Should Have When You Could Have
Hi, ich bins. Ja, ich lebe noch und wie ihr sehen könnt funktioniert mein PC heute mal wieder. Also hab ich mich sofort ans Werk gemacht und dieses (lange) Kapitel abgetippt. Ich finde, es ist etwas für jeden dabei. Viel Spaß!
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Stefan stared horrified at Elena who was still in Damon's arms.
"What's going on?" he snarled.
"Are you kidding me?" Elena shot back. "You're cheating on me with my vampire doppelganger and you ask me what's going on?!"
There was no way to deny it. Both Stefan and Katherine had reduced their clothing to underwear. It was obvious what they had been about to do.
"Elena, I can explain," Stefan began but Elena cut him off.
"No need. I think I've got it," she snapped.
Amused by their fight Katherine started to giggle. Indignant Elena opened her mouth but a nudge by Damon stopped her.
"So you're Elena," Katherine said, watching her doppelganger closely. "You look so much like me without your stupid wig. How creepy." She averted her gaze from Elena, looked at Stefan and then back at Elena. "I guess there are things to talk about. I gotta go anyway. I've things to do," she announced. Using vampire speed she disappeared to get dressed and returned. She walked past Stefan, Elena and Damon to the door. Passing Damon she whispered "See you later, Damon." Then she left. The door fell close and silence spread between them. Elena was furious. Damon stared at his brother in disbelief and Stefan was giving Elena a look full of remorse.
"Please, Elena, let's talk," he begged.
"There's nothing to talk about," she replied coldly.
"But–"
"I said no! You cheated on me, Stefan! How am I supposed to ignore that?" she shouted angrily.
"We didn't–" Stefan began to defend himself.
"I don't care! It's over Stefan. We're over," she said and turned around to leave.
Wow, Damon thought. He wouldn't have imagined it to be so easy to tear them apart.
"Elena! Stefan called after her but she ignored him and left. Helplessly he looked at his brother.
"Idiot," Damon spat and hurried after Elena.
"Elena!" Elena kept on walking. She didn't want to talk right now, to neither of them. Damon appeared at her side. "Elena."
"I'd like to be alone for a while, Damon," she told him. Her voice was shaking from suppressed emotions.
"I know," Damon said. "Just let me take you home."
"I don't need you to."
"I don't know what's Katherine's up to. But eventually she'll do try to do something to you and I want to prevent that. I'll walk you home and then if you want me to I'll leave immediately."
"Fine," Elena agreed curtly.
They walked silently down the street until they reached the Gilbert house. They stepped on the porch and Elena took her keys out of her pocket. When she raised her head she met Damon's apologetic gaze.
"I'm sorry," he said. "It was a stupid idea to go look for him."
"No, it's okay," Elena replied, controlled as ever. "I'd rather know then be lied about it."
"You okay?"
"I'll be fine," she assured him. "See you later, Damon," she added and opened the front door.
"Later, Elena," Damon said and left.
No one else was home. Of course not. Jeremy was still at school and Jenna at work. They wouldn't come home before two hours.
Elena went upstairs into her bedroom with the intention to distract herself from her misery. Her gaze fell upon her college application. which she had barely worked on. Before all of this had happened she had been going to apply to Journalism School. She had wanted to become a writer since she was twelve and she couldn't think of another profession to work in. But with the recent events she had neglected her plans more and more though the deadline for applications was like in a week.
How would she be able to finish her application by then? Tears started to well up in her eyes and stream down her face. Absolutely everything was falling apart. She couldn't take it.
Damon decided to walk home. For one thing because it would take longer until he would have to face Stefan again and for another because it gave him some time to think.
He felt crushed. Although he had developed more hatred than love for Katherine it had hurt to see her with Stefan. It was like 1864 all over again. He had convinced himself of the fact that he had gotten over her but still he felt his heart call out to her. Reluctantly he missed her.
On the other hand there was Elena. She was obviously more affected by it. She seemed so okay with everything but he knew that he had only seen a façade which he knew would crack to pieces soon. It didn't take anything big to break her down and there was nothing he could do about it.
He raised his head to see Alaric Saltzman walked up to him, looking concerned. Great, he's the last person I need right now.
"Hey, have you seen my student? Elena?" he asked. "I saw you leaving the campus together."
"She's not feeling well. Something came up. I took her home," Damon told him.
"Oh, what happened?"
"It's a long story," Damon evaded.
"Mm, I hope she'll be better soon," Saltzman said. Damon nodded. "No, you don't understand. I overheard a conversation between the guidance counselor and the principal. They are going to expel her because of the cutting."
"What? It didn't happen that often."
"They are very strict about it. One more absence without permission and that's it," Saltzman replied sadly.
"I'll take care of it," Damon announced.
"No, you won't!" the teacher contradicted. "You can't just mess with people's minds as you please."
"Elena's suffering from enough misery already. I won't hold back and watch more of it crush her."
"It's her own fault," Saltzman reminded him. "Even if she's miserable she can't just oppose the rules."
"Are you defending them?"
