▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕

 -ˋˏ 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 ˎˊ-

˚ 　 ✫ 　　　 ˚ . 　　　 ⋆

. · 　　 +

✧

╰┈˚ · ° .   There was a time where Caroline Forbes had been my best friend, and of the things that to this day I could clearly remember vividly, were her plans on one day having double dates.

This— this was nothing like she had described them and I was pretty sure that even she was thinking the same thing as me at that moment.

A double date turned into a triple date— or how I was perceiving it, we were all third wheeling in the conversation between Matt and Elena.

"So, uh, Matt, how do you like working here?" The doppelgänger asked the football player.

We were at the Grill, the best local spot to eat in our town. Elena and Stefan were sitting by one side, Caroline and Matt in front of them, we had added two chairs to the table making enough room to fit Zyran and I.

"Uh, it's not that bad." Matt replied, "Wait staff tips out pretty good.They can't keep a bartender to save their lives but... I actually put my mom up for the job."

"How's that been, having Kelly back?" My sister questioned not noticing how she was actually having an only two-people conversation while the rest of us sat there awkwardly.

"You know, same old Kelly. She's trying, sort of."

Elena propped her head on her elbow, smiling, "Kelly and my mom were best friends growing up. That's how Matt and I first met. We shared a crib together."

"You're kidding." I don't think even Stefan was that comfortable at that moment even if he tried to mask it with interest.

"No, we've known each other our whole lives." Matt told the vampire. The ex-couple exchanged smiles, reminiscing about the old days.

If I had to bet, I could say that Matt was not over Elena— like at all. It was almost painful to watch the interaction knowing that Caroline, more than Stefan, were their current partners and they were present.

"Did you share a crib with him too?" The youngest Salvatore brother questioned with a slight smile in my direction, a slight teasing to his tone.

"No she uh– she is almost a year older than us so..." Matt replied for me just when I was about to answer the question myself.

Okay.

"Right." Stefan nodded, with a slight purse of his lips.

"You are eighteen too, right Zyran?" Caroline then asked. For the entire evening the usually bubbling, non-stopping talking girl had actually only spoken a few times. That showed how uncomfortable she was in this situation.

Taking his mouth away from the straw of his drink, the dragon shifter nodded his head, "Oh yeah, yeah. We moved a lot when I was younger, that is why I'm still in junior year. "

That was the lie that he had spread when he came to this town. His parents had tragically died a couple years before and he had lived with his brother until his 18th birthday. Since his family had roots here in Mystic Falls, now that he didn't need a legal guardian anymore, he decided to move here to feel close with them.

Which was all a lie since Zyran was almost 250 years old and his family was still very much alive. From his words, I knew that they lived in their nests in the mountain range of Verulia— situated in the further part of the Summer Court territory. The mountains had obsidian in their rock and in exactly in the center of the range, there was a very active Volcano.

Dragons were not the most common creatures in Nàdar, but for sure they were not even rare. The flights of dragons were chosen by their inner animal—- sometimes not even dragons mated to the same person where in the exact same one. Zyran dragon had never founded his flight— that was why 100 years prior to his departure from his word, he had left his family nest to travel all around Nàdar until he was called here.

The loud voices coming from the bar took our attention, and there, Kelly Donovan was just taking a shot with Damon Salvatore, even aunt Jenna was there with them.

"You gotta be kidding me." Matt commented, the disappointment in his tone was unmistakable.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .   "At least they're having fun." Caroline commented as our focus was once again taken from the group made of Kelly Donovan, Damon Salvatore and Jenna Sommers as they cheered at another round of shots.

We were playing pool, but it looked like the only people actually focused on winning the game were just Zyran and I— which were both on opposite teams, challenging the other.

"They're drunk." Elena stated.

Even if I could understand Matt's annoyance with his mother, and even Stefan worrying for his brother, I was actually quite happy to see Jenna laugh so freely for once. I knew that taking care of three teenagers had not been easy, and definitely not what she expected to be doing while still in college.

"Remember when Elena's parents busted us here after homecoming?" Matt said, reminiscing the past memory for the two other girls.

"Oh, my God, yes." Caroline laughed.

"We were wasted."

