Chapter 2
Meeting the Uncle
Early in the morning, long before Stefan had a chance to wake up, Christina had left her home to go to the hospital. There she met up with her friend.
Jeremy Gilbert.
They've only known each other briefly. Every time Stefan would come into town to visit Uncle Zach, he would bring Christina with him. While they stayed around, Christina had met up with Vicki Donovan. In one day, they had connected. They both ended up being the best of friends. Hell, after a while they ended up as sisters! Vicki soon introduced her to Jeremy. They grew close too. They never met Christina's family or went over to her house before. They never asked, nor did they really care. Although they found it weird, why she would repeatedly leave town and come back a few years later... they learned to cope with it, and not ask her about it.
After Christina found out her 'uncle' had fed on her best friend, Vicki and that she was in the hospital, Christina had ended up going to the hospital, the very next morning.
"You can't be here, hons. Visiting hours don't start till 9:00." The nurse told us. "We just...how is she?" Jeremy and Christina both asked her. "She's lost a lot of blood." The nurse told them. Christina tried so hard to not flinch at the thought of Damon almost killing her, but showed a concern face. But that didn't go unnoticed by Jeremy, yet he pretended he couldn't read her like a book. "Yeah, but she's gonna be OK, right?" Christina hoped. Jeremy was thinking the same thing. "She needs her rest. So you come back later. Come on." The nurse told them, before pretty much dragging them out of the hospital.
"You okay?" Jeremy asked Christina as they were walking towards the school yard. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just worried about Vicki. I just have a bad feeling she..." She started. "She's not gonna make it?" Jeremy added on top of what she said. She shook her head furiously. "No, Jeremy! She'll be fine. I know it. I'm just worried about her...that's all." Christina told her. Although deep down, she pretty much knew Vicki might not make it, she pretended as if everything was gonna be okay...not wanting to alarm her good friend, Jeremy.
Suddenly, Jeremy started walking up to Tyler Lockwood. Automatically, Christina tried to stop Jeremy from walking up to Tyler. She may not know Jeremy that well, but she was VERY WELL aware of what his 'status' with Tyler Lockwood was.
"Hey, Tyler. Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt. I was just wondering how Vicki was doing, since you guys are so close. Is she okay?" Jeremy started out. 'Oh boy.' Christina thought to herself. "She's fine. Now get out of here." Tyler told them both. Christina narrowed her eyes at Tyler as he did the same. Clearly, they weren't fond of each other.
"How bad is she? Do they know what attacked her? Is she going to make a full recovery? Was she happy to see you? What room number was she in?" Jeremy asked him. 'Jeremy...shut up already!' Christina pretty much screamed in her head. She didn't want a fight to be sparked by these two. "I'm gonna kick your ass." Tyler told him. Too late. "Yeah, you keep saying that, but when are you actually going to do it? Cause I vote for right here and now." Jeremy told him. Tyler soon shoved Jeremy. "Guys, Guys stop it!" Christina yelled at them while being in the middle of them.
'Probably not a good idea.' She told herself. "Walk away, Gilbert. This is your final warning!" Tyler told him. "No, this your final warning, dick. I'm tired of watching you play Vicki. If you hurt her one more time, I swear to God, I will kill you!" Jeremy stated, before walking off. "Damn that almost sounded like a threat!" Tyler joked around. Christina moved her hand from Tyler's chest, and looked at him in disgust.
"What is it now, Shrimp?" He said in annoyance. "Nothing. Nothing. I'm just waiting for the day for you to get your ass kicked." She smirked sheepishly at him. Tyler rolled his eyes and said to himself, "You're like a female version of little Gilbert." "And you're an ass like your father. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree." Christina shrugged before walking off. Tyler glared at her slightly, but knew she was right. He was turning into a jerk.
A bigger jerk than his Dad.
xxxxxxx
Stefan couldn't believe what he heard. Not only did Vicki Donovan suspect the existence of vampirism and may expose him and others when she recovered, but also Christina was friends with Jeremy Gilbert, given the way she stood up for him. This wasn't good. For starters, Jeremy was a troubled teen. On drugs. He didn't want Christina involved in drugs and he certainly didn't want her involved with Jeremy.
Christina had flaws. Her biggest flaws was that she trusted people easily, which was good, but mostly bad in this situation. Jeremy could get her caught up with the drugs, and Christina might not be able to handle it. But Jeremy wouldn't do that. He wasn't a bad kid, he was just a troubled one. And if Damon knew about her 'friendship' with him, he might have another stoner kid to feed on, besides Vicki. The thought of Christina, losing her friend tortured him deeply. He didn't want her to lose anyone. Not her family. Not her friends. ESPECIALLY the first part mostly!
Stefan knew what he had to do. First he'll compel Vicki to forget about what really attacked her, then he'll have a word with his secretive, rebellious, 15-year-old daughter.
