Capítulo 7: Call me Neena
A/N: I don't own the Vampire Diaries or any of its other franchises.
On that note: I need you all to know that Caroline X Tyler is not happening. I was never invested in that relationship in the show. I just wanted them to break up every other episode. It was a relation that would never work. And Caroline deserved better than the storyline she got with him.
Yeah, it showed her as great friend but that is what they should have remind. Sorry to disappoint anyone who thought otherwise. You are welcome to your opinion.
Anyway, HAPPY READING! 😍😘😘😘
Chapter 7
Call Me Neena.
Elena had started to hang out at Bonnie's house most days. She would be there when Liz was home but otherwise, she spent her days with the witch. Neena was a greatly disappointed when the brunette avoided Caroline most of the time, even when they lived in the same room. The blonde looked disappointed and Neena would pull her to do some cooking to distract the girl.
If the glint in Caroline's eyes were any indication then the blonde knew what her estranged friend was trying to do.
Jeremy had also started to hang out with Vicki a lot more, most of the time she saw him he was barely conscious enough to reach his room. Neena was worried. She was not sure if this was how he dealt with his grief or if the Plot was unchangeable. He was drawing the times he was sober so maybe it was all the little Gilbert than the Great Plot.
She had looked through his pieces, and most of them were too abstract for her to understand.
The two Gilberts were not talking to each other, and Jeremy barely said anything to Neena as well. Elena would start crying every time Jeremy ignored her in favor of talking to Neena but the boy did not seemed to care and Neena's caring words word scoffed at.
Neena spent the days improving her magic and some cooking on occasion. She was starting to use the summoning spell almost unconsciously. Her goal to be a waterbender went slowly though. Maybe because her understanding of Nature Magic was still shallow.
Bonnie had Grimoires even when her Grams had died but Neena was discovering everything about this on her own. The magic system was far too inconsistent for her to get a clear picture of the rules.
But it was fun and she wondered if she would discover something about magic that no one else knew.
She used a Diary to note down any shift she felt in her magic when she used it. Making it her own Grimoire because in this universe every witch had one. And she wanted to be a proper witch.
During this time of course she tried to ignore the stalker she gained in the form of a crow.
She wasn't sure why Damon had decided to observe her, or stalk her but it unnerved her a lot. She hoped her magic would be a deterrent to the Vampire if he was planning on using her as a bloodbag or put her in a coffin. He shouldn't want to kill her yet, because she was Elena's family but seeing as the doppelganger didn't really like her she was not sure how long that would last.
She researched for vervain in the Gilbert journals and old texts of the Forbes at times when Neena didn't see damon around. Her search for vervain on the internet was a slow going. There were too many articles that were unrelated and useless but seemed useful and what she was looking for at first.
She really wished she had the magical signal all fictional characters had where a single site would have everything they need and want to know about the thing they searched for. She was a fictional character now. Why was the plot engine not working for her?
She glared at the computer, glum.
She blinked as she realized she had another source for information.
The System!
'Hey System! Help me out here! I need to find some vervain!'
[The System is not a search engine. It is a highly sophisticated AI created to collect Energy from multi-dimensions to maintain the balance between the many universes under its authority.]
Neena started. She didn't think she would get a clear definition of what the System did.
'So, when you said you were being upgraded did that mean you would be getting more worlds under your control?'
[The host does not have access to the information.]
She really wanted to push it to answer but she knew she couldn't. The System was her benefactor and she would be bereft of a smidge of intelligence to try force any information it did not want to give. She was sure it would not hesitate to obliterate her if it thought she was a hindrance to its mission or that she was too much a hassle.
'So, can you give me any information on vervain? Or is that something you are not capable of looking into?'
[Vervain is a common plant found in Asia, some parts of Europe and the Americas.]
Neena blinked. 'Wait! Common plant? It's available everywhere?'
[Yes. That's what common means.]
'Don't be so testy. I just haven't seen it before.'
[The plant shown in the show is not Vervain. It's lavender. There are many versions of Vervain of course. You should look for once that are blue or shades of it. The more blue it is, the more powerful.]
Neena nodded. 'Any other information you could give?'
[it's called verbena most commonly.]
Neena frowned and looked through the internet for verbena, and there was a lot of hits. The vampires might have used Vervain as the name to deter people from discovering how common the flower was.
