𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 | 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭

𝟗 | 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞

"Elena." "Hey, I'm sorry to bother you so early. Uhm, Nathan and I had a fight last night and he didn't come home and.." Elena explains. "I talked to him. He's okay." Lucas says. "Oh, well. Do you know where he is?" "No." "Okay. Well, the next time you talk to him can you ask him to come home, please?" "Okay, I will. Alright, look, don't worry yourself. Okay, El. I'm sure he's fine, alright?" "Okay. Bye, Luke." Elena says and she hangs up.

***

Nathan enters the apartment and Elena walks over to him. "Hi. I'm sorry. I was, uhm.. I was wrong last night and I found your letter from the camp and I want you to go." "It's not about the camp, Elena. It's about trust. I want you to stop working with Chris." "He's incredibly talented, Nathan." "I want you to stop seeing him." "I won't do that." Elena says and Nathan leaves again, slamming the door.

***

Elena knocks on Lucas' door and then comes in. "Can I give you a piece of advice?" She asks as she comes in. "Nice to see you, too." "Next time you wanna lie about something to me you might wanna make sure your mom is in on it." She says crossing her arms. "She told me about Nathan sleeping here last night." 

"Elena, Nathan just needed some time. And if you were here, I'd have done the same thing." "Lucas Eugene Scott!" Karen yells. "Ooh, that sounds bad." Lucas says. "Eugene?" "Why would you lie to me?" Karen asks as she comes in. "Get in line." "Mom, what are you talking about?" "Dan's heart condition. Is it genetic?" Karen asks and Lucas sighs. "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me? What kind of doctor doesn't call me?" "Mom, I told him you were in Florence." "Why? When there's a fifty percent chance you have a genetic heart defect!" "Nathan?" "No, he's fine, he doesn't have it. He took the test." "But you didn't." "Who told you?" Lucas asks. "You are taking that test." "No, I'm not." "Are you out of your mind? How can you be so reckless and cavalier about a potentially fatal condition?" Karen asks. "I'm gonna go home." Elena quickly says and she leaves.

***

Elena is looking at her Cracker Jack's bracelet Nathan gave her, when he enters the apartment. Elena gets up and hugs him. "What's going on with you?" "I heard about your heart test." "I'm fine." "Are you sure?" Elena asks and Nathan nods. "I'm not gonna see Chris anymore. I don't want it to come between us. I just, I don't want anything to come between us." Elena says and she hugs him again. Nathan wraps his arm around her and rests his chin on the top of her head.

***

"Hey." Elena says as she sits down. "Hey." Chris replies. "Sounds good." "Thanks. It's getting there, you know." "Uh, listen, I, uh.. I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me." "Hmm." "Uhm, but I-I don't really think we should work together anymore." 

"So, he got to you, Nathan." "No, I just, I think it's for the best, you know?" "Well, it's just as well. You know, those labels from New York they offered me a showcase. I think I'm gonna take it." "Wow, that's great, Chris." "Yeah. I'm leaving tonight. So I won't be able to.. play the show at TRIC anyway." "Oh." "So, guess this is goodbye." "Well.." Elena says and she hugs Chris. "Thanks."

Elena pulls away from the hug. "Wait, Elena, come here." Chris says and he kisses her. And stupid Elena doesn't push him away. "What are you doing?" "Elena.." "Is that what this is all about? You just hitting on me?" "Elena, it's okay." "No, it's not okay. I ca.. I can't believe you just did that." "I want you to take this. Come with me to New York." Chris says as he gives Elena a bus ticket. "What? In case you missed something, I'm married." "So you made a mistake. Are you gonna let that keep you from the rest of your life?"

"I did not make a mistake." "Elena, you owe it to your music. You owe it to yourself. Your dreams are a bus ride away. I know you want this, Elena." "No, you're wrong. I don't. I don't want it. I don't want any of it." Elena says and she leaves. "It was always there between us Elena.. whether you admit it or not."

***

Elena approaches Chris and he smiles. "I knew you'd come." "I, uhm.. I was on my way home to Nathan, and I just.. ended up here." "Number forty two now departing for New York City, gate five." Is announced through the speakers. "You ready?" 

They kiss, again. "I can't do this. I'm sorry." "Yeah, I figured." Chris replies and he grabs his guitar before he gets on the bus and leaves.

***

Elena closes the door and she takes off her jacket. "Where the hell have you been?" Nathan asks and Elena turns around with a gasp. "I just... I needed to clear my head. Nathan, I.." "Little best friend-sis!" "Oh!" Elena turns around to see Taylor. "Look at you!" Taylor says and she hugs Elena. "Tay, what are you doing here?" "I'm on break. And I wanted to see my little sis, and her best friend. I haven't seen you in forever. And my mom told me that you got married, so here I am." Taylor says.

"Nathan said I could stay for a couple of days." Taylor says and Elena looks at Nathan. "Actually, I-" He says getting up but Taylor interrupts him. "You won't even know that I'm here." "Yeah, huh, okay. Don't you have a house?" "Yeah. But they're much more boring." "Ha ha. Okay. Uhm, can you give us a second? Please?" "Mh-mhm." Elena grabs Nathan's wrist and drags him with her to the bedroom.

"You said she could stay?" Elena asks after she closes the bedroom door. "Do you think maybe that was worth a conversation?" "I told her she could make herself comfortable because you weren't here." "Oh, I'm sorry, am I not allowed to be out?" "You were with Chris again, weren't you?" "Yes, but-" "Great, great." 

"Will you just listen to me, please? It's over, okay. He left town. He wanted me to go with him." "What?" "I said no, because I-my life is here. He didn't mean anything to me, okay?" Nathan sighs. "Besides, we're gonna have to stick together if we're gonna survive hurricane Taylor."

***

A/N:

Last chapter of today! I'm annoyed asf. Seriously, I'm not gonna write very extensive chapters when she's on tour. Only the important stuff, cause I hate this. And I think it's kind of out of character for Elena. But it's a big part of the storyline so I guess we just gotta suck it up.