Always and Forever

Family Secrets:

~Elena's Point of View~

It's the morning after the decade dance, and while I'd like to take care of my hangover in bed... it's not happening. We need to clear some more things out of the attic. It's always hard donating things that my parents once cherished so much, but money is essential and something we don't have a lot of since their passing. As I walk towards the attic, I notice Jeremy's still asleep. He's probably still high out of his mind.

I walk into his bedroom to rip the sheets off him. He immediately jolts up. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He tries to pull the sheets back but I pull them back before he can reach them. "Get out of bed, we're cleaning the attic today." He shivers before attempting to pull the sheets back. "No. I'm going back to bed." I'm so tired of him. "I'm tired of this, Jeremy."

Everyone is at this point. "Everyday you're too tired because all you do is get high and argue with anyone who doesn't agree with how you're screwing up your life." My patience is starting to become very thin. "You know what I'm tired of, Elena?" He stands up from the bed. "You, trying to erase anything that has a trace of mom and dad. I swear if this wasn't the only place we had to live, you'd burn it to the ground."

Usually this would be where I let it go, and he'd win the argument. "Well, I wouldn't have to erase everything if you got a job, or stopped wasting all your money on drugs." He rolls his eyes. "Where's your job, Elena? Last time I checked, a former cheerleader isn't a source of income." I brush him off. "Get out of bed and get up to the attic." As I head up to the attic my phone vibrates in my back pocket.

Once I take it out, I read Bonnie's text message quickly. She just wanted to know how I was feeling. After I reply to her, I begin to work on the box from yesterday morning. As I'm going through the box, I notice a picture hanging from one of my scrapbooks. It's the summer Aurelia and Cassandra came into town. I smile at the distant memory of our Friday night bonfires with smores and popcorn. Now that I look at it, I'm surprised we didn't notice something off about them sooner. They look the same.

Things with Cassie and I really changed after our argument at the back to school party. We both said things that no one would say to someone they care about. For some reason I felt the need to let the jealousy get the best of me. When I saw Stefan walk into that classroom, I didn't think I would stand a chance with him. Seeing him with Cassandra now, it's like they were meant for each other. When you walk into the same room as them you can feel the love in the air. I'm sure they'll still share that love even if things don't end with them together. I just wish things could go back to us being close.

After a few more seconds of staring at the image of the five of us smiling in our makeshift tent, I place it beside me. I'll probably find a frame for it somewhere in here. "Hey there." Aunt Jenna peaks her head through the hatch. "Hey, Jenna." I send her a soft smile. "Jeremy's pretty rowdy down there." She climbs up the ladder. "I just wish he didn't see this as me wanting to get rid of them."

A sigh escapes my lips. "I'm trying to hold onto as much of them as I can, so when he says things like that it's just-" I pause as I try to find the right words. "Frustrating?" She chuckles to lighten the mood. "Exactly." I nod in agreement. "He's just going through his phase right now. I'm sure he'll be back to playing video games and annoying you soon." She pats my head. "Doesn't he do that now?"

My attention falls back onto the box in front of me. "Fair enough." She chuckles. "I just wish that we didn't have to do this." It's hard enough going through their things, let alone doing it so we can sell them. "Me too, kiddo." She sighs. "I'm picking up a second job, and hopefully once the next semester starts, I'll do a lot better." A soft smile forms on her lips. "Well, I'm gonna let you get back to this, these errands aren't gonna run themself."