บท 5: To the Forbes Residence
A/N: Not beta tested. Everyone for themselves.
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Chapter 5
To The Forbes Residence
It was noon when they packed their luggage.
They weren't moving house for the rest of their life but no one gave Caroline that memo as she forced Neena and Elena to pack things Neena considered unnecessary, like the cheerleader uniform. One stern glare from Caroline had shut up all the whining. She understood it was the blonde's way of 'connecting' back with a lost friend and indulged the young woman.
The feeling of having a close female friend who talked enough to fill the silence was something Neena realized she wanted. Needed.
Elena came out of her room when Bonnie entered the scene, holding a box of Elena's favourite ice cream.
Bonnie was as beautiful in real life as she was in the show. And she also didn't like the original host. She had tolerated Aleena when they were younger. But the moment she broke her friendship with Caroline and Bonnie had to console the blonde girl, Aleena Gilbert became something to be hated.
Neena pursed her lips. She was a diehard fan of Bonnie Bennett. During the first season, Neena was invested in hers and Damon's storyline. The Love story of Stelena had not really interested her as much. Aleena's hostility with most of the permanent cast members was getting tiring for her. Was there anyone who the girl was not an enemy with!
She could understand. The visions and powers were too hard on her. She lashed out. Neena just didn't like that she had to fix her mistakes, and redeem her relationships.
She gave the witch an awkward grin.
Bonnie looked at here with suspicion.
"Hi, Bonnie. How are you?"
Bonnie stared at her in shock. Her brown eyes softened. "How are you, Aleena?"
"I'll be fine."
She nodded.
[Ding!]
[Quest Alert!
It's Magic!
Bonnie is going through a non-believer phase in her life as a witch. Help Bonnie believe in magic and become stronger faster.
Reward: 1000 Experience Points!
Accept/Reject]
She accepted the quest faster than any of the others. This she could do. When her own magical control had become better and Bonnie's attitude towards Neena became more positive, she could do it. And it would definitely be before the tomb vampires Plotline. She couldn't force years of impressions these people had of the original change that easily.
Elena became the Elena who had warm smiles and kind gestures in Bonnie's presence. She even offered to help Neena pack, though it was a very reluctant offer that Neena rejected with an awkward smile. It wasn't because she wanted to embarrass the Female Lead, she didn't need any help because of Caroline.
Elena ran away after that, probably scared Neena would change her mind and actually ask for help.
Bonnie and Caroline helped Jenna with filing things. Caroline mostly because the girl really knew how to be organized.
Neena used this time to look into some of the Gilbert Journals. She was specifically searching for Jonathan Gilbert's. It was not the easiest to find. She realized the Gilberts had forced their children to keep their own Journals or diaries in the name of family tradition since 1864. But in the new generation the only one to follow this tradition was Elena though. Jeremy couldn't be bothered and Aleena never wrote consistently. Only a day or two in two months. It made Neena relieved that she did have Aleena's memories or else it would have been a disaster.
Elena approached Neena.
"Aleena... You don't like Caroline or any of my other friends. Why are you okay with this?"
Neena looked the girl, confused. Hadn't they had this conversation before?
"Because that's what Aunt Jenna wants."
"And you care about what Aunt Jenna wants?"
Neena's eyes narrowed. There was contempt in her tone.
"Yes. I do care about Aunt Jenna."
Elena huffed. "Since when!"
Neena sighed. "Since yesterday. Decided to change for the better."
"So it took mom and dad's death for you to act like a decent human being?"
Neena rose to her feet. That was a low blow. "What do you want from me, Elena? What is the point of this conversation? Are you upset that I'm not that messed up girl who pushes everyone away? Are feeling threatened? What? Could only you change for the better after our parents death? If I remember right, we weren't that much different! You just had more friends! Or do you want pity? You want me to feel sorry for you. You are not the only one who lost her parents. What are trying to achieve by antagonizing me?"
Elena glared, tears in her eyes and turned to walk away. Neena grabbed her elbow and made her stop. They stared at each other. One tearful and the other calculating.
Neena fidgeted. "Do you want me to accuse you of killing our parents? Is that what you want to hear? Or do you want to hear from me what you hear from everyone, that it's not your fault? Do you want validation?"
Elena glared. "Don't put words in my mouth."
The red haze of anger clouded her mind again. Elena's eyes echoed that same anger. "Fine then. I'll give you the truth! You are part of the reason they died. You got drunk. You called them to get you. The other fault was theirs. They should have been more careful. A large part of the fault belongs to the whether. It shouldn't have rained."
Tears fell down both their eyes now.
Neena took a deep breath to calm the anger in her. She had to look past Aleena's hurting. She had to. Otherwise their relationship would devolve further. The girl in front of her had witnessed her parents death. She was a teenager. She was acting out. Neena was an adult. She knew better than this. She was better than this. Hurting an orphan like this was not right. Calm down. Calm down. Calm the hell down.
"But in the end, they are dead. You, me and Jer lost our parents. They weren't just mine, just yours or just Jer's. They were ours. And it hurts. It will hurt for a long time. So grieve. Cry. Feel sorry for yourself. And don't try to antagonize me just because it's easier. Don't try to look to others to alleviate the guilt and pain. That won't help you. It won't help anyone."
Elena snatched her hand away and walked off.
Neena sighed. The girl must have just wanted to vent her anger somewhere and decided her mean sister was the best person to do so.
They didn't even look at each other after that. Elena stuck to Bonnie's side, and Neena tried to talk with Jeremy. But baby brother was once again in a rebellious mood and shut her out of the room. She helped aunt Jenna pack her things.
In the evening Bonnie left, saying her Grams got the flu.
Neena still hadn't found the Journal when they were ready to leave.
