BORN TO DIE, stefan salvatore [1]

41 - THE BIRTHDAY

BORN TO DIE
THE BIRTHDAY

SUMMER WASN'T WHAT MADELEINE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. Stefan was still missing, a puppet for Klaus as he sold himself into servitude in order to save his brother from a werewolf bite. The last two months of summer break had been split between road trips with Caroline, working at the Grill, and road trips with Damon as they investigated Stefan's whereabouts, all unknown to Elena which was the real kicker.

Madeleine hated keeping secrets but when Damon warned her not to tell Elena that Stefan had been mutilating bodies across the Eastern seaboard, Madeleine understood. It was still a notion that she was getting used to. The Stefan that they had been hunting was nothing like the one she'd come to know. His absence left a larger whole in Madeleine's life than she expected. She knew Stefan was a dear friend to her, but soon she released he was also her guardian angel keeping her sane in moments of doubt. And with this knew power coursing through her veins, the one that bent her moral standing to a crave for more, she felt like she needed his encouragement more than ever.

But summer wasn't all bad. Bonnie was spending the summer with her dad. In Mystic Falls, Elena had thrown herself into every lead on Stefan she could find. She rarely went anywhere. Caroline took full advantage of the search for Stefan to simultaneously have the Crossroads road trip of her dreams.

With every lead that Elena or Damon found, Madeleine and Caroline were sent to investigate it. It was the most Madeleine had seen of the country, when she wasn't being kidnapped.

Madeleine's dad had spent the summer working on the dagger. However unlike last time, he didn't lock himself in his study but instead, let her help and debate theories. Madeleine had to simultaneously search for Stefan and answers to her curse.

Daniel also spent a lot of time with Alaric. Ric was still grieving the loss of Jenna, a loss that Daniel understood. They spent most of their time either channelling their anger into exercise or, more likely, drunk at the bar. A bar that Madeleine now works at.

Madeleine's shifts at the Grill had been as pleasurable as it can be being a waitress. It was mostly visited by locals who Madeleine got used to laughing with and learning their usual orders. Obviously all customer service came with complaints but Madeleine got used to letting them roll off her back.

"Wow, you're better at this than I gave you credit for." Theo said after he watched Madeleine serve three of Jeremy's tables because he was late.

Madeleine smiled as she cleaned down another booth. Theo was sitting by himself at the bar. He had got into the habit of being everywhere Madeleine was. Madeleine tried not to be bothered by it. Theo was still sleeping on the Sullivan's couch. He didn't talk about what happened basically at all. There was still times where Theo disappeared and Madeleine couldn't help but feel apprehensive. But for the most part, Theo couldn't leave Madeleine's side. It was for the simple fact that Theo didn't have any other friends and being around somebody helped him keep his mind distracted from the dark thoughts that plagued him.