HEART LIKE GLASS

15

Roman and Elena sat on the porch swing as the vampire rested his head in her lap.
"Hey Bonnie just checking in seeing how you're doing. We miss you here. Don't let your aunt drive you too crazy."
Roman sighed in content as Elena ran her fingers through his hair.
The boy had been beyond shocked when Elena told him the tomb was open and that Sheila Bennet had died in the process.
"What are you two doing out here? It's cold."
Jenna smiled down at the two teenagers.
Roman was very fond of Elena's aunt, she always seemed very happy.
"Thinking, writing. The, uh, funeral for Bonnie's grandma, it brought back a lot about mom and dad. I was wondering...you said that you would do some digging about them, the adoption."
The awkwardness made Roman cringe slightly.
"Right."
Jenna bit her cheek slightly.
"So did you dig?"
"Let's go inside."
Jenna nodded them in.
Roman left the girls to talk as he grabbed his bike keys.
"See you both later."
Roman smiled jogging out and hopping on his bike.

❁

"Need some help?"
Roman chuckled seeing Alaric trying to hang a banner outside of the Mystic Grill.
The history teacher laughed as well looking down at the boy.
"Please?"
The two hadn't talked since Roman had been at his apartment.
"I heard Jenna saying you were staying with them now, wanna talk about it?"
Alaric asked as Roman cleared his throat tensely.
"You excited for the fundraiser?"
He changed the subject quickly.
"I don't know. It's just weird, you know, me being raffled off like a Disney Cruise."
Roman laughed as he and Alaric stepped back.
"Maybe you'll get lucky."
Roman smiled biting his lip as Alaric laughed looking at the ground.
"You realize you haven't been in class in like a month?"
Roman laughed, a real genuine laugh, as he shook his head.
"Is that your biggest concern when I talk to you?"
Roman grinned as Alaric chuckled.
"Just recently, I wanna make sure you're okay."
Roman went to open his mouth when Jenna walked between the two.
"Can I talk to you?"
And with that Alaric was swept away, all of Roman's thoughts on the tip of his tongue.

❁

Roman sat around the Grill downing glasses of whiskey as he tried to get rid of the pit of anxiety in his chest.
He had no idea why it was there.
"Won't drinking broad daylight blow your high school act?"
Roman chuckled as Alaric walked up to him.
"You know?"
Alaric nodded handing Roman another glass.
"Damon."
Alaric said simply as Roman nodded.
"Well it looks like the raffle is starting Mr. Saltzman."
Roman smirked teasingly as Alaric rolled his eyes.
"Good luck."
Roman laughed grinning.

Roman watched as Alaric fidgeted on stage, slightly feeling bad for him.
"Number 4, Alaric Saltzman. Wow. That's quite a mouthful. What do you do, Alaric?"
Carol Lockwood questioned as Alaric held back an eye roll.
"I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls high."
Alaric forced a smile.
"Oh, beauty and brains, ladies. This one's a keeper. What do you teach?"
Roman snorted obnoxiously as Alaric laughed lightly his eyes catching the vampires.
"History."
Roman winked as Alaric shook his head.
"History. Oh, well, give us a fun fact about Mystic Falls, something crazy."
"Uh, well..."
"He's probably saving the best stories for his date. And last, but not least, Damon Salvatore. We don't have much on you."
Roman rolled his eyes, was it that hard to write down 'Selfish dick'?
"Well, I'm tough to fit on a card."
Damon smirked as Roman scoffed flipping his glass upside down.
"Do you have any hobbies, like to travel?"
"Likes to abandon his family."
Roman grumbled under his breath.
"Oh, yeah. L.A., New York. Couple of years ago, I was in North Carolina. Near the Duke campus, actually. I think—I think Alaric went to school there. Didn't you, Ric?"
Roman clenched his fists as he watched Alaric tense.
"Yeah, 'cause I-- I know your wife did. I had a drink with her once. She was—she was a great girl-"
Roman had stood at this point stomping toward the stage.
"I ever tell you that? Cause she was -- Delicious. Mmm!"
Before Damon had time to turn around Roman threw a hard punch to his jaw people gasping as they heard a sickening crack.
Roman went to kick Damon again when a hand grabbed his arm.
He looked at Alaric with rage in his eyes, but it all disappeared when he saw the hurt in the man's eyes.
"He isn't worth it."
Alaric whispered.
Roman grunted storming out of the grill, anger still on his conscious.

❁

Roman had gone back to the boarding house to gather the rest of his things.
But when he saw Alaric on the floor with a stake in his chest, and Stefan and Damon arguing he about lost it.
"God you ruin everything don't you!"
Roman yelled kneeling down by Alaric.
"Roman-"
"Get the hell out of here Damon before I do something you'll regret."
Roman hissed as Damon quickly moved upstairs.
Roman looked at Alaric, a wave of relief washing over him when he saw a Gilbert ring on his finger.
Suddenly Alaric shot up gasping for breath.
"What happened? What's going on?"
Alaric looked around panicking.
"Hey, hey you're okay. You're alright."
Roman placed his hands on Alaric's shoulders as he tried to calm him down.
"Did Damon turn him?"
Stefan questioned.
"No. I- I went for him and then he, uh-- he stabbed me."
Alaric said confused as he remembered the encounter.
"No, no, no. You must have vampire blood in your system. Somebody slipped it to you."
"Wrong."
Roman smiled lazily at his brother who looked beyond confused.
"He has a Gilbert ring."
Roman glances down holding out his hand and helping Alaric up.
"How do you know that?"
Stefan asked as Roman chuckled shaking his head.
"I know a lot of things you don't brother."