Your Saviour | Stefan Salvatore

21: The Day Of The Dead

Present Day

Eleanor woke up with a terrible headache and the feeling that she woke up in a place that she wasn't supposed to be. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed that she was laying on a worn couch in a basic home. With a worried look on her face, she sat up speedily to be faced with Matt.

"Woah, steady soldier," She told him as he sat beside her on the sofa and handed her a cup of tea. She threw the blanket off her and took the mug in her own frozen hands before adding, "What happened last night? Please say I didn't do anything stupid."

Matt chuckled as he watched her take a sip of her hot drink, "You didn't, don't worry. You fell asleep in my truck so I took you here. I figured that Damon and Stefan would be grieving about Alaric." She remembered the fact that the Saltzman had died at the hands of Esther instead of becoming an Original Vampire hunter. Alas, he had died a martyr definitely.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Eleanor began without realising, looking up at the Donovan, "He was a good man." Matt smiled weakly at her as he remembered that he would never see Alaric again. He was the only other human in Mystic Falls, but he got caught in the crossfire. Eleanor could sense he was upset so she put her hand on his and told him, "Alaric wouldn't want anybody to be down in the dumps because of him. He did what was needed, not for the supernatural but for people like you. We didn't need any more people caught in the crossfire."

"That's the truest thing you've said - ever." Matt chuckled before grasping onto her hand.

Maybe it was as easy as that to find someone to love and cherish. Eleanor Hemmings had spent her days searching and caring for a man that truly didn't deserve her love, but deserved much more than she could offer. In reality, she didn't care whether the person she loved drove a Lamborghini or a run-down truck. Even the job, whether they were sweeping the streets or serving higher-class - she just wanted someone to love her the way she wanted to be loved. In her mind, she believed that man could easily be Matt.

"I better go..." She stuttered restlessly, slipping her hand out from underneath the blue-eyed human's and placing down her mug, "Things to do, people to see. You know what I mean." Eleanor added as the corners of her lips tugged upwards.

Matt tutted, "Of course." But Eleanor quickly turned around and looked into his sapphire eyes, noticing how different they were from the Salvatore's. A new start is what she needed.

"Thank you, Matt. You've done so much for me, I can't thank you enough. I promise I'll see you soon, okay?" She asked him impatiently, not trying to sound rude when she was about to leave instantly. He compressed a laugh but couldn't contain his grin.

"Okay." Matt agreed as he walked her towards the door and handed a navy hoodie to her which was hung up by the door. She took it in her arms and studied it for a moment, realising it wasn't a female's hoodie. Stiffly, he explained, "It's cold out." She leaned against the door for a moment as she smirked to herself,

"Matt, vampire's don't get-" But he interrupted her whilst blinding her with his smile,

"I know. Just go with it, okay?" He pleaded her as his cheeks turned flustered. Eleanor couldn't stop smiling as she pulled it over her head and over her frame. It smelled like him, like honey and a variety of spices. She couldn't imagine anything better.

"Okay," She nodded to him as she opened the door and stepped out before turning back towards him, "Goodbye Matt."

❊❊❊

Back at the Gilbert Residence where Damon had texted her to meet him - A.S.A.P as he would put it - Eleanor searched through piles of freshly cleaned laundry to find a spare towel before handing it to Stefan. But her eyes didn't quite meet his.