And here is the newest chapter. I wanted to thank all of you who left a comment, are following and favourited this story. I'm very glad this story was received so well. As for the guest reviewer, Aleksandra, I'm sorry I can't reply to your review personally. You're not the first one who wanted to know if Non-Elena will get together with Klaus. If I'm honest, I'm not utterly sure about the final couples yet. I'm only sure it won't be Stefan/Elena or Damon/Elena (I want to try out other options instead). However, thank you for your comment. I do know Non-Elena and Klaus will have some uncomfortable scenes in the future...
And on with the story!
Chapter Two, From the Shadows
'Stalking is where two people go on a long, romantic walk together, but only one of them knows about it.'
May 31, 2009
This is me writing to you. Well, not the me you know, but it will have to suffice. I'm writing to you because— Well, not because Miranda is starting to get suspicious, of course. Extremely suspicious. Fine, yes, that's the only reason I am, but, I suppose, these entries could be useful when the situation is reversed again. If it can be reversed again— I'm not sure it can, nothing has changed so far. Tomorrow, I'll have school. The last three days of Sophomore year I've been told (I hope I'll do you justice) and I don't think I have to put into words how much I am not looking forward to that.
Of course, I didn't look forward writing into a diary either, so I suppose that conveys how much I have a say in all of this. As for your problems with Matt: I fixed that for you. You're welcome. And— your mum is looking at me again. I was planning to find something else to do, but her face makes me think that would be suspicious. Apparently thoroughly documenting my life is a thing I should be into. Just, I wasn't. I've never been into it.
Also, I can't really write my details here (what if someone else reads it) so I hope you'll forgive me for keeping my personal details to myself. It might please you to know that I've been practising cheerleading. I thank the heavens for being in good shape and a regular jogger. I also thank the heavens for doing several school sports, but I really hope your muscle memory is better than I've been giving it credit for the last few days. Oh, and if you return into your body, keep a wide berth from Stefan and Damon Salvatore. They might look cute and nice— They. Are. Not.
Staring at the diary entry, at my neat, even block letters I gave out an irritated sigh and snapped it closed. It was vague at best and utterly ridiculous at worst, but— I honestly didn't care. Stuffing it in my bag, between two reasonably thick textbooks, I shouldered my rucksack. Miranda was leaning on the kitchen island, brown eyes following my every move and I leaned up to her face, brushing a chaste kiss on her temple.
"See you tonight, mom."
"Aren't you a bit early?" She smiled, cradling my cheek in one hand, her thumb brushing along my cheekbone. "It's only 7:30?"
"Yeah, I know, but I promised Bonnie to meet her before school." I had done no such thing, but the real reason would sound utterly strange to her, I mean, I didn't think I could tell her I had to search for the High School. Which is why I'd gotten up so early, far too early really, but I had to, because fuck if I knew how to get to school. I had ventured into Maple street several times now, learned the neighbours' names (Marleen and Graham Gold and Juliet and Nick Heart) and had Googled the location of Mystic Falls High School. However, I still had a high chance of taking a wrong turn and getting lost, even if the village was small. A very high chance, because every fucking yard and each bloody house looked pretty much the same to me.
Miranda smiled at me (apparently having bought my excuse) when I moved off the stool and stomped outside. Jenna had told me I could borrow her car today (mostly because she thought I needed comforting and because ice cream did little to change my mood) and I languidly clambered behind the wheel of the red mini cooper.
I was right about everything looking alike. All over, the same suburban landscapes often backed up by tall trees and the impeccably manicured hedges and shiny gates, surrounded the same white houses with the beautiful porches. The ride to the school was short and my worries had been for nought. I found Washington street without much trouble and after parking at the back of the empty parking lot, beneath a large maple tree, I ventured onto the schoolyard. The double doors leading inside were still locked and with a dismayed sigh, I realised I would have to wait for them to open. I really would have liked hurrying inside and go on the hunt for Elena's locker. It was not an option.
With a frown, I settled on the green picnic table, feet propped up on the wooden bench. Sunlight covered over my face and a gentle summer breeze picked up my hair. "High school— what a bummer," I muttered under my breath, more annoyed than I wanted to be.
