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CHAPTER TWO

ELENA
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Elena emerged from the pool in a quick and practiced motion, pausing to sit on the edge to better catch her breath.

Unlike the majority of her teammates, Elena didn't mind early morning practices before school much, because to her it was like going for a jog to better clear her mind. And especially after the events that occurred over the weekend, sixteen laps was coincidently exactly what she needed.

Getting to her feet, Elena padded across the pool area towards the bench where her towel lay waiting for her return. She quickly scooped it up and wrapped the towel around her torso, reveling in the warmth the thick cotton brought her.

Elena brushed her hair in silence using the small mirror in her locker, pausing slightly only when she noticed the faint hickey just below her jawline. A whine escaped her lips at the sight.

"What was that for?"

Startled, Elena whipped around to see her fellow teammate Malia, standing stark naked behind her. For some odd reason, Malia never quite understood privacy; so when it came to her own, she had none. Then again, if Elena had a body like hers, maybe she'd show it off too.

"Oh, nothing." Elena lied, smoothing her hair forward.

To her dismay, however, Malia was no fool. She grabbed a hold of Elena's forearm and pushed her long hair back to reveal the hickey she so desperately tried to hide. Malia's eyes went wide.

"You dog!" She exclaimed, stepping back.

Utterly dazed, Elena blinked back her shock. Had Malia always been that strong?

"It's not what it looks like." Elena swallowed.

Malia narrowed her eyes. "I know a hickey when I see one. Who gave that to you?"

That was exactly what Elena had feared. There was no way she could reasonably explain the fact that she used a fake ID to get into a bar despite being underage, and even going as far as to get into an older man's car to make out. How naive could she had been? There was no excuse, even if the guy was a complete babe it was still wrong on so many levels.

Still, Elena told Malia everything.

"Wow. An older guy huh? You really are on a hot streak after you and Stefan broke up."

Elena frowned. The two girls had managed to make it to the school hallways by the time she finished talking.

"This has nothing to do with Stefan!" Elena hissed, "Who even told you I was on a hot streak?"

Malia shrugged, "Stiles."

Of course he did, Elena thought.

"Well I'm not. It was a one time thing, okay? I'll never see that guy again anyway, said he was only in town for a couple of days." Elena added.

"Sure. Whatever you say." Malia smirked, inching towards first period.

Elena rolled her eyes. Sometimes she just wanted to hug Malia around the throat, with her hands, and squeeze. But of course, Elena only waved away her friend and started towards her classroom.

***

"Hey are you going to Lydia's party tonight?"

Caroline Forbes twirled a strand of golden blonde hair between her slim fingers and looked down at Elena expectantly.

She shrugged. "Haven't really thought about it, why?"

The tall blonde let out a sigh. "Please, you have to go. Bonnie flaked and Allison has this family thing she has to do, which leaves you as the designated best friend to attend."

Elena raised her brows in amusement. "Since when was I the designated best friend? I thought I already was your best friend." She said.

Caroline reached across the cafe table and pouted. "You know what I meant."

A soft chuckle left Elena's lips.

"Fine. I'll go, but only if you promise to be good."

"Duh, I'm always good Elena." Caroline grinned, getting to her feet. "See you at ten!"

And just like that, her adrenaline-junky friend left the cafe with a fresh bounce in her step. Elena shook her head laughing as she watched her leave. When it came to Caroline, it was best to give in once in a while. The girl loved it.

But Elena's fun didn't last for long, however, as she spotted Stefan walk casually into the cafe with Malia rift beside him. Her mouth dropped at the sight.

Startled and unwilling to be seen, Elena then ducked beneath the table and crawled her away towards the door Caroline had just exited and made a mad dash to her car. Not once daring to look back at her vampire ex-boyfriend.

***
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