"No, I'm not but these are the rules," Saltzman answered dejectedly.
Damon didn't reply to that. He averted his gaze from the teacher and let it wander around the area until it lingered on a plumb man walking straight toward them.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Damon muttered.
"Ah, Damon. We already had the pleasure," John Gilbert greeted him and came to a rest in front of him.
Damon pursed his lips and glared at him, silently transmitting the message Why the hell are you still alive? But John ignored him and turned to Saltzman instead.
"And Mr Saltzman of course."
"Okay, you obviously know who I am," Saltzman said.
"I know everything about you," Gilbert replied. "My knowledge goes beyond anything in this town. You're Alaric Saltzman, the history teacher with a secret. Nobody knows why you came here, nobody but me."
"Oh yeah and how's that?" Saltzman challenged him.
"I think you the answer to that pretty well, Ric." Saltzman flinched at the nickname. Gilbert turned back to Damon. "I know you wonder why I'm so alive. I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm not that easy to kill," he told him, waving his right hand. Damon spotted a big ring on his middle finger. "So no speed-snap-kill-vamp move. If I die everything I know will go to the council. I took care of that." Saltzman and Damon glared at him. "It was nice meeting you, Ric," he added and strolled away. Damon watched him menacingly.
"Don't even think about it."
"Why, he knows too much!"
"Yes, he knows about Isabol for one thing."
"Huh?"
"Isabol used to be the only one to call me Ric," Saltzman explained.
Damon sighed in frustration. He dropped his gaze and caught something on the teacher's hand.
"The ring! You've got the same like him! Where'd you get that ring?" he demanded.
"From Isabol," Saltzman answered. Damon's eyes widened. "She said it would always protect me from any physical harm."
"So it can technically bring you back from death, too?" Damon looked at Saltzman, pondering…
"No, forget it. I won't be your guinea pig!" Saltzman refused. Damon only smirked. Then using vampire speed he lunged the teacher from behind and snapped his neck. Saltzman's body fell limp to the ground. Damon knelt down beside him and started counting.
"One… two… three…"
Saltzman's eyes shot open and he woke with a startle. Breathing hard he slowly straightened up and glared at Damon. "Is that enough proof to you?" he snarled.
Damon grinned. "Yes. So John's got a ring that can revive him. And you do, too. That'll be actually pretty unfair if you should ever piss me off."
Saltzman got up and knocked the dust off of him. "Seriously, that's your only problem?"
"No, John's my only problem," Damon declared. "We have to get rid of him without being exposed to the council."
"Well, good luck with that," Saltzman said, patted him on the shoulder and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?"
"To the pharmacy. Get an aspirin for the neck ache you caused me."
Damon grinned and turned to the other direction to go home.
Elena spent the afternoon sitting on the bench by the window in her bedroom, writing in her journal, staring into the emptiness and occasionally bursting into tears but they had dried by the time she had finished writing. Everything that was going through her head and hurting her was now converted into words and saved in her diary. The heaviness threatening to crush her was gone. A clean break, Elena told her aching heart and managed to replace the pain with anger.
Oh yes, she was angry at Stefan and at herself. For trusting him, for loving him… for him deceiving and cheating on her… for being so weak… She didn't need any of this. She needed security. She needed unconditional trust and unique, requited love. Basically all the things Stefan couldn't give her. So she was done with him. She felt freer now. Even the jealousy toward Katherine was gone. At least concerning Stefan. As for Damon she was still determined to save him from falling victim to Katherine's false love again. And she swore to succeed.
Voices from the street distracted her. She glanced down to see Jeremy come home, accompanied by Anna. Elena was happy for her brother that he had found the girl, or rather that she was with him. He seemed to carefree around her, truly happy. A smile spread across her lips as she watched them kiss goodbye. She made a mental note to thank Anna later for saving her brother from misery.
"I'm home," Jeremy's voice sounded from downstairs. Elena put her diary aside and walked downstairs.
"You're home early," Jeremy said when he saw her.
"Yes, dad," she replied, rolling her eyes. "I cut."
Jeremy's eyes widened in surprise. "Again? You're getting worse than me. You okay? Is something wrong?"
Elena smiled. Her brother always cared as much about her happiness as she cared about his. She shook her head.
"Nothing of importance. Hey, would you like to do something sometime? Get out of town?"
"Sure," Jeremy agreed.
"I was thinking dropping by at Grandpa and Grandma Gilbert, you're in?"
"When?"
"I don't know. How about tomorrow after school?" Elena suggested.
"Can I drive?" he asked.
Elena grinned. "Sure."
"Great," Jeremy said. "I'm in."
They smiled.
When Damon arrived home the boarding house was empty. Stefan was probably out, chasing squirrels. Damon walked into the parlor and poured himself a drink as his mind was processing all the things he had come to know today.
First, his brother was blinded by unreal love that was radiating from his ex-girlfriend. Once again Stefan was stealing Katherine from him.
Secondly, Katherine didn't seem to care about him the way she had told him recently. In addition, Elena, his only friend, was crushed by the recent events was going to be expelled from school because he had persuaded her to cut only to find out that her boyfriend was cheating on her. It was his fault so he would take care of it. Despite Saltzman's decline he would compel the principal into giving Elena another chance.
