Gallagher, Blackwell, and Moller kept Elena's rapt attention for most of the night. Everything they discussed was in its own sort of code, to the point where she could hardly even understand what they were getting up to, how they were still working toward Harmon's goal of research. But they let her stay close by, let her listen even though it meant nothing to her. All it had taken was the affirmation of the existence of an otherworldly creature. Was it possible that these three scholars she'd found herself in the company of were drinking blood in the shadows? It was impossible to tell, and nothing they said swayed her in any particular direction. But then again, what would the tell even be?
She couldn't help but watch, out of the corner of her eye, as Damon joined several different conversations. Their eyes connected more than once, and he always seemed to be attempting to communicate something with her. But they were not well versed in the means of silent communication. They lacked the depth of knowledge about one another, knew none of each other's nuances. At his glances, she only shrugged or looked away entirely, not wanting to get caught staring long enough that he mistook it for an invitation.
Hours later, when people began to file out, Moller said, "We look forward to speaking with you again next month, Mr. Gilbert." Then, they promptly abandoned her. Before Damon could find a way to pester her, she exited with the crowd.
Elena walked home in the dark, the town taking on a completely different air when the sun went down. Knowing what she knew, there should have been some fear beneath her skin, a heavy pounding of her heart in her chest. Maybe she was naive or completely moronic, but the walk was more peaceful than anything else. Despite knowing more about what lurked in the darkness of Harmon, she felt safe. At least, more so than any normal college student walking a similar path. At least she knew the secrets. Not that it made her any more prepared to handle a potential attack. If she were to come face to face with a vampire, she'd likely freeze completely, an even easier target than one completely unaware. Even as the thoughts of worst case scenario played in her mind, she still found peace in the darkness.
For the rest of the Summer, Elena spent a fair share of her time in the library, attempting to find more information about Arthur Harmon, immortality, and vampires. However, information was scant, and often she ended up rereading what she already had, scanning through his journal for something she'd missed the first time, or rereading the contents of Lithander's case file.
Caroline kept her distance. They always seemed to miss each other, the blonde never home when Elena was. Whenever they spoke, it was brief, Caroline heading out when Elena was turning in for the night. Elena was too busy with her own continuously reeling thoughts, trying to piece together the biggest mystery she'd ever faced, in order to think anything of it. Maybe if she'd stopped to think about anyone other than herself and her studies, she would have found it strange how much her friend avoided her.
But she was simply too busy. Once she'd decided that vampires were, in fact, real, it became her mission to find confirming evidence. Unfortunately, that task proved to be much more difficult. When she found herself spiraling at the idea of uncovering any further information regarding the supernatural species, she turned back to her comforts—myth, translation, and romance novels. After all, another read of Pride and Prejudice could always put her in the best spirits. Something about Elizabeth learning the true nature of Mr. Darcy put a smile on her face. She'd once thought that Damon was a far cry from the standoffish yet ultimately romantic Mr. Darcy, comparing them a vile thought on its own. But now? Perhaps he was more like Mr. Darcy than she'd previously believed. Though she was certainly no Elizabeth Bennett, at least in his eyes.
By the time August rolled around, Elena was desperate to return to class. She and Caroline had decided to keep their apartment, but with the unspoken tension that filled the halls, Elena almost wished to return to her small quiet dorm room.
Her coursework for the upcoming semester mirrored the previous year, for the most part. Her arithmetic classes increased in complexity, she began studying a different period of literature, and a laboratory science was even added into the rotation. The only class she cared about, however, met at the same time in the same place, with the same five students and the same teacher.
Stepping into the cozy classroom felt much different than the previous year. While still in her disguise, she felt a changed woman. The last year she'd left with tears threatening to spill over her cheeks, and now she entered with a broad smile and a desire to learn more and more. As per usual, she was the first to arrive. She took a seat on the couch that had become hers and pulled out her most comforting reading material as of late, the Harmon journal. Although she'd read it cover to cover many times over, the words quieted something harsh in her chest. An antidote to the anxiety she experienced on a regular basis, the self doubt that would creep in if she let it.