She looked through the photos of the flower in surprise. She had seen it before, smelled it even.
It was in the back garden of the orphanage. She used love the scent of it. She remembered pressing the flowers in her notebooks so that it would have the same scent. She had never known its name before. When she had asked the matron about it, the woman had said something about snakes liking the flowers and had gotten rid of the plant.
She knew the plan grew in the wild but finding it would be easy. She even had contact information of some shops in Asia that shipped it overseas.
Neena tried to purchase it but they were asking for a shipping address. Neena looked at it with confusion. What was Aleena Gilbert's home address?
She rummaged through Aleena's bag and found her school identity card. There was address in it.
She completed the purchase with a grin.
The package would arrive in two weeks. That solved a big disadvantage she had to vampires.
She could look up on how to make soaps, body sprays, lotions and shampoos using flowers and use Vervain in that way. It would make vampires think twice before even coming near her skin.
She felt her heart beat faster in excitement.
'You are the best System! My saviour! My darling! If you had a corporal body I would kiss you.'
[Host is being immoral. The System would advice the host to look into therapy for weird fetishes.]
Neena sputtered. 'I don't have any fetishes that need therapy! I will kill you, you stupid sting of data!'
[The Host did not deny she does have fetishes.]
Neena pouted. 'Everyone has something that gets them excited. Like you and your Experience Points.'
If it could, the System would sneer at its Host. [The Host is reaching a turning point in her elemental manipulation. You need two hours more at most to get the element to a rudimentary control.]
Neena smirked. 'I see you haven't denied that Experience Points are your fetishes. But. Fine. I'll go back to practicing magic.'
She spent the day practicing waterbending the water in a glass, making shapes.
Soon it was the weekend and news from Jenna came that she would see them in two weeks.
Neena plopped next to Jeremy on the couch.
Caroline was off for cheerleading practice with Bonnie and Elena was sulking from the chair near the TV.
The littlest Gilbert and the doppelganger had just had another fight over Vicki.
Neena ignored her new siblings and looked through the flyers Bonnie got her.
Jeremy leaned into her. "What's that?"
"Flyers."
"I can see that!"
Neena nodded reading through it carefully.
Jeremy snatched the flyers from her hand.
"Hey! Give that back!"
Jeremy looked at the flyers, pushing her away when she got near. He frowned.
"Part-time job?"
Neena shrugged. "It's better than sitting here and doing nothing."
Jeremy frowned. "You could join Caroline for cheerleading practice. You used to love that stuff."
Neena blinked at him. "Yeah...but cheerleading can't pay money. And having a job is good for the resume. I'll have shown myself as willing to work. It's also good to gain work experience."
"And when were you going to tell us this?" Elena asked, her face twisted into a sneer.
"Didn't I tell you all on our first night here? I'm pretty sure I talked about this while you and Liz were here."
"I didn't know it!" Jeremy protested.
Neena rubbed his shoulder. "Jerry bear, you were gaming. I haven't even selected a job yet. I'm not sure i will get the job."
Jeremy looked through the flyers more carefully and waved a yellow one at her with a grin. "The Grille is hiring!"
Neena shook her head and pushed a blue flyer towards his face. "Nah, I'm going anywhere but there. I spend too much time at that place already. Read this. I'm thinking about Restaurant Crescent...the one owned by the Malcolm family. It's closer to our home than the Grille and I don't have to pass through Whickery's Bridge to get there."
Jeremy looked through the flyer and nodded.
"They have a week of training period and then you work as an apprentice waiter. Very professional."
Neena nodded. "Yeah, it would be very classy. They have a branch in Seattle and Arizona. So you know it's going to be professional."
"So you are really going with this?" Elena asked. Something in her voice made Neena look at the doppelganger. The girl was teary eyed. "Why? Is it because mom and dad are gone? You think you have to do things like this because they are not here?"
Neena raised an eyebrow. The protagonist sounded lost. "Yeah. I mean, their pension and all is not going to last us for a lifetime. I just decided that it's time to be a little more independent."
Elena's face softened. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Neena looked at the doppelganger in shock. Why was she being...nice?
"Didn't we just talk about it? You were there when I talked to the Forbes. And why should I tell you? I'm older than you and you are not our mom."
The girl looked 'hurt' by those words. What the hell.
