my stay with the Salvatore's

The girl

As Jessica and Stefan strolled through the familiar streets of Mystic Falls, they unexpectedly bumped into a young woman with striking features. Stefan's face lit up with recognition.

"Elena!" Stefan exclaimed, his eyes brightening.

Elena smiled warmly, but her gaze shifted curiously to Jessica. "Stefan, it's been a while. Who's your friend?"

Stefan turned to Jessica, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Elena, this is Jessica. Jessica, this is Elena, a very good friend of mine."

Jessica extended her hand, smiling politely. "Nice to meet you, Elena."

"Nice to meet you too, Jessica," Elena replied, shaking her hand. "What brings you both out and about today?"

Stefan glanced at Jessica before answering. "We were just taking a walk through town. It's such a beautiful day."

Elena nodded, her smile widening. "It really is. How about we grab a coffee at the Grill and catch up?"

Jessica and Stefan exchanged a quick glance, then nodded in agreement. "That sounds great," Jessica said, feeling a bit more at ease with Elena's friendly demeanor.

Together, they headed to the Grill, ready to share stories and enjoy each other's company in the heart of Mystic Falls.

As they settled into a booth at the Grill, Jessica couldn't help but let her jealousy seep through. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly at Elena.

"So, Elena," Jessica began, her tone sharp, "what exactly do you do around here? It must be pretty boring living in a small town like Mystic Falls."

Elena, taken aback by the abruptness, maintained her composure. "Well, I actually find it quite charming. There's a strong sense of community here, and I have my friends and family."

Jessica pressed on, not letting up. "Really? And what about your job? Do you even have one, or are you just living off your parents?"

Stefan's eyes widened in surprise at Jessica's rudeness, but Elena responded calmly. "I work at the local newspaper. It's not a big city job, but I enjoy it."

Jessica smirked. "Interesting. And what about your love life? Anyone special, or are you just waiting around for someone to come along?"

Stefan cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. "Jessica, maybe we should—"

Elena cut him off with a gentle smile. "It's okay, Stefan. Jessica, I understand that you're curious, but maybe we can talk about something else? I'd love to get to know you better too."

Jessica, realizing she might have pushed too far, nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, sure. Sorry if I was a bit forward."

The tension eased slightly as they shifted the conversation to lighter topics, trying to find common ground in the cozy atmosphere of the Grill.

Damon walked into the Grill, his eyes locking onto Jessica immediately. "Jessica," he greeted, his smirk widening as he approached their booth. "Fancy seeing you here."

Jessica rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a small smile. "Damon, always a pleasure."

Stefan's expression darkened as he watched Damon slide into the booth. "What are you doing here, Damon?" he asked, his voice tense.

Damon shrugged nonchalantly. "Just thought I'd join the party. Is that a problem, brother?"

Elena, sensing the tension but unaware of its true cause, looked between Stefan and Damon, confused. "Is everything okay?" she asked.

Stefan forced a tight smile, trying to keep his anger in check. "Yeah, everything's fine," he said, though his eyes told a different story.

Jessica shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the brothers' rivalry over her. "Maybe we should all just try to get along," she suggested, hoping to defuse the situation.

Damon leaned back, his eyes never leaving Stefan. "Oh, I'm all for getting along," he said smoothly. "Aren't you, Stefan?"