New Beginning

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A/N: Enjoy. The next chapter has Elijah. I want to thank everyone who reviewed during my absence - it kept me writing. Keep it up. I greatly appreciate it!

A warm breeze ruffled my hair as I flipped to the next page in my book, though my attention was solely fixed on the odd duo across the street. Mason and Liz were speaking animatedly, and by the look on Liz's face, they weren't speaking about the pleasant weather. When Tyler and I returned yesterday, it was to a whole world of drama. Apparently, if I am away for a day, all hell breaks loose. Elena had not been at all helpful in keeping Damon away from Mason, and now, he was pissed. I didn't exactly blame him if Damon had stabbed me with a silver pie server - I'd be pissed off too.

It wasn't only Damon and Mason causing problems, it was also everyone's least favorite super-bitch, Katherine. She had taken it a step further in her plan to send me into a murderous rage, and started threatening Caroline. She wanted information on Stefan and Elena. Now, instead of the day of rest, junk food, and TV that I had planned - I was on clean- up duty.

Yay me!

I closed my book with a sharp snap when Mason nodded in Stefan and Damon's direction — drawing Liz's attention.

Damn werewolf.

He was officially on my shit list. I'd had so much hope for him.

Liz turned away from the Salvatores and finished her discussion with Mason, her expression much darker than it had previously been. With a final nod of his head, I watched Mason leave with unease. It was obvious he had sold the Salvatores out to Liz and the council. What the hell was I supposed to do now? Damon would be out for blood. Standing from the bench, I tossed the book into my bag; I hadn't even been able to read it.

This day sucked.

I needed to find Caroline. If I was going to be forced to take on her mother, there was no way I'd do it without her. I stomped away, watching Damon approach Liz from the corner of my eye. This was just going from bad to worse. I headed in the direction I knew my sister and Caroline were in. There was an outdoor painting class going on, and they had chosen to join in. I just hoped I would get there before Elena put on her little performance. On my way out of the house this morning, as I was passing my sister's room, I happened to overhear her and Stefan discussing their ridiculous plan to fake a fight in order to appease Katherine. As per her usual level of selective awareness, she hadn't noticed her wide open door or the volume of her voice. She really needed to work on that.

Apparently, Katherine was demanding they break up. My guess was: she was hoping to throw them off her trail, just as much as they were hoping to throw her off theirs. Katherine was smart, she knew that by making them believe she was only after Stefan, they wouldn't look deeper into why she was really in Mystic Falls. Either way, she was definitely next on my list of things to handle.

I was done with her bullshit.

I passed by the fountain and headed toward the small group of painters who were centered in the middle of the park. Elena and Caroline stood side by side, their hair placed in messy buns atop their heads. They both had flecks of paint on their cheeks and were speaking quietly to one another. Caroline was shaking her head and frowning over at Elena, who was staring past her easel toward the crowd that had gathered to support and watch the amateur artists. I followed her gaze and rolled my eyes when I found Stefan standing in her eyeline. It seemed I was just in time to witness their 'fight'.

I started toward Caroline just as Elena headed toward Stefan. Caroline turned toward my approach with a bright relieved smile.

"Hey, Ellie. What are you doing here? You hate painting," she said.