anne

34 | Where were you?

Anne's timeline

Late August

• ____________ •

"Anne, dear. It's great to have you back. Enjoy your vacation?"

She smiled at the receptionist of her apartment building, as she headed for the elevator.  "It was lovely, thank you."

"Oh, wait!" The lady called out to her, catching her attention as the doors opened. "Can you tell that friend of yours to keep it down? We've had some noise complaints over the last few days."

"What friend—" Anne was cut off by the doors shutting. Whether it was the motion of the ascending elevator or this new information of a 'friend' in her apartment, Anne felt suddenly anxious. 

She'd left her phone in her apartment months ago while she'd been away, so if this guest had been hoping to contact her and used her apartment as the last resort, they must have been sorely disappointed. 

The doors chimed opened, and Anne hesitated to walk out—only for a second, but long enough for her to be aware of it and kick herself mentally for letting the fear of her lack of powers have any impact on her whatsoever. Although, if she was being honest, it really only was Mikael that had crossed her mind. 

She knew that if he wasn't already back on earth, he would be soon. Her brother's warnings were too frightening to not be the truth. Regardless, Anne stepped out into the hallway walked to her door, quietly listening in for anyone inside. 

Jazz from her phonograph, a sizzle from a pan, a the strong smell of potatoes. Anne frowned, until she heard a clatter and someone yell out, "Oh bugger, that's bloody burnt."

Her eyes widened, and she burst through the door.

"Enzo?"

Enzo turned around with a towel hanging over his shoulder and a bottle of wine in hand. He beamed and opened his arms, "I've been waiting for you."

::: ::: :::

"I've been here for over two months now, where were you?"

Anne dumped her suitcase and bag at the door and ran to Enzo, enveloping him in a hug that made his wine spill. 

"How are you here?"

Enzo smiled, putting his glass down and hugging her back. "Bonnie Bennet brought me back."

"Oh, thank god. Now I don't have to kill Stefan."

"Oh, believe me," Enzo joked, patting her hair, "With Damon gone, I'm sure he'll do it himself, if he hasn't already."

Anne pulled away, "What do you mean?"

Enzo frowned, "Damon's gone? Didn't you know that?"

"What?"

"No one told you?"

Anne shook her head, and Enzo squeezed her shoulder, watching sadness and bewilderment fill her eyes. Remembering that her phone was in her room, she bolted to it and turned it on, walking back to the kitchen where Enzo was waiting for her. It took a minute for the device to switch back on, but when it did her screen was flooded by messages. From Klaus, from Enzo, from her coworkers and her coding friend James, even from Caroline. 

She looked up at her friend, confusion crossing her face. 

"Enzo, what happened?"

And so began a catch-up over a dinner of roast chicken and vegetables—that faced some criticism from Anne—and several bottles of wine. Anne shared what had happened in New Orleans, and Enzo shared the news and drama updates of Mystic Falls.