I tried not to... (Damon Salvatore)

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'Dear Diary,
     Today will be different. The grief will lessen and I will carry on. First day of college classes at Mystic Falls Community College and I will continue to further myself. I will be here for Elena and Jeremy. I'll be here to help Aunt Jenna. I'll be here for my parents. I will continue on. It's what they would have wanted.
                            Noelle Arya Gilbert'

     "Toast! I can make toast!", Aunt Jenna exclaimed turning her head from where it was facing the inside of the refrigerator to look back at us.
     "It's all about the coffee Aunt Jenna.", Elena exhaled while preparing her own mug of the steaming beverage.
     "Indeed it is!", I interjected, raising my own mug in a 'cheers' gesture.
     "Is there coffee?", Jeremy asked.
     "It's your first day of school and I'm completely unprepared.", Jenna exasperated while Elena passed Jeremy a mug of coffee.
     "Lunch money?", Jenna offered handing some bills out towards Elena and Jeremy. Jeremy readily accepted his while Elena declined.
     "Ella?", Jenna asked, holding some towards me.
     "I'm in college Jenna.", I chuckled.
    "College students gotta eat right?", She shot right back.
     "Im good. It's only orientation then I'll swing by The Mystic Grille for lunch when I'm done. Thank you for the offer though.", I answered with a smile.
     "Anything else I'm missing? A number two pencil?", Jenna wondered.
     "Don't you have that big presentation today?", Elena asked.
     "Yes, I'm supposed to be meeting with my thesis advisor...", Jenna trailed off glancing at her wrist. "Now! Crap!".
     "Go. We'll be fine.", Elena told her.
     "We got this.", I said. Jenna scurried off.
     "You okay?", Elena asked Jeremy.
     "Don't start.", He huffed back and walked away.
     "Are you okay?", I asked her.  She looked at me for a sec then slowly shook her head no with a tight lipped smile.
     "Are you?". I also shook my head no and returned the same tight lipped smile.

Orientation lasted much longer than I originally anticipated. But, alas I finally made it to the Mystic Grille for a late lunch. I found myself a booth and before long the front bell chimed and two familiar faces stood at the door scanning the room. They made eye contact with me while talking to each other. I waved and offered a smile and they made there was towards me.
"Mind if we join you?", Bonnie asked.
"Of course she doesn't.", Caroline exclaimed and took a seat across from me. Bonnie doing the same beside me.
"How are you doing Ella?", Bonnie asked.
"I'm good Bon Bon. You?", I asked back.
"I'm good.", She responded. Caroline went to say something but we were interrupted as Elena and an unknown boy made their way over to us.
"Can we sit?", Elena asked. I went to agree, but was interrupted by Caroline's chipper voice.
"Absolutely!", She gushed and I had to repress the urge to roll my eyes. Caroline and Bonnie rose from their seats and came to my side of the table. I slid over to make room and they sat beside me. Elena and the unknown boy taking the other side.
"Ella this is a new friend from school. His name is Stefan. Stefan this is my big sister Noelle.", Elena introduced us.
"It's nice to meet you Noelle.", Stefan smiled at me and offered his hand to shake. I took it.
"Likewise Stefan.", I responded with a small smile.
"So you used to live in Mystic Falls?", Caroline asked Stefan.
"Uh-huh. Moved when I was still young.", He nodded.
"Parents?", She questioned.
"They passed away.", He answered. Elena and I made eye contact before she turned to Stefan. I moved my gaze to Bonnie to see her already looking at me.
"I'm sorry.", Elena told him. He nodded once at her. "Any siblings?".
"None that I talk to. I live with my uncle.", He elaborated. The moment was cut short by Caroline. Of course.
"So Stefan! If you're new here, you don't know about the party tomorrow!".
"It's a back to school thing. At the falls.", Bonnie explained.
"Are you going?", He asked Elena.
"Of course she is!", Bonnie said at the same time I said "Oh she's going!". Elena cut her eyes to us with a smile before tucking her hair behind her ear and looking back at Stefan.