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Surprise! Don't look now, but I think I'm getting back into the groove. At the very least, I'm having fun again. Something about envisioning Elijah sitting at a school cafeteria table just makes me giggle.
Fanfiction.net link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6910203/16/
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Sophia was dead.
Elijah had spent the last three nights at the Salvatore house to help care for her, had in fact spent nearly all of his time when not at school there. When he had arrived after yesterday’s classes had finished up, it was clear that it was time. Though both he and Sophia had done all that they could to prepare Marcus for the inevitable, when the time came it had taken both Stefan and Damon to drag him from the house while Elijah did what needed to be done. The last thing that he, or anyone, could do for her.
While his first period class sweated their way through the pop quiz he had thrown at them, Elijah texted Jenna to let her know that Sophia was gone. He hadn’t seen Jenna since Sunday, when he had sent her home so he could grade papers and berate himself in private for putting Sophia in the situation that had ultimately killed her. He’d spoken with her briefly, when she’d called to say she was returning to campus on Tuesday, as Mitchell was no longer in the picture. He had argued that there were others of his pack out there still, but she had gone back to class anyway. Privately, he continued to harbor misgivings about the professor’s student paramour, but Jenna had seemed convinced that the girl was just collateral damage.
He glanced down at his phone as the screen lit up. A text back from Jenna: “So sorry. Come over here after school today?” Elijah slid out the phone’s keyboard. “Committee meeting, then parent-teacher conferences.” Her response was quick. “Shit! Forgot. Guess I’ll see you there. Miss you.”
Elijah dropped the phone into his pocket and checked the clock. “Time’s up. Pass your papers forward.”
~~~~~
Caroline was already in the cafeteria, laying out packets of notes and photos on the designated table, when Elijah arrived there at the end of the school day, in advance of the rest of the committee. She set the stack down as he approached the table and, much to his surprise, threw her arms around him. “Uh…”
“Stefan told me. I’m so sorry! Are you okay? You shouldn’t have to be here today. You don’t need to stay if you don’t want to, I can run the meeting and bring you up to speed later.”
“No, that’s – ”
“She was so nice and I can’t believe this. It’s not fair!”
Elijah put his hands on her waist to try and disengage her. “Things rarely are. Let’s – ”
“Well well. Look who’s teacher’s pet,” Katerina said, sauntering into the cafeteria from the hallway.
Caroline let go of him to glare at Katerina. “Katherine. Don’t you have a quarterback’s throat to go stick your tongue down or something?”
Katerina held up one of the flyers with which Caroline had peppered the school bulletin boards. “You called for volunteers, didn’t you? I’m volunteering.”
The blond crossed her arms tightly in front of her. “Why would you do that?”
“Why not? I’m blending. And extracurricular activities will look good on my transcript, right?”
“I don’t think your idea of extracurriculars generally show up on a transcript, Katherine. Leave.” She turned toward Elijah. “Make her leave!”
Katerina ignored her, brushing past her to pick up one of the packets Caroline had left on the table. “Hmm. Ambitious. Aren’t you just the little go-getter?”
“Katerina…” Elijah warned, voice soft, but menace clear.
“Relax. I want to help. Besides, I may have just a little expertise to offer, you know.” She slipped seamlessly into bubbly teenager mode as Matt Donovan entered the cafeteria. “Matt! Over here. I’m so glad you got the afternoon shift off so you could be here.” She laced her arm through his as he drew near. “You are going to be so hot in period clothes,” she purred, practically rubbing herself against him like her feline namesake. “…and with a great, big sword.”
Donovan blushed. “I don’t know about this, Kat,” he said, glancing between her and Caroline, and looking embarrassed.
“Trust me, you’ll be great. My knight in shining armor.”
“I’m gonna barf,” Caroline mumbled. “Can’t you do anything?” she asked Elijah, sotto voce.