At least, I only had a few days of High school to get through before the summer vacation would start. I could handle a few days of school, I could definitely handle that, even if the new year would start again between late-August and early-September. Even if I had gone through High School already. Puffing out my cheeks, I clutched my jacket closer around me and peered around the empty country yard.
The last time I'd been at a high school, I'd preened myself to perfection, a dark-blue dress hugging my figure and a brilliant smile lighting up my face, accepting my diploma. And I had deserved that diploma too, having studied hard and long. It was unseasonable unfair that I had to do it all again…
"Elena!"
I still had to think twice when that name was called and slowly turned towards Bonnie Bennett. Small, probably only just reaching Elena's chin, with dark, wavy hair and a heart-shaped face. Seeing her in person was utterly weird and I gasped when she flew forward, enveloping me in a tight hug. She was positively bubbling, and I slowly wrapped mine around her waist.
"Bonnie!"
"It's so good to see you!" The dark-skinned girl grinned, and I couldn't help smiling back.
"Yeah, you too—"
"You got a tan," Bonnie grinned, poking the dark-golden brown of my arms and I flushed.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I was— I don't know a bit out of it?"
"It's fine," Bonnie grinned, linking her arm through mine.
The sun shone through broad leaves and the air was thick with pollen (which didn't cause pollinosis into Elena the way it had in me; for which I was thankful). I wondered if the weather was good enough for Elena's parents to take me and Jeremy to the Lakehouse when I was free. I hoped they would because a neat lake house near swimmable water and a fast property of forest around sounded like heaven.
"You okay?" Bonnie asked and I watched her eyes turn wide and worried.
"Matt and I broke up." I blurted byways of explanation and her eyes lit up in sympathy.
"So that's why he's not returning any of my calls."
"I had to—" I grumbled defensively.
"I'm not judging you, Elena. You're my best friend, but Matt— he is also my friend."
"I know, but— I just feel a bit—" I started and frowned, "odd."
"I'm so sorry, Elena."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. But you're allowed to sulk."
"Right, so, what did I miss?" I asked and Bonnie began a thorough account of last week's happenings.
I ummed and aahed when appropriate even though I had no idea who half of the people she spoke of were, but thank God, Bonnie didn't seem to notice, having started to talk about some Heather girl getting into a fight with Tyler Lockwood and one of his cronies (Chad?). I aahed again, but Bonnie had lost me. I followed the dark-skinned girl down the hallway and towards her locker. I kept my bag with me (having no idea where Elena's locker would be), shouldering it around all day.
The first few classes went well enough, at least they went well enough in the department of finding my classes but following them was a bit of hell. I did average in science, mucked up French (not having taken it in high school before) and managed to scrape by in Math. It wasn't like I had been bad at it. No, but my Sophomore year was four years ago, and you hardly needed to evaluate math problems during university essays (besides a few statistics, of course).
The shrill sound of the bell announcing lunch break, that followed my humble attempt at explaining a calculus problem, couldn't have been a more welcome reprieve. Besides making a fool out of me, I'd also grown really tired of pretending not to notice the longing looks Matt kept sending me, whenever he thought I wasn't looking, and once the bell sounded, I almost made a beeline for the door. Bonnie's smiling face greeting me in the central hall almost made me cry and I followed her, joined by Caroline and a whole crowd of girls I didn't know.
Several greeted me, asking me how I was feeling and another several leaned in and hugged me tightly. I accepted them — what else was I supposed to do — smiling politely and again I cursed the horror of being stuck in Miss Popularity's body.
The entire student body ventured outside, and I followed Bonnie and Caroline to the picnic tables at the back of the school. We were joined by a scruffy brunette, who sat down next to me and Caroline, grinning like a zebra. I mostly made noncommittal hums whenever someone said something to me and forced myself not to scrunch up my nose in distaste when the brunette started picking her thumbnails.
A shadow fell across the table and I looked up. Matt Donovan held two Styrofoam cups of coffee, one of which he was offering to me. "Coffee? Black, just as you like it."
"Erm, right, sure," I responded awkwardly, and Bonnie grinned from her seat across from me. Wonderful, girl intervention. Just what I did not need in this awkward new adventure, but— steeling myself I got to my feet and accepted the coffee. "Thank you."
