7. A Second Chance

Letting things go on as they did without any trouble was hard to do. Elena and I weren’t talking for the rest of the week after my jailbreak by Trevor. Jeremy was trying to get us to talk again, but we both were stubborn and weren’t going to listen to him easy. We kept away from each other, but we never started arguments. I was sure Elena knew it, and probably Jer did as well, but I knew for a fact that what was going on in the Gilbert household would cease soon.

How soon…I was still working on that.

            I knew Trevor never came back to the house that night I told him I couldn’t sneak out. He probably figured it was best to let things calm down a bit too, before doing anything else. Since Elena didn’t go anywhere with me, Jeremy took me to work with him—though I had to drive him there. Still, it was worth the drive.

 I hung around the Grill while Jer was working, and on occasion came across Bonnie, and sometimes Caroline. It was funny how out of all the people I met on the second day in Mystic Falls, and Caroline’s boyfriend, Tyler, I had only seen once since then. Of course, he obviously had other things to do besides be with Caroline.

            It was towards the end of September. Leaves, now brown, red, and orange, were flying to the ground, either landing on the ground, or on cars, or people’s heads. I was so glad I packed warm clothing for this kind of weather. I had to keep warm; I wasn’t a big fan of the cold. No wonder I hated winter so much, minus the snow.

            Like always, I threw up the blinds, exposing my eyes to a rather cloudy day in Mystic Falls this morning. I pursed my lips. Well, as long as it’s not raining, maybe I can negotiate taking a walk outside. Who was I kidding? That was a joke. Elena would never let me outside; she’d think I’d take off to see Trevor.

            Trevor: the man who got my heart. He kept appearing in my dreams. Yet, at the same time, so was Damon. That was the part I didn’t understand. Why was Damon in my dreams when the man wasn’t on my good side? It was like he was only invading my dreams to ruin them, just like he had ruined the almost-kiss between Trevor and me on that day near the lake.

            I didn’t bother getting a shower since I’d get one later. I stayed in my nightwear for now, because most likely I wouldn’t be going anywhere, not unless I was under supervision like an eight-year-old. Even though Elena and I were on still rocky terms, I was able to get closer to her. That’s what fueled my decision to actually go downstairs for breakfast this morning rather than have Jeremy bring it up to me, reheated, like he had for a while.

            The appetizing smell of bacon and pancakes made my stomach rumble. I was glad I could prevent myself from drooling at the smell. Gosh, this was what fresh breakfast smelled like. It didn’t smell the same to me when it got reheated. It was nice, smelling that fresh food smell again.

            I tiptoed to the kitchen threshold, seeing Elena throw bacon strips onto the pan, humming a tune I didn’t know. How could she be so happy with the way things had been between us lately? Maybe she’s letting the situation calm down too, I considered. Maybe Jeremy convinced her to do the same thing that he told me to do: back off and take some time away from the issue.

            “I know you’re there,” Elena muttered. I jumped. I swore I was quiet. Was my breathing that loud? “I won’t bite.” I still didn’t say anything. “Look, I’ve been thinking a lot all this time we haven’t been talking.”

            “Honestly, I haven’t,” I admitted stupidly.

            “I really don’t like how things are with us right now. I just want things to go back to the way they were.” Elena turned to look at me, the bacon frying behind her. “I know I’ve been overprotective of you since you met Trevor, but I do it because you’re my cousin. You’re family, and I feel obligated to look after you and keep you safe. I get why you hate me for it.”

            “Elena,” I groaned, “I’ve never said that I hated you.”

            “I can tell that you do.”

            “I’ve been mad at you, yes, but I don’t hate you. How can I?” I shrugged, looking down at my feet.

            “I’ve been thinking…we should just throw this behind us and forget it ever happened.”

            “How can we forget all of it so easily?” I demanded evenly. “You put me under surveillance and house arrest, not to mention sent ‘cops’ after me to bring me back here. Call me crazy, but things like that aren’t easy to forget.”

            “I know. It’ll take time, like it did with Jenna’s death, and your parents’…”

            “Elena, don’t compare what’s happened with death. They’re two totally different things.”

            “Sorry. Not the best comparison, I’ll admit. What I’m trying to say is that I won’t smother you to death with protection.” I saw her lips try to twitch into a smile. “I won’t have someone follow you or be with you. And I figured the best way to start that would be to go to a party with me. Think of it as a gift for all the times I tortured you.”

