1 Starting Anew

Elena's POV

I raced over to the local cafe with the flashing neon sign. The leaves were autumnal and the sky was a mixture of blue and grey undertones. I sat by the window and peered out. My life is a mess.

"What can I get ya?" Matt wanders over to me, smiling cheesily.

I flicked my head, "Nothing, Matt. Just--"

"Your special caramel frappuccino?"

"Ugh…" I groan, lying down on the oak table. He takes it as a yes, walking away.

I don't move a muscle, trying to get into a zone of peace. It doesn't aid me. My eyes flicker up and down, spotting a mysterious man stirring his drink in the corner. I don't notice his features because I've been staying up late and bawling my eyes out, making myself lethargic. He seems to notice my troubles and smiles. Matt dashes back with the frappuccino glaring me in the face, waiting for me to react. I drink some, but it goes down the wrong pipe. Thank God, he's already out of sight. It just goes to show, I'm too broken to do anything.

The mystery man rushes over to me whilst I'm spluttering, "Are you ok?"

"What do you think?" I boom back sarcastically, my speech broken up with coughs.

"Clearly not. I'll take you home." He holds my hand, but I tear away.

"You don't know me. Or my house."

"I live a street away from you. The brown grand mansion on the corner? Yeah, I live there. I see you nearly every day…"

"That's so damn creepy!" I exclaim, stepping back from fear of the unknown. I darted straight outside the rustic space, making sure I kept track of the exits for later incidents.

"Better now than never. I'm taking you home!" He chased me. "Come on." He overtakes me, swivelling in front. I'm frozen now. I barely budge. He makes long-lasting eye contact, pupils glazed a shade of chocolate brown. "Look, you need to sort yourself out. You can't do it alone. I know your parents die--"

"Shut up!" I squeal, throwing a lone napkin I pocketed at his face, "Shut up, you stalker!" I seize my drink, storming away. But suddenly, my posture becomes unstable. My walking isn't natural. My eyes are growing weak, widening, shrinking then dilating all within one moment. Everything fades away…

Later that afternoon

The warmth I feel is unexplainable. My thoughts are alight. My surroundings are unknown. I hear light male voices chorusing, but whether they are hallucinations or reality is a mystery I won't know.

"Who is she? How did she end up here, Stefan?"

"I dunno. She wound herself up like this…"

"You know we can't— Wait… Did you?"

"Shh… She's waking up…"

Damn right I was, to the scrutinising male gaze and a musty smelling couch with two black cushions. One I held for support. The other was lying vacant on the opposite end. One thing I knew in an instant. This wasn't my house.

"What the hell…" I hold a hand to my forehead, rising slowly. "It's you again!" My consciousness shakes itself alive. "You evil little…" The other guy blocks my line of sight.

"Calm down," he whispers. "I'm Damon. The evil one's Stefan--"

"I am not!" Stefan slaps the other black cushion.

"Well, he is. What happened to you?"

"If we're being honest, then Stefan came to try and help me when my drink didn't go down… Then he acted like a stalker trying to take me home…"

Damon turns to Stefan, "You shouldn't have!" he scoffs, grabbing a bottle of bourbon from a cupboard and chugging it.

"What're your relations?" I stand up now, brushing back my hair. I'm still dazed, but functional enough to escape.

"We're brothers." Stefan chirps. "Don't leave!" He comes close, holding my hand and stroking my hair. I somehow flow into a relaxed state, one that my apprehension stopped me from achieving this morning. "I want you to stay calm, and stay here. We want to know more about you." His request seems like an order, but a forceful one. My brain searched for other options, but this is the only one it found.

"Do you want me to sit down, or--" He nods. I obey.

"Tell me your name."

"Elena."

"Pretty name, Elena. So your parents died recently?"

"Mhm. Made the town news. Absolutely awful." I brush my eyes. Surprisingly, I'm not crying! This subject tears my heart apart. These boys must have put me under a spell…

"How?"

"Funny you ask. Car crash."

"And are you currently in a relationship?"

"Oh…" I gasp, overtaken by nerves and regret, but for some reason, still willing to share. "No. I was… but not now." I answer childishly. "I'm exhausted!" I exclaim, and Stefan sits down next to me. He turns and nods to his brother, but receives a raised eyebrow back.

"Oh…" Damon says, "You can't yet. I have something to ask." Stefan scowls as he confronts me. "It won't take long, pretty girl." He cups a hand to my cheek, which blushes thanks to his tender touch. "Are you related to Katherine in any way?"

"Katherine who?" I respond, watching him frown in thought. "Why?"

"You remind me of someone, but who are your remaining family members?"

"Uh, well, my aunt Jenna and my brother Jeremy. That's it."

"Good. I'm all done here. Sweet dreams!" His hand leaves my face and grabs another jug of bourbon, which wasn't the same one from earlier, trudging up several flights of stairs.

"Bye," I mutter, Stefan cupping my cheek like Damon. It brings nowhere near the same effect. "I need sleep! I have big plans!" I yell. He doesn't skirt away, but by the time I put my head on the cushion and begin to close my eyes, he's gone. So I believed. I thought. I hoped. I could sense his body nearby, as he kissed me under midnight darkness whilst my eyes were closed, but my body was no longer tossing and turning in motion. It was like a tranquilliser.

"Goodnight, Elena." He says, before disappearing into the unknown. Good Lord, my day has been eventful. I'm sure the rest of them shall.