Apparently, he couldn’t. Various students started filing in, including Elena, Jeremy, Tyler and Stefan, the last of whom appeared to be there under duress. The four of them paused when they caught sight of Katerina, shooting looks at him and Caroline before pursing their lips and joining them at the table. As everyone came in and found seats, Caroline rallied, making sure everyone had the printed materials and that the laptop and projector she had set up were ready to go before calling the meeting to order.
Elijah sat back and let her work. The girl was a well-ordered tornado, if such a contradiction were possible. She had charts, lists, photos, schedules… it looked to him like the only thing left to do was to assign people to various committees to carry out her master battle plan. She fascinated him, this newborn baby vampire who was somehow more human, not less, as most often happened to those newly made. He found himself looking forward with great relish to what she might accomplish in the future. In fact, he had a couple of projects in the works that sprang immediately to mind, projects for which a cute, bubbly, contemporary and energetic blond vampire would be perfect.
Caroline pulled up a slide of two armored knights riding full-tilt at one another, lances at the ready. Clasping her hands in front of her, she gave an enthusiastic little bounce. “Now, the main attraction of the Faire is of course the jousting tournament. This will be a Joust a plaisance” – she dashed a glance at Elijah, smiling with satisfaction when he gave her an approving nod – “which means that there will be several elimination contests over the course of the four days of the Faire, with a champion being named on the last day.
“On the first day, the tournament will open with a procession of the judges and contestants, and a formal Invocation,” she said, moving to the next slide which was – God love her – a color-coded flow chart of events.
He let her run down through the stages and the set-up, stepping in only when Caroline brought up the assignment of ‘knights’ to various teams. “This will be an exhibition only,” he warned, before anyone got overly enthusiastic. “Professional horsemen and re-enactors will give the demonstration.”
“Actually, there are built-in precautions,” Caroline forged ahead. “The company that’s coming in uses these fiberglass lances with spring-mounted tips so you don’t have the risk of shattering wood flying around.” She gave him a significant look. “Plus, the tips are some kind of a rubber alloy, so most of the impact is absorbed. They’re just designed to look like the real thing.” Caroline explained, flipping to another slide in her presentation.
“Demonstration only, Miss Forbes. There is too much involved in an activity of that scope to be taught in the month or so that we have to prepare. Fake lances notwithstanding, there is a good deal of horsemanship involved, too much to learn within that timeframe.”
“But they’re willing to tutor whoever wants to sign up, and they’re, like, totally safety conscious and everything!” Caroline rushed on. “Besides, it’ll be so much more fun if we’re rooting for people, and the girls can all tie their favors onto their guys’ lances -- ”
“Kinky,” Tyler
“Hey Caroline, you can tie your favors on my lance any time,” some boy Elijah didn’t know commented, adding a completely superfluous gesture for emphasis.
“Children,” Elijah drawled. “Let’s keep this on point, shall we?” That elicited another giggle from the would-be Casanova, quickly stifled when Elijah turned a hard gaze on him. “Demonstration only, Miss Forbes. Non-negotiable.” He shrugged a little apology at her.
“Good. The whole thing is really sexist, anyway,” a tall brunette put in. “The girls should be able to participate, just like the guys. We are going to be able to sign up for the fencing, right?”
“Dana, that is so not period appropriate,” Caroline told her, aiming her frustration in that direction. So that was the girl whom Caroline had said could ‘suck it.’
“So? We may be paying homage to the period, but that doesn’t mean we need to scrap 21st century sensibilities. I think girls should have a shot to learn.”
“Only the top 10 guys are gonna get to compete anyway,” Tyler
“Top 10 according to who?” Dana shot back.
“To whom,” Elijah corrected, making the girl roll her eyes. “That would be me. I’ll be giving the fencing lessons. And if you like, you and any other women who are interested may join us,” he said, settling the argument.
“You’re just gonna get your butt kicked,” Jeremy told her. Speaking, no doubt, from his vast amount of experience, and setting off a round of girls vs. boys bickering. Perhaps he should ask Hilda to come and help him instruct, he thought, smiling to himself. That would end the age-old argument with a quickness. In fact, he might do just that.