"I'm your sister, Aleena! I deserve to know!"
Neena felt her temper raise. This time without any of Aleena's help at all.
"I'm not getting married off or something! It's just a part-time job! Why should I report everything I do to you?"
The girl started to cry. Neena stared at the girl in disbelief. She turned to Jeremy who shrugged and shook his head. He looked at the TV like he was in a different dimension from them.
"How could you say that? I was only being curious You could work at the grill! Why do you have to work at that posh place?"
Neena massaged her temple. "It's my choice Elena! Stop being such a control freak! You are not mom! Gosh! Bye, Jerry bear... Elena. I need to get away from you before I say something else that doesn't sit with your screwed up moral radar."
Elena looked scandalized. "I was-"
Neena walked away.
After that mess of a conversation the doppelganger tried to corner Neena multiple times to lecture her on why working in the Grille was a better idea.
She even roped in Bonnie and Caroline to 'talk sense into' her.
she really wanted to know why the girl felt the need to interfere in something nobody asked her opinion for.
Unfortunately for the doppelganger, Bonnie just said an awkward congratulations and ran off before Elena could stop her. Caroline looked impressed by her new life choices, telling Neena she would make her a check-list for her interview.
Elena had huffed and went away, calling Bonnie.
Excited, Caroline pulled the transmigrater to her room and took out a clip board, some highlighters, two business guide tomes and old news articles about Restaurant Crescent.
Neena was impressed with the resourcefulness of the girl.
The two of them spent the night talking and planning. Caroline even made a mock questionnaire for her, and coached Neena on how to sit and answer for interviews.
Neena was left to look at the blonde girl in wonder. She had known Caroline was smart but it was through this conversation that she found out how insightful the girl was about the professional side of work. She was one of those people Neena always felt envious of. Women who knew what they were doing, what they wanted in life and strived to always be the best.
She knew it was why the Blonde felt so competitive towards Elena despite achieving so much more than most girls her age did.
"You're kind of awesome, Carebear."
Caroline smirked. "I know."
Neena laughed at that.
Neena finally saw Caroline as beyond her favorite character. She became a close friend. Her want to protect the Blonde cheerleader became more than an act of kindness.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host 999!
Hidden Quest completed!
Quest: My Friend!
The favourability of Caroline Forbes had reached tentative best friends.
Rewarded 400 Experience Points!]
Neena stared at the Blonde who was making another set of questions for her interview on Monday.
The girl gave her heart too easily.
With a grin, she tackled Caroline into hug. The two tumbled off the bed.
Caroline screamed as Neena laughed.
"Ally! What the hell!"
The Brunette chuckled.
"Don't call me Ally."
Caroline's eyes flashed with hurt. "Wha-Is this because I made you memorize your portfolio?"
"No Carebear," Neena said with a grn. "I want you to call me Neena."
Caroline looked confused. "Why?"
"Every bff need to have special namr they call each other. Mine will be Neena. Nobody else calls me that. Only you."
Caroline giggled. "Really?"
"Yup!"
Her eyes twinkled with excitement. "That sounds so cool! What's mine?"
"Um... How about...Care?"
"But that doesn't sound special," she said, pouting. "I'm pretty sure I've been called that before."
Neena smiled. "Clair? Clarry? Carrie?"
Caroline wrinkled her nose. "Let's stick to Care for now. I'll think up a name later, okay Neena?"
Neena's eyes filled with tears. It felt like a decade had passed since she was called by her own name.
"Call me that again."
Caroline gave her a weird look. "Neena."
"Again."
"No."
"Why not?"
"You made it weird."
"Oh...yeah...that did sound a bit like... Sorry."
Caroline shrugged. "You do you, I guess."
Neena grinned at the Blonde girl and pulled her back into another hug, squeezing her.
"Okay, Ally-I mean Neena. I need to breathe."
Neena released her hold and both the girls went back to practicing for the interview.
A/N: what do you think, guys?
Like it, love it? How was the interactions? There is only a chapter more and then we are jumping into the Pilot episode. So, tell me how you feel about the story so far.
The pairings are undecided as of yet. Sorry. They are all so good, how ever will I choose.
We'll see who she has the best chemistry with
Don't forget to leave your valuable Reviews. They really help me stay motivated. 😁
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