"Can we talk?"
"Sure," I mumbled, and I noticed the not-so-subtle thumbs-up Bonnie shot Caroline. "Why not?"
"Great, we can circle the football field?"
"Sure," I echoed.
In hindsight, I should have known he wouldn't give me some space. Not really. He had little reason to do so and sucking my lower lip between my teeth I let my eyes wander over the grass field and around the bleachers. A few feet away, Tyler Lockwood, who was covered in a sheen of sweat and who puffed out in arrogance, passed a football to an equally sweaty jock. Curling my fingers around the straps of my schoolbag, I squinted against the sun and hoped the award silence would pass quickly. Matt Donovan stood across from me, his short-cropped blond hair light in the bright sunlight and his skin sunburnt.
"You wanted to talk?"
"Right. Yeah." He agreed and the awkward silence was back. Great…
"Matt—"
"I wanted you to know, I still believe in us," he blurted out and I winced.
"Matt—"
"I know, you need time. Believe me, I know." He told me, smiling sadly at me. "I just— What did I do wrong?"
I squinted up through the blazing summer sunshine at the bleachers above us and rolled my shoulders. "You didn't do anything wrong, Matt. It's not something you did. It's not that I don't love you." It was definitely that, I didn't know Matt. Not really. "It's just I've come to realise I love you as a friend. Not as a lover."
His face paled and his eyes became wide and hurt.
"The time I requested— It's just so that I would know for sure."
"But you think you do. That's what you're saying?" He asked gripping me by the shoulders.
"Just give me some time, Matt!" I gasped desperately, trying to push his hands away. My back hit the side of the bleachers and my head bobbled forward when it hit the wood of the railing. My gasp drew a startled look out of the blond, but his grip didn't let up, "Matt, you're hurting me!"
"Oh— Oh God, I'm so sorry Elena, I—" He stepped back slowly, wide-eyed and mouth a tight, grim line. "Oh— fuck, I didn't mean to. I just—"
He stepped back and I rubbed my hands harshly over bare arms, "It's— It's okay. I know you didn't mean anything with it."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I promise."
He nodded gruffly and in a ruffle of apologies, he made himself scarce. I watched him jog (or more like run) towards the school building, disappearing inside and I let out a longwinded sigh. I ate my lunch there beneath the bleachers, out of sight of Elena's friends and mostly stared at the people passing me. I should have known it wouldn't last and just as I leant back against the bleachers, my shoulders relaxing, Caroline's voice echoed over the field.
"Elena, there you are!" She grinned, twirling an impossible lock of blonde hair around her index finger. I assumed the amount of Virginia sunshine had bleached it two shades lighter. "Why are you sitting there?"
"I needed a break."
"Beneath the bleachers?" She asked her nose scrunching up in distaste and I shrugged. "Well, come on out! Classes are starting again." She admonished me lightly. I nodded, got up and followed her back inside.
I didn't really pay attention during History (probably a miracle with the latest amount of luck I had) as Mr Tanner droned on and on about the civil war, almost dropped forward and asleep during English literature (although, that class was the first I felt actually capable in) and finally I made my way to Art class. A class which was surprisingly devoid of any negative emotion. Although I showed as much promise as an artist as Caroline did at subtly, I tried either way. The result wasn't even that bad, which was in stark contrast to the rest of my classes that day and my smile was genuine when the art teacher complimented my fruit bowl. I did think I'd done rather well on it too and rolling the parchment up I left the class in a much better mood than I had at the start of the day.
The drive home went less stellar than that morning after a detour of forty minutes, I finally parked the car in Maple street. A tired breath escaped through my teeth and I shuffled towards the front porch. This was going to be a long— life? I had no idea and stumbled inside, dropping my keys into the wooden tray by the door.
I was already halfway up the stairs when my phone buzzed and slowly, I pulled the blackberry free, staring at the text message Bonnie had sent me; 'End-of-school party at the Falls this weekend'. I pursed my lips in thought. A party— that meant free booze and a beautiful reason to get wasted. Or at least, a beautiful reason to push aside my worries. Drinking too much might be bad form. Hadn't it been my drunken ass that had gotten me into this situation? I had no idea and flopped backwards onto the bed, sighing tiredly. Well, whatever, party it was—
The party started at nine, on Saturday, June the sixth. Bonnie came and picked me and Jeremy up that weekend to go to the falls, parking her light Prius into an available spot among the trees and other cars and killed the engine.
