Chapter Nineteen: Get Home

We are the last people standing
At the end of the night
We are the greatest pretenders
In the cold morning light
This is just another night
And we've had many of them
To the morning we're cast out
But I know I'll land here again
How am I gonna get myself back home?
~Bastille

Nilly woke up the next morning, she actually woke up. Everything hurt, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was alive and breathing. Still wrapped in blankets and her curtains drawn, Nilly, very tenderly squirmed out of her bed and looked around her room. Her string of lights had been unplugged and her door was closed, but the stereo in the corner was still playing quietly.

Being incredibly gentle Nilly swung her legs off the bed and placed her feet on the cold floor. She didn't trust her legs to hold her up yet. The familiar searing pain on the side of her neck had returned causing black dots to dance in her vision. Her stomach felt sick, nauseous from the sudden rush of pain. She closed her eyes for a moment, steadying herself. Slowly she flexed her muscles, each one. Pinpointing the sore weak spots and relying on the strong ones.

In one movement she stood up and immediately regretted it. It felt like she was thrown into a concrete wall. Nilly stumbled forward, catching herself on the iron foot rest. She took a deep breath, and straightened up. Ignoring the pain, she walked into the bathroom.

Someone had been in here, probably Mildred. The clothes she had thrown in the corner last night were gone, the floor was squeaky clean, and so was the bathtub. No trace of blood anywhere. On the bathroom counter sat clean towels, a cold glass of water, a bottle of painkillers and new bandages. Nilly opened the bottle and swallowed a few pills, draining the glass of water. She shied away from the mirror, not wanting to see what she looked like at the moment.

Deciding to take a shower, Nilly undressed and, in one swift movement, she removed the bandage on her neck. A curse hissed through her lips as she clamped her teeth together. Tossing the blood soaked bandage in the trash, she stepped in the shower. The water ran down her back, the warmth loosened her muscles and soothed her body.

After a while, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped her hair in a towel tightly and dried herself off. As she was drying herself off she noticed the huge yellowing bruise on the side of her thigh. Nilly couldn't remember exactly when she had gotten that last night, but it still made a shiver run down her spine.

Nilly looked at the side of her neck. She touched the crescent shaped bite mark gently. The impression of teeth was clear on her neck, red and scabbing. Around the bite her skin was purple, sore. Wincing, she put another white bandaging on it. Her inner arm still held the bite marks clearly, but the bruising had gone down around her wrist. She could hide that with a sweatshirt.

Nilly couldn't do much with her face though. The gash under her eye wasn't as noticeable; it was a fading red mark now. Her bottom lip was split open though and hurt like a bitch. Groaning, she turned away from the mirror. Back in her bedroom, she went to get dressed. This time she pulled out white shorts, and a baggy teal sweatshirt. She threw her hair up into a bun and combed out her bangs on her forehead with her fingers. Just like any other day, she tried to tell herself.

She wasn't ready to go downstairs, though. Nilly had no idea what she would fine, so instead she gathered some of her things to bring back to MysticFalls. Nilly smiled as a sudden rush of joy flooded through her. She was actually going home, back to the good old MysticFalls. Oh, how a wonderful town that was. In all honesty it was a pretty good town, no maniac vampires around.

Instead it has her family and friends. Elena, Jenna and Jeremy are there, waiting for her. She'd be able to see Tyler and Stefan again and head down to the book store to chat with Magnolia and Shellie. But most of all, she'd be able to see Damon. That's all she needed at this point, to be able to see him and know he's real.

Nilin could forget that he was fraternizing with the enemy, Caroline, and how he was on a mission to reunite with some past love. She'd forget about all that if she could hear him called her princess in that smooth arrogant way of his.

With that thought lifting her up, she began getting a pile on her bed. Some CD's, books, her comforter to swap with the one back in Mystic Falls, her favorite pair of heels, sweatpants, a blouse or two, a few dresses, skirts and all those girl essentials. Along with that she grabbed her black spiraled notebooks, the ones she kept all her songs and doodles in.

Something in front of her desk caught her eye. She stopped and looked at a picture frame there. It was of her and her parents, all smiling. She must have been around six when it was taken. Nilly lifted the picture closer, smiling at it. Her mother looked the same in the dream she had the other night, it was almost eerie. She added it to the pile on the bed.

That's when someone tapped on her door, Bonnie came in and closed the door behind her. They stared at each other for a while, neither saying a word.

"Bonnie…" Nilly finally spoke. Bonnie held her hand up to stop Nilly.

"Mildred told me everything," she said quietly. That's when the dams burst. Nilly just broke down as tears began streaming down her face. She sobbed as Bonnie came over and wrapped her arms around her. Bonnie started crying too, and they both ended up on the floor, arms around each other and wet cheeks.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Bonnie said through the tears. Nilly had plenty of reasons, one Christian would've killed her, or worse, whoever she told. No one would have believed her anyway, and if someone actually did, how would a human be able to go up against a monster like him.

