Carson Gilbert

Chapter Three

Everyone dealt with grief in different ways, no one ever reacted the same as someone else, and that showed itself now with how my family became broken with the death of our parents.

Each of us knew that our parents wouldn't want us to give up on living our lives, but that hole they left in their passing made that hard to focus upon.

"If you need anything," began Matt after grabbing my elbow when we arrived to school causing Jared and Garrett to pull ahead of us, "don't hesitate to ask."

Matt Donovan was a really kind guy and someone who had been hurt when Elena broke up with him during the bonfire all because he could see a future with her.

It had caused some issues since Garrett wasn't happy about what she did to his brother, and he wasn't afraid to say so whenever she tried to become my parental figure over the last few months.

A part of me appreciated that Jared and he were ready to go to bat for me against anyone. Even if that meant going against my siblings.

"Thanks for that," I offered while clasping his shoulder before letting go and moving to where Jared and Garrett were standing watching us. "No worries, he just wanted to make sure I knew he was here if I needed him. Which is surprising considering his current breakup with Elena."

Not many guys who had their heart broken would offer help to one of the siblings of the one who did the breaking. But that was what was so good about Matt, he wouldn't hesitate to offer help in any way he could to those who needed it.

Leave it to Elena to break the heart of the golden puppy. Not that I hadn't seen it coming, what with what I knew coming our way this year.

"Oi," called out Garrett the second we arrived at the gym and directly into the changing room since we had to get ready for morning practice. "If ya'll aren't ready in the next ten minutes then you'll be doing five laps around the track without stop."

The laps that Coach had designed were meant to draw out our full potential, by that I mean we didn't just do a set of laps, and each of them knew that was what Garrett was hinting at causing the guys joking around in the changing room to hurry up.

Not that we took that long to switch into our own uniforms. This was honestly the best way to keep from overthinking of the issues at home.

Something I hadn't had much of considering there had been so much to do after the funeral. Thankfully everyone on the team was understanding and didn't hold it against me.

Nor that neither Jared nor Garrett showed up for practice during those days. Everyone had already known that they were with me.

~ Time Skip - Lunch ~

"That was complete bullshit," grumbled Jared as we claimed a table for ourselves outside after getting our lunches from the cafeteria. "I swear there has to be some type of connection between Mr. Tanner and Ms. Sweets because there is no other explanation as to why both are complete dicks to the students."

We had heard too many stories concerning Mr. Tanner who taught history while Ms. Sweets was just as bad but was the one who taught math. No student was a fan of either of the teachers and many had bets that the two were either a secret couple or siblings.

Which just gave off creepy vibes all around. It was also surprising that neither had heard the rumor considering how quick secrets got around this town. Then again, they might just not care.

"Dude now that craps in my head," whined Garrett with a scowl while tossing one of his fries at Jared's face causing him to snatch it with his teeth with a grin. "Savage."

"Rather a savage than," began Jared only to grunt as Caroline arrived and shoved him over making jerk to the side. "What the hell barbie?!"

"That still isn't my name," shot back Caroline with a sneer before turning toward me with a bright warm smile that had me leaning away. "Have I told you how amazing you are? Because you totally are, and because you're so amazing I know you'll really tell me how Elena is doing."

"How do you think she's doing?" I asked with a sneer of my own while Garrett just scoffed and offered me a sip of his coke. "Our parents haven't been gone that long. We've had to make adjustments on top of helping Aunt Jenna move in while boxing up our parents' things."

Caroline winced at that. Not that I was purposely trying to attack her here, it's just sometimes she needed to learn when to think before speaking. On top of learning how to be sensitive about things.

"Speaking of," continued Jared while waving his hands in a shooing motion, "is seems that Elena and Bonnie both are looking for you. Might be best to leave now."

"Whatever," grumbled Caroline as she flounced back off to the table that Bonnie and Elena had claimed for themselves to likely talk about the new guy. "Lot of help you were."

Sometimes it was annoying that they even thought I'd have an answer for them. Like they never thought of me having my own life or minding my own business, because again, the world didn't revolve around Elena.

"I just don't get them," muttered Garrett with a shake of his head before grinning and waving Tyler and Matt over to our table. "You two took your time."

"Yeah, well, there was a line up over the new pretty boy," answered Tyler with a growl as he plopped down beside me while Matt took a seat beside Jared. "I swear that guy's all I've been hearing about all day. It's beyond fucking annoying."

"Someone's just jealous because new guy is getting all the girl's attention," added Matt with a chuckle even as he shot a side glance to where Elena was sitting. "Not that I don't get it considering we haven't had anyone new in town in forever."

"Yeah, you're saying that now," shot back Tyler with a roll of his eyes even as he began to dig into his food. "But wait until the pretty boy is hitting it off with Elena Gilbert."

I could only raise my eyebrow at that considering it wasn't far from the truth. If I remembered what my sister had shared with me, then part of it was because of some type of magic that was at play after the creation of the doppelgängers.

Which had always wigged me out considering Elena was a copy of Katherine who had turned Stefan and Damon over a hundred years ago. Now he was here because 'he had to get to know her' or at least that was what my sister had grumbled about.

There was a lot that I just didn't know that would cause issues in the future, I was sure. But either way, I planned to live this life to the fullest.

"How's the football team holding out?" I asked to break the silence and move the subject off Stefan Salvatore and Elena. "Because let me tell ya, things are going great with basketball."

"Tanner is as usual being a dick," answered Tyler with an eyeroll. "Not that I don't get it considering a few members on the team could pick up the slack."

From there the rest of lunch was about sports, classes, and the upcoming bonfire.