A Perfect Summer
Noch pünktlich! XD Viel Spaß mit Kapitel 50!
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It was Friday and Elena was preparing herself for the summer. She packed her suitcase, recharged her laptop and compiled a selection of music on her iPod. Little did she know that she would have visitors before she left.
The moment John got out of his car Isobel appeared in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" they asked slightly amused about the coincidence.
"Probably the same like you. I'm here to see our daughter," John stated. "Are you here on Katherine's behalf?"
"No, I have my own reasons to see her," Isobel declared. "You?"
"Likewise. So you came back just to talk to her?"
"I never left, John," she told him. "I left town when you activated the device but then I came back to see if you succeeded in doing your job which you didn't. You failed miserably, John. Katherine was very angry with you but you know that already. I however didn't get the chance to let you feel my wrath. My order was clear, John."
"I don't know why Stefan didn't get caught by the deputies or how Damon got out of the flames," he defended himself.
"Try the witchy friend," Isobel said. "I told you about her. But I'll deal with you later. First I want to see my daughter."
She started to walk around the house.
"Where are you going?" John asked bemused, following her.
"The door is locked and Elena wouldn't invite me in anyway so..."
She looked up at the balcony. John followed her gaze.
"The back porch? Can you take me up there?" he asked her.
"She sighed, slightly irritated but grabbed his arm and rushed up the back porch.
Just in that moment the door opened and Elena entered her bedroom with a pile of clothes in her arms.
"I knew you're here. Stefan and Damon heard you coming. Get off of my porch."
"Elena-" John began and stepped toward her.
"Stay where you are!" she threatened. "Stefan and Damon are close. I don't even need to call them. They'll react to my emotions and throw you out in a second."
"We're just here to talk, sweetheart."
"Stop. Calling. Me. That," Elena snapped while putting the clothes into her suitcase. "I know why you're here. But I refuse. Get the hell out of here before I change my mind and give them a free pass to do with you whatever they want. Death and torture included," she added menacingly.
"We're not here on Katherine's behalf if you think that."
Elena faked a laugh. "No, of course not."
"No, really-"
"Save it, okay? I'm not dumb."
She continued to pack her suitcase, ignoring them.
"Are you going somewhere?" John changed the subject.
Elena's head shot up. "Yeah, I am. And if one of you informs Katherine about my whereabouts I swear I'll-"
"We won't," Isobel assured her.
"Then why are you here?" Elena demanded.
"I came to see you," Isobel answered. "Just to see you."
"And I came to talk," John stated.
"Aha," Elena said and finished packing. She closed her suitcase and then she met their gazes with an icy glare. "I'm through with you both of you. You're just Katherine's minions. Neither of you will ever be a real part of my life. You might be my biological parents but I already had parents who were always there when I needed them and whom I loved very much." She looked at Isobel. "You chose them well." I don't want either of you to interfere in my life anymore. I am already involved with vampires. Even if you don't want this life for me you can't do anything about it." Isobel and John were silent. "Who knows maybe one day I want to become one, too and neither of you will be able to stop me." She turned to John. "And you, don't you feel the slightest ashamed of yourself? Not for my sake but for Jeremy's. For your interest he tried to kill himself because you staked his girlfriend! And now you're causing even more misery in this town! Get the hell lost!"
She looked expectantly at them. They exchanged a glance.
"We'll come back later when you're in a better mood," Isobel said, grabbed John and jumped off the porch. She put John on the ground and rushed up again. "It might raise my reputation if I promise you not to tell Katherine who you're hiding in here," she said quietly to Elena.
"And what do you demand in return?" Elena inquired suspiciously.
"I'll think about it. Have a nice vacation," Isobel replied and joined John on the ground by his car.
"She's got the aggression from you," he told her.
"And the stubbornness from you," Isobel countered unperturbed. "Take care of her when she gets back and make sure she does not turn," she added menacingly. "Don't fail again."
"Where are you going?" John asked. "Do you really think you can escape Katherine?"
"Katherine's got more important things on her mind right now," Isobel replied. "She doesn't care whether I'm around or not. And if she does I'll try to lure her away from Elena while she's on vacation."
