Burn - N.M & E.M

Chapter 15

Elena, Caroline, and Chelsea are painting the veranda as they volunteer to help rejuvenate the nature park.

"So suddenly, she's in the running for Mother of the year just when I'm trying to avoid her the most. I'm babbling, you don't want to hear all this." Caroline says.

"Of course, we want to hear how your coping, Care." Chelsea says glaring at Elena who is a little bit too busy staring at Stefan, who she is apparently fighting with.

"Yeah, sorry. And then what happened?" Elena asks.

"Well, I was a bitch which is par for the course with us. Chelsea, are you still giving Bonnie the silent treatment?" Caroline inquires.

"Is that what she said? I'm not giving her the silent treatment it's just that every time we talk now it turns into a fight and I can't handle anymore arguments." Chelsea informs although as she says it she realises that she really is giving her sister the silent treatment.

"I don't like that you both are fighting because of me." Caroline says.

"But that's the thing Care it's not truly about you anymore. I mean it started out that way sure but Bonnie just...she just refuses to listen to anything that isn't her side of the argument. And that isn't how conversations are supposed to go. You are supposed to listen and then talk, not talk over the other person. She's being childish." Chelsea huffs out, annoyance radiating through her body at the thought of her sister.

Things go quiet for a while as neither girl knows what to say to calm Chelsea down.

"So, Elena, how are things between you and Stefan? Anything?" Caroline asks changing the topic.

"No, not since the fight. He's been pushing me away because he thinks that Katherine might get jealous enough to hurt me. I just don't know how to change his mind." Elena says sadly.

"Doesn't he kind of have a point though. Katherine is dangerous." Chelsea inquires.

"Yeah, I know that she's dangerous and I know that he's just trying to protect me, but it feels like giving up and I just..." Elena trails off.

"Just what?" Caroline queries.

"I just thought that we were stronger than that." Elena admits.

Elena keeps looking over at Stefan and Stefan keeps looking over at Elena.

"Oh, oh. Longing looks are being exchanged." Caroline states.

"I'm going to talk to him." Elena says.

"No, Elena. I think it's a bad idea." Caroline calls out.

"Let her. They are in a public place it can't go that badly, right?" Chelsea points out.

Elena leaves and heads towards Stefan as Damon joins then in the veranda.

"What's her problem?" Damon asks.

"Don't worry about it." Caroline answers.

"Why are you being such a bitch to your mom?" Damon queries.

"Don't worry about it." Caroline repeats.

Chelsea watches Elena and Stefan out of the corner of her eye whilst she paints. She can tell that Damon and Caroline are listening in to the conversation happening and Chelsea feels jealous that she can't.

Suddenly both Elena and Stefan turn to look at Damon and Caroline, causing them to slightly turn their heads away, giving away that they were listening.

Elena leaves Stefan and walks away.

"Did that sound as fake as it looked?" Chelsea asks as she brings her focus back to painting.