"I was home re-watching pretty little liars when that happened." I muttered to my mate. It caused him to quirk his lips upwards. I had watched that tv series too many times to even count anymore.

"It was the first time I got drunk. I blame Matt." Elena said, pointing at her ex.

"Her parents got seated at the next booth."

"Matt had me pretend that I was choking so we could get away." They were doing it again. Just talking the both of them alone making it uncomfortable for the rest of us. I knew they had a past— a long and happy one of friendship before— but they could keep it down for a bit, or try to engage the rest of us in their conversation. And the doe-eye looks that Matt was sending Elena were not helping.

Continuing Elena's story, Matt said,"Except her dad was a doctor, so he jumped up to save her."

"And I ran and slipped on the wet floor and bit it. In front of everyone. Do you remember that? Three stitches, a hangover for days... and I was grounded from seeing this one for a week."

"Seems like fun. I wish I was that drunk right now." Muttering in the same way I have done before, Zyran said to me. "And I wish to have a burger with all that alcohol too." He added wistfully.

I snorted at his words, "Same to the first and I am going to get you food later, don't worry."

A smile bloomed on his bored features, "Did I ever tell you how much I adore you?"

Grinning up at him, it was easy to feel much better at the current awkward night, "I'm sure you will after, when your hunger will not be burning a hole in your stomach."

"Well, I'm gonna go to the restroom." Caroline suddenly said, snapping the look exchanged between the ex couple. "Elena. Meda."

"Coming." I nodded, dragging a confused Elena with me as we followed behind the blonde girl.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .   "Is she really peeing?" I asked in a hush tone to the Forbes girl as we waited for my sister to exit the stall.

"Apparently." Caroline was annoyed, it was clear. She was annoyed as much as she was hurt. The blonde turned to me, brows lowered into a frown, "It's not just me, right? You can see it too?"

"Uh- yeah." I nodded. I wasn't sure if it was for the best to admit it, but in the end, It was the truth and at least Caroline wouldn't feel like she was going crazy, "Here she is." I mumbled, seeing Elena exit the stall and washing her hands.

"So, um... What are you doing?" The Forbes girl questioned confronting the Doppegänger.

"What?"

"Well, the point of this was to show him how much you care about Stefan. You know, not to hopscotch down memory lane."

"I was just trying to make conversation." Elena excused her action.

"Try less."

Caroline exited the bathroom leaving me alone with my sister. "I wasn't-"

"I know, but you have to understand her too. You and Matt are not just childhood best friends, you were a couple not much time ago. Acting like you are doing, sharing memories with nostalgic smiles and whatnot, is not going to help the situation." I let out a sigh, "I know that you don't feel anything for Matt anymore but Caroline is not crazy to feel insecure in her relationship. We know that she is insecure and you being his ex is not helping."

"What does that mean about me being his ex?"

I was having the impression that the conversation topic had shifted for both of us. It wasn't just Caroline, anymore, but it was us too."It means that it's not easy to feel compared to you all of the time."

She was always the better one.

Maybe Caroline wasn't the only one feeling insecure when it came down to Elena.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  We had left the Grill later on after the pool game, opting to spend the rest of the evening at the Salvatore boarding house. The entire property extended way beyond the house— which was built in tudor style in reddish bricks with a lush garden at the entrance. The inside was very much not minimalis with many vintage rugs, old paintings in golden frames, burgundy colored fabrics for the seating option and a lot of wood in various shades.

"Uh, yeah, this is much better than watching Damon visit Cougar Town." Caroline said, looking around the majestic living room. Remembering that it had been Matt's mom, the one she was talking about, the girl added, "No offense."

"Don't remind me." I know that Matt was trying very hard to forget about what we had witnessed that night. "And I've always wanted to see this place."

"Yeah, I guess it's a bit much."

"A bit?" Zyran chuckled amusedly, eye shifting to many of the paintings hanging all around.

"Yeah, my entire house could fit in here, like, twice."

"More like three." I commented. This place was the definition of an old style mansion. It was gorgeous even if it was a little bit on the eye.

"I feel like I've been here before. It's weird." Caroline said.