“Moving on: Mrs. Rice has volunteered her home ec classes to help with costumes, as long as people purchase their own materials, so we just need someone to work on the designs. Any takers?” Caroline asked, keeping the agenda flowing.
“I’ll do it,” Katerina offered. Elena and Stefan turned as one to stare at her. “What? Like I’m going to wear something one of you dreams up? Trust me: fashion history? Totally my thing. Wait 'til you see what I'm going to draw up for you,” she told Matt, snuggling even closer to him on the bench, if that were possible.
"God, just kill me now," Caroline muttered. "Okay," she chirped, to cover it. "Kat's in charge of costuming, then. Food..."
Elijah tuned out again as Caroline continued to give assignments and get her troops in order, taking the opportunity to send Damon a text and inquire about Marcus. Damon's terse response: "Shit-faced & half-way to suicidal." It didn't surprise him. He gave it six months before the vampire either killed himself outright or did something stupid enough that someone else did the honors for him.
There was a text waiting for him from Jenna as well. "Will be there at 6 for PTCs. Come home with me afterward?" He knew he should. He had all but ignored her for the last few days, the situation being what it was. Not that a little distance was necessarily a bad thing. Let passions cool a bit, that calmer heads might prevail. No point of either of them jumping into something from which they couldn't extricate themselves without a lot of noise and fuss. It was for the best, really. He pocketed his phone.
He missed her too.
Bloody hell. He took his phone back out. "I'll be there," he typed, and put it away again.
Elijah cleared his throat as the meeting started to break up, with clumps of students going off in different directions. “I’d like to congratulate you on the excellent work you’ve done, Miss Forbes. You’re well-prepared and well-researched. In fact,” he decided, in a moment’s inspiration, “consider this extra credit. At the end of the term I will scrap your lowest quiz score.”
Caroline broke out in a delighted grin and clasped her hands under her chin as some of the others started grumbling. “And if any of you others show the same excellence and dedication in the execution of your various duties, the same will be applied to you.”
Elijah stood as they started filing out and beckoned Katerina to join him over by the windows. After one more gratuitous PDA with Donovan, she strolled over to him, hitching her hip up on the window ledge and tilting her head at him like she did. "Mr. Smith?"
He crossed his arms and stared down at her. Stared her down, until she dropped the smile and the attitude. "What?" she asked finally.
"What are you doing?" He saw her roll her eyes, and pressed a finger to her lips before she could voice whatever smart-ass comment was flitting over her face. "Careful, Katerina,” he warned her in a low voice. “I want the truth. I'm in no mood for games."
In an uncharacteristic display of good sense, she merely took his wrist and moved it aside. "We've had this conversation. You know, life? Building one?"
"Given your predilection for survival, I would think you’d consider relocating, what with the werewolves on the loose and all."
"Tyler Lockwood?" she scoffed. "Don't worry, Blondie keeps him on a leash when he has his monthly."
"Actually, I was referring to the pack that's currently running amok. Neither Damon nor Stefan warned you? They’ve claimed one vampire already, this full moon."
Her brows drew down into a 'V.' "Who?"
"I doubt you'd know her. A woman by the name of Sophia."
"I know who she is." Katerina crossed her arms in front of her. "No, no one told me."
He pinched his chin between thumb and forefinger, as though thinking. “That’s right… I guess you haven't exactly endeared yourself to the people here, have you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Matt Donovan seems to like me just fine."
"Ah, yes, Mr. Donovan. A former suitor of Elena’s, yes?"
"Your point?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Oh, it’s just that you claim that you want to build a life – your own life – yet here you are, trying to live Elena's."
"Why not? She's Little Ms. Perfect, isn't she? That’s how you like your doppelgangers, right?" She hopped down from the window ledge. "Gotta run. I’ll see you in a couple of hours," she tossed over her shoulder playfully.
"Excuse me?"
"Parent teacher conference? Students and parents? I'll be here with Mom and Dad." Katerina blew him a kiss from the doorway and zipped down the empty corridor.