"He's alive," John said as he stepped into the room with hands outstretched in front of him, palms facing the ceiling.
James echoed the sentiment with a much kinder nod. "Gilbert." The twins sat down on the couch opposite her. She only offered a faint smile in return, no time to say anything else before Damon and Marcus trailed in, following close behind by Dr. Bartlow, who closed the door behind him.
"My friends," he said, dropping his bag into the desk chair at the front of the class and welcoming them with open arms. "How I've missed you. I do hope we all had an exciting summer."
"A break from your teachings is always the best relief," John said with a proud smile.
Dr. Bartlow clapped his hands together. "Now, now. No reason to say things you don't mean, Mr. Mercury." He turned his back to the class to write his name along the top of the chalkboard. A wholly unnecessary measure. "Mr. Salvatore," he said, turning back to face the class. "I'm sure we're all eager to hear about your summer. I do hope you were able to use last year's prize effectively."
Damon smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. A sort of disconnect between the curled up corners and the blue eyes. No creases around them, only still and flat.
"I did," Damon said, voice reflecting the lack of feeling in his eyes.
Dr. Bartlow crossed his arms over his chest, let out a huff of a sigh. "Well, don't go too into detail. Wouldn't want you to bore the class with tales of untold mystery and secrets."
Elena snickered and immediately regretted the attention it brought her.
"I see you're in better spirits than last we met, Mr. Gilbert. Glad to see it," Dr. Bartlow commented.
The insinuation made her jaw work, teeth grit. She hadn't planned to brag, but he'd set her up so nicely to do just that. "Turns out I didn't need your clue to get what I wanted."
"He returns with fire." Another clap of his hands. "I love it." He took a moment to look over the faces of his students. They'd never been much of a chatty bunch in his presence, always requiring prompting to get the conversation flowing. But it seemed, in that moment, he was as glad to be back in the classroom as she was. "Alright, well. If that's all the small talk we're capable of, I think we should get into it, yes?"
Just like the first class she'd attended a year ago, almost to the day, she could feel Damon's eyes burning into the back of her skull. Unlike that day, she was extremely tempted to whip her head around and face him, a sick smile curving on her lips with satisfaction. He had nothing over her now, not like he had then. There was still the case of her being in some unidentifiable grave danger, but perhaps that was just because of the town's vampire problem. It likely had nothing to do with her personally. But that still didn't answer the question of why he cared so much. Nonetheless, she faced forward despite the nagging in her brain. How good it would feel to catch his glare and return it with a smile, a win in whatever game they were playing. Because clearly, they were still playing it. Unlike the previous year, she knew now. Despite their brief respite of teamwork, there still sat a sense of something unfinished in their rivalry.
"We're going to be starting this semester off with a little discussion about immortality." Dr. Bartlow shot both Damon and Elena a knowing glance. Had she missed out by failing to recognize her own professor as a knowledgeable source of information? She made a mental note to speak with him at a later date.
Dr. Bartlow continued. "Immortality is prevalent in many myths. Of course, we have the gods themselves. They are the original immortals, those with not only the ability to live forever but a great magic too. And power, more power than the layperson might know what to do with.
Magic! With all the mentions of vampires, she'd nearly forgotten about magic and its mention in Harmon's journals. How did magic work its way into this complex puzzle she still hadn't quite figured out?
"Of course, the Greeks also believed highly in the concept of the eternal soul and reincarnation. The Ouroboros was often a symbol of this. But regardless of this mindset, there were still a great many who sought true immortality. Perhaps because they feared death, or wished for more time to make a name for themselves. For some, however, it was just about power. In the minds of the Greeks, no one was more powerful than the Gods. Thus, it made sense that some sought to be just like those they worshiped.