Located in the forest, near Wickery Bridge, you had to venture down a small, winding path to reach the clearing of the bonfire. Which was why I veered off between the gloved trees, on what I could barely make out as a path. I guessed that even in the daylight, the path would be hard to follow, my feet trailing along the vegetation and what not and every so often I almost tripped.
I could hear the rustling of leaves and the snapping of twigs before me, as well as the faint sounds of the party, which was my only real indication I was going in the right direction. That was until we reached the clearing. The bonfire was blazing high in the sky and spread around an almost oppressing warmth (and it hadn't been cold to even begin with).
"My God, it smells like a frat party around here." I dryly remarked.
Bonnie let out an amused laugh, "Of course, it does. This is basically a frat party."
My answering smile was pure sin and we ventured further into the clearing. I'd opted for a white dress that flowed loosely over Elena's curves, leaving only her toned arms and legs bare. I hadn't bothered much with her hair, allowing it to cascade freely down her back. Chattering easily, me and Bonne moved through the crowd towards the black pickup truck, upon which sat a beer keg. Beer sloshed into the red plastic cup when Bonnie pressed it in my hands. Jeremy stumbled after me, getting a cup for himself and I gave him a stern look, "Only one, Jer."
"Speak for yourself!" He remarked huffily.
"I'm sixteen Jer, you're fourteen. I'm closer to legal drinking age than you are, but if it's such a big deal for you, I promise, I'll only drink one cup as well."
"Elena—"
"Jeremy—" I moaned back, and he crossed his arm over his chest, eyebrows furrowed together.
"Fine," he grumbled and barged away.
Bonnie cocked her head to the side, "Only one?"
"I'm the oldest. I should set a good example."
"Well, he's sulking now."
"I'm sure there enough sulky teenagers around. If anything, they should get on like a house on fire."
"So evil," Bonnie dryly remarked and I followed her towards where Caroline and her hubbub of friends (or would followers be a better description) were standing.
I knew from the conversations Caroline had been Elena's friend since kindergarten. I knew they competed with each other, or at least that Caroline considered everything with Elena a competition. I just hadn't considered how much until Caroline's eyes flickered towards me, narrowed and she grumbled a half-hearted greeting. Jealously was a powerful emotion. I definitely wouldn't underestimate hers anymore.
"Any plans for summer?" I grinned lightly, ignoring the look and Heather shrugged.
"Dad said we would visit my Gran in Miami." She decided. "We don't have air conditioning there."
"Poor you," I remarked dryly, but my smile was genuine. This was just what I needed. A perfect break from the inevitable school-vampire-drama.
"I'm staying with grams," Bonnie said. "Well, I go to Cheerleading camp of course."
"Cheerleading Camp?"
"Yeah, silly," Caroline remarked drolly, "how clumsy of you to forget that."
"I didn't forget—" I shrugged, "my parents were considering going to the Lake House and visiting family friends in Denver…"
"They're not letting you come?" Caroline gasped outrageously and I shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Why?" Bonnie wanted to know, and I flushed. I had to think of a believable lie. This was not one.
"Well, with the Matt thing— They think I need a break. But I'll talk to them, obviously."
"You better do," Caroline told me imperiously. Well, the break from school-drama seemed over.
"Right," I agreed, peering into my half-empty red cup, "I'm going to get a refill?"
"What happened to only one beer?" Bonnie grinned.
I shrugged, "Changed my mind." I dryly remarked and quickly wound around the other teenagers. I didn't really need a refill, just a moment to myself. Perhaps a silent nook where I could settle and for a moment just look at the partygoers. And I found that, just at the edge of the clearing.
Flicking a lock of hair over my shoulder, I settled below a white oak tree, covered by leaves and bordered by bare earth. Sweeping the leaves aside, tainting my fingers in mud and grime, I stretched out my legs, the dry ground still warm against my flesh and I sighed. Good thing it was a warm, humid night and for a moment I was content watching everyone move along the make-shift dance floor, alcohol flowing and the murmurs strong, humming around me like a soft blanket. After seven days of poor sleep, the tree against my back felt comfortable and the humid air felt pleasant and for a moment, my eyes slipped closed.
