The Owl Gilbert

1:2: The Comet

I'm walking out of my room with my bag over my shoulders and see Jenna and Elena in the hallway as Jenna is dressed up. "Do I look adult? As in respectfully parental?" Jenna asks. "Depends where you're going." I say and Jenna walks to her room and we stand by the door as she's looking in her mirror. "Jeremy's parent-teacher conference. Hair up or down?" She asks and puts her hair up. "Sexy Stewardess." Elena says and Jenna smiles, putting her hair down. "Boozy Housewife." I say. "Up it is. You guys are fiesty today." She says. "I feel good, which is rare. So I've decided to go with it." Elena says. "Me too. I got nominated in the top hundred for my psychology essay. Then it'll be in the tens and then top three, when I win." I say and smile at them both. "Where is Jeremy?" Elena asks. "He left early. Something about getting to wood shop early to finish a birdhouse." Jenna says and we look at her, confused. "There is no wood shop, is there?" She asks. "No." Elena says. "Yeah." Jenna says.

I'm in Tanner's class as he's talking about the comet that is happening tomorrow night. "Originally discovered nearly five centuries ago, it hasn't been over Mystic Falls in over a hundred and forty-five years. Now, the comet will be its brightest right after dusk during tomorrow's celebration. Are we bothering you, Mr. Salvatore? Ms. Gilbert?" Tanner says, looking between them both after he walks over to them.

I'm walking with Elena and Matt outside. "They're keeping her overnight to make sure there's no infection, but she should be able to come home tomorrow. They said she only survived because of Adam. So, thanks." He says smiles at me. "You're welcome." I say. "That's good news." Elena says. "Yeah." Matt says. "Did you get in touch with your Mom?" She asks. "Called and left a message. She's in Virginia Beach with her boyfriend, so.. we'll see how long it takes her to come rushing home." He says. "Vicki's lucky that she's okay." Elena says. " I know, and now there's talk of some missing campers." Matt says. "Did she say what kind of animal it was that attacked her?" Elena asks. "She said it was a vampire." He says. "What?" I ask. Could that be what I saw in the woods, the shadow. Could they actually be real? "Yeah, she wakes up last night and mutters 'vampire' and passes out." Matt says. "Ok that is weird." Elena says. "I think she was drunk. So what's up wirh you and the new guy?" Matt asks and we look at Stefan; his back turned to us as he's sitting on the table and we look back at Matt. "Matt, the last thing that I want to do is hurt you." She says. "You know, I'm.. I'm actually gonna go back to the hospital. I want to be there when Vicki wakes up, get the real story about last night." Matt says and walks off, and Elena and I look to see that Stefan is gone.

I arrive to the Salvatore Boarding House that Elena dragged me to. "Why exactly did you bring me here again?" I ask. "Because I didn't want to go alone and he's just as much of a friend to you as he is to me." She says and I smile at her. "Seems more than just a friendship building up if you ask me between you two." I say and she smiles back, and pulls on the bell with her right hand and I use the door knocker with mine, and the door slowly creaks open. "The first scene in literally every horror movie." I say and we walk in. "Stefan?" Elena asks and we walk around, looking for him. "Stefan?" I ask and we look at his huge living room, but he's not there and we hear creaking from behind us, and walk over to the door that is now open all the way, and a crow comes flying in, screeching and we quickly turn around, being face to face with a guy with stunning blue eyes and black hair as he's smiling at us.

We're still in the Salvatore Boarding House with the guy in front of us. "I--I'm sorry for barging in." She says. "Yeah. The door was.." I say and turn around to see the door now closed. "Open." I say and look back at him. "You must be Elena and Adam. I'm Damon, Stefan's brother." He says. "He didn't tell us he had a brother." I say. "Well, Stefan's not one to brag. Please, come. I'm sure Stefan will be along any second." He says and leads us to his living room. "Wow. This is your living room?" Elena asks as we notice how huge the room is. "Living room, parlor, Sotheby's auction. It's a little kitschy for my taste. I see why my brother's so smitten." He says and we look at him. "It's about time. For a while there, I never thought he'd get over the last one. Nearly destroyed him." Damon says. "The last one?" I ask. "Yeah. Katherine, his girlfriend?" He asks and Elena shakes her head. "Oh, you two haven't had the awkward exes conversation yet." Damon says. "Nope." She says. "Oops. Well, I'm sure it'll come up now. Or maybe he didn't want to tell you because he didn't want you to think he was on the rebound." He says and Elena nods. "We all know how those relationships end. Except you." He says and looks at me. "You've never dated anyone, have you?" He asks. "No, I haven't. You make it sound like every relationship is doomed to end." I say. "I'm a Fatalist. Hello, Stefan." Damon says and we turn around, looking at Stefan. "Elena, Adam. I didn't know you two were coming over." He says and Elena starts walking towards him. "I know. I should have called, I just--." She says and Damon interrupts her and we look at him. "Oh, don't be silly. You two are welcome here anytime. Aren't they, Stefan?" Damon asks, walking over to him. "You know, I should break out the family photo albums or some home movies. But..I have to warn you. He wasn't always such a looker." Damon says and we smile at him. "Thank you for stopping by, Adam, Elena. Nice to see you both." Stefan says. "Yeah, we should probably go." I say and look up at Damon. "It was nice to meet you, Damon." I say and he shakes my hand. "Great meeting you, too, Adam." He says and kisses the top of my hand, and lets it go. Elena and I turn to walk out the door, and Stefan is in front of us. "Stefan?" Elena asks. "Stefan?" I ask and he moves to the left side to let us leave.