They left the house by sunset. She ignored the nasty glare Elena kept giving her during the entire drive. Jeremy had just shrugged and tossed his things and himself into the car, promptly falling asleep. She wondered if he was already caught up in the Vicki shit storm.
Jenna cried like they were going on some great war. Neena was sure she was just using the situation as a medium to let out some tears.
As they drove through the streets of Mystic falls, Neena enjoyed the view. The town was picturesque, with lush greenery everywhere. There was a sweet fragrance in the air. Neena smiled, her head feeling lighter as she looked at the sun. She was not an outside-type of person but dying made her appreciate everything around her. The colors. The fragrance. The people.
Neena's eyes caught sight of a figure she forgot was in town. Stefan Salvatore stood leaning against the corner of a building, his eyes trained to their car. He looked younger than on the show. Which made since the actors were older than the characters they portrayed.
Neena quickly turned. She didn't want to mix with that lot until it was absolutely necessary. She had forgotten that Stefan was pulling an Edward Cullen at this point of time. Observing, and analysing Elena Gilbert, unable to stay away. The creep.
A thought occurred to her making Neena stiff. Damon Salvatore was also in town.
A shiver ran down her spine. She forgot that it was revealed later on in the show that Damon had met Elena on the night of the accident, talked to her and then erased her memory of it.
Neena had to find some vervain real quick and she needed to get better at magic as well. She couldn't be complacent with Non-humanity Damon and Potential Ripper Stefan were lurking in the dark. Even though Ripper Stefan had only showed up later in the story, Neena couldn't push the possibility of a ripple effect that her presence could cause.
She was surprised the system had not given her a quest for the Salvatore Bothers. Stupid System must believe she didn't need to interact with them yet.
[Ding!]
She just jinxed herself!
'Please don't, 143!'
[Chain Quest Alert!
Save the Salvatores!
Quest 1!
I'm a monster!
Stefan Salvatore believes himself to be a monster without any salvation! Talk to Stefan Salvatore about his Ripper side.
Reward: 5000 Experience points!]
Neena scowled. 'Where is the Reject button? System! You are really trying to get me killed aren't you? No! Why don't you make it harder for me! Let's say, do you want me to help Damon find his humanity! Save the Salvatore, it says!'
[Ding!]
'No! Don't you dare! I swear-'
[Quest 2!
Save me from myself!
Damon Salvatore has shut off his humanity after experiencing the horrors of the 50s. Help him find his human side again.
Reward: 10,000 Experience Points!]
'Unbelievable. System, why?'
[Host is being dramatic. These are pre-requisite quests. The System is not creating them as it goes.]
'I don't believe you an ounce!'
The System didn't dain to answer her.
They reached Caroline's house soon. Liz... The Sheriff was waiting for them at their front yard.
Jenna and the Sheriff hugged.
"Thank you Liz. Really."
"It's okay. I watched these kids grow up. How could I not help."
"Take care of them for me."
"I will. I promise."
Jenna gave each of us a hug and left. None of them actually cried over their aunt's departure. Neena was a bit sad but returned to herself a moment later.
Liz assigned them rooms. Elena would stay with Caroline, Jeremy got his own room and Neena had to bunk in the Sheriff's room. She assured Neena that she had Night Shifts for a month so she wouldn't be spending the night when she saw the teenager look at the master bedroom with trepidation.
Dinner was ordered in. Elena was the perfect girl. She said the right things, and helped the Sheriff out with the plating. Jeremy went into his new room to brood some more. Neena sat next to Caroline, neither of them moving to help with plating the food, watching some French film neither knew what was about.
"Why aren't you going to help? I thought you wanted to become become a better person?" Caroline asked.
Neena snorted. "Nonsense. Being nice or a better person has nothing to do with this. It's just plating the food, there is no need for so many people to crowd the job. And if I do try to help, it would be rejected with some side comment about putting on an act."
Caroline giggled. "Are you going to stay on the cheerleading team?"
"No."
"Really?"
Neena shrugged. "I am planning to get a part time job and join some other extra curricular activities that look good on a resume."
"Oh... Why a part time job?"
"It's as good a distraction as any and I get to earn my own money while in school. It's also good on a college resume."
Neena couldn't really say she was used to looking after herself for most of her life, she felt weird using the Gilbert money. It was hers in a way but it didn't feel that way. And she had a chance to get better grades now. She wanted to use this opertunity.
No more being okay with being mediocre. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and a burning office.
"Planning college already, huh?" Liz asked, as she put the plate down.
Neena smiled and nodded. "Yup. Not everyone is Caroline Forbes who can get into college just with her marks."
Caroline gave Neena a grin, her face glowing with pride.
Liz ignored the remark as she read a case report.
Caroline's face dulled at her own mother's dismissal.
Neena grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze.
Seeing that everyone was sat, Elena called Jeremy for dinner.
He refused, saying he wasn't hungry.
Neena sighed. A single talk would not get rid of the pain of loosing your parents. Jeremy still had ways to go. They all did.
Dinner was filled with Caroline's chatter, and Neena was thankful for her ability to find topics to ramble about again. It reduced the awkwardness by a lot.
That night, after Liz left for her night shift, Neena had laid in bed staring at the ceiling.
She hadn't practiced her magic today.
She turned and setup her alarm clock to 5:00 Am. Tomorrow. She would do it tomorrow. The darkness of the room lulled her to sleep.
The dark figure walked away from the shade of the widow.
The crowd on the tree flew away.
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A/N: So, what do you guys think? like it? Does it feel filler?
I never knew what it meant when writers said the Character didn't want to do it. Until I wrote this chapter. I kept trying to resolve the tension between Elena and Neena but the two just went into an arguement! Again! Nothing goes according to plan!
I really am not trying to make the chapter guys, I swear!
Please leave your valuable feedbacks on the story so far. And thank you for reading!
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