The Balance

Chapter 31

"Stamp please" Carolina asks me, she is prepping her graduation invites as we sit outside the grill.

I tear the stamp off and hand it to her. "How many more of these do you have to do?"

"I'm only on my second batch, are you already done," She smiles at me.

"Both my brothers know when I'm graduating, I don't really need to send invites out." I shrug.

"Ladies," Matt comes outside with a tray full of food and water. He places it strategically around the stack of invitations.

I smirk up at him, "have you done your invitations yet?" I ask him.

He shakes his head, "no, I don't have a whole lot of family."

"That makes two of us." I sigh, "How about your mom?"

"Let's just say I'm not holding my breath for a graduation check." Matt says before being called over to another table. "see you girls later."

I watch him walk away with a shy smile on my face.

"Okay," Caroline interrupts my thoughts, "What is going on between you and Matt?"

I sip on my water, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

She rolls her eyes, "All I have to say is you better be careful with his heart. He is a sweet guy and I know how much Klaus has his freaking little hybrid teeth sunk into you."

"Klaus isn't here, he ran off to New Orleans and didn't look back." I mumble.

"He always comes back," Caroline points out, "especially when it comes to you."

***
I grab all the last of the invitations before the below away. "Is it supposed to rain?" Carolina yells at me through the wind. We rush into the grill as our hair whips around in the wind.

"Do I look like a meteorologist?" I snap back.

Caroline gives me an exasperated look before looking over at Elena, who is across the room throwing darts. "Well, someone needs to do something, before she explodes."

"I got this." I takes a bottle of liquor and a shot glass and walks over to Elena.  "Drink. You're putting everyone on edge."

Elena tosses the shot back, then places the glass on the table and resumes throwing darts.

"So, what's the deal? I'm new to this whole emotional switch situation." I ask her.

"It's not complicated. See that dart board? All I can picture is Katherine's face." She throws a dart forcefully and hits the bullseye.

"So your emotions are on," I hesitate, "they're just dialed to rage."

"Look, Allison. I know you're brothers are probably trying to get you to be the middle man but let's be clear. We're not friends and I don't have to engage in some awkward conversation with you." She bit back.

My jaw tenses as I bite my tongue, "Okay."

Just as Elena throws another dart, the lights go out throughout the restaurant. Outside, the wind is so strong it's blowing debris through the air and the sounds of heavy objects falling and breaking are heard nearby. I rush outside with Matt to investigate as the other patrons leave, running for cover.

I shout to be heard over the wind, "The power's completely out."

Caroline shouts back, "I'll call my mom - maybe she knows what's going on." She goes back inside as a police cruiser drives by with its sirens sounding.

***
"You've reached Caroline," I end the call. "She isn't answering." I say to Matt as I light more candles inside the grill.

"This wind is weird. One minute it was blowing like a hurricane, now nothing, not even a breeze." Matt says as he closes the front door again.