I'm in the kitchen with Jenna and Elena as Elena is pouring syrup in her oatmeal. "He's on the rebound and has raging family issues." Elena says. Well, at least it's an ex-girlfriend. "Wait till you date a guy with mommy issues or cheating issues. Or amphetamine issues." Jenna says as I see she's holding a red apple in her right hand and we hear the front door open, and see Jeremy walk in with his hood up. "Jeremy." Jenna says and he heads up the stairs. "Jeremy, where were you?" She asks, walking to the stairs and I steal a bite of Elena's oatmeal. "Mm. Good oatmeal." I say.

It's almost sundown on the night of the comet as I'm walking with Elena and Bonnie and we're passing out flyers for the event; handing them out to various people walking past us. "He didn't call, huh?" Bonnie asks. "Or text. But I realized we never even exchanged that stuff. We've never gotten to the texting part." Elena says. "That's an important milestone in any relationship." Bonnie says. "Isn't it? The timing is wrong, anyway." Elena says. "When is it ever right?" Bonnie asks. "I'm not ready, Bonnie." Elena says. "Who is?" Bonnie asks and we stop walking. "At least I put myself out there." Elena says. "Is that what you're calling it?" I ask. "What do you mean?" She asks. "Stefan is a great guy and is probably just as nervous to talk to you as you are to him." I say. "Do you know something I don't?" She asks and I shake my head. "I just know he's a great guy." I say and smile at her. "And all we're hearing is reasons why you can't." Bonnie says. "So, how about you and Damon?" Elena asks, looking at me and I roll my eyes. "Who's Damon?" Bonnie asks. "Stefan's brother." Elena says. "Ooh, maybe you two can double date." Bonnie says and they both laugh. "Ok, yes. He's hot but I'm fifteen and he's probably twenty something. And last time I checked, that's illegal." I say.

It's nighttime as I'm holding a lit candle in my right hand as we're supposed to go around, lighting other people's and I light someone's. "Thank you." Stefan says and I look up at him. "Hi." I say and he smiles at me. "Hi. I don't know where Elena is." I say. "I'm sorry about yesterday. Damon and I aren't close at all." He says. "He told me about your ex, Katherine." I say. "What did he say?" He asks. "That she broke your heart." I say. "It was a long time ago." He says. "Elena cares about you. She's just as nervous to talk to you as you are. And don't deny it because I'm a Psychology Major and can tell." I say and we smile at each other.

I'm at the Grill with Tyler, Bonnie and Elena, and see Caroline and Matt walk in along with Jeremy. "Hey, has anyone seen Vicki?" Jeremy asks. "You're her stalker. You tell us." Tyler says. "I can't find her." Jeremy says. "She probably found somebody else to party with. Sorry, Pill Pusher, I guess you've been replaced." Tyler says, smiling at him. "What's with the Pill Pusher thing?" I ask. "Ask him?" Tyler says and I look at Jeremy. "You wanna do this right now?" He asks. "Are you dealing?" Elena asks. "She's never gonna go for you." Tyler says. "She already did. Over and over and over again." Jeremy says. "Yeah, right." Tyler says. "You slept with Vicki Donovan? I mean, Vicki Donovan slept with you?" Caroline asks as we look at her. "There's no way." Tyler says. "And I didn't even have to force her into it." Jeremy says and we all look at Tyler. "What the hell is he talking about, Ty?" Matt asks. "Nothing man, just ignore him, he's a punk." Tyler says. "And you're a dick. Get over yourself." I say and everyone looks at me. "Someone had to say it. We were all thinking it." I say. "You know what, how about all of you shut up and help me find my sister?" Matt asks. "We'll check the back." Bonnie says. "I'll check the square." Matt says. "I'll come with you." Jeremy says, about to walk off with him and Elena grabs his right arm as we all stand up to go our separate ways. "Oh, no, no, no. You and Adam are coming with me. So that's your game now, dealing?" She asks, letting his arm go. "I'm not dealing." Jeremy says. "Look, I'm sick of the tough love speech, Jer. It's clearly having no impact." Elena says. "You and Jenna, between the two of you. Enough already! At least Adam doesn't hassle me." Jeremy says. "We can stop if you want. Send you to a therapist where you'll be forced to deal with it or to rehab where you'll sit in group and tell some stranger how you let your life fall apart. Or you could talk to me and Adam. Basically our own sibling Psychicatrist." Elena says. "I vote for none of the above." Jeremy says and walks off.

I'm at home and hear rummaging around in Jeremy's room and walk in to see Elena in Jeremy's chair, holding a mini bong and Jenna going through his drawers. "Yes, I am. You know why? Because I'm not her. She made everything look so easy. You know, high school, marriage, having two and Jeremy. I can't do it. I'm gonna say or do the wrong thing, and he's gonna get worse, and it's gonna be my fault." Jenna says and sits on the bed. "It's impossible." She says and Elena and I lean forward to her. "This is just the fear talking. You're a little scared, that's all." Elena says. "We all are." I say. "He's right and I have to go do something. But are you going to be ok?" She asks and Jenna nods at her, smiling. "Yeah, we'll be okay. We're gonna watch Twilight. And if it makes you feel any better, Aunt Jenna, Stefan outsmarted Tanner in class." I say and we all laugh. "I'm liking Stefan already." She says.