Jeremy and Christina soon went back to the hospital to revisit Vicki again. "Why are you here?" Vicki asked Jeremy after her brother left. "We wanted to see if you were okay." Christina answered her, for Jeremy. "Did you two see the look on Matt's face? That was suspicion. I don't want anyone knowing about us, Jeremy." Vicki told Jeremy. "Well, you gotta get over it." Christina informed her. She was tired of her friends situation.
'If they like each other, they should get together, besides who cares if you two slept together yet you're both a few years apart. My dad had slept and been in a relationship with a lot of women back in his day, and they were like under 130 years younger than him...most of them around their early 20's or something...but then again...now's NOT the time to tell them THAT piece of information!' Christina thought it over. "Tyler is finally showing some interest." Vicki told them. Christina scoffed and rolled her eyes in disbelief. Why Vicki liked that douche bag was beyond her. "You have to get over that, too. Do you see Mr. Concerned? Tyler? Are you under there? No." Jeremy told her. Christina couldn't help but smile slightly.
"It's not cool for people to know. OK? I'm older than you, and Elena and Matt would freak." Vicki told them. Once again Christina rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Nobody's going to suspect anything. Why wouldn't we check on you? She's your friend and I'm the one who found you." Jeremy told her. "You did?" Vicki asked him. "Yeah, I carried you out of the woods." Jeremy told her. "Thanks." Vicki told him. "Yeah, you're welcome." Jeremy and Christina both said, but Christina mumbled it to herself. She had always had a certain interest in Jeremy Gilbert, but hid it well. And besides Vicki was her friend. She knew deep down she was slowly falling for him, so she couldn't interfere. After all,...
It was sisters before misters, right?
Stefan had come back home from the hospital. After dealing with Damon, who had left later on during their conversation about Elena, Christina, ironical, had come back home nearly 15 seconds after Damon left. Stefan was relieved. At this rate, they won't be crossing each others path. Whether this was coincidence or just he's luck, he was glad for the day.
"Christina...we need to talk." He started as she placed her backpack down near the sofa. "If this is about me leaving early in the morning, I can explain..." She started out, as if it was rehearsed. "No it's not about that...are you friends with Jeremy Gilbert?" He went out and asked her. Christina looked at him in shock. How did he find out about her friendship with Jeremy?!
"I...no." She lied quickly. "Christina..." He said sternly, not liking when his daughter would lie...especially to him. "Okay fine! Yes, I'm friends with Jeremy Gilbert, is that a crime!" She bursted out slightly. "As a matter of fact, it is. Don't you know his addiction to drugs? He's a stoner, Chrissy!" Stefan stated.
"Yeah, well...so am I!" She stated.
At that moment, Stefan, if he was still human, undead heart dropped. How could this be possible that his sweet angel could be caught up in drugs?! HOW?!
"You're on drugs!?" He tried his best to keep his tone calmed, but almost failed. "No, but...I hang around with them. In fact, to be honest with you, my main friends are Vicki and Jeremy." She admitted to him. "Christina, I don't want you socializing with them. They could lead you down the wrong path and I don't want to see you get hurt." Stefan told her. "I'm fine Dad, really I am. I've been friends with them for pretty much years. Every time we came to visit Uncle Zach, I'd take the opportunity and hang out with them sometimes, and on occasions when you're not around I'd call them. Mostly late at night." Christina told him. "I'm sorry, but I'm doing this for your own good. I don't want you to get involved with them." Stefan told her.
"No! You can't tell me to do that! You have NO right to choose my friends for me! Stop criticizing them, you don't even know them! Vicki and Jeremy may be on drugs, but they have feelings. They care about me and they know better than to put me on drugs. They're sweet. And even if that wasn't the case I'm not stupid! I know better than to take drugs and cause trouble like most hoodlums at my school! Aren't you the one who raised me better?" She couldn't take it anymore and stormed off before Stefan could comment.
'Well...that went better than I thought.' Stefan thought sarcastically and bitterly to himself, for not trusting her. He knew she was smart. And she knew the friends she picked. He did raise her right, and she knew better than to go down the wrong path. Having any sign of doubt on his only daughter was beyond him. And was very odd of him too.
Christina was pissed.
How dare her father have doubt on her? She wasn't stupid! She was very steamed in her bedroom. As the hours pretty much passed, she soon calmed down. She placed herself in her father's shoes and understood, why he was protective of her. If their lives were switched and she was the parent, she probably would accidentally do the same thing.
It was night-time. The night of the comet. Her dad had probably left to see Elena, giving her a chance to leave and meet up with her friends. Once she got there she noticed everybody was looking for Vicki...given the text Jeremy gave her, before she was even near the Grill. Christina for some reason went to the back alley of the Grill. She entered the back way and ran up the stairs quietly to the roof. There she heard a scream.
A Vicki scream to be exact.
