The Chosen One

Twenty Six: Highway

Jessica

              In walking from the front door of the Salvatore manor to my car, I didn't see any sign of a lurking hybrid but I knew that it didn't mean that there wasn't one out there. And sure enough not long after being on the highway and heading into town, Amelia and I both noticed a black sedan trailing us.

              Finding an empty parking space outside of the Grill, I parked the car and used my car mirror to watch the sedan. It slowed and parked outside of a store that was about a couple blocks down from the Grill.

               I directed my gaze over to Amelia. "You ready?"

               Amelia nodded. "Yes."

              Getting out of the car, I waited till Amelia got out and shut her door before I pushed the lock button on my remote car key. Together Amelia and I headed for the Grill. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that a man got out of the sedan and started walking towards the Grill in a seemingly casual manner, but I knew better.

               Inside the Grill I cast a searching look about the interior trying to locate Alaric and spotted him up at the bar with Meredith Fell. Nudging Amelia, I indicated towards the bar and swiftly made my way over towards them with Amelia following me. I wasn't sure what was going on between the two exactly but I had heard that Rick seemed to believe Meredith was innocent in the case of those deaths. I wasn't a hundred percent sure either way but she seemed nice enough.

              As we reached them, Rick noticed us and turned to us.

             "How many?" He asked vaguely though I knew he was asking how many hybrids were following Amelia and I.

            "Just one I think." I glanced from Meredith, who gave me a small friendly smile which I returned, before looking back to Rick. "Could you do me a favor?"

             Rick nodded. "Of course."

             I pulled my keys out of my pocket and put them into his hand. "Take care of my car will you?" I playfully narrowed my eyes at him, giving him a warning look. "And there better not be any dents or scratches. Got it?"

              Rick grinned. "Understood."

               "Thanks." I looked between the two of them again. "It was really great to meet the two of you."

               "You too." Meredith replied.

               "You can call me if you ever need anything." Rick said with apparent sincerity.

                I gave him a smile and a nod before looking to Amelia. "Come on. Let's hurry. He should be here by now." I said referring to Damon.

               Amelia and I hurriedly wove our way past the people standing around the bar. Just as we turned down the back entry hall, heading for the back door, I stopped to peer back around the corner. Looking back towards the front of the Grill, I saw the hybrid that had been driving the sedan, come through the front door. Turning away, I caught up with Amelia and together we speed walked to the back door and exited out of it to see Damon sitting in his collectable blue convertible. Sprinting over to him, we quickly hopped in. As soon as I had shut the door, Damon sped off.

              "Did he see you?" Damon darted a glance over at me as he sped down the back alley road behind the Grill. Hardly decreasing his speed, he whipped out onto the highway, heading north.