Chapter Fifteen

I meet Elena in the hallway on our way out for school. We've been two sentences close at best since the whole car crash thing but at least we're talking.

" Good morning. " She says stiffly.

I nod. " Morning. "

Aren't we talkative?

" Come on Jeremy, going to school! Walking out the door now! " She calls up while wrapping her scarf around her neck. " Forgot these. " Jenna says handing us both our thermos'I take mine and say " Thank you ".

Elena opens the door only to come face to face with some strange man.

He smiles before saying, " Elena! And you must be Mckennah! Wow, you look just like my mother. "

" Uncle John! Hi. " Elena says giving me the side-eye.

So this is our dad's younger brother... He doesn't look like much.

He nods to Jenna wearily. " Jenna. "

" John, you made it. " She says with disdain.

" I said I'll be here before noon. " He says coming in.

She rolls her eyes. " Oh, what you say and what you do are typically two very different things. "

Jeremy chooses the right time to come barreling down the stairs. " Uncle John, what's up? "

" Hey! " He says enthusiastically.

Jeremy slaps him on the shoulder before heading out.

" I had some business in town; I thought that a visit was in order. " John tells Jenna.

She crosses her arms. " How long are you staying? "

" I don't know yet. " He says vaguely.

I look back and forth between the two uncomfortably. " Okay, well, I'm gonna go to school, I'll see you later. "

" Me too. " Elena says following right behind.

" Mckennah? " He calls from the doorway. " Come home straight after school. I have something to discuss with you. "

I turn around and give him a strange look. " Okay... "

I'm so not with the vibes, he's giving off. Pulling out my phone I dial Bonnie.

What's up? Why aren't you here yet?

" Sorry I got caught up with meeting John Gilbert. Listen, can I stay at your house tonight? He gives me a bad feeling. "

Sure... Is it just something you feel when you just meet someone, or does it feel like something else?

" I'm not sure yet. I just don't want to be anywhere around him. I'd ask Damon, but I'm not going there again. "

And I'm glad to hear it. Now hurry you're going to be late.

" God okay! " I say hanging up. " Bossy Boots. " I mumble getting in my car.

And so begins my daily inner turmoil. Tell Bonnie about my ever lucid dreams that have been coming to me way more frequently since my mark has surfaced, or keep her in the dark and work it out on my own. Obviously the mark and the dreams are related at this point. My only question is why? Why me? I guess I'll have to do as the dream man says and wait it out.

...

After school, I try to run upstairs and get a change of clothes without being noticed. No such luck. Creepishly smiling new uncle John corners Jeremy and I and drags us in the kitchen with Jenna to talk about the Founders party.

" I've no interest in the Founders' Day Kick-off Party. " Jeremy says as soon as it's brought up.

John looks confused and hurt. " Sure you do its tradition. '

" It will be our role to break the tradition. " He says gesturing to himself and I.

He pauses before saying. " The Gilberts have been a part of this town for a hundred and fifty years. We're one of the founding families and with that distinction comes certain obligations including going to the party. Which you both will be going to. One day, when you can appreciate the significance, I'll tell you all about both of your heritage. "

" Hmm, the Gilbert family legacy. I forgot how sacred it was. I'm not a Gilbert so I was never cool enough to hear it. " Jenna snips flicking venom his way.

Jeremy laughs. " Why does she hate you? "

" We used to sleep together. " John answers with a smirk.

My eyes bug out. " Eww! " I blurt out and cover my mouth in embarrassment.

Jenna throws a bag at him. " I'm standing right here. "

" Well, we did, and it's not eww. " He says to me making me blush all over again. " You were planning on going to the Founders party correct? "

I was about to say that I don't have anything to wear when Jenna speaks for me. "Her outfit is already laid out and ready. " She says giving me an " shh " look.

" Ahh, yes that reminds me. " He says taking his wallet out. " You're my brother's daughter, therefore a true Gilbert. It gives me great pride to give you this. "

Taking the card from him I run my fingers over my name and the raised numbers. " I don't understand. "

" The Gilberts came here on the Mayflower Mckennah... Did you really think your dad left you nothing but two siblings? " He asks seriously. "As I said, we'll have a talk soon about your heritage. Now please go get ready you two. "

...

The Founders Party

I have a question... When do all of these parties end? I swear these people celebrate way too much. No wonder the mayor's wife is such a lush. Oops... It was the wind.