"Good luck," John commented skeptically.
Isobel nodded and rushed away and John got into his car and left, too.
"Are they gone?" Elena asked while carrying her suitcase down the stairs.
"Just left," Stefan confirmed. "Here, let me help you."
He took the suitcase from her and carried it downstairs into the hallway where Damon, Jeremy and Anna were already waiting.
"Thanks. Isobel knows about Anna," she told them. "But she promised not to tell Katherine."
"She's going to blackmail you," Damon predicted.
"Definitely," Elena affirmed and checked her bag for the plane ticket and information on the summer program including housing. "All set," she announced happily and opened her arms to say goodbye to her brother and Anna.
"Have a nice vacation," she said to them, hugged them and then followed Damon and Stefan outside. They would take her to the airport in Richmond. Behind her Jeremy shut the door.
"Hmm," Stefan mused aloud. "Which car?"
"My car," Damon answered in a tone that allowed no contradiction.
"Got something less ostentatious?" Stefan argued.
"No way," Damon rejected. "Elena's going on vacation and we'll take her there in a vacational car."
Stefan sighed in defeat and loaded Elena's baggage into the trunk of Damon's car. Damon tossed him the keys and held the door on the passenger's side open for Elena.
"Here you go," he said as she climbed onto the backseat. "You're now our very own V.I.P."
Elena smiled, shaking her head while Stefan and Damon got into the car. Stefan started the engine and steered Damon's Mustang in the direction of Richmond.
"Oh, before I forget. As I V.I.P you'll need original V.I.P sunglasses," Damon said and handed Elena Ray-Bans sunglasses.
"I'm not a V.I.P, Damon," Elena replied slightly amused.
"You're gonna need them anyway," he insisted.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Out of the corner of his eye Stefan shot an irritated glance at Damon who chose to ignore it and put on his own Ray-Bans.
The ride to Richmond was quiet and uneventful. Elena stretched out on the backseat, enjoying the sun. Damon simply observed the landscape and Stefan kept his eyes on the road. However he did look a little pissed.
One hour later they arrived at the airport where Elena checked in and gave her baggage up, hoping it would arrive with her in California. She still had half an hour before her departure to Atlanta where she would change into the plane to San Francisco. So they went straight to the boarding area.
"Do you want me to get you a souvenir?" Elena asked the boys.
"Nah, I've been there so often. The image is perfectly clear in my head," Damon waved it off.
"Okay. Stefan?"
"Just come back happy and healthy that's all I want," he said and hugged her tightly. "Call me when you arrived in your dorm."
"I will," Elena promised.
They kissed and then Elena turned to Damon.
"Do I get a kiss, too?" he asked hopefully, smirking at her.
"No, you get a hug."
"It was worth a try." He shrugged and hugged her.
"Thank you. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't pushed me."
"You owe me a college acceptation."
"I'll give my best," she assured and hugged him back tightly before letting go. "Take care of everyone while I'm gone and stay away from Katherine," she added, already walking toward the boarding area. She showed her ticket to the ground staff and entered the boarding area. Smiling she waved at the two boys before turning around and walking out of their sight to get on board.
1 week later...
"Are they gone?" Jeremy asked when he met Anna in the parlor on Friday night.
"Yup," Anna confirmed and handed him a piece of paper. "They left a message."
There's enough food and blood in the kitchen and the basement for five weeks so neither of you will starve while we're gone.
Whatever you do... NOT on my Couch and NOT on my CARPET! They're antique!
Damon
Jeremy met Anna's gaze and they burst out laughing.
Saturday afternoon, PDT, Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
Elena was standing on a small hill where she could admire the town's landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge while she was on her cell phone talking to Damon.
"Where are you right now? What do you see?" Damon asked her.
"Uh, I'm on some hill, I think and I can see the Golden Gate Bridge. I think I saw a sign with 'Golden Gate National Recreation Area' inscribed on it."
"Ah, I know where that is."
"Well, I better hang up now. I did find the way here but I'm not sure if I'll find the way back," she told him.
"I'll guide you."
"Huh?"
"Turn around."
