Power Inside *The Vampire Diaries*

Chapter 20

Mom was still upset for the other night and Elena wasn't still talking to her. It was petty. Mom was not at fault if Aunt Miranda and Uncle Greyson lied about her birth.

However, Elena being upset about her birth parents made me question of who my father was. I just had a name. Andrew Bennett. That was something at least, right? Better than what Elena had. And yet, I didn't know how to bring the subject to mom about it. She had never mentioned his name or wished he was there to help her raise me. Was it bad of my part asking mom about a crucial part of our past at this moment? And if I asked, what was I suppose to say? 'Hey, mom. I was snooping around your things the other night because some weirdy banshee thing made me question some things about myself and I found out my dad's name and that he was some kind of warlock. Can you tell me about him and why he isn't present in my life?'

I couldn't do that to my mom. At least not now. Not when she was called a liar recently about parental stuff. I wasn't heartless and besides, as far as I know, mom was oblivious to the whole supernatural thing. I had to go easy on her. Maybe one day I'll began by telling her what I am.

A knock in the door snapped me from my thoughts making me jump a little.

Jeremy gave me an amused look, looking up from his sketching "You okay, jumpy?"

I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, standing up "Yeah. Just thinking"

Jeremy nodded slowly, standing up "Do you have cash?"

Jeremy walked away from the kitchen, going to the living room, walking toward the door, opening it.

"Hey" A guy told him, "It's gonna be $22"

Jeremy looked at me over his shoulder, "Jill?"

"Give me a second" I told him, walking away from the kitchen, toward the coach, picking up my purse, looking for money.

Jeremy looked at the pizza delivery guy, gesturing at him to come in "Uh, here. Come in. Just put it on the table"

I paused briefly, a shivering going down my bak. Every time 'come in' was said to someone, I had a bad feeling. I glanced at the guy as Jeremy walked toward the dinning room. He had some kind of smug smile as he walked in after a moment, following Jeremy, placing the pizza on the table.

I shook off the moment, not wanting to look paranoid and retrieved the money from my wallet, giving him the money, "Here. Keep the change and thanks"

Elena walked in.

The guy nodded, starting to walk backwards, out of the house. "Nah, no problem. And you have yourself a good night"

I smiled slightly, closing the door once he was outside, furrowing my brows, puzzled and confused for a moment.

"Tell me that's food" Elena told us.

"Pizza" Jeremy replied.

Elena smiled, looking at me questionably.

I forced a smile, "Yummy"

~8~

At school next day, Caroline, Elena and I were walking across the lawn together in the courtyard. Elena had gifted Caroline with a necklace. She had told me that morning it had vervain, which was some kind of repellant herb/plant against vampires and that the necklace she wore and the bracelet Stefan had gifted me briefly after we met also had vervain. To think he had been protecting me since the beginning with Elena made me try to slightly soften my harsh attitude toward him. Slightly. I was still mad at him for putting Elena's life and all of ours at risk. And I was still mad at Elena for the way she treated mom but pretending everything was okay was a talent in our family. No one could tell Elena and I were tense with each other.