A Quiet Life in Mystic Falls

Chapter 6: Tall, Dark and Dangerous

Azalea and Jeremy continued to talk until 10 o'clock, when the teen decided to go home and sketch. He had told Azalea that he used to draw to vent, as she did the same they morning had turned into an in-depth discussion.
When the younger teen left, the redhead popped into the shower, using a drying charm she dressed into a light blue vest top with a picture of the empire state building and New York written on it, and a pair of dark short shorts. She glanced at her phone; she knew she needed to talk to Stefan. Tell him that she knew what he was before she let slip she knew in a way that put the vampire on edge.
Hey Stefan, can we met? I need to talk to you x
It sounds ominous, but it will have to do, she thought as she sent it. Sighing she went back downstairs to make a snack.
Azalea heard her phone beep as she began to plate up her omelette.
Sure, is something wrong?
She bit her lip wondering how to phrase it.
Not exactly, it's complicated x
What kind of shitty answer was that, she groaned as she hit send, taking a bite of her omelette.
Come over, I'm at the old boarding house near Whickery Bridge
She looked at her phone surprised; she began to wolf down her omelette, grabbing her keys. She quickly sent one more message.
Ok I'll see you soon x
Before shoving her phone in her jean pocket and racing out of the door. She knew she'd have to get a car soon to fit in here. She could just make it drive itself. Sod it she though, she checked around to see if anyone was looking then took out her wand, she closed her eyes and focused on the lavender tree if her front garden, she close her eyes and transfigured it into a lavender coloured mini. She smiled opening the door and tapping the stirring wheel. Before putting location spells and various other enchantments.
"Take to me Stefan Salvatore's house, of Wickery Bridge," she said. The car roared to life and began to reverse itself off the drive. She grinned, she loved magic.
As she approached the boarding house Azalea took a deep breath, how did you tell someone that you knew they were a vampire? Another sigh passed her lips and she knocked on Stefan's door.
It didn't take long for him to answer.
"Hi Lea, come in," he said, he looked at her anxiously. "You want anything to drink or –"
"No, thanks, maybe we should sit down," she said, biting her lip. "Is anyone in?"
"No, what is it?" he said.
"I know what you are, I saw you when Vicki was attacked, but I know it wasn't you," she said reassuringly when she saw his shocked expression. "I am not like normal like Elena," she continued, "but I can't tell you what I am sorry,"
He just stared at her shocked.
"Why can't you tell me what you are?" he stammered after a few minutes.
"Cause I can't," she said apologetically. "I have to be able to trust you first. My secret is bigger, but smaller than yours. I know that has probably confused you more, sorry... again."
"If you know about us then how –"
"–Am I taking this so well? You're not the first vampire I met." She said smiling. "Besides you go to a high school, I doubt you would go to the trouble if you were going to drain everyone."
"I hunt animals." He said.
"Twilight fan huh," she teased, he smiled at me.
"You're not afraid of me?"
"Nope, sorry Stef, you're not that scary," she said sending him a cheeky grin, he chuckled at her.
"Well I'm glad you think so," he said.
"So how old are you?" the redhead asked curiously.
"161," he said.
"So when were you turned?"
"1864,"
"Interesting Mr Salvatore," she said doing a little curtsy, he chuckled at her, he knew then she had meant what she said. She trusted him and wasn't afraid of him, it meant the world to know.
The next day, Elena Gilbert had been focused on the redhead. Not she, or Aunt Jenna, or Jeremy had seen anyone but Azalea leave her house. She wanted to bring it up into conversation without it being obvious what she was asking, the morning went by and she could find a time. That was until lunch time, when Jenna gave her a stroke of inspiration, she had texted.
Invite Lea over for dinner tomorrow, I'm making my famous meatball salad.
"Oh hey, my Aunt Jenna wanted to know if your parents were free to come over for dinner tomorrow night?" Elena said taking a bite out of her salad.
"Oh, er, my parents are dead," Azalea said smiling at her.
"Oh I'm sorry," Elena said, looking down, she felt empathy with her petite friend.