When I opened my eyes again, the blazing fire had decreased and the teenagers were now only a few black silhouettes moving in the distance and I realised, belatedly, the party must have moved. From the screams and the splashing of water, I gathered there must have been a lake nearby and the dance party had evolved into a swimming party. 'Lovely'.
"Damn," I muttered, muscles jerking and neck aching, I slowly rubbed my fingers in easing circles over my temples. I still hadn't finished my beer and inhaling deeply, I took a long sip of the lukewarm beer. I'd been on the verge of getting to my feet and re-joining the party, although somewhat reluctantly (whatever had I been thinking when I agreed to come) when I felt it.
My skin tingled with awareness, the fine hairs on my arms and on the back of my neck were standing up and my heart began beating fast. Hands growing clammy, I pushed myself to my feet, eyes flitting behind me and I flinched when the crunching on a leaf-strewn path wafted towards me on a gust of wind. I back-pedalled quickly, my feet scrambling to get a grip and suddenly I was falling, my body toppling to the forest floor, which levelled out behind me and I screamed, taking an unwilling dive. When I came to a stop, I was sprawled out on my stomach scratches covering my bare arms and legs and I was breathing hard. Sitting up, my lower lip trembled, and I held my arms out in front of me.
Skin pale in the darkness, again, I pushed myself to my feet, holding myself up against the thick bark of a fir tree, the branches sharp against the delicate skin of my palms. Around me, in the faint light of the moon, I saw little, but the sounds were still there, magnified by my fear. Someone or something was circling me, and my heart was pounding.
I yanked my phone free from my purse and used its' artificial light to see, whirling around to follow down a narrow, leave-covered path, away from the crunching of twigs and the whispering of leaves. I never quite knew what happened, but something moved almost too quickly for me to follow among the dark trees, a branch suddenly hitting me square in the face and I screamed.
Panic surging through me, I pounded down the narrow path and a large branch overhead cracked, crunched and suddenly came falling down and another scream clawed itself free from my throat. From behind me a girlish shriek echoed through the air and suddenly— the trees began to thin out and I knew I must be close to the street. My knees hit the asphalt hard a moment later and I was panting.
"Oh my God—"
Another shriek cut through the air and I was scrambling up again, my fingers ghosting over the phone keys and the key tone shrilly met my panting breath. Grayson answered his phone a moment later.
"Elena, one moment pl—"
"G—Dad!" I forced out because I didn't have a moment and I heard the sharp intake of his breath.
"Elena?"
"You need— you need to come to get me!" I wheezed and I heard his panic, felt it as an electric charge travelling all the way from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. "You need— the police— I think someone was attacked— I was almost attacked! It was so fast— I can't— I don't— Please help me!" I tried and then I was sobbing.
Grayson was yelling for Miranda to call Liz and to me to get to the road. To get as far away from the forest as possible (somehow, I thought he knew). He told me to stay on the phone, asked me if I saw who followed me (I had no idea who it was — I guessed Damon, but I had no real way of knowing) and told Miranda after I assumed she'd called Liz Forbes, to call Jeremy. Whatever he did, he was to stay with the others inside the forest. Not to venture off alone — I heard Miranda repeatedly tell him that, I heard a car start and someone cursed, and I couldn't breathe anymore.
"Elena," Grayson addressed me, efficiently cutting through the building panic; he was a doctor after all, "I need you to keep calm. I need you to breathe, breathe and stay calm. What do you see?"
"I— the road." I gasped back. "I reached the road."
"Okay, I need you to keep talking to me," Grayson ordered (sounding far more panicked than I assumed he tried to sound) and the pounding of my heart had started to become painful. Wickery bridge creaked when I passed over it, the sound of my steps ricocheting hollowly off against the almost flat surface of the water and I made a sharp turn once I'd reached the end. Clambering onto the dirt I slid down until my feet met the cold water of the shore and I hid into the deep dark shade, the bridge provided.
"Elena!" Grayson's gasped and his voice cracked.