"How could I?" Nilly asked. "How was I supposed to know anyone would believe me?"

Bonnie pulled away from Nilly to look her in the eyes, "Well, he's not going to touch you again, understand? I won't let him."

"Bonnie," Nilin frowned, she didn't want her friend getting involved. Getting involved, meant getting hurt.

Bonnie kept talking, shaking her head. "Mildred showed me some protection spells that might work, and we both agreed that we have to leave as soon as you're ready," she said.

Nilly just nodded, wiping her eyes, "Than I'm ready."

Bonnie gave her a small smile and stood back up. She helped Nilly off the floor. Nilin noticed Bonnie's eyes go to her neck. Her thin dark fingers went to the bandage there and she touched it gently, as Nilly watched emotions flash across her face.

Her hand dropped from Nilly's neck and the expression on her face became hard. "Come on," she said and walked over to the bed. Nilly followed as Bonnie began putting the items in the pile on her bed in an empty duffle bag neatly. Nilly zipped it up and pushed it to the door. Bonnie helped her straighten out her room, putting everything in order and then she put her hand on the door knob. "You ready?" Bonnie asked.

Nilly smiled slightly. "Ready," she said, as Bonnie opened the door.

"So, you really think they're okay?" Elena asked, leaning her head back on the couch. She was at the boarding house, where Stefan lived. She sat in what would be called a study in a normal house, but she couldn't figure out what you would call the room in this house. It had shelves to the ceiling, filled with books and a large oak desk sat in the middle. Huge paintings hung on every wall, along with iron candle holders. There was a couch in the room that sat in front of the huge brass window. It showed light into the entire room and gave it a cozy feeling.

"I think you worry too much," Stefan said coming over and sitting next to her. She inched closer to him, feeling his arm go around her as she leaned on his chest.

"Yeah, I know. It just seemed weird. Nilly had called me saying how everything was fine and how desperately she wanted to be home and then a few hours later I get a call from Bonnie saying they were staying the night. It just doesn't make sense." Elena pondered. She felt Stefan shrug.

"You can always just ask when she gets back, do you know when they'll be here?" he asked.

"Bonnie called me again this morning saying they were leaving as soon as Nilly was ready, but that was the last I've heard from the both of them," she answered. Then Elena let out a sigh. "I'm just being paranoid, aren't I?"

Stefan smiled. "No, you're being protective and it's adorable," he said, kissing her lips softly. Elena smiled against them. She loved when he did that, kissed her for no reason. It made her giddy inside and her stomach all woozy. Sometimes Elena couldn't believe she had found him, and that he had chosen to stay with her. He came at the lowest point in her life and reminded her how to smile again. Stefan understood her, he saw her flaws and mistakes and didn't try to hide them. She kissed him again, long enough to make her lighted headed. She giggled as she pulled away.

"What?" he asked with a smile. She shook her head.

"Just realizing how lucky I am." Elena said. Suddenly she was in Stefan's arms. He had picked her up and was now cradling her with his face inches from hers. She gasped at his quick movement, but then a smile came to her face.

"Wrong," he said. "I'm the lucky one." Then he was kissing her again.

"You two mind doing that somewhere else?" Elena jumped at the sound of Damon's voice. Simultaneously, Stefan and Elena looked up in the direction of his voice. He was standing, back to them, starting up at the book self. Elena blushed as Stefan sat her back down on the couch.

"What do you want Damon?" Stefan groaned. Damon looked back at them momentarily, but then turned back to the book shelf.

"Good morning to you too, brother," he said mockingly. He began pulling books out, looking at them then tossing them on the floor. Elena stood up and walked over to him.

"What are you looking for?" Elena asked. He looked at her with a smile.

"What are you doing Damon, what are you looking for Damon," he said, mimicking them. "Can't a guy just browse a few books in peace?" he continued pulling books out.

"Well maybe if you tell us what you're looking for then we can help you find it faster, so you can leave." Elena said, crossing her arms over her chest. Damon just laughed at her.

"Too bad it's not here," he said, dropping another book on the floor. He turned to face them, smiling. "You two can go back to what you were doing on the couch now, don't mind me." He began to leave when he stopped in the doorway, leaning on the frame. "Hey, uh, Elena. When's your cousin coming back in town? I'm awfully bored without her here." Damon said with a dark smirk.

Then the doorway was empty. Elena turned to Stefan, who was still staring at the door, his hands balled up. She laid her hand on his arm and it seemed her touch alone was enough to relax him.

"You heard what Nilly told him at dinner the other night, she's done with him. Neither of them know you and I overheard them talking. That's why he's still trying to use this to get under your skin." Elena said, calmly. She felt bad for ease dropping on Nilly the other night, but she also felt proud of Nilly for what she said. It made Elena realize that Nilly did know how to take care of herself.