"This year, we're going to focus heavily on stories of power and greed, stories of humans wishing for more than their lot in life, and what happens to them when they reach too high. As per usual, we'll be not only reading and discussing these stories but using that knowledge to complete an original translation. Shall we?"
Dr. Bartlow spoke at great length about immortality, those who desire it, and its consequences for most of the class period. No matter what he said, Elena could only make connections between the Greeks and the Harmons. Why had they been so interested in immortality in the first place? What had they been willing to sacrifice in order to achieve it? Their health? The health of their friends? What disease had inflicted Arthur, Celeste, and their peers? And had it been worth it? As Celeste lay in a tomb only a few minutes walk from where Elena currently sat, she couldn't imagine the journey had been worth much at all. Though it still begged the question of Arthur. The absence of his corpse told a much larger story.
Elena was quick to pack up her things the moment Dr. Bartlow dismissed them. She had much homework to do, and even more research. Before the next meeting of Harmon's Great Minds, she wanted to come in prepared with questions, comments, and concerns for the trio of men who had taken interest in her. With that, however, there too was a fear of coming on too strong, of asking too much. There was a balance to strike, she just needed to find it.
She ducked out of the classroom with a determination she hadn't felt since the beginning of the summer. A need to find more information, to delve deeper into what she already knew and dig up even more. Because she was certain, more certain than ever, that there were things she was still missing. And while she had cracked the code of the supernatural, forced herself to believe, that couldn't be everything.
"You're avoiding me," Damon said, catching her arm as she made a quick exit, attempting to do exactly that. Why he always felt the need to touch her, she would never know.
It was so much easier to pretend that she didn't think about him at all. If only that actually was the case. "I'm not."
One brow raised in that annoyingly skeptical way he did when he could see right through her. He didn't have to say a single word.
She dropped her hands to her side in exasperation. "Fine. Maybe. A little," she admitted under his glare. Sometimes it was impossible to lie to him. Like no matter what she said, he'd see the truth behind the facade. And yet, wasn't their whole relationship built upon lies?
He grinned, delighted with himself. It straightened out quick. "Why?"
This was a much more difficult question to answer. How could she explain that every time she caught his eyes it felt like he needed to tell her something of great importance? That every time they were in proximity, it felt as if there were words hanging unspoken between them. That it felt as if the next conversation they shared would be one she'd never forget, would be one of truth. From both sides.
Instead, she shrugged. "I don't know." Elena took a step away from him, and his fingers twitched at his side like they were seconds away from reaching out to grab her again. But there was only so much she could take, and the feeling of his hand wrapped around her upper arm, even through the layers of her disguise, that was too much. Her pointed glance made his hand still and they just stood there, an awkward amount of distance between them, and an even louder amount of silence.
Damon's arms crossed, hiding twitching fingers as he looked at her. Time slowed as they stared at one another in that hallway. The same hallway they'd yelled at each other in, the same hallway she'd overheard him downright insulting her in. But now they just stared, both of them uncertain how to act. A deep discomfort stirred in Elena, but she couldn't figure out how to look away like his eyes had locked hers completely in place. The most frustrating part was, trying to figure out what must have been going on behind his. Did he feel equally locked in place by her? Did he feel anything at all for her, and if he did, was it because he knew her past the disguise? Or was his look only one of annoyance, his protection of her only one of obligation?
"I—," Elena started, but Dr. Bartlow walked out of the classroom next to them and shook her from the haze. A good thing, too, as she hadn't been completely certain how that sentence was going to end, but she had a good feeling it may have contained at least one confession. Dr. Bartlow placed a hand on Damon's shoulder, and Elena's eyes finally darted away. "Another time, Salvatore," she said. His mouth parted, but no words came forth, and her footsteps faded away down the hall out of the building before he could say anything at all.
A/N: Okay, I simply cannot stick to a schedule right now, because we're getting super close to the end of Act II and I'm SO excited about the next few chapters. At Dawn MIGHT update next, unless I get impatient and want to post another IPOP chapter first hehe