremy answered. "I'm done with it."
Nilly smiled, "Great, now come downstairs and eat before everything's gone. They're savages," she laughed, causing Jeremy to chuckle.
She followed Jeremy out of his room and down the hallway when she heard someone knocking on the front door. She was half way down the stairs to get it when Elena came out of the dining room and opened the door.
Nilly stopped on the last step, stunned.
"Surprise," Nilly heard Caroline's voice from the door way. "Bonnie said you were doing dinner, so we brought desert."
Nilly's mind was racing. Her first thought was, what in the right mind would make Caroline think it was okay to come here? And Nilly's second thought was, she said 'we'. 'We' who? She craned her neck, trying to see around Elena, who seemed as stunned as Nilin.
"Hope you don't mind," said a cool velvet voice. Nilly's heart sped up.
Caroline stepped around Elena, into the house. She caught Nilly's eye, and glared at her. Nilin felt a smile come to her lips. Not enough cover up in the world could hide the yellowing swollen bruise under Caroline's eye. She gave Nilin a death stare and then stalked off into the kitchen with her cake.
Nilin stepped down from the stairs, making her way to the front door to try and figure out what the hell was going on. Suddenly Stefan was behind Elena, his hand protectively placed on her lower back. "What are you doing here?" he asked his brother.
Nilin walked up next to Elena, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Waiting to be invited in," Damon said, smiling.
"Oh. Yeah, sure. You—" Nilin was saying when Stefan cut her off.
"No, he can't stay. Can you, Damon?" he turned to Damon.
Nilly stared at him confused and then looked at Elena. Caroline's sudden voice behind Nilly made her cringe, "Of course he can, get in here."
Nilin rubbed her head with her good hand. Whether from the concussion or not, her thoughts were completely scrambled.
"We were just finishing up," Stefan said.
"We were?" Nilly asked, eyeing Stefan. She hadn't even eaten yet.
Elena looked between Stefan, Damon and Nilly. "Um, it's fine. Just come on in," she said coldly and stepped back. A smirk came to Damon's face as he stepped over the threshold of the door, passing Nilly and Stefan. He was following Caroline to the kitchen when he stopped and turned around.
"Nice to see you again, Nilin," he said, grinning at her and continuing to walk into the kitchen.
Elena and Stefan turned with confused eyes and met Nilly's red cheeks.
Author's Notes:
Like promised, the next chapter! Stuff is about to get crazy with the next few chapters. Some secrets are going to leak out. Stick around to find out.
Thanks for reading guys. Happy 4th of July everyone!
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