Her heart started to race as she heard voices. It was mixed with Vicki's and some other dangerously familiar voice. Christina soon broke the poorly locked door open and came face to face with the scene. She saw her dad, her friend...and her...'uncle' all in one.
"Look who joined the party?!" Damon exclaimed in excitement. 'Oh snap! Me and my stupidity!' Christina yelled to herself. "Christina, what the hell are you doing here!?" Stefan shouted in an alarmed voice. He didn't want Christina anywhere near Damon...now both he and Christina were doomed. "I'm sorry...I should go." Vicki muttered to herself before leaving as if nothing happened.
"It's good to be home. Think I might stay here for a while. This town could use a bit of a wake up call, don't you think?" Damon proposed. "What are you up to, Damon?" Stefan asked Damon. He wanted to know why he came back to town. Was it to hurt him? To kill Christina? Or something else...? "That's for me to know and you to... dot-dot-dot. Give Elena my best. And also it was great to see you again Christina... I hope you'll keep your promise." He told her, before giving her a chilling wink. He soon vanished. Christina was frozen on the plate.
What promise?! I didn't promise him anything! What was he talking about? And why did he come back to town?! All these questions were swirling around in Christina's had...yet she had NO clue how to answer them.
After all that drama, Stefan had his first kiss with Elena, Damon had manipulated Caroline (his new play toy) and Christina was now with Jeremy, leaving the Grill.
"It's okay...Jeremy. One day she'll realize that you're the right choice for her. Not Tyler." Christina told him, while referring to the kiss Tyler and Vicki shared at the Grill hours ago before they left. "Yeah. Whatever." Jeremy shrugged it off. "You want another batch?" Christina asked him, while pulling some weed out of her purse, that was hidden well and covered up good to block out its smell, that way her dad wouldn't notice. She was pretty much a drug dealer in this town. She gave drugs to Jeremy who gave it to Vicki and the others. That was how the business worked. But she didn't do it for the money. She only did it for Jeremy and Vicki only, but only they would give it to others. Some people paid for it, others didn't. Jeremy would keep the money, or give it to Christina. As much as she wanted the money, she knew it was bad money and didn't want anything to do with it. So Jeremy would keep it, or give it away. Which ever worked best. "Nah...I'm good." He told her.
He never understood why, but it sorta bothered him that Christina would give him drugs. Before he didn't mind, but lately he was feeling concerned for her. Wasn't she afraid she would get caught one day? Won't her parents notice? Did they even care? Did they even know? Was she dealing with other people or just him? Those were what concerned him the most when it came to Christina.
Once he got home he suddenly turned to Christina and said, "You sure you don't need a walk home?" Christina was surprisingly shocked by this. He only asked to walk her home, during the very beginning of their friendship, but after a while he gave it up. Now he's bringing it up again. Why? She didn't know. "No, I'll be fine. It's not too far...thanks for the concern anyway." She told him with a smile. "You're welcomed. I guess I'll see you later." He told her.
"Yeah night, Jer." She commented to him.
"Night, Chrissy." Jeremy replied.
As if on cue, the front door opened up to reveal Jeremy's aunt Jenna. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were out here. Hi. I'm Jenna and you are?" She asked slightly to Christina. "I'm Christina Salvatore. A friend of Jeremy's." She told her politely. "A friend? Salvatore? Interesting, I've never seen you around before." Jenna added.
She didn't know why, but she found this girl surprisingly interesting. In fact, she barely even knew her, yet she was pretty much shipping her with her nephew...as long as she could somehow keep him off the drugs that is.
"My family and I moved in and out-of-town repeatedly over the years. You know; military family and all. It's a very complicated story and we have some family issues. We barely talk to others. In fact, I live with my uncle and brother in the old Salvatore boarding house. My family and I are pretty distant. Not much to talk about there, but we are founders of this town just like the Gilbert's." Christina lied smoothly through her white pearl teeth. She's been repeating the same story to other people when they ask her if she's new in town and something like that. She has referred her dad as her brother many times in the past, that it was pretty much automatic to tell a stranger he was her brother, instead of her father.
"That's...an interesting fun fact. I hope to see you around Christina, you seem like a nice girl. Anyway, Jeremy come inside it's getting cold out here. You should go home and get some rest. Bye Christina. Goodnight." Jenna told her, while Jeremy walked inside the house and the front door was closed. Christina soon walked off to her home. The Salvatore Boarding House.
Jeremy was actually surprised by the new piece of information. Yes everything she told Jenna, she had told him before when they first met, but she never exactly told him WHERE she lived. Now she did. Either by accident or on purpose. He voted on the first part.
The boarding house hey? Jeremy smirked sheepishly at that thought. He would definitely pay her a visit tomorrow to surprise her.
A/N: I'd like to thank you guys for checking out my story. I'm glad some of you liked the first chapter. The next chapter will be up soon enough once I get the time to upload it. Once again thanks and enjoy the show!