I've been spending the majority of the last day and a half reading and watching movies. I've gotten texts about updates on the supernatural stuff but they were all pretty vague. I'm startled by the ring of my phone. I answer without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Elena. I know we aren't super close but could you come over? Bonnie and Damon locked me in the house and I'm bored as shit. We can make dinner and I can fill you in on everything."
"Sure. I'll be there in 15."
I hang up and grab my bag then drive to the Gilbert home. I knock and Elena opens the door, inviting me in.
"Why did Damon and Bonnie lock you in here?"
"Because I don't want them to get killed and have myself just sit around while they attempt to save me while I'm trying to save them."
"I'll punch Damon for locking you in here," I say nonchalantly. "Anyways, what are we making for dinner?"
Elena shrugs, "I don't know, I was thinking chicken parmesan and roasted broccoli?"
"Sounds good to me." Elena gets out the ingredients and I get out the pan, bowls, cutting board, and knife. "So what's been going on? I've been getting texts from Damon but he doesn't give enough context for me to understand."
"Well," she starts, "Rose and I went on a trip to see Slater, but apparently he died. Slater is the guy who got in contact with Elijah originally for Rose and Trevor. So we got there and tried to contact a contact of Klaus' that Slater had found to tell him that I wanted to sacrifice myself. Rose didn't know, so when she found out, she called Damon. Then Klaus' contacts came to get me, but they were stopped by Elijah who apparently isn't dead and rips out people's hearts for fun. Back to the tomb drama, Katherine is locked in the tomb, as you know, and she has the moonstone. Katherine took Jeremy when he tried to get the moonstone on his own and she drank from his neck. Eventually, Stefan ran in to save Jeremy, ultimately ending up with him stuck in the tomb with Katherine. Luckily we got the moonstone though. Caroline is also helping Tyler with his first transition."
"I missed all of that and nobody thought to talk to me? One of my friends is trapped in a tomb with a manipulative bitch ass vampire, they locked you in your home, and Caroline could be killed by one of her friends?"
"I don't know, I thought Damon would've told you," she defends.
"Yeah well we didn't get much time for talking because when he was home for more than a minute, I walked in on him and Rose doing the dirty in the living room." I make a disgusted face thinking about it. Elena makes the same face. "Also, I actually think ripping their hearts out is much better than a lot of other deaths that are slow and torturing."
We continue talking moving onto more regular girl talk conversation topics. When dinner is ready, we call Jeremy and Jenna down. Jenna is so sweet and welcoming. She's just nice to be around.
Elena and I eat while talking with Jenna, whereas Jeremy took his dinner up to his room. We all finish our food and bus our dishes before Elena and I head up to her room to watch a movie. We pick Footloose and eat the popcorn we made.
⇢⇢⇢⇢
When the movie is finished, we go downstairs to get more snacks before another movie but stop as we see Jenna rummaging through the hall closet, putting things in boxes.
"Hey, what are you doing," I ask Jenna.
She turns to us and smiles, abruptly placing a heavy box in Elena's hands. "Oh! Perfect timing."
"Woah," Elena says at the weight of the box. "What is this stuff?"
"Your mom's files from the Historical Society. I got roped into helping Mrs. Lockwood." She pauses and stands up. "And by roped, I mean very excited to participate," she says, closing the closet door revealing Elijah.
Elena gasps and I simply roll my eyes, like usual, while leaning against the door frame into the living room.
"Hey. I'm Elijah."
Jenna takes the box from Elena. "Elijah's in town doing research on Mystic Falls." She then walks into the kitchen.
"It's a pleasure," Elijah says, looking between us both. He holds out his hand for Elena to shake and she hesitates, but eventually does. When Elijah holds out his hand for me to shake, I simply give him a high-five. He looks at me with amusement and confusion.
Jenna walks back in and offers different ways for him to take or learn the information in the boxes. He tells her he'll pick the boxes up in the morning.
"Well thank you so much for inviting me into your home, Jenna," he says. I can tell he's trying to get Elena to be even more scared of him and, unluckily, it's working. He starts to walk towards the door but turns back around. "And Aspen, Elena, I hope to see you again sometime soon."
I give Elena a look and follow her as she rushes upstairs to Jeremy's room, knocking frantically on the door. I lean against the banister and just watch because I don't know what she's doing or why.
Elijah appears beside Elena, she gasps, and he holds a finger up to his mouth in a shushing manner.
Jer's opens his door. "What is it?"
"Um.." Elena says thinking of an excuse.
"Jenna was just asking us to get you to help her with the boxes," I say.
"Yeah." He nods and walks downstairs, not noticing Elijah.
Elena look at me, saying a silent thank you with her expression. We both turn back towards Elijah. "That's a wise choice," he says.
"What do you want," Elena asks, breathing heavily.
"I think it's time you and I have a little chat."
"Sorry to make this awkward and take away from you trying to make her feel scared," I say to Elijah, "but should I leave or go sit in the living room and not-so-secretly listen in or stay?" I look between the two of them as they both look at me. I'm assuming that they're confused about how nonchalant I'm acting.
"Please stay," Elena asks me. I nod and lead them into her room.
Elijah sits on the window seat, I'm spread out on the bed, and Elena is pacing.
"Oh, forgive the intrusion," Elijah says which makes me scoff. He side-eyes me with confusion. "I mean your family no harm."
"Why did you kill those vampires when they tried to take me," Elena asks.
"Because I didn't want you to be taken," he responds. "Klaus is the most hated and feared of the Originals, but those that fear him are desperate for his approval. If word gets out that the doppelgänger exists, there'll be a line of vampires eager to take you to him, and I can't have that."
"Isn't that exactly what you're trying to do," she asks.
I sigh, bored with how slow the conversation is moving. "Correct me if I'm wrong," I say to Elijah before turning back to Elena, "but I don't think Elijah wants to break the curse."
"Correct," Elijah says.
Elena furrows her eyebrows, "So what is your goal?"
"Klaus' obsessions have made him paranoid," he starts. "He's a recluse. He trusts only those in his immediate circle."
"Like you?" What is with all of these questions?
"No," I scoff. "He wouldn't be here alone if that were the case. He doesn't know where he is, so he's trying use you to get him here for whatever reason."
"How did you know that," he asks.
"I don't know," I shrug.
"Well anyways, to draw him out, I need you to stay put and stop trying to get yourself killed," he tells Elena.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Well, Elena, if I wasn't being truthful all your family would be dead and I'd be taking you to Klaus right now. Instead, I'm here, and I'm prepared to offer you a deal. Do nothing. Do nothing, live your life, stop fighting. And then, when the time is right, you and I shall draw Klaus out together, and I shall make certain that your friends remain unharmed."
"Then what," I ask.
"Then I kill him."
"Cool," I say in contempt.
"I'm a man of my word, Elena. I make a deal, I keep a deal."
"How are you going to be able to keep everyone safe," she asks.
I take this moment to really admire how good this man looks in a suit. Like damn. All I hear is some talk about witches, protecting her family, and the Stefan tomb thing, but I'm to busy shamelessly checking him out to fully listen.
"Pen," Elena snaps in front of my face, successfully taking me out of my trance.
"Huh?" I look at Elijah and see a small, almost nonexistent smirk on his face. I don't care that he caught me, surely he knows how attractive he is.
"Do we have a deal," he asks us both.
We both shake hands with him and he vamps out.
"Bye, I guess." I flop back onto the bed.