The sun had already set by the time Aiken arrived at the Mystic Grill.
Warm lights spilled from the windows onto the sidewalk, accompanied by the sounds of conversation and laughter.
Aiken pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Immediately, the familiar atmosphere of a bar greeted him.
The smell of alcohol.
The clinking of glasses.
Music playing softly in the background.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
He had spent years working in places like this.
Mostly because he had needed money.
Alan certainly wasn't helping.
The man made plenty of money.
The problem was that he spent it even faster.
Once, he'd blown nearly an entire month's budget on a car.
A beautiful car.
An incredible car.
Aiken still loved that car.
But not enough to justify surviving on bread and water for the rest of the month.
As a result, Aiken had learned an important lesson early in life.
If he wanted financial stability, he had to earn it himself.
He approached the counter.
Behind it stood a girl around his age with long brown hair tied into a ponytail.
She looked up.
And immediately blinked.
Twice.
Aiken was used to that reaction.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'd like to speak with the manager."
The girl smiled.
"Sure."
A few moments later, a middle-aged woman emerged from the back.
She crossed her arms.
"So you're the new kid who called earlier."
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you're looking for work?"
Aiken nodded.
The woman looked him over.
"Ever worked in a bar before?"
Aiken smiled.
"A few times."
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"A few times?"
"I was working at Bar DeVille in Chicago before moving here."
Silence.
The manager stared.
The bartender stared.
Even a nearby customer stared.
"...Bar DeVille?"
Aiken nodded.
The woman looked genuinely shocked.
Bar DeVille wasn't just another bar.
It was one of the most prestigious bars in Chicago.
Getting hired there was difficult even for experienced professionals.
"They hired a seventeen-year-old?"
Aiken chuckled.
"That's just how good I am."
The woman continued staring.
Then laughed.
"You know what?"
She pointed toward the counter.
"Show me."
...
Twenty minutes later.
The manager was questioning reality.
Aiken flipped a cocktail shaker behind his back.
Caught it without looking.
Poured three different liquors simultaneously.
Spun a bottle around his wrist.
And somehow never spilled a single drop.
Several customers had stopped talking just to watch.
The manager rubbed her forehead.
"When can you start?"
Aiken placed the finished cocktail on the counter.
"I'm free right now."
...
Later that evening.
Matt Donovan sat at a table near the center of the Grill.
Across from him sat the brunette that bumped into Aiken this morning.
"So..." Matt began carefully.
Bonnie immediately narrowed her eyes.
"No."
Matt sighed.
"I didn't even ask yet."
"I know exactly what you're going to ask."
She took a sip of her drink.
"If you want to know whether Elena's seeing someone, call her yourself."
Matt groaned.
"Bonnie."
"No."
"Please..."
"No."
Matt slumped back into his chair.
"I feel weird calling her."
Bonnie's expression softened slightly.
"Matt..."
"She's the one who broke up with me."
Bonnie sighed.
"Just give her more time."
And just as the words left her mouth, the door of Mystic Grill creaked open with a soft jingle.
Bonnie's eyes shifted toward the entrance—and paused.
There she was.
Elena Gilbert stepped inside. Pale skin, dark, straight chestnut hair, and a calm grace that drew eyes the moment she entered. There was a quiet sadness behind her eyes, something she tried to mask with a gentle smile. She wore a simple leather jacket and jeans, effortlessly elegant.
Beside her stood Stefan Salvatore.
A hush fell over a few tables.
Most eyes turned toward them.
Especially Caroline Forbes, sitting at the bar with her chin in her palm, who couldn't stop staring at Stefan like he had just stepped out of a movie.
Matt followed Bonnie's gaze—and stiffened.
"More time, huh?" he muttered bitterly.
Then he stood and walked toward them.
Bonnie exhaled and sat back.
The crowd watched as Matt approached Stefan.
"Nice to meet you," Matt said, forcing a smile and offering his hand. "I'm Matt."
Stefan returned the gesture, his shake firm but measured. "Stefan."
Then Matt looked at Elena. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.
"Hey…" Elena greeted awkwardly, her voice small.
...
A short while later, after Matt left, Elena, Stefan, Caroline, and Bonnie, had gathered around the same table.
"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline asked Stefan, her tone a little too bright.
"Mhm," Stefan nodded. "I moved out when I was little."
"And your parents?" she followed up.
"They're dead," Stefan said flatly.
Tension crept into the group like fog rolling in.
"I'm sorry," Elena said gently.
Stefan just nodded.
"Do you have any siblings?" she asked, trying to shift the mood.
"No one I have a relationship with. I live with my uncle."
Fortunately, a waitress appeared before the silence could become fatal.
"Can I get you guys anything else?"
Caroline immediately brightened.
"Cassie?"
The waitress groaned.
"What?"
"I thought you were working behind the counter tonight."
Cassie pointed toward the bar.
"A new guy stole my spot."
"A new guy?"
Caroline frowned.
Then looked toward the counter.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no."
Bonnie followed her gaze.
Then sighed.
"Oh."
Elena looked confused.
"What?"
Caroline pointed.
"That guy."
Behind the counter stood Aiken.
Effortlessly spinning bottles while preparing drinks.
Several customers were openly watching him.
Even Stefan glanced over.
Recognition immediately crossed his face.
"Ah."
Bonnie crossed her arms.
"Exactly."
"Wait," Elena said. "You guys know him?"
"He's the other new student," Bonnie explained.
Caroline snorted.
"And unlike Stefan, he's a complete jerk."
Stefan continued watching Aiken.
Strangely enough, that description didn't fit the person he'd met earlier.
"He seemed alright to me."
Bonnie and Caroline both turned toward him.
"What?"
Stefan wisely decided not to elaborate.
"Ehm..." Cassie interrupted.
Everyone looked at her.
"I'm still standing here."
"Oh."
Elena laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry."
"We're fine, thanks."
Cassie nodded and left.
Meanwhile, behind the counter, Aiken was preparing a vodka cocktail.
His hands moved automatically.
His attention didn't.
His eyes drifted toward Stefan's table.
Interesting.
Aiken smiled slightly.
He hadn't chose to work at Mystic Grill just because of his great barman skills.
The Mystic Grill was the social center of Mystic Falls.
What better work could he have found to keep in check a vampire in the meantime?
To be continued...
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