Elijah stared after her. What?!
~~~~~
By the time Elijah had spoken with his eighteenth set of parents, he was reasonably certain he was going to kill someone before the night was over. Whether it would be for sustenance or just sheer, damned annoyance, he couldn’t say. It was little wonder that the nation’s educational system had collectively gone to hell, when the parents were more interested in befriending their children than in parenting them, and more inclined to argue with their teachers over grades than to help their charges achieve better ones. Were he to issue grades for raising children, there were few whom he had met tonight who would receive a passing one.
One notable exception was Sheriff Forbes, with whom he had just finished speaking. It had been a pleasure to tell her how impressed he was with her daughter’s thoroughness and dedication. The Sheriff had left their mini-conference looking pleased, if bemused; he wondered what sort of feedback she usually received regarding her daughter.
The crowds in the hall were thinning. Katerina had yet to appear, and Elijah fervently hoped that she had just been yanking his chain earlier. He spotted Carol Lockwood in the doorway, and pulled out his notes regarding Tyler
“Elijah!” She grasped his hand in greeting, holding on longer than strictly necessary. Even after she let go, she stood close. “I’m hearing a lot of feedback tonight about the new history teacher!”
I can just imagine. “I fear there may be some disgruntled parents who feel that little Johnny shouldn’t have to do any actual work to pass through school.”
“There always are,” Carol told him, rolling her eyes. “We are so lucky to have you teaching at our high school. I’m hoping you have better news for me than Tyler
Elijah gave the mayor his impressions based on the paper and quizzes he had seen so far, and on notes the previous teachers had made. Carol punctuated the conversation with little touches here and there, giving Elijah the no-doubt correct impression that the discussion of her son’s schoolwork was merely a pretext to talk with him. He tried to wrap things up as quickly as possible, hoping another parent would appear soon before this got truly embarrassing. Rather than taking his closing remarks as the dismissal that they obviously were, though, Carol took his elbow and turned him away from the door.
“I hesitate to bring this up,” she told him, leaning in and whispering conspiratorially, “but something came to my attention the other day, and since I have a great deal of respect for you, I feel it only fair…”
“Yes?” God, what was the woman on about?
“I’ve heard through the grapevine that you and Jenna Sommers have been spending quite a bit of time together, and a certain tidbit of information dropped into my lap at a committee meeting the other day that I think you should be aware of – ”
Elijah took her upper arm and turned her gently but firmly toward the door. “I don’t believe this is the time or place for specious gossip, Mayor Lockwood, especially with other parents waiting.” He noted the next in line as they turned, and groaned inwardly, reminding himself belatedly to be careful what he wished for.
As promised (threatened?), Katerina was there, leading some couple into the room. Carol did a double-take on seeing her. “My goodness, I had heard that Elena had a twin, but…”
“Hello Mrs. Lockwood,” Katerina said dutifully, introducing herself and her ‘mother and father,’ Dr. & Mrs. Pierce, while Elijah looked on, scrutinizing them surreptitiously.
The man was on the short side, with a slight build and a receding hairline. He exchanged polite pleasantries with Carol in a soft-spoken and almost shy manner. The woman, by contrast, was rather plump, blond and rosey-cheeked. She shook Carol’s hand enthusiastically and prattled on about nothing, while her husband looked on indulgently. Though both were able to carry on a conversation, they each showed a variety of slight physical tics, and their speech was punctuated by odd pauses and non sequiturs, like a record that periodically skipped a track – all signs of prolonged and wide-spanning compulsion.
Carol excused herself finally, and the two turned toward him. Elijah shook their hands automatically, glancing sidelong at Katerina, who stood close to the woman, holding onto her arm and occasionally laying her head on her shoulder as they spoke. Katerina, for her part, played her role to the hilt, not breaking character even when Elijah told ‘Mom and Dad’ that she would do better with her studies if she spent less time flirting with boys.
