𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓽𝔂 || Stefan Salvatore || Vampire Diaries ||

One

Elliott Gilbert. Many people knew this name and thought of how heartbreaking it was when she went off the deep end. She was a real sweetheart around the town of Mystic Falls, greeting everyone with a smile.

She'd been declining mentally before her parents died. They were her parents, by blood or not. The first drastic sign were the deep, jagged slits on her arms that she hadn't bothered to hide anymore. They weren't deep enough to have her bleeding to death but they were deep enough to make anyone who saw them nauseous.

The second was the fainting spells she would experience, mostly from not eating. She passed out a lot then, worrying her aunt Jenna endlessly, along with her baby brother Jeremy.

The third, and final straw was when she had attempted to off herself six months ago. It was this final act that clued her older sister in. As much as she loved Elena, the brunette could be self centered.

Elliott shook her head, dispelling her train of thoughts before they would lead her back to the reason she was in this situation in the first place. Knocking on her own front door to be let in.

She had gained back the weight she'd lost and then some, her new meds starting to finally do their jobs. It took a lot of experimentation to get the right mix of medication that wouldn't clash with each other, but would still do what was intended.

Elliott waited for what felt like hours for the front door to open. She was greeted with a noirette with stunning blue eyes. She definitely didn't have the wrong house, so who was this?

A blur of grey shoved past the stranger, colliding with her in a shriek of excitement. She was lifted off of her feet and into the arms of her little brother, Jeremy.

Elliott giggled, arms instinctively wrapping around the boy's neck in a vice like grip. She buried her face in his shoulder as he set her back on her feet.

The smell of Jenna's perfume wafted into Elliott's nose, and she felt a gentle pair of arms wrap around her back. She was home.

"Hi!" She squeaked, when Jeremy and Jenna finally let her breathe. Jeremy had a brilliant grin on his face, kissing her forehead and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She relaxed into him instantly, eyes meeting her older sister for the first time in six months.

Elena didn't give her a smile, nor did she hug her. She seemed confused and slightly concerned.

"Is it safe for you to be..." Elena hesitated, choosing her next words carefully. Jeremy tightened his grip a little, his smile faltering int a sharp glare.

"She's here, so she's getting better. Let's just enjoy the moment, okay?" The boy snapped, pulling Elliott closer if it was even possible.

The two men behind her sister caught Elliott's attention and she blushed out of embarrassment. She let Jeremy lead her past the trio, Jenna tasking Elena to help her with Elliot's belongings.

Jeremy led the girl to the couch, sitting her down and flopping down beside her. Elliott managed a small giggle, tugging at the sleeves of her sweater subconsciously. She wasn't ashamed of the scars that adorned her skin. They were signs of a war that she'd started to win. It would never be over, but she would win any battle she could until it eventually got easier.

She hid them for Jeremy's sake. She knew how much she'd traumatized him that night, and she would forever have that guilt with her. But she was still alive, able to make amends for how she'd hurt her family. That's what counted.

~~~

She'd been introduced to both Salvatores, reluctantly on Elena's part. She was aware that they were of the supernatural world, her keen senses telling her that the minute she shook Damon's hand.

As of right now, she leaned against her locker, watching the buzzing of the school corridors. It was her first day back, and she was reacquainting herself with the high school environment. She had on light blue ripped skinny jeans and a black tank top. She wore a black and white flannel shirt over it, unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up. Tattoos covered her right arm, tracing over scars and creating a mural of sorts.

Butterflies and flowers swirled and dancing over her skin, going the whole way up to her shoulder and leading to a crow (if yk yk) on the back of said shoulder. Jenna had given her permission to get the piece, even helping the girl design it.

Jenna was reluctant at first, but after a conversation with Meg Masters, Elliott's therapist, Jenna was completely on board. The ink was her way of moving on, and getting past the trauma she'd been through. A reminder to keep going.

She smiled brightly at the sight of one of her closest friends down the hall. Matt Donovan locked eyes with her, and had to do a double take. When they locked eyes a second time, Matt let out a loud whoop of delight.

All eyes landed on him as he took off sprinting down the hallway towards her. She moved to the middle of the hall, bracing for impact. For the second time in as many days, she was sweeped off her feet into an intense embrace. She laughed freely, returning the hug just as intensely.

Her best friend spun her around then set her back down. He took a step back and just studied her. Releasing another sound of pure joy, he yanked her back into his arms. Matt's cologne washed over her and she giggled once more.

"Holy Shit Ellie!" Matt gasped, finally letting the girl go. They grinned at each other like idiots, pressing their foreheads together in a way that screamed platonic. There were no longing glances, or romantic touches, just two best friends reuniting.

The friendship between Matt Donovan and Elliott Gilbert was notorious. If one was around, the other was sure to show up too. Elliott going away did nothing but make that bond stronger. Everyone in town was aware of the lengths they'd go for each other.

The duo separated after just existing with each other for a moment. The halls had basically cleared out in that time. Matt and Elliott stumbled into history together, giggling like middle schoolers.

Alaric Saltzman had met Elliott many times in the span of four months. After making it official with the girl's aunt, he wanted to know all of Jenna's kids.

The history teacher clicked with Elliott in an instant. They had grown close in a paternal way. It wasn't long before Alaric saw her as his kid too.

Something people didn't understand was that Elliott was a momma's girl through and through. Her and Grayson loved each other in a way only a father and daughter could, but the bond between Miranda Gilbert and Elliott was something else entirely. Many people referred to her as the star in her mother's eye.

Alaric had never even thought of having kids of his own. Then he met Elliott and he suddenly had one. Nobody expected for Alaric and Elliott to form the connection that they now had, least of all the duo themselves. However, Jenna was overjoyed at the development. When she found out that Alaric had started to visit Elliott at the Psychological Care Center without her, she was even more excited.

Jealousy sparked though, in Elena. She'd blown up about it at Jenna from what Ellie had heard. She was wondering why she didn't have the same connection with Alaric that Ellie had. Jealousy was why Elena didn't even give her a second glance.

Matt and Elliott found two empty seats and took them. Elliott was near the front of the class, now paying rapt attention to her teacher/ father figure. She was even taking notes!

She felt eyes burning into her and turned to catch the person and met the beautiful green eyes of Stefan Salvatore. He seemed embarrassed about being caught, but Elliott just flashed him a bashful grin, before turning to refocus on the teacher.

Those green eyes never stopped staring though....

~~~

How's the rewritten chapter? I honestly love this version so much better! It's inspired me to continue the story tbh.