            “You didn’t tort—”

            “Faith, you can be honest.”

            “Okay, you put me through hell.” I laughed. “Since when did you party?”

            “It’s not the party that you think. No clubs or anything. It’s more like a class reunion.”

            “It’s only been a year since you graduated, though. I thought reunions happened, like, every decade or so?”

            “Here in Mystic Falls, that doesn’t matter. Besides, our class was heavy on the partying at school, whether it was Homecoming or Halloween parties…”

            “Still, I don’t go to school here.”

            “So what? Come on, you’ll meet more people that way. Besides, people who weren’t in our graduating class will most likely show up. Now that I think about it, it seems more like an open house than a class reunion.”

            “Let me guess: there’s going to be alcohol involved,” I said flatly. The idea of alcohol repulsed me. I definitely wouldn’t drink. I didn’t think it was cool, and the smell of alcohol made me want to gag.

            “Most likely, but don’t worry, I don’t drink much. Maybe just a cup or two, and that’s it. So…are you in?”

            “Umm…Elena, the bacon is on fire,” I squeaked.

            Elena whipped around, trying to put out the bacon fire. I stood there awkwardly while she was putting the scorched bacon onto a plate. She hastily threw the pancakes on another, just in case those burned as well. She offered me the food and, carefully, I ate it. I didn’t want to burn my mouth.

            “So…the party?” Elena brought up.

            “Sure, I’ll go. Why not? I need some socialization,” I chirped.

            Elena told me that the party wasn’t until later tonight, so we had plenty of time to help me figure out my outfit. Really, I didn’t see the point, but Elena insisted that I find something to wear.

She definitely didn’t make me look like a skank or anything. I ended up wearing a long-sleeved, black baggy shirt with thick jeans. The clothes felt comfortable. But I wondered if she put me in this to make me unappealing to other guys. Elena made sure to put gel in my hair, too, so my curls would stay nice and perky.

 I tried to weed out the answer as to why I was dressing so nicely, but Elena wouldn’t give. Maybe she was scared by the idea that I would embarrass her or something there.

            The thought made me a little uneasy.

            By the time Jeremy came home, Elena ushered me out the door. Either she really wanted to go to the party so badly, or she really just wanted to get there so I could socialize. She made me fork over the keys because she knew the destination.

            I noticed that as we passed through town, it was somewhat lively at night. There was a crescent moon lurking above, along with some mischievous clouds. I glared up at the sky the entire ride until it got a little bumpy. I realized we were no longer on pavement, but rather a dirt road.

            “Wait…this party is in the woods?” I squeaked.

            “Yeah. Our class is kind of big, so we need a big place. What better place to hold a party than the woods?”

            “It’s a bonfire too, isn’t it?”

            “Yeah. Did I forget to mention that?”

            “Yup.”

            “Sorry.”

We hit a rough bump.

            “Easy with my car!” I snapped. “If it ends up needing repairing of any sort, you’re paying for every cent.”

            “Geez, someone’s attached.”

            There were a lot of cars, whether fancy, or trucks, or old cars that were obviously older than a lot of us that would be at the party. Elena and I stepped out, already hearing whooping, laughter, and chatter. I could see dancing figures ahead, an occasional flicker of flames behind them.

            “Are there people here besides you that I’ll know?” I whispered, hopeful.

            “Mhm. Caroline’s definitely going to be here, but I wouldn’t stick around her.”

            “Why?”

            “Tyler.”

            “Oh. You don’t have to say anymore. What about Bonnie?”

            “She decided to pass. She wasn’t feeling well.”

            “What about Stefan?”

            “Please, Fay, if I’m here, he’s not far behind.”

            “And I bet Damon isn’t either, if Stefan’s here.” My voice got hard.

            “Don’t worry about Damon. He’ll be off somewhere probably finding girls to prey on. I think you’ll be safe from seeing him tonight.”

            “So he’s a player? Figures,” I snorted.

            “Yeah, I told you he was the night you met him.”

            I yipped when arms slithered around my waist. Elena whipped around, a grin on her face.

            “I was beginning to wonder if she ever convinced you to come,” Trevor whispered in my ear. My face broke out the biggest smile. I turned my head to gaze into his blue eyes, the firelight dancing in them from time-to-time.

            “Wait.” It took me a minute to process Trevor’s words. I looked at Elena. “You set this up?”

            “Mhm. Like I said, I want us to forget what happened.”

