Adelaide gasped as she sat up in her bed, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked around her surroundings, trying to gather her bearings. When she realized she was inside her bedroom and not the freezing cold water, she took a deep breath of relief. Ever since she had woken up from being in a coma, cause by the accident that took her parent´s lives, Adelaide had been struggling to adjust to her new reality.
Adelaide had only been home for a week when the nightmares began. Vivid and terrifying, they hunted her every night, leaving her gasping for air and drenched in sweat. The nightmares, a reminder of the accident that shattered her and her siblings lives, had become a constant companion. They always brought her back to the moment when the car crashed into the water, the image of her parents lifeless bodies forever etched in her mind.
Adelaide turned and reached out for her cell phone, instinctively wanted to see the time. She sighed as she saw it was just a little past 6 in the morning. Deciding to take a shower to calm her nerves, she got out of bed and walked into her bathroom. The hot water felt amazing on her skin, a stark contrast to the freezing cold water from her dreams. She washed her hair and body, hoping to wash away the lingering fear that still clung to her.
Stepping out of the shower, she grabbed a towel from the cabinet and wrapped it around herself. She turned off the light and walked back inside her bedroom. She made her way towards her closet, trying to find somthing that would make her feel like herself again. She grabbed a blue bra and a matching pair of hotpants before pulling on a black top and a pair of black leggings. Finally, she grabbed her red leather jacket that was haning on the back of her desk she caught a glimps of her reflection in the mirror, she sighed. The girl staring back at her was not someone she could recognize. She looked different, with hollow eyes and a sadness that seemed to radiate from within.
She pulled her damp hair into a messy bun before she began to put her jewelry on. She grabbed the locket around her neck, feeling a sense of comfort wash over her. The last piece of jewelery she put on was the charm bracelet, a gift from her siblings, that had a nightingale on it. Adelaide pulled her boots on before making her way downstairs.
Adelaide walked into the kitchen and heard her aunt Jenna mumbling to herself while staring into the refrigerator. Jenna turned her head and smiled but the smile vanished as she noticed the tired look on Adelaide´s face.
"Another nightmare?" Jenna questioned, concern etched on her face.
Adelaide nodded, feeling a lump in her throat." Yeah." Adelaide said as she walked over to the kitchen table and pulled a chair out and sat down.
Jenna walked towards Adelaide and sat down beside her, squeezing her hand gently." Are you sure you´re ready to go back to school?"
Adelaide shook her head, her eyes filled with determination." No, but i need to. If not for me, then them.
"Honey." Jenna said softly." Elena and Jeremy will understand if you´re not ready, you don´t need to be so hard on yourself, you.."
"Is there any coffee?" Adelaide interjected, attempting to change the subject. She stood and made her way towards the coffee machine, pouring herself a cup and adding a splash of milk. Taking a sip, she turned to see Jenna staring at her with a worried look.
"I promise to come to you if it becomes to much, deal?" Adelaide offered, her voice filled with sincerity.
Jenna sighed but nodded in agreement." Deal."
"Is there any coffee?" Jeremy questioned as he walked into the kitchen.
Adelaide looked towards Jeremy and pointed towards the coffee machine. Jeremy made his way towards the coffee machine, eager to satisfy his coffee craving.
"Morning Elena. Coffee?" Adelaide ask as she held out her cup towards her sister.
"Hey! No fair!" Jeremy yelled.
"Elena glanced at Jeremy and then at Adelaide, her expression puzzled." What´s going on?"
Jeremy mumbled into his cup." No, hey Jeremy, do you want coffee? I have to make it myself."
Adelaide rolled her eyes at Jeremy´s dramatic response." Get over it, you loser." She said, making herself a fresh cup of coffee.
"It´s your first day of school and I´m totally unprepared." Jenna exclaimed, quickly grabbing her wallet from her purse. She approached the three teenagers, holding out some money.
"I´m good." Elena told her aunt, but Jeremy seizing the opportunity, snatched the money and turned towards Adelaide.
Adelaide looked down at the money in jeremy´s left hand and furrowed her brow." Why do you get more?"
"Jeremy grinned." You get what you get, and you don´t get upset."
"Loser." Adelaide said under her breath, she picked up a piece of fruit from the counter and jokingly threw it at Jeremy, who managed to jump out of the way just in time.
Jenna shook her head, sighing." Enough you two." She scolded, trying to restore some kind of order." Okay, anything else? A number two pencil?" She inquired, multitasking as she searched for her belongings.