The woman let out a hearty laugh. “That’s our Katherine,” she told him fondly, putting her arm around Katerina’s shoulder. “As pretty as she is, is it any wonder?”
Katerina somehow managed to blush prettily at that and snuggle against her for a moment.
“Be that at is may,” he told them, “her score on the last quiz was less than stellar. I’d like for her to come in early tomorrow morning if possible so we can review that module. We wouldn’t want her to fall behind, would we?”
“Oh, of course not! We’ll have her here first thing, Mr. Smith, don’t you worry,” the woman assured him. Elijah tried to catch Katerina’s glance as they prepared to go, but she studiously avoided his gaze, and left with the couple, by all appearances one happy little family unit.
It was horrifying. Not least because Katerina was playing her role just a little too well. Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose. What a tangled, ugly mess. This was not going to end well. For anyone.
“Was that…” Jenna asked, entering the room as he looked up, her thumb pointing backward over her shoulder as she approached him.
“Yes. I’m afraid so.”
Jenna lowered her voice to a near whisper. “What the fuck was that? Who were those people?”
Elijah shook his head. “I wish I knew.”
Since no one else was in the room, she linked her little finger around his. “How long before you’re sprung?”
“Fifteen, twenty minutes most likely.”
“I’ll see you at the house, then.”
“So what dastardly piece of gossip about you would Carol Lockwood be falling all over herself to impart? She came in for a conference regarding Tyler
“Oh. Um… we should probably discuss that later,” she decided, squinting up at him.
“Fair enough.” He squeezed her hand briefly before he disengaged. “I may be a bit delayed. There’s a stop I want to make along the way.”
“Would that stop happen to involve, say, picking up some ice cream?” she asked hopefully.
He smirked. “I think something might be arranged. Though I do seem to recall a certain promise you made to your niece…”
Jenna blushed and pushed her hair back. “Then I guess we better eat it before.”
He dropped his voice down. “Or… during.”
“And, on that note…” Blush deepening, Jenna turned and left.
Elijah put away his notes and did some busy work while he waited for the other teachers and staff to vacate the school, something that didn’t take very long once the last of the parents left; it was well past their usual quitting time. When only a couple of cars remained in the parking lot, he made his way to the office and let himself in. It took only a moment to locate the file cabinet with the students’ personal information. Breaking the lock was child’s play. He found the information card for ‘Katherine Pierce’ and noted the address. Putting the card back where he had found it, he strode down the corridor and out into the night.
~~~~~
The house was one of the more upscale in-town homes, a white Greek Revival with a slate walk-way and a small but formal garden in back. Elijah had toured it during his own property search when he had decided to purchase something in the area. Recalling the layout, he slipped soundlessly around the right side of the house, toward the back corner where the informal family room was located. He kept to the shadows, being sure to stay hidden in case someone inside the house glanced outside, or one of the neighbors chose that moment to be nosy. Peering through a set of half-drawn curtains, he surveyed the scene.
It was nothing he had expected, and everything he had feared.
A large, flat-screen television was turned on, showing what looked like some reality show or other. The woman was on the couch, knitting and talking, and occasionally gesturing toward the TV. A large bowl of popcorn sat on the edge of the coffee table, within easy reach of all of them. The man sat on the edge of a leather chair, gazing at some sort of board game on the ottoman in front of him. Katerina sat cross-legged on an oversized pillow on the other side, rolling dice. She moved a piece on the game board, and put her hands up in a victory gesture, making the woman laugh and causing the man to feign outrage. Katerina sprang lithely to her feet to give him a peck on the cheek, then grabbed the bowl of popcorn and snuggled up to the woman on the couch.
Elijah scrubbed his hands over his face. Damn it, Katerina.
The man and woman, whose real names Elijah couldn't even guess, may have been compelled within an inch of their lives, but they weren't the only ones for whom the line between reality and illusion had blurred. As quietly as he had come, Elijah left and returned to his car, to go see Jenna. And asked himself how closely he was skirting that line, at least when it came to her.
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