New Beginning

Chapter Thirty-eight

*A/N: I apologize for the long wait. I won't bother you with excuses and I also won't tell you that I'll rush out the next chapter. I will do all I can to lessen the wait but sometimes life happens. I want to thank everyone who has left me such kind reviews, they do help me push the chapters out and it's nice to know people are still reading this fic. I have decided that I am going to try and make this story end at fifty chapters. I will continue with a second book if people decide they wish it, but this one should be complete at fifty chapters. I hope you like this chapter. Leave me a review of what you think. At this time this chapter is unedited.*

The early morning sun was blinding as I transversed around my room, picking up scattered clothes and tossing them in the hamper as I headed for the door. I always left a terrible mess to take care of in the mornings. My makeup was spread across the vanity and dirty clothes were dispersed all over the furniture and floor - a tornado leftover from the day before. I closed the door behind me as I finished up, and hurriedly moved down the stairs, turning toward the kitchen and following the wonderful scent of coffee that had awoken me. Pushing open the door, I stepped inside and stumbled at the sight of Jeremy standing in front of the sink, rinsing out his coffee mug - backpack slung over one shoulder. Bonnie stood resolutely at his side and her nose crinkled at the sight of me, dislike pouring from her rigid posture. She squinted her olive-green eyes angrily, pursing her lips in disapproval. The sound of the water shutting off caught my attention, and I turned my gaze back to Jeremy as he laid his mug in the sink. He ran his hands along his jeans to dry them and I took the quiet moment offered to gently scan him. Grimly I observed his exhausted face. He had dark purple bags under his eyes and his hair was oily and unkempt. My shoulders slumped and I felt a mixture of pity and guilt. The door swung backward, smacking into me noisily, and I knew I was trapped as Jeremy turned, his eyes falling heavily onto mine. Reaching out, he took hold of Bonnie's elbow, pulling her against his side protectively. My chest ached at the distrust, but I swallowed down my sadness and lowered my gaze, forcing my feet to do my bidding. I moved further into the room, my stride slow and precise.

"I hope there is coffee left. I need it this morning," I half-heartedly said.

I refused to acknowledge my brother's hostility or the obvious stress in the air. Jeremy could continue his little hissy fit but I would never act like he was the enemy; I loved him too much. Bonnie edged away, pulling Jeremy with her. With harsh amusement, I watched as she twisted around, forcing herself in front of him. She placed her hands on his chest and swiftly pushed him to the other side of the kitchen island - effectively using it as a shield. I bit my bottom lip painfully as I took a mug from the cabinet. With shaky hands, I filled it with steaming coffee and inhaled deeply, using the rich scent to feel more grounded, before I slowly turned, slamming a calm mask in place to hide the heart-wrenching betrayal I felt. With my gaze trained somewhere near my brother's knees, I took a heady gulp of coffee, wincing as it left a scalding trail down my throat - one I quickly focused on as I inhaled sharply.

"Elena told me she filled you in on everything that happened yesterday." I casually said, glancing up.

I was discomforted by the sharp ticking of Jeremy's jaw and the obvious way he avoided the entire area of the kitchen in which I stood. Bonnie rubbed her hand along his arm soothingly, a gesture that left my right eye twitching in irritation. I tightly gripped onto my mug, using its heat to remain focused, and ran my tongue across my front teeth, choosing my words carefully. "I know you don't feel particularly comfortable around me at the moment, and I don't want to infringe on your boundaries, but I do want you to know that if there is ever anything that you feel Elena won't explain or help you with, you can come to me. I will always be there for you Jeremy," I firmly said.