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THE GRILL
"ARE YOU SURE you have no idea who it could be?" Elsie questions a few days later once Stefan abruptly sits down across from her. He just told her that a body's been found and she was definitely the victim of a vampire attack.
"None. But it must be somebody new, because leaving a body like that, they're either sloppy or trying to send a message."
"And you're positive that it's not Damon?" Elsie raises a curious eyebrow since Damon's the one that's been behind all of the town's 'animal attacks.'
"Well, I'm never sure about Damon, but he's been trying to keep a low profile lately, so it just doesn't make any sense to me."
"What're you gonna do about it?" Elsie asks curiously.
"Damon's tracking them right now. You need to be careful."
"When you sat down, I thought you were coming to tell me you were leaving," Elsie admits somberly since Elena told her Stefan said he was leaving as well. He looks surprised that she knows so she elaborates. "Elena told me."
"Not yet," Stefan shakes his head before sighing. "Damon said he told you the truth about Florence. I can't believe you're even speaking to me."
Elsie sighs, not surprised that he expected a much different reaction. "It was a lot to take in at first, but I realized there's nothing I can do about it. I only have two questions. When did you figure out I wasn't Florence?"
"Before I met you. The first day of school, when we met, it wasn't for the first time, Elsie."
"Then when was it?" Elsie demands, wondering how they could've met without her remembering. It had to of been under extremely weird circumstances or he compelled her.
"May 23rd, 2009," Stefan answers as Elsie pales, instantly recognizing that date.
It was the first time she'd had a near death experience and it changed her life. "But that was-"
"That was the day Elena's parents car went off the bridge."
"You were there?" Elsie whispers, a few things suddenly clicking into place. There was no logical explanation for how her and Elena got out of the car.
"Every couple of years, I come back here to my home. Last spring, I was out in the woods by old Wickery Bridge and I heard the accident. All of it. I was fast getting there, but not fast enough. The car was already submerged. Elena's dad was still conscious. I was able to get to him, but he wouldn't let me help him until I helped you and Elena. You were closest to me, but you motioned for me to save Elena first. I did, and by the time I got back, you'd stopped breathing. I did CPR and you woke up. When I went back for Elena's parents, it was too late. I couldn't- I couldn't save them."
