16th December 2009

Bailey’s POV

Just over a week ago I had got a job at the Mystic Grill. My Father had only left me a small sum of money in cash for me, and the rest I had to wait until I was eighteen to actually get. With my drug habit it meant that the money didn’t last as long as it probably should have. This meant that now I had to somehow earn money, and the Mystic Grill was probably the only place around here for a sixteen year old recovering drug addict could find work.

There were a couple of people from my school that worked here, but the only one I actually knew was Matt Donavon. I guess the work wasn’t that bad, just waiting tables and sometimes working at the bar. Enjoyment wasn’t really a word I could use to describe work, but it was tolerable and easy money.

It wasn’t like my social life was riveting so work didn’t get in the way at all. All I did was catch up on school work, and hang out with Jeremy, meaning I had a lot of spare time to earn money for necessities like food and water. No one that worked their knew about my situation, and I was almost certain I only got the job out of pity, but it didn’t matter as long as I could earn money.

Today was the last day of school before the Christmas holiday meaning I was going to Jeremy’s. Originally he wanted to come with me to get my stuff straight after school and then go back to his house. Instead I had to work, so I planned to go and get my stuff after work and then go to his house afterwards.

As my shift ended I said my goodbye to my co-workers who I didn’t really know at all, and they didn’t really know me either.

Once I left the Grill, I made my way down to the park where I hoped no one was near my stuff. Luckily no one was other than a man who was unconscious but I could still see him breathing, so I had no need to worry.

Quickly I grabbed my two bags and my blanket. Rather than being an idiot and carrying my blanket with me, I shoved it into the bag that had the least stuff in it before placing the heavier one on my shoulder, and carrying the lighter one in my hand.

I hoped they wouldn’t question me with why I brought this stuff with me, but that was all I had, and I could trust them being in the park for the whole holiday, so I had to bring it all.

When I reached Jeremy’s house I knocked on the door to see Elena open the door. I had never really spoken to Elena as she was never really home, but I knew her nevertheless.

“Hi Bailey,” She smiled.

“Hello Elena,” I smiled back.

She let me into her home before closing the door. I made my way by instinct into the kitchen, where I saw Stefan and Jenna. Jenna was stood by the stove, whilst Stefan was sat at the dining table. I kind of guessed that he’d be here. It wasn’t that I had anything against him, to be honest I didn’t know him really but it was just a guess that Elena would have him here, as they practically spent all of their time together.

“Hey Bailey, how was work?” Jenna questioned looking over from the pot of bubbling food.

It was kind of clear that I had been to work, whether Jeremy told her this or not. I had the dark blue t-shirt on that had a bright orange ‘Mystic Grill’ logo on the front and back.

“It was okay-“ I barely finished my sentence as I caught a whiff of Jenna’s cooking.

Granted she wasn’t the best cook in the world, but this wasn’t the worst cooking of her’s I’d smelt, just this time I felt physically sick.  

I could feel the bile rise up in my throat, as I dropped my two bags in the middle of the kitchen. It was clear I didn’t plan on throwing up in the kitchen, so I started up in a sprint towards the only bathroom in the house.

Hoping Jeremy wasn’t in the bathroom, I pushed open the door falling to my knees in front of the toilet bowl, gripping the edge of the bowl with both my hands. As I began to throw up I heard the door that lead to Jeremy’s room open and someone kneel down next to me pulling my brown looks away from my face.

He softly cooed as I couldn’t help being sick.

Once I finished I grabbed a bit of toilet roll wiping my mouth and turning towards him as he let go of my hair. 

“Are you okay?” He questioned with a worried expression on his face.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” I sighed flushing the toilet.

“You don’t seem it,” He stated.

I shrugged standing up, although my legs were very wobbly. He let me lean on his shoulder as I grasped the concept of balancing on my shaky legs.

Within moments could walk in a straight line without collapsing again.  I walked downstairs and back into the kitchen with Jeremy following me.

“Is my cooking honestly that bad?” Jenna chuckled obviously had heard my being sick in the toilet.

“It wasn’t your cooking Jenna. I just haven’t felt great for a while. I’ve been feeling sick for a while but I haven’t actually been sick yet, I’m just guessing the smell of your cooking just triggered it,” I smiled softly.

It was true I had been feeling very nauseous for just over a month, but I had thrown up a couple of times in that time, but that was from what I guessed was bad food.

I guessed there was just a correlation between eating bad food and getting sick from it, but maybe it was just a coincidence that I got sick after eating food that tasted slightly off.

“Have you been to a doctor?” Elena questioned who was now sat next to Stefan at the dining table.

“No, it’s probably just a stomach bug. It’ll pass soon,” I shrugged picking up my bags and taking a seat opposite the pair with Jeremy sitting down next to me.

“Well, you don’t seem to look ill. You seem a bit pastier that usual,” Jenna shrugged, “Jeremy check her forehead.”

He let out a chuckled placing the back of his hand onto my forehead.

“She’s not hot. She is a little warm but she was just sick,” He stated.

“We’ll keep an eye on you sweetheart. Do you want to contact your aunt, to tell her you’re sick?” Jenna questioned.

“Thank you, and it’s okay. There’s no point in worrying her if it’s anything serious,” I shrugged.

She nodded before turning back to the cooking.

It took Jenna about ten minutes to finish cooking before she dished up dinner for the five of us. The meal was awkward being sat at the table with my best friend, his aunt, his sister and her boyfriend. No one really talked other than asking for something to be passed to them.

Once we finished Elena quickly made her way out of the house with Stefan, telling Jenna they were going out. Jeremy excused himself quickly saying he was going to shower, so I offered Jenna help in cleaning up the table and doing the washing up.

“Has Jeremy told you about whose joining us for Christmas yet?” Jenna questioned as I washed the dishes and she dried them up and put them away.

“No he hasn’t,” I stated.

“Well we have a full house on Christmas day. God knows how many people will end up coming over but a lot of people have been invited,” She chuckled.

“Who?” I questioned.

I could have probably attempted to form a real sentence but it was easier to use a one word question.

“Well there’s you, Jeremy Elena and I. I’ve invited your teacher Mr Saltzman. Do you know him? I know he teaches both Elena and Jeremy, but I forgot to talk to Jeremy about it,” She stated.

“Yeah I know Alaric. He’s been helping me with catching up on my missed work and everything,” I shrugged handing her the wet plate.

“Well I invited him, as we’ve been talking since he came to town, and he doesn’t have any family here, so I thought it’d be okay for him to join us. Also Elena has invited Stefan. Stefan’s brother will probably come as well, seen as most of the time that Stefan comes over here his brother Damon follows. He’s very handsome but not the nicest person in the world,” She chuckled.

I let out a soft laugh at the thought of Jenna finding her niece’s boyfriend’s brother attractive. I had never met Damon, although it was a small town so I had probably seen him before, not knowing who he was.

“Matt and Bonnie, Elena’s friends are coming over too. Matt’s Mum and Dad are no longer on the scene, so he lives on his own. And Bonnie’s Dad is busy over Christmas meaning that she’d be on her own. So I thought it’d be nice to invite them both here, so they don’t have to be lonely at such a happy time. Elena’s friend Caroline and her Mum Sheriff Forbes are coming over as well mainly as I thought it’d be unfair to leave Caroline out and I know Liz doesn’t enjoy cooking, so it felt fair to invite them,” She shrugged.

She wasn’t joking when she said it’d be a full house.