"You're right. He's just giving me more and more reasons to want him gone." Stefan said, walking back over to the couch. He grabbed Elena's hand and pulled her down with him. She smiled about how perfect everything felt at that moment, only if Nilly were back.

As Nilly made her way down the stairs, she could see Mildred at the small dinner table. She had three steaming cups of tea in front of her. She smiled when she looked up to see Nilly. "Good morning, peaches." Mildred said as Nilly's eyes darted around the kitchen. Everything was cleaned, wiped down with no sign of what happened last night. It kind of messed with her head a little. Did it actually happen? Mildred must have seen the confusion on her face because she spoke up. "Don't you fret, I washed everything up last night. No need for that mess to be lying around," she said, calmly.

"My car, though. There was bl-" Mildred cut her off.

"I took care of it, it's all squeaking clean." Nilly sat down next to her and took a sip of the tea.

"Thank you, for everything," she said. Mildred put her hand on Nilly's.

"You're welcome, darling," she said. Then she got up and went upstairs. Bonnie came and sat down, sipping her cup as well. Nilly took another big gulp, burning her mouth. She twisted her bracelet around and looked over to Bonnie.

"Bonnie, I need for you to do something for me," she said.

Bonnie looked up from her tea, "Yeah?"

Nilly took a deep breath. "This has to be our little secret. What happened here has to be kept quiet. I can't have Elena knowing about any of this."

"Why not?" Bonnie asked. "Secrets cause trouble, Nilly."

"Because if Elena knows she'll try to get involved, that's too dangerous. Christian can't know about her or you or Jeremy. He'll use my family against me." Nilly explained, clenching her hands. Bonnie looked at Nilly, processing this.

"What are we going to do then Nilly?" she asked, understanding the severity.

"We are going to go home, you are going to forget about this and not worry, okay?" she said.

"And how am I supposed to do that? You could have died last night." Bonnie said her voice rising.

"But I didn't, and no one's going to die because of this. We'll be fine once we get to Mystic Falls . I'll tell Elena eventually, but once she's out of danger." Nilly paused for a moment. "Does she even know about vampires?" Nilly saw Bonnie hesitate for a moment, before she shrugged.

"I only told her about witches," she answered, looking down had her tea.

"Oh well, we'll cross that path when we get there." Nilly said taking another sip of hers.

"What are you going to tell them about that?" Bonnie asked nodding her head to Nilly's neck. She shrugged. "I can hide the one on my throat until it heals. I'll just have to make up something about these." Nilly said, indicating the cuts on her face. "I'll tell them I feel out of bed," she continued.

Bonnie raised her eyebrow. "And why would you do that?"

Nilly thought for a minute. "A very vivid nightmare," she said. "It's the truth, more or less."

Bonnie nodded. "A nightmare split your lip, got it." Nilly rolled her eyes at Bonnie.

"You don't have to say anything, unless someone asks you," she said.

Bonnie just nodded, "I know."

"Alright ladies, let's get a move on." Mildred said coming down the stairs with Nilly's duffle bag. Nilly and Bonnie stood up as she heaved it over to Nilly, who momentarily stumbled under its weight. "I added a few things in there you might need," she said winking.

"I see that." Nilly said, shifting the bag on her shoulder. Mildred closed her eyes for a moment, her lips moving fast but soundlessly. Then they blinked open.

"I don't sense anything out of the ordinary around the house, so you should go now while that boy's not around." Mil said calmly. Nilly sighed and nodded. She walked over to Mildred and buried her head in her shoulder.

"Now now, I don't want any of that. Don't you worry about me or your daddy. He'll be mighty fine, that vampire isn't going to touch us. Just mind yourself, you're the one you have to protect now." Mildred said, patting Nilly's hair.

"I love you Mil," she said. Mildred hugged her once more.

"I love you too, peaches."

Then Bonnie came over. "Thank you so much, Mildred," she said. "I don't think you know how much you've helped me." Bonnie wrapped her arms around Mildred, who returned her hug. "I'm so glad I got to meet you even if the circumstances are a little less than desirable."

Mildred held Bonnie's hands in between her own.
"Not that you needed any of my help in the first place, but I know how much it means. Trust me. You're very welcome Ms. Bonnie and it's been a pleasure meeting you."

And with that they left the house, Nilly threw her bag in the back. She and Bonnie slid into the front seat, starting the car immediately. Nilly backed out of the driveway and started their very long trip back to Mystic Falls .

Author's Notes:

How was your weekend, lovelies? I hope it was spectacular. Here's the next chapter, tell me what you think! I just want to thank everyone who is reading and following my story. It means so much to me. My story has grown but now I want it to grow even bigger. That's all up to you amazing readers. So remember to Favorite, Follow & Review!

Thanks again, see you on Wednesday,
RLS