"Why apologise? It isn't your fault," she said. "I never understood that phrase."
"Who do you live with?" Bonnie asked her.
"No one, I live alone," she said taking a bite from her own salad.
"What?" all four of them said.
"I live by myself," she repeated looking up at their shocked faces.
Bonnie touches her hand, and recoiled.
"Bonnie?" Elena said.
"Sorry, I keep doing that. I need to bathroom, yeah. I'll be back." she said. Azalea knew Bonnie's witch side is rearing its head.
After school, Azalea went to the library to do some work before tonight's gathering, half an hour in she couldn't concentrate, so she decided to go to the Grill, kill some time. As soon as she walked in she spotted a very attractive man with black hair and piercing blue eyes, at the bar stool. He looks like the guy Caroline mentioned. Ignoring him she sat down at one of the tables, that's when she noticed Matt walk in, when he saw her she waved gesturing for him to sit with her.
"Hey," he said when he saw her.
"Hey, how's everything?"
"Not too bad, Vic's necks still sore, but other than that."
"Well whatever attacked her was vicious," she said.
"Can I get you a drink?"
"No, but I'll get you one what do you want." She said hopping up.
"No, Lea you don't have to do that," he said.
"It's fine you get them next time," she said smiling. "I'm only here for a little while, I am going to Elena's tonight, Jenna's orders."
"Meatball salad," he said smirking, she blinked at him. "It's Jenna's classic, it's pretty good, it's a joke, an unhealthy 'salad' it's full of cheese and... you'll see." He smirked.
It didn't take long for the redhead to finish her drink, the two chatted for twenty minutes before she got up to leave.
"It was nice to catch up, Matt. I am glad Vicki's feeling better."
"I can make you feel better, if you want," the guy from the bar said downing the rest of his scotch.
"Nope, I'm good." She said, her eyes flickered to the ring on his fingers, it looked like Stefan's. He was a... Vicki.
"I'll make it worth your while," he said smirking at her coming closer.
"Sorry you're way too old for me," she said walking away.
"Leave her alone," Matt said.
"Matt, leave it it's fine." Azalea said. Walking away from the Salvatore brother, he grabbed her arm, he looked angry but covered it up with a smile.
"Let go or I will make you regret it,"
"And what are you going to do?"
"You'd be surprised," she muttered before yanking herself out of his grip and heading to Elena's, she got around the corner then apparated to her own home.
Shaking the vampire from her mind, the redheaded witch headed next door to the Gilbert house.
"Hey come in," Elena said warmly, Azalea prevented a frown, the brunette didn't know how dangerous it was to do that.
"Hey Lea, you're just in time for my meatball salad." Jenna said lifting the big bowl in her hands higher.
"Lea," Jeremy said pulling her into a hug.
"Hey Jere," she said smiling, laughing as he twirled her. They four headed to the bench where the redhead laughed. Jenna's 'salad' was meatballs with cheese oozing out of them, each piece had a single fingernail sized piece of lettuce on it, then around the rim was tortilla chips with dollops of guacamole on them.
"Matt told me about this." She said grinning at the meal.
"You saw Matt?" Elena asked.
"I popped into the Grill, and he was there," she explained as Jenna dished out the portions.
"Jenna, I don't eat a lot, don't waste it," she said quickly as her fellow redhead went to pour her helping.
"Seriously Jenna, four meatballs tops," Elena said, Jenna looked at her in concern.
"I have a small stomach," Azalea said, blushing pink. Thanks to the Dursleys, but that would not be in today's discussion. Jenna gave her four then frowned at the plate.
"You sure?" Jenna said.
"Positive," the witch said.
"I'll make you a container for another day stick in in the freezer," with that Jenna went back to the draws and got a container.
"Jenna, eat, I'll do that later." Azalea protested.
"You're the guest, sit and eat your unhealthy salad." She said mock sternly.
Dinner was nice they chatted about various things, and once they were done Jenna shooed the little witch from the sink, and ordered her to sit with Elena and Jeremy.
"I don't know what you said to him, but you really helped, thank you Azalea." Jenna said warmly, while Jeremy was playing on his game.
