The More Things Change

Eleven

Warning for mutilation. Please skip this chapter ifsuch a subject bothers you. 

Cheer practice was a disaster.

Not that this surprised me. Between my nerves being shot from the night before, the circle's under Bonnie's eyes and her continued avoidance—made worse by my avoiding her, and Caroline's transformation into a drill sergeant from hell, it was the embodiment of misery. I'd tried to quit before we'd even started, but one stern glare from Caroline made the words die in my throat. I figured it was better for 'Elena' to perform so badly, Caroline might toss me off the squad herself. Hopefully not from the top of a pyramid.

Not that I could've balanced well enough to make it to the top in the first place.

Stefan wasn't with the other guys on the field. I thought he wasn't around at all when, during a water break, I spied him up on the bleachers, watching. The knowledge I had him as an audience to my failure made everything that much more humiliating.

As soon as Caroline declared the day finished, glaring at me in a way that made me happy she wasn't a vampire, Bonnie hurried off. If I remembered the episode right, she should've gone to dinner with me and Stefan. And then Damon and Caroline show up.

Guess that was off the agenda.

Instead of heading straight off to my bag, I shuffled to the stands. Stefan met me halfway down, folded arms resting on the railing as he leaned over. "Hope you enjoyed the show," I said, sour.

He smiled. "I take it you weren't a cheerleader?"

The night before, we hadn't had time to talk about me at all. Which I was thankful for. Thinking of my life reminded me that I no longer had it. Family. Friends. Job. Everything I'd worked for. If I started down that road, I'd fixate. I doubt I'd be able to function. "No." I bit my lip before admitting, "Soccer." Before he could comment, I hurried to add, "I was terrible. I was only allowed on the team so they'd have enough players." I grimaced. "I can kick well enough, but only so long as the ball isn't moving. And no one's running at me. And I'm not running."

Stefan dipped his head to try and hide his grin. I found a patch of dirt fascinating. I dug a toe in. "Anyway," I nodded to the team. "I see you're not on the field."

"Too big a chance I'd be revealed." Stefan watched the team practicing for a moment before adding, "I'm surprised I'd even consider it, let alone try out."

"I think you wanted to impress Elena. Make her happy." I remembered. "And you ended up bonding with Matt."

He glanced aside, towards the figures hustling across the field. "Elena's ex?"

"He's a good guy," I defended.

Stefan looked back. "There's other ways to make friends."

Sure, but none so quick as bonding on a team. Ah, well. I wasn't going to worry about Stefan socializing enough.

"I didn't come just to watch you at practice," Stefan said, pulling me from my thoughts. "I thought we could go back to my place." He held up a familiar leather-bound journal. "Figure a few things out."

I swept the back of my hand over my slick brow. "I don't know, Stefan," I said, nose crinkling. "Jenna probably noticed that I never came home last night."

"I'll have you back before late afternoon," Stefan assured.

I considered it. Eventually, I nodded. "Okay." I glanced in the direction of the parking lot, blowing a piece of loose hair out of my mouth as the breeze kicked up. "Did you come in a car or...?"

"Or," Stefan said with a self-effacing grin. "Mind giving me a ride?"

I shook my head. "Let me get changed." I would've liked a shower, but that would have to wait.