The three siblings exchanged glances, silently communication their confusion, before turning back to their aunt." What?" Jenna asked, perplexed by their reaction.
"Don´t you have a big presentation today?" Elena asked, her eyebrow raised with concern.
"Maybe it´s you, who needs a number two pencil?" Jeremy mumbled.
Jenna´s eyes widened as she realized her oversight." I can´t belive i forgot." She exclaimed, frantically packing her purse." I´m meeting with my thesis advisor at..." Jenna looked down at her watch." Now, crap!"
"Then go." Elena urged, trying to reassured her aunt." We will be fine."
Adelaide nodded, offering a comforting smile." Don´t worry aunt Jenna." Just go."
Jenna rushed out of the kitchen, almost tripping over her own feet in her hast." I love you." She shouts over her shoulder while running out of the kitchen.
Adelaide smile vanished as she turned towards Jeremy and found him staring at Elena, she was about to asked him what was going on, when Jeremy stomped out of the kitchen. Adelaide turned to Elena and asked." What was that about?" Her voice laced with worry and curiosity.
Elena´s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she whispered." He hates me."
Adelaide heart shattered at those words. She took a deep breath, she composed herself and gently took Elena´s hand into her own. "He could never hate you, Elena." Adelaide reassured her." He´s just dealing with it differently.
Elena´s eyes searched Adelaide´s face for reassurance." Do you hate me?"
Adelaide´s heart ached at the equestion. She shook her head vehemently." What? No! I could never hate you, Elena."
Elena looked down, her voice barely audible." What happened to you was my fault. What happened to mom and dad..."
Adelaide placed a gently finger on Elena´s lips, silencing her." I´m going to stop you right there, Elena. What happened that night was nobody´s fault. It was an accident, okay? Accidents happen, and we can´t blame ourselves. The only thing we can do now is to find a way to move forward together as a family.
Elena looked up at Adelaide through tear-stained eyes." I love you."
Adelaide pulled Elena into a tight embrace, holding her close." I love you more." She whispered, her voive filled with a tenderness that only sisters could share.
Adelaide pulled away from the embrace as she spoke." Come on, Bonnie will be..." Before Adelaide could finish her sentence, there was honk from the outside. Adelaide smiled before she spoke." Be here soon." Elena rolled her eyes as she followed after her sister, slamming the front door closed behind her.
The car was filled with silence as Bonnie drove through the small town, before deciding to break it." So Grams is telling me I´m a psychic." Bonnie began. "Our ancestors were from Salem, witches and all that. I know, crazy. She´s going on and on about it, and I´m like, put this women in a home alread! But then i think, i predicted Obama, and i predicted Heath Ledger, and i still think Florida will break off and turn into little restort island."
Adelaide laughed before saying." Hey, you never know, you might be a witch." Adelaide turned back to look out of the window and of course, they would be passing the familair cemetary. Adelaide sighed, it was the cemetary where her parents were laid to rest. It had hurt Adelaide to know she had missed her parents funeral. Jenna had told her that because the doctors didn´t know when our if she was ever going to wake up, the had to go ahead with the funeral, and she understood, she really did, but it still hurt.
"Adelaide, Elena! Back in the car!" Bonnie yelled. Adelaide jumped, not realizing she had spaced out." Sorry."
"Yeah, sorry Bonnie." Elena said as she looked over at her friend." So you were telling us that..."
"She´s a psychic now." Adelaide cut in.
"Right." Elena said, not knowing if her sister and Bonnie were being serious, so she decided to play along." Okay, then predict something about us."
Bonnie took a deep breath." I see..." But before Bonnie could finish her sentence, a bird suddenly bounced off the window, causing Bonnie to lose control of the car. What felt like hours were actually seconds before she regained control over the car and pulled the car to a complet stop. Bonnie gasped in shock. " What was that?" She moved her eyes between the sisters in worry." Are you guys okay?"
"It was a bird or something." Bonnie quickly explained." It came out of nowhere."
Elena shook her head." Really we...we can´t be freaked out by cars for the rest of our lives, right?" Elena said as she looked up at Adelaide through the rearview mirror.
Adelaide nodded her head before looking over at Bonnie and giving her an encouraging smile." We will be okay." Adelaide promised.
Bonnie looked between the sisters as she spoke." I predict that this year is going to kick ass and i predict that all the sad and dark times are over, and that you guys will be happy." she told them.