Elena turned around and started beaming. There he was, Damon in all his glory, smirking at her. He hung up and put his phone into his pocket. Elena did the same before she ran toward him and threw her arms around him.
"Easy, tiger," Damon chuckled, trying not to lose his balance. Any more of these hugs and he would get dizzy. She let go of him quickly though.
"I can't believe you're here." She smiled widely at him but then her brows furrowed. "Why are you here?"
"Well, everyone's safe back home and Stefan and I couldn't stand to see Katherine so we packed and came," he told her.
"So both of you will be staying here... all summer... with me?" she asked.
"Yup," he confirmed smirking at her and was happy to see her beaming again.
This year's summer turned out to be the best in Elena's life. During the week she learned how to improve her writing by professional skills and worked hard for her future. And on weekends she hung out with the Salvatore brother, preferably on Saturdays with Damon and on Sundays with Stefan.
When she was with Damon they went on roadtrips. Damon showed Elena the beauty of California and how to have fun there (dancing and drinking included). Whereas the Sundays with Stefan were less wild. Mostly they simply hung out at the house he and Damon had rented or took a walk along the beach.
It was a perfect summer.
"I wish I could stay," Elena said woefully when they were on the plane back home. "I can't believe the summer's already over. Time went by so fast."
"Don't be sad. We can always come back if you like," Stefan offered.
"It's too expensive," she rejected. He gave her a look. "No, I won't accept that you pay for it."
He sighed and shrugged.
"And if I bought a house there?" Damon asked, doing his thing.
"Damon!"
"Gotcha!" he said triumphantly. "You hesitated."
"I did not!"
"Yes, you did," he persisted.
"Fine, I did," she admitted. "But I don't want you to spend so much money for my sake."
"It's not like I'd let the money rot on our bank account. Either I spend it for your sake or something else," he replied.
"Glad to hear you work so reasonably with our inheritance," Stefan chimed in sourly.
"I'm living on the interest," Damon told him unperturbed.
"Do with it what you want," Elena surrendered.
"Then I'll know where we'll go next summer," Damon said grinning.
"Really, you*re too good to me," Elena said. "I had an amazing summer with you. So much fun-"
"We rocked," Damon agreed, smirking at her. Elena recalled the conversation she had had with him on the porch of the boarding house five weeks ago. Damon had somehow managed to take her back to that time when nothing had mattered, the time she had felt so carefree.
And now they were back in the present and all her problems were back. Just like Damon had once told her. "Just step away from your life for five minutes. Problems are still gonna be there when you get back."
These five weeks in San Francisco had been the best five minutes of her life. They not only distracted but also braced her. Now Elena felt strong enough to face everything.
"And you benefitted from the program, too," Stefan concluded her enumeration.
"Right. I'm shortlisted which means I'm as good as in," she told them beaming. "Which means I paid my dues to you," she added to Damon.
"I guess so," he agreed. "I'm glad my efforts to get you into the program weren't for nothing."
"Exactly. I love you," Elena said, squeezing a hand of each brother. "You know I really like this ménage-á-threesome thing." Damon and Stefan stared at her in shock and quickly let go of her hand. Elena laughed. "Just joking. You should have seen your faces. It was priceless!"
"Hehe," Damon commented, suddenly feeling very uneasy and a glance at his brother told him that he didn't find the current development amusing, either.
Because none of them was willing to share Elena with the other one, let alone give her up without a fight.
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50 Kapitel! Ich kann es immer noch nicht fassen!
Ich denke nach so vielen Kapitel ist es mir auch gegönnt mal eine Pause zu machen. Nächste Woche Montag muss ich wieder zur Schule... Und ich muss noch ein bisschen was tun...
Im Moment weiß ich noch nicht wann ich das nächste Kapitel hochladen werde, also seid bitte geduldig, denn es wird auf jeden Fall weitergehen!
Bis dahin
eure Asu
P.S Mein Lieblingszitat aus diesem Kapitel war in Damons Nachricht an Anna und Jeremy. "Whatever you do... NOT on my Couch and NOT on my CARPET! They're antique!" Ich würde gerne wissen, was euch in dieser FF am besten gefallen hatten. Was ist euer Lieblingszitat oder euer Lieblingsmoment?
