Fall

Chapter 27: The Turning Point

I sit down at the table, slowly sipping at the tea in my hands as my mom gets ready to go to school herself. Elena bounds down the stairs, looking half ready for the day, a smile on her face. "Jeremy's got his sketch pad out."

I look up from my drink, sitting straighter in my chair. "You're kidding." I remark, excited at the prospect. Jeremy hasn't been the same since his parents died, and everything with Vicki. Though, I guess he doesn't remember that now. But if he's getting back into the things that he loved, that's a really good sign. 

"Nope, but don't say a word. The minute we encourage him, he'll put it away." Elena comes further down the stairs, grabbing her coat from the coat hanger and putting it around her shoulders. She fluffs out her hair as I bring the mug back to my lips, letting the subtle flavor of lavender and chamomile wash over my tongue. 

My mom shoots Elena a smile. "Psychology major. Check that." We both watch as Elena looks at her phone in frustration, my mom now sending her a sympathetic look. "You and Stefan? Update?" I take another sip from my mug to hide my face, to hide my reaction to this, while also listening in. 

"He knows how I feel and where I stand and I know where he stands, but it doesn't matter. He's leaving, moving away." Elena buttons up her jacket with a sigh and I place my mug in the sink, grabbing my bag for school. My mom follows after us, confusion on her face. 

"Where's he going?"

Elena opens the door for the both of us, facing my mom. "I've stopped asking questions, the answers get scary." We exit the house and walk towards our cars, my mom shooting me a hopeful look. 

"Well, he and Kara have gotten really close, right? Maybe you could ask him?" I could throttle my mom right then and there. Elena raises an eyebrow at me and I press my lips into a thin line. I take a deep breath and shrug. 

"Yeah, we've...we're close. I could ask him, but I doubt he's going to give me a better answer than he'll give Elena." I swallow hard, walking down the steps of our porch. Elena narrows her eyes at me for a moment before turning back to my mom, who addresses her now. 

"Well Elena, yours leaves. Mine returns." My mom says disappointedly. I slip my arms through my own jacket, trying to get it on as we walk down. Logan Fell is back? 

Elena seems to be thinking the same thing as me, because she asks my mom that exact same thing. "Logan?" She sends me a look and I pinch at the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. God, why is that human stain back?

"He's back." We all groan as we get to our cars. "I didn't let him pass the front door." My mom turns back to me with her arm outstretched, a bit defensive. The front door, huh? No, no I'm being too paranoid. There's no way Logan Fell of all people is a vampire now. 

I shrug on the other sleeve of my jacket. "I hope you slammed it in his face." That's the least of what I'd do if he encountered me. Probably spit in his face, slap it, something epic and hostile like that. It's what he deserves. 

My mom grimaces a bit, giving me a look that says she did not. "Ah, medium slam."

Elena and I both take a breath, before she tosses a knowing glance at my mom. "Three-strike rule, Jenna. You're not even allowed to watch the news." She purses her lips and flips her hair while my mom adjusts her purse on her shoulder. 

"Exactly. No more Logan "Scum" Fell." She agrees with us, climbing into her car. I grin at the nickname and call after her. 

"Damn straight!" I get into the car, Elena climbing in next to me. Ah yes, my turn to drive us this morning. I turn on the car and pull out of the driveway, taking us to school. I turn on the radio, letting whatever stupid and upbeat pop song was on fill the space between us.