"Happy to help,"
"I hope you don't mind, but Elena told me about your situation," the older woman said with concern.
"I'm alright by myself," she assured her.
"Even so, if you ever need anything, come over. I'll ask Elena or Jeremy to text you if we have takeout."
"Thank you Jenna," she said warmly.
Not long after that they called it a night, Azalea went home in a good mood. It had been a good night, an experience the redheaded witch wanted to repeat...
Azalea was doodling on her notebook not paying attention to History. Until, she heard Tanner say Elena's name.
"Miss Gilbert, Pearl Harbour?"
"December 7th, 1941," Stefan said for her.
"Thank you Miss Gilbert," Tanner said making everyone laugh.
"Any time," Stefan said.
"Very well, the fall of the Berlin wall,"
"1989, I'm good with dates, Sir,"
"Are you? How good? Keep it to the year. Civil rights act?"
"1964,"
"John F Kennedy assassination,"
"1963,"
"Martin Luther King,"
"68,"
"Lincoln,"
"1869,"
"Roe vs Wade,"
"1973,"
"Brown vs Borge,"
"1954,"
"The battle of Getisberg,"
"1863,"
"Korean war,"
"1950 to 1953,
"Ha, it ended in 52,"
"Actually sir it was 53," Stefan said.
"Look it up somebody," there was rustling of pages. "Quickly."
"Regardless, well done for outsmarting your student in the subject you went to uni for. Well done, really mature." Azalea said sarcastically.
"It was 1953," a kid at the front said. Everyone gave a round of applause; Elena clapped later than anyone else.
"Alright Miss Potter, if I am so immature maybe you can brush up on your British history."
"I didn't study history at school, plus that solidifies my point." She pointed out, before Mr Tanner could reply the bell went, and they all fled the class room.
"Wow literally saved by the bell, Lea," Bonnie smirked.
"I reckon he is the most irritating teacher I have ever met, and trust me I had an infuriating teacher at school, even he doesn't compare." That was true, Snape wasn't as bad as this teacher, he expected you to know what you were doing, but he didn't use the tone that Tanner did, though admittedly his teaching style wasn't pleasant either.
The day continued on and as classes ended, she was about to walk home when.
"Lea!" she heard Bonnie call after her. The redhead waited to for her to catch up.
"You want to go to cheer, I mean Caroline's a tyrant but it can be fun."
"Oh my god cheerleaders, your cheerleaders that's so cool!"
"Were you a cheerleader?"
"The closest I got to cheerleading was watching Kim Possible, I don't think many if any schools in England have cheerleaders. Wow, that's bizarre,"
"So you wanna join?" Bonnie said grinning.
"Uuuuh, no," she laughed, "I need to meet up with someone, I'll catch up with you later though right?"
"Yeah sure go ahead, but I'll get you," she warned, before walking away. Azalea headed to the Grill where she saw Stefan already had a table. She rushed over to him.
"Hey,"
"Hey," he said.
"I'll get to the point. I met someone with a ring like yours,"
Stefan paled.
"Damon. Did he hurt you?"
"No, but Stefan is there a way of getting him out of town."
"Sorry Lea, if I try and force him he'll go onto a rampage."
She sighed she knew he was right.
"Can I help you guys?" Matt said.
"Matt hey, can I have the smallest steak you have well done with chips," she said smiling at him.
"And you Stefan?"
"I'll have the same, but medium rare."
"So what's the occasion?" he said eyeing them suspiciously.
"Newby code of friendship, we bumped into each other on the first day. And he needs to teach me the rules of American football before the game, so I can cheer and boo in the right place." Azalea said without missing a beat, Matt's face softened, he chuckled at her.
"I'll bring it right over, a Pepsi and a ..." he gestured at Stefan again.
"Pepsi," he said.
"No big tips," he threatened to the redhead waving his pen sternly at her, she saluted him. .
"That was a quick lie," Stefan murmured, after Matt was out of range.
"Being me has its draw backs, actually you may as well teach me, cause I haven't got a clue."
He smiled at her and began to explain the rules of the game his brother taught him.