"I'm okay!" I whispered back, my torso bent over my knees, breathing deep. "I hid under Wickery Bridge. Please hurry!"
"We're almost there, honey. I want you to say something every minute. Do you understand me? Every minute."
"But—"
"With intermediate poses, Elena." He told me gravely. "Keep listening to your surroundings."
"Gray, it doesn't—" Miranda started and Grayson made a low sound from the back of his throat.
"We can't take the risk. Do you understand Elena?"
I understood better than he knew, and I nodded, "Yes."
"Good."
The police sirens neared before Miranda's and Grayson's car came to a rolling stop in front of Wickery Bridge. Flashes of blue illuminated horrified faces and for once I didn't flinch when Grayson Gilbert thundered towards me and enveloped me in a tight hug. Nor did I, when Miranda joined the hug and when Grayson assured himself I was quite all right, a few scratches and bruises blooming on my arms, legs and cheeks, he moved on to Liz Forbes (seeing her was weird too; didn't she die in the series) and I watched them converse in a heated tone.
Both their faces were grim and pale and little by little students trickled by (led out of the woods by several deputies). Most in various states of intoxication, worry and disgust (I wasn't sure about the latter) and the policemen divided them into groups. In my mind, I wondered if they grouped them by usefulness (group 1, might have seen something, group 2, useless, group 3, set on fire… etcetera, etcetera) and more people assembled in front of the bridge.
From the way students greeted many of them, I guessed parents and guardians, but there was also a view who joined Grayson and Liz. Founder members, my mind supplied unhelpfully, and I felt my tense shoulders relax slightly when Jeremy was picked out the line. He was white-faced and wide-eyed, but I was glad he was okay and in one piece.
"Let's get you two in the car," Miranda said, one hand clasped on my shoulder and the other on Jeremy's. "It must have been a really scary evening for you two."
"I'm fine." Jeremy gruffly replied with all the bravado a fourteen-year-old was capable of.
"Me too." I agreed and Miranda shook her head before pushing us towards the car.
Despite his measurement, Jeremy still looked spooked and with both her children secured and buckled in, in the back of their white Volvo, Miranda joined her fellow founding members. I could only guess what the subject was, they were discussing and pushed myself deeper in the leather seats.
"Are you really okay?" I asked and Jeremy gave me a pointed look. I smiled tightly. "Someone followed me and scared the crap out of me."
"Right—"
It was in his tone. I could definitely hear it and I straightened up, "What aren't you telling me?"
"I heard one of the cops," he started slowly, and I leant closer, somehow feeling as if he was sharing a secret with me, "they found someone attacked."
"What do you mean, attacked?"
"They found Tyler Lockwood in the forest," Jeremy explained.
"What?"
"Yeah," and Jeremy turned even paler, "his throat was nearly ripped out. They said an animal attacked him. Lost a lot of blood too." He continued and reached out in childish worry, squeezing my hand. "That could have been you, Elena."
My throat was suddenly dry. Somehow, I'd forgotten he was just an eight-grader who had to stop being a kid after his parents died— after the vampires came to town and my eyes watered, "But it wasn't."
"It could've been."
"I'm okay, Jer!" I promised and I vowed, I would find a way to make it okay for him again. I would figure out what had gotten me here and, once I did, I would give him his sister back. I had to. I owed him that, at the very least and we sat in comfortable silence.
To be continued...
A/N: And there; chapter two. I'd like to begin with thanking everyone who took the time to comment, favourite and follow this story. It warms my heart to see people enjoying this story and it often motivates me to write just a little bit faster (the thing that takes longest is rereading the chapters). As for the mistakes I'm sure are still there, I'm dyslectic. Grammar mistakes I learn from (when pointed out to me), but how you sometimes write something (like definitely or defiantly; I recheck these words like 20 times), that's the hard part.
If you see something (a word written with at and should be spelt with a d), please let me know. As long as my grammar control doesn't notice it, I do often not either. I have that problem with every bloody language (I always saw my grade drop rock bottom when spelling was a thing, they checked for…).
But thankfully, I found a Beta-reader; the amazing HPuni101
Anyway, next chapter Wednesday, April the 29th. Feel free to leave a comment for this chapter^^