Chương 51: Dance Lessons
Vicki lay in bed, staring at the blue gemstone ring on her finger. She hadn't slept all night. Maybe it was because her thoughts had been racing, spinning around the possibilities now that she had the ring. For the first time in what felt like forever, she could go outside. The idea of stepping into sunlight again was exhilarating, even if it made her uneasy. She could even see Jeremy.
A smile crept across her lips at the thought of him. How would he react if he saw her? Would he still feel the same way? Would she? The questions danced in her head, teasing and tugging at her heart. But with the smile came a shadow of doubt, heavy and cold, gnawing at the edges of her excitement.
She turned her gaze to the window, her chest tightening. Would it really be okay? Could she just go back to the world as though nothing had changed?
With a deep sigh, she sat up and padded across the room. The curtains hung heavy over the window, concealing the world beyond. She hesitated, gripping the fabric tightly. Her fingers trembled as she muttered to herself, "It'll work, it'll work…"
She yanked the curtains open, and the sunlight poured in, warm and golden. It flooded the room, kissing her skin with a gentleness she hadn't felt in so long. She squinted against the brightness, momentarily overwhelmed. When her eyes adjusted, she looked out at the sunlit world—trees swaying, birds flitting across the yard, life moving on without her.
Funny how you miss things you thought you'd never care about, she thought. A small, wistful smile touched her lips as she unlatched the window and pushed it open. Fresh air filled her lungs, sharp and cool, washing away the stagnant weight of the room. "It's going to be okay," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the rustle of leaves. "I'm going to be okay."
She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, but the sound of a car pulling into the driveway jolted her back. Her eyes snapped open, and she leaned out slightly to see who it was. Elena stepped out of the car, and for a moment, they locked eyes.
Vicki froze, sunlight still spilling over her. Elena's expression shifted from shock to something unreadable. The silence between them hung heavy, broken only by the faint chirping of birds. Finally, in unison, they both muttered, "Fuck."
Elena walked into the Salvatore manor, her steps quick and purposeful. She had come to talk to Stefan about what had happened last night, but seeing Vicki standing out in the sun had thrown her completely off track. As she crossed the threshold, the sound of loud, upbeat music drifted through the house, pulling her toward the kitchen.
"Making my way downtown, walking fast…"
The familiar tune of A Thousand Miles blasted from the speakers. Curious—and more than a little confused—Elena peeked into the kitchen. What she saw stopped her in her tracks.
Tom was standing by the stove, wearing nothing but an apron, singing loudly into a spatula he was using as a makeshift microphone. He twirled as he flipped something in a pan, belting out the lyrics with carefree abandon.
"And I miss you… and now I wonder…"
Elena blinked, too stunned to move. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Tom finally noticed her, his eyes widening in surprise. He froze mid-chorus, slowly lowering the spatula.
"Uh… morning?" he offered with an awkward grin.
Before Elena could respond, Stefan walked into the kitchen, taking in the scene. His gaze shifted from Tom to Elena, and then back to Tom. "Elena?" Stefan asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Elena turned to him, still wide-eyed. "Hey," she said, her voice wavering. She gestured weakly toward Tom. "Hey…"
Tom gave her a little wave, clearly unfazed. Stefan sighed and gently took Elena's arm, leading her out of the kitchen. As they left, Elena glanced back over her shoulder, catching Vicki entering the kitchen with a smirk on her face.
Tom flipped the charred piece of toast, grumbling under his breath. Vicki leaned against the counter, clearly enjoying herself.
"Did you see the look on her face?" she asked, biting back a laugh.
Tom shot her a flat look. "Yeah..."
Vicki's grin widened. "So, what's for breakfast?"
"BLTs," Tom replied, slicing a tomato with quick, precise movements.
Vicki raised an eyebrow, glancing down at his apron. "Are you wondering if she got a good peek?" she teased.
Tom rolled his eyes. "I'm wearing boxers, you perv." He turned back to the stove, flipping another slice of toast.
In the study, Elena sat on the edge of the couch, biting her thumb as she replayed what had just happened. "He wasn't naked, was he?" she asked, half-horrified.
Stefan let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "No. Thankfully."
Elena exhaled, leaning back. "I've been here so many times, and I've never seen him like that."
"He's… usually not like that," Stefan said, clearly embarrassed. "He didn't know you were coming. And, well, he likes his music in the morning."
Elena tilted her head, scrutinizing him. "So, what, he's mostly shirtless and wandering around like that all the time?"
Stefan winced. "I mean… yeah. But it's not really a problem. I mean, it's just us living here most of the time."
Elena shook her head, the surreal scene still fresh in her mind. But then her expression darkened as the reason for her visit came rushing back.
"There's something I need to tell you," she said, her tone shifting. "Last night, this guy… he followed me home from the Grill."
Stefan leaned forward, his face hardening. "What happened?"
"I don't know what he wanted," Elena admitted, her voice shaking. "If he wanted to kill me, why didn't he? Why just follow me?"
Stefan's expression grew grim. "It's a sick game," he said softly. "We're predators, Elena. Some of us like to stalk and hunt. It makes the kill more… thrilling."
He stood and walked over to the desk, retrieving a small object. He returned to Elena and held it out. "I want you to have this."
Elena took the item, frowning as she examined it. "This is Jeremy's watch. Why do you have this?"
Stefan explained how the watch had changed hands—passing from Damon to Tom, who had taken it from Logan after killing him, and finally ending up with Stefan.
"All this… for a watch?" she asked, her brow furrowing.
"It's not just a watch." Stefan flipped it open, revealing the intricate mechanisms inside. The needle quivered, darting wildly before settling into a spin. "It's a compass. But instead of pointing north, it points to vampires."
Elena stared at the compass, her stomach sinking. "Why did my dad have this?"
Stefan sighed, his voice heavy with history. "The Gilberts were one of the founding families. Back in 1864, they were part of the effort to eradicate vampires. This compass was instrumental in finding us."
Her voice trembled. "Did you know them?"
Stefan paused, memories flickering in his eyes. "Yes," he said quietly. "I knew them."
He pressed the compass back into her hands. "Keep it. It'll help you stay safe."
The air between them grew charged, their faces drawing closer. But before their lips could meet, the door creaked open. Vicki stepped inside, looking entirely unbothered. "Tom's asking if you two want breakfast."
Elena and Stefan jumped apart, both looking slightly sheepish. Elena shook her and Stefan cleared his throat. "Two for me," he said quickly.
Vicki gave a thumbs-up and left the two in the study. Elena's voice hinted at anger and frustration "How did she get a ring?"
"Bonnie made it for her," Stefan explained. "As a favor to Tom."
Elena's voice rose, incredulous. "Why?"
Stefan looked at her and asked, "You didn't expect her to stay locked up here forever?"
"I…" Elena faltered, her anger giving way to frustration. "I just don't want her dragging Jeremy back into everything. He's finally doing okay. I don't want him sucked back in."
Vicki's hand bawled in anger, her knuckles turning white. She bit down hard on her lip, trying to keep her breathing steady. But the words sliced into her, sharp and unrelenting. A lump rose in her throat, hot and bitter, as her chest ached with the weight of it. She didn't feel anger—just sadness, deep and gnawing.
Without a word, she walked away, her heart heavy and her shoulders slumped.
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