Life happened…*cough*better late than never. Better short than nothing at all...
Needless to say that regaining mobility was great. For one, I could escape from Hayley's poorly produced meals – not that mine were superb, but they were more…edible, I guess. Secondly, Klaus could no longer evade me like the plague, try as he might. Now that I can walk again it's exceptionally harder for him to sulk through the hallways without my catching him. Why he'd evade me in the first place remains a mystery, although I assume it's linked to the night of the attack. I try not to let myself dwell on his parting words, but they sneak back when I least expect them.
Despite the curious glances the vampire sends me I still feel ignored. I know beyond a doubt that Klaus is calculating my ability to heal what should not have been possible to recover from. I know he's weighing the chances that with my blood he'll be capable of creating durable hybrids. And in all honesty I don't mind too much, seeing as at least this way he is thinking about me and not pushing me to the side like he normally does.
What surprises me the most after my bout of being incapacitated in Matt's reaction to my return to work. I like the kid, haven't I said it enough that I find him cute? But his excitement upon seeing me makes my head spin and every sane thought of apologising for being 'sick' rushes from my mind. I'm incapable to giving a firm reaction to his sudden grin or the lingering squeeze on my shoulder, because…well, because Klaus. Need I say more?
Somehow a lot of thinking got done during my bed rest, much to do with Klaus. Who am I kidding? Practically all of it was about Klaus. And, might I add, that it somewhat helped me.
I awkwardly dismiss myself from Matt's presence, confused at why my cheeks feel so hot and my shoulder feels warm from where his hand rested.
Stop it! I hiss internally, fingers curling into the palms of my hands. Don't think too much about it. He's just a kid, he's no older than Jacob. Jacob never makes you anything but irritated. If I wasn't so confused I might have snorted. Matt was nothing like Jake and this was just my body growing used to human interaction. Besides, cute as the kid is, he doesn't have much on Klaus. Klaus…who is my soul mate.
I nearly bang my head against a wall on purpose.
I recognise a few faces on my shift, some more than others. They recognise me too. "People in Mystic Falls remember new faces," Jerry informs me when I carry a tray brimming with glasses into the back. "We don't get many and when we do…well, it's hard to forget."
"Small town problems," I mutter unloading my tray.
Jerry laughs, "Small town problems," he repeats.
The Grill is filled to the brim with people tonight, it's a Friday all right. I don't have a moment to wonder about Matt's strange greeting or Klaus' obvious attempt to avoid me at all cost. I hadn't seen Hayley today either, but let this be known that I'm happier without her cooking. Plus, being able to move around feels great, even rushing back and forth between the customers and kitchen feels like time well spent.
Not saying that I didn't expect to see them, merely that I didn't…well, expect to see them; I'm shocked speechless when I come across Elena and Daimon sitting in a darkened corner, holding hands like love sick teenagers – which they are. Not to mention that Elena's eyes look all freaky, like she's trying to make creative bruising a 'thing'. Daimon is soothing her when I reach them, he looks better than the female vampire, his normal handsome self. Elena on the other hand looks like she might jump across the table and suck me dry.
I raise my brows at Daimon in question, "Can I get you something?"
The vampire flashes me his signature smirk, "Nothing that wouldn't cost you your life, love,"
I roll my eyes; I'm not really as offended as I might have been months ago. "All right then, I'll leave you two to it," I turn to leave; there are many more patrons to see to after all.
"W-wait, Leah…" I turn my head. Elena stares at me with surprisingly black eyes; she looks like Klaus when he was trying to kill me in his study. My spine stiffens and I take a precautionary step backwards. "I," she clears her throat and the hand she's using to hold Damon's clenches so hard that the male flinches and reaches to stroke her arm. "Please talk to Klaus for me," She rushes out.
Damon freezes, his face contorting into something I've never seen before. "Elena,"
I notice the warning snarl for what it is and instinctively take another step back, something primitive rising up to seek escape. I'm not sure what exactly Elena wants me to ask Klaus about, but I know Damon is firmly against it. Without a doubt. A chill runs over my spine as I gaze at the couple. There's something terrifying in the way they look at each other in this moment.
What happened to Stephan? Was the other brother aware of this?
"Damon," Elena starts, her voice cracking and she raises her hands to frame his face, thumbs caressing along his cheek bones. "It'll be all right."
The anger in his face crumbles into fear, eyes switching from hard to vulnerable in under a second – I'm too shocked by the scene to move away and give them privacy. "I'll lose you again." He whispers in the most broken of confessions.
The words wash over me, I assume, much the same way they do Elena. Despite our different circumstances, I'm positive I look as shocked and gobsmacked as the vampiress.
'I'll lose you again'… the words ring in my ears like a broken alarm clock; a continuous stream of repetitive sounds, that you just can't be rid of. For some reason it feels like someone's stabbed me in the heart. I don't know his loss, yet in this second I feel like the words are an echo of my own fears.
'I'll lose you again'…who? Sam? My family? Myself? The mere prospect of gaining Klaus' love only for him to return to Caroline… I'll lose you again. I don't want to be bitter and rude again, I don't want to be the Leah that constantly bombarded others with guilt and shame. I left her behind in Forks; I don't want to be her again. Is my letting myself come to care for Klaus really a good idea? Won't that just turn me into the nasty bitch of a wolf I was before?
Breath stalls in my throat and suddenly I'm light headed, the tray in my hands trembles between my fingers.
"You won't," Elena insists, she recovered from the shock much quicker than I did. "I'll still love you, Damon, being human or vampire won't change that. I understand my feelings better than I did previously."
Damon switches from fear to anger in a millisecond, "What's stopping you from running back to Stephan? You've chosen him over me before, the only reason you're with me now is because the compulsions wore off. If you're human they'll work again."
Elena squeezes her eyes shut. "I don't want to be a monster anymore," comes her whisper, "I chose Stephan once, but I didn't understand it myself. I love you. Please, don't make me stay like this,"
Silence stretches and a minute later Damon pulls his face from her hands, lips curled in a sneer. "I need a drink," he pushes to a stand and leaves Elena alone in the booth.
I stand there frozen between my own horror and theirs.
"Leah?" I jerk with the sudden call and my eyes focus on Elena. She has watery black eyes locked on me, "I'm so sorry to ask this of you, but would you mind…just…just asking Klaus to consider helping me? I am in no position to burden you or Klaus with my problems, I only- I only need him to help, just a little. Please,"
Don't get involved, Leah…
"I'll…mention it to him."
Stupid wolf!