The dress Jenna chose for me fits like a glove and I love the little see-through detail.

I don't want to be here, but thanks to John and Jenna's insistence, plus the new credit card that was given to me helps too. So the Gilbert's came here on the Mayflower... Who knew?

So now I have my own account just like Elena and Jeremy. It's all so surreal. Not even six months ago I was eating ramen noodles for lunch and dinner and drinking orange drink. Now I'm an official member of the founding families.

" Mckennah, are you listening to me? " Elena asks forcing me to look away from all of the other guests.

Shaking my head I give her an apologetic look. " Sorry, what were you saying? "

" I said, I wonder where Damon and Stefan are. " She repeats and my stomach goes sour.

Of course, he'd be invited as well, the Salavatores are a founding family after all. " I really don't want to see him. "

" Oh come on Kennah, you and I talked, you know I have Stefan and Damon cares for you... In his own weird, deranged way. You both just need to talk it out. " She says trying to reason with me.

I can't believe that someone human, can just overlook my violent death like that. And then promote my being with the guy who killed me and tried to kiss her. Plus he's still in love with her freaky twin that wasn't in the tomb. How screwed up has my life become?

" No. I just want to move on with my life. I don't hate him, I just don't trust him. " I say shrugging.

The concern is written clearly on her face, but she doesn't comment. " Honestly, I'm kind of ready to leave. We've done our rounds, will you cover for me? "

"Are you sure? " She asks with a little too much concern.

I analyze her before responding. " Yes... Don't tell me he got you to help him win me back. "

" Well... " She trails.

Of course, she just couldn't help herself. " I'm really trying to be nice about this whole situation Elena, but what's going on with Damon and- "

" Did I hear my name? " Comes the bane of my existence's voice from behind me.

Suddenly I'm turned around to face him head-on. " Well, miss Gilbert you look delicious. "

" Uh-huh. " I say mildly. " Hands off. "

He backs away with his hands up. " I come in peace... I just wanted to ask if I can have this dance? " He asks bowing to me.

" Drop dead. " I say doing my best to stomp away in these heels.

I can feel him following me before his hand closes over my wrist and twirls me around. " I don't know why you've had a stick up your ass lately, but it stops now. " He warns while increasing the pressure on my wrist.

" You're hurting me, Damon. " I hiss looking around to make sure no one is watching.

He does the same and lets me go as soon as he sees Bonnie coming. " We will be finishing this talk. " He warns before leaving me to talk to my sister.

" What was that about? " She asks.

I shake my head. " He isn't taking the break up very well. "

" He's a bad dude you're better off without him. " She says dismissing him completely. " What we need to focus on is what the symbol on your back means. Grams hasn't been feeling well but she said she'll see you before school on Monday. "

With so many things going on I completely forgot about the damn symbol that is now etched on my back. " Good. This is just another thing I have on my plate right now. "

" It should be the only thing you are concerned about Kennah! " Bonnie hisses. " We have no idea what this means and with all of the vampires around, we don't need any surprises. "

I put my hands up. " Okay! I'm just saying that a lot is going on. "

She takes a deep breath before speaking. " I'm sorry I'm just really stressed. "

" It's fine I m too. Let's just take it one crisis at a time okay? " I say spotting a very drunk looking Mrs. Donovan talking to Tyler.

" Is that soda? "

" Um... "

She takes his glass and drinks.

" Vodka. Thank god! "

Well then. I see how Vicki ended up how she was. Elena told me that she's always gone with one man or another leaving Matt and Vicki alone. Well, the past tense where Vicki is concerned.

" Hello? Are you Listening? " Bonnie says snapping her fingers in front of my face.

Nodding I look back at her. " Yeah sorry. I'm kind of over this though. Can we get out of here? "

" Okay, let's go say our goodbyes. " She says putting her empty drink on one of the trays.

...

" So are you going to do the Miss Mystic Falls thing? " Bonnie asks later that night as we just settle in for bed.

Yeah, cause I need more attention brought to myself. " Not a chance. "

" Me either. Caroline has been gunning for the title since we were in diapers. I am not getting in that girl's way in fear of my life. " She says laughing.

Caroline and I have been okay... ish. I'm just much closer to Bonnie who is much closer to earth. " With everything else going on I don't need anything else on my plate. "

" Just three more days and grams will be able to tell us what's going on... Hopefully. " She says sleepily.

We fall into silence until sleep finds both of us.