And last but not least he had found a new, dangerous enemy in John Gilbert who was immortal thanks to a stupid ring no one other than Saltzman's ex-wife must have given him, and John also threatened to expose him and his brother to the council. That was by far his biggest problem…
Damon raised his head when he heard the front door open and close. A second later Stefan stepped into the parlor. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Damon. They stood there, staring into each other for what seemed like ages until Stefan opened his mouth to speak.
"How's Elena?" he asked.
"Are you blind or stupid?" Damon flared up. "She is upset of course. Probably crying right now." Stefan lowered his head, guiltily. Damon put his glass on the table and started to walk toward his brother. "I'm curious how you're going to make it right. You know that Elena's big on trust and so am I. How are you going to regain our trust?"
"What do you have to do with it?" Stefan inquired.
"Katherine is mine," Damon stated icily. "Always was. And like back in 1864 you don't care. You just help yourself. But this time I won't hold back and watch. I won't lose her to you again." He paused. "In the meantime I suggest you figure out a way to get back with Elena."
Damon walked away, upstairs into his bedroom and slammed the door shut. He slumped on his bed and waited. After a few minutes he heard the front door close and frowned.
As it had been a long day Elena decided to go to bed early but to read in Isabol's journal before. She was eager to find out more about her birth mother and possible parallels between them. Of course it would also remind her of Katherine and her current problems but the urge to know was too strong.
She opened the journal and skipped to a page she hadn't read already. The entry was about Isabol's declaration as cheerleading queen. She was very happy about it. Elena smiled and turned the pages until she found a very interesting entry.
June 5, 1991
Yesterday I saw a woman. She looked just like me! Her curly brown hair, her features… She could be my twin! The similarity scares the hell out of me.
First thing I did today was changing my appearance. I had my hair dye black and cut to the shoulders. From now on I'll keep wearing it straight. I also changed my makeup. It's darker now. I like my new style because I don't resemble that woman anymore.
So this had been the first time her mother had seen Katherine. Elena could understand her quite well. She'd been shocked, too, when she'd found out that she looked exactly like Katherine.
I also asked Mom and Dad if I have a lost twin sister but they said no. They said my birth mother had only delivered one child. They have also been pointing out that I looked exactly like my real mother so I guess that woman is related to her and in any way. I'll be doing some research about that.
Elena envied Isabol for knowing she had been adopted two years earlier than her. Curious about Isabol's findings she turned the page to read the next entry but froze when a chill ran through her body. She raised her head to see that the window was open and more importantly that Stefan was standing in her bedroom.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
"Talk," he answered simply.
"I told you there's nothing to talk about, Stefan."
"Elena, please…"
"Isn't it enough that you cheat on me? Do you have to haunt me now?" Elena shouted.
"I didn't–"
"GET LOST!"
"Elena, don't–"
"I mean it, Stefan! Get the hell out of here!" Elena shouted and hurled Isabol's journal at him. He caught it before it could hit him. I don't want to see you ever again, Stefan! Now go before I lose control!"
Stefan realized that it was no use. He placed Isabol's journal on the dresser.
"I'm sorry," he whispered before leaving through the window.
Elena burst into tears. She cried for a few minutes until her phone went off. Teary-eyed she glanced at the display to see that she had received a text message from Damon.
Hey. Stefan just came back. I figured he met you. How are you?
Elena sniffed and texted him back. I'm fine. Thanks for asking though.
Liar ;)
A smile tucked at the corner of her mouth. She searched for Damon in her contacts and dialed his number.
"Hey."
"Hey. Just so you know I'm not lying."
"Not?"
"No. Somehow I'm glad we ran into them."
"So?"
"Because as I told you before I'd rather know than be left in the dark," Elena explained.
"Figures."
"Yes."
"Are you going to school tomorrow?"
"Yes. Oh, and I'll be gone for the weekend. I'm gonna pay a visit to my Gilbert grandparents."
"Well then I hope your weekend rocks," Damon replied.
"It sure will. Hope yours, too."
"Elena, I rock so my weekend will definitely rock, too."
"Figures," Elena said smiling and after a pause she added "Goodnight, Damon."
"Night, Elena."
Smiling Elena hung up. She got out of bed to close the window which was still open, then she crawled back into bed and turned off the light. The last thought that occurred to her before she fell asleep was how happy she was to have a friend like Damon who cared about her.
I'm done trusting you it's ended
Even after I catch you red handed
You could've been my only one
But now your chance is gone
Don't you understand?
Don't wanna be your backup plan
It isn't my fault you don't know a good thing
You could've been my only one
But now your chance is gone
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Okay, dass Elena kurz vorm Schulverweis steht ist ein wenig übertrieben, aber sie muss so traurig wie möglich sein, denn Delena ist auf dem Weg! ~
Und wieder kann ich euch nicht genau sagen, wann ich wieder was hochladen kann. Ich schmeiß den PC noch aus dem Fenster...