"Yeah. Weird." I was still very much not okay with what Damon had done to her, and I knew that one day, when I would be able do use my wings to do more than just stand on the tips of my toes or produce more than just a few sparks from the tip of my fingers, he would not leave my presence unharmed.

"Do you guys wanna watch a movie or something?" Elena asked to change the subject. Of course, not without sending me a warning glare.

"Yes. While cuddling with you in bed." Zyran whispered in my ear. He was usually the one to be more open to spend time with people, but even for him, this was a bit much.

But Matt's focus was stolen abruptly by rare collectible car miniatures that stood exposed in a display window.

"That's just a little hobby of mine." Stefan told him.

"I did the entire Mustang serie when I was 9."

"You like cars?"

"That's an understatement."

"Come with me." The vampire led us outside to his garage, excited as the Donovan boy was. "Prepare yourself, my friend." Stefan said before rolling the sheet away revealing the bright red car underneath.

"Whoa, wait. How do you have this?" Matt asked in awe at the car.

"It got passed down through the family."

"Why don't you- I mean... Why don't you drive it?"

"Well, it doesn't run. I mean, at least not that I could figure out."

"Why would you keep a car that doesn't run?" Caroline asked, earning a comment from Matt.

"Could you be more of a girl right now?"

"Could you be more misogynistic right now?" I snarked back. I was getting more and more sour as the minutes passed. This was not an environment to which I would like to be again any time soon. Not in years, hopefully never again. Double date or triple date were not for me. At least not with these two couples.

"Why don't you come take a look at this?" Stefan proposed to the human boy.

And to that, Matt found another thing to say about their past, "Elena, remember the old Camaro your dad used to have?"

"Oh for fuck sakes." I groaned, almost unhearable with how I squished my face in my hands.

"Here we go again." Zyran said, letting his head fall onto my shoulder.

"Of course." Elena exclaimed, unaware of the commentary coming from both Zi and I.

"I built and rebuilt that engine 20 times." Matt informed Stefan who impressed, nodded— probably annoyed by the ex couple's actions too.

"Wow."

Trying to fit herself in their talk, Caroline siad, "Well, I don't like sports cars. They're too hard to make out in."

Feeling like there was nothing wrong with his words, Matt smirked, glancing at Elena. "No, it wasn't that bad."

"What the fuck." That took me completely by surprise. How the hell did he think that it was okay to say something like that? Is he stupid?

Matt realized his mistake too late. Awkwardness filled the room until Caroline walked away.

"You need to talk with Caroline, Elena. She is your best friend, at least that's what you say. Tonight was a shit show. You both acted like it was a date between you too, making it uncomfortable for the rest of us. Now you have to fix it." Patience ran out, I snapped the words with anger that was written all over my face.

"Goodnight, Stefan." Zyran said before latching his fingers with mine and dragging me away. "You are right, that was a shit show." He snorted once we were in front of his car.

"Shit show is the best way to put it." Calming down with only him around me, I let out a chuckle.

Zyran grinned, eyes shifting behind me. He raised his hand, passing the fingers on my shoulder before softly tapping my wings that only then I noticed were showing, "Your wings were out and shamelessly moving on your back dropping starlight everywhere with your anger."

"Uh, oops?" I said, trying not to gasp out loud as shivers of pleasure traveled down my spine at the touch.

"Don't worry, I glamoured them." He stepped closer, "Maybe I should have a reward from saving your ass from showing them."

"A reward?" Following his lead, I took another step until his chest brushed against mine and only a breath divided our lips.

He hummed, lips twisted in his breathtaking smile before they were pressed on mine. Hard and steady movements of tongues followed the passionate kiss. His want flowing into me with a grunted moan.

"Is this enough?" I teased distancing my lips from his. But Zyran wasn't done. He followed me, trying to steal them once again.

"No." He breathed out, "If it's from you, a single kiss will never be enough."

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!!

I don't know how I feel about this chapter, a bit boring tbh, but at least you know a bit more about Meda's struggle to always being compared to Elena.

The hate that I have for thow Matt and Elen treated Caroline here, I swear. Like what the hell?

And wasn't it clear that Caroline wanted to talk with you Elena, why are you peeing?

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter, I'll see you on Saturday!

˚ · ° . 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 . ° · ˚

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