            “So that means you’re going to let me see him?” My voice rose in eagerness.

            “Of course.” Elena laughed. “Now, don’t go having too much fun. I’m going to go find Stefan.” She flitted off into the party of ravenous teens.

            “Okay, there is no way Elena can tolerate you this much so quickly,” I giggled, turning in Trevor’s arms to look up at him.

            “She can. She told me so herself.”

            “How’d this get arranged?”

            “I’ll never say.” He smiled slyly. I playfully hit his chest. “What say we get away from this madness? I don’t think anybody will miss us.” Trevor started to drag me away, but I dug my heels into the ground. He looked at me.

            “I don’t think Elena tolerates you that much. She’d worry about me,” I shouted over the whooping and booming music around us.

            “It won’t be long, I promise. Nobody will know we were gone. Come on.”

            Maneuvering between the cars and diving into deeper woods, Trevor and I bounded away from the party, the hollers and music still loud behind us. From what moonlight was provided, he led me, making sure we didn’t trip over anything, like branches or our own feet. I didn’t see how this night could get any better. First, Elena took me to this party only to have Trevor here as well. She was really trying hard to put the past behind her.

            I guess it was my time to do the same.

            “Just how far are you taking me away from the party?” I laughed as Trevor finally stopped. I panted, bending over to catch my breath.

            “Did I go too fast for you?” he teased. I rolled my eyes playfully at him. “I figured we’d get away so nobody could see us. After all, I’m pretty sure I know where we left off before we were so rudely interrupted.”

            “I think I remember too.” I beamed.

            Trevor’s arms slid around my waist. My nose wrinkled. He had that funny smelling cologne again. What kind of scent was it? It definitely wasn’t one that I was familiar with. I was debating on whether or not the question was one to really ask in a moment like this.

            “Do I smell funny again?” Trevor teased.

            “A little.” I blushed in the dark. “I was trying to make it seem like I didn’t notice.”

            Trevor held my face carefully in both hands. I slithered my arms around him, gazing up at him. He kissed me so tenderly I thought I’d melt into the grass and leaves beneath my feet. My heart was running rapidly, tingles shot through my body, my mind was completely muddled. So this was how it felt to be kissed. It was a strange feeling, but a good one nevertheless.

            I held back from gagging. The stench was overpowering now. Trevor had to have overdone spraying the cologne on him. It was dominant, practically clinging to me. I contained my gagging and coughing while we kissed. His lips tasted odd, too. They weren’t sour, but they definitely didn’t taste good.

            I pulled away, trying to not make any bad reactions that would cause an argument between us. He pecked my lips before taunting me, kissing my neck. I shivered, but it wasn’t as enjoyable because of the smell invading my nose and the taste that still lingered on my lips. Don’t cough.

            But I couldn’t contain it. When Trevor kissed me again, I had to rip myself away to hack. Trevor had me trapped in his arms.

            “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it,” I gasped. “The smell…”

            “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to finally cave,” he crooned.

            I glared at him, confused. “What—what are you talking about?” I covered my mouth so I wasn’t being totally rude. “Seriously, Trevor.”

            “I knew it’d take some time, all I had to do was have a little patience.” The softness faded in Trevor’s eyes. In him I saw an animalistic nature to him…hunter-like. I gulped, still coughing from the stench that seemed to stick to me and not leave me.

            “Trevor, you’re really starting to scare me now.” I tried to rip myself out of his arms. He let me go but then went around my back. I froze on the spot, not daring to run…yet.

            “You know, it’s funny really, how your cousin can be so stupid to actually trust someone who she thought was shady to begin with,” he chuckled darkly. My body quaked nervously.

Oh God, why did Trevor really bring me out here? To kill me? Rape me? I didn’t want to think about that, I wanted to think of possible escape plans that could get me calling out for help or to someone safe and away from Trevor.

“Your friend Caroline had reason to get bitchy with me,” he went on. “She could see right through me. Most could, except for you.”

“W-what do you want?”

“Well, I have you to myself and away from all help. I’m shocked you aren’t turning on me to fight me, or are you that worried that I’ll kill you first?”

“Why?” I cried, my lower lip quivering.

“I know what you are, Faith. You may have others fooled, like your friends and your cousin, or you may not have them fooled, but I can assure you—you didn’t fool me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t act stupid. You know that I know.”

“Know what?” I dared to probe.

“That you’re a bloodsucking demon. A vampire.”