Adelaide, Elena and Bonnie made their way through the busy hallway of mystic falls high school. The vibrant energy of students filled the air, but Adelaide couldn´t fully immerse herself in the hustle and bustle. Thoughts when to her ex-boyfriend, Tyler Lockwood. She would be seeing him for the first time in months.
"Major lack of male real estate." Bonnie remarked, scanning the crowded hallway. Adelaide could not help but smirk at her friends colorful words.
"Look at the shower curtian on Kelly Beech. She looks like a hot..." Bonnie paused in though as she looked towards the sisters." Can i still say tranny mess?"
"No, that´s defintly over." Elena told her.
Adelaide rolled her eyes at her sister. Bonnie nodded her head as she stated." Ahh, find a man, coin a phrase. It´s a busy year."
When they reached Bonnie´s locker, Adelaide attention was drawn to her friend, Matt, who were also Elena´s ex-boyfriend. He stood a few lockers down, gaze fixed on the trio. Adelaide smiled and waved at him.
But as their eyes met, the smile vanished from Matt´s face. With a heavy heart, he slammed his locker shut and walked away. Elena sighed sadely, and Adelaide couldn´t help but feel a pang of guilt. After all, it was Elena who had ended things with Matt.
"He hates me." Elena confessed to Adelaide.
"What did you expect." Adelaide responded, her eyes reflecting understanding." You dumped him."
Adelaide turned to her locker, her head now resting against it." I´m sorry." She mumbled, realizing she had inadvertently spoken her thoughts aloud.
Elena rubbed Adelaide´s back gently, a comforting gesture." Are you okay?"
Adelaide mumbled in respond." Headache."
Concern evident on her face, Bonnie suggested." Maybe you should have stayed home."
Adelaide dismissed the idea, determined to push through the pain." Just give me a minute, and i will be fine."
But before any further conversation could take place, a familiar blond figure approached them. It was Caroline Forbes, their energetic friend, who enveloped each of the sisters in a tight hug.
"How are you guys doing?" Caroline asked excitedly. Before either of them could respond, Caroline jumped in." It´s good to see you guys!"
Caroline then turned to Bonnie. Her voice filled with worry." How are they? Are they good?"
Adelaide interrupted, assuring Caroline that they were fine. But Caroline didn´t seem convinced." Really?" She questioned, studying Adelaide´s face interntly.
"Caroline, you haven´t left me alone since i got out of the hospital." Adelaide chuckled softly." I think you would know if i wasn´t okay."
"We´re fine, really." Elena added, linking her arm with Adelaide´s.
Caroline accepted their assurance and walked away, leaving the sisters to their thoughts. " No comment." Elena remarked, noticing Bonnie´s amused expression.
"Come on, guys." Adelaide said, ready to escape the hallway´s chaos." She means well." With that Adelaide walked away, leaving behind her sister and their friend.
"Where are you going?" Elena shouted after her sister.
"I´m going to find Matt." Adelaide yelled back, determination evident in her voice.
Adelaide found Matt leaning against Tyler´s locker. Taking a deep breath, as she approached the boys." Hi."Adelaide greeted them with a forced smile. Matt´s face lit up, wrapping his friend in a tight hug." How are you doing? Any pain? Did you sleep okay?" He asked, concern clouding his eyes.
"I´m okay." Adelaide assured him, though her eyes betrayed her words.
"You´re lying." Tyler remarked, sliding off the locker to stand in front of Adelaide. Concern etched on his face, he gently lifted her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. There eyes locked briefly before Adelaide pulled away, shutting her eyes.
"Adelaide." Matt began, but she cut him off, mustering a brave front." I´m fine." She insisted, even though her head trobbed with pain.
"My lady."Matt said, holding out his hand to Adelaide. She smiled, taking his arm." Thank you, kind sir.
As they walked away from Tyler, Adelaide couldn´t help but ask." What´s his problem?"
"You know what his problem is." Matt replied. Adelaide stopped in her tracks, facing Matt directly.
"It might have been months for him, but to me, it still..." Adelaide sighed, a wave of raw emotions waved over her." It still hurts."
Matt reach out, assuring her." Have you told him how you feel?"
Adelaide shook her head.
"I really think you should tell him. He might be a shitty boyfriend..."
"Ex-boyfriend." Adelaide reminded him.
"Ex-boyfriend, but he still cares about you Addy. And deep down, i think it scared him how much he..."
Adelaide waved her hand to stop him." Can we not do this?" She pleaded, feeling the weight of her emotions bear down on her.
With a nod and a comforting smile, Matt respected her wishes. Side by side, they walked towards Tanner´s class room.